Crying Over Clouston's Departure-Not!/The Voice of the Canes

So my buddy Cory Clouston is off to the American Hockey League.
I say my buddy, tongue-in-cheek, because I admittedly am not a fan of the impersonal Kootenay coach. We have never had a verbal disagreement per-say, but simply Clouston wasn't a coach I'd hunt down for a pre-game interview. Clouston frankly made you feel like you were wasting his valuable time, and I am not the only broadcasters to think this way.
But to Clouston's defense, he did some pretty remarkable things with that team over his time in 'Kootenay Country', and he did what coaches are suppose to do...win. He could take a good old fashioned Dale Carnegie course in my opinion, but their is no need to change his coaching style.
While Clouston will be named the new head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the team announced Tuesday they are hosting the 2008 AHL All-Star game.
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A new face, or should I say voice is joining the Western Hockey League this season.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes have named Pat Siedlecki as the teams new radio broadcaster. Siedlecki beat out close to 50 applicants for the honor. Siedlecki most recently called games with the Naniamo Clippers of the BCHL. Congrats to Siedlecki, who I don't know from a hole in the ground, but will likely get to know better this season.

Now the Edmonton Oil Kings are the only team to finalize it's radio broadcaster. By the look of things, it's priority #1045 on the to-do-list, just behind what urinal cake scent the team should use in the mens washroom during Oil King home games this season.
All joking aside, the candidate who gets the Oil Kings gig better be a quick learner, with training camp not that far away.
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My fellow blogger Ryan Switzer in Swift Current may have misinterpreted what I posted on this blog a while back about the Oil Kings radio opening.
I posted that the Edmonton Journal newspaper was reporting that James Gallo is rumored to be the new play-by-play voice of the Oil Kings. In that blog posting I did not say Gallo was a slam dunk, but was in the running for the position. I am only stating what I read, not what I heard. Switzer's blog www.ryanswitzer.blogspot.com is always a good read, and his often warped sense of humor puts him in my good books no matter what bad things he says about me! I'm joking Switzer..,I'm joking.

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Hamilton Courting Habby

If Bruce Hamilton had it his way, it would be a done deal.
The Kelowna Rockets GM has likely broken bread more than once with Marc Habscheid, bringing up the issues of him taking over the head coaching duties for a second time.
The fact that Habscheid is hanging out in the Okanagan this week as his son attends hockey school, makes it even more convenient!
For Bruce Hamilton the conversation with Habscheid this summer must bring back memories of when the two were discussing his possible return to junior hockey in the spring of 2000. Hamilton was calling on Habscheid to join the coaching staff after relieving Clint Malarchuk of his duties. Habscheid was still feeling the sting of leading the Kamloops Blazers to the WHL finals in 1998-99, but not having his contract renewed.
At the time Habscheid was in the drivers seat, and really had no interest of quickly get back into the coaching racket. He had heard that Hamilton was a hands on GM, maybe to hands on, and was a little leery of joining the Rockets unless Hamilton backed off! He'd come to Kelowna, but only on the condition that he would have the say on the player development side of the hockey club. Habscheid wanted to coach, but wanted to coach a certain way, with a certain type of player. It was tough for Hamilton to agree too, but he took a leap of faith that day by letting Habscheid run the team the way he wanted too, and the rest is history.
If Habscheid comes back and assumes the coaching duties again in Kelowna, he will again resume full control while padding his bank account at the same time. Will it match the salary he got at the NHL level with Boston? Potentially, and why not? Habscheid filled the pockets of Hamilton to overflowing with cold, hard cash during his time in K-Town with playoff runs that went well into April, and three times into the month of May.
Count it up.
At 16 bucks a ticket x 6100 fans in the building, Hamilton can turn a profit of just under 100,000 bucks per game. A Rockets win in post season, in front of a full house put a smile on Hamilton's face for more reasons than just winning.
Let's just say that right now Marc Habscheid is like real estate in the Okanagan...a good investment.
Rumor has it Habscheid still has a home in Kelowna, making the sales pitch by Hamilton even that much easier. The old saying, 'the home is where the heart is' may just be enough for Habscheid to consider moving back to the Okanagan for a second time.
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Congrats to Kelowna Rockets d-man Tyler Myers for making the U.S Under 18 Select Team roster. Myers is one of just two WHL players to make the squad.

