One WHL team wants to host 2018 Memorial Cup . . . Silvertips sign two imports

Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reported Tuesday that the Regina Pats “will inform the WHL office later this week of their intention to bid for the Canadian Hockey League’s showcase event, which celebrates its 100^th anniversary in 2018.”

The CHL has gone away from its regular rotation to allow teams from all three major junior leagues to bid on being the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup tournament. The Pats are the oldest junior team in the world — they will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2017-18.

“It’s an opportunity we couldn’t turn away from,” Anthony Marquart, one of the Pats’ owners, told Harder.

The Pats are named after the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

“We’re the world’s oldest major-junior hockey franchise and intuitively it makes sense that we host the Memorial Cup that year, especially when the Memorial Cup was named after those brave soldiers that fought and died for our country in World War I.”

(No, the Memorial Cup isn’t named in honour of MasterCard; it just seems that way sometimes. But that’s a story for another day.)

Once the Pats inform the WHL of their interest, it will mean two bidders have come forward, the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s being the other. The OHL’s Oshawa Generals also have expressed an interest. Teams have until Sept. 1 to declare their interest, with each of the three leagues to submit a maximum of two bids to the CHL by Nov. 15.

The CHL has said that it will release a shortlist by Nov. 30, with the host city to be announced early in February.

The Pats last were the host team in 2001 when they added temporary seats to what was then the Agridome, bringing capacity to around 7,000. The arena now is known as the Brandt Centre and has 6,200 seats. Obviously, temporary seating would have to be added again. That would be just one of the improvements that would have to be made to the 40-year-old facility should the Pats’ bid be successful.

Hey, with ice-making technology being what it is today, perhaps they could play the 2018 tournament in Regina’s new football stadium. It will seat 33,000 for football but is to be expandable to 40,000 for special events.

Hey, why not?

Harder’s complete story is right here.

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The Everett Silvertips have signed their two 2016 CHL import draft selections — Finnish F Eetu Tuulola and Slovakian F Mario Mucka. . . . Tuulola, 18, was a sixth-round selection by the Calgary Flames in the NHL’s 2016 draft. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder took part in the Flames’ development camp last month. Last season, he had nine goals and five assists in 29 games with HPK’s U-20 team in the SM-liiga. He also played for the Finnish team that won the IIHF U-18 World championship in April in Grand Forks, N.D. . . . Mucka, who will turn 18 on Nov. 10, played for the U-18 Nitra team last season, putting up 20 goals and 24 assists in 30 games. . . . Last season, Everett used Russian F Jan Khomenko and Austrian F Dario Winkler as its import, but neither will be returning for another go-round.

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Former WHL G Drew Owsley (Tri-City, Prince George, 2008-12) has signed with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder. Owsley, 25, played the past four seasons with the X-Men at St. Francis Xavier U in Antigonish, N.S. Last season, he was 16-8-0, 2.54, .914, helping the X-Men to the CIS final.

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The Lake Erie Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, are no more. The franchise announced Tuesday that it has changed its name to the Cleveland Monsters. . . . "This brand refresh has been in the works for several seasons and we are thrilled to make the Cleveland Monsters a reality at long last," Mike Ostrowski, the Monsters’ SVP/COO of franchise operations, explained on the team's website. "In the wake of the Monsters' Calder Cup Championship and the Cavs' NBA title, and heading into the Monsters' 10th anniversary season, we feel now is the perfect time for our organization to honor our great city and proudly become in title what this team has always been in spirit, the Cleveland Monsters." . . . Of course, that also means new-look uniforms which, no doubt, will be on sale soon if they aren’t already.

The #CLEMonsters will wear these NEW sweaters in the 2016-17 season! pic.twitter.com/2yjCMOvN2W

— Cleveland Monsters (@monstershockey) August 9, 2016

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USA Hockey has named the 2016 inductees to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame — U.S. Olympian and former NHL F Craig Janney, Bill Belisle, who coached for 41 seasons at Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island, and the 1996 U.S. World Cup of Hockey championship team. . . . The U.S. beat Canada, 2-1, in the best-of-three final, after Canada posted a 4-3 OT victory in Game 1. . . . The Team USA roster included F Steve Konowalchuk, who then was with the Washington Capitals and now is the head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Konowalchuk also played two seasons (1990-92) with the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Two other ex-WHLers played for Team USA -- F Adam Deadmarsh (Portland, 1991-95) and F Mike Modano (Prince Albert, 1986-89). . . . A date and place for the induction ceremony have yet to be announced.

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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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Shawn Belle has moved to the Edmonton-based NAIT Ooks as an assistant coach, alongside head coach Tim Fragle. Belle had been an assistant coach with the AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders, while also instructing at Edmonton’s Vimy Ridge Academy. . . . Belle, 31, played in the WHL (Regina Pats, Tri-City Americans, 2000-05) before going on to a pro career that ended after the 2014-15 season. He played the last four seasons in Europe. . . . Fragle is about to begin his first season at NAIT after spending seven seasons as Sherwood Park’s head coach. NAIT won the ACAC championship last season under head coach Mike Gabinet, who now is an associate coach at the U of Nebraska/Omaha.

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Out with the old and in with the new... #ChangeIsGood pic.twitter.com/cv2JMgShg7

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) August 9, 2016

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Some European signings and lots of coaching news

F Konstantin Panov (Kamloops, 1998-2001) signed a one-year contract with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia, KHL). Last season, he was an alternate captain with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia, KHL). He had 12 goals and 12 assists in 59 games. . . .
F Sergei Varlamov (Swift Current, 1995-98) signed a one-year contract with Donbass Donetsk (Ukraine, PHL).Varlamov only played for the Ukraine’s national team last season. He had one assist in three games at the IIHF Division 1A World championship. In 2013-14, with Donbass in the KHL, he had one goal and three assists in 39 games.
D Logan Stephenson (Tri-City, 2001-06) signed a one-year extension with the Tohoku Free Blades Hachinohe (Japan, Asia HL). Last season, he had five goals and seven assists in 43 games as the Free Blades won the league championship. . . .
D Tomáš Mojžíš (Moose Jaw, Seattle, 2000-03) signed a one-year extension with TPS Turku (Finland, Liiga). He had one goal and five assists in 45 games last season.
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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Jason Christie (Saskatoon, 1986-90) is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers. Christie, 46, spent the past four seasons as head coach of the ECHL’s Ontario Reign, winning at least 43 games each season. Christie, who is from Gibbons, Alta., is preparing for his 14th season as a head coach. He has 483 ECHL coaching victories, just nine behind John Marks, who holds down the all-time record. . . . In Tulsa, Christie takes over from Bruce Ramsay, who now is an assistant coach with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
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Shawn Belle’s playing career over. Belle, a smooth-skating defenceman with the Regina Pats and Tri-City Americans (2001-05), has retired and signed on as an assistant coach with the AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders. Belle, a 30-year-old from Edmonton, played the past four seasons in Europe. He and Wendell Hodgson, a veteran coach on the Alberta scene, were named assistant coaches on Thursday.
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Cail MacLean is the first head coach in the history of the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder. MacLean, 38, was introduced as head coach on Thursday. The Thunder is affiliated with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . MacLean, who is from Middleton, N.S., spent two seasons (2011-13) as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat, which also was a Flames’ affiliate. He has previous head-coaching experience in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays (2009-11).
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The AJHL’s Calgary Canucks have signed Jay Pylypuik as their new general manager and head coach. He had been the head coach of the midget AAA Calgary Royals. . . . Earlier, he was on the coaching staff of the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles for five years. . . . With the Canucks, he takes over from Ryan Barrett, who was fired as head coach earlier this month, and Chad Shiel, who resigned as GM shortly thereafter. . . . The Canucks have added Adam Redmond as an assistant coach. He had been the head coach of the midget AAA CFR Chemical Bisons, who play out of Strathmore, Alta. The Bisons had hired Redmond on June 28.
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John Wroblewski is the new head coach of the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. Wroblewski, 34, spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Prior to that, he was the head coach of the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators for two seasons. . . . Wroblewski takes over from Anthony Noreen, who was there for four seasons and now is the head coach of the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears.
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Trevor Heinzerling is the Seattle Thunderbirds’ new equipment manager. Last season, he was the equipment manager with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints. Heinzerling takes over from Ben Calkins, who left to work as co-equipment manager with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. . . . The Thunderbirds open training camp on Aug. 24 in their home arena, the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash.
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In something of an early commitment, D Tyler Jubenvill has decided to attend Bemidji State and play for the Beavers. Jubenvill, who is from Gilbert Plains, Man., won’t turn 16 until Nov. 30. He was a ninth-round selection by the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL’s 2014 bantam draft. . . . Last season, he had eight goals and 21 assists with the midget AAA Parkland Rangers. He is expected to play with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers in 2015-16.
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1978-79 Victoria Cougars team photo. They were 2nd in the West Division that year & lost in the 2nd round to Portland pic.twitter.com/3NKwUWJZfr

— Victoria Cougars (@victoriacougars) July 23, 2015

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Chase to Russians? . . . Barzal on crutches . . . An ECAC coach loses it

F Adam Řehák (Medicine Hat, 2011-12) has signed for the rest of this season with Nice (France, Division 1). Last season, with Meran/Merano (Italy, Inter-National-League), he had seven goals and five assists in 12 games; he also had 29 points, including 11 goals, in 29 games with Cracovia Krakow (Poland, Ekstraliga). . . .
F Toni Rajala (Brandon, 2009-10) has been released by Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia, KHL) by mutual agreement. He had 13 points, three of them goals, in 21 games. . . .
G Barry Brust (Spokane, Calgary, 2000-04) signed a contract through the end of 2015-16 with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia, KHL). Brust exercised an NHL opt-out clause to get released from Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL) last week. With Zagreb, he had a 2.15 GAA and a .933 save precentage in 19 games. . . .
D Shawn Belle (Regina, Tri-City, 2000-05) signed for the rest of this season with Düsseldorf (Germany, DEL). Last season, with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden SHL), he had three goals and three assists in 39 games. . . .
D David Hájek (Spokane, 1998-99) signed a contract through Dec. 31 with Bad Nauheim (Germany, DEL2). The club has the option to extend the deal through the rest of the season. Last season, with Dresdner Eislöwen (Germany, DEL2), he had three goals and 22 assists in 42 games. . . .
F Justin Taylor (Medicine Hat, Red Deer, 1999-2001, 2003-04) has signed a contract through the end of this season with Mörrum (Sweden, Division 1). Last season, with Sterzing/Vipiteno (Italy, Serie A), he had three assists in six games.

