Lipon back in form against Raiders

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Right-winger JC Lipon of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers would seem to be back on Pacific time.
Prior to Friday night, Lipon, a fourth-year player from Regina, hadn’t performed particularly well in seven games since returning from a stint with Canada’s national junior team in Ufa, Russia. In fact, Kamloops head coach Guy Charron had suggested after the sixth of those games that he felt Lipon might still be “on Russian time.”
Last night, Lipon definitely was back from wherever he’s been as he helped the Blazers to a 4-1 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders at Interior Savings Centre.
The start of the game was delayed 40 minutes for a ceremony in which former Kamloops defenceman Scott Niedermayer’s number (28) was retired. Both teams were at their respective benches for the entire ceremony.
With the jump back in Lipon’s game, linemates Colin Smith and Tim Bozon also were sharp. And it showed in the first period as the Blazers jumped out to a 3-0 lead with the trio accounting for all three goals and combining for seven points.
The Blazers, coming off a 69-shot effort in a 4-3 overtime victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips on Wednesday, headed in the same direction in this one as they unloaded 20 first-period shots at Raiders goaltender Luke Siemens.
It was the best first period the Blazers have put together in quite some time. They were back to using their speed in a positive manner, forechecking and cycling the puck — in general, making life miserable for opposing defencemen — the way they did during their 14-game winning streak in October.
Smith scored 35 seconds into the game, putting in the rebound of a Bozon shot that appeared to bounce off Siemens’ mask.
At 7:02, Smith carried the puck down the left side and hit a streaking Lipon, who beat his check and then beat Siemens.
At 18:09, Smith was back for more, getting in tight and pounding a loose puck past Siemens.
It was a tough start for the Raiders’ line that features Mark McNeill, who also played for Canada in Ufa, with Mike Winther and Leon Draisaitl, a German freshman. They lost the matchup with the Smith line and were on the ice for all three Kamloops goals.
Give the Raiders credit, though, because they didn’t go away.
Forward Jonas Knutsen was credited with a goal at 8:47 of the second period, a period in which the visitors seized some momentum, when a shot going wide of the Kamloops net changed direction and got past goaltender Cole Cheveldave.
With Kamloops taking four minor penalties in the middle period, the Raiders ended up with a 12-5 edge in shots.
However, Cheveldave, who finished with 28 saves, was back in form and would only be beaten once.
Kamloops also got strong games out of a couple of foot soldiers.
Defenceman Marek Hrbas, who played for his native Czech Republic in the World Junior Championship, played awfully well, especially in his zone. Like Lipon, it could be that his body has recovered from the rigours inflicted by a return trip to Ufa and all the hockey in between.
Kamloops centre Matt Needham also played quite well, especially in a penalty-killing role. While the Blazers did go 0-for-4 on the PP, they didn’t allow the Raiders anything on six chances.
And when right-winger Kale Kessy gave the Blazers a 4-1 lead just 14 seconds into the third period, both teams knew this one was over.
The Blazers will enjoy a rare weekend off before facing the visiting Kelowna Rockets in an even rarer Monday night assignment. The Rockets, who have been racing up the standings, beat the host Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in overtime last night and lead the B.C. Division by six points over the Blazers. The Rockets are four points behind the Portland Winterhawks, who lead the overall standings.
The Raiders (28-16-4), who lead the East Division, go into Kelowna tonight with the Rockets having won 20 straight games at Prospera Place.
JUST NOTES: The attendance was 5,464. . . . Kamloops ended with a 41-29 edge in shots. . . . The Raiders hadn’t played in Kamloops since Oct. 8, 2010. In that one, the Blazers built up a 4-1 lead en route to a 4-3 victory. . . . The Daily News Three Stars: 1. Lipon: His jump set the tone; 2. Smith: Focus looks to be back; 3. Needham: Contributes so much more than points.

