The Wenatchee Wild, the WHL’s newest franchise, is looking for a head coach. Dick and Lisa White operated the Wild as a BCHL franchise for the past eight 
seasons, but they now have purchased the Winnipeg Ice and have moved the franchise to the Washington city. . . . The Wild announced on Thursday that Chris Clark, who was the head coach of the BCHL team, will remain with the organization as assistant general manager and associate head coach. He has been with the Wild for all 15 years of its existence. . . . The Wild also is keeping Leigh Mendelson as director of scouting and Jarrod Boman is staying in a hockey operations role. . . . The Wild is looking for an athletic therapist and an equipment manager, with Pepe Sandoval staying on as an assistant to both positions. . . . Mendelson has been with the Wild for six years. His extensive background includes one season (2008-09) as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. . . . On Thursday, the Wild posted this on Twitter: “With the news of our staff updates this morning, we are continuing to hunt for the right head coach and an additional assistant coach to lead us into the WHL era. All resumes can be mailed to our general manager at blittler@wenatcheewildhockey.com.
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And so ends, at least for now, the WHL coaching career of James Patrick, who had been the Ice’s head coach for six seasons — two in Cranbrook and four in Winnipeg. . . . The Ice announced on Feb. 10, 2020, that it had agreed to terms with Patrick on a three-year contract extension. That extension expired after the 2022-23 season, and there was speculation that Patrick, 60, wasn’t going to return even if the franchise hadn’t been sold.
No real news emanated from a 28-minute Zoom meeting that featured Ron 
Robison, the WHL commissioner who is heading into his final season, and some members of the media on Thursday. . . . Asked what the WHL could learn from what happened in Winnipeg where the Ice’s owners weren’t able to build a promised arena, Robison responded: “That scenario was really all about the facility. In our league we have very clear requirements for facility standards and if those standards aren’t met then we have to look at alternate locations. In this particular case, we probably should have had a more firm commitment on the facility as far as construction underway, that type of thing, to make sure that we didn’t encounter the challenges we did. It’s just unfortunate that we didn’t get to a position where we had a facility . . . in Winnipeg to play in because we obviously value that market extremely high, but without that the viability of that franchise in that market just didn’t make sense to us.” . . . The complete session is available on the WHL’s website.
The junior B Kootenay International Junior Hockey League has applied to BC 
Hockey to have its status upgraded to junior A. The league reached the decision at its annual general meeting in Sicamous on Saturday and went public with the move on Thursday. . . . The 20-team KIJHL features 19 teams in B.C., and one, the Spokane Braves, in the U.S. . . . B.C. doesn’t have a junior A league with the decision by the BCHL to operate as an outlaw league — that sounds better than independent, doesn’t it? — outside of Hockey Canada. . . . From a KIJHL news release: “The KIJHL’s application to BC Hockey was submitted after an exhaustive consultation process with the league’s minor hockey partners that resulted in letters of support from all four of the regional minor hockey districts in which KIJHL teams operate, as well as 19 separate minor hockey associations.” . . . Brett Holt of the Columbia Valley Rockets, who is the chairman of the KIJHL’s board, offered: “We’re looking forward to further dialogue with BC Hockey on our application and our desire to further the growth of grassroots junior hockey in our province, and ultimately a vote by their Board.” . . . The KIJHL news release is right here.
THE COACHING GAME:
Two former WHL players and coaches have signed on as coaches with NHL teams. . . . Mitch Love, the two-time reigning AHL coach of the year, has joined the Washington Capitals as an assistant coach under freshman head coach Spencer Carberry, while Travis Green is back in the game, this time as an associate coach under head coach Lindy Ruff with the New Jersey Devils. . . . Love played five seasons (1999-05) in the WHL, seeing time with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Swift Current Broncos and Everett Silvertips. He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with Everett and two seasons as head coach of the Saskatoon Blades before signing with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. He was the head coach of their AHL affiliate — the Stockton Heat in 2021-22 and the Calgary Wranglers in 2022-23 — for the past two seasons and was named the AHL’s coach of the year for both seasons. . . . Green hasn’t coached in the NHL since the Vancouver Canucks fired him as head coach early in the 2021-22 season. He had been with the Canucks since 2017. He played four seasons (1986-90) in the WHL — three-plus with the Spokane Chiefs and 25 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He spent three seasons (2010-13) on the coaching staff of the Portland Winterhawks. . . .
Ken MacKenzie is the new head coach of the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, taking over from his son, Derek, who has signed on as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Nashville Predators. . . . Derek spent 50 games as the club’s head coach, going 23-20-7, then losing to the eventual champion Peterborough Petes in the first round of the playoffs. . . . Ken had been the Wolves’ assistant general manager. . . . Rick Dorval and Gary Ricciardi will be back as assistant coaches. . . . Ken had stepped in as interim head coach when the Wolves fired head coach Craig Duncanson early last season. Ken coached until Derek was hired as head coach. . . .
