Forward Sam Reinhart, Kootenay's 1st Round Pick (15th overall) in the 2010 Bantam Draft is among the 33 player 'short list' of BC Hockey's High Performance Program that will be vying for a spot on Team BC that will compete in Halifax at the Canada Winter Games February 10-18.
The Games are held every four years and used to be in lieu of the World U-17 Hockey Challenge that used to take a hiatus for the CWG year as it's held in Canada every holiday season. This year however both look like they will be held as the World U-17 Challenge will go in Winnipeg over the holidays Dec 28, 2010 - January 4, 2011. The event will be in Winnipeg for 2011-12 also.
Interesting to note that Reinhart is listed as 5'11" 160-pounds and has put on two inches and 20 pounds from when he was drafted in April. That's some summer training regiment!
Others from Kootenay's Bantam Draft Class of 2010 to make their respective provincial lists:
D Tanner Faith (2nd round - 33rd overall) - is on Saskatchewan's Top 40 U-16 list
G Wyatt Hoflin (2nd round - 37th overall) - Hockey Alberta Top 35
F Luke Philp (3rd round - 59th overall) - Alberta
F Jaedon Deschaneau (3rd round - 62nd overall) Alberta
F Jesse Wood-Schatz (5th round - 97th overall) Alberta
D Cole DePape (4th round - 77th overall) Hockey Manitoba Top 35
F Jonothan Martin (7th round - 135th overall) Hockey Manitoba
F Ryan Chynoweth (2nd round - 24th overall; Everett Silvertips) and son of Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth was also on the list of Hockey Alberta's Top 35.
Each province will enter a 22-man roster for the tournament next Februrary. If memory serves this tournament, last held in Whitehorse four years ago, was a U-17 tournament that included the likes of Kevin King and Steele Boomer on the roster of Team Alberta. King and Boomer were 16-year-olds at the time.
With the U-16's taking over the Canada Winter Games, the U-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg could feature the likes of the following Ice 16-year-olds looking for a spot on Team Pacific (BC - Alberta) and Team Western (Sask and Manitoba):
G Mackenize Skapski - BC
D Mike Simpson - BC
D Matt Benning - Alberta (not coming to Ice training camp)
F Colby Cave - Saskatchewan Top 45 Camp
F Jared Iron - Sask
F Levi Cable - Sask (Ice list player)
D Kurt Johnas - Manitoba
A good chunk of both the 2009 and 2010 Ice Bantam Draft classes in the mix for their respective provincial/regional clubs. Both will be announced later this fall.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Kootenay Pre-Camp Banter among other things...
It's late August and things are starting to heat up. I've had a couple of requests for an Ice training camp preview so here's a bit of a primer, among some other tidbits.
Kootenay will open training camp at the Cranbrook Rec Plex in just over ten days, with weigh-ins and whatnot likely scheduled for August 31-Sept 1 with lots of ice-times over Labour Day long weekend.
Thick Roster Coming Back - Returning 19 players from last year's roster only C/LW Dustin Sylvester, D Ryan Molle and LW Dominik Pacovsky will all not return. The first two due to graduation from the junior ranks and the latter due to signing to play at home in his native Czech Republic. Had Pacovsky returned he'd be both an import and a 20-year-old.
The 20's - G Todd Mathews, along with forwards Matt Fraser, Steele Boomer and Kevin King will all compete for the three 20-year-old spots. Mathews will return to the club despite rumours indicating otherwise. With the three forwards, one of which will undoubtedly be named captain, unless one signs a pro deal, all three should be the 20's. The competition will go right up to the deadline this year, not so much for the forwards but more to see if goaltender Nathan Lieuwen, a former first round Bantam Pick, takes the ball and runs with it as the number one guy between the pipes. Failing that, Mathews will be the starter and one of the three forwards will be on the outside looking in. It's a real head-scratcher. The club is deep in forwards but depth in scoring prowess the likes of Sylvester et al doesn't exactly jump out at you save for the trio. This will likely be the most intriguing story at training camp this year.
