Taking Note

2018-11-02T11:42:00.001-07:00

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Hitmen trim two 20-year-olds ... Rasmussen joins Team Canada's camp ... Ex-Royals coach stays in NHL

2017-07-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

The last rays of a setting sun bounce off a cloud over
the Monte Lake fire on Thursday night.

We woke up to a whole lot of smoke on Thursday, but it apparently was coming from the Elephant Hill fire, which is the one that has caused so much damage in the Ashcroft/Cache Creek area, and not the Monte Lake fire that started late Wednesday afternoon. However, by late afternoon on Thursday most of the smoke had moved away from our area, leaving behind a beautiful evening. . . . However, there was quite a bit of air traffic between Kamloops and Monte Lake at the same time, so they obviously aren't out of the woods there just yet. . . . With high winds and high temps forecast -- we've been around 35 and are headed for at least 37 in a day or two -- the summer of fire doesn't appear to be anywhere near its end.

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THE MacBETH REPORT . . .

F Taylor Stefishen (Prince George, 2010-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Edinburgh Capitals (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had 12 goals and 23 assists in 44 games with Dijon (France, Ligue Magnus). He led his team in assists and points.

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A LITTLE OF THIS . . .

Cody Porter and Jaydan Gordon have cleared 20-year-old waivers and are now free agents. We wish them all the best in their junior careers! pic.twitter.com/HW9TTFODoW
— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) July 27, 2017

The Calgary Hitmen are left with four 20-year-olds on their roster after G Cody Porter and D Jaydan Gordon cleared waivers. . . . That leaves the Hitmen with G Nick Schneider, F Jakob Stukel, F Matteo Gennaro and D Brady Reagan as the four remaining 20s on their roster. Each WHL team will have to declare a maximum of three 20s shortly after the new season begins. . . . Porter, from North Vancouver, was 14-16-3, 3.46, .888 in 34 appearances with the Hitmen last season. In 117 regular-season appearances, 42 with the Vancouver Giants and 75 with Calgary — he is 52-42-9, 3.30, .887. . . . Gordon, from Cochrane, Alta., had two goals and six assists in 70 games last season. He played his first two seasons with the Swift Current Broncos. In 172 career games, he has three goals and 13 assists. . . . Porter’s departure leaves Schneider as Calgary’s undisputed No. 1 goaltender. At the moment, veteran Kyle Dumba, 19, would appear to be No. 2 on the depth chart. Chance are, however, that the Hitmen won’t want to go into the season with a 19-year-old in a backup role. . . . Schneider, who was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers this summer, has signed an entry-level contract as a free agent with the NHL’s Calgary Flames, whose parent company also owns the Hitmen.

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F Michael Rasmussen has been added to Team Canada’s roster for the World Junior Showcase that is scheduled to begin today (Friday) in Plymouth, Mich. . . . Rasmussen, from the Tri-City Americans, had last season cut short by a broken scaphoid in his left wrist. His addition to the roster would seem to indicate that he now is healthy. . . . Rasmussen was added after F Tyler Benson of the Vancouver Giants was forced to opt out. He apparently hasn’t yet fully recovered from sports hernia surgery in the spring. . . . F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who has had at least two surgical procedures due to sports hernias, also isn’t able to take part. . . . Also unable to take part are F Gabe Vilardi of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and F Adam Mascherin of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.

Meanwhile, G Carl Stankowski, who backstopped the Seattle Thunderbirds to their first WHL championship last season, was scratched from Hockey Canada’s U-18 selection camp in Calgary due to an undisclosed injury. His spot was filled by Kevin Mandolese of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. . . . Team Canada, under head coach Brent Kisio of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, will leave next week for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Bratislava, Slovakia. The tournament opens on Aug. 7.

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F Kolten Olynek, who played out his junior eligibility last season, has decided to attend the U of Western Ontario and play for the Mustangs in 2017-18. Olynek, who is from Saskatoon, was a second-round selection by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL’s 2011 bantam draft. . . . He split last season between the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades. During his career, he also played with the Hurricanes, Moose Jaw Warriors and Spokane Chiefs. . . . In 253 regular-season games, he had 32 goals and 45 assists.

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D Austin Adam, who played four seasons in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips and Moose Jaw Warriors, is transferring to Simon Fraser U after spending one season at the U of Western Ontario. . . . The 6-foot-6 Adam, 22, is from Surrey, B.C. He had a goal and two assists in 28 games with the Mustangs last season. . . . SFU plays in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League.

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Mike Fraser, a veteran WHL scout who now works for the Brandon Wheat Kings, also has been writing a column for the Brandon-based Westman Journal. Those columns have mostly revolved around the world of WHL scouts and there adventures. However, there has been a change at the Journal and Fraser has chosen to end his column-writing career, at least for now. His last column is right here.

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Really . . . I mean, really . . . how are we doing in Kamloops in this summer of flames? Well, it seems that old friend Jack Knox of the Victoria Times Colonist paid us a recent visit and he quite liked what he saw, except for the fact that his volunteer services weren’t needed, that is. . . . His last column is right here.

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If you would like to contact Taking Note with information, have a question or just feel like commenting on something, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com. I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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THE CONCUSSION REPORT . . .

John Urschel sometimes was referred to as the smartest man in football. Urschel, 26, was in line to be the Baltimore Ravens’ starting centre in the upcoming season, that was before he surprised coaches, teammates and observers by announcing his retirement on Thursday. That decision came two days after researchers released the results of a study in which CTE was found in the brains of 110 of 111 deceased football players. . . . There’s more on Urschel’s decision right here.

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THE COACHING GAME . . .

Ben Cooper, a former WHL assistant coach, has signed on with the NHL’s Florida Panthers as their video coach. Cooper, 40, spent the past three seasons as the Vancouver Canucks’ video coach. Prior to that, he worked two seasons (2011-13) with the WHL’s Victoria Royals. . . . He also has experience with Hockey Canada, and was on the coaching staff of Canadian teams that won gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the 2009 World Junior Championship.

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TWEET OF THE DAY

What a night @theroadhammers @Country103CJKC @tjconnorstweets pic.twitter.com/s8xLOW0FLW
— Joe Hicketts (@Hicksy_2) July 27, 2017

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Smoke over the hills ... Warriors ink goalie coach ... Ex-WHL coach's run ends in Tucson

2017-07-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

The summer of fires moved closer to our home late Wednesday afternoon when one broke out near Monte Lake. We live about 20 km east of Kamloops above the north shore of the South Thompson River. When we go to Vernon or Kelowna, we head east on the Trans-Canada Highway to the Monte Creek interchange and then take Highway 97. Monte Lake is about 15 minutes up that highway. . . . The four photos above were taken off our deck on Wednesday evening. When I first heard about the fire, at about 5 p.m., I took a look and there was one fairly thin column of smoke. Inside of 30 minutes it had grown by leaps and bounds. . . . The top photo shows the light from the setting sun glancing off the smoke as the clock neared 9 p.m. . . . The photo second from top was taken just moments before the top one. . . . The third photo was taken around 6 p.m. . . . There were a number of airplanes working the fire; the one in the photo has a retardant bay on its bottom; it was headed back to the Kamloops airport for the night as darkness set in. . . . The Thompson Nicola Regional District put evacuation alerts and orders in place, and there are an untold number of buildings at risk. . . . Now we can only wait and see what morning will bring.

According to one witness #Montelake #bcwildfire pic.twitter.com/sVzI3chiCM
— Kamscan (@Kamscan) July 27, 2017

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THE MacBETH REPORT:

F Charles Wells (Seattle, Prince Albert, Portland, 2007-12) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, with Mulhouse (France, Division 1), he had six goals and 15 assists in 22 games. . . .

F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) has signed a one-year contract with Tappara Tampere (Finland, Liiga). Last season, he had 11 goals and 22 assists in 34 games with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga), and two goals and three assists in nine games with Třinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). . . .

F Justin Maylan (Moose Jaw, Prince George, Prince Albert, 2007-12) has signed a one-year contract with Heilbronn (Germany, DEL2). Last season, with Fehérvár AV19 Székesfehérvár (Hungary, Erste Bank Liga), he had seven goals and 35 assists in 53 games. He led the team in assists.

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A LITTLE OF THIS . . .

Matt Weninger has joined the Moose Jaw Warriors as their new goaltender coach. . . . From a news release: “Weninger is currently the regional consultant and goaltending lead for Hockey Alberta and previously worked with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association in 2015-16 as a goaltending and coaching consultant.” . . . He also served as the goaltending coach for the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers for two seasons (2015-17) and has worked with Laurentian University (U Sports) and Hockey Canada. . . . As a player, he spent four seasons (2010-14) at St. Lawrence U, where he holds school records for career and single-season games played, minutes played, consecutive games played, and total saves. . . . He also played three SJHL seasons, splitting that time between the Kindersley Klippers and Flin Flon Bombers. . . . In Moose Jaw, Weninger takes over from Jamie Hodson, who had worked with the Warriors since 2011. Hodson now is the director of business and hockey operations for the MJHL’s Virden Oil Capitals.

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If you were wondering what was wrong with D Ethan Bear of the Seattle Thunderbirds late in the WHL playoffs and through the Memorial Cup, well, now we know. . . . As was reported here originally, Bear did have a broken finger. What we didn’t know until now is that he underwent surgery to repair the index finger on his left hand. . . . Bear was injured while blocking a shot in Game 3 of the Western Conference final against the Kelowna Rockets. He sat out the next three games, then returned for the final against the Regina Pats, a series that Seattle won, 4-2. . . . “I was lucky enough to get a quick surgery, and then I recovered enough to play in the final and then the Memorial Cup," Bear told Derek Van Diest for a story that is posted right here at nhl.com. “I had to adjust the knob on my stick and the way I placed my hand. But Seattle, they really made it work for me and I was able to play at my best abilities. They put a plate in it and couple of screws. The doctors did a really good job. They made it strong enough so that I could play and I wouldn't feel as much pain.” . . . According to Van Diest, “Bear still is recovering from his injury, but is expected to be ready for Oilers training camp in the fall.” . . . Bear, 20, was a fifth-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL’s 2015 draft and has signed a three-year entry-level contract.

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There are three WHL players on the roster for Team Finland as it prepares to play in the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Mich., from July 29 through Aug. 5. . . . F Sami Moilanen (Seattle Thunderbirds), D Juuso Valimaki (Tri-City Americans) and D Henri Jokiharju (Portland Winterhawks) all are on Team Finland’s roster for the tournament that also features teams from Canada, Sweden and the U.S.

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THE COACHING GAME . . .

Mark Lamb, who spent six seasons as the general manager and head coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, is out after one season as head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. . . . John Chayka, the Coyotes’ president of hockey operations and general manager, announced Wednesday that Mike Van Ryn has taken over as head coach. . . . The assistant coaches will be John Slaney and Steve Potvin. . . . Mark Hardy, an assistant coach last season, also won’t be returning. . . . Van Ryn spent the past season working as the Coyotes’ development coach. . . . In 2015-16, he was the head coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. . . . Slaney spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Coyotes, while Potvin has been with the organization for one season as the skills coach. . . . The Roadrunners finished 29-31-8 last season, their first in the AHL. Their winning percentage (.485) left them sixth in the eight-team Pacific Division. They didn’t qualify for the playoffs.

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TWEET OF THE DAY . . .

Put me in coach #southkorea 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/Rvw17hfQ82
— Sheehan Desjardins (@SheeDesjardins) July 26, 2017

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City gives Blazers break on lease ... Ice sweeps out eight scouts ... Oil Kings waive goalie

2017-07-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

F Danis Zaripov (Swift Current, 1998-99) has been suspended by the IIHF until May 22, 2019, for using illegal substances. One of Zaripov's samples tested positive for banned stimulants, as well as substances prohibited as diuretics and masking agents. Multiple sources have said Zaripov will appeal. There is no comment so far from the IIHF, KHL or his team, Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL). . . . Patrick Conway of Conway’s Russian Hockey Blog has more right here. . . .
D Tomáš Voráček (Prince Albert, 2007-09) has signed a tryout contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). Last season, he had two goals and three assists in 43 games with Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga). . . .

F Matt Fraser (Red Deer, Kootenay, 2006-11) has signed a one-year contract with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, he was pointless in four games with Rögle Ängelholm (Sweden, SHL). Fraser was sidelined by injury until Feb. 28.

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If they haven’t already, landlords to WHL teams just might be hearing from their tenants one of these days. It seems that the league and its teams are concerned about flat ticket sales and are looking for some relief.

Sandman Centre, home of the Kamloops Blazers.
(Photo: sandmancentre.ca)

The City of Kamloops has revealed that it approved a new 10-year lease for the Blazers in February, one that cut the rent by about $150,000 per season.

Jeff Putnam, the city’s parks and civic facilities manager, told Andrea Klassen of Kamloops This Week that the WHL and its teams have been working to renegotiate leases.

“The league was having some concerns about their ticket revenue being flat,” Putnam said. “They’re not struggling, but they’re having challenges with attracting a different demographic. And that was a league-wide issue.”

Klassen reported that the Blazers, whose lease was to expire in 2018, will pay a base rental fee of $128,000 to use the Sandman Centre for 2017-18, down from $278,000 in 2016-17.

Although the Blazers came to an agreement with city officials in February, Klassen reported that “a record of the vote was only recently released.”

According to Klassen, “Under the new deal . . . if more than 3,500 tickets are sold for a game, the city will receive an additional $1.40 per ticket sold above the 3,500 mark.”

Last season, the Blazers’ announced average attendance was 3,782 for 36 regular-season home games. However, there frequently were far fewer bums in the seats than the announced figure, meaning there were a lot of no-shows.

The Blazers also pay the city $250,000 per season in exchange for all advertising rights in the arena.

(The city announced two years ago that it had entered into a 10-year agreement with the Sandman Hotel Group for naming rights to the arena, but has never revealed the financial terms. Tom Gaglardi, the Blazers’ majority owner, is the CEO of the Sandman Hotel Group. Could it be that the naming rights are part of the advertising rights deal?)

The vote on the new lease passed by a 5-3 vote among councillors.

“I have to admit, I had a little bit of trouble swallowing somebody coming to me with their hands out and they’re a billionaire,” Dieter Dudy, one of the councillors who voted for the agreement, told Klassen.

Gaglardi also owns the NHL’s Dallas Stars. He is the CEO of the Northland Properties Group, which owns, among other things, the Sandman and Sutton Place hotels, as well as Denny’s and Moxie’s restaurants, and Shark clubs.

Gaglardi and four ex-Blazers — Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor — purchased the franchise from the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society, a community group, in 2007.

According to the winter 2016-17 issue of Canadian Business, the Gaglardis are worth $3.55 billion, leaving them in 20th spot among the countries’ wealthiest “business dynasties.”

Meanwhile, according to hockeyzoneplus.com, a site that tracks the earnings of NHL players, Recchi made US$50,943,000 during his playing days, while Sydor brought in $31,715,000. Both men have retired from playing. Doan’s career earnings are at $41,294,000, with Iginla at $69,025,000. Doan and Iginla, both of whom played last season, are unrestricted free agents who have yet to sign new contracts.

