Fora added to Swiss national team; speculation there about his WHL future

MICHAEL FORA

D Michael Fora of the Kamloops Blazers has been added to the roster of the Swiss national team as head coach Glen Hanlon prepares it for the 2016 IIHF World championship.
Fora is one of eight defencemen on the roster, but the only one who doesn’t play professionally in Switzerland. Fora, 19, had 32 points in 60 games with the Blazers. He also played for Switzerland at the 2015 World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto.
The Swiss team is to play exhibition games against Finland today in Kloten and Friday in Basel.
There also is ample speculation in Switzerland that Fora won’t return to Kamloops, choosing instead to play professionally with HC Ambri-Piotta. The speculation seems to have started with a report by Pietro Filippini of Giornale del Popolo.
“It looks as if a return to HCAP is likely should Fora not be drafted in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft this summer,” reported swisshockeynews.ch. “If he should be picked and his team will advise him to return to Europe, he is set to make his way back to Switzerland to join HCAP, reports the same source.”
Fora played junior with two Swiss teams -- GDT Bellinzona and HC Ambrì-Piotta.
You can forget about Fora, who just completed his first WHL season, not being drafted. He got off to a slow start but by season’s end was an impact-type defenceman and NHL scouts had him on their ‘must-see’ lists.
If Fora isn’t back in the WHL next season, it likely will be because of his age. He turns 20 on Oct. 30, meaning he would be a two-spotter -- a 20-year-old import -- and teams often are reluctant to keep such players.
There are six two-spotters on WHL playoff rosters: F Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice, F Edgars Kulda of the Edmonton Oil Kings, G Marek Langhamer of the Medicine Hat Tigers, F Roberts Lipsbergs of the Seattle Thunderbirds, F Richard Nejezchleb of the Tri-City Americans and F Pavel Padakin of the Regina Pats.

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Dorothy on top of the world . . . Sheldon Kennedy honoured . . . Blazers add two young d-men

Dorothy, aka Wonder Woman, was on
top of the world Friday in Kamloops.

A year ago, Dorothy, my good wife, wasn't strong enough to force down the foot rest on the recliner in which she sits when watching TV.
On Friday, she hiked to the top of Kenna Cartwright Park in Kamloops.
That is why she is known as Wonder Woman in these parts.
To those of you who have followed her story here and have offered support, we were thinking of you on our 50-minute walk. Your support means so much and we won't ever forget it.
From the four of us, including Joanna and Todd, we hope you had a Merry Christmas and a quiet Boxing Day, and that 2015 is full of good cheer.
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F Štěpán Novotný (Kelowna, Swift Current, 2008-11) has signed for the rest of this season with Nitra (Slovakia, Extraliga). This season, with Žilina (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had 10 goals and five assists in 27 games. He was released by Žilina at his request. . . .
F Juraj Šimek (Brandon, 2006-07) has signed for the rest of this season with TPS Turku (Finland, Liiga). This season, with Genève-Servette (Switzerland, NL A), he had six goals and seven assists in 33 games.
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The word 'hero' often gets tossed around far too easily, like a dime, when it should be used more like a manhole cover. But it is entirely appropriate when referring to Sheldon Kennedy, the former WHL and NHL player who was sexually abused by former Swift Current Broncos general manager and head coach Graham James. On Friday, Kennedy, who now is an advocate for victims of child abuse, was named to the Order of Canada. . . . Kennedy, 45, works tirelessly on behalf of young people. . . . But, as he said, he isn't doing it for awards. “For me," he told The Canadian Press, "I’m not doing this work to win awards for Sheldon Kennedy. I’m doing this work because I understand the damage that this crime has on our kids And it’s killing our kids.” . . . Kennedy would know. He has been down that road. . . . If you haven't already, read his book, Why I Didn't Say Anything. . . . In the meantime, there are a couple of stories on the Order of Canada right here and right here. . . . Yes, Sheldon Kennedy is a true Canadian hero.