The Depth - Like I said, most of last year's club returns. A blueline featuring a top four as good as any in the WHL. Brayden McNabb, 19, Hayden Rintoul, 19, James Martin, 19, Joe Leach, 18, Luke Paulsen, 18, and Jagger Dirk, 17, round out a deep crop. The list of forwards, though not as prolific in the scoring department, is also long; King, Boomer and Fraser, all 20, along with the likes of Jesse Ismond, 19, Joe Antilla, 19, Max Reinhart, 18, Drew Czerwonka, 18, Elgin Pearce, 18, Christian Magnus, 18, and Brock Montgomery, 18, round out the 1992's. Brendan Hurley, 17, is the lone 17-year-old. In goal you have the aforementioned Mathews, 20, and Lieuwen, 19. That's 11 forwards, two goalies and six d-men, some room for two forwards and a rearguard to challenge for a spot along with a goaltender.
The Lines - Assuming Lieuwen takes the reigns in net (and that assumption isn't anywhere near the printing press at this point in time) the three 20's will provide top billing. Those names in brackets are ones with the a good shot of filling the holes, imo.
King - Boomer - Fraser
Ismond - Reinhart - Antilla
Czerwonka - Magnus - Montgomery
Hurley - Rookie (Rossignol) - Pearce
Rookie (Iron, Cave or Zentner)
McNabb - Rintoul
Martin - Leach
Paulsen - Dirk
Rookie (Simpson)
Leiuwen
Rookie (Skapski)
Who's on the Bubble? - In a word or two, not many. Returning this many veterans in junior hockey is usually a good thing, though the question remains whether or not the over-achieving squad of last season that failed to get out of the first round after going up 2-0 to Medicine Hat will translate into a contender this season. For my money the biggest question remains whether or not forward Christian Magnus, a former first round pick (9th overall) by Swift Current in 2007 Bantam Draft and acquired along with D James Martin in the Negrin/Stickland trade, translates the success he had in Bantam to the WHL. Used in mostly a fourth line role last season can Magnus move into that second unit power play scoring role this season? Forward Elgin Pearce, who played a similar role to Magnus last season, along with Drew Czerwonka will likely provide the biggest push for that PP time this fall.
The Rookies - At this point the Ice are looking at likely four new faces in the line-up, assuming a 22-man roster. Minus one 20-year-old one of the new faces will be a goaltender. If Lieuwen gets the job Mathews will look for work elsewhere, but if it's Mathews, I can't see the club or Leiuwen wanting to stay with the same tandem as last season so either way you'll have a rookie goaltender as the back-up come the 20-year-old deadline, or soon thereafter. Kevin Jacyna, 17, out of Calgary AA Midget along with Brett Tesky a 6th round pick in 08 out of Regina AAA Midget and 16-year-old Mackenzie Skapski from Abbotsford, a 3rd round pick in 09. From what I'm told Skapski has completely recovered from the facial injuries suffered in a bus accident suffered when his Fraser Valley Major Midget club was headed to Prince George last January. All things being equal, Skapski is the current favourite. With one spot open the blueline will be a tough nut to crack for any rookie. John Niebrandt, 18, who stuck with the club at the beginning of the season last year as a list player along with Mike Simpson, 16, and Dylan Schellenberg look to be the top three in the race for number seven. Among the forwards it's a wide-open race for likely three spots; Adam Rossignol, 17, who finished second in team scoring and 15th overall with the PIJHL's Junior B Aldergrove Kodiaks last season looks to be the early favorite. First round pick from 09 Colby Cave along with early nominee for steel of the 09 draft, Jared Iron, a former 8th round pick who finished 9th in Saskatchewan Midget league scoring (25g 36a - 61pts in 41 games) will both push for a spot. Jared Zentner, 17, of Red Deer along with American forward Cody Bisbing, 17, of Phoenix will also have something to say. Former first round pick from 2008 Ryan Bloom, 17, will also be in the mix.
Who's Coming - The aforementioned Cody Bisbing, 17, who was at camp for a short time last season. Many thought Bisbing would go the route of another highly sought after prospect - Colten St. Clair, who committed to North Dakota (NCAA) - but Bisbing is coming to camp looking for a spot... Jared Iron, 16, along with Colby Cave, 16 will be there and Ice fans will also get a first hand look at Sam Reinhart, 15, Kootenay's first round draft pick last May, who is the youngest of the Reinhart clan. Max along with Griffin, 16 who'll likely play with the Oil Kings this season round out the other two. Others to watch at rookie camp are two third round picks from last April's Bantam Draft - forwards Luke Philip from Airdrie and Jaedon Descheneau from Leduc. Neither are eligible to play full-time this season but both are flashy, offensive types.
Who's Not - St. Clair, who never attended a Kootenay camp, has committed to North Dakota. Interestingly enough UND decided not to bring the Phoenix product to campus this season although St. Clair is eligible for his freshman season. He'll return to the Fargo Force of the USHL... D Michael King, a 3rd round pick in 08, the Prince George product came to camp that September but never returned, opting instead to play Major Midget in PG last season and committing to the Westside Warriors of the BCHL this season with obvious NCAA aspirations. King would've almost certainly nailed down that final d-man spot on the Ice blueline and may have challenged for top-six... Brendan O'Donnel of Flin Flon, MB played last season with the Winnipeg South Blues of the MJHL and has committed to North Dakota. Interestingly enough he will play in BC this season but it won't be with the Ice. O'Donnell was traded by the Blue to the Penticton Vees this summer and will play there. I always thought it might be a distance thing with O'Donnell not coming to the Ice from Manitoba but that's not the case now as it's more an NCAA thing, which is fine. O'Donnell was taken in the 6th round of the June NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning... D Matt Benning, 16, a former 2nd round pick in 09 (35th overall) and the son of former NHL'er Brian Benning, I'm told won't be coming to training camp. No reason was given other than he has yet to commit to the club... This season will be the first in Ice history that no European Import players will be on the roster to start the season.
This n That - by now you've likely heard that Kootenay will take part in the WHL's first-ever outdoor game January 15 in Spokane against the Chiefs. The game will be at Avista Baseball stadium home of the Spokane Indians which seats 6800 for baseball. I'll admit I'm surprised it's not at Joe Albi football stadium which seats 25,000, other than a scheduling conflict. The Chiefs draw and average of almost 6500 per game at the Arena so this one will likely be a sell-out. 200 tickets are being reserved for Ice fans wanting to be apart of the action. The WHL's second outdoor game goes on the heels of the NHL Winter Classic at McMahon stadium in Calgary. The Hitmen and Pats will play the day after the Habs and Flames... The Lethbridge Hurricanes held their AGM this past week and announced that the club lost over $260,000 last season and is budgeted to lose another $100,000 this season. MIB.org reports that the Hurricanes attendance this season was 3316, a drop of almost 20%. That, along with missing the playoffs contributed to the loss. By comparison, the Ice averaged 2807, a drop of 8.5% from the year prior. Kootenay had three playoff dates to boost revenues but I wonder what, if any, red ink there was here. Hey, just asking... Looking further down the numbers only four teams saw increases in attendance last season: Portland, Tri-Cities, Kelowna and Brandon, which hosted the Memorial Cup. 17 franchises all saw a drop in average attendance. Medicine Hat, which sells-out the Arena almost every night, stayed the course at 4006 per game... The Wheat Kings had 3600 season tickets last season, so far this season they've sold 2154 according to the team. Last season the Ice had approximately 2000 season tickets.
And finally, found this out there in youtubeland. It's an interview likely taken during the Hockeyville celebrations last spring. It's not Shivers, the Ice mascot who is not much of an interview but the interviewer, who is a dead ringer for Vancouver actor Seth Rogan... And while we're at it, here is some in-venue entertainment from the Spokane Arena done by the Chiefs. Supposedly the every WHL Arena is supposed to have a jumbotron or something similar by the 2012 season. It would be nice to have such entertainment at the 'Plex.... Former Ice D-man Dalyn Flatt is now a Mountie, you can read about that here.
Kootenay will open training camp at the Cranbrook Rec Plex in just over ten days, with weigh-ins and whatnot likely scheduled for August 31-Sept 1 with lots of ice-times over Labour Day long weekend.
