Here’s Ken Campbell of Hockey Unfiltered, in a piece headlined ‘Vegas won the Cup the old-fashioned way: They earned it’:
“No, the NHL did not gift the Golden Knights a Stanley Cup. The rival GMs who tried to outsmart the expansion draft and subsequently got fleeced by George McPhee did. If you need any further proof of that, just look at the team the Golden Knights vanquished in the final. The Florida Panthers gave Vegas Reilly Smith so they would select Jonathan Marchessault instead of defenceman Alex Petrovic, who hasn’t played in the NHL in four seasons and finished up this season with the Texas Stars of the AHL. The Anaheim Ducks traded Shea Theodore to the Golden Knights in exchange for not selecting the unprotected Sami Vatanen or Josh Manson. The Minnesota Wild dealt Alex Tuch — whom the Golden Knights ultimately leveraged to get Jack Eichel — so they would take Erik Haula.”
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Want more on the Stanley Cup-champion Golden Knights? Greg Wyshynski of ESPN has a terrific read right here. He writes about the Golden Knights and how they were built, warts and all, and a whole lot more. It’s lengthy but well worth the time.
Henri Richard, who won 11 Stanley Cups while playing with the Montreal Canadiens, is the latest former NHLer to have been found to be suffering with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died on March 6, 2020. . . . Richard, who was 84 when he died, played with the Canadiens for 20 seasons (1955-75). He was the Pocket Rocket; his brother Maurice was the Rocket. . . . Henri’s son, Denis, has gone public with the findings of Stage 3 CTE (Stage 4 is the worst). “I hope my father’s brain donation and diagnosis will lead to more prevention efforts, research and eventually a CTE treatment,” Denis said in a statement. “I want people to understand this is a disease that impacts athletes far beyond football.” . . . Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goaltender who played with Richard, also released a statement in which he said: “I played with Henri. We won two Cups together. He fits none of the easy stereotypes, checks none of the easy boxes. Played in a different time, old-time hockey, all the fights? Not Henri. Big hitter? Not Henri. . . . Like Stan Mikita and Ralph Backstrom, he was a great skater, and physical, but he had a playmaker’s mind, and played that way. But all those hits to the head. We have to understand, whatever the sport, a hit to the head is not a good thing.” . . . Mikita and Backstrom both were found to have CTE when they died. . . . There is more on this story right here.
From Mike Sawatzky of the Winnipeg Free Press:
“The tremors triggered by the B.C. Hockey League’s recent split with Hockey Canada are rumbling toward the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
“One star player — 19-year-old Portage Terriers right-winger Austin Peters — has already committed to playing for the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs and others may soon follow.”
As Sawatzky points out, BCHL teams no longer have to pay compensation of any sort when signing players who have been in leagues that operate inside Hockey Canada.
Barry Wolff, the general manager and head coach of the MJHL’s Swan Valley Stampeders, who has extensive experience in the BCHL, told Sawatzky: “I think you’ll see those kind of high-end skilled guys leaving. It’s unfortunate there’s no compensation and I guess in our world, we would hope that some way, some how they would honour something because basically they can phone any of your guys and take them. On the flip side, we can do the same to their players but the chances of that happening is a little tougher.”
Sawatzky’s complete story is right here.
Congrats to Bill O’Donovan on the news that RTNDA Canada is presenting him with its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. . . . When he isn’t the public address announcer at Kamloops Blazers’ games, O’Donovan is the lead news anchor — a position he has filled since 2001 — and producer at CFJC-TV in Kamloops. . . . Bill and I go back to the late-1980s when he was at CKCK-TV in Regina and I was at The Leader-Post. We may have gone head-to-head in the odd Strat-O-Matic baseball game, too. . . . RTNDA? Radio Television Digital News Association.
F Noah Philp, who spent four seasons in the WHL, has retired from hockey after spending one season in the pro game. Philp, 24, put up 37 points, 19 of them goals, in 70 games with the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton had signed him to a one-year entry-level deal after he played three seasons with the U of Alberta Golden Bears and had expressed interest in re-signing him. . . . Before joining the Golden Bears, Philp played two seasons (2015-17) with the Kootenay Ice and two (2017-19) with the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Philp said: “I’m at a time in my life where I want to focus on things outside the realm of hockey. I’m doing well and wish all the best to the players, coaches and staff in Bakersfield and in Edmonton.”