The NHL’s Calgary Flames have hired former NHLer Marc Savard as an assistant coach to work alongside freshman head coach Ryan Huska. Savard spent the previous two seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
JUNIOR JOTTINGS:
The 2025 World Junior Championship will be played in Ottawa, running from Dec. 26, 2024 through Jan. 5, 2025. . . . They’ll play 17 games, including the semifinals and bronze and championship games, in the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. TD Place, home to the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, will see 14 games. . . . The 2023 WJC was played in Moncton and Halifax. The 2024 tournament is scheduled for Gothenburg, Sweden, from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. . . .
The Calgary Hitmen have waived 2003-born D Blake Heward, who now is a free agent. Heward had two goals and 10 assists in 41 games with the Hitmen last season. In 103 regular-season games, 23 of those with the Edmonton Oil Kings, he put up four goals and 21 assists. . . . His father, Jamie, is a former WHL player and coach. . . .
Paul Duarte, the owner of the junior B London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, has drawn a two-year suspension from Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities following an investigation into accusations of abuse, bullying, harassment and misconduct. According to the London Free Press, the Ontario Hockey Federation began an investigation “for what multiple sources (said) was a bounty allegedly offered for a London player to target a skater on the Komoka Kings in the fall of 2021.” . . . According to the Free Press, “The sources, who spoke to the Free Press on condition of anonymity due to fears of reprisal, said they were told the amount of the bounty was $100.” . . . There’s more on the story right here.
THINKING OUT LOUD: The B.C. Lions went into Winnipeg on Thursday night and absolutely dominated the Blue Bombers, 30-6, and who saw that coming? . . . Winnipeg had lost just two of its previous 21 home games with Zach Collaros at quarterback. . . . The Lions are 3-0 and have allowed only 21 points. Now that’s impressive, especially in the CFL. . . . The next time someone with NHL tries to tell you that “hockey is for everyone” you are free to laugh in their face. The NHL should be embarrassed about its decision to get rid of specialty warmup sweaters, but too many of the old white guys who run that league don’t have a sense of understanding. . . . I’m told that the junior B KIJHL wants to have all of its teams play under a junior A flag in 2023-24, after which it would split into two tiers. After that, perhaps it would run a relegation system just like some international soccer leagues.
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goal and two assists from F Kai Uchacz, who has 11 goals and three assists in 13 games. . . . The defending-champion Oil Kings went 1-11 on the PP as their record slipped to 1-12-1. . . . Troy Gillard, the Rebels’ director of broadcasts and media, tweeted on Monday that the Rebels’ winning streak “is the second-longest in team history.” In 2001-02, the Rebels put together a 14-game streak. They got it started on Jan. 6 with a 4-2 victory over the host Saskatoon Blades. On Feb. 9, Red Deer won its 14th in a row, 6-2 over the visiting Portland Winterhawks. The streak ended on Feb. 13 when the Rebels, playing at home, lost, 5-4 in OT, to the Prince Albert Raiders. Interestingly, the Rebels went on to win their next three games. . . . The Rebels take their 13-0-0 mark into Swift Current on Friday, so could equal the franchise record for longest victory streak in any era while stretching their ‘modern’ era record for longest victory streak to open a season. . . .
in a row. . . . The Pats had lost their previous four games. . . . Bedard, who is on a 14-game point streak, enjoyed the third five-point game of his career. . . . He leads the league in goals (13), assists (16) and points (29), all in 15 games. . . . Regina D Corbin Vaughan drew a major and game misconduct for a headshot at 12:23 of the first period. He was playing in his second game after serving a four-game suspension that was issued under supplemental discipline following a game against Prince Albert on Oct. 12. . . .
over the Vancouver Giants and the Hitmen held on for a 3-2 victory. . . . Fiddler-Schultz has seven goals this season, including a five-goal outing. . . . Calgary now has won three straight. . . . 
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.
waiting for a while longer before being allowed to play to crowds of 100 per cent capacity in their home arenas.
compensate for staff who did not meet vaccination requirements,” Dix said. “This week, only one operating room had to be reduced for this reason. To support critical care, though, Kelowna General Hospital has reduced an additional two operating rooms.”
five players when they dropped a 3-2 decision to the host Boston Bruins on Tuesday. D Victor Mete was added to Ottawa’s COVID-19 list earlier in the day, joining F Connor Brown, F Dylan Gambrell, F Austin Watson and D Nick Holden. Assistant coach Jack Capuano also is on the list. . . . The 2021 U.S. college football season has its first pandemic-related postponement. A game between the USC Trojans and host California Golden Bears that was to have been played on Saturday in Berkeley has been moved to Dec. 4. It’s all because of COVID-19 issues with the Golden Bears. . . . The NFL’s Cleveland Browns have had four positive tests this week — RB Nick Chubb, RB Demetric Felton, RB John Kelly and WR Lawrence Cager, who was on the practice squad. It all left the Browns with one active RB — D’Ernest Johnson — as they prepare to face the host New England Patriots on Sunday. . . . Looks like there is an Australian Open story developing. From 7NEWS Melbourne: “Australian Open organizers are pushing for capacity crowds at January’s grand slam. But a standoff with unvaccinated tennis stars is looming as the Premier doubles down on his threat to lock them out.”
going to the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights; rather, he bypassed the AHL and went straight to the NHL where he made his debut with the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night against the host Minnesota Wild. . . . Krebs recorded his first NHL point — an assist — in 9 minutes 5 seconds of ice time in a 6-5 loss to the Wild. He got the primary assist on a first-period goal by F Alex Tuch that gave Vegas a 3-2 lead. . . . Vegas selected him with the 17th pick of the NHL’s 2019 draft. Krebs just finished his 19-year-old season with the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice by leading the Regina hub with 43 points in 24 games. . . . He has AHL experience, having put up a goal and four assists in five games with the Silver Knights before the WHL season began. . . . 
