Are Pats swooning for Schultz? Can Riders keep Bell? A Russia night, really?
A four-pack of mini-columns:
Number One: Jim Minor and Mike Hasenfratz grew up a generation apart on Regina’s hockey rinks, so they likely didn’t cross paths on the ice. But their roles in the local hockey community are worthy of recalling in the wake of their recent deaths.
Hasenfratz stopped playing hockey as a kid to become an official. Working through Regina’s minor hockey system — where his police officer dad, Tony, organized tournaments — and advancing to officiate senior, SJHL and WHL games, Hasenfratz joined the NHL in 2001.
He missed two seasons in the middle of his career to recover from life-threatening heart surgery, but returned for four campaigns wearing the number “2” to signify his second chance at what he called “the second best job in the world, after playing.”
Numerous friends of Hasenfratz, 58, confirmed his death during the weekend on social media. He had been living near Nashville.
“They’ll never see another team like that (’74 Pats squad),” said Gerald. “Almost all Regina guys, who brought along some Saskatchewan guys. The year after the Memorial Cup was tough because those big guys weren’t around anymore, but Jim finished top 10 in league scoring.
“I visited Jim last month. Everything was OK until about four months ago when his liver deteriorated.”
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“A little bit more aggressive than I anticipated and looking at what happened and in-game adjustments, I could have been better just to help our guys,” said Mace, who may want to focus more on his head-coaching duties.
Mace and Bell worked together on Grey Cup-winning staffs in Toronto and Calgary.
Bell is being interviewed as a candidate to join the Ottawa Redblacks as their defensive co-ordinator, according to Justin Dunk of 3Down Nation. Riders offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller will also be interviewed as a potential B.C. Lions head coach, according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji.
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Maybe that’s the term: “Swooning for Schultz.”
Mired in another losing streak that has them 21st in the 22-team WHL, the Pats will likely be among the non-playoff teams eligible for the lottery to determine first choice in the 2025 Prospects Draft.
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Number Four: Russia is continuing its invasion of Ukraine while Putin’s right-winger is in the White House and his left-winger is on pace to usurp Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. So it sounded ludicrous that the Columbus Blue Jackets were planning a tribute to Russian heritage when Alexander Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals were to visit Dec. 12. Teams have had similar tributes, but not since the invasion. On an official calendar, the game is touted as “Hockey Holidays” and the Blue Jackets have not issued any other proclamation.
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