G Harrison May (Seattle, 2007-08) has signed with the Newcastle North Stars (Australia, AIHL). This season with the U of Ottawa (CIS), May was 3.05 and .881 in nine games. . . .
F Scott King (Kelowna, 1996-97) has signed a one-year extension with Lausitzer Füchse (Germany, DEL2). This season, King led the team in scoring, putting up 60 points, including 15 goals, in 47 games. He is preparing for his 14th season in Germany.
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The Tim Bozon situation got some play on Monday on the CBC Radio nightly national news program World at Six.
J.P. Barry, an agent with Creative Artist Agency (CAA), told CBC's Bonnie Allen: “For all of our players, whether it's in the NHL or junior, the club shall provide the player with out-of-country medical coverage . . .”
Neither Barry nor anyone else in CAA represents Bozon. He is represented by Roland Thompson of Maloney and Thompson Sports Management.
According to the WHL's Standard Player Agreement, Barry has a point.
In Article 5, under Obligations of the Club, there is this:
“5.1 The Club covenants and agrees . . .
“(f) to provide the Player with regular medical attention, as required, for the assessment and rehabilitation of injuries which the Player may sustain during the Hockey season;
“(g) to provide the Player with out of country medical coverage;
“(h) to provide the Player with medical and dental insurance coverage through the Hockey Canada national insurance program, for hockey related injuries.”
In the case of Bozon, a forward with the Kootenay Ice who spent a month in a Saskatoon hospital being treated for Neiserria meningitis, it would seem to be (g) that applies.
Allen ended her report with this: "In the background, the team, the league, the insurance companies, even the Montreal Canadiens, seem to be passing the buck, so to speak, on who pays the bill."
Bozon was selected by Montreal in the third round of the NHL's 2012 draft. He has since signed a three-year contract with the Canadiens.
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Ken Campbell of The Hockey News has an opinion on who should pay Tim Bozon’s medical and rehabilitation expenses. That piece is right here.
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The best story in hockey today may be occurring in the KHL where Dave King has Lokomotiv Yaroslav into one of the semifinal series. In fact, that series opens tonight. . . . George Johnson of the Calgary Herald has more right here on King’s second coaching stint in the KHL. It’s quite a story.
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F Mitch Holmberg of the Spokane Chiefs, the WHL’s scoring champion this season, has signed an ATO with the Oklahoma City Barons, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. . . . Holmberg, who is from Sherwood Park, Alta., played out his junior eligibility this season. He led the WHL in goals (62) and points (118). . . . Guy Flaming of TSN 1260’s The Pipeline Show, which originates in Edmonton, points out that Bob Green, the Edmonton Oil Kings’ former GM who now is the Oilers’ director of amateur free agent scouting, is Holmberg’s stepfather. . . . Holmberg is the fourth free-agent from the WHL to have signed with the Barons. The others are F Jujhar Khaira and F Josh Winquist of the Everett Silvertips and D Graeme Craig of the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Oklahoma City also has added F Greg Chase of the Calgary Hitmen. Chase was a seventh-round pick by the Oilers in the 2013 NHL draft. Chase was born on Jan. 1, 1995, which means he will be back for another WHL season.
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You likely are aware that the CHL has outlawed the selection of goaltenders in its annual import draft. Well, one Russian goaltender has found his way around that rule. That story is right here.
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G Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators, who selected him in the third round of the NHL's 2012 draft. Driedger, who turns 20 on May 18, played the last three seasons with the Hitmen, after being acquired from the Tri-City Americans. A Winnipegger, he was 28-14-7, 2.65, .918 in 50 appearances this season.
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Derek Bachynski, an assistant coach with the BCHL's Powell River Kings for two seasons, is the new head coach of the junior B Nanaimo Buccaneers of the Vancouver Island junior league. . . . Bachynski, 31, is from Belle River, Ont. . . . The Buccaneers are preparing for their third season in the VIJHL. Brad Knight, the head coach who got them into the playoffs each of the first two seasons, has chosen to step down. . . . Glen Smith remains Nanaimo's general manager.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Brandon at Edmonton, noon
Tuesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite; F Reid Petryk, day-to-day.
Brandon: None.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 10: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, April 12: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday, April 13: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 15: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, day-to-day; D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
Saturday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7 p.m.
Monday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Thursday, April 10: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday, April 12: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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The Alex New York