By Mike Beasley /
Like the commercial says, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
No it’s not Christmas or New year’s Eve, but for some parents it may as well be because after two long months of having the kids hanging around the house, the end of August means that school is about to start.
For OHL fans, they have their reasons to celebrate as well because another season of Junior hockey is just around the corner.
Training camps throughout the league began in earnest during the last week of August with exhibition games scheduled before the month’s end.
Let the games begin.
On a sad note, Hockey Now would like to formally offer their condolences to the Foligno family on the passing of Janis Foligno on July 27 after a long battle with cancer.
Janis was the wife of Mike Foligno, Sudbury Wolves head coach and general manager and mother to Cara, Lisa, Nicholas and Marcus.
OHL INGREDIENTS IN U-18 WIN
Canada’s U-18 men’s team won the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka for the second straight year and the fifth time in six attempts with a 9-2 victory over Russia on August 16.
Canada breezed through the round robin portion of tournament and gold medal game outscoring their opposition 40-7 in four games.
The annual event was held in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.
Congratulations to the OHL content of the team which included head coach Bob Boughner (Windsor Spitfires), assistant coach Chris DePiero (Oshawa Generals), D Erik Gudbranson (Kingston Frontenacs), D Ryan O’Connor (Barrie Colts), D Brock Beukeboom (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), D Stephen Silas (Belleville Bulls), F Gregg Sutch (Sarnia Sting), F Tyler Sequin (Plymouth Whalers), F Jeffrey Skinner (Kitchener Rangers), F John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves), F Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s), F Ryan Spooner (Peterborough Petes), Equipment Manager Kevin Emo, (Barrie) and Therapist Andy Brown, (Owen Sound Attack).
TOP TEN FOR 2010
NHL Central Scouting released their top ten OHL prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The list was made up of G JP Anderson (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors), D Erik Gudbranson (Kingston Frontenacs), C Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires), C John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves), G Bryce O’Hagan (Soo Greyhounds), C Tyler Sequin (Plymouth Whalers), C Ryan Spooner (Peterborough Petes), RW Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s) and RW Austin Watson (Windsor Spitfires).
MAV ON THE MEND
Kingston Frontenacs director of hockey operations and GM Larry Mavety is well on the road to recovery after suffering a heart attack in July. The long-time OHL personality is back in the Fronts office part time after successful heart surgery and is planning to assume full time duties by mid September.
Mav was healthy enough to pull the trigger on a trade midway through August that saw the Fronts acquire G Tyler Beskorowany from the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for RW Bobby Mignardi and a 4th round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.
BEREHOWSKY TAKES AHL GIG
Barrie Colts assistant coach Drake Berehowsky has accepted a coaching position with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League. The former NHL blueliner worked with the Colts defencemen the past two seasons.
BUTLER LEADS TROOPS FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS
Stan Butler, Brampton Battalion director of hockey operations and head coach has signed a new, four-year contract with the club.
The new deal runs through the 2012/13 season and takes effect Sept. 1 upon expiration of his current four-year agreement.
The 53-year-old joined the Battalion the year before the franchise’s inaugural 1998/99 season.
Butler led his team to the 2009 Eastern Conference championship before losing to the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL final.
OTTERS LOSE THEIR VOICE
After 12 seasons with the organization, Mark Jeanneret, Erie Otters play-by-play announcer and director of media relations, is on the move after accepting a similar position with the AHL Portland Pirates.
Jeanneret broadcast more than 800 regular season and playoff matches with the highlight being in 2002 when the Otters captured their only OHL championship and competed in the Memorial Cup.
STORM DOWN A GOALIE
Guelph Storm goaltender Brandon Foote is not expected in the lineup until January after having hip surgery. The injury was to his hip socket which apparently is common among butterfly goalies.
The 18-year-old Foote was acquired from Brampton last season as part of the deal that sent Thomas McCollum the other way.
Foot was supposed to battle newcomer Matt Hoyle for the number one goaltender spot with the club. Hoyle left Harvard University to join the Storm.
CICHILLO OUT IN NIAGARA
Mario Cicchillo is out as the head coach of the Niagara IceDogas and Mike McCourt is in, on an interim basis, following an announcement on Aug. 14.
Cicchillo had been the Dogs bench boss for the last two seasons with McCourt acting as his assistant during that time.
A difference in team philosophies with team owner Bill Burke is rumoured to be the reason why Cicchillo was let go.
“We value the contribution he’s made to this point but we just thought it was time to move in a new direction,” Dogs GM Dave Brown said in the St. Catharines newspaper, The Standard.
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