Sunday, October 31, 2010

Denver Senior in 'Stable Condition' After Hit

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A scary incident in Saturday's Denver/North Dakota game saw Pioneers senior Jesse Martin, who hails from Edmonton, suffered 3 fractures to his vertebrae after being hit by North Dakota senior Brad Malone. Martin was airlifted from Grand Forks to Minneapolis where he is still in hospital.

An update and the video follows...

Friday, October 29, 2010

Saturday Morning Special: Oct 30th

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Another busy show today as we talked to a new NCAA media contact, got the latest from Moncton after the Kirill Kabanov trade, spoke with another potential 1st round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, chatted with the coach of one of the top Jr.A teams in Canada and also had a weekly visit from our NHL Insider.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Kabanov Now a Real Maineiac

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The tumultuous tenure in Moncton has come to an end for Kirill Kabanov. Today the Wildcats announced that they have traded the New York Islanders prospect to the Lewiston Maineiacs in exchange for a second and a fourth round draft pick in 2011, a first round pick in the 2011 CHL Import Draft, and a fourth round draft pick in 2012.

Here is the Lewiston release and here is the version out of Moncton.

(Photo: Harry How / Getty Images)

Portland Welcomes Back Niederreiter

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As mentioned late yesterday by Dean, the New York Islanders have sent Swiss forward Nino Niederreiter back to the WHL after the NHL rookie's 9-game trial with the big club. The 5th overall pick in the 2010 draft scored one goal and had 2 points during his brief stay on Long Island. His return to the WHL means an already strong team just got a lot stronger.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

2011 Draft Blog: Travis Ewanyk

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Every year Dean and I are fortunate enough to recruit a few NHL draft eligible players to do some guest blogging with us. The list of past players who have taken part include Jordan Eberle (EDM), John Moore (CLB), Ethan Werek (NYR), Mike Lee (PHX), Joe Colborne (BOS), Dylan Olsen (CHI), Mark Pysyk (BUF) and Brett Connolly (TBY).

We've already begun the 2010-11 series earlier this season with the first installment from USHL standout Seth Ambroz. Now it's time to hear from one of our favorite 'sleeper picks' from the WHL, local product Travis Ewanyk. You're not going to see his name on any 1st round rankings but we're quite certain that this is a player that every team will have on their list as a guy to target in the early/middle stages of the draft in Minnesota.

Here is the first chapter of the 2011 Guest Player Blog by 17-year-old forward Travis Ewanyk...

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Tuesday Night Recap

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Tuesday night we opened the show by discussing the struggling Brandon Wheat Kings and how they aren't getting Brayden Schenn back from the LA Kings. Tyler Pitlick was suspended 3 games for a kneeing major and how that might cool off the Oilers prospect, and ticket prices across the CHL. From there we got into our guest list...

Top 5 Tuesday: WHL Rookies

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When it comes to the top WHL rookies there are a number of young hot prospects, but you might be surprised that some of them aren't this list. Guys Like Martin Marincin of Prince George. The Oilers 2010 2nd round pick has 15 points in 13 games so far. Tyler Pitlick, also an Oiler draft pick who joined Medicine Hat after a year in the NCAA, won't be on it either. I don't think an NHL drafted player - or any player who is past their draft year - should be eligible for the Jim Piggott Memorial trophy for the loops top freshman. Instead here are some of the top players eligible for the 2011, 2012 or even 2013 NHL drafts learning their craft in the Western Hockey League.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Tuesday Night Preview

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Let's celebrate the first chilly snowfall in Edmonton and talk some hockey! It's going to be a busy show on Tuesday as we'll try and pack 5 guests into 6 segments.

We'll be speaking with an Oiler prospect who is coming off a career year but appears to have completely fallen off the NHL club's radar and isn't even listed with other prospect on the team's website.

We'll also chat with a Phoenix prospect who is in his junior year at North Dakota and a Calgary prospect who is quickly dispelling the myth that the Flames have nothing in their pipeline.

Our 2011 Draft Prospect is slated to be a guy considered by many to be a top-10 pick this June. Plus, out weekly CHL Insider stops by to talk about some current events.

Major Junior Prices in NHL Cities

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I thought I'd do a cross-Canada comparison of ticket prices for Major Junior teams that are located in NHL markets. There are 6 NHL teams in the country but 7 CHL clubs with two being based in the greater Toronto region. I explored all of the team websites, called a few for clarification on prices. I now have a solid comparison for what it would cost to get a single game ticket in a few different areas in each rink. Who is the cheapest or the most expensive? The answers may (or may not) surprise you.

