Bruins add centre; players skating at Spectra Place

Nearly 25 Bruins or Bruin prospects showed up to Spectra Place for a little 4-on-4 shinny tonight in advance of training camp starting on Friday.

One of those players was new acquisition Derek Whitehill, a 20-year-old centre. Whitehill played two years with the Winnipeg Saints, including 2009-10 under Keith Cassidy. He played for the NAHL's Alaska Avalanche last year.

It sounds like Whitehill has speed to burn and he should make for a good checking centre and PK guy.

Here's a look at his stats:


I'm going to miss some guys here, but the players skating tonight included Derek Tendler, Steven Glass, Ryan Ostertag, Chris Daniels, Tanner Froese, Cole Olson, Josh Jelinski, Jesse Bernard, Tyler Kauk, Ben Johnstone, Calder Neufeld, Denin Boesch and Austin Yano.

Bernard's hands were on full display. It wasn't hard to see why he led the Manitoba midget league in scoring last year. Glass looked very solid despite wearing brand-new gear. Kauk looked impressive and Olson had the highlight of the night, beating Glass with a great snipe from in close.

A lot of players will likely be out tomorrow night as well.

Over 70 players invited to Bruins training camp

From today's Mercury:

There will be no shortage of players looking to earn a spot with the Estevan Bruins at the team’s training camp this weekend.

Head coach and general manager Keith Cassidy expects about 75 players to show up and they will be divided into four teams for scrimmages.

The main reason for the large group is so Cassidy can get a first-hand look at as many list players as possible in his first camp behind the bench.

Many of those players also attended the team’s conditioning camp last week, including one day when 30 players showed up. No goalies made it to any of the sessions though.

One of the biggest names at camp will be goaltender Derek Tendler, who was released by the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos last week.

The 1992-born netminder played 38 games for the Bruins in 2009-10. He has since spent time with the Broncos, Vancouver Giants and the Winnipeg Saints of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

It’s believed the Broncos let Tendler go mainly because of his conditioning, but Cassidy said he will be given every chance to battle for the starter’s job alongside 20-year-old Shea Cooper.

“We’ll see what he looks like when he gets here. That’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine, if guys don’t show up in shape, but we’ll see. He apparently spent the whole summer in Swift Current, so I can’t see him being too terribly out of shape.”

A whopping 10 goaltenders will be in camp.

The most difficult decisions will likely be up front, where a strong group of ’93 forwards will battle a returning contingent of eight players for roster spots.

Read the rest of the story here

Bombers deal Johnston to Humboldt

In a move that can be filed under "shocking", the Flin Flon Bombers have traded star forward Andrew Johnston to the division rival Humboldt Broncos.

Johnston will likely challenge for the SJHL scoring title this year and was by far the best player on the Flin Flon roster.

In return, the Bombers get big defenceman Gabe Minville and another player to be named next year.

Minville joins the likes of David Roper, Stefan Virtanen and Tanner Clark to form a very solid blueline in Flin Flon. Still, unless the player to be named is a top six forward, I don't like the deal at all for the Bombers, especially since it's within the division.

A release on the Bombers' website gives the impression that Mike Reagan was painted into a corner, with Johnston likely bolting to the USHL if he didn't get a trade to Humboldt.

For the Broncos, it's another case of "If you host the RBC, they will come." I don't think Johnston will put up the same numbers Clarke Breitkreuz would have, but there's no question he's an elite forward in this league.

Speaking of which, losing Breitkreuz to pro hockey in Germany has to sting for Humboldt. Just imagine the numbers he and Robbie Ciolfi could have racked up as 20-year-olds. Ciolfi is an elite centreman himself, but I don't think any GM gives up Buzzeo and Boyer for him.

It sure is nice talking SJHL trades again. Training camp is only a few days away...

Training camp schedule

Here's a rough schedule for Bruins' training camp this weekend.

About 75 players are coming to camp and they will be divided into four full teams. It's mainly so Keith can get a good look at everyone. Friday's games will be played 4-on-4. Sunday practice times may change but they will be in the morning.