Dudy told Klassen that he voted in favour of the new lease because of concerns that the Blazers might leave Kamloops.

However, under the terms of the sales agreement between Gaglardi’s group and the society, the society has the first option on purchasing the franchise should ownership wish to sell it or move it.

In other words, the Blazers aren’t going anywhere. Besides where would they go? Yes, there is an empty arena in Abbotsford, one that seats 7,000 for hockey, but the Vancouver Giants, who play out of Langley, would have a move and that isn’t likely to happen.

In November 2007, Bob Smillie, the society’s executive director, told its annual meeting that “the option to purchase is at the same price less 10 per cent of what has been paid in the current transaction and is subject to the same conditions. It is transferable to any new owner who may be seeking a franchise in Kamloops.”

According to Smillie, the society felt holding that option was important even though Gaglardi’s group promised to keep the team in Kamloops.

”It’s good and well for everybody to indicate that they would be here forever,” Smillie said at the time. “But we all know that forever is not necessarily forever.”

Smillie, who also chaired the society’s governance committee, pointed out

that WHL bylaws don’t contain anything guaranteeing the franchise could not be moved.

“They have guidelines only; there are no specific requirements within the Western Hockey League bylaws for the new owners of the franchise to keep the operation within the city,” Smillie said. “The board, in its due diligence in discussions with the league, has determined that the guidelines of the league, in fact, would request the new owners to maintain the franchise in Kamloops for a minimum of five years.”

Kamloops taxpayers also are on the hook for more than $1 million in upgrades to the arena, all of them at the request of the WHL. That includes $300,000 to improve lighting — the WHL has requested that all arenas have LED lightning to facilitate HD telecasts — and about $1 million to retrofit boards and glass.

Klassen’s complete story is right here.

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Two former WHL coaches will be part of the Team Canada’s coaching staff at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. . . . Willie Desjardins, a former head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers (2002-10), will be Canada’s head coach, while Dave King, who coached the WHL’s Billings Bighorns (1977-79), will be one of the assistant coaches. . . . The NHL has opted out of the Games, so Hockey Canada will put together a national team of players from outside that league. Its schedule begins with a tournament in Sochi, Russia, from Aug. 6-9. Canada then will move on to St. Petersburg, Russia, for another tournament, Aug. 14-17. . . . Team Canada’s roster for the Sochi Cup includes a number of former WHL players, including F Gilbert Brule (Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, KHL), F Bud Holloway (Skellefteå AIK, SHL), F Rob Klinkhammer (Dinamo Minsk, KHL), F Brandon Kozun (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL), F Ben Maxwell (Spartak Moskva, KHL), F Brandon McMillan (Dinamo Riga, KHL) and F Linden Vey (Barys Astana, KHL).

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Taking Note has been told that the Kootenay Ice has dropped all of its part-time scouts, choosing to keep only Garnet Kazuik, the director of scouting. Kazuik, a former WHL player, has been with the Ice for 12 seasons, 10 of them as director of scouting. . . . Matt Cockell, the Ice’s president and general manager, apparently told the ex-scouts that he is changing the business model and is moving to a system that employs three full-time scouts in Western Canada. . . . The WHL’s 2016-17 Guide showed the Ice with eight scouts — Wayne Dougherty, Peter Dubbeldam, Ward Edwards, Scott Frizzell, Chad Harden, Zenon Herasymiuk, Scott Perry and Tim Schick. Taking Note has been told by a source familiar with the situation that “all eight part-time scouts were let go.” . . . Cockell hasn’t responded to a request asking if he had made changes in the scouting department.

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The Edmonton Oil Kings have placed G Patrick Dea, 20, on waivers. Dea, who is from St. Albert,

Alta., played in 55 games with Edmonton last season, going 19-31-3, 3.86, .882. In 123 career regular-season games, he is 48-55-8, 3.34, .890. . . . Dea was a first-round selection by Edmonton in the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft. . . . With Dea’s departure, the Oil Kings appear poised to start the season with Travis Child as their No. 1 guy. He was acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings on May 30, for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2018 bantam draft. Child, 20, played two-plus seasons with the Swift Current Broncos before being traded to Brandon last season. . . . Chances are that Boston Bilous, 16, is No. 2 on the Edmonton depth chart. From Langley, B.C., he was a fourth-round pick by the Oil Kings in the 2016 bantam draft. He spent last season with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. He finished with a 2.20 GAA.

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G Jeffrey Veitch, who will turn 20 on Oct. 4, has signed with the Waldorf University Warriors, who play out of Forest City, Iowa. Veitch was an eighth-round selection by the Kootenay Ice in the eighth round of the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft. He played last season with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. Before that, he played three seasons with the junior B Mission Outlaws. He is from Mission, B.C.

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The Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame held its gala night on Saturday in North Battleford and there were a number of inductees with ties to the WHL, including Bob Bourne, Stan Dunn, Graham Tuer and Ken Wheler. . . . John Cairns of the Battlefords News Optimist has a terrific recap right here.

Meanwhile, on Sunday night in Canmore, the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame held its induction dinner, with the hall doors swinging open for Mel Davidson, Bill Hay, Tony Kollman, Perry Pearn, Glen Sather and the Sutter family — yes, the entire family. . . . There is more right here.

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ICYMI --> @gdrinnan joined @JasonGregor & @Jason_Strudwick during #WHLWeek https://t.co/JDY4YHMLi1
— Marc Majeau (@MarcMajeau) July 25, 2017

Yes, I was on the air with Jason Gregor and Jason Strudwick of TSN1260 in Edmonton on Tuesday afternoon. If you missed it, you can find the conversation — it was about 20 minutes worth — via the above Tweet.

And thanks to all of you who messaged me afterwards. The kind words are much appreciated.

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From Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times:

“Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist, has examined the brains of 202 deceased football players. A broad survey of her findings was published on Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Of the 202 players, 111 of them played in the N.F.L. — and 110 of those were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., the degenerative disease believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head.

“C.T.E. causes myriad symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, depression and dementia. The problems can arise years after the blows to the head have stopped.”

The full report from The Times is right here, and it’s well worth a look.

This should end, once and for all, the debate about whether blows to the head are responsible for CTE. A person needn’t have been concussed in order to end up with CTE; it’s quite simple -- blows to the head aren’t a good thing. Period.

This also should be enough for the powers-that-be in any hockey league that allows fighting to act to get it out of the game.

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The OHL’s Saginaw Spirit is looking for a head coach after Spencer Carbery left to join an unnamed AHL team as an assistant coach. The 35-year-old Carbery, who is from Victoria, spent one season with the Spirit, after working for five seasons as director of hockey operations and head coach of the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, who have an affiliation with the NHL’s Washington Capitals. . . . Last season, the Spirit finished 27-32-9 and out of the playoffs.

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David Bell has joined the AHL’s Ontario Reign as an assistant coach. Bell, 40, spent the previous four seasons with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs, three as an assistant coach and last season as head coach. . . . With the Reign, Bell will work alongside head coach Mike Stothers. They spent three seasons (2004-07) together with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, Stothers as head coach and Bell as an assistant. . . . Bell has previous AHL coaching experience having worked as an assistant for two seasons (2007-09) with the Springfield Falcons.

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Mad respect for my man @clouston25 and the Nicola Knights fighting fires and saving lives out in the Interior right now #BCfires #bigman pic.twitter.com/LGlvUdNgfL
— Torrin White (@Tbreez27) July 17, 2017

If you’re wondering, @clouston25 is the Twitter handle for former WHL D Connor Clouston, whose father is Shaun Clouston, the GM and head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

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.

Weekend of partying is over ... Tri-City d-man gets NHL deal ... More changes with Ice

2017-07-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

One of these two special girls just turned one; the other is young
at heart (and kidney).

I’m back after a weekend in Burnaby where one of my two favourite girls celebrated her first birthday. Yes, a grand time was had by all.

But the traffic . . . oh my, the traffic! No, not the traffic on the Lower Mainland; the traffic on the Coquihalla Highway. We were heading west on Friday and everyone else seemed to be going east. On Sunday afternoon, things were reversed.

But if that is normal traffic volume for a summer weekend, I don’t like our chances of weaning ourselves off fossil fuels at any point in the next few years, if we don’t burn down between now and then, that is.

Anyway . . . back to hockey . . .

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D Landon Oslanski (Spokane, Lethbridge, Everett, 2009-13) has signed a one-year contract with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had two goals and 15 assists with the Wichita Thunder (ECHL), and two goals and two assists in 12 games with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). . . .

D Taylor Aronson (Portland, 2009-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Nuremberg Ice Tigers (Germany, DEL). Last season, with Lada Togliatti (Russia, KHL), he had two goals and 13 assists in 41 games. . . .

D Jesse Craige (Lethbridge, Chilliwack, 2004-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, with Gap (France, Ligue Magnus), he had three goals and 21 assists in 42 games. . . .

D Giffen Nyren (Moose Jaw, Kamloops, Calgary, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with Sterling/Vipiteno (Italy, Alps HL). Last season, he was pointless in one game with the Colorado Eagles (ECHL), and had three goals and 12 assists in 19 games with Dijon (France, Ligue Magnus). . . .

G Barry Brust (Spokane, Calgary, 2000-04) has signed a one-year contract with Fribourg-Gottéron (Switzerland, NL A). Last season, in 42 games with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL), he was 19-15-5, 2.42, .918 with three shutouts, two assists and 106 penalty minutes. He finished sixth in the league in penalty minutes. . . .

F Michal Řepík (Vancouver, 2005-08) was released by Fribourg-Gottéron (Switzerland, NL A) at his request. Řepík wants to play for a team where he will get the "maximum amount of ice time . . . and thus put all the chances on his side for the ultimate goal of playing the next Olympic Games in Pyeongchang with the Czech national team,” according to Fribourg-Gottéron's press release. . . . Řepík then signed a signed one-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). Last season, he was pointless in two games with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia, KHL), and had seven goals and nine assists in 22 games with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga). . . .

F Jordan Knackstedt (Red Deer, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) has signed a one-year contract with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, DEL2). Last season, he had 12 goals and 19 assists in 32 games with Herlev (Denmark, Metal Ligaen), and three goals and two assists in four games with Esbjerg (Denmark, Metal Ligaen).

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D Juuso Valimaki of the Tri-City Americans has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. They selected him in the first round of the NHL’s 2017 draft. . . . From Nokia, Finland, Valimaki had 61 points, including 19 goals, in 60 games with the Americans last season. In 2015-16, his freshman season, he had seven goals and 25 assists in 56 games. . . . Valimaki, who turns 19 on Oct. 6, will have to be returned to the Americans if he doesn’t crack the Flames’ roster out of training camp.

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Nathan Lieuwen has signed on as the Kootenay Ice’s video coach. The former Ice goaltender announced his retirement as a player earlier this year. He was forced out by vision problems that are a direct result of a concussion he suffered in one of seven NHL games he played with the Buffalo Sabres. . . . From Abbotsford, B.C., he played on 14 games last season — two with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage and 12 with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. . . . Lieuwen was 85-59-15 in 178 regular-season appearances (2007-12) with the Ice. He backstopped the Ice to the 2011 Ed Chynoweth Cup when he was named the WHL’s playoff MVP. . . . James Patrick, the Ice’s freshman head coach, was an assistant coach in Buffalo when Lieuwen was in the Sabres’ organization.

The Ice also has hired Adam Douglas as its sports performance consultant. According to a news release, he “will he responsible for athlete testing, programming, training schedules and utilizing data to provide feedback to the Ice coaching staff on rest and recovery.”

Douglas also works with Hockey Canada as manager, sports performance for the men’s high performance teams, and he also is involved with strength and conditioning with the women’s teams. He also is the head strength-and-conditioning coach at York U in Toronto. In the past, he has worked in that area with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.

Meanwhile, a source told Taking Note last week that the Ice had dropped “a whole bunch of scouts.”

The Ice, of course, changed hands earlier this off-season, with Winnipeggers Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell purchasing the franchise from the Chynoweth family. Cockell, who serves as the Ice’s president and general manager, hasn’t responded to a request for comment.

The WHL’s 2016-17 Guide, which came out late in the season, listed Carter Sears as scouting consultant with Wayne Dougherty, Peter Dubbeldam, Ward Edwards, Scott Frizzell, Chad Harden, Zenon Herasymiuk, Scott Perry and Tim Schick shown as scouts.

The Ice’s website once included a listing of scouts, but it no longer is there. The website does indicate that Garnet Kaziuk remains the director of scouting, a position he has filled since 2007.

In search of confirmation, I contacted someone familiar with the organization last week. The response: “I am not in a position to comment.”

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Jake Grimes has replaced Todd Harvey on the coaching staff of the OHL’s Guelph Storm. … Harvey, 42, has left the Storm, telling Tony Saxon of guelphtoday.com that he will be scouting for an NHL team in 2017-18. Harvey had been a Storm assistant coach for four seasons. . . . Grimes, 44, will be working alongside George Burnett, the Storms’ general manager and head coach, as associate coach. Grimes was an assistant coach for 11 seasons in Belleville when Burnett was the head coach. Grimes spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Peterborough Petes. . . . Saxon’s story is right here.

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Why was K9 a healthy scratch? ... AHL's 2015 man of year joins Seattle ... Toth heading to school

2017-07-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

D Patrik Maier (Kamloops, Moose Jaw, 2014-16) has signed a tryout contract with Benátky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). Last season, he had a goal and three assists in 53 games with Nové Zámky (Slovakia, Extraliga). . . .

F Dustin Johner (Seattle, 1999-2004) has signed a one-year contract with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite). Last season, with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had 13 goals and 26 assists in 54 games.

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I remember when we had to scratch K9 because we got threats faxed to our office after Puckhead got attacked in MJ the night before
— Brent Parker (@Patguy65) July 20, 2017

In this space on Thursday, there was a revisitation of a confrontation between a couple of WHL head coaches. Yes, there was photographic evidence, too.

The picture and story prompted all kinds of responses, including the above tweet from Brent Parker, who was the Regina Pats’ general manager for 15 years so was front and centre in a lot of the rivalry with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

In the tweet, he referred to the shenanigans that went on during a home-and-home series on March 24 and 25, 2000.

The series opened in the Moose Jaw Civic Centre, aka the Crushed Can.

At the time, the Warriors had a mascot with the moniker of Puckhead and it looked pretty much like you might imagine — with a giant puck for a head.

At one point during the game, Puckhead was taunted by a few fans who apparently were pals of Pats F Ryan Thomas. One thing led to another and a couple of the fans bodychecked Puckhead. When Puckhead shoved back, one of the fans, according to a piece at CBC.ca, began punching her.

Yes, Puckhead’s outfit was inhabited by a woman, the late Doreen Gurnsey, who was in her sixth season as the mascot. (Gurnsey passed away on Oct. 1, 2007.)

“I’ve been kicked," she told CBC a few days later. “I’ve had beer poured over me. One fellow one time gave me a shove towards the ice. I mean that's down to the bleachers towards the ice. And it was just lucky that I had straddled the railing and was able to grip on. I'm quite sure I might not have lived through that.”

Anyway, during the altercation, Puckhead’s head came off. You know that the two fans were surprised to see a woman’s face looking back at them, and they quickly and quietly exited stage right.