Saturday Morning Special - Oct 23

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The latest 'Gameday' version of TPS over the weekend is bound to get some people talking. Not only did our NHL Insider suggest that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a better position this year than the Edmonton Oilers (!) but he was also relentless in his verbal assault on Dean. We also spoke with not one but two players eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, we looked at the youth in the system of the San Jose Sharks and we chatted with a NCAA reporter who is one of the most opinionated out there when it comes to college and CHL debates.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

WHL Attendance - Reason for Concern?

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It's still early but a look at attendance figures across the WHL shows that some teams are having a strong start to the year at the gate while others are showing an alarming drop in ticket sales. This isn't limited to just the WHL of course as teams in every North American league have their ups and downs but for now let's just look at the Major junior loop in Western Canada.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

New Chapter in Peter Puck book reveals who really bailed him out?

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The Paper back version of the Peter Pocklington book 'I'd Trade Him Again' written by Terry McConnell and J'Lyn Nye hits shelves today and has a extra chapter that reveals who bailed Pocklington out. Originally it was thought that it was Glen Sather. Here's a snipet.
When the former owner of the Edmonton Oilers was arrested and jailed last year, it was not Glen Sather who posted his $1 million US bail.

Puck's benefactor was instead current Oilers' owner Daryl Katz, who became involved at Sather's request.

“Glen asked Daryl to assist him and he did so out of respect for his friendship with Glen,” says Katz spokesman Steve Hogle.

While Hogle emphasizes “Daryl has no relationship with Peter Pocklington,” Sather makes no such qualifying statement.

“Peter has been a good friend for a lot of years,” Sather told the authors. “I just felt that anything we could do to help him, we should get involved.”
Nye and McConnell research led them to a property in Minnesota that was put up for security, and that property was owned by a Katz company.

I've enjoyed all the Pocklington books and documentaries (The Gretzky HBO King's Ransom was very good) and will be interested in this new information.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Top 5 Tuesday: NCAA Freshmen from Canada

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I couldn't be as specific in the title as I wanted to be but this Top 5 is limited to guys who either went really late in the NHL draft or didn't get selected at all. That eliminates the higher profile guys like Sam Brittain at Denver or a future high pick like Dillon Simpson going to North Dakota so don't be surprised when you don't see their names on the list.

Instead I picked 5 players, all guys I was able to see play in person prior to this year, that really caught my attention at the time and now I'm looking forward to seeing how they fair at the next level.

Central Scouting Watch List is out

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I just received a copy of the 'Players to Watch List' that Central Scouting has (or is about to) released today. A quick glance through is at first a bit disappointing because it's rather short. Then again, because it's largely a Junior A and High School list, most of the big names aren't on it.

Here's what jumped out at me...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Hartsburg To Undergo Heart Surgery. "Chewey" On the mend

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Everett Silvertips head coach Craig Hartsburg will undergo heart surgery and will be lost to the club for atleast the first half of the season. The Tips release can be found here. Obviously the main concern is Hartsburg's health, but you have to wonder how this will effect the Tips, if it does at all. They're currently 5-2-1-1 in what might be the most competitive division in all of junior hockey, with apologies to the mid-west division of the OHL. 4 of the 5 teams in the WHL's U.S division are atleast 3 games above .500 and Portland leads the way with an 8-2-1 mark.

Meanwhile Brandon Wheat King assistant coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk is getting closer to returning to the bench. In early August 'Chewey' suffered a broken back after falling at the rink in Brandon. Former Wheat King and Gylywoychuk teammate Mike Vandenberghe took over the assistant coaching duties, but word is 'Chewey' is set to return December 1st.

Mooseheads Make Coaching Change

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News today out of the QMJHL that majority owner Bobby Smith is the new head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads. In a brief release today, the team made it clear that outgoing bench boss Cam Russell is still employed and will continue on in a key management role.

This n' That - Mid October

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It's a great time of year. The CHL is now a month into the season, the new NCAA campaign has kicked off plus the AHL is underway and so there are lots of things to look at at various levels.

Who's hot and who's not? Which 2011 eligible players are rising or falling? Are there free agents worth keeping an eye on?

This could take a while, I'll try to be brief.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

2011 Draft Blog: Seth Ambroz

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It's become tradition. Every year we get a handful of NHL draft eligible players to do some guest blogging for us. The list of past players who have taken part include Jordan Eberle (EDM), John Moore (CLB), Ethan Werek (NYR), Mike Lee (PHX), Joe Colborne (BOS), Dylan Olsen (CHI), Mark Pysyk (BUF) and Brett Connolly (TBY).

We have already recruited a few players for this year and the first to send us his first installment is power forward Seth Ambroz. The 6'3, 210 lb native of New Prague Minnesota has been a standout for the Omaha Lancers in the USHL for the past couple of years and is hoping to build on that for his NHL draft year.

