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Holick named assistant coach for U-18 team
by Jeff Bromley
Kootenay Ice head coach Mark Holick’s summer just got a little shorter. Holick, 40, was named assistant coach to Canada’s entry into the Ivan Hlinka U-18 Memorial tournament – formerly the World U-18 Challenge – held annually in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and scheduled for August 11-15. Following the club’s early exit from the WHL playoffs at the hands of the Brandon Wheat Kings at the end of March the second-year head coach flew to Toronto in early April to interview for the job. “It’s an opportunity that you can’t pass up,” said Holick. “It’s a chance to work in the under-18 program, the national team program. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it.”
The head coaching position went to Calgary Hitmen head coach Dave Lowry, who is coming off his first season at the helm of the Hitmen after leading the club to first place overall in the regular season before bowing out in the WHL finals to the Kelowna Rockets in six games. Holick’s counterpart behind the bench also in an assistant coach role will be Chris DePiero, the head coach of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. “We interviewed in Toronto then came back and it was a waiting game from there,” continued Holick. “Obviously it worked out but it’s been something that's been in the back of my mind for awhile. If you’re a coach you want to coach at the highest level and this is a step in that process. If we do well it presents more opportunities and then who knows where one could end up in the program.”
Holick is the second Ice coach to venture into the national team program as Cory Clouston, now the head coach of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, was the bench boss of the U-18 summer team that brought home the gold in 2006 on a club that included defenseman John Negrin. Holick himself is no stranger to Hockey Canada’s high performance program as the Penticton product was the head coach of Team Pacific at the World U-17 Challenge in Lethbridge in 2004 and guided that club, which included former Ice forward Ben Maxwell, to a silver medal. Holick was also going to be an assistant for the inaugural World Junior A Challenge in Trail in 2007 with Team West but was hired on with the Ice that summer.
Holick resigned himself to small steps up the ladder of Hockey Canada’s program, applying for the assistant coaching position first instead of the head coaching job. “I interviewed and indicated that I was interested in the assistant’s position,” said Holick. “I didn’t feel I was quite ready to take on the head coaching position. But for me it was honour and privilege just to be named.”
The coaching staff along with Hockey Canada scouts will have their first conference call to discuss the potential invites to the summer camp this July in Calgary. Though he wasn’t at liberty to say who might get the nod there are at least two members of the Ice who will get consideration; forwards Drew Czerwonka and Max Reinhart, both of which played at the World U-17 Challenge over the Christmas holidays in Port Alberni for Team West and Team Pacific, respectively. “I don’t think I can comment publicly on the player lists until the invites go out but we do have a couple of players on our team who may or may not be ready for that opportunity.”
Quick Hits – The WHL’s Central Division will be well-represented this year at the Hockey Canada level as beside Holick and Hitmen coach Dave Lowry, Medicine Hat Tigers bench boss Willie Desjardins was named the head coach of the National Junior squad that will compete in Saskatoon and Regina for the 2010 tournament this December and January. Canada has won five-straight gold medals at the tournament dating back to 2005 when former Ice players Nigel Dawes and Jeff Glass took home the gold medal… The deadline for Kootenay Ice season tickets at early bird prices is May 29. Inquiries can made at the Ice office at the Cranbrook Rec Plex.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Holick named assistant to U-18
Ice coach Mark Holick had been named to the coaching staff of Canada's U-18 team that plays in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament every August. Holick was named an assistant coach under Calgary Hitmen coach Dave Lowry. Chris Dipiero of the OHL's Oshawa Generals is the other assistant.
More later...
More later...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Random thoughts.....
You might have noticed that the blogroll has been a little light lately. With no local hockey lately my time and interests have been directed elsewhere. For those who know me know that I'm a bit of political junkie, which probably means that I surf just as much BC (and to a lesser extent, national and international but none of them are as much fun as the left coast) politics as I do hockey. Which as you have probably realized can make for some pretty fun conversations. (Like, don't you just wish you can drop the mitts with your local politician, go to the box for five and then carry on?)
The posts will likely be few and far between over the next two months as my industry (forestry - other job) tries to rebuild itself in the wake the economic meltdown but I'll try to comment on a few things.
The Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins will be named head coach of the 2010 World Junior Team this week...
Anyways, here's a few thoughts on the musings of things gone by in the hockey world over the last few weeks. I'll keep the politics to myself, unless I get bored.
