The Hockey Show - Episode 615

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, is back to our pandemic setup as we record from home. There's no pandemic at the radio station, thankfully, but there is some construction that requires asbestos removal so the station is currently unoccupied while this work happens. As such, our hosts are recording from home as they did when the pandemic had the world shut down. This doesn't change the show in any way, and there's lots of hockey stories for them to discuss tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

As stated, Teebz and Jason are recording from the comforts of their individual homes, but they get into some hockey chatter as they discuss the 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame members that were elected, chat a little about the new MFHL team, celebrate a new coach in the NHL, dive into the Melbourne Mustangs "Team Canada" game, mention the curious signing of a player in the KHL, dissect the NHL reinstating the Blackhawks' three former bosses, and examine the poor messaging from the Winnipeg Jets over one of their newly-selected players. It's a full hour without free agent signings or trades since you can find that anywhere as Teebz and Jason get into the bigger hockey stories tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to listen, we have options! The new UMFM website's online streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store. It's a solid app.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason put the spotlight on Hockey Hall of Fame members, new teams, new coaches, AIHL games, curious signings, terrible decisions, bad messaging, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Has Any Work Been Done?

Hidden amongst the signings and trades yesterday was a small announcement from the NHL that they had decided to allow all three of former Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and former Blackhawks coaches Joel Quenneville and Al MacIssac to return to the NHL if they so choose to do so beginning on July 10. The fact that this decision was announced on a day when most people were seeking information on who their teams signed is one thing, but I'm wondering how the NHL came to this decision after all three showed zero regard for a player who was sexually assaulted. What has changed?

Back in October 2021, the three men mentioned above - Bowman, Quenneville, and MacIsaac - were banished from the NHL over the findings in the Jenner and Block report regarding how the Chicago Blackhawks handled the sexual assault allegation that came from former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach. Based on what was contained within the report, it was fairly clear that a number of people were indirectly responsible for allowing former video coach Brad Aldrich to commit his heinous crimes, and I honestly believe these men should never work in the NHL again. By doing nothing, they made it clear they didn't want nor respect that privilege.

Yesterday, though, the NHL had a change of heart and reinstated the three men for employment. In their release, the NHL wrote,

"For more than the last two and a half years, these individuals have been ineligible to work for any NHL team as a result of their inadequate response upon being informed in 2010 of allegations that Blackhawks' Player, Kyle Beach, had been assaulted by the Club's video coach. While it is clear that, at the time, their responses were unacceptable, each of these three individuals has acknowledged that and used his time away from the game to engage in activities which not only demonstrate sincere remorse for what happened, but also evidence greater awareness of the responsibilities that all NHL personnel have, particularly personnel who are in positions of leadership.

"Moreover, each has made significant strides in personal improvement by participating in myriad programs, many of which focused on the imperative of responding in effective and meaningful ways to address alleged acts of abuse. The League expects that they will continue this commitment in any future capacity with the NHL and/or one of our Clubs."

That's a lot of words to say that the NHL is convinced that these men have changed, but it's time to produce receipts to show that these men have done the necessary work as cited by the NHL to prove that they've learned how to be better. The NHL can spin this story however it likes, but without the necessary proof of the changes mentioned in the statement above there's zero credit given by me based on how poorly these men acted in the past.

"But what about second chances, Teebz?" you ask.

Look, I'm all for people EARNING a second chance. It's not simply given, though. No one gets that benefit after allowing something as horrific as the sexual assault of a player to happen under their watch and then turning a blind eye to it because it may disrupt a Stanley Cup run. In what world would anyone be ok with that?

If the NHL or these three men can produce the receipts showing that they've put in the time, effort, and learning required to be better people as part of society, I'd have no problem allowing them back into the hockey world which, as I've stated many times, is a microcosm of our society. There is no credit in these circumstances for saying one did something without hard evidence of that being the case. Either these men did the work required to be a part of the hockey world and can return or they didn't and can watch from the sidelines like the rest of us. There is no middle ground here.

For the NHL to bury this announcement on one of its busiest days on the calendar is simply ignorant from a number of angles, but it really shows that the NHL hasn't learned anything over the years nor does it listen to its fans about the meaningful changes they want to see in the game. It was pretty clear that fans from all teams came together to support Kyle Beach, and the demand for a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to any domestic, sexual, or physical assault away from the rink should be a pretty easy target for the league to hit.

Yet it missed that target by a country mile once again.

A two-year banishment for allowing sexual assault to go on within the Blackhawks' walls is punishment that simply doesn't fit the crime after Kyle Beach's career came to an end following the assault he endured. In no way should these men be allowed to return without some very clear receipts on the changes they made, and any team that employs them in the near future without full disclosure about the steps they took in becoming better deserves to be cursed until that employment ends. There was a serious sex crime that was committed, and these three men decided it was in their best interest to do nothing about it until they got caught.

Sometimes, it's easy to hate the NHL. This is one of those times.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

New Team Day

Every July 1 marks the day that NHL general managers lose their minds, commit bank vaults of money to players whose value rose based upon one or two seasons of play, and everyone seems to enjoy this chaos. Personally, it's madness when you see third- and fourth-line players getting ludicrous deals, so I always make this day about the players who are receiving scholarship monies to better their future in the Canada West Conference. It is "new team day" as we hit the summer running, so let's find out what the nine women's hockey programs across western Canada are doing with their money when it comes to attracting talent through recruiting efforts.

I want to be clear that while I'm happy there are a large number of players linked to schools this year, the fact that rosters are staying as deep as they are means a lot of girls are sitting and watching rather than playing. I'm not here to kill roster spots for anyone nor would I want to see less girls getting opportunities to play, but having ten players sitting in the pressbox seems like a lot of players are just practice players. In that vein, something has to give.

However, we're not here to change the rules today as we have nine schools bringing on a number of excellent players. Some of these players may never end up at the schools to which they've committed for various reasons, and others may not skate in a regular season game depending on how they perform under their coach's watch. With the number of players coming into these nine schools, I wonder how many players have either graduated or walked away from the game. The latter is certainly more concerning for the game.

Let's get to the good stuff, though, as these lists of players have been curated from U SPORTS' Letters of Eligibility list, various websites, and those nine teams' social media accounts. We'll go in alphabetical order by school just to be fair, so here are your list of incoming recruits that I've been able to identify. Players bolded and listed in yellow are players who have already used up some of their eligibility.

Canada West Recruits

Alberta Pandas

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Chayse Melnyk	St. Albert	AB	D	2	7
Holly Magnus	T-O Lakers	BC	F	8	13
Brayden Stewart	Northern Alberta	AB	D	3	10
Mackenzie Dojahn	Lakeland Coll.	AB	G	1.68	.932
Anna-Liese King	Dartmouth	NH	D	1	4

The Pandas have an interesting strategy as it seems that interim head coach Darren Bilawchuk inked a few players from around Edmonton before Howie Draper returned as the head coach and brought in former NCAA rearguard Annie King. King will skate for two seasons in Alberta at the maximum, but she gives Draper another weapon alongside Ankor and Tews. The goalie situation gets a little stronger as Glover and Rey will be joined by ACAC veteran Mackenzie Dojahn who sported a 15-4-0 record last season with Lakeland College in the ACAC. Holly Magnus looks every bit the kind of forward that Draper likes as she's quick, finds scoring spots, and will pressure defenders on the forecheck. Both Melnyk and Stewart will round out a solid blue line which will be one of Alberta's biggest strengths this season.

Calgary Dinos

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Jaecia Joyce	Red Deer	AB	D	8	15
Hannah Reagh	Yellowhead	MB	F	13	17
Makenna Schafer	Calgary	AB	F	6	9
Eden Carius	Notre Dame	SK	F	7	10
April Klarenbach	Edge	AB	F	12	14

Head coach Josh Gosling brought in a pile of scoring to replace some of the outgoing graduates. Hannah Reagh led Yellowhead in scoring in Manitoba while both Carius and Klarenbach were near the top of the stats page for each of their teams. Jaecia Joyce is a solid offensive defender that Calgary can desperately use in pushing the puck up the ice, and I like the addition of Makenna Schafer whose two-way play will always be a valued asset.

MacEwan Griffins

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Sasha Malenfant	Notre Dame	SK	F	11	15
Aspen Checknita	Northern Alberta	AB	D	1	2
Jaida Powell	North Shore	BC	F	6	13
Karington Mollin	Delta	BC	F	17	13
Mikayla Christmann	Saskatoon	SK	G	1.78	.925
Megan Dolynchuk	Northern Alberta	AB	F	6	7
Sydney Jack	Olds Coll. (ACAC)	AB	F	7	7

Head coach Chris Leeming wanted more goal-scoring last season, and he brought it in with Sasha Malenfant and Karington Mollin. Powell and Dolynchuk will provide depth and solid work ethics, and Sydney Jack is looking to replicate her sister's successes after transferring in from Olds College in the ACAC. Aspen Checknita is a responsible, defensive defender who could be the team's stopper in the future, and Mikayla Christmann will push MacEwan's netminding to a higher level this season with her play and competitiveness.

Manitoba Fluffy Cows

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Seanna Price	Winnipeg Avros	MB	F	3	5
Kelsey Huibers	Westman	MB	F	8	12
Addison Vines	Westman	MB	D	1	11
Evangeline Hill	Swift Current	SK	F	9	9
Paige Fisher	Swift Current	SK	G	2.78	.910
Kurtia Yetman	Balmoral Hall	SK	D	0	2

With the head coach returning and Jordy Zacharias being moved back to the assistant coach position, it's hard to figure out what the recruiting strategy for this team is. Kelsey Huibers should find the net with her talents, and Addison Vines is a solid, puck-moving defender who skates well. Hill plays a physical game and can pot goals, Price is a solid two-way player who could be a defensive stopper, and Yetman is a physical defender who can fill a shutdown role. Fisher will round out the trio of goalies this season, but she'll need to elevate her game to bump one of the two netminders in front of her. If the rumoured return of a veteran player is true, the chances of playing time just went down for the forwards in this recruiting class.

