Deer me, another smoky day in Kamloops ... Tigers sign Craven ... Patrick gets NHL deal

If you look closely behind the green table to the left of the apple tree, you will note the deer that paid a visit to your back yard on Monday at 1:30 p.m. She nibbled at the grass, checked out a bird feeder or two, and may have tried a Jon Gold apple.

As for the grey background, well, it was that kind of day in Kamloops. That's smoke, and it obliterated the view to the east down the South Thompson River Valley. Somewhere in there is the river and further east is Mount Martin. We think.

The smoke also resulted in watering eyes and meant that for the first time in four days there wasn't an opportunity to sit on the deck and read.

And, yes, that deck will get painted one of these days. After the smoke leaves, of course.

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting

— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

———

F Nathan Burns (Vancouver, Saskatoon, Swift Current, 2009-14) has signed a one-year contract with Halle (Germany, Oberliga). Burns didn’t play either of the past two seasons. In 2014-15 with the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL), he had three goals and seven assists in 27 games. . . .

F Gilbert Brulé (Vancouver, 2002-06) has been traded by Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk to Traktor Chelyabinsk (both Russia, KHL) for cash compensation. Last season, he had six goals and four assists in 16 games with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL), and 12 goals and 20 assists in 37 games with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL).

———

The Medicine Hat Tigers have signed D Joel Craven to a WHL contract. Last season, with the midget AAA Northwest Athletic Association Flames in Calgary, he had a goal and nine assists in 31 games. . . . A list player, he is the son of Murray Craven, a former Tigers star forward (1980-84) who now is senior vice-president with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.

——

The Vancouver Giants have signed F Milos Roman to a WHL contract. A Slovakian, Roman was the fifth-overall selection in the CHL’s 2017 import draft. . . . Roman, who won’t turn 18 until Nov. 6, played last season with HC Frydek-Mistek in the Czech Republick’s second-tier pro league. He had four goals and two assists in 29 games. He also played for Slovakia in the 2017 World Junior Championship, scoring once and adding an assist in four games. . . . He had a goal and an assist in five games at 2017 IIHF U-18 world championship and picked up five assists in four games at last summer’s Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup tournament.

——

F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. He was the second-overall selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft. . . . Patrick had 46 points, including 20 goals, in 33 games with Brandon last season. He missed a lot of the season due to a sports hernia. He had surgery in July 2016, then had more surgery on June 13. . . . Patrick was in Philadelphia for the Flyers’ development camp but didn’t take part in any on-ice activities. He is expected to start skating again next week and the Flyers say he should be ready for training camp. . . . If Patrick doesn’t make the Flyers’ roster, he will have to be returned to the Wheat Kings.

——

From Treva Lind of the Spokane Spokesman-Review:

Spokane Public Facilities District is having Garco Construction, of Spokane, expand and remodel 2,300 square feet of space for the northeast front entrance to make room near metal detectors. A secondary project will update two concession areas.

A space in a southwest corner will get a new look — a taco truck-inspired design — for sale of fresh Mexican food, said Matt Gibson, arena general manager.

Work for a north side food area will push out a wall about 20 feet to create new eatery space introducing such options as craft burgers, Asian wraps, panini sandwiches and a craft beer center.

Gibson said work should be done in time for the Spokane Chiefs home opener Sept. 30.

——

Whatever became of Denis Afinogenov? Remember when he was on your fantasy hockey team? Well, he’s now coaching in the Russian Women’s Hockey League. There’s that and a whole lot more right here at Patrick Conway’s Russian Hockey Blog.

——

If you’re a regular here, and even you aren’t, feel free to contribute to the feeding of the Drinnan family by making a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

If you would like to contact Taking Note with information, have a question or just feel like commenting on something, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com. I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

———

Tweet of the day

Thank you to @RichieBoy306 , Pat Naylen, Troy Vollhoffer and the Country Thunder crew for making this happen...... pic.twitter.com/XMSPMIygiI

— Brad Hornung (@Bradhornung) July 15, 2017

Riverton Rifle tells kids @ Athabasca Basin Security's hockey camp call if they need anything-and hands them his cell #. #stillbringsit pic.twitter.com/4gsRssmUc8

— Steve Hogle (@Hogle) July 17, 2017

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.

'Tips, Wheaties make deal . . . Blazers add 20-year-old d-man . . . Pats can't keep up with Jones

I've just decided that Reims will play ALL of the games versus the leafs this year...... #Matthews

— Strombone (@strombone1) October 13, 2016

F Gilbert Brulé (Vancouver, 2002-06) has been traded by Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL) to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL) for “compensation.” This season, with Zagreb, he had six goals and four assists in 16 games. It appears that Brulé may have asked for a trade. According to Zagreb's website, “Brulé, in a mutual agreement with the club, has decided to continue his career in Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.” Nizhnekamsk reports that Brulé has signed a two-year contract with his new club.

