News and Notes – August 22 2014

It’s basically late August, gang. The Calgary Hitmen began rookie camp this week. The Calgary Flames likely open training camp in three weeks. Summer’s just about over, and the business of hockey chugs along towards the beginning of the season.

Here’s a bunch of tidbits of information that aren’t really big enough to warrant stories on their own.

The Flames today officially announced the hiring of Terry Doran and Brad McEwen as amateur scouts.

Doran joins the Flames after spending a lot of time out east with the Ontario Hockey League’s Newmarket Royals, Sarnia Sting and Windsor Spitfires. He has extensive scouting and managerial experience in the OHL, and joins the Flames as their OHL scout, replacing the retiring Tom Webster. Doran contributed to several Memorial Cup contending (and winning) teams with the Spitfires, so he’s clearly got an eye for talent.

McEwen joins the Flames after time with the Swift Current Broncos and Medicine Hat Tigers. He has a lot of experience, as everything from head coach to scout to general manager, and won the WHL’s Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as Executive of the Year in 2002. He joins Rob Sumner as the Flames’ two WHL scouts.

Scott Gouthro has been tapped to replace Jordan Sigalet (who went to Calgary) as the Adirondack Flames goalie coach. Gouthro is a Nova Scotian, a graduate of Dalhousie University and formerly the goalie coach for the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He was also involved with Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, so I’m not shocked he was on Calgary’s radar.

My guess is they’re waiting to announce the TV and radio crews together, because synergy. As noted in the intro, there isn’t much off-season left, so expect an announcement soon.

2013 pick Rushan Rafikov will be part of Russia’s U20 entry at the upcoming Four Nations Cup, running August 29-31 in Jönköping, Sweden. The annual tournament occurs throughout the season and involves Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic. My understanding is that Rafikov will likely then join his U20 team, Loko Yaroslavl, for the season. This season is reportedly the final year on his deal with Loko and its parent (pro) club Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

Meanwhile, the Champions League season is now underway. 2014 pick Adam Ollas Mattsson didn’t suit up for Djurgardens’ first game, and I’m guessing that he’s finishing up recovery from that lower-body injury that kept him off the ice at development camp. No word yet on whether he’s staying with Djurgardens’ pro side when cleared, or going to their junior team, or getting loaned to another pro team.

Lance Bouma has not signed yet.