THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Dylan Gyori (Tri-City, 1994-99) signed a one-month contract with the Hannover Indians (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had four goals and 14 assists in 48 games with the Indians last season. Gyori has been training in Munich while waiting for his German naturalization papers. He has played in Germany since 2004.
———
The WHL season got rolling Thursday night in Edmonton as the Oil Kings beat the Kootenay Ice 5-3 in front of 10,976 fans. . . . The 50-50 draw was worth $10,287. . . . The Oil Kings have won their last 12 reegular-season games. . . . Edmonton went 6-0 against the Ice last season and later swept Kootenay from a playoff series. . . . Edmonton went on to win the WHL championship last season; Kootenay won the title in 2010-11.
———
Over at huffingtonpost.com, Nancy Armour has written an enthralling piece about Head Games, the documentary movie that is to be released today.
"We've got to get past this, ‘Little kids involved in a pillow fight' mentality," concussion guru Chris Nowinski tells Armour. "If parents knew what I knew, they would not be tolerating a lot of things in the sports world that they are. We are clearly exposing children to needless risk, and we're not upset about it. And we should be."
That story is right here.
———
JUST NOTES: The Prince George Cougars have released F John Odgers, 19. Odgers, from Spy Hill, Sask., is the son of former NHLer Jeff Odgers, who scouts for the Cougars. Odgers had one goal and 18 penalty minutes in eight games with the Cougars last season before a wrist injury ended his season in January. . . . F Dominick Favreau, 20, who was released earlier in the week by the Brandon Wheat Kings, has joined the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings. . . .
F Adam Rossignol, 19, who was dropped Wednesday by the Swift Current Broncos, tweeted last night: “Excited to be a Regina Pat!” . . . Regina F Patrick D’Amico will miss up to two months after being stepped on during a drill in practice. Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reports that D’Amico, 18, had surgery Wednesday to “re-attach a severed tendon in the foot.” The 6-foot-0, 200-pound D’Amico was an 11th-round selection by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2009 bantam draft. . . . Regina F Dryden Hunt (concussion) won’t play on opening weekend. He is listed as being out indefinitely. . . .
The WHL issued its first upper body/lower body report of this season earlier in the week. Among the key early injuries: Kelowna D Mitchell Chapman (LB), one month; Kootenay F Drew Czerwonka (UB), two-to-three weeks; Moose Jaw F Tanner Eberle (UB), two-to-three weeks; and Spokane F Marek Kalus (UB), one month-plus. . . . F Victor Rask of the Calgary Hitmen has left the club for the training camp of the Charlotte Checkers, the Carolina Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate. Rask, 19, was a second-round selection by the Hurricanes in the 2011 NHL draft. Rask has signed with Carolina and, because he was drafted out of Sweden, he is eligible to play in the AHL despite his age. He had 63 points, including 33 goals, for the Hitmen last season so would be a big loss should he not return. . . .
D Ryan Dech, 19, who was released this week by the Edmonton Oil Kings, had his MJHL rights traded on Thursday. The Portage Terriers acquired his rights from the Virden Oil Capitals for F Cody Nelson, 18. . . . The Lethbridge Hurricanes have assigned G Tanner Kovacs, 18, to the AJHL’s Whitecourt Wolverines. Kovacs played last season with the AJHL’s St. Albert Steel. The team relocated to Whitecourt over the summer. The move leaves the Hurricanes with Chris Tai, who turns 17 on Dec. 1, backing up veteran Ty Rimmer, 20. Tai is from Delta, B.C.
———
Former WHL G David Reekie (Regina, Everett, 2004-07) will miss the start of the U of Saskatchewan Huskies season after being in a car accident a short time ago. Darren Zary of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that “Reekie is out another four to six weeks with cracked ribs and a bruised sternum.” . . . Head coach Dave Adolph told Zary: "It all depends on how he recovers, but he's got some internal injuries. He smacked his car pretty good. He's on the road to recovery." . . . Reekie was preparing for his fourth season with the Huskies. . . . With Reekie gone, Ryan Holfeld (Medicine Hat, 2006-10) will assume the No. 1 role and head coach Dave Adolph has brought in Blake Voth as the backup. Voth, a U of S student, played last season with the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires. He backstopped the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers to a Royal Bank Cup in the spring of 2010 and got them to the league final in 2010-11. . . . Zary’s complete story is right here.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From former Kelowna Rockets F Mitch Callahan (@emcy1five), as he leaves home to join the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins: “After 5 years of leaving home to play hockey, my mom still cries every time I leave.”
———
THE SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER LEARN DEPT.: WHEC-TV of Rochester, N.Y., has reported that the State University of New York at Geneseo has dumped its women’s volleyball season after eight new players were hazed in an alcohol-related incident. On top of that, 11 players are facing criminal charges. . . . Meanwhile, Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., has suspended its men’s baseball team for four games after freshmen players were hazed at an alcohol-fuelled team gathering on the weekend. “We’re talking about humiliating, dehumanizing activity as well as alcohol involved,” Laurier athletics director Peter Baxter told Joseph Hall of the Toronto Star. A hearing involving the players will be held Sunday amid concerns that the school still may end the team’s season.


