Blazers Ranford Signs in AHL

Kamloops, BC – The Texas Stars of the American Hockey League have signed Brendan Ranford to a professional tryout contract. The Stars, who play out of Austin, Texas, are affiliated with the Dallas Stars of the NHL.

 

Ranford spent five seasons with the Kamloops Blazers and is one of the franchise’s most prolific scorers. He broke C.J. Stretch’s franchise record for regular season games played in a Blazer uniform with 348. During his time with the Blazers, he compiled 357 regular season points which is ranked 6^th all-time.

 

The Edmonton native was originally a first round Bantam pick of the Blazers in 2007. He is well known for his durability during his time with the franchise. In five full seasons, he did not miss one game due to injury.    

 

The recently turned 21-year-old was a key part of the franchise’s 16 wins in the playoffs over the past two seasons. In 34 career playoff games, he put up 42 points including 20 points in 15 playoff games this past year.

 

To purchase your 2013-2014 season tickets contact Ticketing & Promotions Coordinator, Missy Cederholm by phone at 778-471-8068 or by email atmcederholm@blazerhockey.com. For pricing information, follow this link.

Tim O'Donovan, Communications & Media Co-ordinator                                                                        

 

Warriors Resign Assistant Coaches

Moose Jaw Warriors General Manager Alan Millar announced the re-signing of Assistant Coaches Mike Vandenberghe and Mark O’Leary.

“We are very pleased to keep this coaching staff intact under Mike Stothers leadership,” said Millar.  “Both Mike and Mark bring strong hockey credentials to our team and bring individual qualities that are an asset to the Warriors hockey club.”

Vandenberghe is entering his third season on the Warriors bench, he joined the team midway through the 2010-2011 season.  He made his WHL playing debut with the Warriors in 1987-1988, he went on to play four more years with Brandon and Medicine Hat.  After graduating from the WHL, Vandenberghe went on to a lengthy professional career in the ECHL, WPHL, and UHL.  He was the Head Coach and General Manager of the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds, and was an Assistant Coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings and University of Regina Cougars.

O’Leary is entering his second season with Moose Jaw.  He played three years in the Ontario Hockey League with Mississauga and Guelph from 2003 to 2006.  O’Leary then went on to play five years of professional hockey in the AHL, ECHL, and CHL.

Vandenberghe and O’Leary will both be on the ice this weekend in Caronport for the Warriors 2013 Prospect Camp.  26 players from across western Canada and the United States, including the 2013 Bantam Draft Class, will be taking part in a number of on-ice sessions, which are free for fans to attend.  For more information on Prospect Camp, go to mjwarriors.com

James Gallo

           Manager        Communications/broadcasting 

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Leipsic Signs with Predators

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed Winterhawks forward Brendan Leipsic to a three-year entry level contract. Leipsic was drafted by the Predators in the third round, 89^th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

 

Leipsic shared the league lead in scoring this season with linemate Nic Petan with 120 points each, as they won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s leading scorers. Leipsic’s 49 goals also led the league, and he went on to add 24 points in 21 playoff games, helping lead the Winterhawks to the WHL Championship. He has one goal and one assist for two points through three games at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. Leipsic was also named to the WHL's Second All-Star Team.

 

In 201 regular season games over three seasons, Leipsic has career totals of 93 goals and 118 assists for 211 points.

 

“Brendan has steadily improved every season and become one of our cornerstone players,” said Winterhawks Acting Head Coach Travis Green. “Signing an entry level contract is a big first step towards a professional career, and we’re excited for Brendan and his family.”

2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup Disciplinary Action

 

For Immediate Release

Thursday May 23, 2013

 

Saskatoon, SK – The Canadian Hockey League announced today that the National Hockey League Hockey Operations department has suspended Dalton Thrower of the Saskatoon Blades under supplemental discipline for the balance of the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup.  The suspension was for a check to the head that occurred in the first period of Wednesday's game that injured opponent Taylor Leier of the Portland Winterhawks. 

 

The 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup is proudly supported by MasterCard, title sponsor of this event for 15 straight years.  Associate sponsors include Bank of Montreal, Subway, Old Dutch, Post, and broadcast partners Sportsnet and TVA Sports.   

 

Paul Krotz

Manager, Media and Information Services 

Canadian / Ontario Hockey League

Winterhawks 4 Blades 2

The Portland Winterhawks finished up the round robin portion of the MasterCard Memorial Cup with a 4-2 win over the host Saskatoon Blades Wednesday at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.

 

With the victory the Hawks now advance to the semifinal Friday, where they’ll take on the winner of tomorrow night’s tiebreaker between the Blades and London Knights, champions of the Ontario Hockey League.

 

After a scoreless first period, the Hawks struck 6:44 into the second when Derrick Pouliot took a shot from the left faceoff circle that beat Saskatoon goaltender Andrey Makarov to make it 1-0. The Blades tied it at the 11:20 mark on a power play goal by Shane McColgan to make it 1-1, which remained the score going into the third.

 

Portland then took control of the game in the final frame, regaining the lead 4:08 into the period when Chase De Leo took a feed from Oliver Bjorkstrand and fired the puck past Makarov, who’d lost his stick moments before, to make it 2-1. Just 2:19 later Brendan Leipsic sniped one from the slot over Makarov’s glove to give the Hawks a 3-1 advantage.  The Hawks then made it a 4-1 game at the 10:16 mark when Ty Rattie blistered a shot off a rush past Makarov.

 

Josh Nicholls added one for Saskatoon at the16:27 mark to cut it to 4-2, but that was as close as they’d get.