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Some of what appears today is left over from Tuesday night, when there were issues. . . . Ahh, I did some compiling at work and then forgot to email it to my laptop. . . .
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If you are interested in an eBook version of Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos, the links are further down on this page.
I also heard yesterday from a friend who ordered the book from Amazon. He had received notification that his copy had shipped.
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Byron Ritchie (Lethbridge, 1993-97) signed a two-year contract extension with Bern (Switzerland, NL A). He has 11 goals and 17 assists in 24 games with Bern this season, which puts him in sixth place in league scoring. The contract extension keeps Ritchie with Bern through the 2014-15 season. . . .
F Jason Chimera (Medicine Hat, Brandon, 1996-99) was granted his release from Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga) for personal reasons. He had one goal in five games with Chomutov this season. Chimera's family did not accompany him to Chomutov and he decided it was best to return home. Chomutov GM Leo Gudas says that should the NHL season be cancelled, Chimera could return to Chomutov with his family and finish out the season with the club. . . .
F Domenic Pittis (Lethbridge, 1991-94) signed a two-year contract extension with Visp (Switzerland, NL B). He has one goal and 13 assists in eight games this season. Pittis is now under contract with Visp through the end of the 2014-2015 season. . . .
F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) was released by HIFK Helsinki (Finland, SM-Liiga) to make room for Washington Capitals F Mathieu Perreault, who was signed to a lockout contract. Redenbach had three goals and nine assists in 23 games with HIFK this season. . . .
F Jesse Schultz (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 1999-2003) signed a contract for the rest of this season with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite). Schultz started the season with Milan Rossoblu (Italy, Serie A), registering two goals and two assists in eight games before his release in mid-October. . . .
F Marek Ivan (Lethbridge, Moose Jaw, 1996-98) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Karvina (Czech Republic, 2. Liga), just four days after his release by Novy Jicin (Czech Republic, 2. Liga). He had seven goals and eight assists in 10 games with Novy Jicin this season. Ivan played for Karvina last season, getting 19 goals and 25 assists in 39 games for them.
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Sophomore D Spencer Wand, 17, has left the Kootenay Ice and returned to his home in Saskatoon. Wand suffered a concussion on Nov. 16 against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. The Ice thought Wand was making a good recovery, but he told head coach Ryan McGill on Monday that he had lost the desire to play and that he was quitting hockey. . . . Wand was a fourth-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. . . . He had one assist and 37 penalty minutes in 15 games this season. . . . Wand’s departure leaves the Ice with six defencemen on its roster.
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The injury-riddled Regina Pats have added F Connor Gay, 17, to their roster. He had been with the SJHL’s Kindersley Klippers, for whom he had 17 points, including seven goals, in 20 games.
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It would appear that the Kelowna Rockets have dealt Slovakian F Filip Vasko, 19, to the Red Deer Rebels. Vasko, who has 10 points, including three goals, in 19 games this season, didn’t play for the Rockets in last night’s 3-2 victory over the visiting Tri-City Americans. (Attendance in Kelowna was 4,769, and what's with that?)
After the game, Kelowna D Jesse Lees (@LeeserBeam2) tweeted: “Gonna miss @filvask great guy, good luck in red deer”
Kelowna D Madison Bowey (@m_bows4) tweeted: “Always sad to see a teammate go. Gonna miss ya @filvask #loveha #eurobeaut”
Vasko’s handle on Twitter is @filvask.
Last season, he had 12 assists in 51 games.
With F Carter Rigby and F J.T. Barnett returning from injuries, the Rockets had 16 forwards on their roster.
The Rebels have been playing with just one import — Czech G Patrik Bartosak.
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D Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips will have shoulder surgery sometime next month and isn’t likely to play again this season. Murray, who also would have played for Canada’s national junior team, was injured on Nov. 16 in a game against the Royals in Victoria. He was diagnosed with a small tear in the labrum, a diagnosis that was confirmed by the medical staff of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. They selected him with the second pick of the 2012 NHL draft.
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THE COACHING GAME:
After starting the season 1-9-1, the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Augusta RiverHawks have fired head coach Rob Miller, who was in his first season there. Mark Richards, the team president, has stepped in as interim head coach while the search goes on for a replacement. . . . Miller took over the RiverHawks from Brad Ralph, who now is the head coach of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. . . .
Ben Johnson, who played 31 games with the Spokane Chiefs (1997-99), is the new head coach of the Duluth Clydesdales of the Superior International Junior League. They won just once in their first 20 games. Johnson had been the club’s director of player development. He replaces Aaron Haupert, who was in his first season as head coach.
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The departures are soon to start.
The Prince Albert Raiders are to lose F Jonas Knutsen and F Leon Draisaitl to tournament play.
Knutsen will play for Norway at the IIHF Division I U-20 tournament that opens in Amiens, France, on Dec. 9. Knutsen, who is to leave Dec. 5, is expected to miss five WHL games.
Draisaitl will play for Germany in the World Junior Championship that opens Dec. 26 in Ufa, Russia. He is the WHL’s top-scoring freshman, with 23 points. Draisaitl is to leave Dec. 10 and will miss as many as eight WHL games.
