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...

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...

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...

Friday News

Slow news day as teams/leagues wind down for the holidays... NOJHL expansion 'No. 1 priority'; Commish looking at two-fight rule, SAT sponsor. The article mentions a return to Sault Ste. Marie, MI, plus potentially new teams in Escanaba, MI., near Traverse City, MI. (could be somewhere like Peotosky or Kalkaska), as well as Ville-Marie and Rouyn, Quebec... The week before Christmas in the NOJHL... Home ice - Dubuque to host CSHL tournament in March (and why not, they've averaging more fans a game than most NAHL teams)... Former Pats coach/GM Lorne Davis dies at age 77 (second story, penned by Davis' son)... Silvertips have looked both good and inept in the first half of the season... WHL teams are not able to ignore goalie Joey Rewucki any longer... Durham Fury are fighting the injury bug...

Friday News

Frawley a victim of league politics - NOJHL commissioner Mark Seidel says dispute not healthy for league... This is sorta nifty - The Prince George Citizen now has video highlights of Cougars games. This begs the question - with the season the Cats have had, will there be any highlights? Pool tries to keep Bobcats together... CSHL Showcase a bridge to next level... Landing an impact player never comes cheap... Experiments pay off as Otters find right line combinations... Fort Erie Meteors celebrate 50 years... Chris Breen carving out a niche in Saginaw... Jean-Christophe Blanchard traded to Rimouski for Louis-Étienne Leblanc and a draft pick... Prince George Cats fighting for their playoff lives already... Brett Olson back on track with Black Hawks... Sam Finn hoping for injury-free second half of season... Tregunna looking for 'ugly' goal to break ice as a Ranger... Bowmanville Eagles forward has eye on Oshawa Generals... Ben Cruse endured rehab with idea of return to ice... T-Birds hope to enter holiday break on roll... And finally, for those following the sale of the Tampa Bay Lighting to Helena Bighorns owner Oren Koules, a major roadblock was removed this week...

Gobblin' News

I'm using the holiday to make a few minor changes around here. First off, I've expanded the blog links. There are a lot more junior hockey bloggers out there (especially among members of the WHL media), so they're all linked now. If I missed anyone, please drop me an email. The second change is the snowflakes. I did this last year for the holidays and folks seemed to like it. We might actually see some real flakes tonight here in Cowtown, so now is a good a time as any to add them. I'll remove them after New Year's. Final change - I've once again removed the ability to comment to posts. This is not due to any misbehavior, and is only temporary. I'm in the process of adding a forum to supplement the blog. I think a forum will result in improved discourse, for example, by allowing posters to quote previous comments. The link will be in the upper right, under my email link. I'm currently configuring the forum and hope to have it ready in a day or two. When I do I'll make another announcement and turn on the link. For those thinking to themselves "yeesh, not another forum!" the blog forum is not intended to replace the existing ones out there. It's simply replacing the limited comments feature. Like other forums, you'll still need to register, but you'll still be able to retain your anonymity. This is an experiment more than anything. If folks don't use it, I'll go back to the old system. Fans in Kitchener Memorial Auditorium are dang near turning into frozen meatsicles... Kingston politicos say no new taxes for arena... Fargo Park Board calls special meeting Monday to discuss Urban Plains Center gift... A review of Kitchener Rangers winger Matt Halischuk bloody introduction to the OHL... Otters ship Peluso to Hounds... Otters making deals on Thanksgiving Eve... Saskatoon product Leclerc on fire for Blazers... Merger boosts Junior B hockey in Saskatchewan... Nice "where are they now" bio piece on former Fairbanks Ice Dogs assistant John Haddad... Prince Albert Raiders seeking positive trends... London Knights ponder Mason trade... Giants stars Machacek, Blum drop gloves at practice... Des Moines Buccaneers swap players with Indiana, pick up another from Philly Junior Flyers... Michigan Wolverines sign two from NTDP, one from USHL... Whoopsie!!! Impaired charge for Oshawa Generals’ Shea Kewin... Wolves promote local goalie Valiquette, put Swick on waivers... Whalers trade Neuvirth and Kane to Windsor... Manning ready to hit the road for Giants... Skjodt family making mark in Indiana... Northern Lights heating up in MnJHL... Season's second month brings scouting surprises... Restoule honoured by Skyhawks; Jr. Wolves player feted during Aboriginal Family Night... Chris Terry's tenacity gives Plymouth offensive spark...

