THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

HOCKEY CANADA CAMPS – Pats defenceman Connor Hobbs is currently competing at Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp in Toronto. He had a goal in Team Reds 7-4 win over team White in the first inter-squad game of camp on Monday. A goal from Julien Gauthier (Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que./Val-d’Or, QMJHL) with 2:12 remaining in the third period proved to be the winner.

.@MathJoseph7, @ZachSenyshyn and @chobbs15 score less than two miinutes apart to make it 3-0 Red early in the third. #WorldJuniors
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) August 1, 2016

Canada will play Finland this afternoon in an exhibition game Plymouth Michigan as camp shifts to the U.S. through until Saturday.

Forward Jake Leschyshyn is finished taking part in Hockey Canada’s U-18 selection camp in Calgary.

Yesterday he and Team Red beat Team White 3-2 to wrap up the games part of the camp. White had won the two previous inter-squad games by 5-2 and 3-2 scores. Leschyshyn recorded one assist in the three games but unfortunately was not selected to represent Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.


KELLY IS GONE – Kelly McCrimmon was officially introduced as assistant GM with the NHL’s new franchise in Las Vegas. He is the winningest coach in Wheat Kings franchise history, with a 423-223-36-38 record and over the past ten seasons he has posted a .640 winning percentage. He will work alongside GM George McPhee. McCrimmon says that more news on the club’s new organizational structure will be announced later this week. Personally I wish Kelly the best, he has always treated me well and I have a lot of respect for him as a person and as a hockey man. I think the ultimate compliment to him is that rest of the league is happy to see him go. He always found great talent, developed players and found ways to get good players in trades without giving up a whole lot. His ability to evaluate talent will translate very well to the NHL level. All the best!


LUBER DONE IN BRANDON – The Wheat Kings and CKLQ radio announced that they and long time play by play man Bruce Luebke have parted ways. Surprising news after 23 years of calling Wheat Kings games. Luber is incredibly knowledgeable and always fair in his call. I will miss seeing him at the rink eight times a year. Best of luck Bruce!


BRONCOS TRADE GORDON – The Swift Current Broncos announced Thursday they have traded defenceman Jaydan Gordon to the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for a sixth round selection in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. Gordon, a 6’3, 169-pound product of Cochrane, Alberta, joined the Broncos organization as a rookie for the 2014-15 campaign and tallied two assists in 35 games. The 19-year-old appeared in 67 regular season games during the 2015-16 season, notching six points (1g-5a) and eight penalty minutes.

GUARD STEPS DOWN – The Prince Albert Raiders announce that assistant coach Kelly Guard has stepped down from his position. Guard will continue working with the team’s goaltenders as a goaltending consultant. The former WHL goaltender joined the Raiders as the team’s goaltending and strength and conditioning coach for the 2012-13 season. Prior to the 2014-15 campaign, he was promoted to assistant coach. Guard, who hails from Prince Albert, signed a one-year contract for the 2015-16 season. Guard will be working with the SJHL’s Kindersley Klippers this year as a goaltending coach.

PFEIFER RETIRES – Everett Silvertips defenceman Tristen Pfeifer announced he is retiring from hockey on Tuesday. As a back-to-back honoree of the Silvertips Scholastic Player of the Year Award and last season’s runner-up for the league award, Pfeifer skated in 109 career games for the Silvertips over the course of two seasons (2014-16), amassing 22 points (4g-18a), 85 penalty minutes and a +18 rating. He appeared in four postseason games and made his Silvertips debut Sept. 27, 2014 vs. Portland, registering his first career assist the following night. Pfeifer was entering his 20-year-old season.

CONGRATS FORBSY! – A big congrats to the voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes Dustin Forbes on his engagement this week! Dustin is a great guy and a good talent. Great news!

THUNDER – The Regina Thunder training camp is underway at Mount Pleasant Park. Camp started on Friday and continues this week until their pre-season game when team travels to Lloydminster to play against the Edmonton Wildcats at 3pm on Saturday, August 6. Sessions run 7-9 PM all this week.

RED SOX – Get out to Currie Field tonight for game 3 of the first round between the Regina Red Sox and Yorkton Cardinals. The Cards took game 1 on Monday in 10 innings 6-5 and in game 2 on Tuesday Yorkton won 6-1. The Red Sox need a win to avoid the sweep tonight, first pitch at 7:05.

BLUE JAYS – I am neither impressed nor disappointed in what the Blue Jays did ahead of the trade deadline on Monday. It wasn’t a big splashy day like last year but I do believe they got better. Scott Feldman is better than Jesse Chavez and everyone knows Fransisco Liriano is an upgrade on Drew Hutchison. Now Aaron Sanchez will go to the bullpen at some point which is good for the pen. It’s tough though because he has some of the best numbers as a starter in the entire American League. I get he is young and you don’t want to over work him but my goodness he has been dominant. At the end of the day the Jays pitching staff is better and this next two months is going to be awesome.

Lastly, I know Winnipeg is coming off a big win but I couldn’t resist sharing this picture I had sent to me on Tuesday.

That’s all I have for today, have a great week!

Phil
@PhilAndrewsCKRM