WHL News and Notes

THE LATEST NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
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rRAIDERS SIGN TOP 2007 BANTAM PICK
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rPrince Albert, SK – The Prince Albert Raiders are pleased to announce that defenseman Ryan Aasman, selected in the 1st round, 8th overall in the 2007 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, has signed a standard WHL contract and education contract with the team.
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rAasman, who is 5’10”, 160 pounds, led his hometown Medicine Hat Hockey Hound Bantams in scoring this past season with 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points in 32 games.
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r“We are thrilled to have Ryan as a Raider as he is going to be a part of things for a long time to come,” said Dave O’Brien, Head Scout. “He is a guy that will play a lot of important minutes in the future and solidifies the back end for years to come with a player of his ability.”
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r“Ryan and his family have been great to deal with since we drafted him in May, and we look forward to seeing them at training camp,” continued O’Brien.
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rAasman will be at Raider Training camp starting August 22nd. As a 15 year-old he is eligible to play up to 5 games with the Raiders during the 2007-08 regular season.
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rAMS SIGN SHINNIMIN
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rKENNEWICK, WA – Tri-City Americans’ general manager Bob Tory announced today that the team has signed 16-year-old forward Brendan Shinnimin to a standard Western Hockey League Player’s Contract.
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rThe 5’7”, 150-pound center from Winnipeg, Manitoba appeared in 31 games for the Winnipeg Thrashers AAA Midget program last season, collecting 10 goals and 37 points. Shinnimin also notched four goals and 15 points in 12 games, leading the Thrashers to a second place finish in the Manitoba AAA Midget hockey league playoffs.
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r"Brendan is a highly skilled, exciting player,” said Tory. “He will develop into a dynamic player in the WHL in time.”
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rShinnimin will join former-Thrasher teammates Johnny Lazo, Adam Hughesman, Colan Jackson and Mason Wilgosh at the Americans training camp, to be held in late August.
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r“Brendan will compete for a roster spot on our team this year,” continued Tory. “As an organization, we are excited that Brendan and his family have chosen the WHL and the Tri-City Americans as their choice for his hockey development.”
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rTri-City Americans season ticket plans are now available for the 2007-08 season. Season ticket plans can be purchased by using several, convenient monthly payment schedules after a one-time service charge. Call 509.736.0606, visit AmsHockey.com or drop by the Americans offices’ at the bottom level of the Toyota Center for more information.
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rRAIDERS NAME BEDARD ASSISTANT COACH
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rPrince Albert, SK – The Prince Albert Raiders are pleased to announce the hiring of Craig Bedard as an Assistant Coach for the Western Hockey League team. Bedard has been an Assistant Coach with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL the past three seasons under Bruno Campese who was hired as the Raiders Head Coach last month.
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rBedard, who has been an elementary school teacher in Osoyoos since 1992, has an extensive background in hockey including Head Coach of Team BC at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon and Head Coach of Team Pacific at the 2006 World Under 17 Championships in Regina. Bedard has his Advanced Level I Coaching Level from Hockey Canada and has been a presenter at Hockey BC Seminars on the “Use of Video”. Last year he received the Development Award for Coaching from Hockey BC for his work with coaches in British Columbia.
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rAs a player Bedard skated as a forward with the Summerland Buckaroos and Vernon Lakers in the BCHL before playing four seasons at the University of Alaska – Fairbanks.
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r“I am honoured and excited to be part of the group with Bruno, (General Manager) Donn Clark and the Raiders. We are looking forward to moving to the great hockey community of Prince Albert,” said Bedard. “Knowing Bruno and his work ethic, we compliment each other well and have had success working as a coaching team in the past and look forward to continuing that with the Raiders.”
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r“He is a real good quality person and an exceptional teacher that has experience working with top end athletes through the Hockey BC Program,” said Head Coach Campese. “He has great communications skills, and his knowledge and expertise in the use of video is extremely helpful as I have found over the past three years.”
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rBedard, his wife Michelle and 6 month old son Caleb will move to Prince Albert in August.
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rKris Knoblauch will not return this season fulfilling his one year contract as Assistant Coach with the Raiders.
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r“We would like to thank Kris for his efforts with our organization last season,” said General Manager Donn Clark. “We wish Kris and his family well in the future.”
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rLAUER RESIGNS AS ASSISTANT COACH
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rCranbrook, BC — Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club, today announced Assistant Coach Brad Lauer has resigned his position affective immediately. Lauer had been the Assistant Coach for the last five seasons (2002 – 2007) with the Club.
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r"Brad has done a good job both on and off the ice during his tenure year in Cranbrook. Finding a replacement at this late of day will not be easy, but we will begin the search immediately. We will definitely miss Brad, but would like to wish him all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his loyalty and friendship," continued Chynoweth.
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rThe ICE will begin looking for a new Assistant Coach immediately.
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rREBELS TRADE KOZYRA TO CHIEFS
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rRed Deer, AB – The Red Deer Rebels Hockey Club today traded 18-year old defenceman Patrick Kozyra to the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for a sixth round selection in the 2008 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
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rKozyra, from Sherwood Park, AB, is entering his second season in the WHL after posting 5 points in 55 games in 2006-07. He was the Rebels’ 4th round pick (76th overall) in the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft.
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r“Patrick will help round out our defense,” Chiefs General Manager Tim Speltz said. “His experience in the league will also be a benefit to our defensive core.”
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