In Brandon, the Wheat Kings are preparing for the loss of Alessio Bertaggia, their second-leading scorer. Bertaggia will attend Switzerland’s training camp in mid-December. He played for Switzerland in last season’s tournament, so is expected to make the roster again this time.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Tomas Polak (Red Deer, 2007-09) was recalled from loan to Most (Czech Republic, 1.Liga) by Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga) and reassigned to Bernousti Medvedi (Czech Republic, 1.Liga). Polak had three assists in 11 games during his assignment to Most. . . .
Bernousti Medvedi has released F Radek Meidl (Seattle, Tri-City, 2006-08) from his try-out contract. Meidl had three goals and two assists in 14 games during his try-out.
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The book that is referenced over there on the right, Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos, has been popping up in various bookstores.
If you are at all interested in it, you may want to know something about Leesa Culp, who was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
There is a story on her and her involvement right here.
If you missed it (and one or two of you likely did), I appeared with Bob Stauffer on 630 CHED in Edmonton on Thursday to talk about the book. I was followed on air by former WHLer Peter Soberlak and Brian Costello of The Hockey News. If you visit CHED's website, you will find an archive where you are able to listen to back programming. We were on in the hour from noon to 1 p.m.
I also did an interview with Cam Moon, the radio voice of the Red Deer Rebels, and he plans on playing that during two intermissions of one game on the team’s current road trip.
On top of that, Dan Russell of Sportstalk, the nightly show on Vancouver radio station CKNW, has done a one-hour interview that is to be played one night next week and one more time before Christmas.
I also will be chatting with Pat Siedlecki, the radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, on his weekly show on Monday evening.
And there are regular appearances with Drew Wilson, the play-by-play voice of the Prince Albert Raiders on CKBI. The most recent of those was last Monday.
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The host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup and a team hoping to be the host in 2016 got together on a deal on Friday.
The Saskatoon Blades, who will play in the 2013 tournament as the host team, acquired F Nathan Burns, 19, from the Vancouver Giants for F Travis McEvoy, 18, a third-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft and a first-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. (The Brandon Wheat Kings have an option on that selection through a deal in which Saskatoon acquired F Brenden Walker over the summer. The Wheat Kings can flip picks in that first round.)
Burns, from Edmonton, has nine points and 18 penalty minutes in 15 games with the Giants this season. He was in the Blades’ lineup last night when they met the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook. Burns, a seventh-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft, is the younger brother of former Blades F Michael Burns.
McEvoy, from Thorsby, Alta., had 11 points in 64 games last season and had four assists in 13 games with the Blades this season. He is expected to make his Giants debut tonight in Cranbrook against the Ice.
At 6-foot-0 and 210 pounds, McEvoy gives the Giants a big centre, something coveted by head coach Don Hay, especially on a team that began this season rather smallish up front.
The Giants, who lost 5-1 to the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Thursday to fall to 4-11-0, now hold seven selections in the first three rounds of the 2013 bantam draft -- two firsts, two seconds and three thirds — and, of course, two picks in the first-round of the 2014 draft.
While the Giants haven’t made an official announcement, they are expected to bid to play host to the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament. When that happens, you can expect them to be the favourites to win that right.
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The Kootenay Ice have added another veteran forward to its roster. On Friday, the ice acquired F Zach McPhee, 19, from the Everett Silvertips for a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. McPhee, who is from Vernon, B.C., had left the Silvertips earlier this season after going pointless in 11 games. Last season, he had 10 points in 34 games.
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Hey, before we look at Friday’s games, if you’re a stats person, zip on over to the QMJHL website and check out its online scoresheets. They include faceoff stats, shots by skaters, and hits. Well, WHL, what are you waiting for?
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Brandon G Corbin Boes stopped 40 shots to help the Wheat Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . F Nick Buonassisi broke a 2-2 tie with his seventh goal at 15:10 of the third period. . . . This was Brandon’s first home game after a seven-game road trip that ended in Prince George on Saturday. . . . Moose Jaw is 1-6-1 on the road now. The Warriors have scored only 14 goals in those games, with 10 of them coming via the PP. . . . F Jordan Messier scored his first goal for the Warriors since being acquired from the Tri-City Americans. He showed up with an undisclosed injury and has played in only five games with Moose Jaw. This was his first game after a five-game absence. In this game, he also took a big hit from Brandon D Ryley Miller. . . . Moose Jaw D Kendall McFaull (flu) sat out and the Warriors lost F Justin Kirsch with an undisclosed injury in the first period. . . . F Ryley Lindgren, who co-leads the Manitoba midget AAA league in scoring with the Winnipeg Thrashers, was in Brandon’s lineup and earned an assist. Lindgren had quite a week. He had a goal and an assist on Wednesday as the Thrashers beat the visiting Kenora Thistles, 6-4. On Thursday night, Lindgren had an assist in helping the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers to a 4-3 shootout victory over the host Virden Oil Capitals. . . . In three games in three nights in three leagues in three levels, Lindgren had a goal and three assists. . . . A fifth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft, Lindgren has 18 points in 12 games with the Thrashers. . . .