Friday News

Zapolski relishes starting role in Erie... Lane Bitz arrives on Alexandria Blizzard blueline... Undefeated El Paso Rhinos finally play their home opener tonight... Vancouver Giants have 16 year olds on ice more than any other junior team... Success helps Prince George Cougars' mood... The chronicles of Tri-Cities Amerk Kruise Reddick... NOJHL's Sudbury entry docked three standings points for using ineligible player... Attention London fans: Check your 50-50 tickets... Determined Reichard leads Fairbanks Ice Dogs netminders trio... Spitfires deal Snow to Niagara for pair of picks... Fans slow to support Majors in Mississauga... Guelph Storm president Elliot Kerr resigns... Otters' Palmieri could return next week... Hunt to move into second on Pats' bench boss list... Buccaneers thrive on special teams play...

Saturday News

A few folks have asked me about the new fundraising strategy of the WSHL Tulsa Rampage. If you go over to their website you'll see in the right margin where you can donate and "sponsor" a player. It's no surprise to me that teams are taking advantage of USA Hockey's (correctly) liberalized interpretation of the NCAA regs regarding scholarships (sponsorships, scholarships --> to-MAY-to, to-mah-to). But I have to admit I did get a small chuckle out of the fact the first team to exploit the philosophical change is the team that sold parents less than a year ago that I didn't know what I was talking about regarding the matter. New coach, new toughness, new promise for Wichita Falls Wildcats. I'll say, last night they strolled into Frisco and whupped the Tornado 4-0... Former Blade Darcy Robinson dies during game in Italy. (second article, third article, fourth article)... The NOJHL website got some new features, including "Ask the Commish"... Majors trade prospect Ryan Green to the Windsor Spitfires. (second article)... Perugini brothers make OHL history in net... Dubuque T-Birds taking basic approach to perfect record in CSHL... Winter Hawks add Kevin Undershute from the Medicine Hat Tigers... OHL hockey returns to the Garden City... Corey Braddick quits Prince George Spruce Kings... Maineiacs work to rebuild championship team... Bismarck Bobcats want to start anew... Pioneers face new challenges in WHA, and loses opener 6-3... New group led by Ottawa 67's owner looks to bring bring CFL back to Ottawa. (second article)... Hitmen, Broncos and Americans hook up for three-way WHL trade...

Monday Evening News

Kent names board for new (Seattle Thunderbirds) arena district... Plymouth's Compuware Sports Arena changes name to just "Compuware Arena," probably to attract more diverse bookings... Stephane Pilotte steps down as general manager of Val-d'Or Foreurs Edmonton Oilers name former Kamloops GM Stu MacGregor their new head scout... Soo T-Birds open NOJHL season with perfect weekend. I have to say, I do like the NOJHL going to a 3-2-1-0 point system... Stefan Chaput returns to Maineiacs, sort of... Elliot Olshansky comments on the (less than) Super Series and the CCM Junior Classic between the U and the Q... Rookie Cole Penner feeling 'more at home' in Prince Albert... Best of Week 1 - top performers in the BCHL...

Saturday News

Edmonton Oil Kings scooped up local product J.P. Szaszkiewicz in expansion draft... Soo Thunderbirds camp in full swing... Don't call Lewiston Maineiac (and former EJHL/USHLer) Matt Bourdeau a rookie... Ryan Ostertag is in Regina trying to follow his grandfather's footsteps... Former Springfield Blues netminder Michael Garman enters training camp for the Nanaimo Clippers as their #1 goalie... Prince George Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck is not real happy with the performance of his vets in training camp... Blueliner Patrik Magnusson fills big skates at Cougars’ camp... Burnaby Express head coach Dave McLellan assesses training camp hopefuls... Belle Tire LW RJ Mahalak, 15, signs with Plymouth Whalers... Guelph Storm open camp Wednesday... Former F-M Jet Matt Moreland signs with CHL Arizona Sundogs... Prince Albert Raider hopefuls work to show Bruno Campese what they've got... Abitibi Eskimoes looking forward to coming season... Plenty of Cape Breton talent trying out for QMJHL teams... Chiliwack Bruins add Bob Rouse to coaching staff... Pair of former USHL players land on South Carolina Stingrays roster... Vernon Vipers primed for camp opening... Regina Pats facing media attention competition from the 6-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders... Jordan Foreman looking forward to fresh start with Niagara Ice Dogs... Thunder Bay Bearcats head coach Vern Ray (talk about a blast from the past, here in Fort Worth at least) trades his leading scorer from last season... Willy Palov: Ten reasons to go to QMJHL rinks this season... Victoria Grizzlies coach Rick Lanz eyes jump to NHL scouting job... Moose Jaw signs Quinton Howden, their first pick overall from the Western Hockey League bantam draft... Regina Pats release Justin Scot, getting down to three 20-year olds...

