THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

I don’t have any Regina Pats news for you this week but there is plenty of other stuff to get to in the WHL this week.

PATRICK SURGERY – The Brandon Wheat Kings Nolan Patrick has undergone successful sports hernia surgery. Patrick, who was the 2016 WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player, will attend but will be unable to participate at this summer’s National Junior Development Camp, later this month. However, he is expected to be ready for the start of Wheat Kings’ Training Camp at the end of August. Patrick became the first 17-year old Wheat King in close to forty years to collect 100 points in a single season when he scored 41 goals and 102 points during the 2015-16 campaign. He is a favorite to go first overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

WHEAT KINGS ACQUIRE D-MAN – Brandon acquired the rights to 17-year old Winnipeg defenceman Conor Timlick from the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday last week. In exchange for Timlick, who was the Americans fourth round draft choice in 2014, the Wheat Kings gave up a conditional sixth round pick. A member of the Winnipeg AAA Midget Wild for the past two seasons, the 6’2” 180 lb Timlick scored five goals and 21 points in 36 regular season games.

WHL TO LLOYDMINSTER? – An interesting news release came out last week that caught the attention of the WHL world. The Frog Lake First Nation is building a 7,500 seat arena as a part of a $100 million dollar project just West of Lloyd on highway 16. They are calling the rink the future home of a WHL franchise. Now to my knowledge the league does not have plans to expand but of course things can change. It’s also no secret the Kootenay Ice are for sale so maybe that could be a landing spot? We will see…

BLADES TO INTRODUCE NEW ASSISTANTS – The Saskatoon Blades will officially unveil two new members to their coaching staff this morning. The Blades are reportedly adding Bryce Thoma and Ryan Keller. Thoma recently resigned as GM and head coach of the Weyburn Red Wings and Keller is a former Blade who had been playing in the Swiss-A league until last year. The news conference is scheduled for 10 AM.

HITMEN ADD GOALIE COACH – Jason LaBarbera has been named the new goaltending coach of the Calgary Hitmen. LaBarbera played 16 seasons as a professional goalie including parts of 12 seasons in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Phoenix, Edmonton and Anaheim.  During his NHL career he won 62 games, posting a 2.85 gGAA  and a .907 save %. LaBarbera played parts of four seasons in the WHL with Tri-City, Portland and Spokane where he was named to the WHL All-Star team in 2000.  In addition, he left his mark on the American Hockey League, honoured with the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as Top Goaltender and named an AHL First Team All-Star in both 2004 and 2007.  During the 2003-04 season, as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack, he also took home the Les Cunningham Award given to the AHL MVP after setting the league record for most shutouts in a single season with 13.  It’s a record that still stands to this day. Last season he played with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

KOMPON LANDS IN NHL – The Winnipeg Jets announced on Saturday they have hired former Portland Winterhawks Head Coach Jamie Kompon as their new assistant coach. Kompon was fired after two years with the Hawks. He was previously an assistant with the L.A. Kings and Chicagoe Blackhawks where he won a Stanley Cup with both teams.


SCHACHER COMMITS TO COUGARS – Former Regina Pats, Victoria Royals and Saskatoon Blades defenceman Isaac Schacher is coming back to Regina to play CIS with the Cougars. The Kimberly B.C. product played half a season in Regina with the Pats in 2013/14. he was traded to Saskatoon for 2014/15 before playing his overage season with the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL. In 139 WHL games he scored 2 goals, had 16 assists and had 101 PIM’s.


SILVERTIPS NAME COO – The Everett Silvertips announced that Zoran Rajcic has been named Chief Operating Officer of Consolidated Sports Holdings (CSH) International, Inc. Rajcic will continue to oversee the Silvertips, serving as alternate governor, and has been appointed president and governor of all additional CSH franchise properties. He will oversee operations of all CSH franchise properties. CSH International, Inc., owns and operates four junior hockey clubs: Everett Silvertips (WHL), Bloomington Thunder (USHL), Amarillo Bulls (NAHL), North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL), and Peoria Pines Golf Course (Phoenix, Ariz.), and is in partnership with three summer collegiate baseball franchises in the Great West League in Medford, Ore., Marysville, Calif. and Chico, Calif.


THE OPEN – The 2016 Open Championship final round may be the best final round in major history. Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson put on an absolute show, shot for shot, it was incredible. And it wasn’t the young guys that made it exciting. The two are 40 plus. If only every tournament had what we saw this weekend. Also it’s too bad Tiger isn’t playing at the PGA Championship next weekend.

BLUE JAYS – I really don’t understand why all the trade rumors surrounding the Blue Jays are for another bat in the lineup and not a pitcher. Toronto does not need Carlos Beltran or Jay Bruce or any other position player. The team needs a reliever, namely Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees or whoever. A starter too would be nice. Jose Bautista coming back into the lineup will be just like acquiring another batter. The offense doesn’t need help, the pitching does.

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

Phil
@PhilAndrewsCKRM