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With apologies to Blackie Sherrod, we're scattershooting on a Monday night, while watching the WHL and a touring pack of Russians play in Saskatoon. . . .

1. The Russians won the game, 3-2, but not before a shootout that lasted 11 rounds. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has a game story right here.
2. F Greg Chase, who is waiting for the Calgary Hitmen to trade him, played for the WHL against the Russians last night in Saskatoon. There is no truth to the rumour that Calgary GM Mike Moore was in Saskatoon trying to trade Chase to the Russians.
3. Is it true that the only way U.S. fans could watch last night's Super Series game was to fork over $8 and watch via Neulion? All the while, of course, Canadian fans were watching on Sportsnet. You really have to wonder when the American franchises and their fans will start to be treated as equals by the WHL.
4. Attendance in Saskatoon last night was announced at 5,383. As of Monday afternoon, about 3,700 tickets had been sold for tonight's Super Series game in Brandon.
5. D Austin Madaisky picked up five points in two weekend games and now is the AHL-Springfield Falcons' leading scorer, with 10 points. Madaisky, 22, played in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers and you've got to think he's about due to get a look from the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
6. After a two-day break, the WHL schedule resumes tonight with the Kelowna Rockets in Spokane to meet the Chiefs. The Rockets will be without F Tyson Baillie and D Madison Bowey, both of whom played for the WHL against the Russians last night in Saskatoon. . . . The Subway Super Series continues tonight in Brandon.
7. The Rockets are the hottest thing since summer in the Okanagan. They are 17-1-1 overall and riding a 7-0-1 streak.
8. If you go by winning percentage, 14 of the WHL’s 22 teams are above .500 at this point in the season. . . . If you go by wins and losses, that number is at 11.
9. Unless I missed it, the WHL hasn’t acknowledged that there seem to have been issues with its website practically all season long. Do you think perhaps no one has told them?
10. Today is the 11th day of the 11th month, meaning it is the day we stop to remember our veterans and to thank those who continue to serve in our military and on our behalf all over the world. . . . If you haven’t already seen this right here, it’s a story I wrote about Hick Abbott, a giant of a man and a war hero after whom the since-retired Abbott Cup is named. . . . He also was among the 2014 inductees into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in Regina.
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With two injured goaltenders healthy again, the Portland Winterhawks have returned G Michael Bullion to the NAHL's Wenatchee, Wash., Wild. In four appearances with Portland, Bullion is 2-2-0/3.22/.900. . . . He joined the Winterhawks with Brendan Burke and Adin Hill both injured. They are healthy again, so the Winterhawks moved out Bullion and Bolton Pouliot, 20. Pouliot, who went from the Kamloops Blazers to Portland, was released last week. . . .

The Kamloops Blazers might be without two veteran defencemen when they play host to the Spokane Chiefs on Friday. The Blazers had neither Josh Connolly nor Brady Gaudet in their lineup on Saturday when they lost 4-3 in OT to the Winterhawks in Portland. . . . Both defenders sat out with undisclosed injuries. . . . Kamloops will have F Jake Kryski, 16, back in its lineup as he has returned from the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. He's got 11 points, including five goals, in 16 games. In Kryski's last game, the Blazers beat the host Tri-City Americans, 2-0. Since then, the Blazers are 0-3-2. . . .

D Evan Wardley of the Seattle Thunderbirds is awaiting word from the WHL office on what will be his second suspension in less than a month. Wardley was hit with a seven-game suspension for a headshot major during a game against the Winterhawks in Portland on Oct. 11. On Saturday, Wardley was ejected from a game in Saskatoon with the Blades for a checking-from-behind incident. . . . The Thunderbirds are 1-1-0 on an East Division swing that continues Wednesday in Moose Jaw. . . .

The Red Deer Rebels have released F Cole Chorney, 18, who is expected to play in the AJHL. Chorney, from Beaumont, Alta., had 11 points, including six goals, in 58 games with the Rebels last season. This season, he had one assist in six games as he had trouble getting into the lineup. . . .

G Zach Sawchenko has started each of the Moose Jaw Warriors' past six games. He won't make it seven. Sawchenko suffered an injury to his right leg late in the third period of a 4-2 loss to the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Saturday. . . . He is expected to be out for at least week. . . . G Justin Paulic is expected to start against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday. . . .

On Sept. 23, the Calgary Hitmen traded F Pavel Padakin, a 20-year-old Ukrainian, to the Regina Pats for a third-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft. Last season, Padakin had 54 points, including 27 goals, in 66 games. . . . On Nov. 4, the Brandon Wheat Kings traded F Richard Nejezchleb, a 20-year-old Czech, to the Tri-City Americans for two third-round bantam draft picks, one in 2015 and the other in 2017. Last season, Nejezchleb had 57 points, including 32 goals, in 66 games. . . . Perhaps all of that explains why Brandon's Kelly McCrimmon is the WHL's best general manager. As a former WHL general manager once told me: "I wouldn't buy a used car from him." . . .
 