Friday
4-5:30 p.m. Registration and orientation meeting
6-7:30 p.m. White vs. Gold
8-9:30 p.m. Red vs. Black

Saturday
10-11:30 a.m. Gold vs. Red
12-1:30 p.m. Black vs. White
4-5:30 p.m. Red vs. White
6-7:30 p.m. Gold vs. Black

*First round of cuts*

Sunday
9-10 a.m. Black practice
10:30-11:30 a.m. Gold practice
5 p.m. Black and Gold game

*Second round of cuts down to 25-28ish*

Tendler back in the picture

Derek Tendler could be the Bruins' starting goalie this season.

The 19-year-old netminder was released Thursday by the Swift Current Broncos and will be at training camp in Estevan a week from now.

Tendler, a native of Regina, last suited up for the Bruins in 2009-10 when he appeared in 38 games, posting a .907 save percentage and 2.99 GAA.

He's spent time with the Vancouver Giants and the Broncos since then.

Tendler's return puts the status of returning goalie Shea Cooper in jeopardy. No word yet on what will happen there.

Well. That was legendary.

Was that awesome or what???

I need to take a nap, but here are some photos from today's festivities...

Estevan Idol winner Lexie Tytlandsvik

Boo

Dancing from the White Bear First Nation

Estevan's Chris Henderson, who wrote a song about the city for the occasion.

Regina Rams coach Frank McCrystal with three players, including Estevan's Zach Rensby

Warming up the crowd

Cheque presentation to Wanda Harron

Livin on a Prayer... I think this was my favourite part of the day

OMG. That was Jay Onrait. I'm tweeting about it now. Best. Sign. Ever.

Marco Ricci on TSN

Being carried off by Elecs players. Dan got the idea while I was interviewing him yesterday.

Autographs

Jay and Dan love the Mercury!

KCT in Estevan - Day 1

What a day it's been. And it's not even over yet.

Here's a quick rundown of what Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole have done on their first day in Estevan:

-Breakfast at Black Beard's

-11 a.m. cleanup at Dana Quewezance Memorial Field. Helped pick up debris, did a little shovelling, talked to as many people as possible. It was great chatting with both of them in a really laid-back environment. I got both to admit that they aren't Nickelback fans (whew...)

-Lunch at the Tower Cafe. There are some great photos floating around of them eating pizza and pouring beer. Jay insisted on going there and said he loved it.

-2-2:30ish autographs at the Co-op

-3:30 media interviews at the Days Inn

-4 p.m. Jay checked out an Elecs' practice

-5 p.m. Dan drove Gregg Mann's #95 stock car at Estevan Motor Speedway. He did pretty well aside from blowing a rear tire. Great footage for tomorrow's show.

Tonight both of them will be at the Speedway's championship night and will be interviewed during the intermission.

It all starts today

I'm back from vacation just in time for the beginning of the Kraft Celebration Tour festivities in Estevan.

Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole arrived in Estevan last night, staying at the Days Inn. They'll be at Dana Quewezance Memorial Field at Woodlawn Park this morning at 11, helping local players and volunteers clean up some debris at the field. You'll see some of that in tomorrow's broadcast.

Part of downtown will be blocked off beginning today at noon so the 80,000-pound stage can be transported and set up.

We don't have their full itinerary for the day but interviews are being booked for around 3:30 p.m. That's going to be a big-time thrill.

Tonight the TSN crew will be at Estevan Motor Speedway, getting footage of the track's championship night. At some point Dan will get behind the wheel of a stock car.

Tomorrow, the schedule goes something like this:

2:15 - Introduction/welcome from MC Michael Ball
2:20 - Welcome from Estevan mayor Gary St. Onge
2:25 - Lexie Tytlandsvik, Estevan Junior Idol winner, sings
2:30 - Salute to Salvation Army for their help during the floods
2:40 - White Bear First Nation dancers, including a member of the ECS Elecs
2:55 - Country singer Chris Henderson with a song about Estevan
3:00 - Introduction of Regina Rams; 620 CKRM's Ryan Schultz will be on-location
3:05 - Introduction of Saskatchewan Roughriders
3:15 - Cheque presentation to Estevan Football Family
3:45 - SportsCentre pre-taping
5:00 - Jay and Dan autograph booth; Sports Cage with Rod Pedersen begins at the Taphouse

***

Meanwhile, the Bruins are holding their conditioning camp this week in the evenings at Spectra Place. Some of the players on the ice include Dom Perrault, Eric Baldwin, Ryan Ostertag, Michael Hengen, Dylan Smith, Tanner Froese and Taylor Reich.