I'm not much of horse guy other than when U.S. networks cut hockey coverage mid-OT to show it but last weekend's win by Canadian long-shot Mine that Bird mined some serious cash for one local who hit the trifecta at the St. Eugene Casino on a $6 bet that turned into a $20,000 windfall. I just don't have that kind of luck...
Speaking on betting, I wonder what the Vegas over/under was on Luongo letting seven get by him in the Blackhawks clincher last night. If the Hawks, Penguins, Bruins and Caps' success shows anything it's rebuilding from scratch through the draft will get you the success you desire. Time for the Canucks to cast off Sundin, Ohlund and yes, even Luongo and start from scratch. Building around the Sedins along with a guy like Cory Schneider and Cody Hodgson among the draft picks they'd acquired from the process is the way to go.
Former Ice head scout and assistant manager Roy Stasiuk was let go this week as the Lethbridge Hurricanes GM, a post he'd held for the last four seasons. I don't profess to know the in's and out's of the relationship Stasiuk had with the Canes now former head coach Micheal Dyck, whose contract wasn't renewed just a week prior to Stasiuk being let go, but needless to say the incidents between the two were Internet sensations as far as the WHL rumour board goes. There's some good coverage here and page 15 here with the latter having former captain Ben Wright comment openly on the situation and Rich Sutter expressing a refreshingly open opinion on the subject. I say refreshingly because even though no one wants these things to happen to WHL clubs or people that you might know but at least when it does happen, people involved express their true feelings on the situation rather than just glazing it over for the sake of 'circling the wagons' and protecting the best interests of the team, if not their integrity. My dealings with 'Rodeo' were always positive and he always had a lot time for hockey talk. Too bad things didn't work out for him....
Okay, okay, I went 12-3 in the WHL Playoff prediction pool and perhaps the Hitmen weren't as good as first thought as I was sure that they'd take the Rockets but somehow the Calgary blueline, that I thought was deeper than the Rockets, didn't perform up to par. And Guggenberger was better than Martin...
A quick swing to politics of the municipal kind, the Prince George City Council has turned down an application for Cougar fans, or any fans that attend events at the CN Centre for that matter, to be able to drink their beer in the stands. Now we know why the stands look so empty during Cougar highlites.....
Victoria just finished hosting the RBC Cup - Junior A's version of the Memorial Cup -in which the BCHL's Vernon Vipers defeated the SJHL's Humboldt Broncos in the final but internet whispers are now wondering how long until that the city applies/looks into an AHL team to relocate to the BC capital. Following the heals of Abbotsford's successful landing of the Calgary Flames AHL franchise for next season, if they're successful how long until other NHL franchises look into the likes of Victoria and/or other Western North American markets? The Victoria Grizzlies are owned by former WHL'er Len Barrie - his kid Tyson just scored the WHL championship winner in OT against Calgary Saturday and should be a 1st round NHL Draft pick next month - and as part owner of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning the elder Barrie could easily have the pull to relocate a team their next season if the Abbotsford franchise is successful. I give it two years and you'll see two, maybe three AHL teams head West, firmly encroaching on what used to be exclusive WHL territory...
Basillie? Gagliardi? Who win the Hamilton sweepstakes? When was the last time sweepstakes and Hamilton were used in the same sentence?...
The NHL isn't exactly immune from the economic meltdown and billionaires wanting to own an NHL franchise aren't exactly a dime a dozen. So tell me why again Gary Bettman can't get by his own ego and let the Blackberry Billionaire buy into the NHL? Can you say expansion fee? Thought so...
Nuff for now... Onto the polls....
The posts will likely be few and far between over the next two months as my industry (forestry - other job) tries to rebuild itself in the wake the economic meltdown but I'll try to comment on a few things.
The Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins will be named head coach of the 2010 World Junior Team this week...
Anyways, here's a few thoughts on the musings of things gone by in the hockey world over the last few weeks. I'll keep the politics to myself, unless I get bored.
I'm not much of horse guy other than when U.S. networks cut hockey coverage mid-OT to show it but last weekend's win by Canadian long-shot Mine that Bird mined some serious cash for one local who hit the trifecta at the St. Eugene Casino on a $6 bet that turned into a $20,000 windfall. I just don't have that kind of luck...