F Mike Vecchione scored twice and added an assist on Thursday as the host Hershey Bears beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds, 3-2, to tie the AHL’s championship final, 2-2. . . . They’ll play Game 5 in Hershey on Saturday and then head to Thousand Palms, Calif., to finish the series with games on Monday and, if needed, Wednesday. . . . Last night, Vecchione’s second goal of the game, and fourth of the playoffs, broke a 1-1 tie at 3:03 of the second period. . . . F Ethen Frank (2) upped the lead to 3-1 at 14:24. . . . F Jesper Froden (5) got the Firebirds to within a goal at 7:01 of the third period but they weren’t able to pull even down the stretch.
THE COACHING GAME:
Gordon Burnett, an assistant coach with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, has been named the head coach of the U of Manitoba Bisons. He will take over from the retiring Mike Sirant, who spent more than 30 years with the Bisons as a player, assistant coach and head coach. . . . Burnett spent three seasons with the Warriors. He also was on the staff of the Kootenay Ice for four seasons. . . . Mike Sawatzky of the Winnipeg Free Press reported on May 30 that the Bisons were expected to turn to Burnett as their next head coach.
JUNIOR JOTTINGS:
The Seattle Thunderbirds have acquired 2004-born German F Luca Hauf from the Edmonton Oil Kings for an eighth-round selection in the WHL’s 2024 draft. . . . That draft pick originally belonged to the Vancouver Giants. . . . Hauf had five goals and 16 assists in 45 games last season. He has played for Germany at each of the past two World Junior Championships. He had one goal in five games in the 2023 tournament. . . . The Oil Kings’ roster still includes 2005-born Czechia D Vojtech Port, who had four goals and 13 assists in 48 games as a freshman last season. . . . Hauf joins 2003-born F Brad Lambert, who is from Finland, on Seattle’s roster. Lambert, however, is unlikely to return. He started last season with the Manitoba Moose, the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets, and is almost certain to be in the pro ranks next season. He also is heading into his 20-year-old season. . . . The 2023 CHL import draft is scheduled for July 5. . . .
D Chase Friedt-Mohr and D Nicco Camazzola, both preparing for their 20-year-old seasons, were placed on waivers by the Tri-City Americans and both have cleared. Thus, they both are free agents. . . . Friedt-Mohr, from Prince Albert, has split 125 regular-season games between the Americans, Spokane Chiefs and Edmonton Oil Kings. He has eight goals and 13 assists over those games. . . . From Burnaby, Camazzola put up three goals and six assists in 107 regular-season games — 16 with the Americans and 91 with the Vancouver Giants. . . .
F Blake Eastman, another player heading into his 20-year-old season, has cleared waivers after being released by the Prince George Cougars. From Ardrossan, Alta., Eastman had eight goals and 14 assists in 66 games last season. In 180 regular-season games over four seasons, he has 19 goals and 25 assists. . . .
F Steel Quiring, who played with four WHL teams, including three last season, also has cleared waivers and is a free agent. Quiring, 20, is from Vernon, B.C. He played last season with the Calgary Hitmen (two games), Everett Silvertips (30) and Regina Pats (23), totalling four goals and five assists. . . . He also played with the Kelowna Rockets. . . . In 142 regular-season games, he put up 18 goals and 38 assists. . . .
Simon Gagné was introduced as the general manager of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts on Thursday. Gagné had been an assistant coach with the Remparts, working alongside Patrick Roy, the general manager and head coach, who stepped aside earlier this week. The Remparts haven’t yet named a new head coach. . . . Gagné played three seasons (1996-99) with the Remparts before going on to a lengthy NHL career during which he won one Stanley Cup (Los Angeles Kings, 2012).
THINKING OUT LOUD:
Wouldn’t the NHL have been a lot more fun had one of the groups that included Ryan Reynolds or Snoop Dogg ended up owning the Ottawa Senators? . . . Can’t you just imagine Snoop hangin’ with some of the governors at those meetings in Florida? . . . What a great move by the QMJHL in posting its teams’ protected lists on its website, allowing fans to gain some insight into things. Yes, you are able to go to theqmjhl.ca and pore over the protected list of each of the 18 teams by going to the 2023 preseason pages. . . . Wouldn’t it be nice if the WHL chooses to follow suit once it gets the 2023 preseason pages up on its website?
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to be played next month. This is the tournament that got underway in Red Deer and Edmonton in December before being cancelled following a number of positive COVID-19 tests. . . . Neighbours, 20, told Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic: “I’ve made the decision I’m not going to go. With how long my season went and how my body is feeling right now, I’ve made Hockey Canada aware of that. We had a good discussion about it.” . . . The Oil Kings won the WHL championship and went on to play in the Memorial Cup in Saint John, N.B. . . . The St. Louis Blues selected Neighbours in the first round, 26th overall, of the NHL’s 2020 draft. He opened the 2021-22 season with them, scoring one goal and adding two assists in nine games. Back with the Oil Kings, he totalled 17 goals and 28 assists in 30 games. . . . Neighbours has turned 20 but is eligible to play in the WJC because the IIHF has chosen to allow those who were on rosters in December to play in Edmonton next month. . . . The tournament is scheduled to run Aug. 9-20.