Mount Royal Cougars

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Breanne Comte	Winnipeg Ice	MB	D	1	11
Brielle Minish	Saskatoon	SK	D	2	16

If this seems like a small recruiting class for the Cougars, you're right and I suspect head coach Scott Rivett has more players to announce. However, the Cougars have secured two solid defenders in puck-moving, gap-closing Breanne Comte and offensively-minded, defensively-responsible Brielle Minish. Both players will be worked into the solid Cougars defender group as the season progresses, but having that depth on the blue line could prove valuable for the Cougars in seasons to come as well.

Regina Cougars

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Amy Swayze	Weyburn	SK	G	3.89	.903
Quinn Sutherland	St. Mary's	MB	D	1	4
Kiah Shields	Weyburn	SK	F	10	5
Cassidy Peters	Swift Current	SK	F	5	5
Meg Farmer	Winnipeg Ice	MB	D	2	10
Maggie-Kate Fitzpatrick	North Shore	BC	F	9	15
Jules Stokes	Rink	MB	D	3	8

Most of Regina's recruits were signed by former head coach Sarah Hodges, so we'll have to see how they fare under new interim coach Brandy West-McMaster. The Cougars will benefit by adding two leading scorers for their teams as Weyburn's Kiah Shields and North Shore's Maggie-Kate Fitzpatrick have shown they have some offensive flair. Defensively, Jules Stokes and Meg Farmer are solid, responsible defenders who can add some offence, and Quinn Sutherland will add size and defensive awareness to the blue line. Cassidy Peters will give the forward ranks a two-way, defensively-responsible player, and goalie Amy Swayze will compete with Lexi Peace for playing time behind Arden Kliewer and Natalie Williamson.

Saskatchewan Huskies

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Avery Gottselig	Regina	SK	D	5	31
Clara Juca	Etobicoke	ON	G	1.13	.937
Jaiyana Nurani	Calgary	AB	F	7	4
Kaysah Nurani	Calgary	AB	F	8	6
Aeryn Flanagan	Edmonton	AB	D	3	5
Haley Braun	Saskatoon	SK	F	19	29
Hallie Franklin	Westman	SK	D	3	15

It's hard to argue that head coach Steve Kook didn't bring in the top recruiting class in western Canada this season. He'll get scoring and toughness out of Saskatoon leading scorer Haley Braun. He adds an incredible offensive defender in Avery Gottselig. Getting the Nurani twins adds immediate chemistry between the two, and they'll be effective two-way players for the Huskies. Flanagan's and Franklin's numbers don't appear to be big on the offensive side of the puck, but both players are excellent defenders who can move the puck. Clara Juca might be the immediate replacement for Camryn Drever as the 18 year-old was one of the top netminders in the U22 OWHL. In short, Saskatchewan has a ton of talent coming into their program.

Trinity Western Spartans

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Kelsey Ledoux	Saskatoon	SK	D	5	20
Cailin Yackel	Balmoral Hall	MB	F	3	3
Ashley Breitkreuz	Regina	SK	F	11	13
Emily Karpan	Regina	SK	D	1	16
Olivia Davidson	Edmonton	AB	G	1.36	.930
Chayse Kullman	Calgary	AB	D	3	14
Reese Sisklovic	T-O Lakers	BC	G	1.87	n/a
Charlotte Swanton	Mount Allison	NB	F	0	2
Kyra Anderson	St. Anselm Coll.	NH	F	1	1

If you're thinking that this is a large recruiting class for Trinity Western, there were some players who reportedly called it quits following last season. Ashley Breitkreuz will look to add some scoring while Karpan, Ledoux, and Kullman will push the offence from the blue line. Cailin Yackel joins her big sister on the Spartans where those two should find some chemistry. Davidson and Sisklovic will battle for time in the crease, and both are capable of winning big games for the Spartans. Charlotte Swanton returns to the west coast after a season with the AUS's Mount Allison Mounties, and Regina native Kyra Anderson comes back to Canada after skating for one season at St. Anselm College in the NCAA.

UBC Thunderbirds

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Vanessa Schaefer	ZSC Lions	CH	F	11	11
Mya Lucifora	Whitby	ON	G	1.70	.930
Kasundra Betinol	Colgate	NY	F	10	3
Devyn Millwater	St. Cloud State	MN	D	1	3

Perhaps no one in Canada West can match the international power that UBC often has on its roster, but Swiss national team player and Vancouver-born Vanessa Schaefer will join the program. She'll be joined by Chinese national team player and Okotoks-born Kassy Betinol who has two seasons of NCAA play under her belt. Speaking of the NCAA, Victoria's Devyn Millwater will return to patrol the UBC blue line after three seasons with St. Cloud State. Mya Lucifor joins the Thunderbirds to push the goaltenders a little harder after the 19 year-old spent the last two seasons in the U22 OWHL.

If I missed any players, feel free to reach out in the comments or via email and I'll add those players into the mix. As it stands, these are all the players I've seen, heard, and read about when it came to the recruiting efforts of the nine teams in Canada West, and it appears we'll have another exciting group of players joining the fun out west. Congratulations to all the recruits on finding new homes for next season, and we'll see you on the ice in October!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!