Weekend News

It looks like Ryan over at the USHL Blog nailed it when he connected Regg Simon's resignation in Des Moines to the new ownership group... Tornado Warning! Frisco hopes to attract D-league basketball team to expanded Deja-Blue. Want to kill a successful hockey team? Bring in a hoops team to swipe all the quality dates... Sudbury Wolves hire new assistant coach...

Mason City gets 2009 Robertson Cup

North Iowa awarded 2009 Robertson Cup Championship February 29, 2008 FRISCO, TEXAS - The North American Hockey League announced today that the North Iowa Outlaws have been selected to host the 2009 Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament, which will be held April 21-25, 2009 at the North Iowa Ice Arena in Mason City, Iowa. "We are excited to bring our league championship to the North Iowa community in 2009," said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld. "The Outlaws organization has helped bring the NAHL to new heights, both on and off the ice, and we have no doubt they will host a first-class tournament." "A lot of people have worked tirelessly to bring this tournament to the area," said Outlaws owner Mark Motz. "It’s going to be a great event for the community and an opportunity for the league to showcase some of the best young players in the country in addition to helping promote and grow the sport of hockey in the North Iowa area." The four-team Robertson Cup Championship crowns the NAHL’s playoff champion (USA Hockey’s Tier II Junior A national champion). As the host team, the Outlaws will receive an automatic bid to the 2009 tournament. The event will attract over 2,000 visitors, including fans, players, coaches, scouts and media over a four-day period. The economic impact to the North Iowa area generated from visitor spending is estimated at over $200,000. In addition, North Iowa residents will be provided the opportunity to attend the tournament, witnessing hockey at its best. "This will be a great event for the fans of hockey in the North Iowa area," said Outlaws GM Rick Wesp. "Not only will they be able to see and cheer on their own team, but they’ll see the best teams the NAHL has to offer, and we all know North Iowa has the best and the loudest fans in the league." Outlaws business manager Bob Thoms began inquiring about attracting the tournament to the area last September after the Mason City Convention & Visitors Bureau requested partners to submit new or existing sporting event ideas. Through the partnership of the Mason City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Cerro Gordo County, the North Iowa Sports Authority was created and submitted a grant application to help attract the Robertson Cup to North Iowa. A $50,000 Regional Sports Authority District Grant, provided by the State of Iowa through the Iowa Tourism Office, and a $25,000 cash match was secured in October. "This funding gave the North Iowa Outlaws organization the boost needed to seek the bid for the National Tournament," said Thoms. "The North Iowa Outlaws, North Iowa Sports Authority and specifically the Mason City Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce have been working together extensively on this project because of the tremendous economic boost and national recognition it will bring to the North Iowa area," said Vicki Hensley, Chair of the North Iowa Sports Authority. "We are thrilled to be the host community." In addition to the Outlaws, the playoff series winners from the North, South and Central Divisions will receive the other three bids to the tournament. If the Outlaws win the 2009 Central Division playoffs, the runner up from the Central Division will receive the fourth bid. The oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States, the Robertson Cup is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan. Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pools Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976-83. The St. Louis Bandits will host this year’s Robertson Cup Championship. More details on the 2009 Robertson Cup Championship will be released in the coming months. For more information on the Robertson Cup Championship, visit www.robertsoncup.com.

Thursday News

L.A. developer buys Des Moines Buccaneers... Eric Ballard resigns as assistant for the Junior Blues... BCHL Clippers a father-son business... Commercial development expected around new Windsor arena... Councillor wants to plan now for new arena in St. Catharines... How bad off is Portland these days? They are dropping off the local sports scene map... And then there's this...

Wednesday News

Lewiston MAINEiacs fined; head coach suspended one game... PMI fires Gamblers coach Mark Mazzoleni... Renaud family Spits' top priority... NOJHL to hold off ruling on neck guards... K-Rock Pot opening "cool" and "awesome"... *Cue John Cougar Mellencamp* Lemme tell ya... about Jack and Darlene...