The Sutter Snub!

For Brent Sutter it was all about timing.
Approached last season to join the New Jersey Devils, Sutter took a pass on the opportunity feeling that the Red Deer Rebels needed him more, and another chance would eventually come down the road when a NHL GM would come knocking on his door, asking if he was interested.
Now that he's the main man in New Jersey, will Sutter retain the same assistant coaching staff that the Devils had last season? I would be surprised if he wouldn't look for his own staff, considering Devils assistant coach John McLean was rumored as a potential candidate before Sutter's name came out of no where to take on the head coaching duties with the Devils. I say Sutter's name came out of no where, because the owner of the Red Deer Rebels appeared content in staying in the junior game, and playing the role of owner, gm and coach of his enterprise.
But now that Sutter is in the NHL, he will want to surround himself with his kind of people, those he can trust and take the same type of approach to the game as he does. If he intends on picking his own coaching staff, Marc Habscheid surely has to be on his radar.

When it comes to my encounters with Brent Sutter over the years , I can count them on one hand.
What I remember most was his unwillingness to talk to our radio broadcast crew before games during the WHL final in 2003. Sutter would avoid me like the plague, sending out assistant Dallas Gaume to do his dirty work. Nothing against Gaume - he is a former Swift Current Bronco
by the way - but people want to hear from the opposition head coach, and let's face it Sutter is a pretty big deal. I wanted the 'big deal' on my broadcast!
I thought the best way to handle the 'Sutter snub' was to talk to the league about my problem. One game later, Brent was available to me, but only for pre-game comments in games played in Kelowna.
I took what I could get!
Brent Sutter didn't like to play by other people's rules, only his own. He did just that at the WHL level, and likely spelled it out to Devils GM Lou Lamoriello, before committing to taking the head coaching duties with the Devils hockey club.

Is Sutter's Move to the NHL the Rockets Gain?

If Brent Sutter takes on the coaching duties with the New Jersey Devils, it has essentially shut the door on Marc Habscheid's chances this season of being a head coach at the NHL level.
Rumors have circulated that Habscheid had a good shot at the job in New Jersey, after he and Dave Lewis were turfed at the end of the season by the Boston Bruins.
So if 'Habby' has had the door closed on being the head coach with the Devils, would Sutter consider him as an assistant coach? Or does this now pave the way for Habscheid to return to major junior, and the coaching duties with the Kelowna Rockets?
It seems odd doesn't it, that Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton has been extremely slow in naming a successor to Jeff Truitt. Or was Hamilton simply waiting for Habscheid, and now that a door has been slammed shut on a pro job , the coach that led the Rockets to a Memorial Cup title in 2004 is headed back to save a team that missed post season play last season?
The wheels are definitely spinning in every ones head over the latest developments, but no ones head is likely spinning more than Ryan Huska's, who at this point doesn't know if he's in or out.

Sutter Moving to NHL?

The Red Deer Rebels have called a news conference for Thursday and sources suggest team owner Brent Sutter will announce that he's stepping down as general manager and head coach.

NHL sources tell TSN that Sutter is stepping down from his junior club to pursue a head coaching job in the NHL and that Sutter is the odds-on favourite to be named the next head coach of the New Jersey Devils.

Brent's brother Brian is reportedly taking over the Rebels.