In a recollection that is posted at rodpedersen.com, veteran Pats/Warriors observer Kelly Remple wrote:

“Following the game, Pats head coach Tim Tisdale sat quietly in the front of the bus, waiting to depart for the Queen City. A lunatic sporting black, red, and white approached the bus and banged on the door. The bus driver opened the door to hear what this maniac was shouting. As the door opened, the crazed fan looked at Tisdale and, like Jack Nicholson in The Shining, said: ‘Your dog is dead. DEAD! You understand me. Your dog is DEAD!’ A concerned Tisdale called home and asked his wife, ‘Honey, is the dog OK?’ ”

There were reports of threatening phone calls to the Pats’ office the following day and, of course, Parker made reference to threatening faxes.

For the record, the Warriors won the Friday game, 6-3, in front of 3,074 fans. The next night, the Pats posted a 3-2 victory before 6,231 fans. Yes, there was a line brawl. No, K9 wasn’t there to witness it.

As @WHLPats organist then, I played #PopGoesTheWeasel when Theo on ice (or kicked out of game) for @MJWARRIORS. He even put it in his book! https://t.co/TKh8xqgmKy
— Sen. Denise Batters (@denisebatters) July 20, 2017

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Just what this @WHLsilvertips @SeattleTbirds rivalry needed. Coaches who used to scrap each other, right @KyleHagel https://t.co/vkqB2ZaOsH
— Mitch Love (@mlovehockey) July 20, 2017

The rivalry between the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips may have taken another turn away from love on Thursday. That’s because the Thunderbirds, the WHL’s reigning champions, have hired Kyle Hagel as an assistant coach.

As is evident from the above tweet, Hagel and Mitch Love, Everett’s assistant GM/assistant coach, are

KYLE HAGEL
(Photo: seattlethunderbirds.com)

quite familiar with each other.

There is a whole more to Hagel than a scrap, however.

Hagel, 32, is from Hamilton. He played four seasons at Princeton before going on to a pro career that ended after last season. A defenceman who sometimes played on left wing, he played the last three seasons with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.

After 2014-15, Hagel was honoured as the AHL’s IOA/American Specialty AHL man of the year. He was presented with the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, which is awarded annually, according to the AHL, to a player “for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations.” That was the fifth time that Hagel had been nominated by his AHL team for the award.

Hagel also is a co-founder of HP4K (Hockey Players for Kids), a non-profit organization that, according to its website, is “made up of hockey players around the world who are dedicated to positively impacting the communities they play in. . . . HP4K believes that promoting player interaction with children is the best way they can achieve this impact, and acts as a catalyst in connecting players with kids in their communities.”

O’Dette and Hagel met for the first time when they were teammates for part of the 2008-09 season with the ECHL’s Fresno Falcons. That was Hagel’s first season as a pro player, while it was O’Dette’s last one.

The Thunderbirds will hire one more assistant coach before the season. One vacancy was created when the Thunderbirds moved Matt O’Dette from assistant to head coach after Steve Konowalchuk left for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. The other spot came open when assistant coach Tyler Alos chose to leave the organization.

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G Rylan Toth, who played out his junior eligibility with the Seattle Thunderbirds last season, has decided to attend UBC and play for the Thunderbirds in 2017-18. . . . Toth led WHL goaltenders in regular-season victories (36) last season. He had a 2.75 GAA and .902 save percentage. He suffered an undisclosed injury late in the season and didn’t play again until getting into two games during the Memorial Cup tournament. . . . Toth also played two seasons with the Red Deer Rebels. . . . In 158 regular-season games, the Saskatoon native was 90-51-13, 2.76, .906.

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The BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals have signed Brian Passmore as their new general manager and head coach. He takes over from Bob Beatty, who has resigned after four seasons with the Capitals. Beatty had spent 17 seasons in the SJHL before signing with the Capitals prior to the 2013-14 season. . . . Passmore, 37, has been the head coach of the bantam prep team at Shawnigan Lake School for the past two seasons. . . . Passmore also has coaching experience in the junior B Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, having spent two seasons with the Peninsula Panthers and one with the Westshore Wolves. . . . The Capitals also announced that Dan Whiteford will be back for a second season as assistant coach, while Darren Rodney, who had been the assistant GM, now is director of hockey operations.

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Mike Fraser, who scouts for the Brandon Wheat Kings, also has been writing a weekly column for the Brandon-based Westman Journal. In this week’s ponderings, who looks back at five years with the Wheat Kings. That column is right here. . . . With the Journal undergoing a change in the editor’s office, Fraser has chosen to step back, so next week’s column will be his last one.

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Darren Steinke, the wandering blogger, spent a lot of the 2016-17 WHL season visiting various arenas. On Thursday, he blogged about his travels and how much fun he had. It’s all right here.

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Excuse me Constable, can you tell me where my wife and I can register as evacuees? #BCWildfires https://t.co/FeZCZET7Pv pic.twitter.com/z0R0UOslMN
— BCRCMP (@BCRCMP) July 20, 2017

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The night the coaches (almost) scrapped ... What a rivalry Pats-Warriors had ... Ex-WHLer interim coach with Ravens

2017-07-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

F Dustin Boyd (Moose Jaw, 2002-06) has signed a two-year contract with Dynamo Moscow (Russia, KHL). Last season, he had eight goals and six assists in 30 games with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan, KHL). . . .

F Parker Bowles (Tri-City, 2011-16) has signed a one-year contract with the Tilburg Trappers (Netherlands, Germany Oberliga). Last season, with the U of Calgary Dinos (Canada West), he had three goals and nine assists in 12 games. . . .

F Milan Kytnár (Kelowna, Saskatoon, Vancouver, 2007-10) has signed a one-year contract with Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga). Last season, with Nové Zámky (Slovakia, Extraliga), he finished with 11 goals and 18 assists in 43 games. . . .

F Anthony Bardaro (Spokane, Prince Albert, 2008-13) has signed a one-year contract with Asiago (Italy, Alps HL). Last season, with the U of British Columbia Thunderbirds (Canada West), he had 14 goals and 16 assists in 28 games. He led the T-Birds in goals, assists and points, and was fourth in the Canada West scoring race.

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Happy Birthday Al Tuer as we #WBW to when any WHL game could turn sideways & it wasn't uncommon for gloves & coats to drop. 07.19.17 #HFH pic.twitter.com/WhrRTG4UdH
— Hockey Fight History (@HistoryOfFights) July 19, 2017

My favourite WHL-related photo showed up on Twitter on Wednesday.

Ahh, yes, those were the days.

It was a Friday night — Nov. 18, 1994 — and the Moose Jaw Warriors were visiting the Regina Pats in what was then the Agridome.

Late in the game, Moose Jaw head coach Al Tuer and his Regina counterpart, Norm Johnston, took off their jackets, climbed up on the back of the players’ boxes and threatened to make like Hulk Hogan and Bret (Hitman) Hart.

The late Roy Antal was The Leader-Post photographer assigned to the game and he just happened to be between the benches when the fun began. Not only did he get this photo, but he also managed to get his left hand in the picture — that’s it at the bottom right.

Shortly after I tweeted to point out that the photo, autographed by both would-be pugilists, hangs in my home, Mick Kartusch, who carries a famous Saskatchewan hockey name, responded: “I remember that night vividly … those Friday night Pats/Warriors games back in the day were gems. . . . Theo’s meltdowns, O’Connor’s ceremonial face-off win, Keane vs. Savard, ’84 bench clearer. Never a dull moment at the dome.”

Which took me back to Feb. 5, 2009, and something that I posted right here below that same photo . . .

There just aren’t fun nights like this in the WHL anymore.

The date was Nov. 18, 1994. It was a Friday night. The Moose Jaw Warriors were visiting the Regina Pats in what was then known as the Agridome. It was a time before corporations purchased naming rights to whatever was for sale. It was a time when hockey games frequently — well, certainly more often than now — included some kind of action that would leave the fans buzzing when they left the arena.

The Pats would win this game, 5-2, but as the fans headed for home the talk centred on two things: 1. Wasn’t that something?, and, 2. How do we get tickets for tomorrow night in Moose Jaw?

This was the night that Al Tuer, the head coach of the Warriors, and Norm Johnston, the Pats’ head coach, scaled the glass behind their teams’ benches and made like they were trying to get at each other. Vince McMahon would have loved it.

Roy Antal, a photographer with the Regina Leader-Post, was in the box between the team’s benches when all heck broke out.

Tuer laughs about it these days. He now scouts for the NHL’s Calgary Flames out of Vernon, B.C.

“There was a line brawl,” Tuer said the other night, “and we ended up with one more guy on the ice than they did. Go figure.”

Tuer laughed.

“Norm called me the next morning,” Tuer added. “He said we should go for a beer.”

Both head coaches drew one-game — yes, one-game! — suspensions.

The next night, the teams met in Moose Jaw and the Warriors won, 5-2. Former NHLer Bill Hicke, then one of the Pats’ owners, coached the Pats; Warriors assistant coach Len Nielsen ran the Moose Jaw bench.

Attendance in Moose Jaw was 3,317. The fire marshal may have been on vacation. The WHL’s 1994-95 Guide lists capacity of the Crushed Can at 3,269 – 2,969 seats and 310 standing.

“Yeah, the rink in Moose Jaw was kind of full that night,” Tuer said.

Of course, he and Johnston weren’t able to attend.

And, no, they never did get together for that beer.

While Tuer scouts for the Flames, Johnston, a school teacher, is head coach of the midget AAA Regina Pats Canadians. He also is involved in mentoring coaches with Hockey Regina. And one of Johnston’s best friends is Graham Tuer, Al’s father.

Yes, the hockey world is a small one. It’s just not as much fun for some of us as it used to be.

(The above photo was taken by Roy Antal of the Regina Leader-Post. I have had it autographed and tried to copy it for use here. I'm not a photographer and that is my flash bouncing back that you see in the middle of it. Hey, I'm a writer . . .)

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UPDATE: Al Tuer now is the head pro scout with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Norm Johnston is preparing for his first full season as the head coach of the Battlefords Stars of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.

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Shaun Van Allen was named the interim head coach of the Carleton U Ravens on Wednesday, after head coach Marty Johnston left to join the AHL’s Manitoba Moose as an assistant coach. . . . The 49-year-old Van Allen, from Calgary, has been an assistant coach at Carleton for seven seasons. He played two seasons (1985-87) with the Saskatoon Blades before going on to a pro career that included 794 NHL games. . . . With the Moose, Johnston will work alongside head coach Pascal Vincent, assistant coach Eric Dubois, developmental goaltending coach Rick St. Croix and video coach Richard Bue. Johnston, 38, had been the Ravens’ head coach for seven seasons.

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The U of Alaska-Fairbanks has promoted Lance West from assistant coach to head coach. He replaces Dallas Ferguson, who left after nine seasons as head coach of the Nanooks to join the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen as their head coach. . . . West was on Ferguson’s staff for the entire nine-season run. . . . College Hockey News has more on West’s promotion right here.

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9pm: Light Rainshower 26.1C - Wind: S 41km/h Gusts to 58km/h - Bar: 100.9 kPa v - Hum: 30% #Kamloops #Weather
— Kamloops Weather (@wxKAMLOOPS) July 20, 2017

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Giants' radio voice off to NHL? ... Poole moves to Edge School ... Ex-WHLer head coach in RMJHL

2017-07-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

My prayers go out to those dealing with the wildfires in the interior of BC. My home is your home #Blazernation pic.twitter.com/eDOQlxPgqT
— Dylan Ferguson (@dferg_98) July 18, 2017

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F Rhett Rachinski (Edmonton, 2007-12) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, with the U of Alberta (Canada West), he had three goals and nine assists in 28 games. . . .

KHL News: The exhibition season began Tuesday night. The regular season starts Aug. 21. There won’t be any games from Jan 29 to Feb. 25 as the KHL takes its Olympics break. The last regular-season game is March 1. Each team plays 56 games.

F Mark Derlago (Brandon, 2003-07) has signed a one-year contract with the Nottingham Panthers (England, UK Elite). Last season, with the Nikko Icebucks (Japan, Asia HL), he had 26 goals and 32 assists in 48 games. He led the Icebucks in goals, assists and points, and was seven in the league’s scoring race. . . . Nottingham opens its exhibition schedule on Aug. 12.

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Steve Ewen of Postmedia reported Tuesday night that Brendan Batchelor has left the Vancouver Giants after four seasons as their radio voice. . . . According to Ewen, “Various sources suggest” that Batchelor will be the next radio play-by-play man for the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. . . . TSN 1040 has had the Canucks’ radio rights, but Sportsnet 650 now has the contract and is putting together its on-air team. . . . “According to various sources,” Ewen reports, Batchelor “resigned from the WHL club on Monday and is refusing to say where he’s going, other than to admit he starts his new gig in August.” . . . Ewen’s story is right here.

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Shawn Martin has signed on with the AJHL’s Whitecourt Wolverines, as assistant general manager and associate coach. Martin, who is from Wainwright, Alta., was in his fourth season as GM/head coach of the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves when he was fired on Oct. 24. . . . Martin, 40, has been in the AJHL before, as an assistant coach with the Grande Prairie Storm, St. Albert Steel and Sherwood Park Crusaders. . . . In Whitecourt, Martin will work alongside veteran junior A GM/head coach Gord Thibodeau.

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James Poole is the new head coach of the midget prep team at Edge school in Calgary. Poole had been the general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks before leaving the organization over the weekend. . . . The Canucks were 37-19-4 under Poole last season, his only one with the organization. He spent five seasons with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers before joining the Canucks.

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Pat Bingham has signed on as the head coach of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League’s Colorado Rampage. . . . Bingham has been with the Rampage organization for five years, serving as president, hockey director and the head coach of the 16-year-old AAA team. . . . A native of Vancouver, Bingham played in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazes and New Westminster Bruins (1985-89). . . . He has coached in the defunct Central and United leagues, as well as the AHL and ECHL.

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While in #bdnmb recently visiting family, former #BWK great Billy D had a chance to visit Derlago Drive @JandGHomesLtd #BWKTop20 pic.twitter.com/ISV7r9iZ1O
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) July 18, 2017

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Deer me, another smoky day in Kamloops ... Tigers sign Craven ... Patrick gets NHL deal

2017-07-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

If you look closely behind the green table to the left of the apple tree, you will note the deer that paid a visit to your back yard on Monday at 1:30 p.m. She nibbled at the grass, checked out a bird feeder or two, and may have tried a Jon Gold apple.

As for the grey background, well, it was that kind of day in Kamloops. That's smoke, and it obliterated the view to the east down the South Thompson River Valley. Somewhere in there is the river and further east is Mount Martin. We think.

The smoke also resulted in watering eyes and meant that for the first time in four days there wasn't an opportunity to sit on the deck and read.

And, yes, that deck will get painted one of these days. After the smoke leaves, of course.

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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F Nathan Burns (Vancouver, Saskatoon, Swift Current, 2009-14) has signed a one-year contract with Halle (Germany, Oberliga). Burns didn’t play either of the past two seasons. In 2014-15 with the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL), he had three goals and seven assists in 27 games. . . .

