Tuesday Night On TPS

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Tuesday night we welcomed the top rated goalie (by NHL central scouting) for the NHL draft, a GM fresh off firing his head coach, a Commissioner turned head coach and our CHL insider with news of the Chilliwack Bruins potential sale and relocation.

First up was John Gibson of the U.S. National Development program. The Pittsburgh native talked about being the top ranked tender, his style of play and why he's improved so much about last year. Gibson is bound for Germany next month and the U18 World Championship and spoke about winning U17 gold last year on Canadian Soil. Gibson also gave us a couple of scouting reports on Rocco Grimaldi and Tyler Biggs, who will both be drafted this year as well. (Photo: USA Hockey / Tom Sorensen)

Several eyebrows were raised recently when Michigan State University hired Tom Anastos as it's new head coach. The move surprised a lot of people because his previous gig was the commissioner of the CCHA where the Spartans play....for now. Anastos is heading back behind the bench as head coach for the first time in 2 decades and has some decisions to make regarding his assistant coaches. Brian Renfrew, one assistant was recently listed as one of the top 40 under 40 hockey people by the Hockey News. Anastos himself made the grade in the top 50 people in power...but that was when he was still the commish. TPS is hearing that Ron Rolston is a candidate to join the Spartans staff, but Anastos said no decisions have been made on his coaching staff. We asked about recent recruit Rhett Holland who's currently with the Okotoks Oilers in the AJHL as word was passed to us today that the Spartans might want him to return to junior for a 3rd season.

In our 3rd segment Guy and I debated who you would want for one game, Ryan Johanssen or Brayden Schenn, as well as touching on if the Oilers have narrowed their focus to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Adam Larsson as the draft nears. An emailer wondered if Oiler fans want RNH because he's so close to them, and a caller voiced his concern over the Red Deer Rebels size. Finally we touched on potential coaching moves in the WHL with teams like Moose Jaw, Brandon, Prince Albert and Swift Current. Which teams do we think might make a change?

One team did make a change today, as we reported last night, Seattle is looking for a new bench boss and T-Birds G.M. Russ Farwell (above, left) joined us to discuss why he cut loose Rob Sumner (above, right), what he's looking for in a replacement, and when it might happen. We took the opportunity to get scouting reports on several T-Birds eligible for the draft, as well as how Portland, Tri City and Spokane match up in arguably the best division in the WHL this season. Russ told us his impression of a rapidly improving Ryan Johanssen and commented on the WHL possibly heading back to Vancouver Island. We finished the conversation with a question about the biggest trade Farwell has ever pulled off...acquiring Eric Lindros from the Quebec Nordiques as the G.M. of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Our final 2 segments featured our CHL insider Sam Cosentino of Rogers Sportsnet. Sam took in the Niagra/Brampton game in which the Ice Dogs won to go up 3-0 in the series and also told us what is going on between Sudbury and Ottawa in which the Wolves are shockingly up 3-0 on the 67's. We also discussed the recent announcement that Max Domi (Tie's son) is going the college route. Will it happen and how good is Domi? From the OHL we went west young man, and Sam told us what he knows about the possible sale of the Chilliwack Bruins and relocation to Victoria. Sam says it's done and it comes from a reliable source, but understands why the league doesn't want to announce anything yet...The Bruins are still in the post season. There also rumours that the LA Kings, a banged up bunch right now, might recall Brayden Schenn for the stretch drive, which would seriously hurt the Saskatoon Blades who traded for Schenn. Out east Victoriaville has surprised some by jumping out to a 3-0 series lead, thanks to apparent poor play by Oilers prospect Olivier Roy. Roy hasn't finished any of the first 3 games and lasted just 2:50 in game 3. We rounded out the conversation by chatting about the CIS University Cup and the Alberta Golden Bears coming home empty handed.

If you missed it live, click the archive....here.