Hurricanes, Warriors stay alive . . . Winterhawks put Cougars on ropes . . . Lowry: It was offside

D Sam Klassen (Saskatoon, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL). Klassen didn’t play this season. Last season, with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL), he had a goal and six assists in 51 games.

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The Lethbridge Hurricanes had F Giorgio Estephan, one of their top forwards, back in their lineup for Game 5 against the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Saturday night, and he contributed a goal and two assists to a 5-3 victory. Estephan missed Games 3 and 4 after taking a high-stick to the face late in the second period of Game 2. . . . The Hurricanes also had D Calen Addison back after a one-game absence. The second-overall selection in the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft, Addison had a fine freshman season, with 33 points, including 24 assists, in 63 games. . . . Addison and Estephan drew the assists on Lethbridge’s second goal last night.

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The Red Deer Rebels played Game 5 in Lethbridge without F Lane Zablocki, who has been hotter than a firecracker. He was suspended for one game after taking a double minor for checking from behind in Game 5 on Thursday. . . . Zablocki has five goals in the playoffs, which had him tied for the WHL lead with F Patrick Bajkov of the Everett Silvertips when Saturday’s games began.

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F Brad Morrison was scratched by the Prince George Cougars again on Saturday, so he missed Game 5 against the visiting Portland Winterhawks. Morrison returned from an ankle injury to score the first goal of Game 2, but was hurting in Game 3, so was scratched from Game 4 and again last night.

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The Cougars and Winterhawks will complete their second bus trip to Portland today where they will play Game 6 on Monday night. It will be interesting to see how many fans show up for this one. The NCAA’s Final Four championship game — featuring Spokane’s Gonzaga Bulldogs and the North Carolina Tar Heels — also is scheduled for Monday. The WHL game is to start at 7 p.m.; the men’s basketball game is to begin at 6 p.m. PT. . . . The Gonzaga roster includes two players from Portland — guards Silas Melson and Nigel Williams-Goss. . . . Williams-Goss actually is from Happy Valley, Ore., which is in the Portland metro area. . . . Of course, it could have been worse. North Carolina eliminated the Oregon Ducks last night.

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So . . . is a hockey player better off to test positive for mumps or to be found to have mononucleosis? Would he miss more games with the former or the latter? Asking for a friend.

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A note from Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier, as the Rockets prepare to visit Kamloops tonight for Game 6 with the Blazers: “The Rockets have not been impacted by the mumps to date, and are now avoiding the media as a precautionary measure. Some members of the Kelowna media were in contact with Keen earlier in the series.” . . . Jon Keen, the radio voice of the Blazers, has missed two games after showing mumps symptoms and isn’t expected to be at Game 6.

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D Parker Wotherspoon of the Tri-City Americans left Saturday to join the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders. Wotherspoon, from Surrey, B.C., was a fourth-round selection by the Islanders in the NHL’s 2015 draft. . . . Wotherspoon had 66 points, including 56 assists, in 69 games this season. He had one assist as the Americans were swept from the first round by the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Wotherspoon, who has signed with the Islanders, will turn 20 on Aug. 24, so is eligible to play one more WHL season. He also could play in the Islanders’ organization.

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Was it, or wasn’t it? F Eetu Tuulola scored in OT on Friday night, giving the Everett Silvertips a 4-3 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals and a 3-2 edge in that series. But did the winner come on a play that was offside at the Victoria blue line? . . . “It was 100 per cent offside . . . even the Everett players stopped skating,” Victoria head coach Dave Lowry told Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times-Colonist. “It’s a judgment call. We’ll find a way to move on and refocus.”

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BTW, Lowry also had this to say: “Our guys play extremely hard and are frustrated by (Everett’s) hooking and cross-checking (not being called). And then they go down real easy.” . . . Everett had three PP opportunities to Victoria’s one in Game 5. . . . They’ll play Game 6 in Victoria this afternoon.