F Gilbert Brulé (Vancouver, 2002-06) has been traded by Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk to Traktor Chelyabinsk (both Russia, KHL) for cash compensation. Last season, he had six goals and four assists in 16 games with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL), and 12 goals and 20 assists in 37 games with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL).

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The Medicine Hat Tigers have signed D Joel Craven to a WHL contract. Last season, with the midget AAA Northwest Athletic Association Flames in Calgary, he had a goal and nine assists in 31 games. . . . A list player, he is the son of Murray Craven, a former Tigers star forward (1980-84) who now is senior vice-president with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.

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The Vancouver Giants have signed F Milos Roman to a WHL contract. A Slovakian, Roman was the fifth-overall selection in the CHL’s 2017 import draft. . . . Roman, who won’t turn 18 until Nov. 6, played last season with HC Frydek-Mistek in the Czech Republick’s second-tier pro league. He had four goals and two assists in 29 games. He also played for Slovakia in the 2017 World Junior Championship, scoring once and adding an assist in four games. . . . He had a goal and an assist in five games at 2017 IIHF U-18 world championship and picked up five assists in four games at last summer’s Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup tournament.

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F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. He was the second-overall selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft. . . . Patrick had 46 points, including 20 goals, in 33 games with Brandon last season. He missed a lot of the season due to a sports hernia. He had surgery in July 2016, then had more surgery on June 13. . . . Patrick was in Philadelphia for the Flyers’ development camp but didn’t take part in any on-ice activities. He is expected to start skating again next week and the Flyers say he should be ready for training camp. . . . If Patrick doesn’t make the Flyers’ roster, he will have to be returned to the Wheat Kings.

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From Treva Lind of the Spokane Spokesman-Review:

Spokane Public Facilities District is having Garco Construction, of Spokane, expand and remodel 2,300 square feet of space for the northeast front entrance to make room near metal detectors. A secondary project will update two concession areas.

A space in a southwest corner will get a new look — a taco truck-inspired design — for sale of fresh Mexican food, said Matt Gibson, arena general manager.

Work for a north side food area will push out a wall about 20 feet to create new eatery space introducing such options as craft burgers, Asian wraps, panini sandwiches and a craft beer center.

Gibson said work should be done in time for the Spokane Chiefs home opener Sept. 30.

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Whatever became of Denis Afinogenov? Remember when he was on your fantasy hockey team? Well, he’s now coaching in the Russian Women’s Hockey League. There’s that and a whole lot more right here at Patrick Conway’s Russian Hockey Blog.

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Tweet of the day

Thank you to @RichieBoy306 , Pat Naylen, Troy Vollhoffer and the Country Thunder crew for making this happen...... pic.twitter.com/XMSPMIygiI
— Brad Hornung (@Bradhornung) July 15, 2017

Riverton Rifle tells kids @ Athabasca Basin Security's hockey camp call if they need anything-and hands them his cell #. #stillbringsit pic.twitter.com/4gsRssmUc8
— Steve Hogle (@Hogle) July 17, 2017

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Wonder Woman getting ready for fourth Kidney Walk ... Dorothy's amazing story continues

2017-07-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

A new kidney has meant a new lease on life for Dorothy, and allowed
her to feel the thrill of holding granddaughter Kara.

The 2017 Kamloops Kidney Walk is scheduled for Sept. 24 in McDonald Park.

Yes, Dorothy will be taking part for a fourth straight year; this one comes four years after she underwent a kidney transplant at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.

During the season, hockey people are always asking me: “How’s Dorothy?” . . . or “How’s your wife?”

It’s funny, because no one ever says to me: “Hey, how are you doing?”

OK. I’m kidding.

In all seriousness, words cannot express how much the support from all levels of the hockey community has meant to us.

Hey, you can’t imagine how thrilled Dorothy was to meet Dan De Palma, the Kamloops Blazers’ goaltending coach, in a book store one day and have him pay more attention to her than to me.

So . . . you’re wondering how Dorothy, aka Wonder Woman, is doing?

Well, she spends an afternoon or two each week doing volunteer work at Overlander Residential Care, taking residents on shopping trips or to medical appointments, or just helping out around the complex.

She also is a co-founder of the Kamloops Kidney Support Group that meets once a month and provides support for anyone with kidney disease and their families. As well, she is part of the organizing committee for the Kamloops Kidney Walk.

Every four months, Dorothy visits the renal clinic at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. Her most recent appointment was on Friday and she passed with flying colours. In fact, she came out of there positively aglow because the nephrologist — Dr. Conley — was excited about her colour, her energy level, pretty much everything.

“Or maybe,” Dorothy said, with a laugh, “she was excited because she’s starting vacation (Saturday).”

If you know Dorothy like I know Dorothy, you know that Dr. Conley was excited because of what she observed as the two of them chatted.

Anyway . . . things are going well, really well, and the preparations have begun for this year’s kidney walk.

In fact, the first sign of support has shown up on her Kidney Walk page. Norm Weseen, a former radio personality and long-time junior hockey fan, got things started with a donation on Saturday. I feel shame because it’s the first time I haven’t made the first donation. LOL!

If you would like to support Wonder Woman, you are able to do so right here.

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.

A wild fire-fuelled night in B.C. ... Glass signs with Vegas ... MJHL players to pay development fee

2017-07-16T00:26:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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It’s been a wild and unpleasant night in the fire-ravaged areas of B.C. — north and west of Kamloops and in Lake Country, just a bit north of Kelowna.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those people who lost their homes and/or were forced to flee from the fires.

As for Kamloops, the city is teeming with evacuees. There already were lots of evacuees here, including those from the Ashcroft, Cache Creek and 100 Mile House areas, when Williams Lake was hit with an evacuation order last night. Many of those people registered at the Sandman Centre upon arrival but, with Kamloops fairly bursting at the seams, others were to have been directed to Chilliwack.

Some of Saturday’s rogue fire activity was caused by winds from a cold front moving in off the Pacific Ocean. Who knows what awaits B.C. in the morning? The forecast is for cooler temperatures, perhaps in the low 20s, and higher humidity. It ain’t rain, but it will help.

In Kamloops, there were a couple of scares from grass fires last night, but quick action by fire crews got things under control.

We live 20 kilometres east of Kamloops, on the north side of the South Thompson River and haven’t been threatened. We also have had only two days of heavy smoke; in fact, the last three days have been sunny and warm with nothing but blue skies.

Yes, we are among the fortunate ones, at least to this point, and we know it.

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Couldn't be more excited to sign with @GoldenKnights, thanks to everyone who helped me along the way! @TheHockeyAgency @pdxwinterhawks pic.twitter.com/GFp0gNNPKR
— Cody Glass (@Cody12Glass) July 15, 2017

F Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks has signed his first professional contract — a three-year entry-level deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, who selected him sixth overall in the 2017 NHL draft. . . . Glass, 18, is from Winnipeg and is expected to return for a third season with the Winterhawks. He is eligible to play with the Golden Knights, but because of his age can’t be assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. . . . Last season, Glass had 94 points, 32 of them goals, in 69 games with Portland. That followed a freshman season in which he totalled 10 goals and 17 assists in 27 games. . . . The Winterhawks selected him in the first round of the WHL’s 2014 bantam draft. . . . The Golden Knights had three first-round selections in the 2017 NHL draft; they signed the other two selections on Saturday, too. F Nick Suzuki of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack and D Erik Brannstrom. Suzuki is expected to return to the Attack, while Brannstrom, who won’t turn 18 until September, will play for HV71 in Sweden’s Elite League.

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Players wanting to play in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League will have to pay starting in 2017-18. Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports that the league will be implementing a player development fee. . . . “It’s a move sources say that will allow for the league to better advertise itself during its annual showcase, bringing in more scouts and more attention to the event. The move will also help provide better health and dental benefits for the league’s 250-plus players,” Billeck reports. “The league has yet to officially announced the development fees, which are said to be set at $500 per player, but sources say it is a move that has been in the works for a while. The league will take in just under $130,000.” . . . Billeck’s story is right here.

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The MJHL’s Steinbach Pistons have signed Paul Dyck, their general manager and head coach, to a contract extension that runs through 2020-21. Dyck, who is from Steinbach, has been with the pistons since 2010-11 when he was an assistant coach under Rich Gosselin. Dyck stepped in as head coach during 2011-12 and has been the GM/head coach since the summer of 2012. . . . Here’s Grant Lazaruk, the president/governor of the community-owned team’s board of directors, in a news release: “Paul’s coaching ability and what he has done for the club on and off he ice has been tremendous. I look at it as this ownership group has owned this club now for five seasons. In those five seasons, he has led the team to an MJHL championship, two appearances in the final, and two semi-final appearances, so in regards to his on-ice team performance, he has done a tremendous job.” . . . Dyck, 46, played two seasons (1989-91) with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

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The AJHL’s Calgary Canucks announced Saturday morning that James Poole, their general manager and head coach, is leaving the organization “to pursue other opportunities.” . . . Poole spent one season with the Canucks, going 37-19-4, the first time the team finished above .500 since 2009-10. . . . Anyone interested should send a resume to Pat Loyer at phloyer@shaw.ca.

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P.G. gang comes through for evacuees ... Slovak signs with Chiefs ... Warriors sign an AGM

2017-07-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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F Curt Gogol (Kelowna, Saskatoon, Chilliwack, 2007-11) signed a one-year contract with Rubin Tyumen (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). Last season, with the Florida Everblades (ECHL), he had six goals and 11 assists in 37 games.

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A tip of the cap to the Prince George Cougars Alumni Association, the Prince George Cougars Society and the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation for their generosity in support of wildfire evacuees from their area. . . . The announcement was made before the alumni association’s annual Hospital Charity Golf Tournament got started. . . . A lot of the province of B.C. is burning up and you can bet that kind of generosity is greatly appreciated. . . . Should you want to donate to the Red Cross you are able to do so right here.

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F Milos Fafrak, a Slovakian, has signed a WHL contract with the Spokane Chiefs. He was a first-round selection in the CHL’s 2017 import draft. Fafrak, 18, had 39 points, 11 of them goals, in 44 games with the Slovkian U-18 team that played in the Slovak U-20 Extraliga last season. . . . The Chiefs also selected Czech D Filip Kral in the 2017 import draft. Kral, who is to turn 18 on Oct. 20, played last season with HC Kometa Brno in the Czech U-20 league and also got into 23 games with Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga. He has yet to sign with the Chiefs.

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The Moose Jaw Warriors have hired Jason Ripplinger as assistant general manager after losing Doug Gasper, their director of scouting, to the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. . . . Ripplinger, who is from Regina, spent the previous 17 years with the Vancouver Giants, first as head scout and then as director of player personnel, a position he had filled since 2008. . . . Gasper joined the Warriors in 2007. He was named assistant head scout in 2012 and had been director of scouting since 2015. According to the Warriors, Gasper has “accepted a scouting position” in the NHL. . . . Shortly after the Warriors issued their news release, Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 Sports in Vancouver reported that Gasper will be joining the Canucks’ scouting staff.

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Todd Gill is the new head coach of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. He replaces Ryan McGill, the OHL’s reigning coach of the year, who left after two seasons to join the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights as an assistant coach. . . . A former NHL defenceman, Gill spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Stockton Heat. Before joining the Heat, Gill spent three seasons as the head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. . . . Alan Letang, an assistant coach under McGill, will stay on with the Attack and work alongside Gill.

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A couple of notes involving junior teams from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . . . The Kimberley Dynamiters and the WHL’s Kootenay Ice have joined forces in a deal that will provide ticket discounts to fans. Season-ticket holders for Ice games will get 15 per cent off individual tickets to Dynamiters’ games, while Kimberley season-ticket holders will get the same discount on tickets to Ice home games. . . . On Thursday, NASCAR promoted Brent Dewar from vice-chairman to president. Hired as the chief operating officer in 2013, he had been moved to vice-chairman in 2015. Dewar is only the fourth president in the history of NASCAR, which began under Bill France Sr. in 1948. Dewar is the brother of Kamloops Storm owner/general manager Barry Dewar.

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Luke Strand is the new head coach of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers. Strand, who spent last season as an amateur scout with the NHL’s Calgary Flames, takes over from Jay Varady, who was introduced Thursday as the head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. . . . Strand is quite familiar with Sioux City, having worked as the Musketeers’ GM/head coach for two seasons (2009-11) and as GM in 2013-14. . . . He also has coached with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers and Madison Capitals, the AHL’s Houston Aeros, the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat and the U of Wisconsin Badgers.

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After the Calgary Hitmen filled out their coaching staff and front office earlier in the week, Hartley Miller had some fun with it all, especially the promotion of, as he calls him, The Dallas Thompson. . . . Yes, that Dallas Thompson! . . . Miller’s piece, from myprincegeorgenow.com, is right here.

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers fan who missed out on a $1-million prize won't leave empty-handed after all https://t.co/5UyMNUXXY8 pic.twitter.com/azoFYY0woi
— CBC News (@CBCNews) July 15, 2017

Karen Kuldys denied $1-million jackpot by a penalty call in last nights CFL game. A few years ago her husband won about $700K in lottery.
— Earl J. Seitz (@EarlCFJCsports) July 14, 2017

The CFL could have turned the Kuldys mess into a bonanza for $111,111.11 per club but they'd rather nickel-and-dime her. Bullet to the foot.
— Jack Todd (@jacktodd46) July 14, 2017

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.

Balcers, Clifford, True get contracts ... Battah heads overseas . . . About that $1 million

2017-07-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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F Bruno Mráz (Brandon, 2011-12) has signed a one-year contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). Last season, he had 17 goals and 19 assists in 44 games with Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga). . . .

D Roman Pšurný (Medicine Hat, 2004-06) haa signed a one-year extension with Přerov (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). Last season, he had 12 goals and 19 assists in 29 games. Pšurný tied for the team lead in scoring despite missing 23 games.

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Jeff Battah, who has worked in the WHL, is off to Austria as the goaltending coach with the Graz 99ers (Erste Bank Liga). Battah, 36, has been coaching since 2001, both as an assistant coach and as a goaltending coach. He has worked in the WHL, with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Prince George Cougars, as well as in the AJHL and BCHL and in U Sports. With the 99ers, his first European assignment, he will work alongside head coach Doug Mason.

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The Everett Silvertips have signed goaltending coach Shane Clifford to a contract extension, the length of which wasn’t disclosed. Clifford, 46, is preparing for his 11th season with the Silvertips. In that position, he has tutored Carter Hart, the WHL’s goaltender of the year in each of the past two seasons. . . . According to a news release, Clifford, who is from Cincinnati, has coached professionally with the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL) and Les Ducs d’Angers (French Elite League), with goalies in the college ranks at Ohio State University (NCAA), and goaltenders across two separate tiers of junior levels for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) and Wenatchee Wild (NAHL).” . . . The Silvertips are heading into their 15th WHL season and earlier in the week they unveiled sweaters “the team will wear for home and road games designed to commemorate the anniversary campaign.” You are able to get a look at those sweaters by clicking right here.

