Royals still basking in sellout glow

By Cleve Dheensaw, Times Colonist

September 27, 2011

Victoria Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid joked he was "waiting for the trophy to come out" following Saturday's night's first Western Hockey League home game and also first victory in Royals history.

"The atmosphere felt like a championship game," he said.

"It was like a big festival. The fans filled the place but they also weren't sitting on their hands. I knew [WHL commissioner] Ron Robison was in the building, and half thought he might wheel out the trophy," added Habscheid, with a chuckle.

The whole situation, including the off-season move from Chilliwack, has been almost surreal.

"You don't move a franchise very often. The summer leading up to [last] weekend was interesting, to say the least," said Habscheid, who followed the former Chilliwack Bruins across the strait to their new digs on Blanshard.

But the high of Saturday night was followed by the grim reality of attending friend Brad McCrimmon's memorial service Sunday in Saskatoon. McCrimmon was head coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Continental League, whose players and coaching staff perished in a plane crash.

"It was sad, but it was good to get a chance to see and spend time with his family," said Habscheid.

"Brad was a solid man and a great human being. He touched a lot of people."

But the business of hockey doesn't stop and Habscheid was back at it Monday. Among the tasks was an unpleasant one - releasing 19-year-old defenceman Emerson Hrynyk, who played 36 games last season for the Bruins.

"We had nine defenceen and I want to eventully get down to seven.

Sometimes [being 19 years old] works against you," said Habscheid.

"It was a tough decision but we've got a lot of young guys and you have to go with them."

The move leaves the Royals (1-1) with three goltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards as they look ahead to games in Prince George on Friday and Saturday and Kamloops on Sunday.

Bus travel is a weary reality of life in the WHL.

"Thursday is going to be a long day," admitted Habscheid. "We catch an early ferry and don't get into Prince George until about 10:30 at night. But that's travel in the WHL."

When they get to Prince George, the Royals will face Cougars goaltender Drew Owsley, who got off to such a hot start with a 32-save shutout in the Cats' opening win against Kamloops that the WHL named him CHL goaltender of the week.

Habscheid knows Owsley from the goalie's time in Tri City.

"He's not six-foot-five but he plays like he is," said the Royals coach. "He takes up a lot of the net and has a great glove hand."

And, of course, Victoria fans don't need to be reminded the Prince George franchise played 23 seasons in the capital before departing in 1993-94.

cdheensaw@t[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Warriors forward suspended for hit to the head

By Cleve Dheensaw, Times Colonist

September 27, 2011

The league communicated a not-so-subtle message when it suspended forward Cody Beach of Moose Jaw for seven games for his checking-to-the-head major penalty in the Warriors' opening game.

"That's the perfect example of the type of hit we want to stop happening," said Robison. "The [length of the] suspension was about sending a message."

MARKETING 101: No single business model can work for every WHL city, said league commissioner Ron Robison.

The WHL encompasses a vastly diverse array of markets, from small towns such as Prince Albert, Swift Current and Moose Jaw to medium markets like Victoria, Regina and Saskatoon to big cities Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Seattle.

A walk around downtown Vancouver prior to the Victoria Royals' opener Friday against the Giants revealed almost nobody knew there was a hockey game scheduled that night in town. But Yaletown isn't the Giants' targeted audience. About 6,800 fans were at the PNE Pacific Coliseum for the game, many of them suburban families from Surrey, Coquitlam and Burnaby, as the Giants have worked hard to find their affordable niche somewhere below the Canucks, Lions and Whitecaps.

By contrast, in Victoria, the Royals are the biggest spectator-sports draw.

"We have so many different kinds of markets that the key to success in the WHL is putting into place the business model that works in your community," said Robison.

NANAIMO NEXT?: Robison ruled out expansion beyond the current 22 teams - dilution of the player pool in Western Canada is a big issue - but confirmed Nanaimo and Winnipeg are most immediately on his radar should further relocations occur, as happened this past offseason when the Bruins moved from Chilliwack to become the Victoria Royals.

"Winnipeg and Vancouver Island are the top-two priorities as far as relocation," said Robison.

But one not-so-small matter impedes the Harbour City before the Nanaimo Bars become the newest WHL franchise.

The city needs to get off its duff and build a new rink.

"Nanaimo would be contingent on a new building," said Robison.