Speaking on betting, I wonder what the Vegas over/under was on Luongo letting seven get by him in the Blackhawks clincher last night. If the Hawks, Penguins, Bruins and Caps' success shows anything it's rebuilding from scratch through the draft will get you the success you desire. Time for the Canucks to cast off Sundin, Ohlund and yes, even Luongo and start from scratch. Building around the Sedins along with a guy like Cory Schneider and Cody Hodgson among the draft picks they'd acquired from the process is the way to go.
Former Ice head scout and assistant manager Roy Stasiuk was let go this week as the Lethbridge Hurricanes GM, a post he'd held for the last four seasons. I don't profess to know the in's and out's of the relationship Stasiuk had with the Canes now former head coach Micheal Dyck, whose contract wasn't renewed just a week prior to Stasiuk being let go, but needless to say the incidents between the two were Internet sensations as far as the WHL rumour board goes. There's some good coverage here and page 15 here with the latter having former captain Ben Wright comment openly on the situation and Rich Sutter expressing a refreshingly open opinion on the subject. I say refreshingly because even though no one wants these things to happen to WHL clubs or people that you might know but at least when it does happen, people involved express their true feelings on the situation rather than just glazing it over for the sake of 'circling the wagons' and protecting the best interests of the team, if not their integrity. My dealings with 'Rodeo' were always positive and he always had a lot time for hockey talk. Too bad things didn't work out for him....
Okay, okay, I went 12-3 in the WHL Playoff prediction pool and perhaps the Hitmen weren't as good as first thought as I was sure that they'd take the Rockets but somehow the Calgary blueline, that I thought was deeper than the Rockets, didn't perform up to par. And Guggenberger was better than Martin...
A quick swing to politics of the municipal kind, the Prince George City Council has turned down an application for Cougar fans, or any fans that attend events at the CN Centre for that matter, to be able to drink their beer in the stands. Now we know why the stands look so empty during Cougar highlites.....
Victoria just finished hosting the RBC Cup - Junior A's version of the Memorial Cup -in which the BCHL's Vernon Vipers defeated the SJHL's Humboldt Broncos in the final but internet whispers are now wondering how long until that the city applies/looks into an AHL team to relocate to the BC capital. Following the heals of Abbotsford's successful landing of the Calgary Flames AHL franchise for next season, if they're successful how long until other NHL franchises look into the likes of Victoria and/or other Western North American markets? The Victoria Grizzlies are owned by former WHL'er Len Barrie - his kid Tyson just scored the WHL championship winner in OT against Calgary Saturday and should be a 1st round NHL Draft pick next month - and as part owner of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning the elder Barrie could easily have the pull to relocate a team their next season if the Abbotsford franchise is successful. I give it two years and you'll see two, maybe three AHL teams head West, firmly encroaching on what used to be exclusive WHL territory...
Basillie? Gagliardi? Who win the Hamilton sweepstakes? When was the last time sweepstakes and Hamilton were used in the same sentence?...
The NHL isn't exactly immune from the economic meltdown and billionaires wanting to own an NHL franchise aren't exactly a dime a dozen. So tell me why again Gary Bettman can't get by his own ego and let the Blackberry Billionaire buy into the NHL? Can you say expansion fee? Thought so...
Nuff for now... Onto the polls....
Friday, May 1, 2009
This, that and the other thing....
Musings about the WHL Draft, the NHL Playoffs, among other things for the News-Advertiser
Locals shutout in WHL Draft
by Jeff Bromley
For a region and city that couldn’t throw a rock without hitting an NHL’er over the years, we sure can’t produce ‘em like we used to. Starting with the WHL draft it’s now been so many years since a local product was drafted out of the Cranbrook/Kimberley/Fernie minor hockey systems that I actually couldn’t recall the last Cranbrook product taken in the WHL Draft. After a bit of a search I found forward Jesse Felski, taken by Swift Current in the 8th round in 2003 was the last one while Kootenay took Brady McMullin in the 9th round in the same year. That’s six years of being shutout.
Golden product Curtis MacKenzie, a forward with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL is ranked 158th by Central Scouting for the NHL Draft in June and was taken by the Red Deer Rebels in 2006 and looks to be going the NCAA route and to be fair it’s not like a prospect hasn’t come out of minor hockey locally.
Defenseman Jace Coyle of Medicine Hat; forward Dustin Donaghy with Spokane and forward Carter Bancks with Lethbridge are all Cranbrook/Kimberley products but none of them were drafted but rather listed by respective clubs after being scouted playing in the KIJHL with Fernie and Kimberley.
So what’s the problem? It’s not the be-all and end-all if you’re not drafted, as the three aforementioned names prove but the question still remains - why can’t our local minor hockey associations produce drafted players like they used to? Scouting? From what I’ve seen almost every WHL club has a scout in the region, so that can’t be it. Playing time? Bantam-aged players playing at the level needed to get into the that realm play a ton locally and local squads play in as many tournaments or league games as their big city counterparts. Sheer numbers? The Cranbrook association is stable in the amount of kids playing the game and actually has more than they did during their heyday producing the likes of the Niedermayers, Jon Klemm, Brad Lukowich et al. Is it coaching? Gawd, as one of the Peewee coaches next season I hope not. It’s an intriguing question that I don’t think that there’s just one answer to but from Revelstoke to Trail, to have only one player drafted of 200-plus (Revelstoke D Bradon Seyl - Kelowna) something’s amiss.
Around the horn - Some other interesting tidbits from the draft Thursday: Prince George nabbed D Dane Phaneuf in the third round, younger brother of former Rebel and current Calgary Flame Dion… The Vancouver Giants already started to retool their blueline after their Western Conference final loss to the Kelowna Rockets by acquiring D Matt Strong, 19, from the Chilliwack Bruins for a 8th round pick in 2010 and dealing a 5th round pick next year to Saskatoon for the rights to 20-year-old D Ryan Funk. The Giants are expected to lose D Jon Blum; G Tyson Sexsmith and also D Nick Ross along with graduated 20-year-olds Casey Pierro-Zabotel - the WHL scoring champion, D Craig Schira and D Mike Berube… Kootenay, with only two 20-year-olds returning next season in forwards Dustin Sylvester and Tylan Stephens, if he indeed returns because he’s mulling over starting his college career in Calgary a year early, are expected to be in the hunt for a 20-year-old defenseman to help out on the blueline… One of the good guys came back into the WHL fold last week when former Kamloops Blazer, Brandon Wheat Kings and Calgary Hitmen head coach Dean Clark was signed by the Prince George Cougars to a five-year deal to coach the club. After not surviving the ownership transfer with the Blazers in November of 2007 Clark, who was a power lineman in Alberta before joining the Hitmen in 1997, was working for a car dealership in Edmonton. It says here that he’s jumped to a somewhat more stable industry than where he came from in today’s economy. Yes, coaching in hockey is more stable than many things these days… The WHL Championship for the Ed Chynoweth Cup started Friday in Calgary with the Hitmen hosting the Kelowna Rockets. In case you were wondering, it’ll be the Hitmen in six. Forwards are a dead heat; the blueline the same while the goaltending edge has to go to Martin Jones of the Hitmen. Calgary is 12-0 in the playoffs and they could go 16-0, that’s how good they are… Switching leagues and allegiances, with all that former WHL talent and Western Canadian influence on the Chicago Black hawks (Toews, Barker, Seabrook, Ladd, Brouwer, Byfuglien, Keith, Versteeg and former Ice d-man Matt Walker) is it easier to root for the Hawks? Hey, just asking… Okay, hands up all those who thought Lethbridge's Kris Versteeg would be a Rookie of the Year candidate? Thought so... Is it me or is Mats Sundin slow?… I dunno, I always rooted for the Canucks when they were terrible. Them being contenders just doesn’t feel normal. If you’re looking for a predicition how about a ‘Nucks-Ducks conference final… And if you’re still wondering yes, the NHL has their marquee match-up in Ovechkin vs. Crosby. For my money Crosby’s the better all-around player but no one in the world has the talent Ovie has. That being said, it’ll be the Penguins in seven but they’ll be beat up and have to face the Bruins, who’ll make short work of the Hurricanes.
Locals shutout in WHL Draft
by Jeff Bromley
For a region and city that couldn’t throw a rock without hitting an NHL’er over the years, we sure can’t produce ‘em like we used to. Starting with the WHL draft it’s now been so many years since a local product was drafted out of the Cranbrook/Kimberley/Fernie minor hockey systems that I actually couldn’t recall the last Cranbrook product taken in the WHL Draft. After a bit of a search I found forward Jesse Felski, taken by Swift Current in the 8th round in 2003 was the last one while Kootenay took Brady McMullin in the 9th round in the same year. That’s six years of being shutout.