Thick Roster Coming Back - Returning 19 players from last year's roster only C/LW Dustin Sylvester, D Ryan Molle and LW Dominik Pacovsky will all not return. The first two due to graduation from the junior ranks and the latter due to signing to play at home in his native Czech Republic. Had Pacovsky returned he'd be both an import and a 20-year-old.
The 20's - G Todd Mathews, along with forwards Matt Fraser, Steele Boomer and Kevin King will all compete for the three 20-year-old spots. Mathews will return to the club despite rumours indicating otherwise. With the three forwards, one of which will undoubtedly be named captain, unless one signs a pro deal, all three should be the 20's. The competition will go right up to the deadline this year, not so much for the forwards but more to see if goaltender Nathan Lieuwen, a former first round Bantam Pick, takes the ball and runs with it as the number one guy between the pipes. Failing that, Mathews will be the starter and one of the three forwards will be on the outside looking in. It's a real head-scratcher. The club is deep in forwards but depth in scoring prowess the likes of Sylvester et al doesn't exactly jump out at you save for the trio. This will likely be the most intriguing story at training camp this year.
The Depth - Like I said, most of last year's club returns. A blueline featuring a top four as good as any in the WHL. Brayden McNabb, 19, Hayden Rintoul, 19, James Martin, 19, Joe Leach, 18, Luke Paulsen, 18, and Jagger Dirk, 17, round out a deep crop. The list of forwards, though not as prolific in the scoring department, is also long; King, Boomer and Fraser, all 20, along with the likes of Jesse Ismond, 19, Joe Antilla, 19, Max Reinhart, 18, Drew Czerwonka, 18, Elgin Pearce, 18, Christian Magnus, 18, and Brock Montgomery, 18, round out the 1992's. Brendan Hurley, 17, is the lone 17-year-old. In goal you have the aforementioned Mathews, 20, and Lieuwen, 19. That's 11 forwards, two goalies and six d-men, some room for two forwards and a rearguard to challenge for a spot along with a goaltender.
The Lines - Assuming Lieuwen takes the reigns in net (and that assumption isn't anywhere near the printing press at this point in time) the three 20's will provide top billing. Those names in brackets are ones with the a good shot of filling the holes, imo.
King - Boomer - Fraser
Ismond - Reinhart - Antilla
Czerwonka - Magnus - Montgomery
Hurley - Rookie (Rossignol) - Pearce
Rookie (Iron, Cave or Zentner)
McNabb - Rintoul
Martin - Leach
Paulsen - Dirk
Rookie (Simpson)
Leiuwen
Rookie (Skapski)
Who's on the Bubble? - In a word or two, not many. Returning this many veterans in junior hockey is usually a good thing, though the question remains whether or not the over-achieving squad of last season that failed to get out of the first round after going up 2-0 to Medicine Hat will translate into a contender this season. For my money the biggest question remains whether or not forward Christian Magnus, a former first round pick (9th overall) by Swift Current in 2007 Bantam Draft and acquired along with D James Martin in the Negrin/Stickland trade, translates the success he had in Bantam to the WHL. Used in mostly a fourth line role last season can Magnus move into that second unit power play scoring role this season? Forward Elgin Pearce, who played a similar role to Magnus last season, along with Drew Czerwonka will likely provide the biggest push for that PP time this fall.
