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  Annie Fowler was born and raised in Eastern Oregon and graduated from Southern Oregon University in 1988 with degrees in communication and journalism. She has been at the Herald since March of 2000 and began covering the Tri-City Americans in 2002. She still enjoys a good game of football, but these days she gets her fill by watching her son play for Southridge High School. |
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Sun, sea and sand.
Oh, how I love vacation. I took a couple of weeks off, went to the Oregon Coast and to Southern Oregon for a little relaxation. There were a few days that were really hot, some that were not and some that were just right. Got a tan, read a couple of books and took advantage of Oregon's no-tax shopping.
While I was gone, the hockey world just kept on spinning. The Americans announced their preseason dates, their home opener with Kelowna on Sept. 19, were shut out in the NHL Draft (that's a shame) and picked up a couple of players we might or might not ever see in our fair city in the CHL Import Draft -- though I like the idea of a battle for starting goalie. With Carey and Chet in net the last few years, it's been awhile since the Americans didn't have a clear-cut favorite at the start of camp.
Other teams in the WHL got new coaches and GMs, while the Portland Winterhawks dropped the space between Winter and Hawks and melded them into one word. That happened in May, but there was never a formal announcement.
Gregg Drinnan in Kamloops, who has his finger on the pulse of all things hockey 24/7, noted this tidbit Sunday -- Ben Kilgour (Tri-City) signed a contract with Milano Rossoblu (Italy Serie A2). He had 13 goals and 13 assists in 26 games with the University of Alberta last season. Check the Golden Bears roster and you will find a couple other former Americans players -- Ian McDonald and Richard Kelly. Kelly's career is done, but IMac has a couple more years to play.
A few days before that, Mr. Drinnan noted that Ryan Jorde (Tri-City/Lethbridge/Moose Jaw) signed a one-year contract with the Hull Stingrays (UK elite). He had two goals and 21 assists in 66 games split between Flint (IHL) and Muskegon (IHL) last season.
On the trade front, the Portland Winterhawks dealt overage defenseman Ryan Kerr to the Calgary Hitmen on Tuesday for a conditional pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.
For those wondering which teams have new coaches and GMs, here you go (with a little help from Mr. Drinnan):
New coaches -- Chilliwack Bruins (Marc Habscheid in, Jim Hiller out); Everett Silvertips (Craig Hartsburg in, John Becanic out); Prince George Cougars (Dean Clark in, Drew Schoneck and interim coach Wade Klippenstein out); Regina Pats (Curtis Hunt in, Dale Derkatch out); Lethbridge Hurricanes (Rich Preston in, Michael Dyck out).
New GMs -- Chilliwack Bruins (Marc Habscheid in, Darrell May out); Moose Jaw Warriors (Jeff Truitt in as director of hockey operations, Chad Lang out); Lethbridge Hurricanes (Rich Preston in, Roy Stasiuk out).
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