(Tuesday). Prior to the series opener, the Phillies will place four players on the restricted list because they aren’t vaccinated so won’t be allowed into Canada. . . . Catcher J.T. Realmuto, 3B Alec Bohm and starters Aaron Nolan and Kyle Gibson won’t be making the trip to Toronto. Bohm may not have played anyway, after suffering a hand injury on Monday while sliding into second base. Nolan started Monday and Gibson on Saturday, so they likely wouldn’t have pitched in Toronto had they been eligible. . . . The Athletic’s Matt Gelb tweeted: “J.T. Realmuto said he consulted with doctors he knew and decided he did not need a COVID vaccine. He will forfeit close to $260,000. ‘I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don’t put in my body for a little bit of money,’ Realmuto said. ‘It’s just not worth it.’ ” . . . One would hope that someone explained to Realmuto that the U.S. has the same restriction as Canada — you have to be vaccinated to get into the country, which is why Novak Djokovic isn’t likely to play in tennis’s U.S. Open. He would have to get vaccinated to play and says that isn’t going to happen. . . . The Phillies apparently have more than four players who aren’t vaccinated, as Gelb also tweeted that “other potential absences were mitigated through demotions to minors/injuries.”
eight surviving teams were in on the action. When the smoke cleared, three teams, all playing at home, held 2-0 leads in the best-of-seven conference semifinal series. . . . In the other series, the Portland Winterhawks opened with a 4-2 victory over the host Seattle Thunderbirds. They will resume that series today in Portland. This series has a 1-2-1-1-1-1 format. It wasn’t able to open with two in Portland because the Winterhawks’ home arena was busy with grad ceremonies. . . . 
Hauser recorded the shutout as the No. 1 Ice steamrolled the No. 4 Moose Jaw Warriors, 7-0, in Game 2 of their semifinal. . . . The Ice had won the opener, 6-1, on Friday night. . . . The teams now head for Moose Jaw and Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday. . . . Finley, who has four goals in these playoffs, struck at 2:49 and 3:35 of the first period. . . . F Connor McClennon (5) made it 3-0, on a PP, at 9:01 and the Ice was off to the races. . . . F Matt Savoie (3), F Mikey Milne (7), F Zach Benson (6) and F Chase Wheatcroft (1) also scored. . . . Savoie and Benson, who also had three assists, scored while shorthanded; Milne struck on a PP.
Kings held serve on home ice with a 5-0 victory over the No. 3 Red Deer Rebels. . . . The series will resume in Red Deer with games on Monday and Wednesday, and with the Rebels still looking for their first goal. They were beaten 4-0 in Thursday’s opener. . . . Wiebe, who played the previous two seasons with Red Deer, opened the scoring with his first playoff goal at 11:45 of the second period. . . . F Dylan Guenther (6) upped the lead to 2-0 at 17:02. . . . F Justin Sourdif (1) counted Edmonton’s third goal on a penalty shot at 2:56 of the third period. . . . F Jakub Demek (2), on a PP, at 7:10, and Wiebe, while shorthanded, at 9:22, completed the scoring. . . . G Sebastian Cossa stopped 26 shots in posting his second straight shutout. In these playoffs, he is 6-0, 1.00, .957, with three shutouts.
a 2-0 lead in their semifinal. . . . Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for Langley, B.C., on Tuesday and Wednesday. . . . F Drew Englot (2) gave the home team a 1-0 lead at 11:04 of the first period, but the Giants took a 2-1 lead into the second on goals from D Alex Cotton (5), at 12:49, and D Evan Toth (2), while shorthanded at 19:53. . . . Kamloops responded with three straight second-period goals, from F Connor Levis (2), at 1:21, F Caedan Bankier (3), at 6:41, and F Daylan Kuefler (3), on a PP, at 14:21. . . . Kuefler’s goal turned into the winner after F Ethan Semeniuk (2) pulled the Giants to within one at 15:53. . . . Bankier’s goal ran his point streak to 16 games — 10 to close out the regular season and six playoff games. . . . G Dylan Garand stopped 23 shots for Kamloops, 12 fewer than Vancouver’s Jesper Vikman. . . . Kamloops was 1-for-9 on the PP, with five of those coming in the third period. . . . Vancouver was 0-for-5 after going 0-for-3 in Game 1. When they eliminated the No. 1 Everett Silvertips in six games, Vancouver was 12-for-32 on the PP. . . . The Blazers were missing F Luke Toporowski, who left in the first period of Game 1 with an apparent shoulder injury. . . . The Giants lost D Mazden Leslie and F Colton Langkow to undisclosed injuries in Game 1. Vancouver already was without forwards Payton Mount, Cole Shepard and Jacob Boucher, none of whom travelled to Kamloops. . . . 
