Friday grab bag

The SJHL scene will look drastically different in North Battleford next season after two familiar faces departed this week.

Head coach Ken Pearson gave his resignation last weekend, a move that had been in the works for quite some time, in order to accept the head coaching gig in Winkler, where he will be closer to his two kids.

With his background with NHL Central Scouting, it's not surprising that Ken did a terrific job of finding his grads good places to play. That track record probably had a lot to do with some of the quality players the Stars recruited the last couple of years.

The on-ice results were mixed. Last year was a massive disappointment for a team I had pegged to win the north. Despite all the talent on that roster, something was off and they didn't make it out of the survivor series.

On the other hand, who could forget the 15-win team of 2008-09 that proceeded to knock off the Nipawin Hawks and take the powerhouse Humboldt Broncos to six games? That floored just about everybody.

Pearson was a well-respected coach who will be missed in the Battlefords, but it's good to see him closer to home in his old stomping grounds of Winkler.

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The new coach will be dealing with a new play-by-play man this season. Dan O'Connor, one of the league's best talents, is heading to the Prince George Cougars to fulfill his dream of calling WHL games.

Dan will be sorely missed in SJ circles. In less than three years, I've come to admire his way of treating people, his passion for the job and his preparation. I had the pleasure of appearing on his Sports Fix program three times and enjoyed each one. 

Dan is a consummate professional and calls a great game. It was only a matter of time before he got called up, and it's good to see him heading back to BC, even if it's a long way from home.

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As for the Bruins, Keith Cassidy continues to kick the tires on the trade front, likely focusing on a veteran forward, but it looks like nothing is imminent, including a deal to send Matt Szpak and/or Brett Rock to Alberta.

He said Dallas Jorgensen, acquired from Nipawin earlier this week, will be counted on as a stay-at-home vet and his ice time will depend on his showing at training camp.

Meanwhile, Ryan Ostertag and Eric Baldwin have been spending the last few weeks with the Northern Connecticut Wings. Their time is drawing to an end, but judging from this tweet, it looks like Ostertag got a nasty parting gift courtesy of a hit from behind: 

Check next week's Mercury for the story.

Bruins acquire defenceman from Nipawin

The Estevan Bruins acquired 1992 defenceman Dallas Jorgensen from the Nipawin Hawks on Monday for future considerations (cash).

Jorgensen is a Medicine Hat native who posted six assists in 53 games with the Hawks last year. He is listed at 6-foot-1 and 197 pounds and shoots left.

Jorgensen will be expected to provide a stable, stay-at-home presence on a young blueline.

It also sounds like Keith Cassidy is in the market for a veteran forward or two, so stay tuned for more on the trade front before training camp.

Victory for Estevan

All those hours of pounding our fingers were worth it.

Estevan has beat Swan River for a spot on the Kraft Celebration Tour! Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole will be in the Energy City on Aug. 25 to host SportsCentre and our local football programs will receive $25,000.

We all owe Wanda Harron (who submitted the nomination) and the rest of our football volunteers a HUGE round of applause for getting the ball rolling on this.

Read the Mercury story here:

Photos of the Spectra Place ice

A little late on this, but here are some photos I took late last week and on Monday of the fresh ice surface at Spectra Place.

Vote for Estevan today

The voting period for Estevan vs. Swan River for the Kraft Celebration Tour began today at 10 a.m. Sask time. It ends tomorrow at 10 a.m.

To vote, click on this link, click "Vote Now" under Estevan and fill out the word verification (hint - you only have to type the shadowed word for it to work).

Repeat! Voting is unlimited. I've probably logged over 1,500 votes so far. It would be HUGE for Estevan to get SportsCentre here, as well as the $25,000 for local football programs.

Also, check out this video created by EMF.

More on Russell Abbott's signing at U of Ottawa

Good morning (or afternoon by the time I finish this post),

I noticed this email today from Russell Abbott's dad, Ken. It was dated June 29, which is when I was in PEI, and I don't check this address much to begin with.

This is what it says about Russell's commitment to forego his last SJHL season and join the Ottawa Gee Gees (which was announced Monday).