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If you have any interest at all in the concussion lawsuit filed by retired players against the NHL, you will want to read this piece right here by John Vogl of the Buffalo News. Things are getting uglier and nastier by the day, and Vogl has all the details.

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It’s Opening Day. Enjoy!

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If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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Warriors are 1-2 in Game 7s. They lost to Calgary in 2010 and Brandon in 03. They beat Cgy in 06. This is the first time they'll be at home.

— Matthew Gourlie (@MattGourlie) April 2, 2017

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SATURDAY GAMES:

April 1, 2016 the 'Canes lost game 5 to Regina and were eliminated, the boys were determined to make sure it didn't happen 2 years in a row!

— #AllAboard (@WHLHurricanes) April 2, 2017

At Lethbridge, F Giorgio Estephan returned from a two-game absence to spark the Hurricanes to a 5-3

GIORGIO ESTEPHAN

victory over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Red Deer holds a 3-2 edge in the series and will play host to Game 6 today. . . . Estephan finished with a goal — he got an empty-netter at 19:34 of the third period — and two assists. . . . Lethbridge F Zak Zborosky (2) snapped a 3-3 tie at 2:28 of the third period. . . . The Hurricanes thought they had scored the game’s first goal on a first-period breakaway by Zborosky. But the goal was negated when it was ruled that the net was off its moorings. . . . F Alec Baer (1) gave Lethbridge a 1-0 lead at 13:58 of the first period. . . . Red Deer tied it when F Michael Spacek (3) counted, on a PP, at 4:20 of the second period. . . . The Hurricanes went back out front at 7:07 when F Zane Franklin (1) scored. . . . Red Deer F Brandon Hagel (5) got that one back, on a PP, at 10:25. . . . The Hurricanes regained the lead 11 seconds later on F Matt Alfaro’s first goal. . . . Hagel sent Red Deer back into another tie with his sixth goal, at 13:49. . . . Zborosky added an assist to his goal. . . . Red Deer got two assists from F Adam Musil. . . . With the teams tied 3-3 heading into the third period, it marked the first time in the series that Red Deer didn’t trail going into the third period. . . . G Stuart Skinner earned the victory with 39 saves, three more than Red Deer’s Riley Lamb. . . . Red Deer was 2-4 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-3. . . . Announced attendance: 4,562.

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And for the guy behind me in PG that is Hughes not Hugs,  lol but I will hug him for scoring 😀😀 https://t.co/aRsbIPwiEi

— Pauline Hughes (@PaulineHughes4) April 2, 2017

At Prince George, F Ryan Hughes snapped a 3-3 tie at 14:22 of the third period as the Portland Winterhawks, with 48 saves from G Cole Kehler, beat the Cougars, 5-3. . . . The Winterhawks took a 3-2

COLE KEHLER

lead in the series, with Game 6 scheduled for Monday in Portland. A seventh game, if needed, would be played in Prince George on Wednesday. . . . Hughes scored his first goal of the series just 59 seconds after F Colby McAuley (3) had pulled the Cougars into a 3-3 tie. . . . F Cody Glass (2) provided Portland with some insurance at 17:25. Glass, who turned 18 on Saturday, also had an assist. . . . F Jared Bethune (2) gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead at 1:09 of the first period. . . . The Winterhawks responded with the next three goals. . . . F Brad Ginnell (1) tied it at 4:28. . . . F Joachim Blichfeld scored the next two goals, his first two of the series, at 15:14 of the first and 2:45 of the third. . . . The Cougars closed to within a goal when F Brogan O’Brien (2) scored at 10:04. . . . D Shane Collins drew two assists for the Cougars. . . . The Winterhawks got a big game from Kehler, who faced 18, 15 and 18 shots by period. . . . G Ty Edmonds stopped 23 for the home side. . . . Portland was 1-2 on the PP; Prince George was 0-2. . . . The Cougars again scratched F Brad Morrison (ankle), while F Tyler Wishowski sat out a one-game suspension that, according to the WHL, was “for actions at Portland” on Thursday. Perhaps he didn’t tip a waitress. . . . Announced attendance: 5,822.