From everyone who works with you at the @yycCAC thank you @ShelKenn and congratulations on your Order of Canada! pic.twitter.com/ym9rDPeC2Z
— Sheldon Kennedy CAC (@yycCAC) December 27, 2014

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The Kamloops Blazers will get a look at D Dawson Davidson, 16, and D Conner McDonald, 15, over the next four games. . . . Davidson, a third-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft, is from Moosomin, Sask., and plays for the midget AAA Moose Gaw Generals. He has five goals and nine assists in 26 games. . . . McDonald, from Delta, B.C., was a second-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. He has six goals and six assists in 15 games with the Delta Hockey Academy prep team. . . . Meanwhile, D Nolan Kneen, who played in four games with the Blazers prior to Christmas, is back with the major midget Okanagan Rockets. He was the third overall pick in the 2014 bantam draft. . . . The Blazers will have D Patrik Maier in their lineup tonight when they meet the Rockets in Kelowna. He returned to the Blazers after not cracking the lineup of the Slovakian junior team. However, D Michael Fora will miss four games as he plays for Switzerland at the World Junior Championship. . . . Kamloops also should have D Brady Gaudet, 20, back in its lineup tonight. He has missed 18 games with a shoulder injury.
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The Seattle Thunderbirds have brought in F Wyatt Bear, 15, who was a fifth-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. Bear is from Hodgson, Man., and plays for Interlake Lightning of the Manitoba Midget AAA League. In 25 games, he has six goals and eight assists. . . . The Thunderbirds are at home to the Portland Winterhawks tonight.
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Major junior hockey is under fire these days as it faces the possible unionization of its players, as well as at least three lawsuits. Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail takes a look right here at just what's going on. ---
Lou Lamoriello, the long-time general manager of the NHL's New Jersey Devils, fired head coach Pete DeBoer on Friday. Rich Chere of nj.com takes a look right here at what's happening with the Devils. . . . BTW, speculation last night had former Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean as the Devils' next head coach.
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The West Virginia Mountaineers won't have quarterback Clint Trickett in the lineup on ?? when they meet the Texas A&M Aggies in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Monday in Memphis. Trickett, a senior, has retired after suffering five concussions in 14 months. He hid two of those concussions from trainers. . . . There's more right here.
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#OrderofCanada appointments never happen without help. I want to thank the many many people that have helped me and continue to help #THANKS
— Sheldon Kennedy (@ShelKenn) December 26, 2014

Stands are full. Bars are full. TSN ad spots are full. Lots of people making lots of money from WJC, except, of course, the players.
— Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) December 27, 2014

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What's happening in KHL? . . . Robison on Hurricanes . . . Joyeux Noel in Vancouver

As James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail tweeted early Tuesday, the KHL is under financial strain. With the price of oil dropping, the ongoing sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, and the subsequent drop in the Russian economy and value of the ruble, the economics of the league have changed.
Mirtle reported that three KHL teams haven’t paid their players this season and may fold, and that a number of coaches haven’t been paid. He guesses the three teams are Atlant Mytishchi, Slovan Bratislava, and Dinamo Riga, and writes that “roughly one-third of the KHL has serious problems.” That would be eight of the 24 teams.
He goes on to state that “a lot of teams are having payroll issues with players, too.”
Based on reports by Finnish broadcaster YLE, other clubs in financial difficulties include Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Barys Astana and Sochi.
YLE in October conducted a survey of Finnish players and coaches playing in the KHL this season. From the survey results, YLE concluded that up to eight teams have had difficulties paying salaries on time. According to YLE, Barys Astana was at least one month behind in salary payments, Sochi was having difficulties paying players, and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod was "several months" late with player payments.
One Finnish player with Torpedo said, "I can't deny that I've wondered if I'll ever get all the money I'm due from the club."
Another player said, "At many clubs, money isn't paid on time. Players are badly informed about when salaries are paid. Sometimes, they're paid with the proceeds from three or four home games in a row."
YLE also reported that the Russian state energy corporation Gazprom, a key sponsor for many clubs and the league itself, has missed some scheduled sponsorship payments. This has left a total deficit league-wide running into the tens of millions of euros.
Other Russian media sources report that Atlant may begin selling players in January if finances don’t improve. This is the second season of financial woes for Atlant. In March, five players were declared free agents by the KHL for non-payment of wages.
Finnish media reports indicate that Petri Matikainen, head coach of Slovan Bratislava, has not been paid at all this season.
On Monday, Slovan Bratislava played Jokerit in Helsinki. Helsinki newspaper Iltalehti reported that Matikainen hasn’t received any pay this season and neither have any Slovan players. Matikainen refused to comment on the salary situation but said, "We have had economic problems."
Three players for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk have refused to practise or play games because they haven’t been paid. The three -- goaltender Ville Kolppanen (Lethbridge, 2009-10) and forwards Dan Sexton and Tim Stapleton -- have refused to practice and didn’t play in games Friday or Sunday. The club announced that they didn’t play due to injury.
Dinamo Riga applied for but was refused funding from the Latvian government last summer, despite a plea from Russian Hockey Federation president Vladislav Tretiak. The Latvian Ministry of Education and Science said that the Law on Sport doesn’t allow distribution of funds from the state budget to professional sports clubs. The club decided to continue in the KHL this season anyway.
Salavat Yuleav Ufa in late October wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking for his help in saving the charity organization Ural, the club’s main sponsor. The charity has had its bank accounts frozen as a result of a government investigation. It is unclear from the article whether the focus of the investigation is the bank holding the funds or the charity itself.
A Salavat Yulaev player confirmed at the end of October that they have been paid.
Moscow Regional Sports Minister Roman Teryushkov told the radio station Sport FM that he hopes Vityaz Podolsk will be able the finish this season and that a decision on its future will be made after the season is completed. He ruled out a merger of Vityaz and Atlant.
KHL Chairman of the Board Gennadi Timchenko noted in October that the league is helping Vityaz, Atlant and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
Vityaz president Mikael Golovkov called Tuesday for a reduction of the KHL salary cap for next season from 1.1 billion rubles to 800 million rubles with no exceptions, as part of a move to eventually reduce the cap to 500-600 million rubles. Currently, the 1.1 billion rubble cap is a soft cap with a 20 per cent luxury tax for exceeding it, and four players are exempt from the cap: Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Radulov, Sergei Kostitsyn and Alexander Burmistov. In June, when the KHL set its salary cap, 1.1 billion rubles was US$32 million. Today? $15.9 million.
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THE HURRICANES REPORT:

Pat Siedlecki, the former radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes who is the corporate news director at Clear Sky Radio, interviewed WHL commissioner Ron Robison on Tuesday morning.
Siedlecki then tweeted some highlights . . .
“(Robison) says he had a very candid chat with the Board last week about the state of Lethbridge Hurricanes.”
“Robison says both the Board and the league share the same frustration the Hurricanes aren't seeing the results they would like to see.”
Robison also tells me the WHL has been monitoring the Canes situation closely, especially the financial side of things.
Ron Robison says “there's new private ownership in Regina & PG and that type of model would work well in Lethbridge in our view."
Robison says he would like to see discussion with Canes shareholders on a possible sale of the team to take place "sooner than later."
Robison says the WHL's position is that having shareholders vote on this issue at the next AGM in September doesn't serve much purpose.
Robison says he would hope to see this meeting with shareholders "moved up to sometime early in the new year."
Robison says Board has a chance to assess what they discussed, put some thoughts together and meet with shareholders as soon as possible.
(The complete interview is available on Siedlecki’s blog and is right here. There are some comments posted on Siedlecki’s blog, right after the Robison interview. The third comment is especially astute.)
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Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Herald has his take on the Hurricanes right here, and it’s pretty much spot on. Give it a look.
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D Michael Fora and D Patrik Maier of the Kamloops Blazers will be playing in the 2015 World Junior Championship. Both are in their first WHL season. Fora will play for his native Switzerland, while Maier will be with Slovakia. . . . Fora, who has gotten markedly better as this season has moved along, has 20 points, four of them goals, in 35 games with the Blazers, while Maier has six points, including three goals, in 33 games. . . . Fora didn’t play last night in Cranbrook and will miss tonight’s game in Medicine Hat, as well as four games after Christmas. . . . Maier will miss the first four post-Christmas games.
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In an interesting Tuesday transaction, the Calgary Hitmen acquired the WHL rights to G Thatcher Demko from the Spokane Chiefs for conditional draft picks. . . . Guy Flaming (@TPS_Guy) tweeted that the conditional picks are a second-rounder in 2015 and a second- or third-rounder in 2016. . . . Demko, a 19-year-old from San Diego, is playing at Boston College and is likely to be the U.S. national junior team’s starting goaltender. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the 2014 NHL draft. . . . This appears to be a simple roll of the dice by Calgary GM Mike Moore as there doesn’t seem to be any indication at this point that Demko is about to leave BC. . . . Moore told Calgary radio station The Fan 960 that “we don’t have any indication he’s coming to play for us. . . . This is still a longshot. we’re taking a flyer here, no doubt.” . . . The Hitmen have two goaltenders on their roster. Mack Shields is 15-8-1/2.74/.899 in 27 games; Evan Johnson is 4-3-2/2.79/.899 in 11 appearances.
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The Portland Winterhawks are going to take a look at F Cody Glass after the Christmas break. Glass, a 15-year-old from Winnipeg, was the 19th overall selection in the WHL’s 2014 bantam draft. He is playing with the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers. Glass has 22 points, including six goals, in 21 games.
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THE BLOG:

As mentioned here the other day, the blog master is in need of a new computer. If you are a regular in these parts and enjoy this blog, you may want to consider making a donation in order to help make this happen. If you would like to help, just click on the donate button at the upper right. . . . Thank you, in advance. . . . BTW, the computer fund has received four donations and is at $135.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:

In Brandon, the Regina Pats overcame four two-goal deficits and beat the Wheat Kings 6-5 in OT. . . . F Connor Gay won it at 3:24 of extra time with his 15th goal of the season. . . . Brandon F Nolan Patrick gave his side a 5-3 lead with his 14th goal, on the PP, at 3:58 of the third. . . . Regina F Austin Wagner got that one back with his seventh goal, shorthanded, at 8:28. . . . Pats F Patrick D’Amico scored his 12th at 16:55, on the PP, to force OT. . . . Regina F Morgan Klimchuk, cut earlier in the week by Canada’s national junior team, scored his 10th goal and added two assists. . . . Pats F Braden Christoffer got No. 12 and also had two assists. . . . Brandon F Tim McGauley scored twice, giving him 22, as he ran his point streak to 12 games. . . . He’s got 14 goals and nine assists in that stretch. . . . Brandon was 3-for-5 on the PP; Regina was 2-for-5. . . . The Wheat Kings again were without F Jayce Hawryluk and F Jesse Gabrielle, both out with undisclosed injuries. . . . Prior to the game, the Pats recalled G Tyler Fuhr from the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins and he was on the bench in support of starter Daniel Wapple. . . . The Pats (20-11-1), who are at home to Lethbridge tonight, have won 15 of their last 18 games, including three in a row over Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings (24-7-4), who lead the East Division by 11 points over Regina, are 3-0-2 in their last five. . . . Regina does hold three games in hand. . . .

In Moose Jaw, F Tyler Wong and D Kord Pankewicz each had three points as the Lethbridge Hurricanes ended a six-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the Warriors. . . . Wong scored twice, giving him 11 goals, while Pankewicz got his third. . . . Wong’s goals came at 14:23 and 16:35 of the first period, giving Lethbridge a 2-0 lead. The Warriors were never able to catch up. . . . F Tanner Eberle scored his 19th goal for the Warriors. . . . The Hurricanes were 2-for-9 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 0-for-3. . . . Lethbridge (7-20-5) went into the game having won once in 16 games. The Hurricanes are in Regina tonight. . . . The Warriors (15-16-3), who play in Prince Albert tonight, have lost two in a row. The Raiders are fifth in the East Division, two points behind the Warriors. . . . This was the second meeting of the season between the White brothers, F Torrin of the Warriors and F Jaeger of the Hurricanes. The season series is 1-1 so no one has bragging rights at the Christmas dinner table. . . . Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald has a game story right here. . . .

In Edmonton, D Cole Martin had three assists to lead the Kelowna Rockets to a 4-1 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . The Rockets scored the game’s first two goals and the last two, while going 2-for-4 on the PP. . . . Kelowna F Tyson Baillie scored his 22nd goal on a third-period PP. . . . F Justin Kirkland had two assists for Kelowna. . . . Rockets F Gage Quinney got his eighth goal; it was his second in three games since coming over from the Prince Albert Raiders in a deal last week. . . . Kelowna G Jackson Whistle stopped 31 shots, six more than Edmonton’s Tristan Jarry. . . . The Rockets, who travel to Red Deer tonight, improved to 27-5-3. . . . The Oil Kings, who play in Calgary tonight, are 15-14-5. They have slipped to fifth in the Central Division, a point behind the Kootenay Ice. . . .

In Cranbrook, the Kootenay Ice scored three third-period goals to beat the Kamloops Blazers, 5-2. . . . F Collin Shirley scored twice, giving him 13, in the second period as the visitors took a 2-1 lead. . . . Ice F Jaedon Descheneau tied it with his 18th goal at 15:05 of the second. . . . Ice D Tyler King gave the Ice its first lead, with his fourth, at 8:02 and F Tim Bozon stretched it with his 13th goal at 8:55. . . . Shirley and Bozon switched teams in a trade early last season. . . . Descheneau hit the cross-bar on a first-period penalty shot. . . . Kootenay dressed 17 skaters, one under the maximum. . . . Ice G Wyatt Hoflin, who made his 23rd straight start, stopped 30 shots. . . . The Ice (18-17-0) has won three in a row. It also has won 15 of 19. . . . The Blazers slipped to 13-19-5 and fell back into the B.C. Division cellar, a point behind the Vancouver Giants, who hold three games in hand. . . . It’ll be four after tonight as the Blazers are in Medicine Hat, while the Giants are done until after Christmas. . . . Taylor Rocca of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman has a game story right here. . . .

In Vancouver, the Giants scored two first-period goals and held on for a 2-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . Vancouver got goals from F Tyler Benson, his seventh, at 8:12, and F Carter Popoff, his 15th, at 19:08. Popoff also had an assist. . . . F Nikita Scherbak got his 15th for Everett at 12:49 of the third. . . . Vancouver G Cody Porter stopped 24 shots. . . . The Giants (16-18-0) have won seven in a row. They are 6-0-0 under head coach Claude Noel. . . . Everett is 19-9-4. . . . The Silvertips, who lead the U.S. Division by one point over the idle Portland Winterhawks, return home to face Victoria tonight. . . .

In Prince George, the Spokane Chiefs took a 5-3 with three second-period goals and went on to beat the Cougars, 5-4. . . . F Kailer Yamamoto’s eighth goal, at 13:56 of the second period on a PP, stood up as the winner. . . . Prince George F Jansen Harkins had erased a 2-1 Spokane lead with two goals 24 seconds apart late in the first period. He’s got 11 goals. . . . Harkins also had two assists, while Brad Morrison scored twice, giving him 12, and added an assist. . . . Cougars F Aaron Macklin had two assists. . . . Spokane G Garret Hughson made 38 stops. . . . D Josh Anderson was among the Cougars’ scratches. He suffered a broken wrist on Friday in a game against the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Chiefs (17-12-3) have won three in a row. . . . The Cougars slipped to 17-17-0. . . . The teams meet again tonight in Prince George. . . .

In Kent, Wash., F Ryan Gropp broke a 4-4 tie at 17:27 of the third period to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 5-4 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . The Thunderbirds led this one 3-0 six minutes into the second period, only to have Victoria score the game’s next four goals. . . . Royals F Tyler Soy tied it at 3 with his eighth goal at 11:49 of the third and F Logan Fisher gave his guys the lead just eight seconds later with his fourth goal. . . . Soy and Fisher set a franchise record for fastest two goals. . . . Seattle F Donovan Neuls tied it at 16:15, setting the stage for Gropp to score his eighth goal of the season. . . . F Justin Hickman had a goal, his eighth, and two assists for Seattle. . . . Victoria got three assists from F Greg Chase, but he also took a spearing major and game misconduct at 19:42 of the third period. . . . Royals D Travis Brown had a goal, his 13th, and two assists. . . . Seattle was 2-for-5 on the PP; Victoria was 0-for-3. . . . Seattle (14-15-4) had lost its previous two games. . . . Victoria (17-17-2) has lost three in a row as it goes into Everett tonight.
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.@LWillson_82 addressing team and giving the lineups to the team pic.twitter.com/68kfvByCNp
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) December 17, 2014

