Friedman faces music; Jones not so much . . . CIS has first full-time female assistant coach

Normally at the ESPN campus, there's an Anerican flag. But in honor of the deeply patriotic John Saunders it's 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/OFygPrKuTR

— Adnan Virk, ESPN (@adnanESPN) August 12, 2016

F Shayne Wiebe (Kamloops, Brandon, 2006-11) has signed a one-eyar contract with Pusteral/Val Pusteria (Italy, Alps HL). Last season, with Olten (Switzerland, NL B), he had 19 goals and 16 assists in 41 games. Pusteral’s head coach is former Prince George head coach Mark Holick. . . . Pusteral plays out of Brunico, Italy. . . .

D Neil Manning (Vancouver, 2006-12) has signed a one-year contract with Fassa (Italy, Alps HL). Fassa plays in Canazei, Italy. Last season, he had four goals and 10 assists in 22 games with the U of British Columbia. . . .

D Ian Schultz (Calgary, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Edinburgh Capitals (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had four goals and five assists in 14 games with the Allen Americans (ECHL). Schultz finished the season with the Allan Cup-champion Bentley Generals.

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Elliotte Friedman, who is the best part of Sportsnet’s NHL coverage, made the biggest error of his broadcasting career while calling a race involving American star Michael Phelps at the Olympics in Rio on Thursday.

Later that night, Friedman owned it all on Twitter. On Friday, he owned it again, this time in an interview with Michael Rosenberg of SI.com.

“He only has two requests,” Rosenberg writes. “One is that I write that if an athlete messed up like that, we would want the athlete to talk, and that’s why he is doing this. He is no hypocrite. The second request is that I put the mistake entirely on him. When I ask if a producer or production assistant was in his earpiece during the race, he bristles. It’s his fault, he says. Entirely his. Write it that way.”

Rosenberg’s complete piece is right here.

Which brings us to Chris Jones, the vice-president of football operations, general manager, head coach and defensive co-ordinator for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The CFL fined the Roughriders $60,000 and took at least $26,000 off their salary cap on Thursday for a handful of rules violations. They were cheating and got caught.

In his media briefing on Thursday, Jones read from a prepared statement and refused to answer any questions involving the cheating scandal.

When Jones met with the media on Friday, he again refused to take any questions involving the scandal. One question was asked. Jones greeted it with silence. Not one media person asked a question involving today’s game against the visiting Calgary Stampeders.

“We owe it to our fans to do everything possible to field a winning team,” said Jones. You will note that he didn’t say “everything possible within the rules . . .”

Jones also said that he hopes the situation results in all nine teams being held to the same standard. Uhh, the Roughriders are reported to have had as many as 95 players in town, some of them sleeping and eating in two houses, all of them being paid.

While Jones bailed, Craig Reynolds, the franchise’s president and CEO, returned from vacation to face the music. He met with the media later in the day, answered questions and among other things, said: “I take accountability for this. This is something I ultimately own as president-CEO of this organization.”

Which is all fine and good. Except that Reynolds did what Jones should have done.

A year ago, Jones was the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, who are the reigning Grey Cup champions. He signed with Saskatchewan eight days after that Grey Cup victory. Perhaps we now are learning why there was nary a whimper of protest from the Eskimos when he left.

Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

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In hindsight, take a look at some of what Edmonton Sun columnist Terry Jones wrote as Chris Jones was leaving after two seasons with the Eskimos:

“Can a man who didn’t even come close to figuring out the off-the-field part of the head coach until sometime around Labour Day in his second season, possibly become a general manager, head coach and defensive co-ordinator at the same time?

“In his first year as a head coach, Chris Jones couldn’t get his team lined up for the national anthem three times (including once in front of the Prime Minister in Ottawa the day after touring Parliament Hill) and was fined $5,000 by the league.

“Now Jones will have to look after the salary cap, contracts, the waiver wire and . . . well, he probably won’t be going to the banquets in Elbow, Eyebrow, Climax, Antelope, Porcupine Plain, Reward, Urin or Zip Lake.

“It’ll be very interesting how Jones, who wouldn’t let his team attend Monday Morning Magic in Edmonton two years ago, will handle the expectations that way from an entire province that views the team as a part of the fabric of every community large and small.”

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Whoops! Yesterday, I mentioned having been told that Ray Zhang, a businessman from Beijing, had purchased the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals at least in part so that a son would have a place to play.

“There actually won’t be a Zhang on the roster,” a source who is familiar with rules regarding junior A hockey tells Taking Note, “certainly not because the father didn’t want that, but because the son doesn’t have Canadian/U.S. citizenship. All BCHL players have to be Canadian, or teams are allowed up to six Americans. It appears dad wasn’t aware of that prior to purchasing the team. It’s really incredible!”

Why do I think we haven’t heard the end of this?

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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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The Ryerson U Rams, who play out of Toronto, have hired Kori Cheverie as a full-time assistant coach. Cheverie is the first female full-time assistant coach in the history of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’s hockey. Cheverie is preparing for her fourth season at Ryerson, for the first three she was the skate training specialist. With the Rams, she will work alongside interim head coach Johnny Duco. . . . From a news release: “Cheverie played her collegiate hockey at St. Mary’s University in Halifax where she was a three-time AUS first-team all-star, team captain, an Academic All-Canadian, and two-time St. Mary’s female athlete of the year. She has also played in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) for the past six seasons.”

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The QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs have added Pascal Morency to their staff as an assistant coach. Morency, who signed a two-year deal, played four seasons in the QMJHL (Chicoutimi, Cape Breton, Hull, Rouyn-Noranda, 1999-2003) before going on to play in the AHL and Europe.  Morency, 34, has been living in Fernie, B.C., where he was the head coach at the Fernie Academy.

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The SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings are prepared to introduce their new general manager and head coach on Tuesday. The new man will take over from Bryce Thoma, who left after three seasons for an assistant coaching position with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades. . . . The SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars also are in the market a general manager and head coach, Kevin Hasselberg having left to become head coach of the SPHL’s Pensacola Ice Flyers.

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On drive to Rio Olympic Park, countless motorcycles fly by between backed up car lanes. Driver: "Unsafe, yes, but no organ donor shortage."

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) August 12, 2016

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Chaos by the Creek returns to Regina . . . Victoria and Vancouver combine to bid on 2019 WJC

Grant me a few minutes for some editorial comment on some sporting news from Thursday. If you aren’t aware, I spent 17 years (1983-2000) at the Regina Leader-Post, the last 12 as sports editor.

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Back in the day, the late Bob Hughes, the longtime sports editor of the Regina Leader-Post, would write about the Saskatchewan Roughriders using the placeline CHAOS-BY-THE-CREEK.

As the Roughriders stumbled and bumbled their way from one season to the next, not far from Wascana Creek, Hughes would write often about what he referred to as the Reign of Error and the

Perhaps the Saskatchewan Roughriders could purchase the
Regina Leader-Post building and turn it into a dormitory.
(Photo by Terry Massey)

Loyal Disorder of Rider Priders.

In those days, the Roughriders, a community-owned CFL team, were operated mostly by volunteers. As an organization, nobody seemed to know what they had there or, if they did, they didn’t know how to harness it.

In those days, they held telethons to save the team. Players, coaches, board members . . . they all appeared on camera and basically begged for alms to keep the team from sinking under the weight of its debt.

It wasn’t until 1989 when, under head coach John Gregory, the Roughriders won the Grey Cup — the team’s first since 1966 — that the province of Saskatchewan was covered in joy.

It was after that Grey Cup triumph that the Roughriders’ brand really took off — the Green Bay Packers of the CFL, they were called — until it became something that many NHL teams envied.

All of that came undone this week. There is no joy in Mudville now, only embarrassment. You can bet that Rider Nation is feeling green as members wonder why they keeping forking over the green if it is going to be spent in such a fashion.

Obviously, things are out of control in Regina where the Roughriders were fined $60,000 by the CFL and lost in excess of $26,000 from their 2016 salary cap for assorted roster violations (aka cheating).

According to the CFL, the Roughriders “were in violation of policies which prohibit practising with ineligible players, players participating in practice who are on the six-game injured list and having free agents practise with players who are under contract. Each of these actions constitute a violation of CFL bylaws.”

Justin Dunk of 3downnation.com reported that the team was paying the extra players and had them staying in two Regina houses.

The Roughriders, you understand, didn’t get caught in some accidental mess. No. The amount of planning that will have had to go into this scheme would have been huge. A lot of thought will have been put into this program of cheating by the creek.

(Keep in mind that the Roughriders were fined $15,000 last week for violating the national/international ratio during a 40-27 loss to the visiting B.C. Lions on July 16.)

Also yesterday, Chris Jones, who is the general manager, head coach and vice-president of football operations, refused to take personnel department-related questions at a media briefing. Jones, who has complete control over the football operation, apparently will address these issues today (Friday).

Oh, it also was revealed Thursday that the team, which, remember, is community-owned, has started requiring fans to sign in if they hope to watch practice. It seems that team officials — please try not to laugh — feel someone “leaked” information to the Ottawa Redblacks prior to a July 22 game in Regina. Yes, the Roughriders, who are 1-5, won that game for their only victory this season. No jokes please. But next thing you know the Roughriders will be charging fans to watch practice.

Still, with a glorious, new taxpayer-funded stadium — one with which not all Saskatchewan citizens are enamoured — preparing for its opening, one might be excused for thinking the once-Jolly Green Giants might be at least a little concerned with public relations.

As it is, the CFL’s flagship franchise has turned into a national embarrassment in the seven months of Jones’ reign.

The likes of Al Ford, Phil Kershaw, Gregory, Dave Ridgway, Glen Suitor, Ray Elgaard, Bobby Jurasin, Dick Rendek, Don Narcisse, Roger Aldag, Bob Poley, Eddie Lowe, Tom Shepherd and so many others, along with the members of Rider Nation, deserve so much better.

(Check out this Hughes column right here, from Aug. 18, 1984.)

leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/the-daily-bob-hughes-column-aug-18-1984

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F Lauris Dārziņš (Kelowna, 2004-06) has signed a one-year extension with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL). Last season, he had 10 goals and 18 assists in 59 games.

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The Victoria Times Colonist reportsd on Thursday that “Victoria and Vancouver are putting together a joint bid for the 2019 world junior hockey championship.” . . . Hockey Canada has established an Aug. 31 deadline for bids, with a host city to be announced on Dec. 1. The 2019 WJC is to open on Dec. 26, 2018. . . . Edmonton, with a brand new arena, is expected to bid, while the Ontario cities of London and Windsor may combine on a joint bid. . . . According to the Times Colonist, “The B.C. bid would see preliminary pool games played at Victoria’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre and at Vancouver venues, with the semifinals and final in Vancouver, likely at Pacific Coliseum or Rogers Arena.” . . . This combined bid likely means neither the Vancouver Giants nor the Victoria Royals will make a bid on the 2018 Memorial Cup. To date, the Regina Pats are the only WHL team to have said they will bid to play host the tournament that will celebrate the Memorial Cup’s 100th anniversary. . . . The Times Colonist story is right here.

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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have scheduled their annual general meeting of shareholders for Sept. 19. A year ago, the franchise was in disarray, with Ron Robison, the WHL commissioner, having

recommended that shareholders sell the franchise, and the shareholders, in turn, voting not to do that. After a successful 2015-16, the Hurricanes are expected to announce a profit at the annual meeting. One would assume that general manager Peter Anholt, who guided the franchise to and then through last season, will be granted at least one standing ovation. . . . At the AGM, the shareholders will bid farewell to board members Rick Braden, Dave Olson and Blair Sanderson. . . . And, hey, if you have ever wanted to own a piece of a major junior team, here’s a note from the Hurricanes: “If you’re not a shareholder, but would like to become one, individual shares are available for purchase for $100 at the Hurricanes office located at the ENMAX Centre. Shares purchased prior to Aug. 29 will be put forth for approval at the next board of directors meeting on that date.”

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F Casey Pierro-Zabotel, a former WHL scoring champion, has signed a one-year deal with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. Pierro-Zabotel, 27, helped the Allen Americans to the ECHL title last season, picking up 47 points in 58 regular-season games and adding 16 more in 24 playoff games. . . . He led the WHL in assists (79) and points (115) in 2008-09.

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The QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs fired general manager Darrell Young on Thursday. In a news release, president Trevor Georgie, who has taken over as GM on an interim basis, said only that “we have decided to part ways with Darrell Young and wish him well in his future endeavours.” . . . Danny Flynn is the Sea Dogs’ head coach; he is a former GM of the Moncton Wildcats. . . . Young had been the Saint John GM since March 1, 2014.

I've seen dumb but this has to be one of the dumbest I've seen. Darrell Young, GM of @SJSeaDogs was released today. Has built a top end team

— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) August 11, 2016

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The BCHL has confirmed that the Cowichan Valley Capitals have a new majority owner. Ray Zhang, who is from Beijing, has taken over the franchise in a deal that concluded last week. . . . “This transaction is the first time someone from China has purchased an overseas hockey franchise,” Zhang said in a BCHL news release.“It will open a door for hockey families in China to learn about Canadian hockey first hand. This link to Canadian hockey will prove valuable to encourage all of our young hockey players in China.” . . . Zhang and his family will be moving to Duncan. A source has told Taking Note that there almost certainly will be a Zhang on the Capitals’ roster this season.

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As you may be aware, Vin Scully is into his final season as a play-by-play voice for baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers. To settle in for an evening of listening to him is to spend time in sporting heaven. The other day he enlightened his viewing audience with a story about how he came to know of the bombing of Pearl Harbour. This, friends, is Vin Scully at his best and it’s right here.

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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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The senior Lacombe Generals have brought in a pair of former WHLers as their coaches. Curtis Austring, 33, will be the head coach, with Ken Richardson as the assistant. . . . Austring, from Stewart Valley, Sask., played four seasons in the WHL (Kamloops, Regina, Medicine Hat, 1999-2003). Austring played four seasons at the U of Saskatchewan and has spent the past eight seasons playing for the Generals. . . . Richardson, 43, is from Peace River, Alta. He played with Regina and Red Deer (1991-94). . . The Generals are preparing for their first season in Lacombe, after relocating from Bentley. They are the reigning Allan Cup champions.

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pic.twitter.com/B4u5Qs94pb

— HerbBrooksFoundation (@HerbBrooksFDN) August 11, 2016

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Broncos going green and white

Forward Justin Dowling models the jersey
theSwift Current Broncos will be wearing
on Rider Night, Feb. 12.
(Photo courtesy Swift Current Broncos) 

F Cody Eakin returns to Swift Current on Feb. 12. But, with it being Saskatchewan, that won’t be the biggest story of the night.
Rather, the Swift Current Broncos will be playing host to the inaugural Rider Night, as they salute the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The evening’s proceedings, presented by The Brick, will include a game between the Broncos and the Kootenay Ice.
Of course, the Ice dealt five players and three draft picks to the Broncos on Jan. 9, getting in return Eakin, who was in his fourth season with the Broncos and was a popular man about town.
The Broncos also plan on wearing limited edition Roughriders-inspired jerseys and socks. Yes, they will be green and white. And, yes, they will auctioned off with proceeds toing to the Swift Current Minor Hockey Association and Swift Current Minor Football.
That auction will begin Saturday (Feb. 5). You may bid online at www.scbroncos.com, by calling 306-773-1509, or at Feb. 5 and Feb. 12 Broncos home games.
The plan is for three football players -- slotback Chris Getzlaf, defensive end Brent Hawkins and defensive tackle Marcus (Chunky) Adams -- to be on hand and signing autographs through the first intermission.
There also will be a raffle for a limited edition autographed Roughriders jersey.
For more info, check out the Broncos’ website at www.scbroncos.com.