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. @n_gregs20 had 2 goals in Game 6 3-2 win & was the Warrior of the Game pic.twitter.com/tDNMrVrMgT

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) April 2, 2017

At Swift Current, F Noah Gregor crawled out of the doghouse to score two goals and lead the Moose Jaw

NOAH GREGOR

Warriors to a 3-2 victory over the Broncos. . . . The Warriors evened the series, 3-3, with Game 7 scheduled for Moose Jaw on Monday. . . . Gregor had 51 points, including 27 goals, in 52 games this season, his second in the WHL. But he was pointless through five games in this series and, along with F Jayden Halbgewachs, took some heavy public criticism from head coach Tim Hunter after Game 4. . . . Halbgewachs was pointless in Game 5. . . . Gregor gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead at 5:24 of the first period. . . . The Broncos tied it when F Ryley Lindgren got his fifth goal of the series at 7:21. . . . Gregor broke the tie at 14:27, and F Justin Almeida (1) upped it to 3-1 at 13:52 of the second period. . . . The Broncos made things interesting when F Tyler Steenbergen got his fifth goal at 13:54 of the third period. . . . F Thomas Foster had two assists for Moose Jaw. . . . G Zach Sawchenko stopped 41 shots for the Warriors, three more than the Broncos’ Jordan Papirny. . . . Swift Current was 0-2 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 0-3. . . . Announced attendance: 2,890.

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SUNDAY GAMES (all times local):

Lethbridge at Red Deer, 5 p.m. (Red Deer leads, 3-2)

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m. (Kelowna leads, 3-2)

Everett at Victoria, 2:05 p.m. (Everett leads, 3-2)

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Scattershooting on a Sunday evening . . . Patrick, Bean on the shelf . . . Popugaev leads Warriors

It’s a quiet Sunday night, and we’re scattershooting while watching the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs chase baseball glory, the Indianapolis Colts chasing the Houston Texans, and the Carolina Hurricanes hanging on against the Vancouver Canucks. . . . 

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You can bet that NHL scouts are keeping a close eye on the Brandon Wheat Kings’ roster. That’s because F Nolan Patrick, the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL draft, has missed his club’s last two games. There has been talk that he was ill or that he was being given maintenance days. It seems, however, that his absence is related to the sports hernia surgery he had in July. . . . Whatever it is, here’s hoping that he’s back soon — and healthy — because the WHL can’t afford to have its best players on the shelf.

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It’s great to see F Tyler Benson healthy — fingers crossed, knock on wood and all that — and producing for the Vancouver Giants. He’s got eight points, including five goals, in his last four games and the Giants have won four in a row with the Saskatoon Blades in Langley on Wednesday. The Blades have points in each of their past five games (4-0-1).

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That brings us to the Calgary Hitmen, who were without D Jake Bean on Sunday afternoon when they lost 4-3 in OT to the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. It seems that Bean suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury during a 7-2 loss to the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Friday night. Calgary is saying that Bean will be out week-to-week.

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The Kelowna Rockets are 3-7-0 and have lost three in a row, including two straight — to East Division teams — at home. What’s up with that? “Obviously disappointing,” head coach Jason Smith told Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier after a 5-1 loss to the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday night. “We take penalty after penalty, and it takes away from any momentum we’re creating. We’re continuously making the same mistakes. We’ve got to take the steps to end it and get better. You’d think, at this point, we’d learn a lesson.” . . . The Rockets have scored five PP goals, while giving up 19 of them.

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It doesn’t get any easier for the Rockets because Kevin Constantine and the Everett Silvertips are in Kelowna on Wednesday night. If you haven’t noticed, the Silvertips are 8-1-1 in the early going. Oh, they also have won four in a row, three of those on the road.

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The Rockets’ start apparently has caused president and general manager Bruce Hamilton’s hair to go prematurely silver. Oh, wait . . . 

