Strat-O-Matic memories . . . Winterhawks sign two key forwards . . . Raiders D-man gets NHL deal

I have heard from an amazing number of people since Friday night when word got out that the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame had honoured me with its Bernie Pascall Media Award.
Friends and acquaintances have contacted me via Twitter, email, Facebook, text and the good old-fashioned telephone.
Two people I heard from on Monday brought back some terrific memories.

It began when Les Lazaruk, a long-time friend who is the veteran — that means old! — radio voice of the Saskatoon Blades tweeted this:

Great honour for great man and friend @gdrinnan...received the Bernie Pascal Media Award at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) July 27, 2015

Les then followed that with:

Previous about @gdrinnan a little late...my apologies. Took weekend away from phone. He should be in the Hall for rolling "1-5s" in Strato!

— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) July 27, 2015

Darrell Davis, with whom I shared more than a few good times while we both were at the Regina Leader-Post, chimed in with:

@Bladesvoice @gdrinnan-- I saw lots of those Strato 1-5s. Congrats @gdrinnan!

— Darrell Davis (@DarrellDavisSK) July 27, 2015

If you aren’t familiar, Strato refers to Strat-O-Matic baseball. Back in the day, a bunch of us, including Bill O’Donovan, now the news anchor at CFJC-TV in Kamloops, were involved in a Strat-O-Matic league that was, well, let’s just say it was interesting.
How intense was it? I remember driving home one night on Regina’s Ring Road — I lived in the east end and had been playing in the south end — after betting my butt kicked. If you haven’t played Strat-O-Matic, it involves dice and player cards. Well, on this night I decided it was time to teach the dice a lesson. So I stopped alongside a farmer’s field and threw them as far as I could. (A 1-5 meant home run with my best guys and I don't think I rolled enough of them on that night.)
I hadn’t thought of that night for a long, long time . . . before hearing from Les and Darrell. Yes, I chuckled at the memory.
However, I also remember the season in which I won the championship, my Top Cats beating John Chaput’s Zoo 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the ninth. The championship-winning blow — the Top Cats won the best-of-seven final in six games — was a sacrifice fly by Fred Lynn that scored Alan Trammell, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.
You can bet the memory of that night kept me warm all that winter.
I was going through some storage containers in our shed on Saturday when I came upon the Game 6 scoresheet. Yes, I kept it. Unfortunately, I have no idea what year that was.
All I know is that, although Les and Darrell may not agree, it was a very good year.
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F Ian McDonald (Tri-City, 2000-06) signed a one-year contract with MAC Budapest (Hungary, MOL Liga). Last season, with Briançon (France, Ligue Magnus), he had 12 goals and 10 assists in 26 games. . . .
D Juraj Valach (Tri-City, Vancouver, Regina, Red Deer, 2006-08) signed a one-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). He had been on a tryout with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL). Last season, with Slavia Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had six goals and seven assists in 43 games. . . .


F Jakub Klepiš (Portland, 2001-02) signed a one-year extension with Třinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, he had six goals and five assists in 21 games with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL) and 21 points, including seven goals, in 17 games with Třinec. . . .