On the weekend, Cody Nickolet tweeted: “Mathew Barzal roaming around on crutches. Have heard the diagnosis of ‘a couple of weeks’ is very optimistic. Tough news if that's true.” . . . Barzal was the No. 1 selection by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft. . . . If what Nickolet heard is correct, you have to wonder if Barzal will be back before Christmas. The Thunderbirds have four games left on an East Division tour that continues Wednesday in Moose Jaw. All told, Seattle has 15 games remaining before the 10-day Christmas break, with eight of those at home and eight of them inside the U.S. Division. . . . Barzal has 18 points, including seven goals, in 16 games. Last season, his first in the WHL, he had 54 points, 14 of them goals, in 59 games. . . . Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds should have D Shea Theodore, 19, back in their lineup on Wednesday in Moose Jaw. He was returned to them by the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks over the weekend. Theodore played five games with the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, scoring three times and adding two assists. . . . He played for the WHL in the Super Series game last night in Saskatoon. . . .

Former WHL D Wil Tomchuk, 20, is back with the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Tomchuk was released last week when the Prince George Cougars acquired G Jared Rathjen, 20, from the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . The Oil Barons were at the maximum of six 20-year-olds and to make room for Tomchuk they dealt G Jesse Gordichuk to the Olds Grizzlys. Gordichuk had requested a trade -- see, it doesn’t only happen in the WHL! . . . Tomchuk played with the Oil Barons in 2011-12 before moving on to the Tri-City Americans and then to Prince George. . . .

Things got a bit heated late in an NCAA hockey game between Cornell and Quinnipiac on Saturday. Yes, some bad words were spoken. We don’t see this kind of thing in the WHL these days, not even in the interests of trying to sell tickets. Too bad! . . . Chris Dilks has more right here. (This one comes with a language warning!) . . . Later on Monday, Cornell head coach Mike Schafter issued an apology; he also drew a one-game suspension from the ECAC.
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Honored to attend a fitting tribute to @chamblin6 and his life today.God has just acquired the playing rights to a great player #cancersucks
— Garth Mitchell (@GMitch61) November 11, 2014

Some signings and the advanced stats debate . . .

D Shawn Belle (Regina, Tri-City, 2000-07) has been released by Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL) by mutual agreement. Last season, with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL), he had three goals and three assists in 39 games. . . .
F Jonathan Parker (Seattle, Prince Albert, 2008-11) has been released by Malmö (Sweden, Allsvenskan) after unsuccessful tryout. Last season, with the Rochester Americans (AHL), he had one assist in 11 games. He also had 24 points, including 11 goals, with the Colorado Eagles (ECHL), and six points, two of them goals, in seven games with the Ontario Reign (ECHL).
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Jack Flaman and F Evan Weinger. . . . Flaman, 17, is a list player from Vibank, Sask., who played last season for the midget AAA Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox, Sask. He had 33 points, including 16 goals, in 43 games. . . . Weinger, 17, was a 13th-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. A native of Los Angeles, he played last season for the L.A. Jr. Kings of the Tier 1 Elite League, putting up 26 points, 12 of the goals, in 35 games.
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The Prince George Cougars have signed D Kobe Eagletail, a Calgaryian who will turn 17 on Sept. 10. . . . Eagletail had 15 points, four of them goals, with the Banff Bears of the Heritage Junior Hockey League last season, after playing in the Calgary Bisons minor hockey organization. . . . At the time of his signing, he was one of 13 defencemen on the Cougars’ roster.
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In the hockey world, there are times when the scrap between the mainstream media and the advanced stats folks has been a truly uncivil war. When and how did it start? When and how will it end? Matt Larkin of The Hockey News takes an interesting look at it all right here.
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If you are new to the world of hockey analytics, aka advanced stats, there is a great primer right here, where all the terminology is explained.
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Dear Giant 20-somethings: YOU DON'T OWN THE SIDEWALK. #YellingForAFriend #ThingsYouShouldHaveLearnedInPreschool #UnionOfSmallMiddleAgedWomen
— rosanne cash (@rosannecash) September 1, 2014

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.

Getting caught up . . .