There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

ASK THE COMMISSIONER:
Mr. Commissioner, do you really think it is appropriate for the WHL to have a Facebook page on which fans are permitted to unceremoniously rip players by name?
(Example: What a joke . . . Gotta bench (player name) . . . Worst defenceman ever in the whl. Who else tries too go thru 2 (other team’s) players in front your own net. Do us a favor (player name). Retire now before you screw up our chances of making the playoffs.)
———
JUST NOTES:
I meant to mention this yesterday in report on the Edmonton Oil Kings’ 9-5 victory over the host Calgary Hitmen. . . . Calgary D Brock Sutherland scored his first goal of this season, in his 53rd game. He played two games with the Tri-City American and 51 with the Hitmen. . . . He now has eight goals in 237 career games. . . . As he tweeted: “Me, Chris Phillips, and Scotty Gomez all just takin' a casual year off before we decide we're due to score! #iamwhatiam #worldjs” . . . Sutherland had last scored on Feb. 19 as the Americans lost 6-2 to the visiting Spokane Chiefs.
Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun reports that F Dominick Favreau of the Brandon Wheat Kings didn’t practise Thursday. Favreau came back from a shoulder injury to play in a 3-2 victory over the host Regina Pats on Wednesday, but left in the first period after absorbing a check. . . . Brandon is at home to the Swift Current Broncos tonight. . . .
The Wheat Kings will honour two players prior to tonight’s game. D Brodie Melnychuk, 20, became the eighth player in franchise history to play 300 regular-season games in a Wheat Kings uniform last weekend. The others? Randy Ponte (300), Ryan Craig (302), Dale McMullin (309), Aaron Goldade (310), Tim Konsorada (311), Lance Monych (319) and current assistant coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk (323). . . . As well, the Brandon Sun will present F Mark Stone with the prestigious 2011 H.L. Krug Crawford Memorial Medal. It goes annually to a sportsperson of the year in southwestern Manitoba. . . . Stone is the 13th player from the Wheat Kings organization to be so honoured, joining Brayden Schenn, Mark Derlago, Eric Fehr, Jordin Tootoo, Cory Cyrenne, Marty Murray, Trevor Kidd, Ray Ferraro, Glen Hanlon, Ron Chipperfield and Juha Widing. As well, Kelly McCrimmon, Dunc McCallum, Jack Brockest and Jake Milford, all members of Brandon’s front office, were recipients of the medal. . . .
The Calgary Hitmen have lost three of four after winning 14 of 15. The Hitmen are at home to the Moose Jaw Warriors tonight and Kootenay Ice on Sunday before heading into the B.C. Division and games in Victoria, Kelowna and Kamloops. . . . The Hitmen, who won 9-3 in Victoria on Jan. 3, will have a travel day between the games in Victoria and Kelowna. . . .
The Vancouver Giants have signed F Carter Popoff, 16, who was placed on their protected list in October. Popoff, from Richmond, B.C., has 52 points in 35 games with the junior B Richmond Sockeyes. . . .
F Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants needs one goal to tie F Adam Courchaine’s franchise career record of 126. Gallagher needs 10 points to equal Courchaine’s franchise record of 273 and is 17 assists short of D Jonathon Blum’s franchise record 155. . . . The Giants are at home to Everett tonight.
Alistair McInnis of the Prince George Free Press reports that the Cougars may get some of their injured plays back for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader with the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . G Drew Owsley, F Alex Forsberg, F Jarrett Fontaine and F Caleb Belter should all be back in action. However, D Dan Gibb is questionable, while D Reid Jackson and D Shane Pilling won’t play. As well, F Brock Hirsche and F John Odgers both have shoulder injuries that may have ended their seasons. . . .
The Everett Silvertips are 7-9-1 since D Ryan Murray returned from the World Junior Championship. . . . The Silvertips now are three points out of a playoff spot. They go home-and-home with the Vancouver Giants tonight and Saturday. They are north tonight and south on Saturday. . . . Of the Royals’ next 13 games, six will be against Prince George and Everett. The Royals will spend next weekend in Prince George. . . .
Medicine Hat Tigers F Emerson Etem has 49 goals in his first 48 games this season. He also takes a 16-game point streak into a game against the visiting Prince Albert Raiders tonight. He has 21 goals and seven assists in those 16 games. . . .
A tip of the cap to Andy Neal, the former radio voice of the Prince George Cougars who now works with the Victoria Cougars, for some of the info and stats here today. . . . Check out his latest Neal’s Notes right here. Lots of good stuff in this package. . . .
———
F Ryan Johansen, who could still be playing with the Portland Winterhawks, was a healthy scratch for a fourth straight game last night. He plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team with the NHL’s poorest record. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch blogged about Johansen’s situation on Thursday. That is right here.
———
In an open letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Ralph Nader (yes, that Ralph Nader) has called for an end to fighting.
———
Just when you thought you have heard/seen everything, you gain access to a YouTube video from an Ontario junor A game that goes to a shootout. But one goaltender gets tossed and the first shooter gets to take four shots. It’s all right here, and you can decide for which team the play-by-play guy is cheering.
Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports has more on this debacle right here.
———
Cam Tait of the Edmonton Journal has a piece right here on Jesse Pearson. His career was cut short by concussion-related problems and he now is an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings.