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If you stop off here and enjoy yourself — and even if you don’t — feel free to scroll to the bottom of this posting and make a donation to the cause. Thanks in advance.

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The Seattle Thunderbirds, who beat the Rockets in last season’s Western Conference final, have slipped into last place in the WHL’s overall standings, at 2-4-1. Without F Mathew Barzal and with F Ryan Gropp just back in town and F Keegan Koleser on the shelf after some surgery, the Thunderbirds are still sorting out their roles. They have only scored 16 goals in seven games, but you can bet they are missing the two graduated defencemen — Jared Hauf and Jerret Smith — in a big way, too.

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If you’re keeping track, F Mathew Barzal, who is eligible to return to the Thunderbirds, wasn’t in the New York Islanders’ lineup for their home-opener against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. He has dressed for one of the Islanders’ first three games. . . . The Islanders won 3-2 in OT in front of a whole lot of empty seats at the Barclays Center.

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Headshot by Monctons' (QMJHL) Zachary Malatesta on Flyers prospect Pascal Laberge is sickening and revolting. No place in game for this. pic.twitter.com/avWJhopBoY

— Allan Walsh (@walsha) October 16, 2016

The QMJHL has a decision on its hands after the headshot that is viewable in the above tweet. That’s D Zachary Malatesta, 20, of the Moncton Wildcats hitting F Pascal Laberge, 18, of the Victoriaville Tigres. Laberge was a second-round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL’s 2016 draft.

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If you’re Mike Johnston, the general manager and head coach of the Portland Winterhawks, you have to be pretty pleased these days. You’re 8-3-0 and your six-game East Division trip is over. Your team, which was supposed to struggle to score, also has bagged 50 goals. Oh, and G Cole Kehler, who was a confidence-deflating 4-18-2 with Kamloops, is 6-1-0, 2.57, .913.

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There will be an interesting matchup on Tuesday as the Swift Current Broncos, fresh off a 5-1 victory over the host Kelowna Rockets, meet the Cougars in Prince George. The Cougars (10-2-0) have followed two straight losses, both at home to the Everett Silvertips, with a pair of road victories. The Broncos (7-2-1) are 4-0-1 on the road. 

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

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SUNDAY’S GAME:

Nikita Popugaev scores his 3rd of the game to win 4-3 in OT. https://t.co/YR9EhnjgY1

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) October 16, 2016

At Calgary, F Nikita Popugaev scored three times, including the OT winner, as the Moose Jaw

NIKITA POPUGAEV

Warriors beat the Hitmen, 4-3. . . . Popugaev, who has seven goals this season, won it at 1:35 of extra time. . . . The Hitmen overcame a 3-1 deficit on goals from F Tyler Mrkonjic, shorthanded, at 16:50 of the second period and D Aaron Hyman, at 11:28 of the third period. . . . The Hitmen (3-3-1) have lost three in a row (0-2-1). . . . Calgary held a 10-0 edge in third-period shots, but the Warriors had the only two shots in OT. . . . Warriors F Jayden Halbgewachs scored his ninth goal and added an assist. He has 14 points in 10 games after finishing last season, his second, with 41 points, including 15 goals, in 69 games. . . . Moose Jaw G Zach Sawchenko, who is from Calgary, stopped 27 shots. . . . Calgary G Kyle Dumba made 15 saves. . . . Moose Jaw (5-2-2) was 1-6 on the PP; Calgary was 0-4. . . . The Warriors have won each of the last five meetings between these teams. . . . A Russian sophomore, Popugaev has 14 points in 10 games. Last season, he totalled 16 goals and 31 assists in 70 games. This was his first three-goal game. . . . Announced attendance: 5,153.

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MONDAY’S GAME (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

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Cougars sifting through resumes . . . Silvertips getting 'Trumped' . . . SJHL to salute Mr. Hockey

The Prince George Cougars are in the market for an assistant coach, general manager Todd Harkins confirmed to Taking Note on Sunday. They have a vacancy after Michael Hengen left the team after two seasons. . . . "We have had quite a few resumes come in and are slowly sifting through them,” Harkins said. . . . A new assistant coach will work alongside head coach Richard Matvichuk and associate coach Steve O’Rourke, both of whom are starting their first seasons with the Cougars. . . . As for Hengen, he told Taking Note that he has “decided to move on from coaching.” It was, he added, “an absolute dream come true to coach in the WHL.” He had to make a “tough decision,” he continued, “but it’s a very necessary choice that I had to make.” . . . Brent Arsenault, who had been with the organization since 2005 and also was the education advisor, has left the Cougars, too. Harkins said that the Cougars have added Mary LaMarre as the education advisor. She “was Brent’s contact and right-hand person at Prince George Secondary School,” Harkins said.

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With two of the WHL’s Big Three having left for the NHL over the past month, what about the one who remains? Bruce Hamilton, the majority owner, president and governor of the Kelowna Rockets, told Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Rockets: “I’m 59 and I’m not so sure that’s in line for me right now. I’m happy here right now. We want to win again — that’s the most important thing for us, and to continue to have one of the better franchises in the Canadian Hockey League.” . . . Kelly McCrimmon, the owner of the Brandon Wheat Kings, has signed on with the NHL’s Las Vegas expansion franchise as assistant general manager. Tim Speltz, the long-time general manager of the Spokane Chiefs, is leaving to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as a western scout. . . . Hamilton? Well, he added: “If the right thing came along that interested me, yeah, I would listen. You’d be stupid not to listen.” . . . Fisher’s story is right here.

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The Everett Silvertips are being ‘Trumped’ on Tuesday. . . . Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has Everett’s Xfinity Arena booked for the entire day, so the Silvertips will be on the outside looking in. Unless, of course, they plan on attending The Donald’s rally, which begins at 7 p.m., although the doors apparently open at 4. . . . The Silvertips wrapped up their main camp with the annual Green vs. Grey intrasquad game on Sunday afternoon.

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The Saskatoon Blades have signed F Brady Nicholas, who was a fifth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. From St. Albert, Alta., the 6-foot-0, 178-pound Nichols had 43 points, 14 of them goals, in 30 games with the bantam AAA St. Albert Saints last season. 

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The Moose Jaw Warriors announced the signings of four players, each of them taller than 6-foot-0, following their intrasquad game on Sunday night. . . . D Matthew Benson of Surrey, B.C., played last season with the Delta Hockey Academy Elite 15s. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Benson recorded one goal and 12 assists in 33 games. He will turn 16 on Nov. 24. . . . D Matthew Sanders of Calgary was a fifth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Sanders, 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds, played last season with the bantam AAA Calgary Bisons, scoring seven goals and adding 10 assists in 36 games. . . . F Kale Clouston, 6-foot-4 and 177 pounds, is from Rockyview, Alta. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. Last season, with the minor midget AAA Rockeyview Raiders, he had 39 points, including 14 goals, in 62 games. . . . F Brecon Wood of Edmonton also signed. The 6-foot-2, 168-pounder was selected in the seventh round of the 2015 bantam draft. He will turn 16 on Dec. 5. Last season, he had 15 points, four of them goals, in 23 games with the OHA-Edmonton team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League.

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Want to thank the @MJWARRIORS for their continued support of mental awareness and the honoring of my son Ethan Williams. #SickNotWeak

— Chris Williams (@chriswwms) August 28, 2016

When the Moose Jaw Warriors held their intrasquad game on Sunday night, admission was by donation with all proceeds going to the Canadian Mental Health Association in memory of Ethan Williams. . . . It is important that people like Williams not be forgotten. . . . Two years ago, Williams, a Warriors prospect from Winnipeg, took his own life at 16 years of age. . . . Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press explored Williams’ story right here.