F Edgars Kulda (Edmonton, 2012-15) signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL) after a successful tryout. Last season, with the Edmonton Oil Kings, he had 13 goals and 17 assists in 47 games. On Thursday, he played in a 3-1 exhibition game victory over Lada Togliatti. He was on the first line with Lauris Dārziņš (Kelowna, 2004-06) and ex-NJ Devils C Tim Sestito.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed both of their 2015 CHL import draft selections. . . . Both players — Latvian Rodrigo Abols and Swede Carl Ericson — are forwards. . . . Abols, 19, had 38 points, 20 of them goals, in 35 games last season with HK Riga of the Molodezhnaya Hockey League. He also got into 15 games with Dinamo Riga of the KHL, putting up a goal and four assists. He also played for Latvia at the IIHF World championship. . . . Ericson, 19, had 42 points, including 16 goals, in 43 games with Leksand’s U-20 side. He also got into 11 games with the Leksand team in the SHL, a Swedish pro league. . . . The Winterhawks may lose their top three scorers from last season — Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nic Petan and Chase De Leo — which means Abols and Ericson will be looked to for some offence. The Winterhawks will be wanting both to be in their top six forwards.
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Meanwhile, Vojtech Budik tweeted on Monday afternoon: “Next season I will play for @PARaidersHockey.” . . . Budik, a 17-year-old defenceman, is from Czech Republic. He was selected by the Raiders in the CHL’s 2015 import draft. . . . Last season, he had 12 points, including three goals, in 12 games with the Czech U-18 team, and added five assists in 19 games with the Czech U-20 side.
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If you are a Brandon Wheat Kings fan living in Manitoba, you are able to purchase a specialty license plate that salutes your favourite team. Brian Smiley, a spokesman with Manitoba Public Insurance, has told Brandon radio station CKLQ that almost 800 Manitoba motorists have purchased the plates, which go for $70 apiece. . . . CKLQ reports that “part of the proceeds from Wheat Kings plates go towards supporting the Brandon Humane Society.”
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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Dale DeGray, the general manager of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, has yet to hire a head coach, but he is down to a short list of three candidates. . . . DeGray is looking to replace Greg Ireland, who resigned earlier this month and now is the head coach of Adler Mannheim in Germany. . . . DeGray told Bill Walker of the Owen Sound Sun Times that he heard from more than 60 applicants. . . . DeGray hopes to have a coach in place before Aug. 6. He is managing Canada’s U-18 team that leaves then for Europe and the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament. . . . DeGray also told Walker that “I don't hire friends . . . I would prefer to keep friendships than to have to fire a coach and lose a friend. There are lots of qualified guys out there.” . . . Walker’s complete story is right here.
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The Buffalo Sabres have signed D Brendan Guhle of the Prince Albert Raiders to a three-year entry-level contract. The Sabres selected Gulhe, who turns 18 on Wednesday, in the second round of the NHL’s 2015 draft. . . . Guhle had 32 points, 27 of them assists, in 72 games with the Raiders last season. He has 42 points, including five goals, in 123 games over two seasons with Prince Albert. He is from Sherwood Park, Alta.
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With Stepan and Wilson signings today, teams have shelled out a total of $1,015,308,875 on 328 contracts since July 1. #onebilliondollars

— General Fanager (@generalfanager) July 27, 2015

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Hamilton still hunting for coach . . . 3-on-3 coming to WHL? . . . Kessel won't play this season

