Garry Davidson has joined the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen as their director of player 
personnel. . . . Davidson has been a free agent since May 21 when the Everett Silvertips announced that his contract wouldn’t be renewed after nine mostly successful seasons. . . . In Calgary, Davidson replaces long-time WHL player, scout and executive Dallas Thompson, who had been Calgary’s director of player personnel since July 11, 2017. The Hitmen announced on May 26 that “Thompson will not be returning next season.” . . . Prior to signing with Everett, Davidson spent four seasons with the Portland Winterhawks, serving as director of player personnel and head scout. . . . “With the number of drafts in the WHL this year,” Hitmen general manager Jeff Chynoweth said in a news release, “scouting is more important than ever and we are thrilled to add Garry Davidson to our organization. He has a tremendous amount of experience, a winning pedigree and a diverse background with a proven track record of not only identifying but also recruiting players.” . . . The Hitmen also announced that Gary Michalick will be back for a five season. He is the organization’s travelling scout. . . . Thompson, 47, played three seasons (1992-95) with the WHL’s Tacoma Rockets. He later spent 16 seasons with the Prince George Cougars, 10 as general manager. He spent two seasons (2015-17) as Calgary’s director of scouting before being named director of player personnel.
The Victoria Royals and Lethbridge Hurricanes got together on a trade on 
Thursday, one in which the rights to F Chase LaPinta, an unsigned prospect from Frisco, Texas, moved to Vancouver Island. . . . The Royals got LaPinta and a seventh-round pick in the WHL’s 2022 prospects draft, an eighth-round pick in 2022 and a second-rounder in 2024. The eighth-rounder originated with Victoria, so the Royals actually got back a pick that they had traded away. . . . In exchange, the Hurricanes acquired D Nolan Bentham (2003). . . . Bentham, from Victoria, was the 13th overall pick in the 2018 WHL bantam draft. As a freshman, he had one goal and two assists in 52 games with the Royals in 2019-20. He didn’t play with them in 2020-21. . . . LaPinta, a 2004-born skater, had six goals and six assists in 12 games with the 16U AAA Dallas Stars elite team this season. Lethbridge had selected him in the eighth round of the WHL’s 2019 bantam draft. . . . However, on Oct. 5, LaPinta announced his commitment to play NCAA Division 1 hockey at Arizona State for 2022-23. He also is an affiliate with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints. . . .
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes also dealt G Carl Tetachuk, 20, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2024 prospects draft. Tetachuk, who is from Lethbridge, went 50-28-11, 3.06, .901 in 95 regular-season appearances over the past three seasons with the Hurricanes. . . . He tweeted on Thursday evening that he is “excited to be a part of the Moose Jaw Warriors and look forward to playing for such a great organization.” . . . The Warriors finished 2020-21 with Boston Bilous and Brett Mirwald as their goaltenders. Bilous is heading into his 20-year-old season, while Mirwald will turn 18 on Sept. 13. . . . Lethbridge has two goaltenders on its roster — Jared Picklyk, 18, and Bryan Thomson, 19. . . . Randy Palmer of moosejawtoday.com reported that that Warriors also regained the WHL rights to G Brock Gould, 20, whom they had dealt to the Portland Winterhawks for the 2020-21 season. Palmer wrote that the Warriors “have since chosen to waive him.” . . . Palmer’s story is right here.
Brad Larsen has signed a three-year contract as head coach of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. He replaces John Tortorella, who had been in the position for six seasons. . . . Larsen, who will be 44 on June 28, was an assistant coach in Columbus for seven seasons. . . . He also spent two seasons (2012-14) as the head coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate. . . . A native of Nakusp, B.C., Larsen played four seasons (1993-97) with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos. His 12 season pro career included 294 NHL regular-season games, split among the Colorado Avalanche and Atlanta Thrashers.
The Red Deer Rebels announced Thursday that Troy Gillard has joined the 
organization as the director of broadcasts and media. He had been filling the role on an interim basis following the departure of Cam Moon, who now is with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. . . . Gillard was the play-by-play voice for the Rebels’ 23 games in the 2020-21 season. . . . He has been the news and sports director for Jim Pattison Media in Red Deer since 2012, during which time he also served as the host of the Rebels’ broadcasts. . . . Greg Meachem of reddeerrebels.com has more on Gillard’s move right here.
The Brandon Wheat Kings beefed up their front office on Thursday by making 
four additions. . . . Branden Crowe steps in as director of social sales and strategic marketing. He also is the team’s play-by-play voice and will remain in that role. . . . Grady Manson, a former WHL player, now is the Wheat Kings’ director of corporate sales. He spent four seasons in the WHL (Moose Jaw Warriors, Tri-City Americans, 1992-96). He has spent the past 24 years in the golf and hospitality industry, most recently with the Wheat City Golf Course. He also has worked with the Clear Lake Golf Course in Onanole, Man., Bel Acres Golf Course in Winnipeg and the Elkhorn Resort, which also is in Onanole. . . . Wyatt Garden and Jordan Kaspick, both with ties to the Wheat Kings, have signed on with the Wheat Kings as account executives. Garden is the son of former Wheat Kings F Graham Garden. Of late, Wyatt has been in real estate and also owns The Media Garden, a video marketing frm. . . . Kaspick’s older brother, Tanner, is a former Wheat Kings captain and has been working in sales and marketing with the Wheat City Golf Course. . . . The complete news release is right here.
If you are interested in being a living kidney donor, more information is available here:
Living Kidney Donor Program
St. Paul’s Hospital
6A Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-9027
Toll free: 1-877-922-9822
Fax: 604-806-9873
Email: donornurse@providencehealth.bc.ca
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Vancouver General Hospital Living Donor Program – Kidney
Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
Level 5, 2775 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9
604-875-5182 or 1-855-875-5182
kidneydonornurse@vch.ca
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Or, for more information, visit right here.
TAKING NOTE 