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Import draft has two agents seething . . . In the NHL, it's only money

F Chuck Kobasew (Kelowna, 2001-02) has signed a two-year contract with Bern (Switzerland, NL A). Last season, with the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), he had two goals in 33 games, and in 12 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), he had 13 points, 11 of them goals, in 12 games. . . .
F Willie Coetzee (Red Deer, 2007-10) has signed tryout contract with the Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Coetzee was with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) last season, but hurt a knee in training camp and missed the season. In 2012-2013, with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL), he had 68 points, including 28 goals, in 64 games. He led the Walleye in goals, assists and points. He also was pointless in one game with Grand Rapids. . . .
F Oscar Möller (Chilliwack, 2006-08) was released by Skellefteå (Sweden, SHL) in order for him to sign a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL). Last season, with Skellefteå, he had 45 points, 27 of them goals, in 48 games. He led his team in goals, led the league in PPG (15) and finished sixth in the league scoring race. Under the terms of his release, Möller will return to Skellefteå in 2016-17 to complete the remaining three years on a contract he signed in February 2013.
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The CHL’s import draft has always been driven by agents; in fact, you could make the case that it is owned by agents.
When the CHL decided to ban the picking of goaltenders in the import draft there are people out there who were surprised that the agents seemed to let it slide by with nary a peep.
Which brings us to Wednesday and the 2014 import draft.
For starters, it seems there are some new rules governing the draft. As Mark Staudinger (@MarkStaudz), who scouts the WHL for Red Line Report, tweeted: “Not only are Euro Goaltenders no longer allowed, but also major financial changes. Teams now penalized for signing players to huge packages.”
No, I don’t know what he meant by “huge packages.” Wink! Wink!!
And so it was that the OHL’s Sarnia Sting selected Czech F Pavel Zacha with the first pick of Wednesday’s draft. It was a move that brought howls of protestation from Allan Walsh, one of the most outspoken agents in the hockey world.
Walsh (@walsha) tweeted:
1. “Sarnia was advised that Pavel Zacha has a professional contract in Czech Republic for 2 more years and has no interest in playing for them.”
2. "Sarnia just wasted the #1 overall pick in the CHL Import Draft on a player who's not coming and has a professional contract. #RookieGM.”
3. “Looking forward to Sarnia's statement on how pleased they are to draft Pavel Zacha. #Wasted#1Pick.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Zacha is projected as a top-10 selection in the NHL’s 2015 draft. The Hockey News reported in April that Zacha had signed a three-year contract with Liberec of the Czech Extraliga.
Nick Sinclair, the Sting’s first-year general manager, told Brent Boles of the Sarnia Observer: “With the import draft there's always some uncertainty with the players coming over here. It's a calculated risk that we took. . . . We're optimistic that Sarnia can be a place that will really enhance his draft status.”
Sinclair also said he took Zacha because he was seen as the best player available.
“Skates very well, very skilled, good hockey sense – he's got all the tools to be a real good NHL player,” said Sinclair. “Hopefully, Pavel will be wearing our jersey come September.”
A team took the best player available. Isn’t that the way drafts are supposed to work? Well, not when the agents are used to running the show.
Which brings us to the 13th selection of the 2014 import draft, where the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads picked Swedish F William Nylander, who had been selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL’s 2014 draft.
It wasn’t long after Mississauga had taken Nylander that journalist/author Gare Joyce was tweeting about another “pissed” agent.
Joyce (@GareJoyceNHL) tweeted three times:
1. “agent 4 @MapleLeafs 1st-rounder Nylander sez he ‘had no communication w Mississauga Steelheads’ who picked client 13th in CHL import draft.”
2. “Agent Theofanous pissed that Steelheads jumped in. ‘I would not have made the pick w/o talking to agent or client.’ ”
3. “Theofanous: ‘It's William's intention to play for @MapleLeafs next yr, not junior.’ ”
That would be agent Paul Theofanous of Theofanous Management International.
So there were at least two angry agents when the CHL’s latest import draft drew to a close. You can bet there were more than that many CHL general managers giggling about it.
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1. The WHL’s 22 teams combined to select 29 players, 20 of them in the first round, in Wednesday’s import draft. The Prince George Cougars, who held the 15th pick, and Portland Winterhawks, who had No. 59, both passed as each already has two imports, none of whom are NHL first-round draft picks, on its roster. With teams now prohibited from trading import draft selections, the Cougars and Winterhawks simply passed. . . . All told, nine of the CHL’s 60 teams passed in the first round, and only 20 players were taken in the second round. When it was all over, 51 teams had taken 71 players from 12 countries.