Here now, in his own words, is the first installment of the 2011 Guest Blog by Seth Ambroz...

Oiler Prospect Pitlick Lights Up Oil Kings

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The Edmonton Oil Kings haven't had a lot of success against the Medicine Hat Tigers since the OK Kids rejoined the WHL and that continued with a weekend sweep courtesy of the Tigers and Oilers 2010 2nd round pick (31st) Tyler Pitlick.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Saturday Morning Special - Oct 16

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This weekend we talked to a new Oilers prospect who has been off to a slow start in the WHL this year... until last night. We headed south of the border to meet another potential 2011 NHL Draft 1st rounder, we talked about the NCAA action from Friday and we also went East to Kitchener to find out how the Rangers are getting it done this year after some hefty personnel losses. And of course Saturday means another visit from the other media mogul named Millard.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Tuesday Night On TPS

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We kicked off Tuesday night with a bang as WHL Vice-President and the head discipline man Richard Doerksen joined us to discuss how he came about the 12 game suspension for Brenden Shinnimin. Shinnimin as you can see here nailed Saskatoon's Josh Nicholls hard into the boards. He was given a major boarding penalty and Tuesday learned his fate. Why 12 games? Will this deter others? Does the WHL have a reputation as a league that is to soft? All questions we asked Richard.

For more on Tuesday's show, keep reading...

Top 5 Tuesday: Calder Dark Horses

This past Saturday our NHL insider Daren Millard from Rogers Sportsnet joined us (as he will every Saturday) to talk rookies and freshman in the big show. The week before that HNIC radio Jeff Marek gave us his Calder trophy candidates. From Eberle, Hall, Paajarvi to Seguin, Ennis and Carlson we talked about a lot of candidates.

There are a number of well known young kids who could take home the hardware, or it might be another surprise winner a la Tyler Myers of last year. Here are 5 guys who might be able to mimic what the now Sabre sophomore did in his rookie season.

Shinnimin Gets 12 Games... Is It Enough?

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The WHL has just announced that Tri City Americans forward Brendan Shinnimin has been suspended for 12 games for his hit from behind on Josh Nicholls of the Saskatoon Blades on October 6th.

Here again is the video of the incident. The question now is: Was the punishment enough?


We'd like to hear YOUR thoughts.

NCAA Rule Gets Failing Grade:The Taylor Stefishen Story

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Taylor Stefishen was hoping to graduate from Ohio State University at the age of 21 with a degree in financial planning. Ironically, his plan won’t happen apparently because of finances.

However his consolation prize is pretty good; Getting to play on a line with a 6th overall NHL pick as a point-per-game player.

We’ll get to that part of his life in a second, but first here’s how the North Vancouver product became a Prince George Cougar of the WHL.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Cougars and Oil Kings Wild West Shoot Out

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The Prince George Cougars and Edmonton Oil Kings have a lot in common, so it wasn't surprising that it took 64 minutes, 59.9 seconds to decide things at Rexall Place Monday afternoon in an 8-7 sloppy but entertaining contest.

TPS Weekend Recap

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Saturday's show featured the debut of one of our new weekly insiders, we also pointed the spotlight on the NCAA's Ice Breaker tournament in St. Louis, we spoke with one of the 2011 players from the Saint John Sea Dogs and we were updated on the situation for the Oklahoma City Barons as the AHL season began.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sea Dogs add goaltending depth

Last year Jacbob De Serres went from the Seattle Thunderbirds to the Brandon Wheat Kings and had a chance to play in the Memorial Cup. He wasn't particularly good in that tournament, but did get Brandon to the final. Today he cleared waivers and has been picked up by the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. The Dogs are a strong team and have to be considered a contender to win the Q league title, meaning if the one time Flyer draft pick in 2008 might have a chance to get back to the CHL championship.

There is nothing just yet on the Sea Dogs web site, but here is the release from Brandon.

Friday, October 8, 2010

What To Do With Shinnimin?

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Last year a good portion of the junior hockey season was dominated by negative headlines. From Mike Liambis to Patrice Cormier the OHL and QMJHL kicked both out by January 25th. The CHL season is just 7 games in and already the WHL is faced with a tough decision.

Wednesday night an ugly hit in the WHL left one player injured and one facing a lengthy suspension. A couple videos coming up...

Saponari Moving from BU to BC

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Former BU Terrier Vinny Saponari will join the arch-rival BC Eagles for 2011-12 after being booted from the program recently. USCHO.com has the story here.

Back in May, Saponari and his older brother Viktor were dismissed from the team after an alcohol-related incident before an upcoming game against Maine. Saponari's initial reaction to being dismissed from the Terriers was well documented by The Daily Free Press.

The forward will red-shirt this year and return to action in 2011-12 but with the Boston College Eagles.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

WHL Trade Frenzy

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A number of deals over the last few days in the WHL as the October 10th deadline for teams to get down to three 20-year-olds draws closer. The Prince George Cougars have been front and center this week having been involved in a number of deals. A summary of the transactions follows...

WHL trade...our crystal ball was right for once

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If you were listening Tuesday night you might have heard Guy and I talking about a possible trade taking place in the WHL. It wasn't a major block buster but an interesting one.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Tuesday Night night recap

Tuesday night Guy and I ran through some the notable names that look to be sticking with their NHL teams...for now. As well as those who weren't so lucky and were sent down to the AHL or back to their CHL teams.

The big news of the day was that big dman Erik Gudbranson was returned to Kingston by the Florida Panthers, but not because he didn't make the team. It was a money issue and Harvey Sialkov, Panthers beat writer with the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel who told us about Gudbranson's camp as well as other Panther prospects.

For you poolies, Darryl Dobbs from Dobberhockey.com gave us his thoughts on what rookies and sophomores to scoop up and which ones to stay away from.

Ty Rattie was our 2011 draft prospect of the week. He's leading the Portland Winterhawks in scoring this young season and as a rookie scored the game winner in game 7 for the Hawks last year against Spokane. He's known for scoring a lot of points, like the 131 he put up on Bantam.

Our weekly trip to the NCAA ranks took us to the Hockey East conference with USCHO.com writer Jimmy Connolly. Will it be Boston domination again?

We wrapped up with more NHL news as well as announcing some regulars soon to come on our show that will take us inside the NHL and CHL.

If you missed it live...click the archive...and don't forget to tune in this Saturday morning 9-11 mst, show details to come at our main site.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Top 5 Tuesday: NCAA Stories This Year

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The NCAA season begins this weekend, highlighted by the IceBreaker in St. Louis featuring Boston University, Wisconsin, Holy Cross and Notre Dame. With a new season come new questions, especially considering how much rosters have changed for many teams since last year. That happens every summer but it seems to have really impacted some teams more than normal this year.

With that said, here are 5 stories I'm watching for this year in the NCAA...

Monday, October 4, 2010

Reading into Oiler moves

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So the Oilers are down to 25 players after sending and hoping to send 8 players to Oklahoma City. On their way to OKC are the following:

Liam Reddox
Ryan O'Marra
Chris Vande Velde
Alex Giroux
Ben Ondrus
Linus Omark

Richard Petiot
Shawn Belle


The only player on this list that you can look at and say might be a game changer is Linus Omark with his potentially high end skill, and while he did have 3 points in 3 pre season games, it wasn't a hard decision to send him down. He doesn't have to clear waivers and doesn't have an out clause to go home until next year. Omark will be back and I have no problem with anything he said today.

From a Buckeye To a Cougar

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The Prince George Cougars had to wait a while for 2005 draft pick Taylor Stefishon, but he will be in the line up this week. You can read the team release here.

The Nashville Predator 5th rounder in 2008 has left the Ohio State Buckeyes. (Photo: Jeff Mills via WHL.ca)

One on One: Dylan McIlrath

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He was a bit of a surprise pick in June but the rugged Moose Jaw defenceman stood out in the Class of 2010 as the toughest rearguard available - enough for the New York Rangers to grab him 10th overall. Now after returning to the WHL from Rangers camp, Dylan McIlrath is focused on getting the Warriors to the post season and beyond.

I had a chance to speak with McIlrath before Moose Jaw's game against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Oil Kings vs Pats Video

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Friday night the Regina Pats and the Edmonton Oil Kings got into an old school melee as a line brawl broke out near the end of the second period that included the two netminders. Some video has turned up and although it certainly misses much of the action, it's better than nothing.

Season 6 TPS Pool

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It's that time of year again, the time to get our annual hockey pool going. You know what makes the TPS one different than any other NHL pool right? It only contains rookies, sophomores and guys who hope to just get some time in the league!

For the list and details on what is up for grabs, read on...

Saturday Morning Special

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Another busy show this weekend as The Pipeline Show looked ahead at the coming NHL season and bravely predicted this year's Calder trophy winners and candidates - with the help of an old friend from Hockey Night In Canada. We also went South to check in on the Barons of OK City as they prepared for their one and only pre-season tilt in advance of the regular season. Our 2011 eligible guest is considered the top player available from the AJHL. And after a wild affair last night in Regina we were joined by someone who was not only in the building but had the call of the brawl between the Pats and the Oil Kings.

"If you missed it live... click the archive!" but continue reading for more of a re-cap.