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The SJHL has announced that all of its players will wear No. 9 patches this season in honour of the late Gordie Howe, who died on June 20, 2016. Born in Floral, Sask., Mr. Hockey grew up in Saskatoon. . . . “As a league from Mr. Howe’s home province, from what he did for hockey in Saskatchewan and the world, the SJHL’s governors wanted to recognize him somehow,” SJHL president Bill Chow said. “It was decided a No. 9 patch would be worn on the sweaters. Mr. Howe meant a lot to hockey and the Saskatchewan people. He is the epitome of what Saskatchewan hockey is all about — heart, soul, character, dedication and commitment.”

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By now you will be aware of the thief in goaltending gear who hit a beer store in Russell, Man., the other night. All of the publicity this thief has received reminded me of a gem of a book that I don’t think received its proper due when it was published in 2005. The book, by Julian Rubinstein, carries the title Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts. . . . Seriously, that is the title. . . . It is the story of Attila Ambrus, who moonlighted as a gentleman thief while trying to carve out a career as a professional goaltender in Budapest. . . . This is a truly bizarre story and a worthwhile read, one that will leave you shaking your head in disbelief.

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

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Monument unveiled honouring the dear departed Matroska, arena cat at Admiral Vladivostok: pic.twitter.com/LrNZB0BNnS

— Patrick C (@ChunkletsHockey) August 28, 2016

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Chynoweth blows whistle on import draft . . . Royals make front-office move . . . Chiefs goaltender retires

F Grant Toulmin (Swift Current, 2005-07, 2008-09) has signed a one-year contract with Katowice (Poland, PHL). Last season, with the Manchester Storm (England, UK Elite), he had 53 points, including 35 assists, in 61 games. This summer, he played with the Sydney Ice Dogs (Australia, AIHL), putting up 15 goals and 16 assists in 21 games. The AIHL regular season ended on Sunday; the Ice Dogs missed the playoffs. . . .

F Adam Courchaine (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, 2001-05) has signed a one-year contract with Székesfehérvár (Hungary, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with Hradec Králové (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had 17 goals and 13 assists in 48 games. He tied for the team lead in goals. Courchaine signed a two-year extension with Hradec Králové in January, but terminated the contract prior to signing with Székesfehérvár.

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Jeff Chynoweth, the president and general manager of the Kootenay Ice, has had enough of the CHL import draft as it presently exists. Chynoweth, the son of the late Ed Chynoweth, the long-time head of the CHL and WHL, told Taylor Rocca of the Cranbrook Townsman on Thursday that too many

CHL teams cut deals with player agents before the draft is even held.

“Until the CHL changes the rules of the import draft, nothing is going to change,” Chynoweth told Rocca. “I know when my dad was in charge of the CHL, he would recognize and strive to address the issues. Right now, to me, it looks like the commissioners of the OHL and QMJHL look the other way and are ignoring a serious problem when it comes to the import draft. It's broken.

“It’s the haves and the have-nots. It’s not a level playing field. Something has to be done about it.”

Chynoweth claims that “the Western Hockey League polices itself against the backdoor deals that go on with the import draft.”

The Ice had the first selection in this year’s import draft and took Russian F Klim Kostin, a 17-year-old who is projected as an early selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft. Originally, Chynoweth had high hopes for landing Kostin, but he has signed with the KHL’s Moscow Dynamo.

(The Ice’s other import pick, Russian D Nikita Radzivilyuk, 17, is expected to arrived in Cranbrook this weekend, in time to take part in training camp.)

It long has been known that player agents drive the annual import draft, oftentimes picking and choosing to which teams clients will report. It has been suggested at times that the CHL needs to go to a system in which a player has to opt into the draft and, in doing so, agrees to play for the team that selects him.

Chynoweth has come around to agree with that line of thinking.

“Critics will say an opt-in doesn't guarantee a player is coming,” he told Rocca. “Absolutely it doesn't. But at least you know that Kootenay or London have the same list of players to choose from.

“Until we do that, it's not a level playing field.”

