Calling all Terriers! . . . Three series one victory from ending

F John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) has signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, with Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had 34 points, including 14 goals, in 43 games. . . .
The Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier) announced via Twitter the retirement of D Robert Schnabel (Red Deer, 1997-99). This season, in 53 games, Schnabel had 43 points, 11 of them goals. He was the fifth-leading scorer among league defencemen and was named to the second all-star team. . . .
Among the English Premier first team all-stars: F Michal Psurny (Medicine Hat, Kootenay, 2005-06) of the Manchester Phoenix, who led the league in scoring with 99 points, including 45 goals, in 54 games. . . . F Tomas Karpov (Moose Jaw, Calgary, 2007-09) of the Basingstoke Bison. . . . Among the second team all-stars: F Robin Kovar (Vancouver, 2001-03) and F Tony Hand (Victoria Cougars, 1986-87), both of the Manchester Phoenix. At 46, Hand led the league in assists (64) and was third with 82 points, in 53 games.
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Portage la Prairie, home of the MJHL’s Terriers, will play host to the Royal Bank Cup in 2015. With that in mind, the Terriers are working hard to reach as many former players, coaches, team officials, executives, etc., as possible in an attempt to bring everyone back for what will be a big week. So if you had anything at all to do with the Terriers, going back to Day 1, you should visit the Terriers’ alumni page right here and sign up.
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Moose Jaw’s city council has decided to write a letter to the Moose Jaw Warriors, expressing concern over the WHL team’s decision to bring back an old logo as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations set for 2014-15. . . . A Canadian Press story that originated with Moose Jaw radio station CHAB is right here. . . . Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports weighs in with more right here.
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The Ulmer brothers, Jeff and Jason, have signed contracts with teams in Austria’s Erste Bank Liga. . . . Jeff, 36, has signed a one-year deal with the Innsbruck Sharks. He had 43 points, including 22 goals, in 53 games with the Sharks this season. . . . Jason, 35, signed a two-year deal with the Linz Black Wings. This season, in 55 games, he had 58 points, including 16 goals. . . . The brothers are from Wilcox, Sask., the home of the Notre Dame Hounds.
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Mountain climbers, especially those whose lives belong to the Everests and K2s of the world, have never been able to explain why they do what they do. Perhaps it was Sir Edmund Hilary, the legendary climber, who came closest when he said: “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” . . . Whatever it is, Gabriel Filippi has spent a lot of his life chasing it. . . . If you enjoy great reads, this one right here is for you.
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The Tri-City Americans have signed F Zach Andrusiak of Armstrong, B.C., who was placed on their list in December. Andrusiak, 15, spent this season with the Kelowna-based Pursuit of Excellence’s U18 prep team. In 66 games, he put up 82 points, including 35 goals. On the team, he was second to F Tyler Benson in goals and points. Benson was selected by the Vancouver Giants with the first overall pick of the 2013 bantam draft.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton leads, 3-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 3 (7,115)
Tuesday: Edmonton 5 at Brandon 2 (3,522)
Wednesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, day-to-day; D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
Brandon: G Curtis Honey, day-to-day.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Series tied, 1-1)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay 4 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,750)
Sunday: Kootenay 2 at Medicine Hat 5 (3,755)
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna leads, 3-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle 3 at Kelowna 6 (5,675)
Tuesday: Kelowna 5 at Seattle 4 (5,029)
Wednesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, week-to-week.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite; F Jaimen Yakubowski, day-to-day.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Portland leads, 3-1)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV in Canada;
Games 6 and 7, if necessary, on Comcast SportsNet in Portland area)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria 2 at Portland 8 (6,152)
Saturday: Victoria 3 at Portland 6 (10,947)
Monday: Portland 1 at Victoria 2 (6,505)
Tuesday: Portland 4 at Victoria 3 (6,745)
Thursday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:

 In Brandon, F Mitch Moroz had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings dumped the Wheat Kings, 5-2. . . . The Oil Kings lead the series 3-0 and are able to wrap it up in Brandon tonight. . . . F Riley Kieser gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 16:13 of the first period. . . . Brandon F John Quenneville tied it on a PP at 4:38 of the second. He’s got four goals. . . . Moroz broke the tie at 5:40 of the third period and F Curtis Lazar added insurance at 8:38, via the PP. . . . Kieser, Moroz, Lazar, Edmonton D Ashton Sautner and Brandon F Richard Nejezchleb each scored his third goal of these playoffs. . . . F Luke Bertolucci added an empty-netter for Edmonton, his second goal. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry stopped 32 shots, six fewer than Brandon’s Jordan Papirny. . . . The Oil Kings were 2-for-8 on the PP, with both goals coming with 5-on-3 advantages; Brandon was 1-for-4. . . . The Wheat Kings took 53 of 65 penalty minutes. That included a fighting major and game misconduct to D Ryan Pilon at 19:26 of the third period. No one from Edmonton was penalized at the time, leaving one to wonder if Pilon might hear from the WHL office today. . . . Brandon had two 15-year-olds in its lineup as D Kale Clague, the sixth overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft, made his playoff debut, joining F Nolan Patrick, the fourth overall pick. . . .


In Kent, Wash., the Kelowna Rockets took a 4-1 lead into the third period and hung on for a 5-4 victory over the Thunderbirds. . . . With a 3-0 lead in the series, the Rockets can wrap it up tonight in Kent. . . . The Rockets opened a 2-0 first-period lead on late goals from F Ryan Olsen and F Tyrell Goulbourne, at 18:39 (PP) and 19:03, respectively. . . . Seattle F Ethan Bear cut the lead to 2-1 at 4:12 of the second, but the Rockets took control on goals from F Tyson Baillie at 7:23 and D Madison Bowey, at 9:54. . . . Seattle outscored the visitors 3-1 in the third period but wasn’t able to equalize. . . . F Alexander Delnov got the home side to within 5-4 at 18:43 of the third. . . . D Damon Severson and F Marek Tvrdeon each had two assists for Kelowna, while F Mathew Barzal did the same for Seattle. . . . Severson has nine points in the series’ three games. He has two assists in each game. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 28 shots, one more than Seattle’s Taran Kozun. . . . Kelowna, which took 11 of 17 minors, was 2-for-5 on the PP; Seattle was 1-for-10. . . .


 In Victoria, the Portland Winterhawks scored the game’s last two goals and beat the Rockets, 4-3. . . . The Winterhawks go home with a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday in the Moda Center. . . . F Steven Hodges scored a PP goal seven seconds into the third period to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic tied it with his second goal of the game just 1:26 later. . . . F Chase De Leo scored his third goal at 8:05 and it stood up as the winner. . . . Leipsic and teammate Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was held to one assist in this one, have a WHL-leading eight goals. . . . Leipsic also took over the playoff points lead, with 18, one more than Kootenay Ice forwards Jaedon Descheneau and Sam Reinhart. . . . Leipsic has at least one point in each of his club’s eight playoff games. Going back to the regular season, he is riding a 15-game point streak. . . . F Tyler Soy had given Victoria the lead at 6:39 of the first period. . . . Portland got goals from F Adam Rossignol, at 8:06 of the first, and Leipsic, on the PP at 12:18 of the second, to take the lead. . . . F Taylor Crunk, shorthanded, pulled Victoria into a 2-2 tie at 17:11 of the second. . . . D Mathew Dumba had two assists for the Winterhawks. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke turned aside 27 shots, while Victoria’s Patrik Polivka stopped 34. . . . Portland was 1-for-5 on the PP; Victoria was 1-for-4.
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From Helene Barbier Bozon (@HeleneBozon): “Good bye Canada,Time to go back home! 40 days @timbozon94 Terrify,tears,despair,believe,hope,Miracle Thank you everyone.”
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From Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon (@timbozon94): “Here we go finally flying back to europe in couple hours @HeleneBozon #seeyacanada #RehabTime”


There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE MacBETH REPORT:


F Justin Keller (Kelowna, 2003-06) signed a one-year contract extension with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 16 goals and 19 assists in 52 games split between Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) and the Capitals. . . .


F Matt MacKay (Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Brandon, 2008-11) signed a one-year contract extension with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had three goals and five assists in 42 games with the Wings this season. . . .

D Robert Schnabel (Red Deer, 1997-99) signed a one-year contract extension with the Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier). He had eight goals and 18 assists in 45 games with the Premier League champs this season. . . .

F Lauris Darzins (Kelowna, 2004-06) signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia, KHL). He had four goals and eight assists in 24 games with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL) this season. Darzins also was captain of the Latvian national team at the world championship last month, where he had five goals and one assist in seven games. He also was Latvia’s leading scorer at the 2014 Olympics Qualifying Tournament with three goals and two assists in three games. Latvia won its group and qualified for Sochi. . . .

And an interesting note from the KHL. The league has mandated going to NHL-sized rinks starting with the 2013-2014 season. Hmmm. . . .
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There was a time when the WHL would at least put out a news release in advance of its annual general meeting.
These days, it seems the WHL would prefer to operate in secrecy.
There was no news release early in the week to provide even a speck of information on what would be on the agenda. That annual two-day meeting apparently was held in Vancouver and ended Wednesday. (Allow me to ask once again: Why not hold the annual meeting in one of the league’s smaller cities, providing a hotel or two and a restaurant or three with some offseason business? Or perhaps it could have been held in Portland where it might have received far more media attention than it did in Vancouver.)
Anyway . . .
According to the WHL’s own news release:
“One of the highlights of the meetings was a report on the WHL Concussion Management Safety Program indicating that concussions were down over 20% overall during the 2012-13 season compared to the 2011-12 season. The reduced number of concussions is largely a result of the WHL's Seven Point Plan, a comprehensive education and prevention program designed to reduce contact to the head and concussions, introduced prior to the 2011-12 season.”
The WHL, of course, didn’t provide any numbers. It expects us to take this at face value.
Brain injuries, it wants us to believe, are down more than 20 per cent. Of course, that could mean 20.1 per cent; it could mean 50 per cent. It could mean anything more than 20 per cent.
But more than 20 per cent of what? The WHL needs to start giving the media and fans credit for some intelligence; in other words, don’t expect that stuff to be swallowed like so much pablum.
The WHL started hiding its injury information following a 2010-11 season in which players accumulated more than 100 brain injuries and alarm bells started to go off. Those alarm bells got louder when some media outlets made something out of the WHL having surpassed the century mark.
The WHL’s response was to start reporting all injuries as being of the upper- or lower-body variety.
And now, with no point of reference, the WHL wants us to drink the Kool-Aid and believe that brain injuries were down more than 20 per cent this season.
I would suggest that if there was a drop of even 20 per cent, it means that brain injuries were way up — way, way up — in 2011-12 from 2010-11.
It is impossible to document a precise number because the WHL and its teams simply refuse to be truthful about such injuries. However, tracking upper-body injuries and using anecdotal evidence gathered throughout this season, I would suggest there were somewhere between 75 and 110 brain injuries.
Again, this is pure speculation, the numbers having been compiled by perusing the WHL’s weekly injury list and then attempting to research each upper-body injury.
What is known is that a number of players including F Spencer Main of the Kelowna Rockets, F Brayden Cuthbert of the Moose Jaw Warriors and F Shae Howorko of the Swift Current Broncos weren’t able to start the season because of previously incurred brain injuries.
A number of others, including forward Brent Benson of Swift Current, D Albin Blomqvist of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, D Reid Jackson of the Moose Jaw Warriors, G Daniel Wapple of Moose Jaw, F Phil Tot of the Tri-City Americans and F Tyrel Seaman of the Brandon Wheat Kings were shut down during the season to allow them more time to recover from brain injuries.
Two years ago, the WHL announced a “Seven-Point Plan” aimed at reducing brain injuries.
Then, following its annual meeting a year ago, the league said in a news release: “Despite a slight increase in concussions, the WHL remains confident the Seven Point Plan will assist in reducing concussions in the future.”
In the same news release, commissioner Ron Robison stated that the league actually expected that increase.
“We anticipated the rate of concussions may increase this past season as there is more emphasis being placed now than ever before on the care and treatment of concussion injuries,” Robison stated. “We remain confident that the WHL's Seven Point Plan will address this matter effectively and reduce concussions in the seasons ahead.”
Of course, no one from the WHL has said exactly how many brain injuries were suffered during that 2011-12 season. So, again, there is no point of reference.
We aren’t likely to find out how many there were in 2012-13 either because the WHL continues to hide the numbers.
But, as mentioned, that total would appear to be between 75 and 110, and that’s far too many, especially if you are one of the unfortunate young men who has ended up with a brain injury that may have a long-term impact on your life.
But until the WHL chooses to become more transparent and provide hard numbers, we will never know what is really happening.
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The WHL’s news release from its annual meeting that benefited the economy of Vancouver also mentioned:
1. The league will use video replay “in the offensive zone to review goal situations when a player may have scored as a result of a hand pass or high stick.” This change is too late to help the Swift Current Broncos who lost a home playoff game in OT because the on-ice officials missed a gloved pass in the goal area that resulted in a goal.
2. The league is using a “new computer assisted scheduling system.” . . . The exhibition schedule is to be released June 25, with the regular-season schedule to follow the next day.
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1. The Tri-City Americans have acquired F Jessey Astles, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades for a conditional sixth-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. Astles had two points in 26 games with the Blades. He missed a lot of the season after suffering a skate cut to one wrist during a November game against the Regina Pats. The injury required surgery. Astles, a sixth-round selection by Kelowna in the 2008 bantam draft, played three seasons with the Rockets He was dealt to the Blades last summer.

2. The Americans now have six 1993-born players on their roster. The others are F Tyson Dallman, F Lukas Walter, D Zach Yuen, D Mitch Topping and G Luke Lee-Knight. . . . The Blades, meanwhile, have 13, but two of those are imports. . . . Teams are allowed to carry three 20-year-olds after a mid-October deadline.


3. The Prince Albert Raiders have signed F Lance Yaremchuk, a local lad who led the Saskatchewan midget AAA league in goals (38) with his hometown Mintos this season. Yaremchuk, a sixth-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft, is a 1996-born player. He had 63 points, leaving him fourth in the league scoring race.


4. Dan Lambert, who is prepping for his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Kelowna Rockets, has been named head coach of Team West, the Manitoba-Saskatchewan combines who will play in the U17 World Hockey Challenge in Cape Breton, Dec. 28 through Jan. 5. . . . Lambert, 43, replaces Malcolm Cameron, who stepped aside after being named head coach of the Regina Pats last month.

5. Lambert, then a defenceman with the Swift Current Broncos, played for a similar U17 team that met a touring Soviet side in a three-game series late in 1986. It was while he was with that team that the Broncos’ bus crashed, on Dec. 30, 1986, killing four of his teammates. . . . The book that is linked to at the top right of this page — Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos — is about that crash and all that happened afterwards.

6. The OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds have signed general manager Kyle Dubas to a two-year extension, taking him through 2015-16. Dubas, 27, is a Sault Ste. Marie native who signed with the team in April 2011. . . . Earlier, the Greyhounds picked up an option on head coach Sheldon Keefe and now have him signed through 2014-15.


7. Doug Harrison of CBC Sports has spoken with Sherry Bassin, the majority owner and general manager, of the OHL’s Erie Otters about the CHL’s decision to prohibit European goaltenders. That story is right here.
Bassin, who has been around since they flooded the ice with water barrels and gunnysacks, talks a lot about the lack of coaching provided to goaltenders in minor hockey.
But at the end of the story he opens another can of worms by telling Harrison that it wouldn’t surprise him if all European players were prohibited from playing in the CHL in the not-too-distant future.
Discuss.

8. The Grand Rapids Griffins closed to within one victory of the AHL championship with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Syracuse Crunch last night. . . . The Griffins lead the best-of-seven final for the Calder Cup, 3-0. Game 4 is scheduled for Friday night in Grand Rapids. . . . F Jan Mursak broke a 2-2 tie at 15:11 of the third period. . . . Game 4 will be available on AHL Live, SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, and ESPN America). Game time is 7 p.m. ET. . . . Attendance for Game 3 was 10,102.

9. Ken Campbell of The Hockey News has a piece right here speculating on the future of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. Will they stay, or will they go? And if they go, what is their destination? . . . Interestingly, Campbell has former Tampa Bay Lightning co-owner Oren Koules involved in a group that is “lurking in the background.” . . . Campbell also speculates that the Coyotes could end up relocating to Tacoma. Why Tacoma? Because Seattle’s Key Arena no longer has ice-making equipment or an accessible chilling system. That would precede a move to Seattle, should Chris Hansen get a new arena built for an NBA franchise that he hasn’t yet obtained. . . . Campbell doesn’t suggest an owner should the Coyotes end up Tacoma/Seattle, but I have to wonder if Bill Gallacher, who owns the Portland Winterhawks, would be involved.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The OHL’s Ottawa 67’s have added Travis Crickard, 25, to their staff as an assistant coach. A native of St. John’s, N.L., Crickard spent this season as the head coach of the major midget Ottawa Jr. 67’s, who played in the Telus Cup.
Paul Fixter has signed on with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves as the associate coach. He had been with the Kitchener Rangers as assistant GM/associate coach since 2008.
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From Guy Flaming (@TPS-Guy): "Petr Mrazek and the Grand Rapids Griffins lead Syracuse 3-0 in the AHL finals. Waiting for AHL to ban Euro goalies now.”
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From WHL Facts (@WHLFacts): “#35 - So I propose to have the Euro Netminder ban be dubbed the ‘Bartosak Rule’, since apparently he's too good for the CHL #GoalieOfTheYear”

