Is Brent Parker Stepping Down?

The Regina Pats have called a news conference for today, and speculation is that G.M. Brent Parker will step down and former Moose Jaw Warrior G.M. Chad Lang will be his replacement.

Schwartz To Join TPS

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This Tuesday we'll continue our look at the 2010 NHL entry draft and welcome Tri City Storm forward Jaden Schwartz to the program. The 17 year old is leading the USHL in scoring with 70 points in 45 games, after a 76 point season in 46 games with Notre Dame of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League last year. ISS had him ranked 26th on their January list, while Central Scouting put him 41st among North Americans on their mid term list.

Schwartz's rights in the WHL are held by the Tri City Americans, but he's committed to Colorado College next season where his brother Rylan is a freshman this year.

The show airs from 7-9 PM MST and you can find out more and listen online at www.thepipelineshow.com.

H1N1 Hits Saskatchewan Hockey: Update

The Saskatchewan AAA Hockey league has put an advisory regarding the Notre Dame Hounds. It can be read by heading to their website here.

Both the AAA midget Hounds and AA midget Argos have had games cancelled for today, Sunday and Wednesday, and several sources have told me it's because of H1N1 virus concerns. A health advisory has been issued to try and keep students and players from Athol Murray college on campus and keep others off of it. Noone has yet said that anyone on campus does have H1N1, but the possibility exists, or else they wouldn't have issued a warning and cancelled games.

I'm sure news networks will be jumping on this story, especially Global Television, later today.

Update: My sources are telling me there is more than one case of H1N1 virus, maybe up to 4 or 5 and others that have flu symptoms. As someone put it to me "you don't cancel that many games because of the sniffles."

Derkatch A Raider?

A WHL source of mine has told me that Dale Derkatch could be named the head scout of the Prince Albert Raiders as early as Monday. Derkatch was the Regina Pats head coach until he was fired during the off season. It was his first season behind the bench in the WHL. Previously Derkatch coached the Notre Dame Hounds AAA Midget program and did a nice job at the college so he certainly should be able to spot talent for the Raiders. The team's website doesn't list anyone as being a head scout, so I'm not sure if anyone is getting fired or if they are just creating a position.

New head Hound in Notre Dame, and TPS adds another blogger.

It's come to my attention that Notre Dame will have a new head coach for it's Junior A team next year. Mike Vandeberghe is leaving the team at the end of the season. The former Brandon Wheat King D-man will help out with the University of Regina as well as help out with team Western for the U-17's. "Big Red" is also heading to Romania this spring to help coach the countries national team alongside former Brandon University Bobcat head coach Tom Skinner. This means in two years the Hounds will have a new coach for their Junior A team as well as AAA midget team after Dale Derkatch left to coach Regina of the WHL.

Speaking of "Joe Pesci" as some have dubbed Derkatch, someone asked me today through a text message if his job was in jeopardy because the Pats post Christmas slide. From what I've heard, G.M. Brent Parker is standing behind his man. But that has been the kiss of death for coaches in the past.

One final note, starting next week on this day, TPS will welcome CKPG TV sports director Allan Bristowe for the "Down-lo with Bristowe". Big Al will give us his take on the WHL's western conference and other items in the world of prospects. However we may have to rein Bristowe in if the P.A. Raiders beat out the Oil Kings for the 8th and final playoff spot, as Prince Albert is his home town. On the bright side, Bristowe is also cut from the goalie cloth so there will be more pipeman talk from The Pipeline Show. I'm very pleased to welcome my old Western Academy Broadcasting College buddy to "Coming Down The Pipe"