There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Dirty Harry stars in Everett

The Brandon Wheat Kings made two moves Sunday and got down to the 20-year-old maximum of three players. . . . The started by trading D Mark Schneider, 20, to the Regina Pats for F Dominick Favreau, 18. Schneider, from Brandon, is the son of former Wheat Kings captain Ken Schneider, who now coaches the midget AAA Wheat Kings. Mark began his WHL career with the Kamloops Blazers. He had 21 points in 60 games with the Wheat Kings last season, but was pointless in three games this season. . . . Regina selected Favreau with the 13th pick of the 2007 bantam draft. The native of Martensiville, Sask., he had three points in 57 games with the Pats last season. . . . The Wheat Kings also announced that G Jacob DeSerres, 20, cleared WHL waivers and is joining the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. DeSerres, from Calgary, was acquired by Brandon last season from the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . All of this leaves Brandon with D Darren Bestland, F David Toews and F Shayne Wiebe as its 20-year-olds. Toews is sidelined with a high ankle sprain. . . . The deals leaves Regina with its three 20-year-olds, in Schneider, F Thomas Frazee and F Colin Reddin.
---

The Winklers Flyers and OCN Blizzard went through 26 shooters before a shootout winner was decided in an MJHL Showcase Weekend game in Winnipeg on Saturday night. The Flyers ended up with a 3-2 victory. . . . The Lethbridge Hurricanes have lost F Austin Fyten for a while after he suffered a broken foot during Friday’s 4-1 victory over the visiting Prince George Cougars. He was off to a great start, with six goals and two assists in five games. . . . On Saturday, the Kootenay Ice lost D Brayden McNabb in the second period of a 6-3 victory in Lethbridge. “He is day-to-day with an upper body injury,” writes blogger Jeff Bromley. “Cripes, it's only October and we're into upper- and lower-body injuries?” . . . Dave Shoalts of The Globe and Mail checks in with the latest on the Dallas Stars, Tom Gaglardi and Bill Gallacher. That piece is right here.
---
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
KELOWNA 4 at EVERETT 3 (SO): The Rockets erased a 3-0 third-period deficit and won for the second night in a row. . . . Kelowna (2-4-0-0) had beaten the visiting Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 in OT on Saturday night. . . . F Geordie Wudrick and F Shane McColgan scored for Kelowna in the shootout, while Everett shooters Tyler Maxwell and Linden Ferraro were blanked. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 35 shots in his WHL debut. . . . F Mitchell (Dirty Harry) Callahan scored the Rockets’ first two goals, at 4:46 on a PP, and again at 13:50. They were Callahan’s first goals this season. . . . Callahan also drew an assist on F Zach Franko’s tying goal, at 18:55. . . . Maxwell scored two shorthanded goals for Everett (4-1-0-1) which has two games left on an eight-game season-opening homestand. Maxwell has eight goals this season. . . . Everett G Kent Simpson stopped 20 shots. . . . Kelowna was 1-for-4 on the PP; Everett was 0-for-3. . . . Attendance was 4,678. . . . The Rockets were without D Tyson Barrie (hamstring). . . . Checking from behind count: Zero.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter