Rangers Rap

Unice will go back into the NHL draft

The Chicago Blackhawks have opted not to sign ex-Rangers goalie Josh Unice by the June 1 deadline.

So Unice will be up for grabs in the June 26-27 NHL draft in Montreal.

Unice, now a Windsor Spitfire, was a Hawks pick in 2007.

Winners go to Cancun, Losers go to the Bahamas

The Spits, like the 2005 London Knights,  are Memorial Cup winners and are celebrating in Mexico.

The Rangers lost the Cup final to Spokane last year and went to the Bahamas.

Spokane went home with the busted trophy.

I'm off to Brantford to cover high school rugby. Not sure what that makes me . . .

Hawks ponder signing Unice

Chicago Blackhawks assistant GM Rick Dudley told me today that no decision has been made on whether ex-Rangers goalie Josh Unice is to be signed by the Hawks or go back into the NHL draft.

June 1 is the deadline for a decision.

Dudley was on his way to the NHL combine in Toronto and said Unice would be on the agenda with GM Dale Tallon.

Unice could return to the OHL's Windsor Spitfires next season, where he backed up Andrew Engelage to the Memorial Cup title last week.

Kitchener native Evan Brophey, who was with the Hawks through the playoffs as a black ace, is a "big part of our future", according to Dudley.

Dudley said Chicago wouldn't rule out re-signing Hespeler's Tim Brent, who spent most of the season with Rockford of the AHL and led his team.

Two Bens this weekend

Ben Thomson and Ben Fanelli will be at Rangers rookie camp starting tomorrow at RIM.

Thomson is a Cornell commit at centre and will need convincing.

Fanelli fell to Kitchener into the third round. Other teams figured the blueliner would go college.

Thomson is off the Mississauga Reps. Fanelli is off the Missy Sens.

Willie or won't he?

Sure, he will.
Steve Spott will assist head coach Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat) with the national junior team over Christmas.
Canada will aim for a sixth-straight gold.

Mikey goes to the Mem Cup

Kitchener's Mike Hoffman had a goal and an assist last night as Drummondville beat Shawinigan -- alas for Jean Chetien -- 3-2 to take Game 7 of the Quebec league final.

The Volts are off to Rimouski.

Pretty good for a Kitchener boy who was sent packing from the Rangers at the start of last season because he wasn't good enough to be part of a Mem Cup-hosting teams.

Also good on Peter DeBoer for finding Mike a job in the Q with Gatineau, which led to a trade to Drummondville.

More on Hoffman in Thursday's Record. Talked to him today.

Colorado signs Trevor Cann?!!?

Holy crap! Did the Aves not watch the OHL playoffs?

Sheesh. The Knights should have just tied a sweater to the cross-bar.

One last shot . . .

...to get to Rimouski for Kitchener's Mike Hoffman.

His Drummondville Voltigeurs host Shawinigan for Game 7 of the Quebec final Tuesday night.

The winner goes to the Mem Cup.

Hoffman has 3 goals and 3 assists in the series.

Knights take Cambridge goalie

Nick Coone of the Camberg Hawks went to London in the 13th round.

Good goalie. Weak minor midget team.

Nick's uncle is Washington Caps' goalie coach Dave Prior.

Zach Attack

The Rangers grabbed local forward Zach Lorentz in the 12th round off the Waterloo Wolves.