Thursday News

Interview with new NOJHL commish Mark Seidel... Kris Knoblauch added to Kootenay Ice coaching staff... Former Penticton assistant coach Ken Law "Jet" setting his way into WHA Oliver... Prince George Spruce Kings make some deals... John Tavares itching for NHL... Guelph Storm has signed one of its two second-round picks... Ted Stephens first Yukoner to play in the QMHJL... Canmore Eagles hopefuls to strut their stuff... Penticton Vees begin on a fresh sheet of ice... Summit Series snub motivates OHL star Logan Couture... Windsor Spitfires need more than good work ethic to win, coach says... Battles are brewing on the Halifax blue-line... Regina Pats rookies get education on life with team... Regina Pats look forward to playing hard, winning... Everett Silvertips open rookie camp with Becanic at helm... Vancouver Giant Tim Kraus wants to prove once and for all he's ready for prime time... Jordan Foreman didn't see his trade to Niagara coming... Brent Sutter readies for final junior hockey hurrah...

Wednesday News

Easily the biggest news of the week was Tuesday's announcement that the Tampa Bay Lightning have been sold to a group headed by Doug MacLean, and which also includes Helena Bighorns co-owner Oren Koules. MacLean was President and General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 1998 to 2007, and also integral to the formation of the USHL Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets last season. Koules purchased the Bighorns in 2001 along with Mike Butters. All I can really add is a confirmation that this deal came together very quickly. There were some hints at something big coming down the pike, but not for another 2-3 weeks.(ADDITIONAL STORIES: Press Conference Transcript, Tampa Tribune article, St. Pete Times blog; curiously, there was nothing from the Detroit News or Free Press as I compiled this Tuesday evening) In other news... Bryant Perrier named assistant coach of Alberni Valley Bulldogs... QMJHL reaches agreement with their on-ice officials... Sande Hockey and the NOJHL agree on equipment deal through 2009... Prince George Spruce King Ryan Hill charged for crosscheck to face...

Wednesday News

Observers may have noticed I have turned off the anonymous posting of comments. If you want to post, you have to register. I am sick and tired of babysitting the crybabies on both sides of the Fort Vancouver issue that continue to hijack every post's comments with their drivel. It's done. It's dead. Move on. There are far more important issues in junior hockey at the moment, and the world doesn't revolve around what happened with the Pioneers last season. If registration doesn't resolve the issue, I'll shut down comments completely. Kelowna Rockets hire Ryan Huska as head coach (Kootenay and Portland still have openings).... Jarome Iginla and fellow alumni Shane Doan, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor want to purchase the Kamloops Blazers... Mark Seidel named commish of the NOJHL... Local group in line to purchase Soo Indians, return in 2008... Yale assistant Kyle Wallack has been named as Jon Cooper's assistant coach for the USA Hockey's Under-17 Select Team that will play in the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament... Plymouth Whalers assistant GM/assistant coach Todd Watson has resigned... Medicine Hat head coach Willie Desjardins denies being offered post with San Antonio Rampage... More Tier III A local announcements, this time in St. Cloud and in Bozeman... If you can't beat them on the ice, beat them... on the greens?

Friday News

Former Oklahoma City Blazers defenseman Hardy Sauter leaves the Nipawin Hawks to become assistant coach for the Spokane Chiefs. Interestingly, the PR piece out of Spokane fails to mention both Sauter's father (one season) and uncle (11 seasons, four teams) were once head coaches in the WHL... WHL tweaks their playoff format... More on the Soo Indians taking a season off...

Saturday News

Kind of quiet, what with the draft and all... NOJHL Soo Indians to take a season off... Scotty Bowman says: "Go to college, kid"...

Wednesday News

Not much going on. Apologies for the Blogger downtime. Things seem to be back to normal, or not... I've had some decent feedback (and no hate mail) on the posting of the league tax filings. For those wondering, they came from Guidestar.com, and yes, you can review the forms for a lot of teams, mostly Junior B. Another blurb on Niagara Falls getting the OHL Ice Dogs... Kevin Cain becomes new coach of the Soo Indians... I know it's common in basketball... but are there any women's NCAA hockey teams practicing against men? If so, look out. On Monday, the NCAA decided to further review the issue...

Some news

It's been a slow week... Soo Indians fire entire coaching staff... USHL talks about education numbers... Westside Warriors wait on new arena...