-———

The Everett Silvertips have acquired F Brad Goethals, 18, from the Brandon Wheat Kings for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2018 WHL bantam draft. . . . Goethals is expected to join the Silvertips at some point over the weekend. . . . Last season, playing for the midget AAA Eastman Selects, he led the Manitoba Midget Hockey League in goals (41) and points (74) in 43 games. In 83 games in that league, he put up 129 points, including 73 goals. . . . Goethals is from Ile-des-Chenes, Man., the hometown of Everett G Mario Petit. Goethals was teammates on the Selects with Everett D Montana Onyebuchi. . . . There was a time when Goethals appeared head to Bemidji State, but he later changed his mind and was in Brandon’s training camp prior to last season.

——

The Kamloops Blazers have claimed D Shaun Dosanjh, 20, off waivers from the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Blazers were looking to fill a roster spot created when they put veteran D Dallas Valentine, 20, on the long-term injury reserve list. He suffered an elbow injury during a 2-1 loss to the host Calgary Hitmen on Oct. 7. . . . From Richmond, B.C., Dosanjh was a third-round selection by the Vancouver Giants in the WHL’s 2011 bantam draft. He has six points, two of them goals, in 128 regular-season games, 85 with the Giants and 43 with the Cougars. . . . He was pointless in four games with Prince George this season. . . . Dosanjh joins F Collin Shirley and F Matt Revel as the Blazers’ 20-year-olds. . . . The Cougars now have three 20s on their roster — F Colby McAuley, D Sam Ruopp and G Ty Edmonds.

——

The Prince Albert Raiders trimmed two players from their roster on Wednesday. . . . F Evgeni Astrouski, 17, is expected to play for the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons. A 10th-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft, he was pointless in one game with the Raiders. Evgeni is from Belarus but isn’t considered an import because he played some minor hockey in Edmonton. . . . D Lane Kirk, 16, is expected to join the MJHL’s Swan Valley Stampeders who play out of his hometown of Swan River. He was a fifth-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. Kirk had one assist in three games with the Raiders this season.

——

@AndyEide Strange Seattle has Osterman listed as a scratch tonight when they dropped him yesterday.

— Larry Osterman (@Larry_Osterman) October 12, 2016

Luke Osterman, 19, was selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the eighth round of the 2012 bantam draft. He is from Stillwater, Minn. . . . In 2014-15, as a freshman with the Thunderbirds, he had two goals in 45 games. Last season, he had one assist in 35 games. . . . The above tweet was posted Tuesday night, prior to Seattle’s 3-1 loss to the visiting Spokane Chiefs.

——

Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

———

It's pretty cool walking by the Gordie statue everyday. No matter the occasion or weather, there's always fresh flowers. pic.twitter.com/tN0V3VQnCR

— Tyler Wawryk (@wawryk16) October 12, 2016

———

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

At Kamloops, the Blazers got five goals from defencemen as they dusted the Spokane Chiefs, 6-1. . . . The Blazers have scored 15 goals in their only two games this season. They beat the Kelowna

Rockets, 9-2, on opening night. . . . D Dawson Davidson and D Ondrej Vala each scored twice for Kamloops, which got the game’s last six goals. . . . F Jaret Anderson-Dolan gave Spokane the lead with a PP goal at 2:20 of the first period. . . . Vala tied it at 13:46 and F Collin Shirley gave Kamloops the lead on a PP at 15:15. . . . Davidson and Vala scored their first two goals of the season, while D Nolan Kneen got his first. . . . G Quinn Benjafield drew three assists and F Nick Chyzowski had two. Kneen added an assist to his goal. . . . Kamloops G Connor Ingram stopped 29 shots with Hockey Canada goaltending coach Fred Brathwaite in the house. . . . Spokane starter Dawson Weatherill was beaten five times on 18 shots, with reliever Jayden Sittler coming in to stop 16 of 17 in 29:58. . . . Kamloops was 2-3 on the PP; Spokane was 1-5. . . . The Blazers (4-5-0) have won two in a row. . . . The Chiefs are 2-4-0. . . . The game featured the WHL’s two winningest active coaches. Don Hay of Kamloops now has 679 regular-season victories, 12 more than Spokane’s Don Nachbaur. . . . F Eli Zummack, 16, made his WHL debut with the Chiefs. From Kelowna, he was a second-round pick by the Red Deer Rebels in the 2015 bantam draft. Zummack was part of a Jan. 1 exchange in which F Adam Helewska went to Red Deer. . . . On a night when F Auston Matthews scored four goals in his first NHL game with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a reader of this blog points out that this game featured players named Sittler, Henderson, Mahovlich and Walton. . . . F Massimo Rizzo, taken 15th overall by the Blazers in the WHL’s 2016 bantam draft, made his BCHL debut with the Penticton Vees on Wednesday night. He was pointless as the host Vees ran their winning streak to eight games with a 3-1 victory over the Langley Rivermen. Rizzo plays for the Burnaby Winter Club team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. . . . Announced attendance: 3,623.