2. The Prince Albert Raiders held the 24th pick in the first round, but that moved up No. 20 due to teams passing in front of them. With that selection, the Raiders took Czech F Simon Stransky, who turns 17 on Dec. 21. He is the younger brother of former Saskatoon Blades F Matej Stansky (2010-13). . . . The Raiders have two other imports on their roster, the other two being German F Leon Draisaitl and Czech D Tomas Andrlik. Draisaitl was taken third overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2014 NHL draft, so the Raiders are allowed to keep three imports on their roster until his immediate future is decided.

3. The Kootenay Ice took Russian F Alexander Chirva, 18, in the first round. He played last season with the Moose Jaw Warriors, putting up six points, two of them goals, in 58 games. . . . Kootenay’s roster also includes Swiss/French F Tim Bozon, 20, who is expected to play professionally if sufficiently recovered from his bout with Neisseria meningitis, and Russian D Rinat Valiev, 19.

4. The Seattle Thunderbirds used the 42nd selection on Danish F Alexander True, who turns 17 on July 17. His father, Soren, was a 12th-round selection by the New York Rangers in the NHL’s 1986 draft. He later played three seasons in the now-defunct IHL with teams in Flint, Mich., Albany, N.Y., San Diego and Phoenix. . . . Alexander also is a cousin to F Nikolaj Ehlers, who was taken ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL’s 2014 draft. Ehlers played last season with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, putting up 104 points in 63 games.

5. The Brandon Wheat Kings used the 25th pick on Russian D Ivan Provorov, 17. He played last season with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, picking up 19 points, including six goals, in 56 games. Provorov spent the 2012-13 season with a midget team in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, earning 97 pints in 51 games. . . . Provorov joins Latvian F Rihards Bukarts, who turns 19 on Dec. 31, and Czech F Richard Nejezchleb, 20, on Brandon’s roster. . . . Teams are allowed to have two imports on their rosters, but Brandon was allowed to make one selection because Nejezchleb is entering his final year of junior eligibility and could turn pro. The New York Rangers took him in the fifth round of the NHL’s 2014 draft.

6. The Spokane Chiefs, with the 36th pick, took D Tamás Láday of Hungary. According to the Chiefs, he is 6-foot-7 and 212 pounds. “Tamás’s size allows us to get bigger as a team, an area which we felt we needed to improve on,”Chris Moulton, the Chiefs’ director of player personnel, said in a news release. “He is not afraid to engage physically. . . . He has a good skill set for a player with a very large frame. He moves well for a big man, so he does a great job of transitioning the puck. He looks to have a lot of upside and will make our team better in the future.”

7. The Swift Current Broncos used their first-round selection on Russian F Maxim Letunov, who played last season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, earning 43 points, 19 of them goals, in 60 games. The St. Louis Blues selected him 52nd overall in the NHL’s 2014 draft. . . . Because D Julius Honka was a first-round selection (Dallas Stars) in the NHL’s 2014 draft, the Broncos are allowed to carry three imports for now. So they selected Swedish F Andreas Schumacher in the second round. His brother, Michael, played two seasons (2011-13) with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds before splitting last season between the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters and the Central league’s Denver Cutthroats. He was selected by Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round of the NHL’s 2011 draft.