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Jay Varady, the new head coach
of the Kingston Frontenacs.
(Photo: kingstonfrontenacs.com)

The OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs introduced former WHL coach Jay Varady as their new head coach on Thursday. Varady, 39, spent the past four seasons as the head coach of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers. . . . Last season, the Musketeers finished with the USHL’s best regular-season record, and a franchise-record 87 points, and reached the championship final before bowing out to the Chicago Steel. Varady was named the USHL’s coach of the year. . . . In four seasons with Sioux City, Varady was 136-88-10. . . . Varady, a native of Cahokia, Ill., spent eight seasons (2003-11) with the Everett Silvertips, as assistant coach and then associate coach. . . . In Kingston, Varady replaces Paul McFarland, now an assistant coach with the NHL’s Florida Panthers.

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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have signed G Bryan Thomson and D Jonah Regier, both of whom played last season for the bantam AAA Notre Dame Hounds. . . . Thomson was a second-round pick in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. From Moose Jaw, he was 3-13-1, 3.72, .895 in the regular season, then went 2-1-0, 2.33, .935 in the playoffs. . . . The Hurricanes selected Regier one pick after having taken Thomson. Regier, from Weyburn, Sask., had two goals and three assists in 30 regular-season games, then was pointless in four playoff games.

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F Rudolfs Balcers, who played last season with the Kamloops Blazers, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. . . . Balcers, a 20-year-old Latvian, was a fifth-round selection in the NHL’s 2015 draft. He is expected to play in San Jose’s organization in 2017-18. . . . Last season, the 5-foot-11, 165-pounder had 77 points, 40 of them goals, in 66 games with Kamloops. . . . The Blazers are likely to open the 2017-18 season with veteran D Ondrej Vala, who will be playing his third season in Kamloops, and Swiss F Justin Sigrist, picked in the 2017 CHL import draft, as their two import players.

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371 points off @SeattleTbirds 2016-17 roster will be in pro hockey this coming season: Barzal, Bear, Eansor, Gropp, Kolesar and True
— Thom Beuning (@ThomBeuning) July 13, 2017

F Alexander True, who scored the biggest goal in the Seattle Thunderbirds’ history, has signed a two-year contract with the San Jose Barracuda, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. . . . True, who will turn 20 on Monday, is from Denmark. He finished last season with 25 goals and 15 assists in 66 games, then added 12 goals and 10 assists in 20 playoff games. That included the winner at 12:36 of OT as the Thunderbirds beat the host Regina Pats, 4-3, in Game 6 of the WHL’s championship series. Seattle won the series and the Ed Chynoweth Cup, 4-2. . . . In 169 career regular-season games, True had 45 goals and 39 assists. . . . True spent last week in the Sharks’ developmental camp. . . . True’s father, Soren, was a 12th-round pick by the New York Rangers in the NHL’s 1986 draft.

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F Austin Glover, who played out his junior eligibility last season, will attend UBC and play for the Thunderbirds in 2017-18. Glover totalled 22 goals and 36 assists in 69 games split between the Prince Albert Raiders and Red Deer Rebels. . . . Glover, who also played with the Kelowna Rockets, totalled 146 points, including 51 goals, during a 224-game WHL career. . . . He was second-round pick by Kelowna in the WHL’s 2011 bantam draft.

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Before shutting things down for the remainder of the summer, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet filed one last 30 Thoughts. As he points out, when he returns for another the season, the NHL will have 31 teams and that means he’ll be writing 31 Thoughts. . . . His final 30 Thoughts, then, is right here.

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You are almost out of time, but you still have time to register and attend the seventh annual TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference that runs in Vancouver today (Friday) and Saturday. If you click on The Coaches Site website right here to register, you are able to get a 20-per-cent discount by entering the coupon code TakingNote.

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The CFL has a new commissioner in Randy Ambrosie but, writes Paul Wiecek of the Winnipeg Free Press, the new guy “sounds a whole lot like the old commissioner of the CFL” when it comes to talking about CTE. . . . Wiecek’s column, which is headlined ‘CFL should do the right thing and pull its concussed head out of the sand,’ is right here.

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Bad #CFL officiating costs woman a million dollars https://t.co/3hR6TaLpej pic.twitter.com/t8K2EpRglY
— Drew Edwards (@scratchingpost) July 14, 2017

Easy call for @SafewayCanada to just give Karen the $1 million. #CFLGameDay #whataboutkaren i
— Neate Sager (@NaitSAYger) July 14, 2017

You all wanted to know. #WhatAboutKaren. Here it is, in Karen's words after missing out on $1 million: https://t.co/aU5PY45tuA @cbcsports
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 14, 2017

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O'Dette takes over Thunderbirds' bench ... Ex-WHL coach the man in Kingston? ... Wagner facing long rehab

2017-07-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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The KHL player rights to D Dmitri Osipov (Vancouver, Brandon, 2013-17) have been traded by Sochi (Russia, KHL) to Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL) for G Arseni Akhmetov (born 1999). Last season, Osipov had a goal and 10 assists in 42 games with Vancouver, then added a goal and two assists in 31 games with Brandon. . . . He was the first overall pick in the 2013 CHL import draft and in the 2013 KHL junior draft. . . . Osipov played out his junior eligibility last season. . . .

F David Rutherford (Vancouver, Spokane, 2004-08) has announced his retirement through his Twitter account. Last season, he had 19 goals and 24 assists in 41 games with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite). . . .

D Brennan Yadlowski (Lethbridge, Everett, 2007-12) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, he had five assists in 28 games with the U of Alberta (U Sports). He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in June.

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Exciting day being named head coach of the @SeattleTbirds. Such an honor. Thank you for all the well wishes!
— Matt O'Dette (@MattODette) July 13, 2017

On Tuesday, the day before Matt O'Dette was introduced
as the Seattle Thunderbirds' head coach, he was in the
team's dressing room for a photo shoot when Grace, 6, (left)
and Fiona, 8, arrived on the scene. The daughters of
Ian Henry, the Thunderbirds' director of public and media
relations, promptly showed him a key coaching move.
(Photos: Brian Liesse)

Matt O’Dette is the new head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds, the reigning WHL champions. O’Dette spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach with Seattle, working alongside head coach Steve Konowalchuk, who has left to join the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks as an assistant coach.

As a Seattle assistant coach, O’Dette, 41, was responsible for the defencemen, including Shea Theodore, the WHL’s top defenceman in 2014-15 and Ethan Bear, who won the award last season.

O’Dette also directed the Seattle penalty kill, which ranked first in the 22-team league in 2015-16 and third last season.
O'Dette, who is from Toronto, was with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors, as director of hockey operations and head coach, for two seasons before joining the Thunderbirds. He also worked as assistant GM/assistant coach with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder.

As a player, he got into 663 professional games over 14 seasons in the AHL and ECHL. A defenceman, he played with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

The Thunderbirds now are looking for two assistant coaches, one to fill the void created by O’Dette’s promotion and the other because Tyler Alos has left the organization after three seasons on staff.

Andy Eide of 710 ESPN Seattle reports that Alos “has opted to pursue a non-hockey opportunity, according to the team.”

Alos played 201 regular-season games over four years with the Thunderbirds before retiring on Dec. 3, 2012, after incurring multiple concussions.

Eide’s story on O’Dette’s promotion is right here.

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WHL ACTIVE COACHES REGULAR-SEASON VICTORIES:

Don Hay, Tri-City, Vancouver, Kamloops 720

Mike Williamson, Portland, Calgary, Tri-City 534

Brent Sutter, Red Deer 441

Marc Habscheid, Kamloops, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Victoria, Prince Albert 424

Shaun Clouston, Medicine Hat 320

Mike Johnston, Portland 271

John Paddock, Regina 125

Tim Hunter, Moose Jaw 103

Steve Hamilton, Edmonton 88

Brent Kisio, Lethbridge 88

Dan Lambert, Kelowna, Spokane 53

Richard Matvichuk, Prince George 45

Jason Smith, Kelowna 45

David Anning, Brandon, 39

Emanuel Viveiros, Swift Current 39

Dean Brockman, Saskatoon 27

Jason McKee, Vancouver 20

Dallas Ferguson, Calgary 0

Matt O’Dette,Spokane 0

James Patrick, Kootenay 0

Dan Price, Victoria 0

Dennis Williams, Everett 0

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F Cavin Leth has decided to attend Ryerson U in Toronto and play for the Rams in 2017-18. Leth, 21, split last season between the Seattle Thunderbirds and Prince Albert Raiders. From Taber, Alta., he had three assists in five games with the Thunderbirds, then put up 23 goals and 13 assists in 63 games with the Raiders. He also played with the Swift Current Broncos during his WHL career. All told, he had 44 goals and 35 assists in 262 regular-season games.

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Believe this is still the case. Announcement tomorrow from the Frontenacs. https://t.co/LXodT60ltZ
— OHLInsiders(.com) (@OHLinsiders) July 13, 2017

The OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs have said they will introduce their new head coach today (Thursday). They have been in the market for one since Paul McFarland left to sign on as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. . . . There has been speculation in OHL circles that Josh Dixon is the leading candidate to take over in Kingston. Dixon spent three seasons (2011-14) as an assistant coach with the Regina Pats and was with the Swift Current Broncos for 2014-15. . . . Dixon, who also is working on a masters in sports psychology, is in player development with CAA Sports.

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F Austin Wagner of the Regina Pats had shoulder surgery on June 7 and could be out of action for as long as six months. Perhaps the fastest skater in the WHL last season, he has signed with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and, as a 20-year-old, is eligible to player with their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. But he is expected to miss all of training camp and the start of the 2017-18 season. So might the Kings send him back to the Pats, the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup? . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

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Here are the speaker topics for our annual @teamsnap Hockey Coaches Conference… STARTS FRIDAY!https://t.co/BO3WcEeFos pic.twitter.com/S9rXaMFKHt
— The Coaches Site (@TheCoachesSite) July 12, 2017

The seventh annual TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Vancouver runs on Friday and Saturday. Among the presenters are Glen Gulutzan, the head coach of the NHL's Calgary Flames; Ray Ferraro, the terrific hockey analyst with TSN; Craig Cunningham, a former WHLer who now is pro scouting with the Arizona Coyotes; and Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Jamie Kompon, who is a former GM/head coach with the Portland Winterhawks. . . . If you haven't yet registered, click right here. As you register, enter the coupon code TakingNote and you’ll get 20 per cent off the registration fee.

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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.

Homecomings in Calgary ... T-Birds poised to name head coach ... Pats' Paddock adds players

2017-07-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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D Kalvin Sagert (Kamloops, Lethbridge, Prince George, 2002-08) has signed a one-year contract with Gherdëina Selva Gardena (Italy, Alps HL). Last season, he had two goals and four assists in 27 games with Fehérvár AV19 Székesfehérvár (Hungary, Erste Bank Liga). . . .

D Emerson Hyrnyk (Prince Albert, Chilliwack, 2009-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Dundee Stars (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had four assists in 26 games with Mount Royal University (U Sports).

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If they didn’t, the Calgary Hitmen should have had Hagood Hardy’s The Homecoming playing in the background of their Tuesday morning news conference.

After all, Jeff Chynoweth, the Hitmen’s new general manager, is coming back to Calgary for the first time in 31 years, while Dallas Ferguson, the new head coach, is returning to Alberta after coaching in Alaska since 2002. Dallas Thompson, the new director of player personnel, is from Hayter, Alta.

Chynoweth joins the Hitmen after spending 16 seasons as the GM of the Kootenay Ice, a franchise that

The Calgary Hitmen braintrust: Dallas Ferguson (left),
Jeff Chynoweth, Mike Moore and Dallas Thompson.(Photo: Candice Ward/Hitmenhockey.com)

was owned by his family. The Chynoweths sold the Ice earlier this summer to Winnipeggers Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell.

With the Hitmen, Chynoweth takes over from Mike Moore, who now is vice-president and alternate governor. Moore had been the GM since 2013.

Chynoweth spent a good part of his youth in Calgary and, in fact, was the visiting teams’ stick boy at Flames games in the early 1980s. The Flames, of course, own the Hitmen.

Ferguson, meanwhile, takes over from Mark French, who left after three seasons as head coach in order to work in Switzerland.

Ferguson, who is from Wainwright, Alta., has been on the coaching staff of the U of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks since 2004. He has been the head coach since 2008. Before joining the Nanooks’ coaching staff, he was an assistant coach with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs for two seasons.

For Hitmen fans wanting to know Ferguson a bit better, right here is a College Hockey News story from when he was named the Nanooks’ head coach. . . . Click right here and you’ll find a Q&A that CHN managing editor Adam Wodon did with Ferguson early last season.

www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/21_ferguson.php

Assistant coaches Trent Cassan and Joel Otto are returning to work alongside Ferguson.

Thompson replaces Dan Bonar, who spent 14 seasons with the Hitmen, the last four as director of player personnel. Thompson worked for the Hitmen for the past two seasons as B.C. scouting director. He is a long-time WHLer, having spent 10 seasons as the general manager of the Prince George Cougars.

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With the Calgary Hitmen having hired Dallas Ferguson as their new head coach, it leaves the Seattle

Thunderbirds as the only one of the WHL’s 22 franchises without a head coach.

The Thunderbirds, the WHL’s reigning champions, are poised to name a a successor to Steve Konowalchuk who left after six seasons and now is an assistant coach with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. That announcement is scheduled for today (Wednesday) at noon PT.

Matt O’Dette, an assistant coach alongside Konowalchuk for the past four seasons, is believed to be the leading candidate as Seattle’s next head coach.

What it all means is that, barring any more changes, six teams will have new head coaches when the new season arrives.

Besides Calgary and Seattle, the Everett Silvertips, Kootenay Ice, Spokane Chiefs and Victoria Royals have made changes.

In Everett, the Silvertips chose not to renew Kevin Constantine’s contract after four seasons, and have replaced him with Dennis Williams.

In Kootenay, Luke Pierce, the Ice’s head coach for two seasons, got caught up in an ownership change and has been replaced by James Patrick.

In Spokane, veteran head coach Don Nachbaur and the Chiefs split up after the season and he has since signed on as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

In Victoria, the Royals lost head coach Dave Lowry to Los Angeles, also for an assistant coaching position. The Royals promoted assistant coach Dan Price to head coach.

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The Regina Pats will be the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup tournament, and GM/head coach John Paddock is having a busy offseason. He picked up F Matt Bradley, a sniper, from the Medicine Hat Tigers in a move that garnered some notice. In a couple of other moves, Paddock has signed F George King, 19, who scored 36 goals with the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard last season, and F Rayman Bassi, who had 49 points with the major midget Okanagan Rockets. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

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The Vancouver Giants have signed D Parker Hendren to a WHL contract. From Regina, Hendren was a seventh-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. . . . Last season, Hendren had 15 points, two of them goals, in 43 games with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians.

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Check out these amazing speakers and their topics for our conference…
STARTS FRIDAY!https://t.co/BO3WcEeFos pic.twitter.com/Y3wS1Fgs8i
— The Coaches Site (@TheCoachesSite) July 11, 2017

If you would like to attend seventh annual TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Vancouver on Friday and Saturday, Taking Note has a deal for you. Click on The Coaches Site website right here and as you register enter the coupon code TakingNote and you’ll get 20 per cent off the registration fee. . . . Enjoy the weekend!