——

.@WHLHurricanes fans are good people. pic.twitter.com/Jp5bSoYnKf

— Lindsay Folk (@LindsayFolk) October 13, 2016

At Lethbridge, F Giorgio Estephan scored twice and added an assist to help the Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . Estephan broke a 1-1 tie at 7:52 of the second period and the home boys scored the game’s next three goals. . . . F Brayden Burke added a goal and two assists for Lethbridge, while F Egor Babenko scored twice, giving him five. . . . The wines got 36 saves from G Stuart Skinner. . . . Victoria starter Griffen Outhouse gave up four goals on 23 shots in 44:07. Reliever Dylan Myskiw stopped three of four shots. . . . The Hurricanes (5-2-1) were 1-3 on the PP; the Royals (4-5-0) were 0-3. Victoria had won its previous two games. . . . The game marked the return of F Carter Folk, 20, to Lethbridge. After playing 171 games with the Hurricanes, he was dealt to Victoria on Sept. 12 as Lethbridge got down to three 20s. He was pointless last night. . . . Announced attendance: 2,757.

——

At Prince George, D Kevin Davis broke a 2-2 tie at 15:54 of the first period and the Everett Silvertips went on to a 6-3 victory over the Cougars. . . . The Silvertips (6-1-1) swept the two-game series in Prince George. The Cougars (8-2-0) had been unbeaten going into Tuesday’s game. . . . F Patrick Bajkov had a goal and two assists in the first period for Everett. He scored the game’s first goal, at 5:29, then drew an assist on F Riley Sutter’s PP goal at 7:36. . . . F Brogan O’Brien and F Aaron Boyd scored nine seconds apart to pull the Cougars even. . . . Davis then broke the tie, with Bajkov getting the primary assist. . . . F Graham Millar’s sixth goal made it 4-2 at 1:38 of the second period. Sutter’s second goal, at 2:51, upped the lead to 5-2. . . . Davis added an assist to his goal. . . . G Carter Hart blocked 19 shots for Everett. . . . Prince George starter Nick McBride gave up five goals on 13 shots in 22:51. Ty Edmonds came on in relief and stopped 13 of 14. . . . Everett was 3-7 on the PP; Prince George was 1-4. . . . Announced attendance: 2,534.

——

Last seasons #WHL leading scorer VS the leading scorer right now pic.twitter.com/Ye5qdFY1H3

— Chad Balcom (@hawkeyblog) October 13, 2016

At Regina, D Caleb Jones scored off a 2-on-1 break with 54.6 seconds left in OT to give the Portland Winterhawks a 5-4 victory over the Pats. . . . The teams were tied 1-1 going into the third period, where they evenly split six goals. . . . Portland took a 3-1 lead on goals by F Evan Weinger and Colton Veloso before the period was five minutes old. . . . The Pats scored the next three goals — F Adam Brooks (5:33), F Sam Steel (7:21, PP) and F Filip Ahl (10:12, PP). . . . Portland D Keoni Teixeira forced OT with a 5-on-3 pP goal at 17:05. . . . Jones and F Lane Gilliss each had a goal and an assist for Portland, with F Ryan Hughes adding two assists. . . . Last season, Hughes had three goals and 10 assists in 71 games. This season, the 17-year-old from Edmonton has three goals and 10 assists in 10 games. . . . Brooks, the reigning WHL scoring champ, scored twice in his first game since returning from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. . . . Steel added an assist to his sixth goal, while Ahl also had an assist, and D Connor Hobbs had two of them. . . . The game featured 103 shots on goal, 52 by Regina. . . . Portland G Michael Bullion stopped 47 shots, one more than Regina’s Tyler Brown. . . . Regina was 2-6 on the PP; Portland was 1-5. . . . Portland (7-3-0) went 4-2-0 on its East Division trip. . . . Regina (4-0-3) still is the only one of the WHL’s 22 teams not to lose in regulation time. . . . Announced attendance: 3,614.

——

THURSDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

——

FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Prince Albert at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Victoria at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Regina vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Prince George vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:35 p.m.

Everett at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Kamloops vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

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.

Sask. Hall welcomes inductees . . . Bassin done in Erie . . . Nicholls: Hockey "detrimental to my health"

F Gilbert Brule (Vancouver, 2002-06) signed a one-year contract with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL). Last season, with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Russia, KHL), he had 10 goals and five assists in 44 games.
———


The Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame held its fourth annual induction ceremony in Humboldt on Friday evening. The class of 2015 features former Saskatoon Blades star Wendel Clark; Guyle Fielder, who dominated the pro Western league back in the day; Dave King, one of Canada’s great coaches; the late Vic Lynn, who played for all of the Original Six teams during his NHL career; former Canadian national team and Saskatoon Blades head coach Jackie McLeod; Kevin Muench, a longtime on-ice official who now is the WHL’s director of officiating; longtime Humboldt Broncos trainer Elgar (A.J.) Petersen; Gerry Rooney, a former Broncos manager and assistant coach; and former Swift Current Broncos forward Dave (Tiger) Williams. Also being inducted were two teams — the 1934 Saskatoon Quakers, who won the world championship; the 2003 Humboldt Broncos, who won the RBC Cup; and the Simpson Flyers (1965-72), who won six Saskatchewan titles. . . . The Hall of Fame is located in the Credit Union iPlex in Swift Current, the home of the Broncos.
———