Colin Long Feeling Like a King/Westy and Minny Finished

Congratulations to Kelowna Rockets forward Colin Long.
Despite failing to hear his name called last month at the NHL draft, the 'Kid from California' is getting a taste of the NHL after all.
Long has been invited to the LA Kings summer evaluation camp this week. Long will be joining the likes of Jack Johnson, the Kings number one pick from the 2006 draft, along with Oscar Moller (Chilliwack) and Thomas Hickey (Seattle). Does Long have pressure to perform? In a sense he has nothing to lose, but sure he has some weight on his shoulders. If he can leave a positive impression, return to Kelowna, put up some solid numbers, anything can happen.
Let's don't get to far ahead of ourselves, but a former Rocket by the name of Josh Gorges was never drafted, was a bit on the smallish side as a junior, but the San Jose Sharks liked him enough to sign the d-man to a NHL contract.
This experience will only help Long , as he returns for his 3rd season with the Rockets this season. While it's technically his third in K-Town, I consider it his second or sophomore season. Long's rookie campaign saw him play in less than 21 games, because of mono.
My gut tells me Colin Long is a late bloomer, and we will really see what he's made of this season.
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It looks like Kristofer Westblom's affiliation with the Minnesota Wild is officially over.
The Wild informed 'Westy' last week they will not invited him to training camp this fall on a tryout. Earlier on this blog I spoke to Tommy Thompson (Director of Player Personnel) of the Wild, who said the team was genuinely interested in having him at camp, despite failing to sign the Meadow Lake product to a contract by June 1st.
The Wild signed Josh Harding today, which gives you the feeling he is indeed the goaltender of the future for that organization.
Westblom is now open to offers for a free-agent tryout. Stay tuned!
I spoke to Westblom today, as he arrived back in Kelowna after spending time back home celebrating his grandpa's 96th birthday. It's an event Westblom wouldn't miss, because he's just that kind of a guy.
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I failed to mention in this blog that Clayton Barthel also participated in Sunday's Rockets alumni hockey game.
Even Darren Deschamps was on the ice. The likable Calgarian is playing senior hockey in Cow-Town with of all people, Liam Couture's dad. Remember though, Liam's dad is a former WHL alumni who can still wheel and deal.

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I found it interesting that this blog even made it on the Nashville Predators message board. It was relating to news about Vernon Fiddler's baby. No word on the former Rockets status on whether he can be called 'Daddy' yet? Fiddler recently held the "Fiddler Fights Cancer'' golf tournament in Edmonton and raised between $30,000 and $40,000 for cancer research. Joining Fiddler as tournament sponsors were Nashville's Jordin Tootoo, Philadelphia's Scottie Upshall and Joffrey Lupul, and Jason Chimera of Columbus.
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Gregg Drinnan is reporting on his blog www.gdrinnan.blogspot.com that Jeff Finley may be the new assistant coach of the Rockets, if Ryan Huska gets the top job.
Finley is a former NHL defenseman, and has a link to the Okanagan. Finley is an instructor this summer at the Okanagan Hockey School.
So if we are throwing around names of potential assistant coaches, why not Ryan Cuthbert? Cuthbert is arguably the best leader the organization has ever had, was a coach with the Kelowna midgets until the program folded, and has the respect of everyone he meets. Cuthbert may be young, but so are many assistant coaches in the WHL. Look down the road in Kamloops, where good friend Andy Milne is sharing the bench with Dean Clark and the Kamloops Blazers.
Cuthbert just turned 25 in April and makes Kelowna his home year-round.
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Remember Lane Lambert? The former coach of the Prince George Cougars is moving up the ranks.
Lambert today was named the new head coach of the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals. Milwaukee is the farm team of the Nashville Predators.

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I found this interesting from a radio broadcasting perspective. It is from the Tennessean in Nashville:

Nashville Predators fans will once again listen to Pete Weber and Terry Crisp on both radio and television broadcasts this coming season.
Last season the franchise had separate broadcast teams for radio and television for the first time. Veteran sportscaster Eli Gold handled play-by-play duties on radio, joined most often by former Predators player Jim McKenzie. But Predators spokesman Gerry Helper said having separate broadcast teams didn't generate enough additional revenue to offset the cost of two additional broadcasters.