Monday News

Darlene and Jack Tragis earn their way into Fairbanks Hockey Hall of Fame Wichita Falls sports editor piles on the criticism of KY Coliseum staffers... Wenatchee hockey team OK 'almost 100 percent'... Lewiston columnist: In fairness, referees should be subject to official reviews, too (hey, I'm an Sooner alumnus, so no argument from me)... Kingston provides fans with a good game in K-Rock Pot debut (but the result was predictable)... New arena for Niagara IceDogs discussed - Big dreams for a new 'spectator facility'... Crowds pack church to say goodbye to junior hockey star... Camrose lands Jr. A challenge set for November...

Friday News

Wenatchee gets conditional OK for NAHL franchise. I'm sure they just need to sort out the little things, like a lease, what division they'll play in, and how the whole travel thing is going to work... WHL league commissioner orders the Portland franchise to shake up the front office (and pay their bills)... Fronts eager for fresh start; Hockey club opens new arena (psst, sometimes you need more than a new barn for a fresh start)... Everett defenseman Graham Potuer suspended for two games... Grapes to speak of Renaud on Coach's Corner...

Thursday News

Will facility open on time?; With just days to go, workers scramble to bring the Kingston K-Rock Pot up to code... Fans miffed with KY Coliseum ushers, but they're more miffed at how the Wichita Falls TimesRecordNews framed the article, giving the appearance that fans were upset with the Wildcats... Windsor's games tonight and Sunday have been postponed following the death of team captain Mickey Renaud. Renaud's #18 has been retired, and all OHL players will wear his number on their helmets the rest of this season... Oh, and there's supposed to be a vote on Wenatchee today, no foolin'...

Friday News

Are you kidding me? Yet another league, Part II, the Lakefront International Junior Hockey League. Yeeeeeesh... Wenatchee NAHL vote postponed until Monday. What a way to run a railroad. Read the second paragraph carefully - why do you even consider approving a team with only the exec board? A recommendation to the full BoG I could see, but this was billed as final approval... Op-Ed: Rothschild shoots and it scores (for Wausau)...

Thursday News

A funny thing happened on the way to the NAHL voting on Wenatchee... nothing. After posting the Wenatchee World article yesterday, the response I received from several teams was "Vote? What vote?!???" as apparently the vote is not scheduled until next week. I'm not sure where the miscommunication originated, but then again, the World couldn't even get Mark Frankenfeld's name right (it has since been corrected)... Is everyone ready for yet another independent "Junior A" hockey league? No? Well too bad, you're stuck with one anyway. Say hello to the Wisconsin Junior Hockey League... If Wausau-are arena is built, team will follow... OHL suspends Kingston GM/head coach Larry Mavety, but not long enough for Fronts fans. Here's a clip of what resulted int he suspension...

Wednesday News

Wenatchee NAHL franchise up for a vote Tuesday. I haven't heard the result yet... I have heard there is a meeting going on today concerning the arena in Bloomington, IL. I hope to have more details by this weekend. Moose Jaw Warriors fined and suspended... Fargo's main rink financing almost secured... Fargo awarded 2009 IIHF U-18 Tournament, beating out St. Cloud and Providence... Ferguson, Brand honored with distinguished service awards...

Friday News - Early Edition

A quick correction. For what it's worth, a member of the Alliance Hockey organization called me to task for describing NAHL commish Mark Frankenfeld's new position as Director of Hockey Operations a full time gig. I was clearly wrong, however, in stating that Frankenfeld has been with Alliance for some time. I got Alliance confused with the Texas Attack, with which Frankenfeld has been previously associated... Kingston's new arena has a sponsor, but what about the name? I don't normally get behind causes here (unless they are my own), but I'm encouraging everyone to write in a vote to name the new arena the K-Rock Pot... Brooks commits to $19.1M arena... Are the Burnaby Express on track to leave town? Pat Maroon - seasoned rookie... Q&A with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman Matt Donovan... David Branch backs Windsor for Junior Worlds... WHL extends commissioner Ron Robison's contract through 2010-11 season (insert obligatory comparison to Mark Frankenfeld here)...

