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...

Thursday News

Anthony LeBlanc pursuing OHL team for Thunder Bay. As a reference point, the old Thunder Bay UHL franchise averaged about 2,570 a game at their peak from 1993-95. Their USHL franchise never drew more than 1,100 in their last four years from 1996-2000... Global Spectrum to run new Windsor arena... Signs point to culture impact of Cedar Rapids Ice Arena... Future Gambler Chase Drake ready to take the next step... MJHL plays it safe when dealing with dangerous weather... Bad weather keeps Petes home; Last night's game in Owen Sound postponed... Shugg settles in with Spits... Weyburn making the playoffs is good, but 1,000 wins -- priceless... Pats coach wants his charges to keep playing hard... Maineiacs make pitch to host Memorial Cup... Pats' Doucet doing his part to earn his pay... Bulldogs' Aime moves up to Red Deer... Bad-luck Silvertip emerges as star... A few Oshawa fans left etiquette on the bus... Winnipeg bidding for world junior hockey championship... Who in London would have predicted this?

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?

Tuesday News

Couple of quick reminders. First off, instead of opening posts to comments, I've established a forum for the blog. Anyone can read it without having to register, but to participate in threads you will have to sign in. Secondly, I'm still offering advertising space. Click here for the rate sheet and other information. I know teams will soon be starting to schedule their summer tryout camps (if they haven't already), so now is a good time to get on board with the blog. WHL may be thinned by adding Canadian schools to NCAA... Spits' Henrique busts out of slump... Canmore Eagles bench boss bound for B.C.... Flin Flon busiest team at SJHL trade deadline... Repik re-joins Giants, practices Tuesday... Broncos trade deadline moves send a message... Pats GM Parker having a good year... Here's another review of the junior hockey documentary focusing on the Baie-Comeau Drakkar... Wade Babineau is still trolling through the sludge on the QMJHL message boards...

Tuesday News

NCAA to accept applications from CIS schools. Of course, this means that CHL players may get shut out of Canadian universities now, but that will depend on how many actually go NCAA... Prince Albert Raiders fire general manager Donn Clark, coach Bruno Campese takes on GM duties... Medicine Hat play-by-play man a driving force... There is an opportunity for leaders to emerge in Prince George... Rookie Kevin Stringfellow helping Terriers' scoring... Westside betting that acquisition of overage sniper will trigger a playoff run... Young comes of age with Spits... Screaming Eagle Gallant not just another tough guy... Swift Current Broncos still looking for answers... Robin Bergman leaves Irish, returns to Cedar Rapids... QMJHL reveals names of its four new Hall of Fame inductees...

Saturday News

Last night's Texas Tornado game drew an announced crowd of just 950. Would someone please explain the benefit to the USHL for adding a team outside their footprint that draws as much as the Chicago Steel when they're playing poorly? CSHL checks ThunderBirds with hard penalties... Blizzard host fundraiser... Knights trade Cesar, add veteran netminder to roster... Berard adds veteran savvy to young Colts roster... Di Salvo ready for the Colts goaltending challenge... Falcons add Niagara IceDogs goalie to roster at trade deadline... Foreman hopes for stronger rest of season for IceDogs... Top Gun in goal; Mavric Parks says Frontenacs a good fit for him... Blue Jackets send Steve Mason back to OHL... Bruins deal veterans for youth... It's wait until next year for London Knights... Otters acquire winger from Kitchener... Hitmen trade d-man Frere to Ice... Robin not leaving the Oil Kings nest... Warriors' Ellerby predicted Wishart deal... Massive changes also address discipline issue for Cougars... The birth and death of a player rumor... 'Greasy' ex-Rebel gives Kings some grit... Deadline passes, trade winds fade... Winter Hawks keep eyes on the future... MJHL teams stock up for stretch run... MJHL trade deadline summary... Good grief... 'Brad Marchand Day' in Halifax... Cougars not out of race with Blazers just yet... Late trades in the SJHL... Optimism in Halifax now high on 2009 Cup bid... Mariners get Chavira at MJAHL trade deadline... Spitfires rethink goals...