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Dustin Cameron (Saskatoon, Prince Albert, 2004-10) signed a one-year contract with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). He had 22 goals and 25 assists in 72 games with the Trenton Titans (ECHL) last season. . . .
F Shawn Limpright (Moose Jaw, 1998-2002) signed a one-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). He had 28 goals and 53 assists in 65 games for the Rapid City Rush (CHL) last season. That was good enough for fifth place in the CHL scoring race. . . .
D Robert Schnabel (Red Deer, 1997-99) signed a one-year contract with the Manchester Phoenix (England, UK Elite). He had one assist in nine games with Plzen (Czech Republic, Extraliga) before moving to Fassa (Italy, Serie A), where he had five goals and 10 assists in 26 games. . . .
D Tomas Fojtik (Portland, 2003-04) signed a one-year contract with the Basingstoke Bison (England, Premier). He had five goals and eight assists in 25 games for Reims (France, Division 1) last season. . . .
D Paul Albers (Calgary, Regina, Vancouver, 2001-06) signed a one-year contract with Cortina (Italy, Serie A). He had 10 goals and 21 assists in 36 games with the Tohoku Free Blades (Japan, Asia Hockey League) last season. . . .
F Stefan Meyer (Medicine Hat, 2000-05) signed a one-year contract with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He started last season with the Abbotsford Heat (AHL), where he was pointless in six games. Meyer signed with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, Elitserien) in early December, getting one goal and six assists in 25 games. Meyer is expected to arrive in Schwenningen early next week. The Wild Wings open exhibition play on Friday, Aug. 17. . . .
D Robby Sandrock (Spokane, Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Kelowna, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite). He had two goals and three assists in eight games with Medvescak Zagreb (Croatia, Austria Erste Bank Liga) and one goal and five assists in 20 games with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) last season. The Giants announced that Sandrock will also attend the University of Ulster to work on a Master's in Sports Management degree. . . .
F Mark Derlago (Brandon, 2003-07) signed a one-year contract with Anyang Halla (South Korea, Asia Hockey League). He had 22 goals and 22 assists in 44 games for Lausitzer Fuchse Weisswasser (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) last season.
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The Everett Silvertips have started their 10th anniversary celebrations with an alumni weekend.
On Friday night, during an alumni dinner, the Silvertips unveiled a new logo and redesigned uniforms that will be used in the approaching season.
For a look at the new jerseys, click right here.
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D Corbin Baldwin, 21, has signed a one-year contract, including signing bonus, with the AHL’s Houston Aeros. Baldwin, a shotblocker extraordinaire from Winnipeg, played four seasons with the Spokane Chiefs, putting up 66 points in 246 games. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder also had 379 penalty minutes. He is represented by Turning Point Sports Management. . . . The Aeros are affiliated with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, and Baldwin was in a Wild development camp earlier in the summer. Originally, he had planned on attending the U of Manitoba and playing for the Bisons.
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USA Hockey’s U1-7 team, under former Kamloops Blazers head coach Barry Smith, beat the Czech Republic 5-2 on Friday to clinch first place in the Five Nations tournament. The game was played in Chomutov, Czech Republic. . . . The U.S., which is 3-0, will play Slovakia today.
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Dean Laschowski, who has been the WHL’s officiating manager, has joined the AJHL has its video review manager. This is a newly created position. According to an AJHL press release, Laschowski “will work with AJHL vice-ppesident George McCorry in the areas of video review, supervision of game officials, and supplementary discipline.”

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Robert Schnabel (Red Deer, 1997-99) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Fassa (Italy, Serie A). He had one assist in nine games with Plzen (Czech Republic, Extraliga) earlier this season. . . .
F Tyler Bouck (Prince George, 1995-2000) and D Chris Heid (Spokane, 1998-2003) each signed a contract extension with Ingolstadt (Germany, DEL). . . . Bouck signed a two-year extension through the 2013-14 season, while Heid signed a one-year extension through 2012-2013. . . . Bouck, who also is the team captain, has eight goals and 10 assists in 22 games this season. Heid has two assists in 13 games. . . . Ingolstadt's head coach is Rich Chernomaz (Saskatoon, Victoria Cougars, 1979-83); the assistant coach is Rick Nasheim (Spokane, Regina, 1980-83). This is Chernomaz's 13th season as a head coach in the DEL.
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F Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds will miss up to four weeks with an injury suffered early in the first period of Saturday’s 8-2 loss to the Blazers in Kamloops.
Troock was taken off the ice on a stretcher at 1:50 of the first period. He was taken to

Semisportmed.com

Royal Inland Hospital for X-rays and a CT scan, where he was found to have a non-displaced fracture of his first rib. He returned to Seattle on the team bus after the game and was re-examined by team doctors on Monday.
Here is part of the Thunderbirds’ press release:
“Kamloops forward Brendan Ranford attempted to make a check on Troock as he was moving the puck up the ice from the Seattle zone. In the process of the check, the momentum of Ranford's stick swung and hit Troock from behind in the neck. The blow struck Troock along the full vertical length of his neck.
“Troock fell to the ice upon the impact of Ranford's stick hitting him. He attempted to get up and skate off the ice, but was unable . . .
“Because of the graphic nature of this injury to Troock and the many fans who have inquired, the T-Birds feel it is important to let fans and media know the extent of his injury. . . . it has been confirmed that Troock suffered a fracture of the first rib from the force of the blow.
“It is estimated that Troock will miss about four weeks as the rib heals.”
A note from Wikipedia on the first rib:
“The first rib is the most curved and usually the shortest of all the ribs; it is broad and flat, its surfaces looking upward and downward, and its borders inward and outward.”
There is more right here.
The Thunderbirds are to be commended for the way in which they have handled this situation. Trainer Phil Varney was patient in providing an explanation during a trying situation after Saturday’s game. The statement issued by the team late Monday afternoon lets people know exactly what happened.And that certainly beats leaving it until Tuesday and listing Troock as being out for a month with an upper-body injury.
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You won’t read a whole lot here about Canada’s national junior team as there are plenty of other places that have lots of information.
But there were two noteable omissions from the selection camp roster that was announced Monday.
Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds is the WHL’s best goaltender and deserves a spot on that roster.
And you really have to wonder what F Jordan Weal of the Regina Pats has to do in order to get an invitation? His omission is especially glaring.
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Later in the day, Pickard tweeted:
“Congrats to all the invitees to team Canada!! Lots of buddies got invited! Go for gold!”
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Rob Vanstone, in the Regina Leader-Post:
“What does Jordan Weal have to do to suitably impress the Hockey Canada brass? The Regina Pats star has been turning heads ever since entering the WHL as a 16-year-old. He routinely makes amazing plays at high speed and, as such, should have been a mortal lock for inclusion on Canada’s world junior team. Yet, he wasn’t among the 41 invitees to the selection camp. Granted, the CHL is loaded with elite talent, but it is preposterous to suggest that Weal is not among the top 41 major-junior players in the country.”
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JUST NOTES: Don’t look now but this season is starting to shape up a lot like the last one for the Kootenay Ice. The Ice is 18-5-3. Last season, after 26 games, it was 17-7-2. And we all know what happened last season, don’t we? . . . By the way, when the Ice went 5-0 in its trip through the B.C. Division last week, it was the first time in franchise history it had done that. . . . The Ice has won six in a row on the road, tying a franchise record (Dec. 18, 2009, to Jan. 22, 2010; Nov. 11, 1999, to Nov. 26, 1999). . . . Ice G Nathan Lieuwen has played in 141 games played, two shy of the franchise record held by Jeff Glass (2002-05). . . .
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation revealed the preliminary roster for its national junior team on Monday. However, it didn’t include any major junior players. Those players, including perhaps Saskatoon Blades G Andrey Makarov, will be added later in December. . . .
With two NHL teams, the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals, changing coaches on Monday, former WHL D Ian Herbers (Kelowna, Spokane, Lethbridge, Swift Current, 1984-88) became a head coach. He had been an assistant coach under Kirk Muller with the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators. With Muller moving up to Carolina, Herbers, 44, is the Admirals’ new head coach. . . . Herbers’ first game as head coach comes tonight against the visiting Abbotsford Heat. . . . Muller’s AHL head-coaching career lasted 17 games. He took over from former WHL player/coach Lane Lambert, who moved up to the Predators as an assistant coach. . . . Dave Boehler of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the last time Milwaukee went through a mid-season coaching change “was in 1984-85, when Jim Pappin took over for Cliff Koroll.” . . . Boehler also reported: “Martin Gelinas, the current director of player development with Nashville, will help Herbers until a new assistant coach is hired.”
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If you haven’t yet seen it, the Joe Kapp-Angelo Mosca dustup has more than gone viral. It happened Friday at a Grey Cup lunchon in Vancouver. The two, both of whom are only three or four months from turning 74, have had a thing going since the 1963 Grey Cup game.
Anyway, their clip got play prior to ESPN’s Monday Night Football and also got on CNN. Kapp, of course, is a name in the U.S., if only because he is the only quarterback to have played in the Rose Bowl, Super Bowl and Grey Cup.
And, on Monday, there also was this right here in The New York Times. If you haven’t seen it, the video is here, too.
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gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

Don Hay, the head coach of the Vancouver Giants, issued a broad apology Monday night after, his team had to use Kamloops Blazers training camp jerseys during a game in Kamloops on Saturday night. The Giants’ jerseys missed the bus to Kamloops on Saturday afternoon, so they wore black Kamloops jerseys that included a Blazers logo on the fronts.
“It’s embarrassing to our organization and we’re not happy about it,” Hay said in his weekly appearance with Dan Russell on SportsTalk, Vancouver radio station CKNW’s nightly show. “It’s not something that we’re very proud of . . . not taking our jerseys and not representing our organization.
“We made the best of it and we’re moving on.”
Hay, who is from Kamloops and is a former Blazers coach, did admit that he was OK with wearing the logo.
“Having spent 10 years there and growing up watching the Blazers . . . obviously, I was comfortable wearing that sweater more than any other team’s in the league,” Hay said.
Then he added: “It was something different and not something we’d like to do every game.”
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Robert Schnabel (Red Deer, 1997-99) has been loaned for the rest of this season to Chomutov (Czech Republic 1.Liga) by Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic Extraliga). He had one goal and four assists in 26 games for Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia Extraliga) earlier this season during a two-month stint as an injury replacement. Schnabel's Czech playing rights were held by Mlada Boleslav and a "loan exchange" was made between Mlada Boleslav and Chomutov, where Chomutov loaned F/D Jan Benda to Mlada Boleslav in exchange for Schnabel. Schnabel's loan to Chomutov will continue for next season should Chomutov win promotion to Extraliga.
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F Burke Gallimore of the Seattle Thunderbirds wore a microphone on Jan. 18 when they met the visiting Kamloops Blazers in Kent, Wash.
The clip that ended up on KCPQ-TV is right here.
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JUST NOTES: D Josh Morrissey, the sixth overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft, is scheduled to make his WHL debut Wednesday with the Prince Albert Raiders against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. Morrissey plays for the midget AAA Calgary Royals; he has 36 points in 26 games, leaving him 13^th overall in the AMHL scoring race. He played in the league’s all-star game last weekend in Fort Saskatchewan. . . . The Kootenay Ice has recalled G Mackenzie Skapski and F Levi Cable for its next five games. Skapski, a third-round pick in the 2009 draft, has a 4.27 GAA and a .894 save percentage with the junior B Ridge Meadows Flames. Cable, 16, has 45 points in 34 games with the midget AAA Yorkton, Sask., Harvest. . . . The Ice is without D Joey Leach and F Steele Boomer, both of whom will miss up to six weeks with ankle problems. . . . C Tyler Johnson of the Spokane Chiefs is the WHL’s player of the week. He recorded 10 points, including two goals, in four games to move to the top of the scoring race. He and F Linden Vey of the Medicine Hat Tigers are tied for the lead, with 79 points. . . . Mark Segal of the Vancouver Giants is the WHL nominee as the CHL’s goaltender of the week. He was 3-0-0, 1.06, .953 last week. . . .
F Nino Niederreiter tied a Portland Winterhawks’ franchise record Sunday when he scored the OT winner to beat the visiting Spokane Chiefs, 6-5. That was Niederreiter’s fourth OT goal, pulling him even with F Todd Robinson (1994-95) and F Ken Yaremchuk (1980-83). Robinson played 317 regular-season games, while Yaremchuk was in 210. Niederreiter has played in 97 games. . . . Portland, by the way, is 26-0-0 when scoring four or more goals. . . . The Winterhawks have scheduled their annual Buckaroos Salute for Feb. 5 when they are playing the Tri-City Americans. Among the former Buckaroos players who will be in attendance are Jim Hay, Art Jones and Tom McVie.