 

Mac Carruth earned the win in net with 29 saves on 31 shots. Makarov took the loss for Saskatoon, allowing four goals on 34 shots.

 

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Its been a fantastic first 5 days at the Memorial Cup in Saskatoon and the hockey has been some of the best I've ever seen. Its my first time attending junior hockey's biggest tournament but in talking with a lo of people I agree with them that this may be the best showcase of talent we've seen in a long time. The Halifax Mooseheads really showed why they were ranked number 1 in the country last nigh beating the OHL champion London Knights 9-2. It was 5-0 after the first and the goals they scored wee nothing less than impressive. The skill level this team has moving the puck is almost unfair. I think they must have had at least 5 tap in goals because of that skill. Nathan Mackinnon in my opinion has proved at the very least that he should be picked ahead of his teammate Jonathan Drouin in the upcoming NHL draft. He is just so much bigger and more of a game changer from what little I've seen. hats not to say that Drouin isn't a great player but hes not at that same level. Seth Jones has been no slouch either for the Portland Winterhawks.

On the topic of proving something the Saskatoon Blades have proved that they can skate with the teams in the tournament. I have been very impressed with how they have started considering they had 52 days off before the tournament started. They have scored first in both their games and Andrey Makarov has been the tournaments best goalie so far. Not to mention the play in front of him, the Blades in their win over Halifax may have had the best performance I've seen from their team in all my years watching them here in the Bridge City. And to think with a win tonight over Portland they would secure themselves a spot in the championship game on Sunday. That brings a lot of people to be skeptical of the tournament set up because a team without a playoff win could be in the final. To that I say... I doesn't matter. That's the way this tournament is set up and if the Blades go 2 and 1 to get there than good for them. I don't think however that they will win on Wednesday night but if they do I cant imagine how crazy the finals would be when it comes to the crowds.

The other big topic of the week has been the attendance and we've discussed it at length on the Sportscage this week. The fact that the Blades made he first round exit hurt them a bit because some fans were pretty unhappy but at the same time they've had 19 thousand plus attend in two games so far and they have been great. They are loud and it has really given the hometown crowd a boost. It would be nice to see those first few rows filled so it doesn't look empty on TV but I will give the Saskatoon faithful credit, the atmosphere at Blades games has been electric. The other games however have been less than impressive but that's to be expected. As a fan of sports I'm not going to get loud for a team I have no emotional investment in but at the same time it would be good to see more people come and just enjoy the show that's being put on here at the Credit Union Centre. Here's a picture after Josh Nicholls scored his second goal of the Blades opening game of the tournament.

I mentioned earlier its been a great week and Ive had a chance to meet some really good hockey people. Dave Hunchak the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, Glen Gulutzan the former head coach of the Dallas Stars, Sportsnets Gene Principe and TSN's Bob Mackenzie. Not to mention some old friends who work in the business like Matt Chumont who I went to broadcasting school with. Great times, great hockey and always some good laughs. Here's a picture of the London Knights getting set for a game, notice their shirts that say "Its our time" with the numbers 1 through 16 which represent each win they needed to get here.

Its also been good listening to some of the players interacting with the media. I laugh sometimes at the responses these reporters get. One reporter asked Nathan MaKinnon after his Moose Heads lost to the Blades if he thought if his team had capitalized on its chances early if the game would have ended differently. He responded saying "Obviously it would be a different game if we scored, the team that scores the most goals wins." Goes to show these guys are hungry to win the biggest prize in junior hockey.

With all this going on I haven't had much time to watch the NHL, NBA playoffs or any MLB. I will say I'm very surprised at the Detroit Red Wings up 2 games to 1 on the Chicago Blackhawks. Zetterberg and Datsyuk have been unstoppable at both ends of the ice. I am a little disappointed in the New York Rangers, wanted the Bruins out after what happened against my Leafs...

And I'll leave you with one last photo. Its not the greatest quality but there was a Regina Pat Art Bidlevskii number 55 jersey sighting here in Saskatoon. Have a great week!

Winterhawks 6 Knights 3

The Portland Winterhawks defeated the London Knights, Ontario Hockey League champions, 6-3 Monday at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in their second game of the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

 

The Hawks scored the lone goal of the first period 16:53 into the frame when Saskatoon native Taylor Leier tipped a shot past London netminder Anthony Stolarz to make it 1-0.

 

Portland took a two-goal lead early in the second when Oliver Bjorkstrand fired a shot from the left faceoff circle that beat Stolarz at the 2:17 mark to make it 2-0. Later in the period Ty Rattie brought the puck into the London zone, stickhandled past the defense and scored on a backhand at the 10:23 mark to extend the lead to 3-0. London got on the board just 15 seconds later when Scott Harrington scored to cut the lead to 3-1, followed by a power play goal by Bo Horvat at the 12:30 mark to make it 3-2, which remained the score going into the third.

 

The Knights tied the game at 3-3 on a goal by Alex Broadhurst 1:48 into the third, but Portland struck back with two quick goals to go back up by two. The Hawks regained the lead when Derrick Pouliot scored a power play goal at the 6:20 mark to put the Hawks ahead 4-3, followed just 23 seconds later when Chase De Leo scored to make it 5-3.

 

London made a change in net after De Leo’s goal, replacing Stolarz with Jake Patterson. Rattie added a late empty net goal to give the Hawks the 6-3 win.

 

Rattie and Leier each had three points in the win, while Mac Carruth made 25 saves on 28 shots in net. Both teams were 1-3 on the power play.

 

The Hawks round out the round robin portion of the schedule Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific time when they take on the host Saskatoon Blades.