PHX✈️AUS pic.twitter.com/XRoksQdb7n

— The Carson Show (@CarsonDimoff) July 18, 2015

The story in the above tweet is about forwards Carson Dimoff and Ryan Savage, and how they came to join Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, where they plan on playing hockey this season. The WHL rights to both players belong to the Everett Silvertips.
——
Sherry Bassin’s 19-year run with the OHL’s Erie Otters is over. With the team having changed hands, he won’t be back as its general manager, Victor Fernandes of goerie.com suggests right here that Dave Brown should be the team’s next GM.
——
Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
———


“I had a tremendous hockey career,” writes former NHL star Bernie Nicholls, “but it was extremely detrimental to my health and mental well-being.” . . . Nicholls has written a first-person piece for the New York Daily News and it’s right here.
———

#GrowingUpInArizona When you roll the window down while driving.🔥 pic.twitter.com/bFE8262GaA

— Trev (@Ruelas_Trevor) July 18, 2015

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.

Oil Kings crowned kings of the WHL

F Gilbert Brulé (Vancouver, 2002-06) has signed a one-year contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Russia, KHL). This season, with the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL), he was pointless in three games. In 11 games with the Portland Pirates (AHL), he had 12 points, including 12 goals. . . .

F Roman Horák (Chilliwack, 2009-11) has signed a one-year contract with Vityaz Podolsk (Russia, KHL). This season with the Calgary Flames/Edmonton Oilers, Horák had one goal in three games. With the Abbotsford Heat/Oklahoma City Barons (AHL), he had 55 points, 23 of them goals, in 66 games.
---
G Justin Myles’ stint with the Kamloops Blazers is over, and he never did get into a game.
In January, the Blazers sent G Taran Kozun to the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for Myles, D Austin Douglas and a fourth-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft.
However, Myles, who is from Calgary, was injured and never did play for the Blazers.
On Monday, the Blazers dealt Myles, 19, to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft.
Kamloops also has received a 2016 fourth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft from Seattle as compensation for Myles.
The Blazers are expected to open next season with Bolton Pouliot, 20, as their starter. Cole Kehler, 17, is No. 2 on the depth chart, after getting into 11 games this season. Connor Ingram, 17, of the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos, who won the Telus Cup, and Dylan Ferguson, 16, of the midget AAA Notre Dame Argos also are in the picture.
Myles joins Teagan Sacher, who turns 20 on Dec. 1, Jarrod Schamerhorn, 19, Jonny Hogue, 18, and Stuart Skinner, who will be 16 on Nov. 1, as goaltenders on the Lethbridge roster who have seen action in the WHL.
---
The Moose Jaw Warriors have acquired F Kolten Olynek, 18, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes for F Miles Warkentine, 18.
Olynek, from Saskatoon, had 12 points, including four goals, in 57 games with the Hurricanes this season. He was a second-round pick, 26th overall, in the 2011 bantam draft.
After an injury-filled freshman season, Warkentine, from Prince Albert, had 12 points, three of them goals, in 65 games with the Warriors this season. Moose Jaw selected him 16th overall in the 2011 bantam draft.
---


1. Travis Green, the head coach of the AHL’s Utica Comets, was in the house in Portland on Tuesday night as the Winterhawks lost 4-2 to the Edmonton Oil Kings in Game 7 of the WHL final. Green spent most of last season as the Winterhawks’ head coach, with GM/head coach Mike Johnston suspended. Stu Walters of Shaw-TV reported that Green watched Game 6 of the WHL final in Anaheim, while communicating with Portland assistant GM Matt Bardsley. With the Oil Kings leading 5-2, Green apparently told Bardsley that if the Winterhawks came back and won, he would be in Portland for Game 7. They did and he was.


2. The Memorial Cup field will be rounded out tonight when Game 7 of the QMJHL final is played in Baie-Comeau between the Drakkar and the Val-d’Or Foreurs.

3. The Memorial Cup is to be played in London, Ont., and will open Friday with the host Knights meeting the QMJHL champion. The Edmonton Oil Kings, who won the WHL title last night in Portland, open Saturday against the OHL-champion Guelph Storm. . . . The Oil Kings then meet London on Saturday.

4. Late night tweet from the Guelph Storm (@Storm_City): “Hey @EdmOilKings, we found some ice time in London on Saturday. Are you in?”

5. Response from the Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings): “It's a date!”

6. G Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers drew a $5,000 fine for squirting Sir Sidney Crosby with water during a playoff game on Sunday night. . . . Earlier in these playoffs, F Milan Lucic was fined $5,000 for spearing Detroit Red Wings D Danny DeKeyser in the jewels. . . . Boston F Shawn Thornton was fined $2,820.52 for squirting water in the face of Montreal Canadiens D P.K. Subban. . . . All of these are the maximum allowed under the CBA, which makes one wonder if that part was negotiated near the end of an all-nighter.