Friday News

Wenatchee group submits application for NAHL franchise... Moose Jaw building on multiplex plan... Some updates out of Fargo - Board has doubts over prepayment plan, Board may seek more oversight in arena ties, Board tables ice rink request for $650k, Board right to go slow on UP loan... Spruce Kings trade captain and add a Cougar (second article)... Pringe George Cougars trade summary... Whalers trade Valliquette to Ottawa in deadline deal... Generals load up - trade additions an instant hit... Aliu sees ray of hope in London... Cowichan pulls the trigger on BCHL's biggest deal... Nanaimo adds pair of youthful snipers on BCHL's deadline day... Trade deadline ends quietly in SJHL... Dziurzynski makes smooth transition to WHL... St. Mary's Balent passes up shot at juniors... Prices not right for Silvertips... All quiet on Blades' trade front... Fog Devils make moves to boost team... Quiet deadline day for Bruins... Giants put their money on a Bronco... Broncos question new Giants' health... Raiders signal surrender with trades... Bearcats send Russell to Miramichi... Kidd, Hodgman might stay in Erie... Kitchener Rangers don't plan any more mega-swaps... Gervais, Palazzo moved by Giants... The other skate drops for Wolves; Dahm traded for two players and two picks... Goalie Kennedy not joining Wolverines...

Thursday News

Lots of trades and the CHL deadlines are this week. But first, the Central Scouting Bureau Mid-Terms are out. Memo to NHL: Why hide the rankings behind a password if a dozen media outlets are just going to plaster the complete list when you release it? This isn't consistent with your YouTube-ish strategy of offering up as much exposure as humanly possible. 24 USHLers listed in NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings... 14 NAHLers recognized by NHL Central Scouting... Stamkos and Doughty 1-2 in NHL Central Scouting mid-season draft rankings... Kempe has found the silver lining with Fog Devils... Mason won't join Rangers until tomorrow at earliest... Rangers wait on Mason arrival... Orangeville Crushers looking strong... Underachieving Eagles struggle to find game... Canmore Eagles go for new look between pipes... Farewell to a Knight: Steve Mason made his mark in London... PEI Rocket send Morrison to Huskies... Morrison and Gervais moved to cap off trading frenzy by P.E.I. Rocket... Moose quiet on Q trade front... Maylan glad to leave Moose Jaw... Moose upped pressure on themselves... Mooseheads' GM can't strike deal for blueliner... Former Moosehead gets nine years in prison... Wolves send Baker marching to Generals... Oshawa adds Neuvirth, Baker to already strong roster... Deadline decisions loom for Spruce Kings... Shawn O'Donnell is leaving the Halifax Mooseheads... Blizzard storm into second half of NAHL hockey season... Hunt suspension doesn't mesh with Crowley's innocence... Eagles make moves on final day... Morrison move highlights last day of trades... Wishart leaves Cougars, his legacy a conflicted character... Moose Jaw gets a Wish... Warriors get their Wish-art... Future becomes present for Cougars... Phantoms trade for Ice Diggers’ Nielsen... Saskatoon Blades trade McCrae to Spokane... Knights deal team captain Perry to Bulls... Spits swap goaltenders with Oshawa... Generals trade Howard for Baker... Sutter's taking a patient approach with young, rebuilding Rebels... Kisio plans to stand pat with Hitmen... Bartley anxious to come (to Regina)... Hunt handed the tools to make Pats a winner... Giants deal Nolan Toigo's right to Tri-City... Fascinating hockey documentary Junior opens in Quebec starting January 25, 2008... Should Oil Kings trade or stay the same? Saskatoon committee hopes to host 2010 or 2012 world junior championship... *WHEW*

Tuesday News

NCAA opportunity leaves Vernon coach in a fix... Trade deadline looms for Clips... Lots of interest in Oil Kings' flashy Swede following world juniors... Warriors deal for top D-man... WHL teams start dealing as trade deadline nears... Kindersley Klippers on fire after slow start... SJHL deadline deals may demand experience... Hometown Bender gets his wish granted... Attack GM unlikely to make deal before deadline... Bruins test out trade waters... Prince George Cougars make blockbuster trade... Drakkar, Titan make waves... WHL VP hints at long suspension for Hunt... Parker primes Pats - GM sends message to rest of league following trades... Penticton goalie Alex Evin to attend Colgate... Number 11 to be retired by Grande Prairie Storm... The Clips are sliding, it must be January...