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Enio Sacilotto has moved from the bench to the front office with the Victoria Royals, Sacilotto, a veteran coach, had been a Royals’ assistant coach for  six seasons, going back to their days as the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?). . . . Sacilotto, 58, has been named the Royals’ director of prospect development and also will work as a scout. . . . A vacancy was created earlier in the week when Grant Armstrong, the Royals’ assistant GM, player personnel, signed on with the Brandon Wheat Kings as general manager. . . . The Royals now are looking for a head coach to work alongside Dave Lowry. . . . Sacilotto ran the Royals’ bench at times last season, going 5-6-2 while Lowry was tending to duties as the head coach of Canada’s national junior team.

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If you were wondering why Tim Speltz, then the Spokane Chiefs’ general manager, acquired G Jayden Sittler, 20, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes earlier this summer, well, you have your answer. . .

. Tyson Verhelst, a 19-year-old native of Brandon, has chosen to retire. Verhelst played in 81 games for the Chiefs over the past two seasons, including 55 in 2015-16 when he was 23-22-5, 3.16, .892. . . . “It’s a tough one,” Speltz told Thomas Clouse of the Spokane Spokesman-Review. “(Verhelst) had an injury. He suddenly lost his passion. When we traded for Sittler, I knew we were in trouble.” . . . . As things now stand, Sittler will open the season as the Chiefs’ starter. The backup is expected to be either Matthew Berlin or Donovan Buskey. Berlin, 18, is from Edmonton and was a seventh-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. Buskey, 16, is from North Vancouver. He was a third-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . Speltz stepped down as GM earlier this month in order to join the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs as head western scout. However, he continues to help the Chiefs through the transition.

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F Massimo Rizzo hasn’t signed with the Kamloops Blazers, who selected him 15th overall in the WHL’s 2016 bantam draft, but he will be in their rookie camp when it opens (today) Friday at the Sandman Centre. . . . Rizzo, from Burnaby, B.C., played for the Penticton Vees as they beat the West Kelowna Warriors 2-0 in a BCHL exhibition game on Wednesday night, then left for Kamloops on Thursday. . . . During an appearance on Radio NL’s Jim Harrison Show earlier this month, Blazers majority owner Tom Gaglardi indicated that he didn’t foresee a problem in signing Rizzo but acknowledged that the family had said it wanted time to consider the options. . . . One WHL insider told Taking Note on Thursday that the family “told everyone they were thinking college” prior to the draft. . . . After watching Rizzo on the ice and then in Wednesday’s game, Penticton assistant coach Jason Becker, a former WHL player and assistant coach, told Taking Note: “He looked pretty good . . . he’s a special player.” . . . Last season, with the bantam AAA Burnaby Winter Club Bruins, Rizzo had 137 points, including 60 goals, in 61 games.

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F Nick Merkley, who had his 2015-16 season short-circuited by a knee injury that required surgery, won’t attend the Kelowna Rockets’ training camp. Merkley, 19, is skating but hasn’t been cleared for contact. He was a first-round selection by Arizona in the 2015 NHL draft and is expected to rejoin the Rockets at some point. . . . Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier also reports right here that the Rockets are expected to begin with F Rod Southam, their captain, G Michael Herringer and F Riley Stadel, a former defenceman, as their 20-year-olds.

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In an intriguing move, the Regina Pats have offered F Nick Henry, 17, a roster spot if he signs a WHL contract. Henry was the MJHL’s rookie of the year last season after putting up 61 points, including 26 goals, in 50 games with his hometown Portage Terriers. . . . Henry, whose rights the Pats acquired from the Everett Silvertips, has made a verbal commitment to attend Western Michigan U, but has agreed to attend the Pats’ training camp. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has that and more right here.