"When we made the decision to go with two teams last year, we wanted to see if it made a big ratings difference or if we were able to generate additional revenue that way,'' Helper said.

"We viewed it as two properties, where we could maximize selling on both radio and television. But at the end of the season, I don't think we found that we were able to generate the additional revenue that went along with the extra costs (of a second team).''

Helper praised the work of Gold and said it's possible the franchise could revisit the idea of using separate radio and television teams in the future.

"This is clearly not any reflection on Eli,'' Helper said. "He was a great addition for the organization and the feedback we got was that people really enjoyed his broadcasts.''

Lauer Won't Coach in Kelowna/115 Days Long Enough For Ya?

Brad Lauer has resigned as an assistant coach of the Kootenay Ice. But before you jump to conclusions, Lauer is not coming to Kelowna as the next head coach of the Rockets. How do I know that? I called him!
I spoke to Lauer earlier today, about his decision to leave the WHL after five years as an assistant and the frustration of failing to land several head coaching jobs this off season in the league.

"I didn't pursue the Kelowna job really. I thought that Ryan (Huska) and I are in the same boat. Sure I would have been interested in it, but I didn't contact Bruce (Hamilton) about it because I figure that if I got the job, Ryan wouldn't want to be there", Lauer told me.

" I didn't pursue it really. I know Ryan well and it would have been a very uncomfortable situation. I think Ryan would be a perfect fit, and any time you can hire from within, and your comfortable with him, I think it's a good thing", Lauer added.

Lauer can't say where he's going, but says it's a head coaching job with a team in Canada and it is not at the pro level.
Lauer admitted to me he was involved in interviews in Moose Jaw and Prince Albert, but was unsuccessful with Bruno Campese getting the job with the Raiders and Dave Hunchak earning the duties with the Warriors.
Brad Lauer was a class act during his time in Kootenay and I wish him the best. I never wanted his team to win in those Rocket/Kootenay playoff battles that seemed to be common place every spring, but I appreciated his openness with me over his time in the WHL.
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115!
It's been 115 days since the Kelowna Rockets last game. By the time it is all said and done, and the Rockets open the 2007-2008 regular season, it will in fact be the longest off-season in franchise history.
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Think back to last year at around this time. The Rockets made a significant trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds acquiring Clayton Barthel for goaltender Derek Yeomans. The deal went down July 7th, 2006.

Creep Chooses K-Town for Summer Home/I'm Shrinking!

Who is the next pro hockey player to own a piece of real estate in the Okanagan?
You can add Blake Comeau to the list.
Comeau bought a new home this summer, and had a house warming party - if you will - this past weekend with former teammates.
What amazes me is Comeau has already purchased a home at 21.
At 21, I was having problems purchasing a tank of gas to drive my 1986 Honda Civic around the streets of Swift Current.
Blake Comeau probably has one of the best nicknames I have ever heard - Creep!
When Comeau was 15, he had a chance to play three games with the Rockets on a Saskatchewan road trip. The Rockets Athletic Therapist at the time, Scott Hoyer, gave him the name because the Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan resident was just creeping him out with his blank stare.
To this very day the nickname has stuck - Creep!
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James McEwan's youngest brother will be attending the Rockets rookie camp this fall.
Josh McEwan, who is just 16, will be given the chance to show his stuff, while his older brother nails down an overage spot, and proves to those that doubt him that he is the best bet to be the team's next captain.