Hi Josh:


In a small thanks to you for being the first SJHL blogger to notice the play last season of my son Russell Abbott I would like you to have the scoop on his acceptance of an offer and his award of a position with the Univ of Ottawa GeeGees CIS men’s hockey team commencing Sept/2011. Russ was in the fortunate position to consider offers from several CIS and NCAA schools and selected Ottawa because their recruiters offered him the opportunity to play a contributing on ice role in his first season as a GeeGee. The top NCAA teams were only offering partial scholarships with no promise of playing time in the first year. Russ joins former Hound captain Kyle Ireland and Melville Millionaire Austin Krahenbil at U of Ottawa.


Thanks for being a messenger and wish you all the best in Estevan.


Ken Abbott


I would like to thank Ken for his kindness (getting a scoop in this way is rare, at least in my experience) and wish Russell the best of luck in Ottawa. He was one of the top goalies in the SJHL last season and surely would have been the best, easily, next year. It's too bad he didn't get much help from his team in Wilcox, aside from 2009-10 maybe.

My interview with Dan O'Toole yesterday was unbelievable. The man is just as funny as he is on-air... it's not an act. I had to stop myself from absolutely losing it a bunch of times. It went about 20 minutes. Still trying to get it up on my computer.

We also chatted for a few minutes after the interview and I asked him to follow me on twitter. He said he would and within a couple hours he made good on it... just check out my followers list!

Interviewing Dan O'Toole tomorrow

Earlier this morning I was able to line up an interview with SportsCentre anchor Dan O'Toole for tomorrow morning. If Estevan wins the Kraft Celebration Tour, O'Toole and Jay Onrait will host SC (i.e. their travelling circus) in the Energy City.

I have to thank TSN communications employee Renee Rouse for helping me out. Last month she offered to get me Darren Dutchyshen and lined it up for me within two days. This morning I got in touch with her about possibly talking to Wayne or Shuster (haha) and literally within 40 minutes she had a day and time set with Dan. Thanks Renee!

I'm going to ask him if they're going to do the robot/Sandstorm routine or some other slapstick thing if they come here, but leave a comment if you have a question you want me to ask.

Here are the stories on the KCT and Jesse Bernard that ran in yesterday's Mercury: 

Making the top 20 is here 
A look at the Estevan-Swan River matchup is here
Jesse Bernard story is here

Have a great Thursday.

Bruins snag Jesse Bernard

The Bruins' odds of being successful over the next few years got a huge boost tonight when they signed Southwest Cougars forward Jesse Bernard.

Bernard, 18, was the leading scorer in the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League last year, recording 39 goals and 72 points.

He had significant interest from other teams and until now, him joining the Bruins was anything but a sure thing.

The recruiting team of Keith Cassidy, Rick Oakes and Manitoba scout Chad Leslie have now locked up all of their targets for the coming year except for two: Moose Jaw forward Kyle Oleniuk, who went to Salmon Arm, and another Cougars player who signed with Dauphin.

Cassidy said he thinks Bernard can play a key role for the Bruins next season as a rookie.

"Eighteen-year-olds always have an adjustment period, but I think he's a player of some pretty exceptional talent. We'll be looking forward to him playing a pretty good role this year," he said.

"He's got good vision and some tremendous finish to him, which is exciting. You don't lead any league in scoring without having the ability to find guys on the ice and finish off plays as well."

Cassidy said his focus will now shift to adding a few veterans, via the trade route or perhaps signing some free agents.

***

Sorry about the lack of activity on the blog lately. You've no doubt heard by now that Estevan has made the top 20 for TSN's Kraft Celebration Tour. The city goes up against Swan River, MB, with voting on July 19. If Estevan gets more votes, we will host a broadcast of SportsCentre in late August and get $25,000 to go toward a community project.

The money would go to Estevan Minor Football and the high school program, with an eye to the recent flooding damage as well as a few projects that already needed completion before the flooding started.

Wednesday's Mercury will have a full page of coverage.

The reason there hasn't been anything on the blog is because I flew home to PEI after learning of the death of my uncle, George, in a motorcycle accident on June 22. We were really close and the last 10 days have been very hard on me. I flew home on the 24th and got back Friday night.