7. Remember when the NHL said it was going to crack down on obstruction and that penalties would be called in the playoffs just like they are in the regular season? Did you believe the NHL at the time? If so, do you now feel shame?

8. If you were wondering, Brett Iverson will be the WHL referee to work Memorial Cup games in London.
---
THE COACHING GAME:
Jason Williamson, the general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, got a new two-year contract last week. Williamson, 33, who is coaching the host team for the RBC Cup this week, was in the final year of a three-year contract. . . . Associate coach Kris Mallette also will return to the Vipers next season, as will assistant coach Dave Robinson.
---
Bob Prier has resigned after three seasons as head coach of the Princeton U Tigers, who were 6-26-0 this season. Prier, who resigned Monday, had a 25-58-12 record at Princeton.
---
The junior B Grand Forks Border Bruins of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League have signed Brad Snyder as their general manager and head coach. Snyder, from Flin Flon, Man., replaces Kevin Flather, who had been hired Nov. 7 to replace Nick Deschenes, who left early in the season to join the staff of the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters.
---

THE FOURTH ROUND (best-of-seven):
WHL final, for the Ed Chynoweth Cup
PORTLAND (2, West) vs. Edmonton (1, East)(Edmonton wins, 4-3)
Season series: Portland, 0-0-1; Edmonton, 1-0-0.
Saturday: Edmonton 2 at Portland 5 (10,947)
Sunday: Edmonton 1 at Portland 3 (10,645)
Tuesday: Portland 2 at Edmonton 3 (6,799)
Wednesday: Portland 0 at Edmonton 2 (7,859)
Friday: Edmonton 3 at Portland 2 (10,947)
Sunday: Portland 6 at Edmonton 5 (OT) (11,902)
Monday: Edmonton 4 at Portland 2 (10,095)
---

MONDAY’S GAME:
In Portland, the Edmonton Oil Kings erased a 1-0 deficit with four goals in the second period and went on to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup with a 4-2 victory over the defending-champion Winterhawks. . . . The Oil Kings, who won four of the last five games in the series, took the best-of-seven series 4-3. . . . The Memorial Cup opens Friday in London, Ont., with the host Knights playing the QMJHL champion, which will be decided tonight. . . . The Oil Kings open Saturday against the OHL-champion Guelph Storm. . . . In 10 previous WHL championship Game 7s, the home team was 10-0. . . . This was the third time in as many years that the same teams met in the WHL final. Edmonton won two years ago; the Winterhawks won last season. In the three finals, each team won 10 times. . . . Portland F Oliver Bjorkstrand opened the scoring at 4:42 of the first period, going coast-to-coast and beating G Tristan Jarry off the right wing, high to the long side, moments after G Brendan Burke had come up big on Edmonton F Mitch Moroz. . . . The Oil Kings came close to tying it a short time later while on the game’s first PP, but F Curtis Lazar was ruled to have kicked the puck into the net with his left foot. . . . Edmonton tied it when F Mitch Moroz waltzed from the right wing across the slot and beat Burke at 3:50 of the second. . . . With the Winterhawks on the PP but looking the more tired of the two teams, Lazar scored shorthanded at 9:02 for a 2-1 lead. . . . Just 40 seconds later, F Reid Petryk drove to the net and got the puck through Burke for a 3-1 lead. . . . Edmonton finished off the period with F Mads Eller scoring on a 3-on-1 break at 17:17. . . . Portland didn’t score again until F Brendan Leipsic beat Jarry on a PP at 16:38 of the third period. . . . Portland was 1-for-5 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-for-2. . . . Jarry finished with 32 saves, three more than Burke. . . . Edmonton D Griffin Reinhart was selected as the MVP of the playoffs. Reinhart was injured last season and didn’t play in the championship series. . . . Bjorkstrand and Leipsic tied for the playoff scoring lead, each with 33 points. Bjorkstrand led the playoffs in goals (16) and Portland D Derrick Pouliot was tops in assists (27).
---

From Edmonton Journal sports columnist John MacKinnon (@rjmackinnon), after the post-game trophy presentations: “#WHL pres. Ron Robison gets the boos in Portland. Fans don't forgive or forget, apparently. Yikes.”

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.