G Kevin Nastiuk (Medicine Hat, 2001-05) signed a one-year contract with Eisbären Berlin (Germany, DEL). Last season, with Dresdner Eislöwen (Germany, DEL2), he had a 3.29 GAA with two shutouts in 33 games. . . .
D Juraj Valach (Tri-City, Vancouver, Regina, Red Deer, 2006-08) signed a tryout contract with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL). Last season, with Slavia Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had six goals and seven assists in 43 games. . . .
F Robin Soudek (Edmonton, Chilliwack/Victoria, 2008-12) signed a tryout contract with Olomouc (Czech republic, Extraliga). Last season, with the Stockton Thunder, Rapid City Rush and Evansville Icemen (all ECHL), he had 18 goals and 21 assists in 62 games. . . .
F Jan Eberle (Seattle, 2006-08) signed a tryout contract with Olomouc (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, with Kladno (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), he had 18 goals and 19 assists in 52 games. He was an alternate captain.
D Mitch Versteeg (Lethbridge, 2006-07) signed a one-year contract with Kaufbeuren (Germany, DEL2). Last season, with the Nikko Icebucks (Japan, Asia HL), he had four goals and 10 assists in 40 games. . . .
F Mark Derlago (Brandon, 2003-07) signed a one-year contract with the Nikko Icebucks (Japan, Asia HL). Last season, with Esbjerg (Denmark, Metal Ligaen), he had 65 points, including 25 goals, in 36 games. He finished third in the league’s scoring race and was a first-team all-star. He also was an alternate captain.
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Bruce Hamilton, the president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets continues to go through the process of hiring a head coach to replace the one-and-done Dan Lambert.
“I’m still waiting . . . there’s one particular individual that I’m waiting to see what he wants to do,” Hamilton told Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier. “If he’s interested, then I would bring him in (for an interview) right away. . . .
“I’ve reached out to this guy. Someone who knows me contacted me and said ‘hey, this guy might be interested or might be looking.’ . . . A lot of times you’re dealing with guys who are in jobs right now and trying to decide whether they want to stay there or not.”
Lambert now is an assistant coach with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. He spent five season as an assistant coach with the Rockets, under head coach Ryan Huska. Last season, Lambert helped guide the Rockets to the WHL championship.
Fisher’s story is right here.
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On Monday evening, I posted a ‘Scattershooting’ piece here in which I wrote: “The WHL hasn’t announced it yet, but you can bet it will be going to 3-on-3 overtime in the upcoming season. Why? Because it mirrors the NHL, that’s why.”
It wasn’t long after that piece was posted than a couple of readers were in touch to inform me that WHL commissioner Ron Robison recently was on The Pipeline Show and said that the WHL was going to 3-on-3 OT this season.”
Robison appeared with The Pipeline Show guys on July 14. Asked about “changes on ice” that fans can expect to see, Robison responded:
“We have to take the time to make sure we all are on the same page and want to move forward with what the NHL has adopted. Our agreement with the NHL calls for us to mirror their playing rules. We really like the 3-on-3 overtime rule. I think there are some other areas that we will have some further discussion on. We still have the ability to determine at what stage we implement those new rules, but our thoughts are certainly to move forward for the upcoming season and we’ll take those steps in consultation not only with the general managers within our league but obviously the CHL as well to make sure we’re as consistent with our playing rules across the country as possible.”
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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Greg Ireland has resigned as head coach of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack in order to accept a coaching position elsewhere. However, no one is saying just where that position is. . . . Ireland had been with the Attack since 2011-12. . . . Ireland’s departure leaves the Attack with at least three vacancies on its coaching staff. Earlier this summer, assistant coach Drew Bannister left to become head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and assistant coach Daniel Tkaczuk now is on the Kitchener Rangers’ coaching staff.
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Dave Brown is the new general manager of the OHL’s Erie Otters. He replaces long-time GM Sherry Bassin, who was moved out as the franchise changed hands. . . . Brown has been with the Otters for four seasons, serving most recently as director of hockey operations. . . . The Otters also are working on a contract extension with head coach Kris Knoblauch, whose current deal runs through 2015-16.
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Amanda Kessel, who hasn’t played hockey since the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, won’t play again this season thanks to post-concussion syndrome, meaning her college career is over. Kessel, the sister of Pittsburgh Penguins F Phil Kessel, suffered a concussion while with the U.S. women’s Olympic team. She was injured before the Games, but was cleared to play in the Games. . . . A star with the U of Minnesota Golden Gophers, she didn’t attend school after the Olympics. She won’t return to hockey in the upcoming season, although she may attempt to attend school. . . . Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forts Herald has more right here.
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Congrats to one of the hardest working men in show biz @ChadScharff on his new gig with @BladesHockey

— Morley Scott (@Morley_Scott) July 21, 2015

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Ty Morris (Swift Current, Vancouver, Red Deer, 2003-05) signed a one-year contract with the Landshut Cannibals (Germany 2. Bundesliga). He had one goal in two games with the Ravensburg Towerstars (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) and three goals and five assists in 40 games with Munich (Germany, DEL) this season. . . .


D Juraj Valach (Tri-City, Vancouver, Regina, Red Deer, 2006-08) signed a one-year plus option contract with Slavia Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had two goals and five assists in 46 games with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season. . . .




F Mikhail Yakubov (Red Deer, 2001-02) signed a one-year contract with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia, KHL). He had one goal and seven assists in 52 games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia, KHL) this season. . . .