WEEKLY HONOURS: Tri-City Americans over-age forward Adam Hughesman is undrafted and next season probably looking at the CIS or AHL-ECHL. He got an invite earlier this month to the New York Islanders' camp but did not clear his physical. Yet he looked plenty fine enough in starting his fifth season with the Americans by getting Tri-City off to a 2-0 start with a goal and six assists and plus-4 rating to be named the first WHL player of the week for the 2011-12 season.

Hughesman had 39 goals and 81 points last season for Tri-City.

POINTS LEADERS: Following Hughesman's seven points, next up in the very early-season WHL points parades is a pair of Portland Winter Hawks with Ty Rattie and Derrick Pouliot each with six points.

INKED: B.C.-raised Calgary Hitmen defenceman Alex Roach went to NHL camp in the City of Angels on a hope and a dream and came back to Cow Town with a three-year entrylevel NHL contract with the L.A. Kings. It probably doesn't hurt that the guy from Quesnel is six-footfour and 220 pounds.

[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

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Get ready for Raise-a-Reader campaign Wednesday

Times Colonist

September 27, 2011

Raise-a-Reader hits Victoria streets Wednesday for the ninth straight year, with volunteers offering copies of the Times Colonist in exchange for donations to local literacy projects.

The TC is one of 27 Postmedia newspapers across Canada taking part in the event, which has raised more than $17 million nationally since its inception 2002.

As has become the tradition, all manner of local luminaries have stepped up to help TC staffers distribute the paper. From the sports world, Victoria Royals captain Hayden Rintoul and team mascot Marty the Marmot will be out, along with members of the B.C. Hockey League Victoria Grizzlies and Canadian national women's rugby team member Marlene Donaldson. Others giving their time are Victoria police Chief Jamie Graham, Saanich fire Chief Mike Burgess, Ballet Victoria artistic director Paul Destrooper and CHEK TV's Gordie Tupper.

It all happens from 7: 30 a.m. to 9: 30 a.m. at key downtown street corners, and also at four Peninsula Co-op locations in the Royal Oak, Millstream, Goldstream and Keating areas.

Last year, Raise-a-Reader Day, the Times Colonist book drive and other activities combined to generate more than $250,000, which was distributed to local schools and organizations for a range of projects.

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Roach back with Hitmen

Calgary Herald

September 27, 2011

Alex Roach has finally re-joined the Calgary Hitmen after an extended stay with the Los Angeles Kings.

The six-foot-four, 220-pound defenceman from Quesnel, B.C., was dismissed from the National Hockey League club on Monday but didn't leave empty-handed, signing a threeyear entry-level contract.

Roach was undrafted following the 2011 NHL entry draft, but earned a free-agent tryout with the Kings - the NHL home of former Calgary Hitmen forward Brandon Kozun and goalie Martin Jones, who were both sent to their American Hockey League affiliate Manchester Monarchs on Sunday.

Roach, 18, returns to the Hitmen after collecting four goals and 12 assists, plus 77 penalty minutes, in 61 regular season games last season. He was the last of five Hitmen at NHL training camps and will return to practice today. He'll also be in time for Friday's road game - the team's second of the season - against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

The Hitmen dropped their season opener 5-1 on Saturday, losing to the Kootenay Ice, but will have another shot at the defending WHL champions at their home opener on Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Riders weren't ready

By Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post

September 27, 2011

Robservations ...

- If you think the Saskatchewan Roughriders will make the playoffs, read the following quote and reconsider. After Saturday's 42-5 loss to the B.C. Lions in a pivotal CFL game, Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant said: "We didn't come ready to play and they did, and they gave us a royal butt-kicking.'' If the Riders aren't ready to play in a game of that magnitude, what will it take for them to be suitably prepared?

- Speaking of lack of preparedness: Saskatchewan has failed to record a point in seven of its 12 first quarters this season. Overall, the Roughriders have been outscored 90-32 in the first quarter.

- The Roughriders have an 0-5 record against West Division competition. Their divisional record pales in comparison to that of the Lions (4-2), Edmonton Eskimos (4-2) and Calgary Stampeders (4-3). How can the Roughriders discuss playoff aspirations with a straight face when they are chronically incapable of winning a game in a division that they are accustomed to dominating?

- One positive for the Roughriders from Saturday's game: The kickoff returns of Brandon West.