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Two men with ties to the WHL moved into the NHL coaching ranks on Tuesday. . . . Kelly Buchberger (Moose Jaw, 1984-86) has left the Edmonton Oilers organization and now is an assistant coach with the New York Islanders. . . . In Pittsburgh, the Penguins moved Mark Recchi (New Westminster, Kamloops, 1985-88) into an assistant coaching role, filling the vacancy created when Rick Tocchet signed on as head coach of the Arizona Coyotes. . . . Buchberger, 50, spent nine seasons with the Oilers, six as an assistant coach before moving into player personnel and player development. . . . Recchi, 49, has been in player development with the Penguins for the past three seasons. He also is a co-owner of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Recchi will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later this year.

——

Ted Nolan has signed on as the head coach of Poland’s national men’s team. Nolan, a former NHL coach of the year, spent four years with the Latvian national team. Tom Coolen, an assistant coach with Nolan in Latvia, will fill the same role in Poland.

———

Respect to Alex Ovechkin for being only Russian in Washington who refused to collude with Trump campaign in order to win something.
— randy turner (@randyturner15) July 11, 2017

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Today is it for Hitmen ... Kisio moves up with U-18 side ... Inside the KHL in tweets

2017-07-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

———

D Keaton Ellerby (Kamloops, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) has signed a one-year contract with Mora (Sweden, SHL). Last season, he had three goals and nine assists in 43 games with Lukko Rauma (Finland, Liiga).

———

To build on report that #Hitmen are announcing GM soon....hearing new incoming GM has some of the strongest bloodlines in the #WHL
— Kristen Odland (@Kristen_Odland) July 10, 2017

Follow up to the great reporting here by Gregg. Hitmen set to make announcements tomorrow. #WHL https://t.co/5wXv8ibPRc
— Brendan Parker (@GlobalParker) July 10, 2017

The Calgary Hitmen are poised to make some personnel introductions today (Tuesday).

As was first reported here late Saturday, the Hitmen will name Jeff Chynoweth their new general

manager, with Dallas Ferguson taking over as head coach.

As well, Dallas Thompson will move up to head scout after working for the Hitmen in B.C. for the past two seasons.

Chynoweth, of course, has long been associated with the Edmonton/Kootenay Ice. He, his mother Linda and brother Dean sold the Ice earlier this summer to Winnipeggers Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell.

With the Hitmen, Chynoweth will take over from Mike Moore, who now is vice-president and alternate governor. Moore had been the GM since 2013.

Ferguson, a native of Wainwright, Alta., will succeed Mark French, who left after three seasons as head coach to take a job in Switzerland. Ferguson, 44, has been at the U of Alaska-Fairbanks since 2004-05. He spent four seasons as an assistant coach and has been the head coach since 2008-09. Ferguson was named head coach on May 21, 2008, about a month after he had stepped in as interim coach following the resignation of Doc DelCastillo.

As a player, Ferguson spent four seasons (1992-96) as a defenceman with the Nanooks.

Thompson, a former WHL player who spent 16 seasons with the Prince George Cougars, the last 10 as GM, will replace Dan Bonar, who had been with the Hitmen for 14 seasons, the last four as director of player personnel.

Ferguson Stepping Down at Alaska for WHL Job - https://t.co/inR2vkBoZ1 @NanooksHockey
— College Hockey News (@chnews) July 11, 2017

——

Brent Kisio, the head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, has moved up to head coach of the Canadian U-18 team that will play in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup next month. . . . Kisio, who was named as an assistant coach earlier this summer, replaces Paul McFarland, the former head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs who now is an assistant coach with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. . . . Kisio is preparing for his third season as the head coach in Lethbridge. . . . Drew Bannister, the head coach of the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, has been added to the U-18 team as an assistant coach. . . . The Ivan Hlinka Memorial runs from Aug. 7-12 in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Bratislava, Slovakia.

——

The Lethbridge Hurricanes won’t have Russian F Egor Babenko back for a third season. This means that they are looking at veteran D Igor Merezhko, who is from Ukraine, and Russian F Yegor Zudilov as their two imports in 2017-18.

Merezhko, 19, has two goals and 29 assists in 128 regular-season games with the Hurricanes.

Zudilov, who will turn 17 on Sept. 10, was selected in the CHL’s 2017 import draft. He had 65 points, including 31 goals, in 35 games with Avangard Omsk’s U-17 team last season. The previous season, he put up 63 points, 31 of them goals, with Avangard Omsk’s U-16 side.

Babenko, now 20, has signed a two-year contract with Lada Togliatti of the KHL. He had 53 goals and 71 assists in 133 regular-season games with the Hurricanes.

Babenko is eligible to play one more season in the WHL, but as a 20-year-old import he would have been a two-spotter.

——

One day after losing director of player personnel Ryan Jankowski to the Buffalo Sabres, Hockey Canada waved farewell to one of its goaltending coaches Monday as Fred Brathwaite left to join the New York Islanders. . . . Brathwaite has worked with Hockey Canada’s U-18 team for the past three seasons. He also has been involved with Canada’s national junior team.

——

If you are planning on attending the seventh annual TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference but haven’t yet registered, don’t forget that we’ve got a deal for you. . . . The conference runs Friday and Saturday in Vancouver, so time is running out for you to register. You are able to get 20 per cent off the registration fee by clicking right here. Tour around the site and when you register just enter the coupon code TakingNote and you will get the discounted rate.

——

———

If you have any interest at all in the inner-workings of the KHL — i.e. how does it survive? — read this series of tweets from Slava Malamud.

1/ In order to understand the dark undercurrent of RUS hockey and the role politics plays in it, you have to start with knowing one thing:
— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) July 10, 2017

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Source: Hitmen announcements coming today ... Rasmussen fine, but sits out ... Hockey Canada loses top scout

2017-07-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

———

F Egor Babenko (Lethbridge, 2015-17) has signed a two-year two-way contract with Lada Togliatti (Russia, KHL) after his rights were acquired from CSKA Moscow. Last season, with Lethbridge, he had 24 goals and 31 assists in 66 games. . . . Babenko was a first-round selection (19th overall) by CSKA in the 2014 KHL junior draft. . . . Babenko, 20, had 124 points, including 53 goals, in 133 games over two seasons with the Hurricanes.

———

The Calgary Hitmen are expected to make at least three hockey operations-related announcements and Taking Note has been told that it could happen as early as today (Monday).

When Taking Note suggested that the Hitmen might prefer to wait until Stampede Week is over — the

JEFF CHYNOWETH

annual Calgary Stampede pretty much owns the Calgary media at this time of July — the response was: “I’m hearing it will be announced (Monday).”

Whenever it happens, the Hitmen are expected to introduce Jeff Chynoweth as general manager, with Dallas Ferguson having been named head coach and Dallas Thompson head scout.

Chynoweth will take over from Mike Moore, who was named the franchise’s vice-president and alternate governor on May 15. Chynoweth spent the past 16 seasons as the general manager of the Kootenay Ice.

Ferguson will replace Mark French, the head coach for the previous three seasons who left to coach in Switzerland. Taking Note also was told Sunday that Ferguson had been in the mix in Spokane before the Chiefs hired Dan Lambert as head coach. Ferguson has been the head coach of the U of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks since 2008-09.

Thompson will fill the vacancy created when the Hitmen chose to terminate Dan Bonar, although the organization has yet to announce his departure. Bonar had been with the Hitmen for 14 seasons, the last six as head scout or director of player personnel.

Thompson, who spent 10 seasons as the general manager of the Prince George Cougars, has been scouting in B.C. for Calgary for the past two seasons.

——

F Michael Rasmussen of the Tri-City Americans didn’t take part in a Sunday scrimmage at the Detroit Red Wings’ development camp in Traverse City, Mich. It was the only scrimmage of the camp. . . . Rasmussen, who was the ninth overall selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft, suffered a broken scaphoid in his left wrist in February and didn’t play again last season. . . . He participate in the first two days of Detroit’s development camp and all went well, so he was held out of the scrimmage as a precaution. . . . Detroit’s camp concludes on Tuesday.

——

The seventh annual TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference runs Friday and Saturday in Vancouver. Should you attend, you will hear from a number of hockey coaches. But you also will get presentations from the likes of Dr. Lawrence Spriet of the U of Guelph; Jason Dorland, co-owner of Your Mindset Coaching; Pavel Barber, Glenn Carnegie and Jim Vital, all of whom are skills coaches; and Mike Snee, the executive director of College Hockey Inc.

Yes, the Hockey Coaches Conference covers a lot of bases.

If you want to attend but haven’t registered, Taking Note has cut a deal on your behalf. Click right here to register, enter the coupon code TakingNote, and get 20 per cent off your registration fee.

——

The NHL’s Buffalo Sabres have hired Ryan Jankowski as their director of amateur scouting. Jankowski spent the previous four seasons working with Hockey Canada, first as head scout and later as director of player personnel. He oversaw player evaluation and selection for Canada’s national junior team as well as the U-18 and U-17 programs. . . . Before joining Hockey Canada, Jankowski, who is from Calgary, spent 10 years with the Montreal Canadiens and seven with the New York Islanders. . . . The Sabres also announced that they have promoted Jeff Crisp to assistant director of amateur scouting. He spent last season as the club’s head amateur scout.

——

Everyone put the Chartrand family in your prayers. RIP John.
— Max Domi (@max_domi) July 9, 2017

G John Chartrand, who played with three major junior teams, was killed in a car accident in Toronto on Friday, his 24th birthday. Chartrand died when his car slammed into the back of a slowing transport truck on Highway 401 around 3 a.m. He was the lone occupant of the car.

Chartrand, who played with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs, Barrie Colts and Belleville Bulls, was one of the players involved in the class-action lawsuit filed against the CHL, OHL, QMJHL, WHL and their teams in an attempt to gain minimum wage, vacation pay and other benefits. . . . If you are interested, Chartrand’s affidavit, which was taken in June 2016, is right here.

——

———

July 9, 2017. Remember the date.

Canada 🇨🇦 is #FIBU19 World Cup Champions for the first time ever. #WeAreTeamCanada pic.twitter.com/Oee1FFmXgL
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) July 9, 2017

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Do Hitmen have their men? ... Big day for Seibel family ... Ice adds a coach

2017-07-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

——

Spent most of Saturday inside taking a break from the smoke, so here’s some scattershooting . . .

——

Mark Recchi, who is from Kamloops and stands about 5-foot-8, played 21 NHL seasons and, according to hockeyzoneplus.com, had career earnings of US$50,943,000.

Kelly Olynyk, who is from Kamloops and is a 7-footer, has played four NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics and, according to sportrac.com, has career earnings of US$9,321,294. A few days ago, he agreed to a four-year deal with the Miami Heat that could pay him $50 million.

Yes, Olynyk will make almost as much over the next four seasons as Recchi made in 21 seasons.

Over his first eight seasons, Recchi was paid $9,133,000. When Olynyk’s four-year deal with the Heat is up, he will have been paid $59,321,294 over eight seasons.

Meanwhile, James Harden, now with the Houston Rockets, has agreed to a four-year extension that, starting in 2019-20, would pay him US$37.8 million, $40.8 million, $43.8 million and $46.8 million.

If you see anything about Harden and $228 million, that total includes his salary over the next two seasons, too. No matter how you look at it, though, that’s a lot of dough. You just wonder where it all ends, though, don’t you?

Harden signs contract for $228M. Arte Moreno bought the Angels (all of them) for $184M.
— Mark Whicker (@MWhicker03LANG) July 8, 2017

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⚠️ Report a #BCwildfire via *5555 on a cellphone, or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free.

⚠️ Current Fire Bans/Restrictions: https://t.co/mCb8a9uGdV pic.twitter.com/zbDaPjpGZv
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) July 8, 2017

Yes, we are burning up in B.C.

The photo was taken off our deck, facing east, on Saturday at 1 p.m. You can’t see it, but Mount

Martin is located through all that smoke.

Yes, this is quite similar to the late summer of 2003 although the fires aren’t (yet?) quite as close to Kamloops as they were in that hot time.

Still, you hear nightmarish stories . . . like the employee of a shop in a local mall who on Saturday, with smoke everywhere, says she noticed a woman in a van smoking while hooked up to a portable oxygen tank.

The smoker flipped the butt out the window, so the employee walked over, ground the butt into the asphalt and reprimanded the smoker. The employee also said that she was going to jot down the licence plate, and walked around to the rear of the van to do just that.

At which point, the smoker started the van and put it in reverse.

Injuries were avoided.

Welcome to the burning of B.C.

——

“Cornerback Shareece Wright took a 450-mile Uber ride to Buffalo to make the Bills’ voluntary offseason workout,” reports RJ Currie of SportsDeke.com. “At the very least, he's a lock for the taxi squad.”

——

Here’s a great suggestion, as passed along by Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times . . .

Author unknown, with a good argument for calling one’s toilet the Jim instead of the John: “It sounds better when I say I go to the Jim first thing every morning.”

——

You make the call, suggests the afore-mentioned Perry . . .

The greatest 99 in history is:

Wayne Gretzky

J.J. Watt

George Mikan

Warren Sapp

Aaron Judge

Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn

Barbara Feldon

———

D William Wrenn (Portland, 2010-12) has signed a one-year contract with Bolzano (Italy, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, he had three goals and six assists in 38 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

———

The next general manager of the Calgary Hitmen?

A well-connected source has told Taking Note that the position is to be filled by Jeff Chynoweth, the

former president, governor and general manager of the Kootenay Ice.

Chynoweth, his mother Linda and brother Dean recently sold the Ice, leaving the WHL without a Chynoweth involved for the first time since 1972.

The Hitmen have been without a general manager since May 15 when Mike Moore, who had been the vice-president of business operations and GM, was named vice-president and alternate governor.

The Hitmen also are in need of a head coach, Mark French having left after three seasons in order to coach in Switzerland.

Jeff Chynoweth also has worked with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Medicine Hat Tigers, Red Deer Rebels and Spokane Chiefs. He was Kootenay’s general manager for 16 seasons (2001-17). The Ice won WHL titles in 2000, 2002 and 2011, also winning the Memorial Cup in 2002.

Meanwhile, it has been suggested to Taking Note that the leading candidate to replace French as Calgary’s head coach is Dallas Ferguson, who has been at the U of Alaska-Fairbanks since 2004. Ferguson, a 44-year-old from Wainwright, Alta., was an assistant coach with the Nanooks for four seasons and has been the head coach since 2008-09.

——
If you are wanting to attend the seventh annual TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Vancouver but haven’t yet registered, well, we have a deal for you.

The conference runs Friday and Saturday and here’s how you can get 20 per cent off your ticket: Simply click right here to register and enter the coupon code TakingNote to receive the discount.

——

There was exciting news in the Seibel household on Saturday when the Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that Sophia, daughter of Teresa and Steve, has been selected on a full-time basis to the Girls Elite REX (Regional Excel Centre) Program that operates out of Burnaby, B.C. Entrance to this program is by invitation only, so this is a great accomplishment.

From the news release:

“Sophia joined TOFC (Thompson-Okanagan FC) as an intake U12 player in 2014. She is a technically and tactically strong player who has become a perennial BC Soccer High Performance Program selection. She has been part of the Whitecaps FC Prospects Academy in Kamloops for the past three years. Her highly competitive character will serve her well as she moves on to the next level of high performance soccer.”