Thursday News

Bump in the road could make Whalers stronger... Weekend of all-stars in Yorkton, rosters revealed... Prairie Junior Hockey League team looking for ride to games... Storm goalie Ian O'Brien requests release to join Mahoning Valley... Black Hawks admitting kids free on Saturday... Silvertips' Bauer knows how to score ugly Trade deadline puts Thompson in the WHL spotlight yet again... Junior Blues’ Wyler goes shopping for goalkeepers... Pierro-Zabotel in no hurry - poised centreman outwits and outwaits opponents... Blueline callup definitely knows what's in a name... Jaw injury sidelines Oil Kings defenceman... Regina Pats GM Brent Parker starts his retooling... Patenaude's puzzle seems to be complete - Mooseheads talent can rest a little easier now... Pats' Kraus relieved despite ear injury... Vancouver D-man's points run a Giant surprise... Canmore Eagles trainer dedicates life to the game of hockey... T-Birds add punch with Stadstad return... Atlanta Junior Knights holding their own... Bold move right one for Sting...

Weekend News

I had fun last night at the Texas Tornado game. The Tornado faced the Topeka Roadrunners, so I was faced with conflicting loyalties. Sure, the Tornado are my local team (if a 65 mile drive to avoid crosstown DFW traffic can be considered "local"), and I was most certainly a fan of theirs from 2000-03. But things changed when the team moved from North Richland Hills to Frisco, and the Lone Star Cavalry were brought in to backfill the vacancy. Of course, I called games for the Cavalry, now the Roadrunners, and still have close ties to the team, so for the most part I was in their camp last night. I spent the first period talking to Roadrunners owner Mary Magdalene Lorang, talking about various items related to the team and league. The rest of the time I shared the broadcast booth with the Roadrunners' Arch Ecker, and for the most part managed to not make a fool out of myself on air. It was nice to meet some of the Topeka fans I've come to know online, and also see some old Tornado friends. As for the game, the Tornado won in a shootout, 3-2. For the most part the Roadrunners dominated, but gave up a couple of early goals. It didn't help that Tornado goalie Thomas Callaghan had a horseshoe in his back pocket, especially in the second period when his team was out-shot 14-2. But the 'Runners finally cracked his armor in the third and forced the game into OT and a shootout. For the Tornado, despite being outplayed most of the night it was a still a good win. The team hasn't had much luck this season and had all the luck last night. If last night was a sign of things to come, I can see them still making a playoff run. Oh, and for those who missed it, I wore my kilt last night. Okay, since I didn't post anything yesterday I have a ton of articles in my inbox... NBA eyes Erie for D-League. Be afraid, Otters fans. The D-League has a long history of going into hockey arenas and snarfing up all their decent booking dates. After a season or two of lagging attendance they bolt, but by then the damage to the hockey team is done, sometimes irreparably. Some of teams have such poor attendance they don't even report it... Frontenacss add Zach Fenwick from D1 Mercyhurst... Plenty of life left in Barrie Colts... Tips sign defenseman Tyler Kieffer from Lincoln Stars... Sexsmith talks turkey in Vancouver... Saskatoon Blades are Struch's team now... Questions facing London Knights haven't gone away... Warrior Broda can handle the U.S. Division of the Dub... 67's won't rush Couture back... Guelph Storm GM Dave Barr pondering his trade options... Chynoweth hands out mid-season grades to Broncos... Optimism abounds for Otters - 2nd half of season opens on heels of playoff guarantee... Victoriaville Tigres acquire winger Steven Cacciotti from the Drummondville Voltigeurs... Kitchener happy with new seamless panes in end zones at Aud... Avino, Jirik earn NAHL call-ups from Dubuque... Family helps Black Hawks' Kessel reach new heights... QMJHL players enrolled in 1,112 courses during fall semester, but not all were college courses (not saying, just saying)... Strait Pirates’ player Stevens dies at home, autopsy ordered... Sticking to the plan is key for the Pats... Blades launch second half with sense of urgency... Sportsnet.ca reviews the CHL season so far... Raiders have half a season to improve... Otters' roster changes for 3-game road trip... Geoff Courtnall assumes Victoria Grizzlies bench duties... Simms hopes to re-ignite the fire for second half in Weyburn... Cloud gets new chance to fly for Giants... Crash course for Seattle T-Birds' O'Brien... Second half a fresh start for Prince George Cougars... Phil Mangan traded to Fog Devils... PEI Rocket return to work... Mazzoleni's preseason proclamation may prove prophetic for Green Bay...