The Rookies - At this point the Ice are looking at likely four new faces in the line-up, assuming a 22-man roster. Minus one 20-year-old one of the new faces will be a goaltender. If Lieuwen gets the job Mathews will look for work elsewhere, but if it's Mathews, I can't see the club or Leiuwen wanting to stay with the same tandem as last season so either way you'll have a rookie goaltender as the back-up come the 20-year-old deadline, or soon thereafter. Kevin Jacyna, 17, out of Calgary AA Midget along with Brett Tesky a 6th round pick in 08 out of Regina AAA Midget and 16-year-old Mackenzie Skapski from Abbotsford, a 3rd round pick in 09. From what I'm told Skapski has completely recovered from the facial injuries suffered in a bus accident suffered when his Fraser Valley Major Midget club was headed to Prince George last January. All things being equal, Skapski is the current favourite. With one spot open the blueline will be a tough nut to crack for any rookie. John Niebrandt, 18, who stuck with the club at the beginning of the season last year as a list player along with Mike Simpson, 16, and Dylan Schellenberg look to be the top three in the race for number seven. Among the forwards it's a wide-open race for likely three spots; Adam Rossignol, 17, who finished second in team scoring and 15th overall with the PIJHL's Junior B Aldergrove Kodiaks last season looks to be the early favorite. First round pick from 09 Colby Cave along with early nominee for steel of the 09 draft, Jared Iron, a former 8th round pick who finished 9th in Saskatchewan Midget league scoring (25g 36a - 61pts in 41 games) will both push for a spot. Jared Zentner, 17, of Red Deer along with American forward Cody Bisbing, 17, of Phoenix will also have something to say. Former first round pick from 2008 Ryan Bloom, 17, will also be in the mix.
Who's Coming - The aforementioned Cody Bisbing, 17, who was at camp for a short time last season. Many thought Bisbing would go the route of another highly sought after prospect - Colten St. Clair, who committed to North Dakota (NCAA) - but Bisbing is coming to camp looking for a spot... Jared Iron, 16, along with Colby Cave, 16 will be there and Ice fans will also get a first hand look at Sam Reinhart, 15, Kootenay's first round draft pick last May, who is the youngest of the Reinhart clan. Max along with Griffin, 16 who'll likely play with the Oil Kings this season round out the other two. Others to watch at rookie camp are two third round picks from last April's Bantam Draft - forwards Luke Philip from Airdrie and Jaedon Descheneau from Leduc. Neither are eligible to play full-time this season but both are flashy, offensive types.
Who's Not - St. Clair, who never attended a Kootenay camp, has committed to North Dakota. Interestingly enough UND decided not to bring the Phoenix product to campus this season although St. Clair is eligible for his freshman season. He'll return to the Fargo Force of the USHL... D Michael King, a 3rd round pick in 08, the Prince George product came to camp that September but never returned, opting instead to play Major Midget in PG last season and committing to the Westside Warriors of the BCHL this season with obvious NCAA aspirations. King would've almost certainly nailed down that final d-man spot on the Ice blueline and may have challenged for top-six... Brendan O'Donnel of Flin Flon, MB played last season with the Winnipeg South Blues of the MJHL and has committed to North Dakota. Interestingly enough he will play in BC this season but it won't be with the Ice. O'Donnell was traded by the Blue to the Penticton Vees this summer and will play there. I always thought it might be a distance thing with O'Donnell not coming to the Ice from Manitoba but that's not the case now as it's more an NCAA thing, which is fine. O'Donnell was taken in the 6th round of the June NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning... D Matt Benning, 16, a former 2nd round pick in 09 (35th overall) and the son of former NHL'er Brian Benning, I'm told won't be coming to training camp. No reason was given other than he has yet to commit to the club... This season will be the first in Ice history that no European Import players will be on the roster to start the season.
This n That - by now you've likely heard that Kootenay will take part in the WHL's first-ever outdoor game January 15 in Spokane against the Chiefs. The game will be at Avista Baseball stadium home of the Spokane Indians which seats 6800 for baseball. I'll admit I'm surprised it's not at Joe Albi football stadium which seats 25,000, other than a scheduling conflict. The Chiefs draw and average of almost 6500 per game at the Arena so this one will likely be a sell-out. 200 tickets are being reserved for Ice fans wanting to be apart of the action. The WHL's second outdoor game goes on the heels of the NHL Winter Classic at McMahon stadium in Calgary. The Hitmen and Pats will play the day after the Habs and Flames... The Lethbridge Hurricanes held their AGM this past week and announced that the club lost over $260,000 last season and is budgeted to lose another $100,000 this season. MIB.org reports that the Hurricanes attendance this season was 3316, a drop of almost 20%. That, along with missing the playoffs contributed to the loss. By comparison, the Ice averaged 2807, a drop of 8.5% from the year prior. Kootenay had three playoff dates to boost revenues but I wonder what, if any, red ink there was here. Hey, just asking... Looking further down the numbers only four teams saw increases in attendance last season: Portland, Tri-Cities, Kelowna and Brandon, which hosted the Memorial Cup. 17 franchises all saw a drop in average attendance. Medicine Hat, which sells-out the Arena almost every night, stayed the course at 4006 per game... The Wheat Kings had 3600 season tickets last season, so far this season they've sold 2154 according to the team. Last season the Ice had approximately 2000 season tickets.