D Ales Cerny (Swift Current, 2000-02) signed a one-year contract with Nice (France, Division 1). He had two goals and four assists in 20 games with Mulhouse (France, Ligue Magnus) this season. . . .

F Radim Valchar (Portland, Lethbridge, 2007-10) signed a one-year contract with Gap (France, Ligue Magnus). He had 13 goals and 25 assists in 43 games with Bardejov (Slovakia, 1. Liga) this season.
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A little of this and some of that . . .
1. With one game left in the round-robin at the Memorial Cup, the Saskatoon Blades still can win this thing. And would you have said that after they had been swept from the first round of the WHL playoffs? . . . Of the four teams in the tournament, the Blades have put in the most consistent effort to this point.
2. On Saturday night, this was shaping up as a Memorial Cup to remember. Now . . . who knows? We’ve had a one-goal game, two games decided by three goals and one with a seven-goal differential.
3. We do know that the Halifax Mooseheads, who hammered the London Knights 9-2 last night, are through to the semifinal, at least. . . . We also know that there will be a tiebreaker on Thursday.
4. Dave Hunchak, the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, tackled the subject of goaltending on 92.9 The Bull’s pre-game show at the Memorial Cup on Tuesday. If you haven’t noticed, there is a dearth of quality goaltending in Canada these days. . . . “A guy you can take to world juniors and he’s got your back . . . do we have those guys in our system right now?” Hunchak asked. . . . Hunchak then pointed out that Saskatoon G Andrey Makarov is from Russia, while Portland Winterhawks starter Mac Carruth is from Minnesota. . . . “Half (the starters) aren’t even from Canada,” he said of the Memorial Cup goaltenders. “It’s a concern not just in Western Canada but right across the board.”
5. Listening to Hunchak providing so much insight and raising so many valid points on The Bull’s pre- and post-game shows has me wondering why he isn’t a regular on Sportsnet’s intermission shows.
6. Here’s hoping Hunchak doesn’t lose his voice when he returns to Kamloops and gets down to work as the Blazers’ head coach.
7. If you’re a regular at Memorial Cups, who can plan on being in Vancouver in May 2016. That’s because Ron Toigo, the majority owner of the Vancouver Giants, wants the 2016 Memorial Cup for his city. Jeff Paterson has that story right here.
8. Morris Dalla Costa of the London Free Press writes right here that organizers in Saskatoon, including Blades governor Jack Brodsky, aren’t disappointed with attendance figures. Nor should they be. . . . Attendance was announced as 9,237 for last night’s game between Halifax and London. . . . Keep in mind that Credit Union Centre can seat 15,195 fans, which means there is never a demand for tickets. This is something the Blades battle all the time — there always are tickets available, so there is never a rush to purchase. . . . It will be interesting to see how many fans show up for tonight’s game between the Blades and Portland. If you’re wondering, prices at Ticketmaster in the wee hours of today ranged from $37.50 to $113.75 per ticket. I would suggest that’s too much for junior hockey, even at the bottom end, and especially when the game is being televised live.
9. Should we believe London head coach Dale Hunter when he says he wasn’t the least bit upset that his Halifax counterpart, Dominique Ducharme, had his big guns out on the PP with an 8-2 lead and two minutes left in the third period? . . . From a journalist’s perspective, I wish more WHL coaches would do that in regular-season games. It would guarantee that there would be lots about which to write.
10. A Saskatoon victory tonight sends the Blades right to the final, leaving London and Portland to play in Thursday’s tiebreaker, with the winner moving on to play Halifax in the semifinal on Friday. . . . A Portland victory tonight, means Halifax is in the final, with London and Saskatoon to meet in the tiebreaker, with the winner going against Portland in the semifinal.
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The Oklahoma City Barons, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, practised Monday in Moore, Okla., just three hours before a tornado laid waste to much of the community. Terry Jones of the Edmonton Journal writes about that right here.
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The Kamloops Blazers have signed Matt Recchi, the director of player personnel, and head scout Ken Fox to what a news release says are “multi-year” contract extensions. . . . Recchi and Fox have been in their positions since July 2008. . . . Recchi works out of Kamloops, while Fox lives in Hodfast, Sask.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Jason Brooks won’t be returning as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs. Brooks, who had been with the IceDogs through two seasons, said he is leaving because of back problems. He had surgery in March. According to an IceDogs news release, Brooks will return to Listowel, Ont., “where he will join the family business.” . . .


The BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers announced Tuesday that Michael Olson won’t be back as an assistant coach. Olson, the captain of the Clippers when they won the BCHL title in 2003-04, cited personal reasons in leaving the club. He spent the last three seasons on the team’s coaching staff.
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From Thomas Miller (@Thomas_Miller): “Just saw a city bus with ‘go blades go’ on it. This is offensive to other teams and fans... I am taking this to human rights.”
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From Darryl Wolski (@darrylwolski): “The official Chilli of the OHL and WHL....im all about sponsor dollars but.... an official Chilli??? #bizarre”
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From Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood): “Prince George, BC was so great tonight! Thank you for making our next-to-last show so amazing! You rock!”
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From Kamloops Blazers F/D Josh Connolly (@jconnolly02): “Hey @mikefisher1212... Would you mind it if we traded lives for a day? Good god you're a lucky man. #carrie”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Juraj Valach (Tri-City, Vancouver, Regina, Red Deer, 2006-08) has been assigned on loan by Kometa Brno to Slavia Prague (both teams Czech Republic, Extraliga) for the rest of this season. He has one goal and three assists in 24 games for Brno this season. The "loan" is effectively a trade between the two clubs. Brno "loaned" Valach and F Tomas Pospisil to Slavia Prague; in return, Slavia has loaned D Jiri Vlasicek and F Tomas Svoboda to Brno. . . .
G Ian Gordon (Swift Current, Saskatoon, 1992-95) signed a one-year contract extension with Ingolstadt (Germany, DEL). He has a 2.65 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 16 games with Ingolstadt this season. The extension keeps Gordon in Ingolstadt through the 2012-2013 season.
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There were times during my 17-year stint at the Regina Leader-Post where Rob Vanstone and I would hope in my vehicle and head for Swift Current to watch the Broncos.
We knew the chances were good we would see an entertaining hockey game. And if the game wasn’t entertaining, we knew Graham James, the Broncos' GM and head coach, would entertain us after the fact. We would, in other words, have something about which to write.
That’s what Vanstone writes about right here . . . that and a whole lot more. And I vouch for everything he writes here, because I oftentimes was right there.
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Here’s part of a Chris Selley piece from the National Post:
“If fighting in the NHL is appalling and unconscionable, then what adjectives go with the situation in junior? Shouldn't this be a far bigger issue than it is? . . .
“I'm not claiming that banning staged fighting in junior hockey would necessarily get rid of it in the professional leagues, though it couldn't hurt. What I'm saying is that fighting in junior hockey has always struck me as tantamount to child abuse.”
Selley’s complete column is right here.
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Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post had an interesting piece in Thursday’s paper involving reaction to recent developments in the Derek Boogaard story.
In the column, Harder quoted Regina Pats president Brent Parker on the role of fighting in hockey.
“Humans are creatures of habit,” Parker told Harder. “It’s so easy for us to say it has always been part of the game and it needs to be part of the game. I don’t know if it does. First and foremost we have to be concerned about the safety of our athletes. We’ve done some things as a league with our seven-point plan to make sure we’re addressing head blows. But I don’t think you will ever legislate head injuries out of contact sports. There’s a reason the helmet was invented.”
Parker also admitted that his feelings about fighting have been altered, as Harder wrote, with happenings of last summer.
“You have a different appreciation for it having attended some funerals this summer that I’d rather not have had to attend,” he said. “I think my views have changed. I guess I’ve always been a proponent of liking physical hockey and I don’t think that part has to change but the needless fights and needless shots to the head and the lack of respect for each other as players, that’s the part that needs to change. It’s not just hockey. It’s (contact) sports in general.”
Harder’s complete column is right here.
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JUST NOTES:
F Colin Jacobs of the Seattle Thunderbirds will play his first game this season tonight against the visiting Prince George Cougars. He has been out since suffering an undisclosed injury in the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects camp. He was a fourth-round selection by Buffalo in the 2011 NHL draft. . . .
F Marcel Noebels of the Seattle Thunderbirds is expected to miss five WHL games as he plays for Germany at the World Junior Championship (Division I, Group A). The tournament runs from Sunday through Dec. 17 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Also in the tournament are Austria, Belarus, Great Britain, Norway and Slovenia. The winner of this tournament will play with the big boys next year. . . . Noebels has 20 points in 25 games in his sophomore season with Seattle. . . .
The NAHL’s Wenatchee Wild and Topeka RoadRunners are scheduled to play an exhibition game at the United Wireless Arena in Dodge City, Kansas, on Wednesday. That arena is a 5,500-seat facility that is looking for a main tenant. . . . Hmmm! Dodge City Cougars? . . . Another hmmm! As the crow flies, it is 839 miles/1,350 kilometres from Brandon to Dodge City. . . .
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Ken Stickney is the front man for Portland Winterhawks’ owner Bill Gallacher. Stickney sat down for a chat with Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune and that piece is right here. It turns out that Gallacher really does want to bring the NHL to Portland.
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Steve Yzerman, the general manager of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, said Thursday night that freshman F Brett Connolly will attend the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp that opens Saturday in Calgary.
Connolly, 19, has eight points, including four goals, in 27 games with the Lightning. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft.
Shortly after Yzerman made the announcement, Connolly tweeted: “Well let's go get a gold medal.”
Shortly after that, he tweeted: “Thanks for all the support from the fans in Canada. We are going to do everything to bring the gold home.”
The best tweet of them all, however, came from freshman F Chase Witala of the Prince George Cougars: “there goes my chances of making team Canada as the 13th forward. #suprisedtonotgetthecampinvite”
Of course, Connolly is from Prince George and would have to play with the Cougars had the Lightning not kept him.
If you missed it, the Anaheim Ducks have assigned F Devante Smith-Pelly to Canada’s team, as well. He had five points in 26 games with the Ducks.
He played three seasons with the OHL’s Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors and was a second-round pick by Anaheim in 2010.
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MORE JUST NOTES:
The Seattle Thunderbirds have added F Connor Honey, 17, to their roster. Honey, from Edmonton, had seven points, including one goal, in 17 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. . . . Last season, he played midget AAA with the Edmonton-South Side Athletic Club and won the league scoring title, with 56 points in 34 games. . . . He attended Seattle’s camp prior to the start of this season. . . .
Things just get worser and worser for the Red Deer Rebels. They looked like world-beaters during a tour of the B.C. Division a while back. Now they have lost 11 in a row and will entertain the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight. . . . They will do it withoug G Patrik Bartosak, who will be out indefinitely with an undisclosed upper-body injury. He was hurt in the second period of the Rebels’ 2-1 loss to the Warriors in Moose Jaw on Wednesday night. . . . Red Deer also is without D Aaron Borejko and forwards Josh Cowen, Adam Kambeitz and Daulton Siwak, all of whom are injured. As well, D Matt Dumba and D Alex Petrovic will leave after tonight’s game for the Canadian junior team’s selection camp. . . . G Bolton Pouliot will start tonight, with Tyler Oswald, 18, backing him up. Oswald has been with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers. . . .
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In Edmonton, F T.J. Foster had two goals and two assists as the Oil Kings erased a 2-1 deficit and beat the Brandon Wheat Kings, 7-3. . . . The Oil Kings now have won eight in a row. . . . Edmonton has scored six or more goals in five of those eight victories. . . . Brandon has lost six of its last nine games. . . . The Wheat Kings led 2-1 at 11:02 of the second period. Edmonton scored five goals in 8:36 before the period ended. . . . The Oil Kings are 20-8-3 and riding high atop the Eastern Conference, two points clear of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Kootenay Ice.

