QMJHL announces schedule changes

Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Friday, November 20, 2009 – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced the new dates for six of the seven games which were postponed earlier this month as a result of preventive measures adopted by the Commissioner, Gilles Courteau, following isolated cases of the H1N1 virus.

Game #182 Val-d’Or vs. Moncton – January 5, 2010 at 7 pm
Game #187 Rouyn-Noranda vs. Moncton – February 2, 2010 at 7 pm
Game #203 Shawinigan vs. Halifax – January 19, 2010 at 7 pm
Game #209 Shawinigan vs. P.E.I. – January 20, 2010 at 7 pm
Game #213 Baie-Comeau vs. P.E.I. – January 19, 2010 at 7 pm
Game #215 Shawinigan vs. Acadie-Bathurst – January 21, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Game #432 Shawinigan vs. Drummondville – December 20, 2010 at 4 pm*

Game #176 between the Montreal Juniors and the Moncton Wildcats remains to be determined.

*Of note, the game between Shawinigan and Drummondville (#432), which was scheduled for January 22, 2010, will be played December 20, 2009 at 4 pm. The Commissioner would like to thank the Voltigeurs organization for their cooperation.


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

OHL defeats the Russians

Press Release

Game 3 of the SUBWAY Super Series turned into an opportunity for some emerging stars to shine.

OHL sophomores Jeff Skinner of the Kitchener Rangers and Tyler Toffoli of the Ottawa 67’s both got on the scoreboard to help Team OHL to a 5-2 win over the Russian Selects in Game 3 of the SUBWAY Super Series on Thursday in Barrie.

Skinner opened the scoring on a powerplay midway through the first period and then added another powerplay marker late in the third period to pad the OHL lead.

“It was a lot of fun playing with all these great players,” Skinner said. “I was just happy to be here and was lucky to get the two goals.”

Despite having a terrific game, Skinner admitted that he was a bit nervous before the opening faceoff.

“There were some butterflies,” Skinner said. “But after a few shifts you sort of get the jitters out and get into the flow of the game. That really helps out a lot.”

Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors’ coach Dave Cameron was the coach for Team OHL and said that he wasn’t surprised to see some of his younger players have success in the game.

“You know they are all capable of stepping up,” said OHL coach Dave Cameron of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. “What makes them real good hockey players is a lot of times the better the competition, the quicker they are to step up. It’s always nice to see the young guys do it.”

The Russians responded with a pair of goals early in the second period before Taylor Beck of the Guelph Storm tied the game midway through the game on a powerplay. Greg Nemisz of the Windsor Spitfires put the OHL ahead for good less than four minutes later. Toffoli rounded out the scoring with less than five minutes to go in the game.

“I thought it was typical of a game like this,” Cameron said. “I thought it was a real solid effort - a real honest effort and a good result.”

Peter Di Salvo of the Barrie Colts started the game and allowed two goals on 14 shots and then Michael Hutchinson of the London Knights came on midway through the game and turned aside all seven shots he faced.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

Americans and Hurricanes make a trade

Press Release

Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes continue to fine tune their lineup as Canes General Manager/Head Coach, Rich Preston, announced the Canes have acquired a 2nd round pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for defenseman Eric Mestery. Mestery was acquired by the Canes last season; along with forward Drew Hoff; in exchange for forward Mitch Fadden and defensemen - Cam Stevens and Brock Sutherland.

The 6 foot 5, 202 pound Mestery was selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba was originally drafted by the Ams in the 1st round (7th overall) in the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft and has accumulated 48 points (6G, 42A) and 146 PIMs in 193 WHL regular season games.

This becomes the sixth deal in the past four seasons between these two clubs – in 2006 Colton Yellow Horn was moved to the Americans in exchange for a first round draft pick in 2007, a pick the Hurricanes used to secure prospect, Mark Reners in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. Also in 2007, the Canes moved defenseman Colin Frederickson to the Ams in exchange for Chris Inglis, (who was unable to report due to injury) and later that season, traded d-man Mitch McColm for Nic Knudsen. This season, the Canes moved hard hitting defenseman Cody Castro to the Ams in exchange for a fifth round draft pick.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

Friday's Traverse City, Alpena game postponed

Press Release

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced that the Traverse City North Stars at Alpena IceDiggers game scheduled for Friday, November 20 (7:50 p.m. local time) has been postponed due to player illnesses on both teams.