- Another positive for the Roughriders from Saturday's game: Uhhhhh ...

- So much for the theory, so widely advanced when B.C. had an 0-5 record, that head coach Wally Buono had lost the touch that makes him a sure-fire Hall of Famer. The Lions have won six of their last seven games, including five in a row.

- Pet peeve #1: Interviewers who make statements instead of asking questions. ("Coach, your defence played well today.'')

- Pet peeve #2: Interviewers who refer to the head coach as "Coach.'' The players are free to call him "Coach,'' but media types - who are not accountable to the coach - should not be similarly deferential.

- Pet peeve #3: References to the Super Bowl winner as the "world champion.''

- Pet peeve #4: The shotgun draw. Boring!

- Unbelievably, somebody called in to CKRM's postgame phone-in show on Saturday to complain about the officiating. My only beef with the officials was that they did not find a way to invoke the mercy rule during the third quarter.

- The Roughriders should not, under any circumstances, increase ticket prices for 2012. A price hike would be an audacious move for a team that, in general, has subjected the home fans to brutal football in 2011. Any brazen attempt to milk a cash cow after a season like this should be countered with outrage. The Roughriders are well-advised to hold the line for at least one year.

- Andy Fantuz has better hands than most of the receivers on the Chicago Bears' active roster. On Sunday, for example, the Bears were plagued by costly dropped passes - see: Johnny Knox-Down-The-Pass - during a 27-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Some critics have pointed out that Fantuz, who was released by the Bears on Sept. 3, is too slow for the NFL. If so, how does anyone explain the plodding presence of washed-up Roy Williams on the Bears' roster?

- Kudos to the WHL for introducing penalties and, when necessary, suspensions for checks to the head.

- My only criticism of Moose Jaw's brand-new Mosaic Place: The lighting could be considerably better.

- There cannot be a better name for an NFL linebacker than Pat Angerer of the Indianapolis Colts. Former Roughriders linebacker Steve Smear was also a wellnamed individual.

- Pat Conacher is quickly proving to be an inspired choice as the Regina Pats' head coach. The Pats have a 2-0 record, which is novel, but they were also impressive during the pre-season. Exhibition games can be excruciating to watch, but the Pats' pre-season performances provided a welcome departure from the norm. They played with energy, purpose and some imagination, and carried that over into the regular season.

- The Pats' Morgan Klimchuk is impressive in every situation. His first WHL goal, scored in Friday's 5-1 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos, was of the "did you see that?!'' variety. He beat Broncos goalie Austin Smith with a laser to the top shelf. Off the ice, the 16-yearold forward carries himself with a level of maturity that belies his age. Pats fans are going to enjoy watching him play as he develops into one of the league's premier players.

- Other nice people who deserve a plug: Gerry James, Ron Smith, Neal Hughes, Al Hastings, Peter Mills, Graeme Bell, Rolly Lumbala, James Wood, Mike Modano, Sheila Kelly, Chris Hodges, Jamie Nye, Ted Knight, Barry Webster, Rob Carnie and Brad Hornung.

[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post

Stars shrouded in mystery to start season

By Darren Zary, The StarPhoenix

September 27, 2011

The Battlefords North Stars entered the new season with a new coach entering a new league.

Kevin Hasselberg - who had previous stints in the British Columbia Hockey League's Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Alberta Junior Hockey League's Olds Grizzlys - was hired in early August to replace Ken Pearson, who abruptly resigned at the end of July in order to be closer to his family in Manitoba.

That did not give Hasselberg much time for a transition into the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

To add to the shroud of mystery, the Stars did not face any SJHL competition during the pre-season.

"It was all in place before we got here," Hasselberg says of the team's exhibition schedule. "It was certainly different, not having played a Saskatchewan team. We played a Manitoba team and an Alberta team.

"I don't think there are a lot of differences, physically (between the BCHL, AJHL and SJHL). The players are the players. I think the difference is the mental make-up and identity of the leagues. B.C., typically, is your highlyskilled, offensive, speed transition game. Alberta's got a little bit of that, but it's also got the physical structured game, whereas Saskatchewan, from the outside and what I've learned, looking in so far, is it's a more physically demanding league that relies on older players. That's kind of what I expect but I can't give you an honest answer on that one. I haven't seen enough teams."