Golden product Curtis MacKenzie, a forward with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL is ranked 158th by Central Scouting for the NHL Draft in June and was taken by the Red Deer Rebels in 2006 and looks to be going the NCAA route and to be fair it’s not like a prospect hasn’t come out of minor hockey locally.
Defenseman Jace Coyle of Medicine Hat; forward Dustin Donaghy with Spokane and forward Carter Bancks with Lethbridge are all Cranbrook/Kimberley products but none of them were drafted but rather listed by respective clubs after being scouted playing in the KIJHL with Fernie and Kimberley.
So what’s the problem? It’s not the be-all and end-all if you’re not drafted, as the three aforementioned names prove but the question still remains - why can’t our local minor hockey associations produce drafted players like they used to? Scouting? From what I’ve seen almost every WHL club has a scout in the region, so that can’t be it. Playing time? Bantam-aged players playing at the level needed to get into the that realm play a ton locally and local squads play in as many tournaments or league games as their big city counterparts. Sheer numbers? The Cranbrook association is stable in the amount of kids playing the game and actually has more than they did during their heyday producing the likes of the Niedermayers, Jon Klemm, Brad Lukowich et al. Is it coaching? Gawd, as one of the Peewee coaches next season I hope not. It’s an intriguing question that I don’t think that there’s just one answer to but from Revelstoke to Trail, to have only one player drafted of 200-plus (Revelstoke D Bradon Seyl - Kelowna) something’s amiss.
Around the horn - Some other interesting tidbits from the draft Thursday: Prince George nabbed D Dane Phaneuf in the third round, younger brother of former Rebel and current Calgary Flame Dion… The Vancouver Giants already started to retool their blueline after their Western Conference final loss to the Kelowna Rockets by acquiring D Matt Strong, 19, from the Chilliwack Bruins for a 8th round pick in 2010 and dealing a 5th round pick next year to Saskatoon for the rights to 20-year-old D Ryan Funk. The Giants are expected to lose D Jon Blum; G Tyson Sexsmith and also D Nick Ross along with graduated 20-year-olds Casey Pierro-Zabotel - the WHL scoring champion, D Craig Schira and D Mike Berube… Kootenay, with only two 20-year-olds returning next season in forwards Dustin Sylvester and Tylan Stephens, if he indeed returns because he’s mulling over starting his college career in Calgary a year early, are expected to be in the hunt for a 20-year-old defenseman to help out on the blueline… One of the good guys came back into the WHL fold last week when former Kamloops Blazer, Brandon Wheat Kings and Calgary Hitmen head coach Dean Clark was signed by the Prince George Cougars to a five-year deal to coach the club. After not surviving the ownership transfer with the Blazers in November of 2007 Clark, who was a power lineman in Alberta before joining the Hitmen in 1997, was working for a car dealership in Edmonton. It says here that he’s jumped to a somewhat more stable industry than where he came from in today’s economy. Yes, coaching in hockey is more stable than many things these days… The WHL Championship for the Ed Chynoweth Cup started Friday in Calgary with the Hitmen hosting the Kelowna Rockets. In case you were wondering, it’ll be the Hitmen in six. Forwards are a dead heat; the blueline the same while the goaltending edge has to go to Martin Jones of the Hitmen. Calgary is 12-0 in the playoffs and they could go 16-0, that’s how good they are… Switching leagues and allegiances, with all that former WHL talent and Western Canadian influence on the Chicago Black hawks (Toews, Barker, Seabrook, Ladd, Brouwer, Byfuglien, Keith, Versteeg and former Ice d-man Matt Walker) is it easier to root for the Hawks? Hey, just asking… Okay, hands up all those who thought Lethbridge's Kris Versteeg would be a Rookie of the Year candidate? Thought so... Is it me or is Mats Sundin slow?… I dunno, I always rooted for the Canucks when they were terrible. Them being contenders just doesn’t feel normal. If you’re looking for a predicition how about a ‘Nucks-Ducks conference final… And if you’re still wondering yes, the NHL has their marquee match-up in Ovechkin vs. Crosby. For my money Crosby’s the better all-around player but no one in the world has the talent Ovie has. That being said, it’ll be the Penguins in seven but they’ll be beat up and have to face the Bruins, who’ll make short work of the Hurricanes.
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