WHL News & Notes

LOISELLE NAMED BLAZERS’ DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL — The Kamloops Blazers are proud to announce the hiring of Gord Loiselle as the club’s new Director of Player Personnel.
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rLoiselle, who will base his work in Calgary, joins the Blazers after a 10-year stint as the Director of Player Personnel for the Portland Winterhawks. Prior to that, he was an area scout for the Calgary Hitmen.
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r“I’m really excited,” says Loiselle. “The timing is perfect for myself and I’m getting into the organization when they’re in a great situation and made great strides last year. I’m really impressed with the staff that’s been assembled here and I just can’t wait to get started on the job.”
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rDuring Loiselle’s tenure with Portland, the Winterhawks won the 1998 Memorial Cup in Spokane and reached the 2001 WHL Final – ultimately falling to the Memorial Cup champion Red Deer Rebels in five games.
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r“I think the [Blazers’ 50-player] list in good shape, they’ve done a good job drafting here, they have a good scouting staff in place and that’s a great start. There’s a great coaching staff here and they seem to have the philosophy that they’re going to develop their players which is hugely important,” added Loiselle.
rLoiselle begins the job effective immediately.
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rTOP PICKS SUNDHER AND BERG SIGN WITH BRUINS
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rChilliwack BC – June 28, 2007: The Chilliwack Bruins are pleased to announce that top draft picks Kevin Sundher and Carter Berg have committed and signed a standard WHL player contract with the Bruins today.
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r”We are excited that these two young men have committed to our team,” announced General Manager Darrell May. “On and off the ice, Kevin and Carter have demonstrated the traits that we look for in all of our players. We are happy that they have chosen the WHL to play their hockey and look forward to see them wearing Bruins colors in the seasons to come.”
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rSundher was Chilliwack’s first pick, 7th overall, in the 2007 WHL Draft. Kevin last season captained the Burnaby Winter Club AAA Bantam Team to the Western Canadian Bantam Championship. Sundher, who plays centre, in 68 games last year posted 77 goals and 96 assists for 173 points, as well as amassing 196 PIM. Sundher was recently named the recipient of the Minor Hockey League Player of the Year by the BCAHA.
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rBerg was Chilliwack’s second pick, 26th overall, in the 2007 WHL Draft. Carter last season captained the Saskatoon Generals Bantam AA team. In 48 games, Berg, a defenseman, scored 15 goals and added 31 assists for 46 points. Berg also accumulated 244 PIM and was a +13 for his team.
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