In Cranbrook, F Shane McColgan’s OT goal gave the Saskatoon Blades a 3-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . McColgan got his fourth goal of the season at 3:06 of extra time. . . . Ice F Erik Benoit forced OT with his third goal at 9:11 of the third period. . . . Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls had two goals, giving him 14, and an assist. . . . F Zach McPhee drew an assist and was plus-1 in his first game with the Ice. . . . . . . F Nathan Burns, acquired by Saskatoon earlier in the day from Vancouver, was pointless in his debut with the Blades. . . . The Blades, who got off to such a shaky start, are 2-0 since returning from a 10-day break in their schedule. . . .

In Lethbridge, F Jay Merkley scored twice as the Hurricanes scored the game’s first four goals and beat the Medicine Hat Tigers, 5-2. . . . Merkley has seven goals. . . . Medicine Hat G Cam Lanigan, named the WHL’s goaltender of the month earlier in the week, was gone in the second period after giving up four goals on 28 shots. Marek Langhamer relieved him and stopped 24 of 25 shots. . . . The Hurricanes are 3-0-1 in their last four outings. . . .

The host Prince Albert Raiders erased a 2-0 deficit and beat the Edmonton Oil Kings, 3-2. . . . Edmonton led 2-0 at 14:08 of the second period. . . . Raiders F Jonas Knutsen broke a 2-2 tie with his second goal at 12:33 of the third period. . . . Raiders G Luke Siemens stopped 37 shots. . . . D David Musil was pointless and plus-1 in his debut with the Oil Kings, who acquired him earlier in the week from the Vancouver Giants. . . . The Raiders have won three in a row and lead the East Division by five points over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The Raiders also lead the Eastern Conference by three points over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Oil Kings began a six-game road swing that has them in Swift Current tonight and Kamloops on Tuesday. . . .

F Brooks Macek scored two empty net goals as the Calgary Hitmen beat the Pats 4-1 in Regina. . . . The Pats have lost four in a row. . . . Macek, whose goals both came in the final minute, also had an assist. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots. . . . Macek has nine goals this season. . . .

The host Swift Current Broncos erased a 2-1 deficit with three goals early in the third period and beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 4-3. . . . Swift Current F Graham Black, who scored twice, tied the game 17 seconds into the third and F Adam Lowry and F Chance Lund, who was acquired from Seattle over the summer, scored at 3:48 and 4:25, both goals coming shorthanded on the same Thunderbirds PP. . . . This was the start of Seattle’s six-game East Division swing. . . .