Weekend News

Wolves slog through first half; Playoffs an uphill battle for rebuilding team... Moosehead Daniel Smith out up to six weeks with thumb injury... Sarnia Sting forward Steve Stamkos has so much ahead of him... Are these the top ten picks out of the OHL? NHL director of central scouting E.J. McGuire thinks OHL players could be the first four picks of the 2008 draft.... Here's a Christmas wish list for the Swift Current Broncos... Truro Bearcats are flying under the radar despite being among the Maritime junior A league’s upper echelon... Tri-City Storm Vice President of Business Operations named Executive Director of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce (includes video)... Dubuque T-Bird Matt Langer relieved by knee prognosis... Plenty of reasons for optimism in Plymouth... Ice no longer creeping up on WHL teams... May on a European vacation looking for more Mollers... Dowhay enjoying new beginning in SJHL - Prince Albert product and former Raider comes home Saturday with Ice Wolves... Phantoms enjoy break from grind... Point/Counterpoint: Performance in Prince Albert falls short of expectations, or First half not all bad... Saginaw unlikely to give up Ryan McDonough unless Kitchener deals Nazem Kadri and some picks...

Tuesday News

Big trade winds are brewing in the BCHL... Shakespeare with a Sherwood - Winkler Flyer pens newly released children's book (previously covered topic, but a new article)... Weyburn learning to play as a team... Life has been drained from Dub according to Regina's Brent Parker... Cape Breton should be in the market to add veteran players... Sioux Falls Stampede looking for some size... Iron sets sights on job with Raiders next season... Fog Devils look to be among the deal-makers... Major moves mark busy Monday afternoon in the Q... Eagles deal Dorsey for younger Brannon... Now we're all sure about this? Marchand officially traded to Mooseheads (more details)... Bulls go into break in top spot... Dubuque T-Birds enter break with 11-point lead in CSHL... Freeman, Zaremba turning heads in CSHL... Thompson taking OHL by storm, sort of... OHL's mono trend is unsettling...

Wednesday News

Dane Litke resigns as head coach of the Bismarck Bobcats... Former Wings goalie Stefan takes over as coach of Plymouth Whalers... SJHL heats up at trade deadline... Olympiques may shuffle deck, with Giroux their ace in the hole... Grizzlies' stars to shine at home... Sidekick status no problem for junior sniper MacLean... Rocket keeps focus on hockey... Windsor spits great goal record in danger... Three prospects skating with Prince George Cougars... Windsor Spitfires juggling roster... Layton enjoying hot streak with Foggies... New combo gives Raiders life... Difficult times watching Cyr struggle through final junior season... OMG!!! Rouge Valley has a bona fide winning streak! Burnaby Express star winger Finucci gets NCAA interest... Hosting the Memorial Cup means head coach DeBoer must pull out all the stops to create a champion... Trigger pulled - Marchand a marvelous Mooseheads pickup... And finally... Two weekends ago NHIC did a segment on bloggers in the NHL. Overall it was a pretty good piece. Several familiar names were mentioned and also happened to give their reviews of the segment, including Tom Benjamin and James Mirtle (who wrote a second follow-up last night). For the most part my thoughts of the piece parallel what these two said, especially on accountability to the readers. If I was full of crap, my readership wouldn't keep growing, would it? It seems to me when the MSM screws up, they just circle the wagons. When a blogger screws up, their readership drops and other bloggers get into a feeding frenzy. For me, I'm in a niche and function similar to Kukla's Korner (or Matt Drudge), in that I'm a clearinghouse for articles. I also toss in my opinions on things where I can, and once in awhile get my own scoops. By the way, I'm not losing my touch - I had the news on Dane Litke's resignation probably within an hour of it taking place, but a busy workplace kept me from posting it, so I left it for Lou Babiarz' write up this morning.

Thursday News

London Knights sign Daniel Erlich. Erlich had been selected by Waterloo in the first round (sixth overall) in the USHL 2007 Futures Draft, and turned down an offer from Northeastern University... Well-traveled goalie Gavin McHale a perfect fit for Terriers... Phantoms sign four new players for 2008... Musketeers Butcher, Brossman pick Fairbanks... Winkler Flyer Jared McIntosh now an accomplished author... Alexandria Blizzard unlucky on ice... No takers - Otters designate Rogers for assignment... Fairbanks Ice Dog Alex McRae signs with Army... Cacciotti inherits four-game suspension, forcing me to ask the question - "who died?" Chilliwack shot quality on the slide as scoring drops... Remparts set to retire Radulov's #22... North Dakota signs Mike Cichy and Mario Lamoureux from Tri-City Storm... MacLean on a tear - Flourishing in Tavares' shadow...