Sophia’s brother, Sol, was selected by the Swift Current Broncos in the seventh round of the WHL’s 2014 bantam draft. A defenceman, he played last season as a 17-year-old with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, putting up eight assists in 49 games.

Teresa is a triathlon competitor and coach, who, among other things, also is a swim coach.

Steve, a lawyer in Kamloops, is a basketball referee who has worked in three Olympic Summer Games, including last summer in Rio de Janeiro, and countless other international games.

——

The Kootenay Ice has named Doug Swanson as its mental skills coach. . . . From a news release: “Swanson has more than 20 years of experience as a mental skills coach, working with numerous athletes in diversified sports disciplines including hockey, basketball, figure skating, golf, volleyball, ringette, baseball, swimming, synchronized swimming and gymnastics. (He) has worked with numerous high-performance hockey programs in the WHL, Hockey Alberta and currently supports the U18 and development female high performance program.” . . . Swanson, from Sorrento, B.C., has a masters in educational psychology, along with a bachelor of education in special education, and a mental deficiency nursing diploma. He is a retired teacher, having taught for 32 years.

——

If you’re a regular here, and even if you aren’t, feel free to make a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

———

Thank you to my amazing family for supporting and encouraging me in pursuing my new career, I… https://t.co/Tsi0cU7e6a
— Mark Fistric (@Fistric45) July 8, 2017

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.

Swift Current reaches milestone ... 2018 WJC packages available ... Bennett stays in NHL

2017-07-07T22:19:00.001-07:00

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting
— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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F Peter Quenneville (Brandon, 2013-15) has signed a one-year contract with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, he had a leave-high 30 goals, along with 19 assists, in 45 games with Aalborg (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). He finished fourth in the league's scoring race. . . . Pardubice’s general manager is Dušan Salfický (Tri-City, 1990-91). . . .

F Riley Stadel (Kelowna, Edmonton, 2011-17) has signed a one-year contract with the Dundee Stars (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had five goals and two assists in 29 games with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL), and two goals and eight assists in 16 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL). . . .

F Danis Zaripov (Swift Current, 1998-99) has signed a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL). Last season, as an alternate captain with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia, KHL), he had 16 goals and 29 assists in 56 games. He added 15 goals and seven assists in 18 playoff games. He led the playoffs in goals. . . .

F Mike Aviani (Spokane, 2009-14) signed a one-year contract with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, Erste Bank Liga). He has dual Croatian-Canadian citizenship. Last season, as an alternate captain with the Florida Everblades (ECHL), he had five goals and 13 assists in 22 games. He also had two goals and three assists in 13 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL). . . .

D Tomáš Kudělka (Lethbridge, 2005-07) has signed a one-year contract with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with Piráti Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had three goals and three assists in 37 games. . . .

F Evan Bloodoff (Kelowna, 2006-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Fife Flyers (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had eight goals and eight assists in 36 games with the Florida Everblades (ECHL), and a goal and three assists in seven games with the Reading Royals (ECHL). . . .

F Pavel Karnaukhov (Calgary, 2014-16) has signed a three-year two-way extension with CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL). Last season, he had one assist in 11 games. Karnaukov also played with CSKA farm club Zvezda Chekhov (Russia, Vysshaya Liga), scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists in 24 games. He also was pointless in two games with CSKA junior team Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Russia, MHL).

———

A tip of the cap to the good people of Swift Current.

As Cory Coleman of CBC News reports:

“Safe Places, a program launched in Swift Current early in 2016, has reached 1,000 certified members in just over a year.”

Safe Places is a program that was introduced to Swift Current by Respect Group Inc., an organization whose co-founder is Sheldon Kennedy, and Jerrod Schafer, a former mayor of Swift Current.

Kennedy, of course, was one of the players sexually abused by GM/head coach Graham James while both were with the Swift Current Broncos.

Safe Places aims to create

As Coleman reports:

“Safe Places trains and certifies people in the community who are interested in working with young people, such as coaches or instructors. . . . the program was created to ensure people working with youths are qualified, and to give parents peace of mind when their children participate in programs.”

Coleman’s report is right here, and here’s hoping more communities buy into Safe Places.

——

As we all can imagine, I’m sure, there are so many things with which you have to concern yourself when you run a WHL team. Billets . . . trades . . . promotions . . . scheduling . . . signing players . . . and on and on.

These days, of course, you also have to be concerned with social media and the volcanoes that can erupt from any one of those outlets at any time of the day or night.

Sheesh, when you went to general managers’ school, there wasn’t any instruction on what to do if . . . a player soon to play in his first WHL season posted video on a social media site of the signing his first WHL contract, a video in which his pay scale is in evidence.

For the record, the player in question is to be paid $250 per month for each of his first two seasons, with an extra $300 a month should he be in the WHL as a 20-year-old.

Off the record, chances are he already has received a phone call from a general manager.

——

Eight- and 12-game ticket pages now are available for the 2018 World Junior Championship that is scheduled to be held in Buffalo, Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.

The cheapest package, which features upper-level seats for eight games, including either the outdoor game between Canada and Team USA or the championship game, will set you back $400.

The same eight-game package in the lower level is going for $550.

The 12-game packs, which include the outdoor and championship games, are marked at $600 and $800.

All prices American, of course. No, single-game tickets aren’t yet available.

If you’re interested, you are able to order tickets by clicking right here.

——

Ray Bennett, who has ties to the WHL, has joined the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach. He will work alongside head coach Jared Bednar, assistant coach Nolan Pratt and goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila, who also was added on Friday. . . . Bennett, 55, spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. He also spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. . . . In the WHL, he worked with the Spokane Chiefs and Moose Jaw Warriors.

——

Jeff Bes is the new head coach of the SPHL’s Pensacola Ice Flyers. He spent the previous two seasons as the head coach of the SPHL’s Fayetteville FireAntz. . . . Prior to that, he was the head coach of the SPHL’s Mississippi Surge for three seasons. . . . With the Ice Flyers, he replaces Rod Aldoff, who left the club late in June.

——

Schad Richea is the new athletic therapist at Brandon U, replacing Steve Dzubinski, who is retiring after 42 years. . . . Richea most recently worked with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, but also has spent time with the Calgary Flames, Calgary Vipers, the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association and the U of Calgary. . . . He also has worked in the WHL with the Regina Pats (1997-2004). . . . Interestingly, the Okanagan Hockey Academy had named Richea its manager of athletic therapy and medical services on June 22.

——

If you’re a regular here, and even if you aren’t, feel free to make a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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.

Quiet Thursday rocked by two WHL trades; d-man, goalie on move ... Hey, Tri-City, Eli's coming!

2017-07-06T21:52:00.000-07:00

Kelly Olynyk and Connor McDavid now make the same money. Take a drink. A big one.
— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) July 7, 2017

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G Ville Kolppanen (Lethbridge, 2009-10) has signed a one-year contract with Rögle Ängelholm (Sweden, SHL). Last season, with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL), he was 9-14-3, 2.80, .917 in 30 games. He also had two shutouts. . . .

D Alex Plante (Calgary, 2004-09) has signed a one-year extension with Anyang Halla (South Korea, Asia HL). Last season, he had 12 goals and 12 assists in 48 games. He led all Asia League defencemen in goals. Plante has dual South Korean-Canadian citizenship.

———

The Saskatoon Blades have acquired D Seth Bafaro, 17, from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for a

SETH BAFARO

pair of WHL bantam draft picks — a third-rounder selection in 2019 and a fifth-round pick in 2020.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Bafaro, who is from Revelstoke, B.C., had one assist in 28 games with the Americans last season as a 16-year-old freshman. He battled injuries through the season, which limited his playing time.

Tri-City selected him in the third round of the 2015 bantam draft.

With the addition of Bafaro, the Blades could have seven defencemen in training camp with WHL experience. Only Bryton Sayers, who has used up his eligibility, won’t be back.

The Americans, with a surplus of young defencemen, were able to move Bafaro and get a decent return in a pair of draft picks.

——

The Spokane Chiefs have acquired G Declan Hobbs from the Kootenay Ice for a seventh-round selection in the 2018 WHL bantam draft.

A third-round pick by the Ice in the 2013 draft, Hobbs, who is scheduled to turn 19 on Aug. 19, got into

DECLAN HOBBS

three games with Kootenay last season, going 0-3, 7.16, .800. He spent most of last season with the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks (1.94, .929 in 13 games).

In 2015-16, Hobbs, who is from Saskatoon, made 24 appearances with the Ice, going 2-14-3, 4.66, .873.

With the acquisition of Hobbs, the Chiefs now have one goaltender from each of five age groups on their depth chart, the others being Dawson Weatherill, 18; Donovan Buskey, 17; Ross Hawryluk, 16; and Campbell Arnold, 15. Hawryluk, a fifth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, and Arnold, taken in the second round in 2017, aren’t signed to WHL contracts.

Weatherill was 11-14-6 in 36 games last season, while Buskey, in four games, went 0-2-1, 4.25, .866.

Hobbs is the younger brother of Regina Pats D Connor Hobbs, who has signed with the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Barring more moves, the Ice is expected to go into camp with Mario Petit, 20, and Jakob Walter, 18, scrapping for the starting role. Petit was acquired from the Everett Silvertips in May for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

In Everett, Petit backed up veteran workhorse Carter Hart. In 22 games, Petit was 11-5-4, 2.93, .896.

Walter, a second-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft, got into 30 games while backing up Payton Lee, then 20, last season. Walter finished 4-17-2, 5.02, .868.

Also on the Ice depth chart are the likes of Jesse Makaj and Carter Woodside, both 16. Makaj, from North Vancouver, was a second-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, while Woodside, from Asquith, Sask., was a sixth-round selection in that same draft.

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———

“Former B.C. Lions’ defensive lineman Rick Klassen may have died of lymphoma in December, but an autopsy of his brain has shown extensive chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurological disease that has led to such suspected symptoms as erratic behaviour and dementia,” writes Allan Maki of The Globe and Mail. . . . This one hits close to home, because Klassen’s son, Chad, is an acquaintance as he is a reporter with CFJC-TV here in Kamloops. As well, Rick Klassen played in the CFL while I was involved in coverage for the Regina Leader-Post. . . . One really has to wonder how many more stories like this one will develop as players of Rick Klassen’s generation reach 60 years of age? . . . Maki’s story is right here.

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The Tri-City Americans have hired Eli Wilson as their goaltending coach. He replaces Rejean Beauchemin, who had been with the Americans for two seasons. . . . Wilson is a veteran goaltending coach who has worked with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators. He also has been on staff with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. . . . Jerry Price, the father of G Carey Price of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, remains with the Americans as a goaltending consultant. Carey spent four seasons (2003-07) with the Americans.

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Jason Christie, a former WHL player, is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Jacksonville IceMen, who are affiliated with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Christie is a veteran ECHL coach, having put up a record of 547-349-111 in 14 seasons. He also has a history with the Jets, having worked with previous affiliates in Ontario and Tulsa. He spent the past two seasons as the Tulsa Oilers’ head coach. Prior to that, he was the Ontario Reign’s director of hockey operations and head coach for four seasons. . . . Christie, from Gibbons, Alta., played four seasons (1986-90) with the Saskatoon Blades. . . . The Jacksonville franchise has morphed from the Muskegon Fury (1992-2008) to the Muskegon Lumberjacks (2008-10) to the Evansville IceMen (2010-16). The franchise sat out the 2016-17 season.

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Floor is coming along now at the @InnovationCU #iplex. Heat lines in & final layer of sand going down @SCBroncos home opener in 13 weeks! pic.twitter.com/vs5enKNFjN
— Jamie LeBlanc (@Butter_29) July 6, 2017

Brand NEW rinkboards being installed today by the great staff @ProsperaPlace #NewSeason #NewBoards #PuckMarks #Gerry #Kelowna 🚀🐉🌞 pic.twitter.com/eENYQDz59n
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) July 6, 2017

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Two WHLers in KHL camp ... Medicine Hat chasing tournament; Gas City wants U-17 WHC

2017-07-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

F Brandon McMillan (Kelowna, 2006-10) had his KHL rights traded by Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Russia, KHL) to Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL) for monetary compensation. He started last season with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL), recording nine goals and six assists in 31 games. He moved to Torpedo on Nov. 21, where he had five goals and four assists in 24 games. . . .

F Brock Montgomery (Kootenay, 2009-13) has signed a one-year contract with the Tilburg Trappers (Netherlands, Germany Oberliga). Last season, he had two goals and four assists in 12 games with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL), and eight goals and eight assists in 22 games with the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL).

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With KHL teams having opened training camps in preparation for a new season, at least two WHLers are with one of the teams on a tryout basis. . . . D Anatoliy Yelizarov, 19, of the Edmonton Oil Kings and F Vladislav Lukin, 20, of the Tri-City Americans are skating with HC Salavat Yulaev. . . . Yelizarov, who isn’t expected to return to Edmonton for a third season, had seven goals and six assists in 67 games last season. In 125 games over two seasons, he has nine goals and 13 assists. . . . The Oil Kings likely will opening training camp with sophomore F Artyom Balturak and F Andrei Pavlenko as their imports. Both are from Belarus; Pavlenko was selected earlier this month in the CHL import draft. . . . Lukin, meanwhile, has told the Americans that he wants to come to camp, even though he would be in tough as a two-spotter -- a 20-year-old import. He has played three seasons with Tri-City, putting up 118 points, including 54 goals, in 183 games. Last season, he had 26 goals and 32 assists in 63 games.

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City council in Medicine Hat has given its support to a local group that wants to play host to the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in 2018. . . . Ron Webb, who chairs the committee, appeared before City Council on Tuesday night. . . . The 2018 tournament is scheduled for Nov. 1-12. . . . This year, for a second straight year, the tournament will be played in the B.C. communities of Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, Nov. 5-11. . . . Sean Rooney of the Medicine Hat News has more right here.

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Jordan Smith has signed on as an associate coach with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, where he’ll work alongside head coach Cory Stillman and assistant coach Darryl Moxam. Smith played four seasons (2001-05) with his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He spent the past four seasons coaching with the NOJHL’s Soo Thunderbirds.

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Adam Redmond is the new head coach of the AJHL’s Olds Grizzlys, who are under new ownership. Redmond is a former Grizzlys assistant coach. For the past two seasons, Redmond has been the assistant GM/associate coach with the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks. . . . Redmond will be joined behind the bench by Joe Murphy, a former Grizzlys player. . . . Dana Lattery had been the director of hockey operations and head coach for the previous two seasons, and now is acting as an advisor. Lattery had worked as an Olds assistant coach for three-plus seasons before that.

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Improvements coming to Regina arena? ... Ice season tickets past 1,700 ... Benson skates with Oilers

2017-07-04T22:37:00.002-07:00

F Liam Stewart (Spokane, 2011-15) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, he had nine goals and 11 assists in 49 games with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). . . .

F Sergei Drozd (Tri-City, 2009-10) has signed a one-year extension with Dinamo Minsk (Belarus, KHL). Last season, he had a goal and six assists in 46 games.

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The Regina Pats will be the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup tournament, which is bound to be extra-special because it’ll be the 100th anniversary of the fabled trophy. When the Pats bid on the tournament, they knew that their home, the Brandt Centre, would need some improvements. With that in mind, the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. has asked the city for $1.3 million for renovations. . . . Craig Baird of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

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The Kootenay Ice’s Drive to 25 campaign ended on Friday with the team having sold 1,713 season tickets. The team made that announcement on Tuesday. . . . “We are off to a good start towards our goal of 2,500 season seats and we feel like there is some momentum gathering,” Matt Cockell, the franchise’s president and general manager, said in a news release. “Our entire staff is excited to do the work and continue to get out in the community and talk about the value of being a season-ticket holder; our goal of 2,500 season-seat holders continues to be the target.” . . . That news release is right here.

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F Tyler Benson has struggled through two injury-filled seasons with the Vancouver Giants. These days, he’s hoping they all are permanently in his rear-view mirror. Benson has been in Jasper, Alta., skating at the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp and he reports that things are going well. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia in April and in Jasper was almost up to full speed. . . . Postmedia’s Rob Tychkowski has more right here.

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There is a huge developing story ongoing in the KHL where 42 players whose rights belonged to Dynamo Moscow all have been declared “unlimited free agents.” That includes F Klim Kostin, who was selected by the Kootenay Ice with the first pick of the CHL’s 2016 import draft but chose not to report. He was selected by St. Louis with the 31st overall pick of the NHL’s 2017 draft and is expected to sign with the Blues, perhaps as soon as this week. . . . The Dynamo situation all has to do with a change in ownership, a power struggle and an organization that is in debt to the tune of somewhere near Cdn$43 million — that’s about two billion rubles. . . . Patrick Conway has a whole lot more on that story right here.

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If you’re a regular here, and even if you aren’t, feel free to make a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

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Rizzo commits to Vees; Blazers' first-rounder picks BCHL ... A July 4 look at hot dogs

2017-07-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

F Gaelan Patterson (Saskatoon, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). Last season, with Chamonix-Morzine (France, Ligue Magnus), he had two goals and three assists in 23 games. . . .

F Jan Dalecký (Swift Current, 2007-09) has signed a one-year contract with the Herning Blue Fox (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Last season, with Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), he had eight goals and six assists in 39 games. . . .

F Jesse Schultz (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 1999-2003) has signed a one-year contract with Nové Zámky (Slovakia, Extraliga). Last season, he had eight goals and 11 assists in 22 games with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). He also had four goals and seven assists in seven games with Debrecen (Hungary, MOL Liga). . . .

F Max Ross (Lethbridge, 2008-11) has signed a one-year extension with Gap (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, he had seven goals and 17 assists in 44 games, as Gap won the French league championship.

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BREAKING NEWS: @MassimoRizzo28 has committed to the @bchllive Vees and will wear number 13 when the puck drops next season #veesnation #BCHL pic.twitter.com/acEU8aEE0o
— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) July 4, 2017

F Massimo Rizzo, the 14th selection in the WHL’s 2016 bantam draft, has made his decision — he will play for the BCHL’s Penticton Vees in 2017-18.

The Vees made the announcement on their Twitter account on Monday afternoon.

Each of the 13 players selected before Rizzo in that 2016 bantam draft has signed with the WHL team that picked him.

Rizzo, from Burnaby, B.C., and his father met with representatives of the Blazers in Vancouver on Wednesday. The Blazers’ group included majority owner Tom Gaglardi, part-owner Shane Doan, general manager Stu MacGregor and head coach Don Hay.

Rizzo played last season with a midget prep team at the Burnaby Winter Club, finishing with 84 points in 48 games. He also played a total of 20 games — regular-season, playoff, Western Canada Cup and RBC Cup — with the Vees. While he was pointless in three regular-season games, he had one goal in seven playoff games, a goal and four assists in five games at the WCC and a goal in five games at the RBC Cup.

Rizzo is one of 111 players invited by Hockey Canada to attend an under-17 development camp in Calgary starting on July 22.

The Blazers already have signed their 2017 first-round selection. They announced the signing of F Josh Pillar of Allan, Sask., on June 12.

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“Professional athletes are tested in ways that most of us can only imagine,” writes Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa, Calif., Press Democrat. “Their jobs frequently involve pain and risk of injury. Public failure hangs over them like a swaying piano, adulation whispers to them like an untrustworthy friend. It makes sense that the emotions that consume their days would also invade their nights.” . . . So what shows up in the dreams of pro athletes? . . . Barber asked a number of them and his story is right here.

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Few wordsmiths today are able to spin it like Steve Rushin of Sports Illustrated. So, on this Fourth of July, he provides a look at . . . yes, the hot dog. Click right here and enjoy.

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"Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest hockey player ever, never played #hockey in the spring or summer as a child." https://t.co/9MtP54Jgeg
— viaSport (@viaSportBC) May 9, 2017

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Seattle captain gets AHL deal ... Warriors' pick signs with Lightning ... WHL flavour to conference

2017-07-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

Today's Malcolm pic.twitter.com/XuifFqkIIu
— Edmonton Journal (@edmontonjournal) July 1, 2017

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D Filip Novák (Regina, 1999-2002) has signed a one-year extension with České Budějovice (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). He had two goals and four assists in 14 games there last season. Novák started last season with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga), scoring a goal and adding two assists in nine games, then moved to Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL), where he had three assists in 11 games. . . .

F Linden Vey (Medicine Hat, 2006-11) has signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan, KHL). Last season, he was pointless in four games with the Calgary Flames (NHL). In 61 games with the Stockton Heat (AHL), he had 15 goals and a team-high 40 assists. . . .

D Darren Dietz (Saskatoon, 2009-13) has signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan, KHL). Last season, he had six goals and six assists in 39 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL), and had two assists in 13 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) 13. . . .

F Radek Duda (Regina, Lethbridge, 1998-2000) has signed a one-year extension with Freiburg (Germany, DEL2). Last season, he had 18 goals and 29 assists in 48 games.

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F Scott Eansor, who played out his junior eligibility in winning a WHL title with the Seattle Thunderbirds last season, went to the New York Islanders’ development camp without a contract. On Saturday, he signed with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, for 2017-18. . . . Eansor played four seasons with the Thunderbirds, totalling 129 points, including 47 goals, in 219 games. Last season, the native of Englewood, Colo., captained the Thunderbirds and had 18 goals and 20 assists in 40 games, then added five goals and seven assists in 20 playoff games.

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The NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning have signed D Oleg Sosunov, 19, to a three-year entry-level contract. He was a sixth-round selection in the NHL’s 2016 draft. . . . On Wednesday, the Moose Jaw Warriors picked Sosunov, who is from Ryazan, Russia, in the CHL’s import draft. . . . Interestingly, the Tampa Bay news release on Sosunov’s signing doesn’t mention the Warriors. . . . The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Sosunov was pointless in 32 games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL) last season.

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There will be a real WHL flavour to the annual Hockey Coaches Conference when it runs in Vancouver, July 14-15.

At least five of the presenting coaches have ties to the WHL.

Glen Gulutzan, the head coach of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, played with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades. His presentation is entitled ‘Motivating your team by creating a vision.’

Richard Matvichuk, the head coach of the Prince George Cougars, is to present on teaching puck retrieval and breakout skills. He spent three seasons (1989-92) as a defenceman with the Blades.

Jamie Kompon, an assistant coach with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, spent two seasons as the Portland Winterhawks’ general manager and head coach. His presentation is: Details of the game — A breakdown of some essential skills.

Jay Varady, the head coach of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, will present on technology in coaching. He is a former Everett Silvertips assistant coach.

Craig Cunningham, who played with the Vancouver Giants and the Winterhawks, now is a pro scout with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. He will speak on the impact of coaches.

For more info on the conference, click right here.

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If you’re a regular here, and even if you aren’t, feel free to make a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

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Another surgery for Patrick ... Wheat Kings, Silvertips swap goalies ... Wellsby moves to BCHL

2017-06-30T22:54:00.001-07:00

EPIC!"@CFL: What a time @TheMapleLeafUK w/the #GreyCup & @HenryBurris celebrating #Canada150! #BringItIn #CFL pic.twitter.com/HTyAd1oD9H"
— Lisa (@charmschool1) June 30, 2017

It’s July 1, which means Happy Canada Day to Bobby Bonilla, who retired as a baseball player in 2003 and last played for the New York Mets in 1999. But his contract called for him to receive US$1,193,248.20 every July 1 through 2035. . . . And how much will your bank account grow by today?

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In looking back at all that happened during the NHL’s draft weekend in Chicago, the move that may have the biggest impact on the 2017-18 season was the Pittsburgh Penguins’ acquisition of tough guy Ryan Reaves from the St. Louis Blues. The Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups without a bodyguard for Sidney Crosby and Co. Will Reaves’ arrival in Pittsburgh signal the start of an arms race?

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Of course, the Detroit Red Wings tried to play for a number of seasons — post-Bob Probert and Darren McCarty — without a bodyguard for the likes of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. And we all know how that turned out.

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It seems that every CFL season is the same as the last one. Observers are critical of the officials for throwing too many flags. But why are those same observers to reluctant to point fingers at coaches for the lack of discipline being shown by players who put the officials in positions where they can call those penalties?

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Wonder Woman and I journeyed to Kelowna on Friday, a trip we always enjoy. Yes, dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory was terrific. But, I’m here to tell you, the Kelowna traffic crawl is right there with that of the Lower Mainland.

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We also were left to wonder if there was anyone left at home in Alberta, or if the citizenry all had made the trek to the Okanagan.

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“Toronto columnist Steve Simmons claims the Maple Leafs are closer to a Stanley Cup than many think,” writes RJ Currie of SportsDeke.com. “Right. And I’m closer to dating Kate Upton than many think.”

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Currie, again: “Tim Hortons is offering poutine doughnuts on July 1 to salute Canada’s 150th birthday — but only in the U.S. Unless I’m mistaken, this is how Canada won the War of 1812.”

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F Justin Feser (Tri-City, 2008-13) has signed a one-year contract with the Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL). Last season, he had 22 goals and 30 assists in 45 games with Olten (Switzerland, NL B). He led the team in goals, assists and points. . . .

D Jesse Dudas (Lethbridge, Prince George, Swift Current, Regina, 2003-09) has signed a one-year contract with Nové Zámky (Slovakia, Extraliga). Last season, with Debrecen (Hungary,MOL Liga), had one goal and five assists in six games. He started the season with TPS Turku (Finland, Liiga), but was injured in the first Champions League game and never played in the regular season. . . .

F Keegan Dansereau (Calgary, Swift Current, 2003-09) signed a one-year contract with MAC Budapest (Hungary, MOL Liga). Last season, with Dunaújváros (Hungary, MOL Liga), he had 34 goals and 37 assists in 39 games. He led the league in points and was tied for the lead in goals. . . .

F Layne Ulmer (Swift Current, 1997-2001) has signed a one-year extension with the Cardiff Devils (Wales, UK Elite). An alternate captain, he had 19 goals and 33 assists in 51 games last season. Ulmer completed his MBA at Cardiff Metropolitan University during last season. . . .

D Mark Louis (Brandon, Red Deer, 2003-08) has signed a one-year extension with the Cardiff Devils (Wales, UK Elite). Last season, he had one goal and 12 assists in 45 games. . . .

F Carson McMillan (Calgary, 2005-09) has signed a one-year extension with Esbjerg (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Last season he had nine goals and eight assists in 39 games. . . .

F Luke Lockhart (Seattle, 2007-13) has signed a one-year contract with Kunlun Red Star Beijing (China, KHL). Last season, with University of British Columbia (CIS), he had nine goals and nine assists in 28 games. Kunlun Red Star opens training camp today (Saturday) with three days in Beijing, and is to begin on-ice sessions in Switzerland on July 8. . . .

F Adam Řehák (Medicine Hat, 2011-12) has signed a one-year extension with the Invicta Dynamos Gillingham (England, National). In 27 games last season, he had 27 goals and 25 assists. He led his team goals, assists and points, while finishing second in the league scoring race.

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F Nolan Patrick, the second overall selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft, has undergone another surgical procedure.

Ron Hextall, the Philadelphia Flyers’ general manager, revealed on Friday that Patrick won’t be taking part in the on-ice part of a development camp next week.

“Nolan had abdominal surgery on June 13, which related to his injury he dealt with this past season,” Hextall said in a news release.”

The Flyers expect Patrick to “be able to resume full activity” sometime between mid-July and early August.

This means that Patrick had surgery 11 days before the Flyers selected him during the draft in Chicago.

"To me, that brought clarity to us in terms of what’s been nagging him the whole year,” Hextall told reporters on a conference call. “There was something there. For us it was almost — I don’t want to say it was a positive — but when you look at everything that happened to him during the year and in and out, now we know what the issue was."

Patrick first was injured late in the WHL’s 2015-16 playoffs. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia in July 2016 and returned for the start of the WHL’s regular season. He played five games, the last one on Oct. 11, and then sat out until Jan. 13. He was injured again on March 17 and missed Brandon’s four playoff games as it was swept from a first-round series by the Medicine Hat Tigers.

In the 33 regular-season games in which he was able to play, Patrick put up 20 goals and 26 assists.

If Patrick doesn’t crack the Flyers’ lineup out of training camp, he must be returned to the Wheat Kings.

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(Photo: @bdnwheatkings)

The Brandon Wheat Kings and Everett Silvertips swapped goaltenders on Friday, with Brandon Peacock, 17, heading west in exchange for Zach Bennett. . . . Peacock, from Quesnel, B.C., has played three seasons at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C. Last season, with the White prep team in the CSSHL, he was 12-6-1, 3.24, .896. The Wheat Kings selected him in the fourth round of the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft. . . . In mid-June, the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters announced that they had signed Peacock for 2017-18. . . . Bennett, from Winnipeg, will turn 17 on Oct. 1. The Silvertips picked him in the seventh round of the 2015 bantam draft. Last season, he was 2.20, .936 with the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers, and he was a second-team Manitoba Midget Hockey League all-star.

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The BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs have added F Austin Wellsby, 20, to their roster. Wellsby, who is from Chilliwack, played the past three seasons with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice. Last season, he had six goals and 12 assists in 60 games. In 164 regular-season games, Wellsby had 15 goals and 20 assists. . . . The Ice selected him in the fourth round of the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft.

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If you’re a regular here, and even if you aren’t, feel free to make a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

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I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

———

Bram Stephen is the new head coach of the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints. He spent the previous five seasons with the Grant MacEwan College Griffins. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for two seasons (2009-11) with the AJHL’s Drayton Valley Thunder. . . . In Spruce Grove, Stephen takes over from Michael Ringrose, who left as the organization underwent an ownership change in June.

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Chris Taylor has signed on as head coach of the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. He replaces Dan Lambert, who was fired after one season as the Sabres underwent a regime change. Lambert has since signed as the head coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. . . . Taylor is a former Americans player and played three seasons (2002-05) with Jason Botterill, Buffalo’s new GM, in Rochester. . . . Taylor spent four seasons (2012-16) as an assistant coach with the Americans. Last season, he was an assistant with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

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