The Kamloops Blazers got shootout goals from F Brendan Ranford and F Cole Ully to beat the visiting Prince George Cougars, 2-1. . . . Kamloops F Matt Needham forced OT with his fourth goal at 1:36 of the third period. . . . D Marc McNulty scored for the Cougars in the second period. I checked and he isn’t related to The Wire’s Jimmy McNulty. . . . The Blazers went 5-1-0 as they played six games over an eight-day stretch. . . . Kamloops F Dylan Willick left in OT with an injury to his right leg after getting caught up in a mess of players during a scramble in the Blazers’ crease. . . . The Kamloops line of JC Lipon, Colin Smith and Tim Bozon have been held pointless for two straight games now. . . .

F Ty Rattie had a goal and two assists to help the Portland Winterhawks beat the visiting Victoria Royals, 6-2. . . . Rattie is on a nine-game point streak, the longest in the WHL at the moment. . . . Rattie now has 22 points in 14 games. . . . F Nic Petan added two goals and an assist for the winners, while D Tyler Wotherspoon had three assists. . . . Petan has 24 points in 15 games. He has points in six straight and that includes five multi-point outings. . . . The Winterhawks have won seven in a row and are 7-0-1 in their last eight outings. . . . The Royals have lost three in a row. . . .

In Spokane, the Red Deer Rebels opened a five-game road trip with a 3-1 victory over the Chiefs. . . . Spokane remains without F Mitch Holmberg, who hasn’t played since taking a headshot on Oct. 26. . . . Red Deer F Turner Elson tied the game 1-1 at 6:19 of the second, via the PP, and F Wyatt Johnson got the winner at 9:35. . . . The goal was Johnson’s first in the WHL and came in his third game. Acquired from Vancouver earlier, he missed the start of the season with a concussion. . . . D Brady Gaudet, acquired from Kamloops last month, got Red Deer’s third goal. . . . Spokane had won its first seven home games. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Marcus Strömwall got the winner as the Tri-City Americans beat the Everett Silvertips, 3-2. . . . Strömwall got his seventh goal, on the PP, at 6:59 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie. . . . The Americans, who are 4-0 against Everett this season, had lost their last three games. . . . Tri-City F Justin Feser drew two assists, giving him 150 in his career. That ties him with F Patrick Holland and F Ian McDonald for 12th on the Americans’ career list. . . . D Ryan Murray drew two assists for Everett.
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By the way, 17 of the WHL’s 22 teams are at .500 or better, thanks to the loser point.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Lukas Sutter, Saskatoon
D Macoy Erkamps, Lethbridge
D Cody Corbett, Edmonton
D Richard Nedomlel, Swift Current
F Joel Hamilton, Red Deer

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
D Rinalds Rosinskis, Prince George
F JC Lipon, Kamloops
F Tanner Eberle, Moose Jaw
F Josh Uhrich, Moose Jaw
D Harrison Ruopp, Prince Albert
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge), the proprietor of the Small Thoughts At Large blog that is linked over there on the right: “Am I the only one who doesn't care about the NHL cancelling the Winter Classic? Sick of these outdoor games. Done to death already.”

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 biggest name in hockey-related news on Monday belongs to Dr. Rajendra Kale. He is the interim editor in chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal and he has joined the chorus. He has written an editorial – Stop the violence and play hockey – calling for an end to fighting in the NHL.
That story is right here.
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The OHL has handed out another lengthy suspension, this time 10 games to F Conor Stokes of the Kingston Frontenacs for a hit to the head of an unsuspecting opponent.
Mike Koreen of the Kingston Whig-Standard has more right here.
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In the Greater Ontario junior league, a hit to the head has put D Tanner Ferguson of the Lambton Shores Predators in hospital with a crushed nasal cavity, broken orbital bone, broken jaw and severe concussion. F Justin Thomas of the Strathroy Rockets delivered the third-period hit and may find out today if he will face disciplinary action.
Tyler Kula of the Sarnia Observer has more right here.
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F Marcel Noebels of the Seattle Thunderbirds was on the German national junior team that won the IIHF U20 World Junior Championship (Division I Group A) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on the weekend. . . . Germany beat Norway 5-3 in the final and earned promotion to the 2013 WJC with the big boys. . . . Noebels had quite a tournament, putting up nine points, including four goals, in five games. . . . F Jonas Knutsen of the Prince Albert Raiders was in Norway’s lineup and scored one of its goals in the final. He finished with seven points, including a team-high five goals, in five games.
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Jeff Z. Klein and Stu Hackel write for Slap Shot, hockey blog on The New York Times’ website. They take a look at concussions in the NHL right here.
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The New York Daily News weighs in on the concussion story with this piece right here, written by Pat Leonard.
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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 Lethbridge Hurricanes helped out with Operation Christmas Child on Thursday.
(Photos courtesy Lethbridge Hurricanes)