And finally, found this out there in youtubeland. It's an interview likely taken during the Hockeyville celebrations last spring. It's not Shivers, the Ice mascot who is not much of an interview but the interviewer, who is a dead ringer for Vancouver actor Seth Rogan... And while we're at it, here is some in-venue entertainment from the Spokane Arena done by the Chiefs. Supposedly the every WHL Arena is supposed to have a jumbotron or something similar by the 2012 season. It would be nice to have such entertainment at the 'Plex.... Former Ice D-man Dalyn Flatt is now a Mountie, you can read about that here.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Kootenay's new assistant coaches/Klemm and Moulton in Spokane
The Ice have hired Todd Johnson, 38, most recently of Kelowna along with Jerry Bancks, 55, of Kimberley as assistant coaches to the recently named head coach, Kris Knoblauch.
Johnson, a former Rebel captain and member of the 92 Blazer's Memorial Cup team, comes to the Ice from Kelowna's hockey factory, POE (Pursuit of Excellence) while Jerry - whose son Carter just graduated from the WHL ranks - has retired from teaching in Kimberley to join the Ice. I had heard that Bancks was actually going to throw his name in the hat to coach one of Cranbrook Minor Hockey's Tier II clubs that play in the SCAHL (Southern Alberta) League but obviously a better opportunity arose.
Many had batted around former Ice captain Colin Sinclair's name around as a candidate but Sinclair, who makes his off-season home in Cranbrook after marrying a local girl a couple of summers back is still looking to play professionally with Bolzano HC in Italy this season. He's running 'Hockey in the Rockies' hockey school in Cranbrook and Invermere this month with Don Murdoch.
In Spokane the Chiefs announced that Cranbrook product Jon Klemm has signed a new, two-year deal with the club to remain as an assistant coach under new bench boss Don Nachbaur. Fernie product Chris Moulton signed on with a three-year deal to continue as Director of Player Personel.
Also a get well note to former Ice GM and current Tri-City Americans GM Bob Tory who was in hospital for the past few days due to high blood pressure.
Here's the Ice release:
ICE Name New Assistant Coaches
Cranbrook, BC – Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club today announced the Club has hired Todd Johnson and Jerry Bancks as their new Assistant Coaches. Both coaches have signed two-year contracts along with a club option for a third year.
“It is very exciting for our organization to have these two gentlemen join our coaching staff. Both men are teachers by trade so they will be able to relate to the young players of today. They also have played in the League and have coached at different levels which will definitely be an asset to our Club”, continued Chynoweth.
“Both Todd and Jerry are passionate to begin coaching in the Western Hockey League. Our players will benefit a great deal from their experience teaching individual skills,” commented Head Coach Kris Knoblauch.
Todd Johnson played three seasons in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors (1990-1991), Kamloops Blazers (1991-1992) and Red Deer Rebels (1992-1993). He won a Memorial Cup with the Blazers in 1992 and was also the first ever captain of the Rebels. Todd played five years at the University of Calgary (1993-1998) and obtained a Bachelor of Education degree. Upon his graduation from University he played professionally in Germany (1998-2004). For the past six years he has been involved with the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, BC, including the last four years as Head Coach of the Midget AAA team.
Jerry Bancks has been involved with hockey in Kimberley for a number of years, including two different stints as Assistant Coach with the Kimberley Dynamiters. Recently retired after teaching for 30 years, he will continue to teach at the School District 6 Sports School in Kimberley. Jerry played two years in the Western Canada Hockey League with the Lethbridge Broncos and Calgary Centennials (1974-1976). Upon graduating from the WCHL he went on to play five years with the University of Calgary (1976-1980). Jerry also achieved a Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education degrees at the University of Calgary.