Czech Republic, 10-3, in one of four quarterfinal games at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Frisco and Plano, Texas. . . . Also on Monday, Sweden dumped Team USA, 5-2; Finland blanked Switzerland, 2-0; and Russia beat Belarus, 5-2. . . . The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday with Canada playing Sweden at 2 p.m. PT, and Finland meeting Russia at 6 p.m. PT. . . . Bedard, 15, has three goals and six assists in five games. . . . Russian F Matvei Michkov, who turned 16 on Dec. 9, leads the tournament in goals (10) and points (12).
Kuopio of Finland’s top professional league. It was announced Monday that Puutio has signed a two-year contract with the Liiga team. . . . Puutio, who will turn 19 on June 3, played with the Swift Current Broncos, who had selected him first overall in the 2019 CHL import draft, and the Silvertips in 2019-20, but pandemic-related travel restrictions meant he stayed in Finland this season. . . . Playing in Liiga with Kärpät, Puutio had a goal and two assists in 29 games. He also had two assists with Finland’s national junior team as it finished third at the World Junior Championship in Edmonton. . . . The Silvertips acquired him from the Broncos on Jan. 10, 2020. He had one goal and 15 assists in 35 games with the Broncos, then added four goals and eight assists in 21 games with the Silvertips. . . . The Florida Panthers selected him in the fifth round of the NHL’s 2020 draft.
Minten picked up four assists as the Blazers beat the Victoria Royals, 5-2. . . . Kamloops (14-4-0) has won two in a row. . . . Victoria (2-14-2) had points in each of its previous two games (1-0-1). . . . The Blazers points percentage now is .778, putting them back atop the B.C. Division, just ahead of the idle Kelowna Rockets (8-2-1, .773). . . . Seminoff, who has eight goals, gave the Blazers a 1-0 lead, on a PP, at 4:19 of the first period. . . . The Royals tied it at 10:46 when F Brandon Cutler (8) scored on a PP. . . . Kamloops went back in front at 1:23 of the second period on a goal by F Daylan Kuefler (4). But the Royals got it right back when F Tarun Fizer (5) scored 25 seconds later. . . . However, Kamloops scored the game’s next three goals. . . . F Tye Spencer (2) broke the tie 16 seconds after Fizer’s goal. . . . F Connor Levis (6) struck on a PP at 18:24, and Seminoff wrapped up the scoring at 14:40 of the third period. . . . G Dylan Garand stopped 24 shots for Kamloops, four fewer than the Royals’ Adam Evanoff. . . . Minten, 16, was a fourth-round pick in the 2019 bantam draft. He went into this game with a goal and seven assists in 15 games. . . . D Austin Zemlak made his WHL debut with the Royals. From Fort McMurray, he was the ninth overall selection in the 2020 bantam draft. . . . The Blazers were without F Connor Zary for a third straight game after he was injured on a high hit in a 5-1 loss to the Prince George Cougars on Wednesday night. The Blazers have four games remaining before wrapping up their season on May 12 and you have to wonder if Zary will return at all. . . . F Jonny Hooker of the Cougars had his suspension set at four games on Monday. He has sat out two, so won’t play tonight or Wednesday — the Cougars are scheduled to play Kelowna and Vancouver — before being eligible to return Saturday against Victoria.
things to survive, and without that I think you’re going to see failures across the country from (junior A) to major junior to junior B. It’s inevitable.
told Travis Lowe of Global News.“It’s up to the rest of us to help make sure that they make it through.”
Edmonton). “It’s hard to evaluate players (and) it’s hard for players to develop under these circumstances. We are considering delaying the draft.
Hansch is joining an as-yet-unnamed NHL team as an amateur scout.
Current Broncos. The 19-year-old Finnish sensation has signed a two-year contract with 
Carson Lambos, D Karter Prosofsky and F Skyler Bruce. . . . Lambos, from Winnipeg, was taken second overall. He had 15 goals and 25 assists in 30 games with the Winnipeg-based Rink Hockey Academy Nationals bantam prep team. He was named the CSSHL bantam league’s top defenceman. . . . Prosofsky and Bruce were second-round selections. . . . Prosofsky, from Saskatoon, had eight goals and 10 assists in 24 games with the Victoria-based Pacific Coast Hockey Academy’s bantam prep team. . . . Bruce, from Winnipeg, also played at the Rink Hockey Academy. He had 21 goals and 19 assists in 30 games with the bantam prep team.
TAKING NOTE 