The Lethbridge Hurricanes, who have won a couple in a row and have vacated the Eastern Conference basement, got December off to a festive start.
On Thursday, according to a news release, Cam Braes, Damien Ketlo, Brody Sutter, Landon Oslanski, Brady Ramsay, Spencer Galbraith, Tyler Kizuik, Graham Hood, Nick Buonassisi, Juraj Bezuch, Liam Liston, Phil Tot and Albin Blomqvist lent a helping hand to Richard and Lisa Henry and Rev. Brian Palsky at University Drive Alliance Church for Operation Christmas Child. The church . . . is the regional collection centre for Southern Alberta and in total 6,746 shoe boxes were collected from Lethbridge and surrounding area for the global Christmas exchange program.
“The program encourages churches, children and adults to pack shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items and school supplies to be given to thousands of children living in impoverished areas all over the world. In the coming days, the shoe boxes will be sent to Calgary and then distributed around the world.”
Operation Christmas Child is a terrific program and is attracting attention from more and more sports teams. In Kamloops, for example, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer team has helped out for a number of years now and players were wrapping boxes just last week.
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F Jonas Knutsen of the Prince Albert Raiders will play for Norway at the IIHF U-20 World championshp (Division 1, Group A) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Dec. 11-17. Also in the tournament are Germany, Slovenia, Belarus, Austria and Great Britain. . . . Knutsen, who has nine points and 36 penalty minutes, will leave Monday. . . .
F Marek Tvrdon of the Vancouver Giants, who is the WHL’s highest-scoring freshman, will play for Slovakia in the World Junior Championship. Shoulder woes limited Tvrdon to 12 games last season, so he is considered a rookie. He has 35 points, 14 of them goals, in 28 games this season. Last season, he had 11 points in those 12 games. . . .
A source tells me that three WHL teams are involved in discussions on a transaction that, if it comes to pass, will cause some big-time buzz. I’m not one to speculate on what players might be involved — and there are trade talks going on all the time — but trust me when I tell you this one would give people something to talk about for a while. . . .
Saw this on the WHL website in the wee hours of today: “Brendan Gallagher and the Kamloops Blazers host Alex Forsberg and the Prince George Cougars for a B.C. Division match-up on Friday night.” . . . The Vancouver Giants and the Blazers have been known to make the odd trade, but I don’t think Gallagher is headed to Kamloops any time soon. . . . I’m sure the writer meant Brendan Ranford, and I’ve been there before. Just ask Matt Needham of the Blazers how many times I have referred to him as Mike.
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Congratulations to old friend Andy Murray on his induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame.
Murray, now the head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos, will go into the Builder’s category. Also going into the Hall of Fame will be Raimo Helminen, a six-time Olympian for Finland, Russian star Pavel Bure, defenceman Phil Housley of the U.S., and Czech star Milan Novy.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for May 20 in Helsinki.
How long have I known Murray? Since he was an aspiring quarterback with the Brandon University Bobcats football team. Oh, what a team that was. Right, Garry Davidson?
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The QMJHL has revealed its social media policy. If you’re interested, you are able to check it out on the QMJHL website.
But here is the part that deals with disciplinary measures . . .
“The following are examples of conduct through social media and networking mediums that are considered violations of this policy and which may be subject to disciplinary action by the QMJHL, at the discretion of the Commissioner:
“- Statements which are critical of League personnel, its programs, employees, on-ice or off-ice officials, players, members, owners or operations staff, sponsors or any other actors.
“- Divulging confidential information that may include, but is not limited to the following: trade talk or other player movement, medical history (injuries or other), game plans or strategies and any other information that is deemed confidential.
“- Sharing or divulging photos, videos or comments which promote negative influences or criminal behaviour, including but not limited to: drug use, alcohol abuse, public intoxication, sexual exploitation, etc.
“- Online activity that contradicts the current policies of the QMJHL.