Szpak traded; Bruins hockey school scaled back

The Bruins have traded defenceman Matt Szpak to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, his hometown and the team he played for in 2009-10.

Szpak had asked for a trade to the AJHL. The Bruins get futures in return.

The 20-year-old rearguard posted a goal and five points in 28 games last year.

Keith said there may be something else coming down the pipe in the next few days (possibly tomorrow) as well. I'll be on vacation, but check next week's Mercury for the latest.

Meanwhile, a surprising lack of interest in this year's Bruins hockey school has resulted in it being scaled back significantly.

Instead of running the full camp, Keith and assistant Cole Zahn will be doing power skating sessions for peewee and bantam players in the mornings. The camp runs for all of next week at Spectra Place.

Speaking of Cole, he and his wife (who got married earlier this summer) have found an apartment and gotten settled in Estevan. Good to hear.

I'll be home in PEI for the next 10 days, so there won't be any posts on the blog. It'll speed up quickly when I get back though with less than two weeks before training camp.

Joel Kot joins Cougars

The Regina Cougars announced today that ex-Bruins defenceman Joel Kot will suit up with their program next year alongside former captain Troy Hunter.

The release from reginacougars.com:

University of Regina men's hockey head coach Blaine Sautner announced Tuesday that former WHLers Lucas Gore, Joel Kot, and Blaine Tendler have all committed to the Cougars for the 2011-12 season.

Gore, a goaltender from Kamloops, B.C., was a workhorse for the Chilliwack Bruins last season. He played in 64 of the team's 72 regular season games and compiled a 31-23-7 record to go along with an impressive .911 save percentage. In three full seasons with the Bruins, Gore had a 3.31 career goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. He also played in 11 career playoff games with Chilliwack.

"Lucas brings a ton of experience to our squad and will be able to contribute to our team immediately," Sautner said. "Lucas and A.J. (Whiffen) will be a very solid tandem for us in the seasons to come."

Tendler, a 6'1" blueliner from Viceroy, was named the 2011 SJHL Defenceman of the Year after a spectacular 20-year-old season with the Yorkton Terriers. He had 11 goals and 27 points for Yorkton in 47 regular season games and added four assists in 11 playoff contests last year. Tendler played for the Prince Albert Raiders for three full seasons before finishing off his junior career with two seasons in Yorkton.

"Blaine is a big, mobile defenceman that has a good first pass and is very steady," Sautner said. "His offensive capabilities will be a definite asset to our team as he has proven to be a valuable guy on the power play in the past."

Kot, a defenceman, played in 85 regular season games for the Red Deer Rebels over parts of three seasons. He won an MJHL championship and the Anavet Cup with the Dauphin Kings as a 19-year-old and finished off his junior career with Estevan (SJHL) last season, registering 24 points in 36 regular season games and scoring five points in nine postseason contests.

"Joel is a mobile defenceman who will be a great addition to our team," Sautner said. "He's a slick passer, has a good shot, and was a huge part of the Dauphin team that played in the Royal Bank Cup back in 2010."

The three recruits bring Sautner's recruiting class up to nine players. Seven players committed back in early June, but goaltender Andrew Hayes has opted to pursue a spot in the professional ranks.

The Cougars begin their 2011-12 schedule with a non-conference game at Saskatchewan on Sept. 9. The team's Canada West slate begins on Oct. 7 and 8 with a pair of games against the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

2011-12 University of Regina Men's Hockey Recruiting Class
F Liam Brennan – 6-2, 190 lbs. – Lumsden, Sask. – Augustana Vikings (ACAC)
D Dayton Fossum – 6-0, 190 lbs. – Frontier, Sask. – La Ronge Ice Wolves (MJHL)
G Lucas Gore – 6-0, 170 lbs. – Kamloops, B.C. – Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
F Tyler Henry – 6-1, 175 lbs. – Balgonie, Sask. – Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
F Troy Hunter – 6-1, 207 lbs. – Virden, Man. – Estevan Bruins (SJHL)
D Joel Kot – 5-11, 193 lbs. – Moose Jaw, Sask. – Estevan Bruins (SJHL)
D Mark Schneider – 6-1, 190 lbs. – Brandon, Man. – Regina Pats (WHL)
D John Sonntag – 6-3, 215 lbs. – Goodsoil, Sask. – Kindersley Klippers (SJHL)
D Derek Tendler – 6-1, 200 lbs. – Viceroy, Sask. – Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)

Friday Notes

The countdown is on for Estevan's day in the limelight, with less than three weeks until we host SportsCentre.