Catching up . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Marek Kalus (Spokane, Brandon, 2010-13) signed a tryout deal with Cracovia Krakow (Poland, Ekstraliga) after being released from a tryout with Västerås (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had two assists in eight games during the tryout. Earlier this season, he had four assists in 12 games with Dukla Trencin (Slovakia, Extraliga). . . .
F Gilbert Brulé (Vancouver, 2002-06) signed for the rest of this season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia, KHL). This season, he had six goals and two assists in eight games with Portland (AHL). . . .
D Jim Vandermeer (Red Deer, 1997-2001) signed a one-year extension with Kloten (Switzerland, NL A). At the time of the signing, he had eight points, one of them a goal, in 24 games. . . .
F Brett McLean (Tacoma/Kelowna, Brandon, 1994-99) signed a one-year extension with Lugano (Switzerland, NL A). This season, he has 24 points, 12 of them goals, in 25 games. That left him third in the NL A scoring race. . . .
F Marcin Kolusz (Vancouver, 2003-04) signed for the rest of the season with Tychy (Poland, Ekstraliga) after being released by Krynica for financial reasons. This season with Krynica, he had 27 points, eight of them goals, in 19 games. He was fourth in league scoring at the time of his release. Krynica also released three other players, including its leading scorer. . . .
F Clarke Breitkreuz (Regina, Prince George, 2008-10) has been loaned to Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (Germany, DEL) by Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, Oberliga). This season with Löwen, he had 34 points, including 26 assists, in 13 games. He was leading the team in assists and points. . . .
F Adam Rehak (Medicine Hat, 2011-12) signed for one year plus an option with Cracovia Krakow (Poland, Ekstraliga). Rehak started the season with Meran/Merano (Italy, Austria Nationalliga), putting up 12 points, including seven goals, in 12 games. He Rehak wanted to move closer to hometown of Ostrava. . . .
F Justin Maylan (Moose Jaw, Prince George, Prince Albert, 2007-12) signed for the rest of the season with Herning (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). This season, Maylan had one assists in three games with South Carolina (ECHL) and was pointless in four games with Oklahoma City (AHL).
———
You may be aware that 10 former NHL players have filed a class-action lawsuit against the league, the claim being that not enough has been done to protect players from brain injuries.
Eddie Pells of The Associated Press examines that situation right here.
You can bet that the WHL and its owners/operators are paying attention.
Earlier this year, after the NFL had settled a similar lawsuit brought against it by former players, I asked a legal expert if, in his opinion, hockey leagues were open to such action.
His response:
“I think hockey is in a different position than football because there are no allegations that the sport was sitting on information and not sharing it with players. Hockey was first out of the starting blocks with its baseline neurological testing program in 1997-98. “Hockey has not, in my view, had the sort of radical re-writing of the rulebook that the NFL recently undertook and so has not done enough to remove the unnecessary risks from the game.
“I think there will be hockey lawsuits (yeah, there’s already Boogaard but this case is singularly unique) in the NHL.
“I think where the CHL/WHL is vulnerable is that legally minors can’t consent and courts are taking a harsher and narrower view to inherent risks to the game (i.e. Could the game survive without fighting? That is the ultimate test of whether or not a risk is inherent. ‘Are the penalties for headshots sufficient to disincentivize teams, coaches and players? Or does the league consider it part of the game?’) especially now that teams are being bought and sold for nearly $10 million.”
———
Was Tuesday’s deal between the NHL and Rogers Communications the death knell for TSN? And maybe for CBC-TV, too? . . . Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun opines right here.
———
Over at the National Post, Scott Stinson writes: “Rogers will collect all of the revenues from the advertisements and sponsorships that are sold on Hockey Night in Canada, even the versions of it that appear on CBC. . . . The executives could talk up the partnership all they want, but it is Rogers that is piloting the ship, and the CBC trailing behind in its dingy. Four years from now, the rope could be cut.”
Stinson’s complete column is right here.
———
F Henrik Nyberg, 19, has left the Kelowna Rockets and returned to his home in Danderyd, Sweden. Last season, Nyberg had 17 points, including eight goals, in 54 games. This season, he had three assists in 21 games. . . . "Henrik has come to the realization that playing in North America is not in his future and he wants to move on with his life," Rockets' head coach Ryan Huska said in a news release.
———
A few things that occurred while Taking Note was in darkness . . .
The Kamloops Blazers traded F Aaron Macklin, 18, to the Prince George Cougars for F Carson Bolduc, 17, on Tuesday. . . . Bolduc, who is from Salmon Arm, B.C., had left the Cougars and asked for a trade. He had seven points in 54 games last season, and had two goals in 17 games this season. . . . Bolduc played bantam in Kamloops before being selected by the Cougars in the Macklin, from High River, Alta., had seven points, three of them goals, in 20 games this season. Last season, he had four points, one of them a goal, in 62 games.
———
The Victoria Royals made two trades, the first one announced immediately following a 2-1 victory over the Blazers in Kamloops on Nov. 19.
In that deal, the Royals sent F Luke Harrison, 18, to the Blazers for a 2014 sixth-round bantam draft pick.
Harrison, from West Kelowna, was in his third season with the Royals. In 92 games, he had six points, including four goals. This season, he had three goals in 23 games with the Royals.
The next day, the Royals announced the acquisition of Swedish forward Axel Blomqvist, 18, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Royals also received an undisclosed conditional 2016 bantam draft pick, while surrendering fourth- and eighth-round selections in the 2014 draft.
The 6-foot-6, 212-pound Blomqvist had 13 points, eight of them goals, in 19 games with the Hurricanes this season. He becomes the Royals’ second import, alongside G Patrik Polivka. Last season, as a freshman, Blomqvist had 33 points, seven of them goals, in 59 games.
Undrafted, Blomqvist went to camp with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and later signed a three-year NHL contract.
———
Jim Swanson, who spent a number of years covering the WHL and the Prince George Cougars for the Prince George Citizen, has signed on as the general manager of baseball’s Victoria HarbourCats, who play in the West Coast League. . . . Swanson is a long-time baseball guy and was heavily involved in the Prairie League, a now-defunct independent league that had franchises in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Minnesota. . . . He also has been heavily involved in baseball in Prince George and was a major push behind the World Baseball Challenge, the 2009, 2011 and 2013 editions having featured tremendous international competition. . . . He was the manager of the Prince George Axemen, who won the 2012 Canadian senior championship. . . . The HarbourCats are preparing for their second season in the WCL.
———
The Vancouver Giants dealt F Scott Cooke, 19, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a sixth-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. Cooke, who has yet to play this season after breaking his right leg in the exhibition season, is from White Rock, B.C. He was back practising this week so his return should be imminent. Cooke had one assist in 40 games last season, after putting up a goal and two helpers in 34 games in 2011-12.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings acquired G Christopher Tai, 18, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a conditional eighth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. The Wheat Kings needed some depth behind Jordan Papirny, as Curtis Honey has been out with an undisclosed injury. At the time of the trade, Papirny had made nine straight starts, most of them with an emergency backup on the bench. Tai became expendable in Lethbridge after the Hurricanes acquired G Teagan Sacher, who turns 19 on Dec. 1, from the Regina Pats to work in support of starter Corbin Boes, 20, who was acquired from Brandon over the summer.
———————————
As all are aware, Nov. 22 marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. . . . Right here is the column written by the legendary Jimmy Breslin following the assassination. This is one of the most remarkable newspaper pieces I have ever read. You won’t be wasting your time by giving it a look.
And right here is a piece in which Breslin explains the circumstances involved in his decision to write that particular column.