Some early Tuesday notes . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Martin Grundling (Moose Jaw, 2005-2007) signed a one-year contract with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic Extraliga). He had three goals and 12 assists in 53 games for HK 36 Skalica (Slovakia Extraliga) this season. . . .
D Michal Gulasi (Lethbridge, 2003-05) signed a one-year contract with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic Extraliga). He had one goal and 12 assists in 49 games for Sparta Praha (Czech Republic Extraliga) this season. . . .
F Ondrej Vesely (Portland, Tri-City, 1996-98) signed a two-year contracft with Zlin (Czech Republic Extraliga). He had 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 games with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic Extraliga) this season. . . .
G Michael Garnett (Red Deer, Saskatoon, 1999-2002) signed a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia KHL). He had a 2.24 GAA and a .916 save percentage for OHK Dynamo Moscow (Russia KHL) this season. . . .
D Juraj Valach (Tri-City, Vancouver, Regina, Red Deer, 2006-08) signed a two-year contract with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic Extraliga). He had one goal and eight assists in 56 games for Zvolen (Slovakia Extraliga) this season. . . .
F Radek Meidl (Seattle, Tri-City, 2006-08) signed a one-year contract with Zvolen (Slovakia Extraliga). He had three goals and two assists in 16 games for Olomouc (Czech Republic 1.Liga) this season. . . .
F T.J. Mulock and F Tyson Mulock (T.J. — Vancouver, Regina, Kamloops, 2001-06; Tyson — Medicine Hat, Regina, 1999-2003) signed one-year contract extensions with the Eisbären Berlin (Germany DEL). T.J. had 12 goals and 13 assists in 34 games while Tyson had two goals and 14 assists in 39 games this season. . . .
F Jozef Balej (Portland, 1999-2002) signed a two-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia Extraliga). He had 10 goals and four assists in 27 games for Kometa Brno (Czech Republic Extraliga) this season.
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Derek Spalding of the Nanaimo Daily News has taken a look back at the history of the WHL in Nanaimo, and also examines the present-day situation. Included in his story, which is right here, is this sentence: “WHL president Ron Robison said there have been informal talks with Clippers owners about moving a team to Nanaimo, but nothing concrete.”
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With the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads looking for a head coach, here’s an early Monday tweet from Willy Palov of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald: “Hearing the Halifax job is between Darren Rumble and Dominique Ducharme. Brad Lauer is third choice. Decision should be made this week.”
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F Max Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice is the WHL’s player of the week after scoring six goals in two games last week. That included one five-goal outing that tied the WHL record for most goals by a player in a playoff game.
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Well, that’s it for the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings.
F Scott Howes scored twice, including the winner at 19:25 of the third period, as the visiting Anchorage Aces beat the Salmon Kings 3-2 Monday night to sweep the Western Conference final, 4-0.
The Salmon Kings are owned by Vancouver-based RG Properties, which holds the management contract for Victoria’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. RG Properties recently purchased the Chillwack Bruins and is moving the WHL team to Victoria. The Salmon Kings, then, have played their final game in the B.C. capital.
F Chad Klassen (Spokane, Saskatoon, 2001-06), who joined the Salmon Kings from the U of Alberta Golden Bears in time to play in one regular-season game before the playoffs, scored the last goal in franchise history.
Attendance was 3,153.
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THE COACHING GAME: Roman Vopat (Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, 1994-96) has agreed to serve as a volunteer assistant coach with the KIJHL’s Kimberley Dynamiters. Vopat played this season with HC Litvinov in his native Czech Republic but has chosen to retire after 18 seasons as a pro. He was the Litvinov captain for the last two seasons. "It's always difficult when you do something for such a long time and it's been pretty much your whole life," Vopat, 35, told Matt Coxford of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. "But on the other hand I was playing in Europe the last 10 years and this year was especially hard because the family stayed behind." Vopat, his wife and two sons live in Cranbrook. . . . The junior B Dynamiters haven’t yet named a head coach.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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