F David Rutherford (Vancouver, Spokane, 2004-08) has signed a one-year contract with Visby/Roma (Sweden, Division 1). Last season, with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL), he had nine points, including six goals, in 21 games. In 27 games with the Arizona Sundogs (CHL), he had 34 points, 14 of them goals. . . .
F Oleg Saprykin (Seattle, 1998-2000) has signed a one-year year contract with Sochi (Russia, KHL). Last season, with CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL), he had 18 points, including 10 goals, in 52 games. . . .
F Alexander Gogolev (Calgary, Victoria, 2011-13) was selected by Lada Togliatti (Russia, KHL) in Tuesday's KHL expansion draft. Last season, with Severstal Cherepovets (Russia, KHL), he had three points, one of them a goal in 24 games. . .
F Igor Bacek (Tri-City, 2005-06) has signed a one-year contract with Rostock Piranhas (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with Lippe-Hockey-Hamm (Germany, Oberliga), he had 46 points, including 13 goals, in 38 games. . . .
F Tomas Netik (Medicine Hat, 2000-01) signed a one-yea contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). Last season, with Slovan, he had 14 points, including 11 goals, in 32 games. He was traded to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL) for cash in December, and had a goal and two assists in 16 games there. . . .
F Matt MacKay (Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Brandon, 2008-11) signed a one-year contract with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, DEL2). Last season, he had four points, including two goals, in 26 games with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, DEL). He also had three points, including a goal, in 11 games with Red Bull Munich. . . .
F Marek Viedensky (Prince George, Saskatoon, 2008-11) has signed a one-year deal with HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, Liiga). Last season, he had 23 points, six of them goals, in 54 games with the Worcester Sharks (AHL). . . .
D Shawn Belle (Regina, Tri-City, 2000-05) signed a one-year contract with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL). Last season, with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL), he had six points, including three goals, in 39 games. . . .
F Andrew Bailey (Kootenay, 2005-09) has signed a one-year contract with Harzer Falken Braunlage (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with the University of Saskatchewan (CIS), he had 26 points, 13 of them goals, in 28 games. . . .
F Tyler Metcalfe (Seattle, 1999-2005) has signed a one-year extension with Miskolci Jegesmedvék (Hungary, MOL Liga). Last season, Metcalf had 55 points, 27 of them goals, in 42 games. He led the league in goals and was third in points. He led his team in goals and points, and was named to the first all-star team. . . .
D Kalvin Sagert (Kamloops, Lethbridge, Prince George, 2002-08) has signed a one-year contract with the Tønsberg Vikings (Norway, GET-Ligaen). Last season, Sagert had one assist in 11 games with the Wichita Thunder (CHL), 10 assists in 24 games with the San Francisco Bulls (ECHL), and a goal and three assists in 32 games with the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL). . . .
F Chad Bassen (Regina, Vancouver, Medicine Hat, Everett, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL). Last season, with Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (Germany, DEL), he had four points, including two goals, in 42 games. He has dual Canadian-German citizenship. . . .
F Jakub Rumpel (Medicine Hat, 2006-07) has signed a one-year extension with Herne (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, Rumpel led his team in scoring and finished third in the league, putting up 86 points, including 39 goals, in 36 games. He also was pointless in one game with Trnava (Slovakia, 1, Liga). . . .
F Keegan Dansereau (Calgary, Swift Current, 2003-09) has signed a one-year contract with Miskolci Jegesmedvék (Hungary, MOL Liga). Last season, with Olofström (Sweden, Division 1), he had 31 points, 16 of them goals in 39 games. . . .
G Chet Pickard (Tri-City, 2005-09) has signed a one-year contract with Odense (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Last season, with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL), he was 5.34 and .854 in six games. In 21 games with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), he was 3.20 and .875. . . .
D Dustin Friesen (Swift Current, 2000-04) has signed a one-year contract with Ingolstad (Germany, DEL). Last season, with the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (Germany, DEL2), he had 33 points, five of them goals, in 54 games.
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 JUNE 17:
Darren Evjen won't be returning as the Swift Current Broncos' associate coach. He had been with the Broncos through four seasons. Mark Lamb, the Broncos' general manager and head coach, said in a news release that "we will be looking to fill the vacant associate coach position after the NHL entry draft." . . . According to the news release, "Evjen will remain with the Broncos in a smaller capacity" that will include working at their hockey school in August.

The Calgary Hitmen signed F Matt Dorsey, a third-round selection in the WHL’s 2014 bantam draft. From Wenatchee, Wash., Dorsey had 52 points, including 32 goals, in 30 games with the Tier 1 Bantam AAA Arizona Bobcats last season. He is expected to play for the midget AAA Everett Junior Silvertips in 2014-15.

The Portland Pirates, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, have signed Trent Whitfield (Spokane, 1994-98) as an assistant coach. Whitfield, 36, ended his playing career after spending 2013-14 with Bolzano HC, an Italian team that plays in an Austrian league. . . . During his career, he spent parts of seven seasons with the Pirates.
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JUNE 16:
Jason Becker won't be returning to the Prince George Cougars' coaching staff. Becker (Saskatoon, Red Deer, Kamloops, Swift Current, 1990-95) has joined the coaching team at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton and will coach one of the midget teams. Becker had been with the Cougars since December 2009.

The Everett Silvertips traded D Austin Adam, 19, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a conditional selection in the 2015 WHL bantam draft. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reported that the pick starts as an eighth and could become a sixth. . . . Adam played three seasons in Everett. He has 11 points, including four goals, in 127 regular-season games. . . . From Surrey, B.C., he was a fourth-round pick by Everett in the 2010 bantam draft.

The NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets have added Brad Larsen (Swift Current, 1993-97) to their coaching staff as an assistant under head coach Todd Richards. Larsen, who had been the head coach of the Springfield Falcons, the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, signed a multi-year contract. . . . The Blue Jackets also signed former Everett Silvertips head coach Craig Hartsburg to a multi-year contract extension. Hartsburg is preparing for his third season with Columbus.
The Blue Jackets then named Jared Bednar (Saskatoon, Spokane, Medicine Hat, Prince Albert, 1990-93) as the new head coach of the Falcons. Bednar spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Falcons. . . . Prior to that, he was the head coach of the AHL's Peoria Rivermen for two seasons. He also worked as an assistant coach with the AHL's Abbotsford Heat for a season.

The ECHL's Toledo Walleye have signed Dan Watson as associate coach, where he will work alongside head coach Derek Lalonde. Watson, who played in Toledo in 2006-07, was an assistant coach with the Walleye from 2009-14. He served as interim head coach after Nick Vitucci resigned in February.
Former NHLer Tony Hrkac has joined the USHL's Madison Capitols as an assistant coach. Hrkac, a star at the U of North Dakota as a player, went on to play 758 games in the NHL. In Madison, he will work with head coach Luke Strand and associate coach Keith Paulsen.
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JUNE 13:
The Prince George Cougars have signed F Jordan Ross to a WHL contract. From Kronau, Sask., Ross, 18, was selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the ninth round of the 2011 bantam draft. Last season, with the SJHL's Yorkton Terriers, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Ross had 15 points, including eight goals, in 43 regular-season games. He added eight points, five of them goals, in 14 playoff games. He also played in four RBC Cup games as the Terriers won the national championship.
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JUNE 12:
The Calgary Hitmen introduced Mark French as their new head coach, replacing Mike Williamson, who was fired following last season and has since surfaced with the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Hitmen are preparing for their 20th anniversary season; French is their eighth head coach. . . . French spent the past season as head coach of Medvescak Zagreb, an expansion team that had a 92-point regular-season and made the playoffs. . . . From Milton, Ont., French spent six seasons with the AHL's Hershey Bears, both as assistant and head coach. . . . He has major junior coaching experience with the OHL's North Bay Centennials (1999-2002). . . . The Hitmen also announced that associate coach Brent Kisio also will work as assistant general manager with GM Mike Moore, and that assistant coach Joel Otto and goaltending coach Darcy Wakaluk also are returning.

Dave Lowry, the head coach of the Victoria Royals, was named an assistant coach with Canada's national junior team. He will work alongside head coach Benoit Groulx (Gatineau Olympiques) and assistant coach Scott Walker (Guelph Storm). . . . This is Lowry's first coaching assignment under Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence. He had been named head coach of the summer U-18 team in 2009 but stepped down after signing on as an assistant coach with the NHL's Calgary Flames. . . . The 2015 World Junior Championship is scheduled for Montreal and Toronto, Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. . . . Team Canada will hold its summer development camp in Montreal, Aug. 3-9.

Derek Laxdal, the head coach of the Memorial Cup-champion Edmonton Oil Kings, has been named head coach of Canada's summer U-18 team that will play in the Ivan Hlinka tournament in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia, Aug. 11-16. . . . Jody Hull (Peterborough Petes) and Eric Veilleux (Baie-Comeau Drakkar) will be the assistant coaches. . . . This is Laxdal's first assignment in Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence. . . . The U-18 team will hold its selection camp in Calgary, Aug. 2-5, and will then head for Europe and the tournament. . . . Canada, which has won 16 of the last 18 tournaments, goes into this one having won six in a row.

The Central league's Missouri Mavericks have signed Richard Matvichuk (Saskatoon, 1989-92) as head coach. A defenceman, Matvichuk played 14 seasons in the NHL, retiring after the 2006-07 season. . . . He was an assistant coach with the Allen Americans each of the last two seasons, helping the team to consecutive CHL championships. . . . He replaces Scott Hillman, who resigned in May and signed on as head coach of the Indianapolis Fuel, the ECHL's newest team.
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JUNE 11:
Following the conclusion of its AGM in Vancouver, the WHL announced that it has changed its playoff format. The new format will be in place for three seasons, starting in 2014-15.
Here's how it will work:
The top three teams in each of the WHL's four division will qualify for the playoffs, along with the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference. Under this system, one division could have five qualifiers with another having three.
In the first round, the team with the best regular-season record in each conference will meet the wild-card team with the poorest record. The second division winner gets the other wild-card team. . . . The second- and third-place finishers in each division will meet in the first round, thus allowing the WHL to take advantage of divisional rivalries.
The second round will feature first-round winners within each bracket, with four teams moving on to conference finals.
According to a WHL news release: "Home-ice advantage through the first two rounds goes to the team that placed higher in the regular-season standings. In the conference finals and WHL championship series, home-ice advantage goes to the team that had the better regular-season record -- regardless of the teams' final standings in their respective divisions."
The WHL also announced it will release its preseason scheduled on June 24 and its regular-season schedule on June 25.