8. In the second round, the Kamloops Blazers took Swiss D Michael Fora, who turns 19 on Oct. 31. His agent is Hnat Domenichelli, a former Blazers forward (1992-96) who played 11 pro seasons in Switzerland. Domenichelli retired after the 2013-14 season.

9. The Red Deer Rebels used their first-round selection to take Latvian D Eduards Jansons, who turns 17 on Sept. 7. Jansons’ is represented by Hockey Hall of Famer Igor Larionov. “His agent . . . absolutely loves the player,” Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ owner, GM and head coach, told Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate. “Igor thinks he’s going to be a real good pro.”

10. In chasing around Tuesday and reading about the NHL’s signing frenzy, I found this lead to a column by the Vancouver Sun’s always astute Iain MacIntyre on the Canucks’ signing of G Ryan Miller:
“Forget about the money because it’s Francesco Aquilini’s money and he has lots of it.”
Which is about when it finally hit me. The NHL has gotten to the same level of insanity as the NBA and much of Major League Baseball when it comes to paying players. In other words, forget about the money because it’s only money and there’s lots more where that came from.
So when you hear that the New York Islanders have signed F Nikolai Kulemin for four years at $4,187,500 per and F Mikael Gravovski for four years at $5 million you don’t need to roll your eyes. Remember: It’s only money.

11. The San Jose Sharks signed enforcer John Scott for one year at $700,000. This comes one day after the Calgary Flames signed D Deryk Engelland for three years and $8,750,000. Last season, Scott, with the Buffalo Sabres, made $750,000; Engelland, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, earned $575,000.

12. Capgeek.com’s latest figures for the NHL and its two-day-old free-agent feeding frenzy: 72 signings totalling US$550,300,000. . . . And the teams aren’t done yet.
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The Edmonton Oil Kings have re-signed head equipment manager Rogan Dean and head athletic therapist Brian Cheeseman. Dean, who is from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., is preparing for his eighth season with the Oil Kings, while Cheeseman, from Mount Pearl, Nfld., is going into his fifth season in Edmonton. Cheeseman also spent one season with the Tri-City Americans. . . . F Brendan Ranford, who played five seasons (2009-13) with the Kamloops Blazers, has signed a three-year entry-level deal with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Ranford, 22, played his first pro season in 2013-14, picking up 33 points, 12 of them goals, in 65 games with the AHL’s Texas Stars. He added 16 points, including eight goals, as the Stars won the Calder Cup in 21 games. . . .
F Jamie Lewis of the OHL’s North Bay Centennials has been hit with an eight-game suspension for an anti-doping rule violation. According to a news release from the CHL and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, the violation “resulted from a urine sample collected during in-competition doping control in May 2014 which revealed the presence of methylhexaneamine, a prohibited stimulant. Under the rules of the CHL Anti-Doping Policy . . . Lewis was assessed an eight-game suspension for a first violation for using a prohibited substance.” . . . From the same news release: “Methylhexaneamine is banned in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agencies Prohibited List which is recognized by the CHL. In Canada, methylhexaneamine is not an ingredient in medications licensed by Health Canada, but can be found in supplements.” . . .
Kaleb Toth (Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Lethbridge, 1993-98) went on to a legendary pro lacrosse career after leaving the WHL. In fact, he scored 346 goals in 206 National Lacrosse League games. Toth, 36, now has been named an assistant coach with the NLL’s Vancouver Stealth. He also coaches the Nanaimo Timbermen of the Western Lacrosse Association.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Troy Mann is the new head coach of the Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals. Mann was an assistant coach with the Bears (2009-13), but spent last season as head coach of the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors. . . Bryan Helmer, who played with the Bears and is the AHL’s all-time leading scorer among defenceman, signed on in Hershey as an assistant coach. He had been an assistant with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes. . . . Hershey’s head-coaching job opened up when Mike Haviland left to become the head coach at Colorado College.
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Way to go islanders!!!! Making a 40pt guy a 5 million dollar player!!! Grabovski?? 5 million??? I'm going back to the gym!! Good god
— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) July 2, 2014

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