The game’s rescheduled date will be announced in the coming weeks.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

USHL Awards New Membership for 2010-11

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced that it has awarded a new membership to Northern Lights Hockey, LLC which will own and operate the Member Club in Dubuque, Iowa beginning with the 2010-11 USHL season.

"The USHL takes another giant step forward in welcoming the city of Dubuque and Northern Lights Hockey into our growing family," said USHL Commissioner Skip Prince. "The League now returns to a city which USHL fans remember fondly – but with a new and better League, the best young hockey players in the U.S. and the world, and a truly extraordinary ownership group. Most importantly, it comes home to a new Dubuque, which has become an emerging gem in the American landscape."

The owners of Northern Lights Hockey collectively provide an extensive background in both business and hockey, and represent interests on a national and local level. Philip Falcone, Chief Investment Officer of Harbinger Capital Partners, is the company's principal owner. A Harvard University graduate, Falcone has more than two decades of experience in leveraged finance, distressed debt, and special situations. In addition to overseeing all investment and business functions of Harbinger Capital Partners, Falcone is part owner of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.

Northern Lights Hockey also includes local Iowan partners Mark Falb and David S. Field, M.D. Falb currently serves as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Westmark Enterprises, Inc. and Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. The University of Iowa graduate also serves on the boards of multiple businesses in the Dubuque area. Dr. Field has practiced orthopaedic surgery for 30 years and has been a driving force behind hockey in Dubuque. He currently owns the Dubuque Thunderbirds which competes in the Central States Hockey League.

"We are extremely happy to be awarded a membership in the USHL and to have this organization represent the city of Dubuque," stated Brad Kwong, Managing Director of Northern Lights Hockey. "Our group recognizes the quality of the Dubuque market and through our significant investment we are committed to bringing a first class hockey operation to this community."

Today's announcement marks the USHL's return to Dubuque which originally competed in the League for 21 seasons (1980-2001) as the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The club won the Clark Cup as playoff champions on three occasions (1981, 1983, 1985) under head coach Jack Barzee, who is now in his 21st year with NHL Central Scouting. The Fighting Saints produced many players that moved to NCAA Division I hockey and even the NHL, including 17-year veteran NHL defenseman Gary Suter.

"Bringing a USHL team back to Dubuque not only enhances an already vibrant community, but furthers the tourism efforts of the region," Falb said. "And it provides yet another exciting event destination for local fans and visitors to Dubuque."

The new Dubuque team will play their home games at the Mystique Ice Center, a brand new 3,200-seat multi-purpose ice arena which broke ground on November 2nd. The arena is owned by the City of Dubuque but operated by Dubuque Community Ice and Recreations Center, Inc. (DICE).

Northern Lights Hockey, LLC will have further announcements about the new USHL Member Club in the coming weeks. Fans have the opportunity to vote for the new team's name and colors before its unveiling early next year at www.dubuqueushl.com.

Click here for feature story of the USHL's return to Dubuque.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

Team Pacific for the U-17's

Press Release

1	Laurent Brossoit	/L	6'2	178	03/23/1993	Cowichan Valley Capitals/BCHL
30	Liam Liston	/L	6'2	190	04/06/1993	St. Albert Raiders/AMHL
Defence
2	Tyler Wotherspoon	L/	6'1	200	03/12/1993	Portland Winter Hawks/WHL
3	Dalton Thrower	R/	6'0	183	12/20/1993	Saskatoon Blades/WHL
4	Zac Yuen	L/	6'1	185	03/03/1993	Tri-City Americans/WHL
5	Duncan Siemens	L/	6'3	192	09/11/1993	Saskatoon Blades/WHL
6	Myles Bell	R/	6'0	202	08/19/1993	Regina Pats/WHL
7	Reece Scarlett	R/	6'1	161	03/31/1993	Swift Current Broncos/WHL
8	Zachary Hodder	L/	5'11	180	07/16/1993	Vancouver Giants/WHL
Forward
10	Mark McNeill	R/	6'2	190	02/22/1993	Prince Albert Raiders/WHL
11	Joe Kornelson	L/	6'0	180	01/09/1993	Moose Jaw Warriors/WHL
12	Nathan Burns	L/	6'0	165	07/15/1993	Vancouver Giants/WHL
14	Aaron Hadley	R/	6'2	185	07/22/1993	Beaver Valley Nitehawks/KIJHL
15	Mitch Holmberg	R/	5'10	165	03/09/1993	Spokane Chiefs/WHL
16	Travis Ewanyk	L/	6'0	170	03/29/1993	Edmonton Oil Kings/WHL
17	Brock Balson	L/	6'0	185	01/05/1993	Chase Chiefs /KIJHL
18	Brady Brassart	R/	6'1	185	06/15/1993	Spokane Chiefs/WHL
19	Adam Lowry	L/	6'2	163	03/29/1993	Swift Current Broncos/WHL
20	Ty Rattie	R/	6'0	170	02/05/1993	Portland Winter Hawks/WHL
21	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	L/	6'0	160	04/12/1993	Red Deer Rebels/WHL
22	Spencer Graboski	R/	6'2	190	01/06/1993	Quesnel Millionaires/WHL
23	Colin Smith	R/	5'10	157	06/20/1993	Kamloops Blazers/WHL