breaking a 2-2 tie and sending the Portland Winterhawks on their way to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for today in Portland, with a third game to be played there on Wednesday. . . . F Jared Davidson (4) gave Seattle a 1-0 lead at 9:28 of the first period. . . . Portland took a 2-1 lead on goals from F Marcus Nguyen (1), at 8:44 of the second period, and F James Stefan (3), at 14:44. . . . F Matthew Rempe (4) pulled Seattle even at 19:00. . . . OT was on the horizon when Hanus scored his first goal of these playoffs, at 16:21 of the third period, on Portland’s fourth PP opportunity. The Winterhawks finished 1-for-4; Seattle was 0-for-1. . . . Portland F Robbie Fromm-Delorme (1) iced it with the empty-netter. . . . G Taylor Gauthier stopped 23 shots for Portland, three more than Seattle’s Thomas Milic.
tested positive. According to the OHL, “All players affected are currently asymptomatic or exhibiting mild symptoms. . . .” All of the players are fully vaccinated as per OHL regulations. As the league pointed out in a news release: “The Ontario Hockey League had previously incorporated specific COVID-19 protocols including mandatory vaccination for all members of the OHL Community including players, staff, officials and billets.” . . . The Wolves have had their next three games postponed — they were to have visited the Soo Greyhounds tonight, played host to the Barrie Colts on Friday and then played in Barrie on Saturday. . . .
in the number of COVID-19 infections, the number of clubs under enhanced measures, and the temporary shutdown of two NHL clubs.” . . . Through this memo, the NHL instructed clubs to cancel all team-organized Christmas parties, speaking events, autograph sessions and any charity events that would have been open to the public. . . . The memo reads: “Players and staff are reminded to limit the amount of exposure they have to large groups over the holidays, including large family gatherings, in order to reduce the risk of introducing infection into their team.” . . . 
2-1 decision to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night game because he went into protocol. With Cassidy out, assistant coach Joe Sacco ran the bench. . . . The Bruins had F Jake DeBrusk in their lineup on Tuesday night despite acknowledging that he has asked to be traded; the Boston faithful welcomed him with some booing. The Bruins also were without F Brad Marchand, who has been suspended for three games after a slew-footing incident, and F Anton Blidh (injured). . . .
Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, lifted some restrictions in the Interior Health region on Tuesday, including one that limited indoor sporting events to 50 per cent capacity. That means the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets now are able to have all the seats in their facilities available to fans who are fully vaccinated for the first time since March 2020. . . . At the same time, restrictions remain in place for the Northern Health region, so the Prince George Cougars remain limited to 50 per cent capacity in the CN Centre. . . . The Blazers’ next home game is scheduled for Saturday, when the Rockets visit. Kelowna is scheduled to entertain the Vancouver Giants tonight (Wednesday). . . . The Blazers will honour the memory of Don Moores during Saturday’s game. Moores, who was the club’s president and COO, died of a heart attack on June 30. Moores, 65, collapsed while on the course at the Kamloops Golf and Country Club.
Monday that the league “will be issuing a release on this matter at the appropriate time.”
WHL’s 2018 bantam draft. Stankoven, from Kamloops, was take with the fifth-overall pick. . . . This season, Stankoven had 57 goals and 33 assists in 30 games with the Yale Hockey Academy bantam prep team that plays out of Abbotsford, B.C. . . . In 2018-19, Stankoven will play for the major midget Thompson Blazers, who are based in Kamloops.
Condors, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. Manson had been on the Raiders’ coaching staff for 14 of the last 16 seasons, the past six as associate coach. . . . Manson, 51, is a native of Prince Albert. A rugged defenceman, he played three seasons (1983-86) with the Raiders and was part of their 1985 Memorial Cup-winning team. . . . He went on to a pro career that included 1,103 regular-season NHL games, split between the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. . . . The Raiders have retired two numbers in their history — Manson’s No. 4 and F Mike Modano’s No. 9.
TAKING NOTE 