THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

I know it’s July but hockey always seems to dominate my world and with everything that’s happened/happening this week that’s where I’ll focus a lot of your time today. However I will get to some football a little later.

The 2014 CHL Import Draft is Wednesday morning as all 60 member clubs have a chance to add European talent to their rosters. The Regina Pats entered the draft with two imports on their roster already in Russian defenceman Dmitry Sinitsyn and German forward Maximillian Kammerer. That being said the team will still select a player in today’s draft. The Pats are allowed to do so as Sinitsyn is entering his 20 year old season and where he plays next year will depend on what the Dallas Stars want to do with him. Pats General Manager Chad Lang says they will take a player as a bit of a safety blanket. “I think you always want to make sure you are making the right decisions for the organization. Dmitry had a real solid second half last year and is attending the Dallas Stars spring camp in a couple days. We just want to protect ourselves but at the same time we are expecting to have both Dmitry and Max back next year. Both players games evolved as the season went on and were a big part of our teams success. So its a bot of a safety net  but we will select a player and see how everything turns out in the next couple months.”

The Pats pick at number 39 in the first round and Lang says its tough to say what players will be available at that spot. “The import draft is always a tough draft to determine. It’s unique, there’s a lot of variables in it. Players saying they are coming over and then changing their minds and saying they’re not. We will work through the process, we’ve spent a lot of time on the draft and preparation. Reaching out to the NHL member clubs and their member clubs to get scouting reports on these players. We came up with a list of 40 players and the teams ahead of us will dictate who will be available for us at 39.”

Lang says they aren’t set on picking a forward or a defenceman. “We’ve got some guys on our list that are strengths on both sides, forward and defense. When you pick that late in the draft you take the best player available but we think we’ve got a couple players that we hope can slide in the draft that can strengthen our hockey club in both positions. We’ve got some guys on our board that we like on the back end that can create some size and then up front there are some skilled players available in this draft that we think can help us and maybe provide some scoring which we’ve lost with the graduating players from last season.”

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The Pats’ search for a new coaching staff is in full swing. I’m told there has been a lot of interest in the last week for the position since Malcolm Cameron was let go. The team is hoping to have a short list together by next week and begin the interview process with those guys.

The Moose Jaw Warriors are also in the market for a new bench boss as Mike Stothers has been hired to coach the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. A big congrats from this guy for Stothers who was always a good guy to deal with. For the first time Stothers will be coaching Jordan Weal as opposed to coaching against him, I’m sure he’s more than ok with that.

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A few people have asked me since the NHL draft if the Pats might see defensive prospect Nikolas Koberstein. Koberstein was taken in the 5th round by the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. It’s certainly in the realm of possibility that the Habs would want Nikolas to play in the WHL but in talking with Chad Lang he says it’s too early to tell what will happen. Koberstein is listed at 6’2″ and 200 pounds. He is a 1996 born player and put up 5 goals and 13 assists in 51 games with the Olds Grizzlies of the AJHL last year. He also had 2 assists in 9 playoff games. He’s an exciting young player and would certainly benefit the Pats back end should he report.

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The Pats did sign forward prospect Jacob Elmer this week. Elmer put up 71 points in his first year midget to lead the Mountaineers of the Edge Hockey School in Calgary. Elmer also led the club in goals with 37. He is one of a number of players who have a great chance of playing with the Pats next year.

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Now on to football, I finally watched the TSN documentary, Journey to the Grey Cup: 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders last night. I recorded it from a week ago and found some time on Canada Day to relive the championship once again. I’m not going to lie I got all chocked up. What a fantastic half hour of television. And if that doesn’t make you love and respect Darian Durant I don’t know what will. I know the new season has started but my God last year will never leave me. If you haven’t seen the documentary you have to get on it.

How about the new season? The Riders looked great on Sunday night in their 31-10 win over Hamilton. They were dominant in all phases of the game and it was really no contest. I was impressed, as was everyone, with the play of Anthony Allen at running back. Not a bad debut at all… That was one question answered, then there was Derek Walker in the interior of the D line. Two sacks… another question mark erased. And lastly at linebacker, Brian Peters and Sam Hurl played very well and now we are sitting here dreaming of a repeat. Yes it’s only one game and a lot will happen over the 18 game schedule but I think everyone feels really good about this team right now. From where I sit the holes left behind look to be filled, for right now anyways.

Oh yeah and this happened on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium. I got to meet Sports Illustrated’s Peter King! I’m not sure how many people would find this as cool as I did but it was definitely a bucket list type deal for me.

GM Brenden Taman told us on the Sportscage on Monday that Chaz Schilens will likely miss this weekend’s game in Toronto with a knee injury. Tough luck for the CFL rookie. He did say however that Chris Getzlaf and Scott McHenry’s injuries were less serious and they have a good chance of suiting up against the Argos. I am excited to see how the team plays under the roof compared to the rain and wind from last weekend. Should be a good one because Toronto is likely chomping at the bit after a tough season opener.

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Did anyone pay attention to the NHL Free Agency yesterday? Wow there were a lot of players signed. Nothing too massive. Once again I was really surprised with the dollar amounts that were thrown around. I can’t believe Dave Bolland got a 5 year deal at 5 million plus per season. Florida will be buying him out in two years I bet. Matt Niskanen is another one, Washington gave him 7 years at 5.75 million per year. Craziness.

A deal I really lied though was the Chicago Blackhawks getting Brad Richards for 1 year at 2 million dollars. That’s a great signing. He’s not the player he was but he adds depth to an already great team at a very reasonable price.

Someone may have to tranquilize my color guy on the Pats broadcasts Daniel Fink today. He’s a Calgary native and is a Flames fan but his number one team is the Colorado Avalanche. As you can imagine he is over the moon that the Av’s landed Jerome Iginla yesterday. Life just seems to fit sometimes doesn’t it?

I could go on but then I’d bore you so that’s all for today.

Have a good week!

Phil
@PhilTheThrill18