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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Clarke MacArthur (Medicine Hat, 2002-05) signed a lockout contract with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had 20 goals and 23 assists in 73 games with Toronto Maple Leafs last season. . . .
F Eric Fehr (Brandon, 2000-05) signed a one-year contract with HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had two goals and one assist in 35 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season. Fehr is an unrestricted free agent so he is not technically locked out. However, his contract with HPK does have an NHL opt-out clause should the lockout end and Fehr sign with an NHL team. Fehr was expected to arrive in Finland on Tuesday evening and is to be in HPK's lineup Saturday. . . .
F Gilbert Brulé (Vancouver, 2002-06) was granted his release by the ZSC Lions Zurich (Switzerland, NL A) for reasons the club said were "private and personal". He had six assists in 14 games for the Lions this season.
———
G Austin Lotz is back on the ice with the Everett Silvertips, after sitting out seven games with a groin injury. That, of course, makes the Silvertips’ goaltending situation awfully interesting, what with Daniel Cotton and Cole Holowenko also healthy. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald has  look at things right here.
———
TUESDAY’S GAMES:
G Ty Rimmer stopped 31 shots to lead the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 4-0 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. . . . It was Rimmer’s first shutout this season and the 10th of his career. . . . He had four with the Prince George Cougars in 2010-11 and five with the Tri-City Americans in 2011-12. . . . The Hurricanes have won two in a row for the first time this season and are 6-6-1. . . . F Russell Maxwell, who had 15 goals in 72 games last season, got his ninth in 13 games this time around. . . .

F Charles Inglis scored twice, giving him 11, as the host Red Deer Rebels got past the Regina Pats, 3-2. . . . Inglis scored 10 goals in 36 games after Red Deer acquired him from the Prince George Cougars last season; he has 11 goals in 16 games this season. . . . Regina was without F Chandler Stephenson (ankle), who will be out for up to six weeks. He was injured late in a 6-3 loss to the visiting Tri-City Americans on Friday. . . . Regina, which plays tonight in Cranbrook against the Kootenay Ice, is in a stretch of four games in five nights and had six players scratched with illness/injuries — Stephenson, F Patrick D’Amico (foot), D Kyle Burroughs (illness), F Braden Christoffer (foot), D Tye Hand (leg) and F Dryden Hunt (concussion). . . .

D Brenden Kichton drew three assists as the Spokane Chiefs scored five third-period goals and beat the host Prince George Cougars, 6-1. . . . The Chiefs scored the game’s last six goals. . . . F Mitch Holmberg scored his 11th goal and drew two assists for Spokane. . . . These teams are in a stretch of playing each other in three straight games. The Chiefs won at home 3-2 on Saturday night and they’ll play again tonight in P.G. . . . G Mac Engel, acquired last week from the Chiefs, stopped 17 shots for the Cougars. . . . The announced attendance was 1,382. . . .