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According to Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun, F Bradly Goethals is expected to be in the Brandon Wheat Kings’ training camp when it opens on Wednesday. Goethals, 18, won the Manitoba Midget AAA League scoring title with 74 points, including 41 goals, in 43 games with the Eastman Selects. He is from Iles-des-Chenes, Man., and had made a commitment to Bemidji State. . . . Bergson also reported that F Tak Anholt also is expected in camp. Anholt, 18, reported to the Wheat Kings last season but didn’t get into any games, then left for what the team said was personal reasons. He was a second-round selection by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2013 bantam draft. The Wheat Kings acquired Anholt, along with F Reid Duke and D Macoy Erkamps, from the Hurricanes for D Kord Pankewicz, F Brett Kitt and F Ryley Lindgren on Sept. 30, 2014.

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Former WHLer Jared Bednar is the new head coach of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. He replaces Patrick Roy, who quit earlier this month. . . . According to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post, Bednar and the Avs agreed to a three-year contract. . . . Bednar had been head coach of the Cleveland Monsters, who won the AHL championship last season as the Lake Erie Monsters. Interestingly, Bednar has never played or coached in the NHL. . . . The other finalist was Lane Lambert, a former WHL player and coach, who now is an assistant coach with the NHL’s Washington Capitals. . . . Colorado general manager Joe Sakic made the final decision while in Seattle where his son, Chase, is in the training camp of the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. Chase, a forward, will turn 16 on Oct. 14. . . . Bednar, 44, played three seasons (1990-93) in the WHL, with the Saskatoon Blades, Spokane Chiefs, Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince Albert Raiders. . . . A native of Yorkton, Sask., Bednar has been in the coaching game since 2002-03. . . . Reports that Travis Green, the head coach of the AHL’s Utica Comets, was in the running for the Colorado position weren’t accurate. A source has told Taking Note that Green, a former Portland Winterhawks assistant GM and assistant coach, doesn’t have an out-clause in his contract that would allow him to leave at this time. The Comets are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.

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The NHL’s Las Vegas franchise, which is to begin play in 2017-18, has added yet another WHLer to its front office. Erin Ginnell, who played for five teams (New Westminster Bruins, Calgary Wranglers, Seattle Thunderbirds, Regina Pats and Swift Current Broncos) over two seasons (1985-87), has joined Las Vegas as an amateur scout. . . . Ginnell, the son of the late Pat Ginnell, has been an NHL scout since 2000-01, working with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers. He spent 14 seasons with the Panthers, the last five as their director of amateur scouting. . . . Ginnell’s son, Brad, is in camp with the Portland Winterhawks.  He was a fifth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . Las Vegas also has added Scott Luce as its director of amateur scouting. He had been Florida’s director of player personnel. . . . Luce and Ginnell both found themselves unemployed when Florida shuffled GM Dale Tallon upstairs and put Tom Rowe in charge. . . . In recent days, Las Vegas has signed at least four other people with WHL experience — Murray Craven (senior vice-president), Kelly McCrimmon (assistant GM), Vaughn Karpan (director of player personnel) and Bruno Campese (amateur scout).

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The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) announced this week that — wait for it! — each of its regular-season games will be worth three points. . . . Here’s how it will work. . . . If a team wins in regulation time, it gets three points. . . . If a team wins during a five-minute sudden-death OT period, it gets three points. The loser doesn’t get a thing. . . . If a game is decided in 3-on-3 OT, which occurs if the five-minute period doesn’t settle things, the winner gets two points, with the loser getting one. . . . If the game needs a shootout, the winner gets two points and the loser gets one. . . . It is going to be interesting to watch the in-season reaction to see if teams push harder to win in regulation or the first OT period.

There also was this paragraph in the news release: “The 3-on-3 overtime and shootouts will only affect the WCHA standings, while any game that is tied after the 5-on-5 overtime remains officially a tie for NCAA purposes. Thus, the WCHA standings will show Wins, Losses, Ties and 3-on-3/Shootout Wins (W-L-T-3/SW). In this format, W-L-T will add up to games played, with the Tie column signifying how many times a team has been to a 3-on-3 overtime or shootout; and, the 3/SW column representing how many games a team has won in that fashion.”

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

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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

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.