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It's always great to see former Rocket players back for the alumni tournament.
It seems that every year each one of them grows just a little bit bigger.
Or am I just starting to shrink? Even Tyler Mosienko is bigger!
Speaking of Mosienko, he hasn't changed a bit since his days with the Rockets. He is still the quirky teenager I remember when he played five seasons with the Rockets.
When I asked him about last season in the East Coast Hockey League, he said, "Las Vegas", his eyes lighting up, "It's wild man", he said with a laugh.
Mosienko will again have a tryout this fall with an American Hockey League team, but is preparing himself to go back to Vegas for another season.
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Do you remember who was the referee for the alumni game last summer?
It was Ryan Huska.
This summer Huska did his best job of avoiding the alumni game like it was the plague. Could you imagine all of the people who would have come up to him and asked if he is going to be the new head coach? Sunday's referee (I use that term loosely) was Kim Gellert, a scout with the Buffalo Sabres.
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Nice to see some current Rockets participating in the alumni game. Cody Almond, Myles MacRae, The Bloodoff boys and Luke Schenn were taking part.
Former Rockets still in the league, Clayton Bauer (Kootenay) and Troy Ofukany (Regina) also played in the contest.

Moen Makes it Back for Alumni Weekend

We sure must love the game of hockey.
That may explain why close to 800 hockey fans jammed into the C and C on a sunny, hot, +34 degree summer day to watch hockey.
The Kelowna Rockets alumni hockey game once again saw a tremendous turnout of both former and current players, as the White team beat the Black team 9-7. It was more than just about the score though, as Rockets fans were there to see and reminisce with the players who have brought them so many smiles over the years.
Two former Rockets alumni at the game Sunday afternoon (but were not playing) were Scott Hannan and Travis Moen.
Moen was drawing the majority of the attention after winning a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks last month.
I even had a couple of minutes to chat with him, about living out a childhood dream of drinking out of Lord Stanley's mug.

"It's pretty unbelievable to win the Stanley Cup. I've been working 25 years to win it, so it's a dream come true. I don't know if it has really sunk in yet? I think when I bring the cup home to my hometown (Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan) and share it with everybody, then it will really sink in a bit".

What has the last month been like for you, with so many people congratulating you on winning the cup?

"Ya, especially since I live in a small town, lots of people have come up to me to shake my hand and have just wanted to ask me how it feels. It's been fun though. I enjoy getting out there and talking to the people. It's been a busy summer, and it's probably going to get busier".

Along the ride to the Stanley Cup, when did it hit you that, hey my name could be etched on the cup forever?

"I think winning that last game against Detroit, and the realization that we were going to the Stanley Cup finals really hit me then. To play in the series, and play so well because our team was so tight, I think that was the biggest thing about our team and why we had success."

Do you see yourself as an example to other players, junior players like a James McEwan, that if you work hard and contribute in other ways then on the scoreboard, you can be a Stanley Cup champion?

"I was never blessed with an abundance of skills, and I've always had to work hard to get where I am. It's been a long process along the way, and at times it's been a grind but it just shows that if you want something bad enough, and you work hard enough to get it, it can happen".

Moen told me he had just four tickets he could use for family and friends for the Stanley Cup finals. Travis had the pleasure of having his Mom, brother and sister take in a couple of games down in Anaheim. Father-in-law Lorne Frey elected to let Travis' immediate family enjoy the experience, as he watched his son-in law win the cup on television.
It was interesting to hear that Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton offered to purchase Lorne and his wife Jan flights down to the finals, even though they couldn't be in the arena to enjoy the festivities.

I had a chance to reminisce with so many players at Sunday's game, I'll share those thoughts on a blog posting tomorrow.

You Can't Handle the Truth!!!

That line was made famous by Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.
The truth often hurts, and in today's age of Internet accessibility, information is as close as our finger tips. Some of what you read is fact, much of what you read is fiction.
As bloggers, we find ourselves only adding to the information that is already out there, negatively or positively.
I was giving fellow blogger Andy Kemper a friendly poke on his blog, asking him to update the situation on the status of Portland Winter Hawks head coach Mike Williamson, who remains without a contract.
I didn't expect Andy to answer my question, because he is in the same situation as I am. If he leaks something to us blog readers, sure he makes us happy, but his life becomes miserable as any trust he has built up within the Hawks organization is lost.

The same holds true in Kelowna.
I can snoop around and speculate on potential candidates, but if I was to find out who the new hired gun is, and didn't keep it close to my vest, my relationship with the Rockets would be jeopardized.