I got word this morning that Onrait and O'Toole will race each other at Estevan Motor Speedway. I'm not sure what part of the day it'll happen, but that should be a blast to watch.

It'll be a huge feather in the cap for the Speedway as well, having their track showcased on TSN for the second time this summer (the first being a feature done on EMS racer and Bombers OG Brendon LaBatte).

I haven't heard anything else about what Onrait and O'Toole are going to do in Estevan - aside from autographs at 5 p.m. - but I'm sure there's more.

KCT committee members are working hard at putting together a day that will encourage people from all walks of life to come out and celebrate. This is what the schedule looks like right now:;

2 p.m. Family fun zone (football throw, bouncing castles, slip and slide, free BBQ, free Kraft samples, etc)
3 p.m. Entertainment on stage. MC Michael Ball. Entertainment includes Estevan Junior Idol winner Lexie Tytlandsvik and country artist Chris Henderson. Community groups represented include Estevan Minor Baseball, Estevan Minor Hockey, the Bruins, Estevan Tae Kwon Do, Estevan Motor Speedway, Trackside MX Park, Antique Car Club, Estevan Fire Department, Ambulance Services and the Estevan Police Service's canine division. Members of the Riders and Regina Rams will also be on the scene and Rod Pedersen will be hosting the Sports Cage from Estevan.
3:30 p.m. $25,000 cheque presentation to Estevan Football Family
3:45 p.m. SportsCentre production begins
5 p.m. TSN autograph booth

People are asked to bring signs and a non-perishable food item for the Salvation Army.

In order to bring in the 80,000-pound stage, several blocks of 4th St. and 11th Ave. will be blocked off beginning the day before.

Look for an update in next week's Mercury.

***

The Battlefords North Stars didn't take long to settle their coaching situation, announcing today they've hired Kevin Hasselberg as their head coach and GM.

Hasselberg is coming off an assistant gig with the BCHL's Port Alberni Bulldogs. Prior to that, he spent a decade with the AJHL's Olds Grizzlys, including six as head coach.

Hasselberg was a finalist for the Bruins' job before they decided on Keith Cassidy. He's been described as a good guy and seems to be another example of the wave of younger coaches sweeping the SJHL the last couple of years.

He comes to a North Stars team that looks to be set up fairly well for next season. Then again, we thought the same thing last year. One thing's for sure, Hasselberg needs to get more out of his blueline than Ken Pearson was able to last year.

***

Sticking with the SJHL, the Kindersley Klippers have been extremely busy this off-season. There have been a few moves involving list players, but Sean Flanagan's request to be traded to the BCHL has set off a fair bit of turnover.

For a while it looked like Flanagan might make the jump directly to a Division 1 school for next year, but when that didn't happen, he asked to go to the league that gave him the best chance of doing it next year.

Unfortunately for him, that trade was made by the Silverbacks' owner, with head coach Tim Kehler having no idea, and that led to Kehler's resignation, throwing the whole franchise into upheaval.

As for the Klippers, they got a skilled forward in Jarryd Ten Vaanholt as well as forward Josh McKissock and defenceman Justin Elliott, but when it became clear they weren't going to report, they had to ship them out again.

The latest deal sending Ten Vaanholt and Elliott to Vernon is intriguing. In return, the Klippers get former North Star Dane Muench along with defenceman Philip Patenaude.

As lots of people in Kindersley will remember, Muench is loaded with skill but took too many nights off as a Star. Two years later, who knows, his attitude may have changed, but he didn't exactly tear it up with the Pats, or in Vernon.

That said, his time in the Dub is over and the Klippers will have him for two years, and you don't forget how to score goals.

***

Just think where the Toronto Blue Jays might be right now if not for that wretched bullpen. After yesterday's 12-inning debacle that made me want to hand in my Jays fan club membership, this bullpen is now tied for second in the bigs with 19 blown saves. 

They've had 42 save opportunities and blown almost half of them. Think about that.

I know it's not a big year for the Jays, and the plan is building toward a couple years from now, but what does it do to the young guys when they play a solid game and have the bullpen throw it away? What does it do to Ricky Romero when he throws a gem and Casey Janssen (who, admittedly, has been OK) gives up a grand slam on his first pitch?

While I wasn't necessarily upset that the Jays didn't get Heath Bell, due mainly to his age, they need to do something to address this bullpen in the off-season. It's been forever since they had a good closer.

OK, I'm done ranting for today.

Rock traded to Sherwood Park

One trade request down, one to go.

The Bruins have found a home for defenceman Brett Rock. The 20-year-old has been dealt to the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL for cash.

The Redwater, Alta., native had asked to be traded to his home province, as did Matt Szpak, who has yet to be dealt.

Rock posted a goal and eight assists in 49 games last year. He was acquired from Melfort in the Brant Harris trade at the Dec. 1 deadline in 2009.

***

I've added a poll feature to the site. It'll be changed every week to 10 days. The first one is about the Bruins' forward group. To my knowledge, here's what we're looking at right now. Considering I didn't cover the team last year, I'm not even going to try to organize these guys into lines right now.

Dylan Smith

Cole Olson

Michael Hengen

Calder Neufeld

Ryan Ostertag

Josh Jelinski

Chris Daniels

Matt Dochylo

Jesse Bernard

Matt Brykaliuk

Tanner Froese

Taylor Reich

Ben Johnstone

Of course, there will be other kids coming to camp who should have a good shot at cracking the roster as well.

Ostertag, Baldwin back from northern Connecticut

Here's the story from today's Mercury on Eric Baldwin and Ryan Ostertag with the Northern Connecticut Wings.

The Estevan Bruins have been sending a handful of players to the Northern Connecticut Wings' summer hockey program over the last few years.

This time, it was forward Ryan Ostertag and defenceman Eric Baldwin suiting up for the Wings, based in Simsbury, Conn.

It's a four-week-long program aimed at getting NCAA Division I exposure for its players through nearly a month of practices and weekend tournaments.

Baldwin, who is entering his 19-year-old season, said the experience made him a better player.

"Absolutely. Not only did it get me into fairly good shape, it allowed me to network and meet different players and coaches," he said. "It made me a more well-rounded player. It gave me better chances offensively to jump up in the play."

Read the rest here

Lots of SJHL players packing their bags

Here's my column from this week's Mercury, recapping off-season movement in the SJHL. You guys are getting the long version... we had to cut out a few things to squeeze it into the paper. Bonus!

Lots of SJHL players packing their bags

It's been a busier SJHL off-season than usual, in no small part due to all the in-province futures deals that were made leading up to the January trade deadline.

Almost every top player on the block found a new home within the league, and most of those swaps included players to be named later.

As a result, we are seeing teams get dramatic makeovers, with last year's middle-of-the-pack clubs like Humboldt and Melville getting facelifts at the expense of Yorkton and Melfort, respectively.

Who could forget last year's mega-blockbuster that sent top scorers Jeremy Boyer and Justin Buzzeo to Yorkton? The pair made their mark, but the Terriers fell one win short of the Credit Union Cup and now they're paying for it.

The return, 1991-born forwards Clarke Breitkreuz and Robbie Ciolfi, was the worst-kept secret in the SJHL. It played out as expected and now the Broncos have arguably the two top forwards in the league to lead the charge for the Royal Bank Cup.

Breitkreuz is the odds-on favourite to win the SJHL scoring title. Ciolfi needs to keep his focus on the rink, and if he can do that, there's no telling how good he can be.

Humboldt also picked up Ryan Marshall from Swan Valley as the futures for Nick Keller, and I think we'll be looking back on this as the best trade of the off-season. Marshall is a complete player who can play first-line minutes and lead the penalty kill. He'll be invaluable to the Broncos during the RBC.

The Broncos also acquired stud defenceman Mat Backhouse from the Dauphin Kings.

They've built an impressive attack; now they need a top-end goalie. They have been linked to Blake Voth, who the Battlefords North Stars picked up from Vernon this spring, but it won't be cheap to land his services from an inter-divisional rival.

Yorkton won't be terrorizing the Sherwood Conference, but it's not all gloomy for them. Warren Shymko is a capable starter and their attack will be led by the likes of Zak Majkowski, Brent Struble, Brenden Poncelet, Nathan Murray and Kyle McLeod.

The other major futures deal completed this summer saw Melfort send three star players to Melville to complete two separate deals for Cody Hanson and Brayden Metz before the deadline.

Read the rest of the column here