Todd Johnson is a native of Regina, Saskatchewan. He and his wife Miriam are the parents of one son – Eli (2). Todd will be joining the ICE on August 23.
Jerry Bancks is a native of Calgary, Alberta. He and his wife Marilyn are the parents of two children – Cassidy (23) and Carter (21). Jerry will be joining the ICE at Training Camp on September 2.
Johnson, a former Rebel captain and member of the 92 Blazer's Memorial Cup team, comes to the Ice from Kelowna's hockey factory, POE (Pursuit of Excellence) while Jerry - whose son Carter just graduated from the WHL ranks - has retired from teaching in Kimberley to join the Ice. I had heard that Bancks was actually going to throw his name in the hat to coach one of Cranbrook Minor Hockey's Tier II clubs that play in the SCAHL (Southern Alberta) League but obviously a better opportunity arose.
Many had batted around former Ice captain Colin Sinclair's name around as a candidate but Sinclair, who makes his off-season home in Cranbrook after marrying a local girl a couple of summers back is still looking to play professionally with Bolzano HC in Italy this season. He's running 'Hockey in the Rockies' hockey school in Cranbrook and Invermere this month with Don Murdoch.
In Spokane the Chiefs announced that Cranbrook product Jon Klemm has signed a new, two-year deal with the club to remain as an assistant coach under new bench boss Don Nachbaur. Fernie product Chris Moulton signed on with a three-year deal to continue as Director of Player Personel.
Also a get well note to former Ice GM and current Tri-City Americans GM Bob Tory who was in hospital for the past few days due to high blood pressure.
Here's the Ice release:
ICE Name New Assistant Coaches
Cranbrook, BC – Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club today announced the Club has hired Todd Johnson and Jerry Bancks as their new Assistant Coaches. Both coaches have signed two-year contracts along with a club option for a third year.
“It is very exciting for our organization to have these two gentlemen join our coaching staff. Both men are teachers by trade so they will be able to relate to the young players of today. They also have played in the League and have coached at different levels which will definitely be an asset to our Club”, continued Chynoweth.
“Both Todd and Jerry are passionate to begin coaching in the Western Hockey League. Our players will benefit a great deal from their experience teaching individual skills,” commented Head Coach Kris Knoblauch.
Todd Johnson played three seasons in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors (1990-1991), Kamloops Blazers (1991-1992) and Red Deer Rebels (1992-1993). He won a Memorial Cup with the Blazers in 1992 and was also the first ever captain of the Rebels. Todd played five years at the University of Calgary (1993-1998) and obtained a Bachelor of Education degree. Upon his graduation from University he played professionally in Germany (1998-2004). For the past six years he has been involved with the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, BC, including the last four years as Head Coach of the Midget AAA team.
Jerry Bancks has been involved with hockey in Kimberley for a number of years, including two different stints as Assistant Coach with the Kimberley Dynamiters. Recently retired after teaching for 30 years, he will continue to teach at the School District 6 Sports School in Kimberley. Jerry played two years in the Western Canada Hockey League with the Lethbridge Broncos and Calgary Centennials (1974-1976). Upon graduating from the WCHL he went on to play five years with the University of Calgary (1976-1980). Jerry also achieved a Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education degrees at the University of Calgary.
Todd Johnson is a native of Regina, Saskatchewan. He and his wife Miriam are the parents of one son – Eli (2). Todd will be joining the ICE on August 23.
Jerry Bancks is a native of Calgary, Alberta. He and his wife Marilyn are the parents of two children – Cassidy (23) and Carter (21). Jerry will be joining the ICE at Training Camp on September 2.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Beattie to Ams
As per Gregg Drinnan's Blog current Ice assistant coach Scott Beattie is expected to be named assistant coach of the Tri-Cities Americans today.
Beattie and Ams coach Jim Hiller played together at Northern Michigan in the early '90's. No word on who new Ice head coach Kris Knoblauch might name as his replacement might be.
Beattie and Ams coach Jim Hiller played together at Northern Michigan in the early '90's. No word on who new Ice head coach Kris Knoblauch might name as his replacement might be.
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