I was always told 'the best kept secret is the one you keep to yourself'. I often times have to remind myself of that.
With that said, as a 'media type' for over twenty years, I simply can't just look away or overlook the obvious.
As a reporter, you still have a natural instinct to ask questions, and find the truth.
Why was Luke Schenn's younger brother not at the Brandon Wheat Kings prospects camp? Do I find out why, or do I bury my head in the sand?
The Penticton Vees send out a press release saying Bruno Campese has resigned as the teams head coach. As a reporter do I question why, or find out where he is going? Or do I play the nice guy card, concerned that I may ruffle a few feathers? Troy Mick resigns. Where is he going? My first instinct is to find out why.
Even as a broadcaster of a WHL team, with honesty comes credibility. Sure some issues within the team you are broadcasting for just can't be touched, but the day I stop asking the hard questions for the fear that I may upset someone, is the day I should hang up the headset.

Rockets Alumni Weekend/Iggy at Earl's

It's one of the best weekends of the summer, and it has nothing to do with the beach or the sunny weather outside.
The Kelowna Rockets alumni weekend is set for this weekend, and includes a round of golf (ok, the weather plays a bit of a factor) Friday, and an alumni hockey game Sunday.
The game will feature former Rockets like Shea Weber, Josh Gorges, Scott Hannan and Tyler Mosienko.
The alumni weekend is into it's 8th year, and originated with the good work of Anne-Marie Hamilton.
Anny is the Kelowna Rockets Director of Marketing and Game Operations, and along with former Rocket Ryan Wade, were the masterminds behind the event back in 1999.
"I remember the first year we had it, we had like 24 players golfing", laughed Hamilton reflecting on the inaugural event. "But despite some struggles in our first year, we are now up to over 100 players golfing, and the event is a sellout."
Finding Rockets alumni to invite to the tournament is never easy.
"Thank goodness for word of mouth. I have found that if you find one guy, you find ten. What we make sure we do is involve both the young players and the older players that may be playing in the NHL".
The Rocket alumni weekend begins Friday, and concludes Sunday at 5:30 with an alumni hockey game at the C and C.
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You won't see two NHL players that are former Rockets alumni, at this weekend's activities.
Vernon Fiddler, who is playing with the Nashville Predators, will be with his wife who is giving birth to the couples first child.
Brett McLean, the newest member of the Florida Panthers, won't be around as he does some house hunting down South.
Kelly Guard also isn't expected to attend, after stating earlier he'd likely be headed to the Okanagan and was wanting to play in the alumni game. Guard suffered a groin injury while training, so won't be in K-Town. Funny...that was his same excuse last year!
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How busy has Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton been this week when it comes to interviewing perspective coaches to take over from Jeff Truitt?
Not at all. Hamilton is on vacation. He hasn't conducted one interview this week.

Hamilton had a month of June he'd like to forget. His head coach resigns, he attended WHL meetings in Calgary, CHL meetings in Toronto, flew to Columbus for the NHL draft (breath) and then returned to Kelowna only to select two players from the Canadian Hockey League European draft.
Hamilton loves to keep busy, but the month of June is one he is likely glad to see behind him.
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Dining at Earl's restaurant can be an interesting experience during the summer months in the Okanagan.
Why?
Saturday night I was at Earl's, and who did I run into? At one of the tables sat Jarome Iginla and Chuck Kobasew.
Former teammates in Calgary, the two spend the summer months in the Okanagan, as do no less than 30 NHL players and coaches.
Who do you think paid for that meal between Kobasew and Iginla? I am thinking Iginla, considering he was just days away from signing a contract extension with the Flames worth 35 million dollars.
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James Gallo has to be feeling pretty good about himself, after seeing his name in the Edmonton Journal this week being mentioned as the possible play-by-play voice of the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings.
Gallo has just one year of calling play-by-play at the WHL level, and would arguably be one of the younger - up and coming broadcasters in the league.
If a veteran broadcaster in the WHL /or with more games under his belt at another level is applying for that job, seeing Gallo's name mentioned must have felt like a kick to the stomach.
Good on Gallo for being mentioned as one of the candidates, but what would his current employer think?
Gallo is likely keeping quiet, hoping that his current boss has no interest in reading the Edmonton Journal on-line.

Even if Gallo doesn't get the job in Edmontonchuck, he'll probably be headed to Naniamo or Victoria in a couple of years anyway, considering the state of the Warrior franchise!

I can see it now - the Victoria Salmon Warriors or how about the Nanaimo Moose Clippers?

Schulz Weighing Options/The New Voice of the Oil Kings?

I had a good conversation with former Kelowna Rockets d-man David Schulz.

Schulz is enjoying his summer in Winkler Manitoba, but admits he has some decisions to make.

Schulz wants to play pro hockey this winter, but at nothing less than the East Coast level. Schulz is also considering joining the University of Manitoba Bison's this fall.

For the moment he is working out, which consists of an hours drive from Winkler to Winnipeg, and is waiting for his agent to give him some good news on a team willing to give him a chance in his first year of pro hockey.
Schulz is no stranger to the pro game though. After the Rockets season came to an end in late March, Schulz joined the Central Hockey League's Memphis RiverKings.
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While David Schulz is considering the University of Manitoba, Brent Howarth's twin brother Kyle is joining the Bison's men's hockey program this fall.
Kyle Howarth has committed to the program, yet his identical brother isn't so sure what he will do.
Brent Howarth is considering playing pro hockey next season in the Central Hockey League, likely with Oklahoma.
Brent told me today that the deal includes a tryout with an American Hockey League team. Oklahoma's CHL team is guided by former WHL coach Doug Sauter.

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This from Cam Tait of the Edmonton Journal.

The Edmonton Oil Kings radio rights have gone to the TEAM 1260. Sources say James Gallo, who called the Moose Jaw Warriors play-by-play, could become the voice of the Oil Kings this season.

Rocket Teammates Hannan-Parker Reunited/McLean Makes a Move

They were teammates in Kelowna, and now Scott Hannan and Scott Parker have been reunited in the NHL.
Hannan joined Parker, and the Colorado Avalanche after signing a four year deal with the team Sunday.
Hannan has spent his entire career with San Jose,the team that drafted him, after a solid junior career in Kelowna.

Hannan met the media in Denver today and had these thoughts on signing with the Av's.

“It’s been an exciting couple of days. Colorado really took it to the next level, treating me and Kristina with a lot of respect. I just want to thank them. It’s a great community, a great organization. I battled with them over the years but I look forward to playing on a Stanley Cup contender.

“I think a big thing for me was the team’s dedication to winning. I had a long conversation with Tony Granato, who I know well, Francois, their commitment to winning, obviously. I know Joe (Sakic), playing with him at the World Cup, and being a great leader that he is. And being able to play with him on a team…those were the biggest things. The commitment to winning, the organization and their professionalism. That’s some of the biggest reasons.”

“I think at the beginning of the year, I watched this team a lot. It came down to the wire there at the end. The way they played and the competition they showed at the end of the season. They won a lot of games towards the end and really made a strive towards the playoffs at the end. I look forward to that and seeing that. Coming here and hopefully adding what we can add. They know what we can bring to a hockey team and I hope we can bring that and more. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that.”

Hannan could have joined another former Rocket teammate in Colorado, but Brett McLean bolted from the Av's to the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

Here is the McLean article from the Panthers website. Take note how the writer David Joseph of floridapanthers.com spells Kelowna:

Nothing has come easy in the circuitous hockey career Brett McLean.

Consider McLean was chosen 242nd in the 1997 Entry Draft out of 246 players. That he spent six seasons playing in such hockey outposts as Johnstown, Saint John, Houston, Cleveland, Norfolk and Cincinnati. That he once he played for five different minor league teams over the course of two seasons.

But when asked about those tough years just hours after being signed Sunday as an unrestricted free agent by the Panthers, McLean, sitting by a lake in Cologna, British Columbia, responded, “It was tough at times, but it’s all worth it because it leads to a day like this.”

McLean is exactly the kind of person GM and coach Jacques Martin has identified as fitting the mold of a Panther: a gritty player with a strong work ethic who has the character to push ahead no matter what the obstacles.

“He brings us some grittiness and he’s a responsible player,” Martin said. “And to me what’s interesting about Brett is he seems to be on an upside. He seems to be getting better. He played a key role with Colorado in the second half of the season.”

In fact, in his second season with the Avalanche, McLean scored a career-high 15 goals (20 assists) and was a Plus-8 while spending the final third of the season playing alongside Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny.

But McLean’s road to his 15-goal season and his three-year deal with the Panthers was a long time coming. Born in Comox, British Columbia, the home of Hall of Famer Cam Neely, McLean started playing organized hockey at the age of six. “I had two older brothers,” he recalled. “So it was sort of a rite of passage.”

McLean, 5-11 and 195 pounds, was playing for Kelowna of the Western Hockey League when the Stars drafted him as just six picks from the end of the draft. Over the next six years, McLean bounced around like a pinball, playing in the East Coast, American, Western and International leagues. From 1998-2000, McLean played in Kelowna, Brandon, Cincinnati, Johnstown and Saint John.

“There were some difficult moments,” admitted McLean of his early years. “It’s something while I was going through it was very tough. There were some difficult moments when you question your future in the hockey business.”

When asked if he considered preparing for another career, McLean replied; “No. It wasn’t like that. I knew I was always going to play hockey. My goal was always to play in the National Hockey League. I would never leave hockey. But maybe the NHL, that dream…it wasn’t as bright when I was in the minors because it didn’t seem like it was all that reasistic at the time.”

McLean said he was considering playing in Europe when he signed with the Blackhawks in July of 2002. “That’s when I played in the minors and had a really good year,” said McLean, referring to his 23 goals and 61 points playing for Norfolk of the American Hockey League.

“I had to work in junior and I had to work even harder in the minors to get contracts, just to get minor league contracts,” McLean said. “But I realized (after signing with Chicago) the dream was there and it was attainable again,”

After playing in two games with the Blackhawks in 2002-03, McLean played 76 games with the ‘Hawks the following year while scoring 11 goals. After playing in Sweden during the lockout season, McLean signed with the Avalanche and his career took off.

He didn’t miss a game for Colorado in 2005-06 and scored nine goals and added 31 assists. Despite not spending any time on the power play last season, McLean scored 15 goals and 35 points.

To McLean’s surprise, his play drew the interest of the Panthers as free agency approached.

“In the days leading up (to free agency), I was obviously focused more on Colorado and maybe resigning there,” McLean said. “I thought of other teams and other possibilities but, to be quite honest, Florida wasn’t one of them just due to the fact we don’t play against each other very much and, I thought from their end, they wouldn’t have followed me that closely and wouldn’t know what I was about. So I’m obviously very flattered they watched me.”

And wanted the kid from Comox.

“Our pro scouts were very high on this kid,” Martin said. “He’s a very smart player. He’s not fancy, but he gets the job done. And Brett didn’t get any power play time but scored 15 goals. I think there’s a good upside to this kid and we feel he’ll bring a physical dimension as well.”

McLean said the key to his game is fairly simple.

“The biggest thing for me is I have to play with energy every single shift,” he said. “I have to forecheck extremely hard. That’s where I create my offense. I’m obviously not a big guy, but I take pride in bring strong down low in the offensive zone on cycles.”

Married with a 3-month-old daughter, McLean says he’s excited about moving to South Florida and playing for the Panthers. As for the hard times?

“It all led to this,” McLean said. “It’s very gratifying because of all the hard work I had to go through. I’m looking forward to the next three years. I can bring my family to Florida, make a home here, and really develop with the organization.”