“- Inappropriate, derogatory, racist or sexist comments of any kind that contradict the policies outlined by the QMJHL on these matters.”
Good luck to the QMJHL in enforcing this thing. I might suggest that the QMJHL is going to need to hire a full-time babysitter.
Let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that the WHL had the same policy in place, say, one night this week. Let’s say it was Tuesday night, when every player in the WHL who wasn’t involved in a game was watching the Victoria’s Secret fashion (?) show on TV. (Those who were playing that night likely recorded the show.) And most of those viewers, if not all of them, were Tweeting about it.
And let’s just say that the rules called for the league to suspend the players for the remarks. That being the case, the WHL would have had to postpone a few games this weekend due to a shortage of players.
But having said that, some of the WHL’s players have been blessed with great wit!
And judging by some of the tweets I saw, a whole lot of them fell in love on Tuesday night.
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In Edmonton last night, D Mark Pysyk drew three assists to lead the Edmonton Oil Kings to a 6-1 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Oil Kings ran their winning streak to five, while ending Calgary’s at four. . . . F Tyler Maxwell scored twice for Edmonton. He has six points, including four goals, in four games since being acquired from the Everett Silvertips. He is plus-8 in those four games. . . . The victory lifted Edmonton into a tie for second in the Eastern Conference, with the Saskatoon Blades and Moose Jaw Warriors. They are four points in back of the Kootenay Ice.
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THURSDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Martin Gernat, Edmonton
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Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun writes today that Wheat Kings F Mike Ferland and Vancouver Giants D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen drew ‘tbd’ suspensions for their roles in a game-ending schmozzle Wednesday in Brandon.
The stuff hit the fan as teams were leaving their benches at game’s end.
Here’s what Henderson wrote:
The melee broke out as the teams left their benches at the end of the game. Wheat Kings Eric Roy and Darian Dziurzynski and Giants David Musil and Jordan Martinook were also assessed fighting majors and game misconducts.
Western Hockey League vice-president of hockey Richard Doerksen said Ferland and Vannieuwenhuizen were punished because they were on the bench to end the game, and not legally on the ice.
“Neither was on the ice,” Doerksen said. “Of the other (penalized) players, all had been on the ice.”
The league revoked the game misconducts for Roy, Dziurzynski, Musil and Martinook, while Dziurzynski and Martinook also had their majors turned into double minors for roughing.
Decisions on the length of the suspensions and team fines should be made today.
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With fighting majors turned into double minors, that means it wasn’t a multi-fight situation, which means there likely won’t be fines issued. That means we were guilty of premature ch-ch-ching the other day.
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On the subject of ch-ch-ching, to the five people who have taken time to make donations this week, thank you. . . . If you’re a regular here, feel free to click on the DONATE button and help the cause. Thanks in advance!
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Laura Robinson, who wrote the book Crossing the Line: Violence and Sexual Assault in Canada’s National Sport, has written a scathing essay about hazing and sexual abuse in football and hockey.
Football in the United States and hockey in Canada have much to answer for, she writes.
And she is correct. Because if you think the hazing incident that involved the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives is a one-off, you have your head buried in the sand.
Robinson also brings up an interesting point regarding a Hockey Canada rule that may well have been ignored in the Neepawa situation.
Robinson’s essay is right here.
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Wondering how the coaching thing came down with the Anaheim Ducks? Check out Jon Rosen’s take on it all right here. If you want a thorough look at it, this one is for you.
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For today’s good read, we take you to SI.co and writer Stu Hackel. He chatted with Scotty Bowman, who has some interesting comments on the state of the game today and the recent spate of coaching changes in the NHL. That piece is right here.

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