THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

MOVING! – I am very happy to announce I have accepted a full time position with the Regina Pats. Not only will I be able to continue calling games on 620 CKRM, I will also be taking on the role of Director Media and Communications. Very excited to take on a bigger role with the hockey club this season!

PATS REASSIGN FOUR – The Regina Pats reassigned 4 players on Tuesday.  Forward Logan Nijhoff (’01) to the OHA Midget of the CSSHL, F Cole Muir (’01) reassigned to the Yellowhead Chiefs of the MBMAAA, F Duncan Pierce (’00) reassigned to the Portage Terriers of the MJHL and goalie Max Paddock (’00) reassigned to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the MBMAAA. That brings the roster down to 32, 18 forwards, 11, defenceman and 3 goaltenders. The club continues the pre-season on Friday in Wainwright AB against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

HITMEN HIRE CASSAN – The Calgary Hitmen today announced the Western Hockey League club has named Trent Cassan assistant coach.  Cassan joins head coach Mark French, assistant coach Joel Otto and goaltending coach Jason LaBarbera to form the coaching staff for the 2016-17 season. Cassan, 33, joins the Hitmen following six full seasons as general manager/head coach (2014-16) and associate general manager/head coach (2010-14) as well as a partial season as interim head coach (2009-10) with the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.  During this span, he compiled a record of 177-123-17-24 while advancing to the playoffs in all seven campaigns, including four league final berths.  Under his guidance, the Terriers captured the club’s first-ever RBC Cup as Canada’s National Junior A champions in 2014 along with two Canalta Cups (2013 & 2014).  Cassan, who has made two appearances at the World Junior A Challenge as both an assistant coach (2013) and head coach (2014) with Team Canada West, was the co-recipient of the SJHL’s Coach of the Year award in 2012-13.

ROYALS ADD TWO ASSISTANTS – The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that Doug Bodger has joined the team’s coaching staff as an assistant coach. A product of Chemanius, BC, Bodger spent last season as an assistant coach for the Shawingan Lake Bantam Prep Team of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. Prior to his time with Shawnigan Lake, Bodger served an assistant coach for the Cowichan Capitals of the BC Hockey League for two seasons (2003-04 & 2005-06). The 50-year-old enjoyed a 16-year professional playing career that began when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, ninth overall, at the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. During his career, Bodger played for six NHL teams (Pittsburgh, Buffalo, San Jose, New Jersey, Los Angeles and Vancouver) and recorded 528 points (106g-422a) and 1,007 penalty minutes in 1,071 games.

The Victoria Royals also announced that Dan Price has been hired as the team’s new Assistant Coach. A native of St. Albert, AB, Price has spent the past two seasons with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues’ Men’s Hockey Team of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). Price began as the club’s Assistant Coach in 2014 and was promoted to Assistant Coach & Manager of Athletic Recruitment for the 2015-16 season. Price replaces former assistant coach Enio Sacilotto, who was recently named the Royals’ Director of Prospect Development and WHL Scout.

ROYALS/WHEAT KINGS TRADE – The Victoria Royals announced that the club has acquired unsigned prospects, forward Jeremy Klessens (1999) and goaltender Brendan Benoit (2000) to go with a third round draft pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, a seventh round pick in the 2018 draft and a conditional draft pick in 2019. In exchange the Royals have sent defenceman Jordan Wharrie, forward Tyler Thompson, the rights to forward Baron Thompson, a 10th round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft and a third round pick in the 2018 draft to the Wheat Kings.

BLAZERS/OIL KINGS TRADE – The Kamloops Blazers have acquired 18-year-old goaltender Carter Phair from the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in 2018. Phair, who stands at 6’4” and 181lbs, is from Carnduff, SK and was originally a 10th round pick of the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2013. Phair played last season with the Weyburn Red Wings of the SJHL. In 19 games he had an 8-4-1-0 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.47 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.

RAIDERS ACQUIRE D-MAN – The Prince Albert Raiders made a trade with the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday. The Raiders acquired the rights to 19-year-old defenceman Nick Heid in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. Listed at 6’4” and 194 lbs, Heid played 62 games in the WHL last season between the Portland Winterhawks and Tigers. In his 60 games with Medicine Hat, the Fridley, MN product had five assists and 41 penalty minutes.

THUNDER WIN – The Regina Thunder improved to 3 and 1 with a 43-29 win over the Winnipeg Rifles on Saturday night at Leibel Field. The Thunder ran for 306 total yards in the win.

Regina outscored Winnipeg 14-7 in the 1st quarter and 15-7 in the second to lead 29-14 at the half and they did not look back from there.

Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette ran for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns while Ethan Hautz recorded 129 yards along the ground and another score.

Levi Paul caught both of Sawyer Buettner’s touchdown passes in the game while Kris Calcutt led the club with 113 yards receiving. Buettner threw for 256 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception.

The defence forced two turnovers on downs and linebacker Paul Toth led the team with 5 tackles and added 4 assisted take downs. DB Polis Koko had 4 tackles and a forced fumble.

The Thunder (3-1) visit the Saskatoon Hilltops (3-1) in a battle for 2nd place in the PFC Saturday.

TOTH DEFENSIVE POW – This past weekend the Thunder again dominated the Rifles offence led by linebacker Paul Toth.  The veteran collected five tackles and assisted on four others.

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

Phil
@PhilAndrewsCKRM