The Prince Geoge Cougars signed F Justin Almeida and D Max Martin, two of their 2014 bantam draft picks, to contracts. . . . Almeida, from Kitimat, B.C., was the fifth overall pick. He is expected to play for the major midget Cariboo Cougars, who are based in Prince George, in 2014-15. Last season, he had 147 points, 80 of them goals, in 70 games with the bantam AAA North Shore Winter Club Winterhawks. . . . Martin, from Winnipeg, was selected in the second round. Last season, with the major bantam AAA Winnipeg Monarchs, he had 59 points, including 18 goals, in 32 regular-season games.
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JUNE 10:
The Brandon Wheat Kings signed F Stelio Mattheos, the first overall selection in the WHL's 2014 bantam draft. . . . Mattheos, from Winnipeg, played last season with the bantam AAA Winnipeg Monarchs, putting up 103 points, including 53 goals, in 35 regular-season games. He captained the Monarchs. . . . This draft marked the first time in franchise history that the Wheat Kings held the first overall pick.

The Saskatoon Blades acquired the rights to G Collin Olson, 20, from the Prince George Cougars for D Joel Lakusta and a sixth-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . Lakusta, from Sherwood Park, Alta., was a seventh-round pick by the Blades in the 2013 bantam draft. He will turn 16 on June 24. . . . Last season, he had 14 points, four of them goals, in 35 games with the midget AAA Sherwood Park Kings. . . . Olson, from Apple Valley, Minn., was listed by the Cougars before the 2012-13 season. Last season, he played with the NCAA's Ohio State Buckeyes and the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers. He was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round of the NHL's 2012 draft. . . . Olson got into only two games with the Buckeyes, before joining the Musketeers and going 12-3 with one tie, 2.31, .923.
The trade was the first made by Bob Woods, the Blades' new GM/head coach. He spoke with Olson after making the deal. "Goaltending's an issue we wanted to look at and make sure we have all the options possible. It's a pretty important position," Woods told Kevin Mitchell, the sports editor at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. "We felt it was worth the risk. He's a pretty good goaltender, and with all the research I did on him, there was a lot of good feedback. We want to see if we can maybe steer him in our direction."

The Prince Albert Raiders signed D Cody Thompson and F Josh Maser, both of whom were selected in the 2014 bantam draft. . . . Thompson, from Killarney, Man., was taken in the third round. He had 19 points, eight of the goals, in 29 games with the midget AAA Southwest Cougars. . . . Maser, from Penticton, B.C., was a fourth-round selection. He had 127 points, 72 of them goals, in 61 games with the Tier 2 bantam Vees. . . . The Raiders have signed their top three picks from the 1014 draft.

Brian Pellerin, who had been coaching at the Okanagan Hockey Academy, signed on with the Tri-City Americans as associate coach. . . . Pellerin, 44, spent the past three seasons at OHA. . . . He was on the coaching staff of the Portland Winterhawks for four seasons (2004-08). He also spent a season as an associate coach with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage and two seasons as head coach of the Central league's Amarillo Gorillas. . . . A native of Hinton, Alta., his playing career included four seasons (1987-91) with the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Dan Price, an assistant coach for two seasons with the Americans, won't be returning.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:

D Shawn Belle (Regina, Tri-City, 2000-05) signed a two-year contract with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, Elitserien). He had two goals and seven assists in 42 games with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL) this season. . . .



G Tomas Vosvrda (Medicine Hat, 2007-08) signed a tryout contract with Olomouc (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). He had a 3.38 GAA and a.890 save percentage in 11 games with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga) before being assigned on loan to Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). There, Vosvrda had a 2.59 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 30 games. . . .



D Logan Pyett (Regina, 2003-08) signed a one-year contract with Vityaz Chekhov (Russia, KHL). He had seven goals and 32 assists in 74 games with the Connecticut Whale (AHL) this season.
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On Monday, at about 8:30 p.m. PT, Darren Millard (@darrenmillard) of Sportsnet tweeted: “Major move by @CHLHockey. Import goalies only eligible in 1st round of next month’s draft. Goalies will be excluded from the 2014 import draft.”
Oh, what a terrible protectionist decision!
CHL teams are businesses — each one of them is in the entertainment business. Yes, they also are in the business of developing players. But when you charge admission, you should be doing all you can to provide your customers with the best possible product.
In the case of a CHL team, if that means using a goaltender from Finland or Russia or Czech Republic, so be it.
And if a Canadian goaltender wants that spot, well, he’s just got to be better.
It’s called competition and when you get to junior hockey you should be prepared to face it. At this level, the competition only serves to make you better.
Of course, this decision flies in the face of every coach who preaches the value of competition and how that relates to improving a team.
But there is another side to this debate, too.
Last night, I received an email from a fan of one of the WHL’s American teams.
This fan had heard CHL president David Branch talking about the goaltending issue during a Memorial Cup broadcast on 92.9 The Bull, the Saskatoon radio station on which this issue first surfaced.
The fan writes:
“He was talking about how important it is for the CHL to develop players for the ‘national teams.’
“Should the teams in the CHL be worried about developing players for the NHL? Yes.
“Should the CHL be worried about developing players for Team Canada? HELL, NO? That's Hockey Canada's job.
“Does Mr. Branch realize that the fans of the eight American teams in the CHL root for Team USA over Team Canada most of the time? I don't spend my hard-earned money going to the games in hopes that the Canadian-born goalies have a great game so that they can make Team Canada down the line
“So . . . what's their great solution? Ban Euro goalies.
“Give me a freaking break. Hey, Mr. Branch, news flash for you. I still believe the majority of the teams in the CHL rely on ticket sales as their No. 1 source of revenue. So why would you not want your teams putting out the best possible product?”
Perhaps someone from the CHL can explain to the fans of those eight American teams, who already now that their teams never will get to be the host team for a Memorial Cup, how their teams won’t be allowed to use European goaltenders because Hockey Canada is concerned about the quality of goaltending in Canada.
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Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports has his take on the CHL’s decision right here. In brief, Sager calls it “self-serving, scapegoating, shortsighted, protectionism-writ-large, wagon-circling overreaction.”
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1. Dan Russell, the voice of the WHL on Shaw TV, returned to the CKNW airwaves last night after being away for about a month. He is the host of SportsTalk, CKNW’s long-running three-hour nightly show. . . . Russell’s contract won’t be renewed by CKNW when it runs out later this summer. But that had nothing to do with his absence. Rather, his father and mother died within six days of each other as the WHL’s championship final was ending. . . . Russell tweeted Monday morning: “Unfortunately I lost both of my parents in a span of six days last month. My Dad's passing was expected, my Mom's was totally unexpected.”