F Alex Gogolev put up three points, including the OT winner, as the Victoria Royals got past the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings, 4-3. . . . Gogolev scored his second goal of the game, and seventh of the season, on a PP at 1:58 of OT. Brandon D Tyler Yaworski had been penalized for a headshot just 27 seconds into OT. . . . Victoria was 3-for-9 on the PP; the Wheat Kings were 1-for-6. . . . The Royals have won nine games this season and have come from behind in six of them. . . . F Alessio Bertaggia scored his ninth goal of the season on a penalty shot at 2:02 of the second period. . . . Brandon later held a 2-0 lead, but trailed 3-2 in the third period. . . . Brandon F Tim McGauley forced OT with his fourth goal at 14:16 of the third. . . . The Wheat Kings hadn’t played in Victoria since 1993. . . . D Tyler Stahl, named the Royals’ captain earlier in the week, sat out with an undisclosed injury. . . . Brandon F Jack Palmer is the son of former Victoria Cougars sniper Brad Palmer. Brad had 214 points, including 97 goals, in 185 games with the Cougars (1978-81). He was selected by the Minnesota North Stars with the 16th overall pick of the NHL’s 1980 draft.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Reid Duke, Lethbridge
F Collin Valcourt, Spokane
D Keegan Kanzig, Victoria

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
D Keegan Kanzig, Victoria
D Tyler Yaworski, Brandon
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From F Graham Black (@GrahamBlack9) of the Swift Current Broncos: “Vicks vapor rub is not meant for some parts of your body . . . Can someone please help me”

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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Andrej Podkonicky (Portland, 1996-98) signed a one-year contract with Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga). He had three goals and three assists in 16 games with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga) and six goals and nine assists in 31 games with Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga) last season. . . .
F Gilbert Brule (Vancouver, 2002-06) signed a one-year contract with ZSC Zurich (Switzerland, NL A). He had eight goals and 10 assists in 27 games with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) and five goals and nine assists in 33 games with the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) last season. . . .
F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) signed a one-year contract extension with HIFK Helsinki (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had six goals and 15 assists in 23 games with Olten (Switzerland, NL B) and six goals and 13 assists in 26 games for HIFK after joining the club in January. . . . Redenbach is a former WHL scoring champion, having won the title in 2003-04 when he put up 105 points for the Swift Current Broncos.
———
D Zach Habscheid won’t be back with the WHL’s Victoria Royals. Instead, Habscheid, 20, will play for the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede. The son of veteran coach Marc Habscheid, Zach played three seasons under his father, two with the Chilliwack Bruins and last season with the Royals. In 139 regular-season games, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Habscheid had 13 points, two of them goals, and 195 penalty minutes. Injuries, including concussions, limited him to 45 games in 2010-11 and 41 games last season.
———
Terry Ruskowski (Swift Current, 1971-74) is the new general manager and head coach of the Central league’s Quad City Mallards. He replaces David Bell, who resigned from both positions after one season with the Mallards. . . . Ruskowski, 57, has been a pro coach for 17 seasons, nine of those in the CHL. He spent eight seasons with the Laredo Bucks and last season with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. He also almost two full seasons (1989-91) as head coach of the Saskatoon Blades. He lost his job late in the 1990-91 season with the Blades at 22-30-2. . . . Saskatoon GM Daryl Lubiniecki hired Bob Hoffmeyer to replace Ruskowski. Hoffmeyer finished the season but didn’t return to the Blades, ultimately signing on as head coach of the IHL’s Kalamazoo Wings. . . . Lubiniecki then signed Lorne Molleken as head coach.
———
David Branch, the commissioner of the OHL, won’t name names when it comes to the Windsor Spitfires and the recruiting violations that cost them a $400,000 fine and five draft picks. (The Spitfires, it must be noted, are appealing.) . . . “For good or bad,” writes columnist Bob Duff of the Windsor Star, this could prove to be Branch’s defining moment in a long and storied career as the man in charge of the OHL.” . . . Duff also calls for Branch to reveal the names of the players who were involved in this situation. Not doing so, says Duff, tars too many players with the same brush. . . . That piece is right here.
———
Bob Duff, the afore-mentioned Windsor Star columnist, has another piece right here that includes reaction on the Spitfires situation from some U.S. hockey people.
Here’s some of what Duff writes, this in reference to a lawsuit that was filed by the OHL's Kitchener Rangers following a story that appeared in the Michigan Daily:
Herschel Fink, the Detroit-based lawyer who represents the paper, has implied that he might put the entire Canadian Hockey League and its recruiting practices on trial, a can of worms that no junior hockey operator wants to see opened.
"Sometimes things come out and there are unintended consequences that you wish you hadn't started," Fink said in an interview with Toronto's Sportsnet 590 The Fan. "I don't know if that's going to be the case here.
"If it did go all the way and if it moved into the U.S. courts . . . there's a potential to dig into this whole question of compensation of players and whether it takes place and how the league deals with this issue."
That's a scary proposition for those in the hockey development business and may very well be why everyone is afraid to cast the first stone against the Spitfires.

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.