Tuesday News

A few days ago NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld was named Director of Hockey Operations for the Alliance Bulldogs, a youth program located in Dallas-Fort Worth. Frankenfeld has retained a minor role with Alliance throughout his tenure with the NAHL league office, but this is an interesting move considering it's a full-time position for someone who is supposed to be a full-time commissioner. I would have thought the NAHL Board of Governors would have learned their lesson with part-time commissioners a few administrations ago with Larry Pedrie, who maintained a gig similar to Frankenfeld's, but based on feedback I've received thus far, it appears the BoG were unaware of Frankenfeld's new position. Speaking of lessons unlearned - Quebec businessman hoping junior hockey will fly in Habs-crazy Montreal market... Score one for the Canadian economy - Naming rights increase in Kingston; Deal for downtown centre moniker will go up in value each year. If I had to guess, they inked a deal with an energy provider... Ouellet, Morrison in hunt for scoring title as QMJHL season heads into home stretch... Shakeup seems to be working fine - Chilliwack coach separates slumping big guns Moller and Santorelli... PEI Rocket attempt to turn back time... Saskatoon Blades pay price for fight night... Pats get some extra work on Super Bowl Sunday... Geoff Killing sets new Bulls record...

Monday News

Topeka Roadrunners sign lease extension with arena... Petition group claims the Steelback Centre has cost taxpayers close to $70,000 (includes video)... Condors lose Choules to Acadie-Bathurst... Captain Kayfes traded away from Bizzy to Fairbanks... QMJHL's Victoriaville Tigres fire head coach Martin Bernard... It's Madam President; Denise Burke of the Niagara IceDogs is the only female team president in CHL... London chasing juniors again...

Saturday News

And then there were five; Attack partner sells his stake... Weyburn's McMillan reaches 1000-win-milestone. Other coaches in SJHL can't fathom so many wins... Was January the worst month ever in Prince George Cougars' history? Owner Rick Brodsky banking on the future... Generals' game in Kingston postponed... Erie Otters suspend Frank Grzeszczak indefinitely for violating team rules... OHL hosts midget showcase in Saginaw... Coombs concerned about complacency in Dubuque... Winnipeg on the short list to host 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship... Windsor, London team up for World Juniors bid... Edmonton and Calgary jointly seek 2012 world junior hockey tourney... Memorial Cup selection committee down to four members... Selection committee looks at Halifax... Schenn brothers taking WHL by storm... Omaha forward looks to be force... Quebec league sold Newfoundland short... Bizzy Bobcats still in NAHL playoff picture... Flying Aces getting results in MinnyJHL... It seems more Frontenacs fans are getting grumpy with owner Doug Springer...

Wednesday News

Upon further review, BCHL made right call... Former NTDP player arrested in drug case... Erie Otters finalize new Tullio lease. I hope they got some scheduling protection against the proposed D-League team... Versatile Dillon grows on Seattle T-birds... Firm makes pitch to run Chevrolet Centre... Pats fined after brawl... Good news for Cougars' Riege, no break... City refuses to pay Attack bill... Extreme cold on Prairies doesn't stop hockey from being played... But - MJHL postpones games due to cold... Soo Birds' house in order... Indiana Ice player carries on despite tragedy... Spits on record pace for home attendance...

Tuesday News

Acadie-Bathurst Titan fire head coach Denis Francoeur... Battlefords' North Stars fire head coach/general manager Gary Clark... Chevy Centre management presentations begin today... Host families are a key component to success of Fairbanks Ice Dogs... Blades' Molleken awaits word on suspension... AJHL will stick with carding system, say no thanks to expansion... G-men ready to get greasy... Poapst has Chicago Steel on a roll... Schenn a rising WHL star... One cold Winter - Portland's suffering through horrific WHL season... Marc-Andre Fleury now knows how much Eagles fans love him... Thiessen is the Cat who never quits (includes video)... Stamkos shows how NHL Breakaway Challenge should have been done... Looking through the fog to hockey heaven... Is Verdun a tonic for Q headache?