2. Drake Berehowsky was introduced as the head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Monday morning. Berehowsky signed a three-year contract after spending this season as head coach of the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. Berehowsky, 41, is a former NHL defenceman who has coaching experience with the OHL’s Barrie Colts and Brampton Battalion as well as the Solar Bears. . . . Berehowsky, the 12th head coach in Hurricanes history, replaces Rich Preston, who was fired after the season. . . . CTV Lethbridge’s report on the Berehowsky hiring is right here.

3. The hiring of Berehowsky and the anticipated announcement later this week that Kevin Constantine will be back for a second go-round with the Everett Silvertips means each of the WHL’s 22 teams has a head coach. . . . At least for now. . . . We await word from Saskatoon where Lorne Molleken, the general manager and head coach of the Blades, is said to be reading the tea leaves as he decides whether to continue behind the team’s bench.

4. Red Smith was one of the greatest of all sports writers. He was there the night Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees hit three home runs in one game in the 1977 World Series, “the baseball championship of North American,” as Smith calls is. . . . Right here is a look back at the column Smith wrote.

5. Over at The New Yorker, Masha Lipman is writing about one of this month’s more intriguing story, the divorce of Russian president Vladimir Putin and his wife, Lyudmila. . . . Was the announcement scripted? . . . That piece is right here.

6. There is an incredibly emotional video right here that is wrapped around the death of Mike Maniago, who was killed in 2008 on a pizza run in Calgary. Maniago, who was a WHL goaltender, and his brother Matt were in a vehicle that was hit by a vehicle that was being driven by an impaired driver. Cst. Randy MacDonald of the Calgary Police Service, who was Maniago’s godfather, is involved in a promotion — involving Facebook and Twitter — that is aimed at getting the anti-impaired driving message through to people. . . . You really should take six minutes out of your day and watch this video.

7. Joe Coombs, an assistant coach with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, is the new GM and head coach of the NAHL’s Rio Grande Killer Bees, who play out of Hidalgo, Texas, according to juniorhockey.com. . . . Coombs had been with the Fighting Saints since 2010. . . . The Killer Bees have relocated from Wenatchee, Wash.
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From The Goalie Guild (@TheGoalieGuild): “If ‘playing games’ is so important, why are more and more NCAA goalies earning spots at the pro levels while playing half as many?”
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From Neate Sager (@neatebuzzthenet) of Yahoo! Sports: “Only two import goalies have ever been named top goalie at the world junior. #CHLEuroBan #NotACrisis”
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From The Goalie Guild, again: “I wonder how many of these new empty spots for goalies in the CHL will end up being taken by American goalies.”
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From Craig Button (@CraigJButton) of TSN: “Why stop at goalies? Ban foreign defensemen & forwards too! While you're at it, ban all foreign imports of everything! #LiveInIsolation”
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From Craig Button, again: “With respect to CHL ruling on European goalies; It's a simple choice; embrace competition or fear it! I don't like protectionist policies.”
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From Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) of Yahoo! Sports): “There are times when the CHL acts like a junior league in all sense of that term. This is one of those times. #pathetic”
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From Sunaya Sapurji, again: “This is no doubt a Hockey Canada directive... Y'know the same people who thought Nathan MacKinnon was some fourth line plumber.”
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From James Mirtle (@mirtle) of The Globe and Mail: “Reality is that out of the 70ish goalies that play significant amount in CHL, only nine or 10 are European. Fear is number will keep rising.”
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From Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) of the National Post: “The CHL banning European goalies will probably fix everything that's wrong with Canadian goalies, as soon as the NHL does the same thing.”
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From Bruce Arthur, again: “Oh, and American goalies. If the NHL bans American goalies then Canadian goalies will really shine. Oh, and scoring will go kaboom.”
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From Portland freelancer Scott Sepich (@SSepich): “I can't muster up too much sympathy for Canada's goalie situation when Calvin Pickard didn't even make it to WJC camp.”
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From Scott Sepich, again: “I'm looking forward to the CHL completely banning all non-Canadians by 2017. That's clearly the only way to not lose to other countries.”

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