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

Team West for the Under-17's

Press Release

1 Zach Rakochy /L 6'0 170 03/19/1993 Canora, SK, CAN Melville Millionaires/SJHL
31 Tyler Oswald /L 5'11 160 04/03/1993 Sanford, MB, CAN Pembina Valley Hawks/MMAAAHL

Defence
2 Tyler Borstmayer L/ 6'4 190 02/23/1993 St. Brieux, SK, CAN Regina Pats/WHL
3 Ryan Murray L/ 5'11 172 09/24/1993 White City, SK, CAN Everett Silvertips/WHL
4 Rene Hunter R/ 5'11 170 08/25/1993 Ebb and Flow, MB, CAN Portage Terriers/MJHL
5 Jesse Forsberg L/ 6'0 191 08/13/1993 Waldheim, SK, CAN Prince George Cougars/WHL
6 Jordan Fransoo R/ 6'2 178 04/25/1993 North Battleford, SK, CAN Saskatoon Contacts/SMAAAHL
10 Harrison Ruopp R/ 6'2 177 03/17/1993 Zehner, SK, CAN Prince Albert Raiders/WHL
14 Evan Morden L/ 6'2 202 05/31/1993 Swan River, MB, CAN Swan Valley Stampeders/MJHL

Forward
7 Brent Benson L/ 6'0 182 04/13/1993 Weyburn, SK, CAN Saskatoon Blades/WHL
8 Michael St. Croix R/ 5'10 170 04/10/1993 Winnipeg, MB, CAN Edmonton Oil Kings/WHL
9 Todd Fiddler L/ 6'0 205 07/13/1993 Meadow Lake, SK, CAN Beardy's Blackhawks/SMAAAHL
11 J.C. Lipon R/ 5'9 153 07/10/1993 Regina, SK, CAN Kamloops Blazers/WHL
12 Zachery Franco L/ 5'10 150 03/09/1993 Winnipeg, MB, CAN Winnipeg South Blues/MJHL
15 Wilson Dumais L/ 5'10 168 02/24/1993 Southend, SK, CAN Tisdale Trojans/SMAAAHL
16 Austin Lewis L/ 5'8 163 02/12/1993 Brandon, MB, CAN Brandon Wheat Kings/MMAAAHL
18 Jens Meilleur R/ 6'0 167 01/11/1993 Marquette, MB, CAN Waywayseecappo Wolverines/MJHL
19 Colin Mospanchuk R/ 6'2 190 07/21/1993 Winnipeg, MB, CAN Winnipeg South Blues/MJHL
20 Chad Robinson L/ 5'10 160 02/22/1993 Minnedosa, MB, CAN Yellowhead Chiefs/MMAAAHL
21 Michael Sofillas L/ 5'8 148 05/15/1993 Morden, MB, CAN Pembina Valley Hawks/MMAAAHL
22 Mitchell Vanteeling L/ 6'0 160 05/13/1993 Brandon, MB, CAN Brandon Wheat Kings/MMAAAHL
23 Boston Leier L/ 5'9 175 07/09/1993 Saskatoon, SK, CAN Saskatoon Blazers/SMAAAHL


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)