Monday News

USHL All-Stars shine as Gamblers struggle. Also, as can be expected at All-Star events, there will be league meetings, so it should be interesting to see what shakes out over the next two days... More on the Fog Devils' relocation to Verdun: Is Verdun a tonic for Q headache? Everyone to blame in Fog Devils debacle... Fog Devils' failure means QMJHL unlikely to return to St. John's... Newfoundland loses major junior hockey... It's official: Fog Devils sold - Dobbin: There's no way we could have gone another year... Having one's hockey heart ripped out... RoadRunners hitting full stride. For the record, I'm not a fan of the special jerseys celebrating Kansas statehood. Despite having grown up in Kansas, the state seal never really "did it" for me (it's a little busy), so making it a hockey crest leaves me a little lukewarm. Sorry guys... DeLory suspended 8 games for spear, part of 23 games handed out for OHL brawl... Two Sarnia Sting players suspended by OHL... Not so much a juniors story, but interesting nonetheless - Cherry seeing red over blue hair... Mississauga St. Michael's Majors skating in the right direction... Todd Gill has found his comfort zone as the owner/coach of his hometown Brockville Braves... Current Belleville Bulls similar to '99 championship team...

Saturday News

Fargo School Board approves deal on arena. Here's the latest picture of the facility... Mayor must step it up in Kingston... Hockey players worry motel owners (okay, who invited the South Jersey Raptors?!???)... Cochrane: Why such a rush on the Fog Devils? Saint John lucky to retain junior hockey team, president says... League announcement: QMJHL set to return to Montreal next season... Board chair: St. John's Sports and Entertainment never asked to save the Fog Devils... Soo may return to NOJHL... Sting expects to go with short bench for weekend contests... Fargo-Morehead Jets get two players... Mooseheads' Smith out longer than expected... Alex Archibald shoulders big load for Oil Kings... Taylor Hall's success has Spitfires' brass beaming... Ex-Pats giving back by coaching sons' teams... Cousins do well in USHL... No regrets for Hulak in Regina... Sarnia Sting's MacQueen learns from Boyes... Giants perfectly happy to practise... Camrose Kodiak Andrew MacWilliam commits to UND... Hockey to support Tulsa heroes... Andris Dzerins playing with confidence for Fronts... Maday's return benefits Black Hawks... Vancouver Giants not hurt by lack of scoring superstars... Dubuque T-Birds keep foot on (throat of other CSHL teams) accelerator...

Korostin cleared to play for Tornado, for now...

The following email landed in my inbox this morning: As a follow up from my voice message, USA Hockey is giving approval for player Sergey Korostin to play January 24 to January 28, 2008 while we review the documentation and wait for the final confirmation from the IIHF office. We have contacted the IIHF office advising our interpretation of the request for release of contract under the Russian Labor Laws. We will ask the IIHF office to confirm the player is approved to transfer so we can have final confirmation on Monday, January 28 for him to complete the 2007-08 season. I will keep in touch with you as we receive information concerning this player. Thank you for providing the documentation. Kim Folsom Coordinator, International Administration & Event Operations USA Hockey

Friday News

Writing was on the wall for Fog Devils prior to Christmas... Walling: What in the fog happened to the Devils? More than players affected by Foggies demise... SJSE chairman defends Devils' lease... Cedar Rapids RoughRiders close to lease deal - team for sale... Fargo School Board to vote on UP arena... Arena anticipation is building in Wenatchee (includes video)... QMJHL races should go down to the wire... Documentary a riveting look at junior hockey... Call-ups find permanent home in BCHL... Bruins coach awaits goals outburst... Bruin Smuk out at least a month... Robertson Cup Tournament is coming to St. Louis... North Stars to sell beer, wine at remaining home dates... Scrappers’ owner seeks stake in Youngstown arena... RoadRunners report: Four questions with coach Scott Langer (but no hard-hitting queries about Swedish Fish)... Latvian forward joins RoadRunners for 2008-09... MacLean goes from doghouse to funhouse in Prince George... Among Otters, Boyes stands out... Company benefits Eberle in Regina... New Ranger itching to play - Former Frontenacs blueliner Shutron recovers from back injury... Fletcher knows his role with IceDogs... Cedar Rapids RoughRiders close to lease deal - team for sale... Beljo is Knights' jack of all trades...