Wednesday News

Good news for Otters defenseman Gaulton - no surgery... Matt Clarke answering call for Knights... Kenny MacDougall resigns from PEI Rocket after being questioned about Team Atlantic under-17 roster selections... Former Spruce King Ryan Hill pleads to assault charge. (second article)... IceDogs' Matt Corrente always in the thick of it... Craig Schira fitting in nicely on Giants' blueline... Spitfires gain some swagger... Spitfires eye sellout of luxury arena suites... Learn 'em young - fans decry hockey brawl involving eight-year-old players... Generals' fourth liner Corey Cowick gets 'Gordie Howe hat trick' against Brampton... Otters place Ronnie Rogers on trade block... Rangers' Unice lets his stats do the talking... Hitmen team up for asthma campaign... Outdoor rink renamed for former Melfort prez Dale Frier... Race for top spot tightens in SJHL... Wheaties rookie Brayden Schenn shines... Morehouse hopes to make most of his last season with Wildcats... Majors take a shot at the flu...

Friday News

Seven games in Kingston does not a turnaround make. Hey, a 73-31 blowout of K-State will save Bill Callahan's job at Nebraska, right? Wrong... BCHL vet Casey Pierro-Zabotel to start on youth line... WHL winning the recruiting wars... Indiana Ice family fund $40M addition to Riley Hospital for Children... Des Moines Bucs fan has rare feel for game... No time like now for a Blizzard rebound... Otters' Taylor puts attack behind him... Silvertips hobble home after long trip... Faith legacy sustains rising star Taylor Ellington... Hungry Bruin gets perfect billet mate... Trio of Regina Pats make the grade... Tyson Aitcheson is the Colts blue-line anchor... Ellerby happy with change of scenery in Moose Jaw... Lowly Winter Hawks revamp entire team... Saskatchewan league's hottest line has Flin Flon in fine form... Maple Leafs rookie Tlusty focused on hockey. Riiiiight. Kind of hard to be focused if all the media is talking about is that naked picture of you on the internet...

Tuesday News

Russian goalie fits like glove in Melfort... Owen Sound Attack GM talking trades... Camrose Kodiak Joe Colborne set to sign with University of Denver... Blazers, Winter Hawks begin rebuilding... Moose Jaw Warriors trade for Keaton Ellerby... Everett Silvertips trade for offense... Fargo-Moorhead Jets acquire Joe Beaudette from Indiana Ice... Sniderman traded to Huskies from Moncton...

Thursday News

Scholarship program by WHL a class act. Yup, the canned propaganda by the WHL continues to spread to gullible journalists lacking the insight to realize that $8.5 million given to 2,800 players is only about $3,000 each, which gets you a whole semester at most institutions. No league is too small for Pointstreak's real-time stats. I'll say this, sure beats the old days with Howe Sportsdata... It never fails that as soon as I finish compiling the articles and hit the send button, a new article lands in my inbox. Yesterday, it was about the pieces of St. Albert Steel puzzle finally coming together. Nevermind... Steel coach Norm Lacombe was fired yesterday (second article)... The axe fell in Kamloops, too. Say goodbye to Blazers' coach Dean Clark. Is it me, or do these events come in clusters??? Topeka hockey players read to school kids. Pssst, hey fence-sitting hockey fans in San Angelo, community engagement is ingrained in junior hockey culture, and means something other than getting free drinks at the local bar all evening... "Score One For Life" blood drive set in Sioux Falls... First week a learning opportunity for Erie's Ftorek. Speaking of the Otters, Lyon Messier landed with the Lincoln Stars (that's team #4 since this summer, in case you lost count). Too bad he's blow his NCAA eligibility... Knights' scout Jack Ferguson has seasoned eye for talent... Beausejour Blades not sharp in early going... Winnipeg Saints are marching (but not to Pretoria)... Eau Claire Memorial star joins Omaha Lancers (too bad the writer of this piece left off the Soley kid's first name)... U. of Denver recruit Joe Colborne tearing up AJHL... P.E.I. Rocket flaring out when ahead... London trainer Don Brankley penning memoirs... Prince Albert's Mike Small finding his WHL legs (I guess they were buried in the front hall closet or something)... Poor ice condition halts OHL game (gee, can't Canadians make ice, or are we blaming global warming?)... Foligno says the Wolves aren’t sellers yet (and squashes rumours on a Self deal)... Tyrell claws his way into leading role with Prince George Cougars... Guelph Storm leading scorer Tomas Marcinko may be gone a month... Kirill Tulupov traded from Chicoutimi to Victoriaville... Giants' Sexsmith leads WHL in minutes played to keep his game in shape...