The Stars are coming off a fourth-place finish in the Bauer Conference last season, when they finished with a 26-29-2-1 record.

"We've got a good core of players coming back," offered Hasselberg. "It's going to be interesting. We learned a lot in the pre-season. Moving forward, we're pretty excited to hit the regular season now and see exactly what we have."

The Stars welcomed back Blake Tatchell (the team's top scorer from last season) along with fellow 20-yearolds D Travis Sparrow, F Brett Miller and F Boyd Wakelin.

"Those guys there make up the local product that's been here, done that for a while," noted Hasselberg, adding that there's a "pretty good supporting cast" with the likes of forwards Braeden Johnson (formerly of the Saskatoon Blades), Kyle Hall, Robbie Newton, Tanner Schwab and Tim Rollins.

In goal, holdover Graham Hildebrand is joined by newcomers Jared Knott and Connor Creech.

"We have two goalies still battling for a spot in Knott from B.C. who played junior A in Ontario last season and Creech from the AJHL's Bonnyville Pontiacs."

In the back end, the Stars have welcomed back Brody Luhning from the Western Hockey League but, for the second time, they've lost D Woody Klassen to the pro ranks.

Among the rookies, Hasselberg says that jobs are still up for grabs and "it's hard to single out any one guy - we've had good contributions from a number of them."

Still, overall, the new SJHL coach says he is excited about the product and his team's chances.

"Very much so," said Hasselberg, a former AJHL player and native of Two Hills, Alta., who is married with two children.

"We expect a better defensive effort than we've seen in the past. We expect them to be a very, very disciplined and competitive hockey team.

"I'm very excited about the team we've got out here."

SJHL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Rookie Tad Kozun of the Nipawin Hawks was named the SJHL player of the week Monday after getting his SJHL career off to a flying start by scoring five goals and four assists through his first five games.

SJHL D-man of the week is Brandt Weldon of the Flin Flon Bombers. Weldon (1992-born, The Pas, Man.) opened the season by producing three goals and two assists in six games.

Goalie of the week is Matt Hrynkiw of the Humboldt Broncos. The 1992 Saskatoon native won both his starts and stopped 39 of 40 shots in the process.

BREAKAWAYS: The Broncos have dealt 20-year-old F Ward Szucki (Neepawa Man.) to the MJHL's Neepawa Natives for future considerations, leaving Humboldt with 10 20-year-olds . . . The Flin Flon Bombers have been hot on the acquisition trail, obtaining 1992 F Konrad Litke (Calgary Alta.) from the BCHL's Alberni Bulldogs for future considerations, 1992 F Kyle Trimp (Regina) from the Estevan Bruins for futures and 1994 G Andy Desaultels (White City) from the Notre Dame Hounds for the rights to 1995 F Joel Gellvear (Rouleau) and 1994 D Colten Larocque (Saskatoon) as well as future considerations ... Rookie D-man Troy Gedny has joined the Kindersley Klippers, registering an assist in his first game. Earlier, the Kindersley Klippers acquired 1993 F Craig Dworschak (Medicine Hat, Alta.) from the Drayton Valley Thunder of the AJHL for future considerations. Dworschak has a goal through four games ... The Melville Millionaires have added rookie G Alex Wakaluk.

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© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

Online at TheStarPhoenix.com

The StarPhoenix

September 27, 2011

KURT COBAIN

There was a time when a person - even a rock fan - could ask the question with a straight face: Who is Kurt Cobain?

But that was before the 1991 release of Nevermind, one of the most influential albums of alltime, and which celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday.

For more on Cobain and the legacy he left behind, head to The-StarPhoenix.com/entertainment.

THE PLAYLIST

It's free music to your ears. Every week, as part of a national

Postmedia initiative, we offer free downloads by Canadian indie artists.

Check out new songs each and every week from 10 StarPhoenix focus artists and browse through the archives. It's all at TheStarPhoenix. com/theplaylist.

MULTIMEDIA

Browse through our photo galleries from a busy weekend in and around Saskatoon, including:

. An acreage auction in the village of Neuhorst;

. City residents taking advanage of the near-record late-Sepember heat wave;

. The Saskatoon Hilltops keeping their perfect record intact;

. The Saskatoon Blades kicking off the 2011-12 season.

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix