There’s added local flavor on the ice in Helsinki, Finland today at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Erie native Keith Kaval is officiating today’s game between host Finland and Slovakia. Former Erie Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus is on Slovakia’s roster, but he’s scratched for this game. He has an 0-2 record, 3.00 goals-against average and .875 save percentage in two games in the tournament.
Former Otters captain Ryan O’Reilly, a forward with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, is playing for Canada. He has a goal and three points in seven games.
UPDATE: Kaval will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to officiate in the tournament’s medal round.

The Colorado Avalanche have announced they matched the Calgary Flames’ offer sheet for former Erie Otters captain Ryan O’Reilly. Check out this story from the Denver Post.

Former Erie Otters captain Ryan O’Reilly could be a member of the NHL’s Calgary Flames at this time next week.
The Denver Post reported Thursday that the Flames have signed O’Reilly to a two-year, $10 million offer sheet. According to the report, the Colorado Avalanche, the team O’Reilly played with for the first three seasons of his NHL career, have seven days to match the offer.
If the offer isn’t matched, the Post reported, the Avalanche would receive the Flames’ first-round and third-round picks in the NHL Entry Draft this summer as compensation. O’Reilly, 22, earned a reported $2.64 million during during his three-year, entry-level contract, which expired at the end of the 2011-12 season. He totaled 39 goals and 107 points in 236 games with the Avalanche, including a team-leading 37 assists and 55 points a season ago. O’Reilly hasn’t played this season while awaiting a new contract. Reports have indicated he rejected two past offers from the Avalanche for $7 million over two years and $17 million over five years.

Mark Guy, agent for former Erie Otters captain Ryan O’Reilly, from Newport Sports Management Inc. in Mississauga, Ontario, had little to say Tuesday about his client’s contract situation with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.
But Guy did say “there has been zero discussions with Colorado for weeks now.” When asked if a trade is the most viable option to resolve this impasse, Guy said, “You can infer that, I guess, by the fact that we haven’t had any discussions. But likely that’s going to be the outcome, I would say. (That’s) not for sure. Things can always change. But likely that’s going to be the outcome.”
When asked how O’Reilly has handled the situation, Guy said, “Ryan’s good. He’s a player and competitive. He wants to play, but he’s competitive in all aspects of his life.”
Guy declined to comment on any further details.

- Victor Fernandes

Erie Youth Hockey Association’s adult league holds its fifth annual “Pink at the Rink” fundraiser Sunday at Ice Center of Erie, 3515 McClelland Avenue. The event, which raises funds and awareness in the battle against breast cancer, features five games starting at 4:30. But first, the Erie Otters will take the ice – at least some of them will, anyway.
Rookie sensation Connor McDavid will join teammates Nick Betz, Jake Evans, Stephen Harper, Hayden Hodgson and Devin Williams in a special “Skate with the Otters” from 3:15-4:15 p.m. There’s also talk of an appearance from Ryan O’Reilly, a former Otters captain and current NHL player, although event organizers haven’t received confirmation on that yet.
Cost to skate is $5, but admission to the games are free. Representatives from Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Tastefully Simple, Scentsy and Crocheted Critters & More by Christina Burns will be in attendance. The event also will include a Chinese auction and merchandise for sale.
“Pink at the Rink” has raised more than $8,500 for the American Cancer Society in the past four years.

Former Erie Otters captain Ryan O’Reilly, who played the past three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and is now a restricted free agent, shared his thoughts recently on the NHL lockout and the state of negotiations between the league’s owners and Players Association:

On when the season could begin:
You hear all sorts of things. I’ve been hearing November, end of November. Then they’re saying January (in time for) the Winter Classic. Then people are saying there won’t be (a season). So it’s tough to tell what it’s going to be. I try to hope for the best. I’m hoping in November we’re back playing hockey, at least any time in November playing hockey. Then again it’s not really up to me.

On the biggest issues between owners and players:
It’s not just one issue. There’s a bunch of issues. We’re willing to take less in revenue and have a growth period because we see how much (the league is growing. Our proposals I think have been very good. They (the owners) still don’t think that it’s right. That’s the way it goes through a negotiation. We’ve just got to keep staying with it.

On the state of negotiations:
They did meet (recently) on some non-core issues and stuff. So definitely the communication is back now, which is huge. That’s what we need. Now that we’ve got that first one out of the way after the lockout, to finally get that going now is a step in the right direction. Now hopefully we just continue to keep scheduling meetings and getting further and further.

On not having a contract with the Avalanche:
I can’t sign during the lockout. I understand the way things work. It happens. When there is a CBA (collective bargaining agreement) in play, negotiations will start (on a new contract). It just takes a little while. My situation is a bit unique. Having more point production and being looked at as a two-way forward playing against top lines, it’s not the typical player you see at this age (21). I don’t have any expectations. I know it’s going to be a waiting game. I’m just trying to keep a level head and keep focused on things I can control, which is staying in shape.

- Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters coach Robbie Ftorek often doesn’t rave about a player with only five games of OHL experience. But he’s already gushing about No. 1 pick Connor McDavid. Ftorek compares him to current NHL players Brad Boyes and Ryan O’Reilly, two of the most revered players in Otters’ history.
Here’s what Ftorek said earlier today (without me asking specifically about McDavid):
“The fans really need to come out and watch Connor McDavid play, watch his abilities. I think people in Ottawa and the people in Kingston that didn’t come out (this past weekend), it’s too bad for them because that’s the only time they’re going to get a chance to see that kid play this year.
He really is a very talented young man. It doesn’t matter if he scores or produces points or anything. But you just sit back and watch him for the game, and watch what he does, and watch his speed and his creativity, and watch the discipline that he plays with, I think you’ll understand why Sherry (Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager) is so excited about having him here. We’re excited about having him here. He does play on a different level from everybody else. That doesn’t happen a lot. You don’t get to see that a lot.
We’ve had a few guys here, (Boyes) and (O’Reilly) and some of the other guys. But this guy is a little different than even those two guys. You don’t get that too often. He’s something to see.”

- Victor Fernandes

Russian-born forward Vladimir Tkachev, the Erie Otters’ second first-round pick in the 2011 CHL Import Draft, isn’t reporting to training camp Monday – or anytime soon.

Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, said the Russian Ice Hockey Federation has denied Tkachev a visa that would allow him to join the OHL club.

Bassin said he believes federation officials coerced Tkachev to sign a letter stating he wants to remain in Russia. Bassin also said he was told Tkachev signed a contract with AK Bars Kazan.

The 6-foot, 182-pound center had nine goals and 18 points in 39 games with AK Bars Kazan in Russia last season. He also played alongside Nail Yakupov, Sarnia’s standout forward, on Russia’s Under-18 National Team last season.

Bassin said “we’re fighting it” through the International Ice Hockey Federation, the sport’s worldwide governing body. Yet Bassin is unsure how long it will take to resolve the issue. He said other OHL clubs have needed several months to resolve similar problems in the past.

Russia doesn’t have a transfer agreement with the IIHF.

Meanwhile, Norwegian-born left wing Sondre Olden, the Otters opening CHL first-round pick, won’t arrive at camp until Wednesday because of travel problems caused by Hurricane Irene. His flight to New York City on Sunday was cancelled. So he will fly to Toronto on Tuesday before being picked up by club officials.

Close to signing: Defense prospect Liam Maaskant, an 2010 eighth-round pick, expects to sign with the Otters soon.

“It’s just about done, (just) got to sign the papers,” said Maaskant, 17, a Clinton, Ontario, native who chose not to sign last season since he hadn’t decided between the OHL and the NCAA. But Maaskant chose the OHL after speaking with former Otter and current Colorado Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly, a native of nearby Varna, Ontario.

“I came to the final decision that the O was meant for me,” Maaskant said. “I’m ready to take the next step and come to Erie for sure.”

- Victor Fernandes

Brett Thompson (Contributed/Terry Wilson, OHL Images)

The Erie Otters’ milestone night nearly became a record-setting night.

Brett Thompson had four goals and six points to headline an 8-2 win against Windsor in front of 5,417 at Tullio Arena Saturday night. He tied the franchise’s single-season record for goals in a game and fell one point short of the franchise mark of seven on a night when the Otters celebrated their 1,000^th game.

Thompson teamed with linemates Phil Varone (goal, four assists) and Anthony Luciani (goal, three assists) for six goals and 15 points in the game. They combined for nine goals and 24 points in the two-game weekend sweep of the Spitfires (27-17-2-3) and Sault Ste. Marie.

The Otters (27-23-1-1) watched the pregame ceremony honoring the 1,000^th game in the 15-year-old franchise’s 1,000^th game, starting with Sean Courtney’s title-clinching goal in the 2002 OHL finals.

Then they watched DVD messages from former Otters Brad Boyes, Chris Campoli and Ryan O’Reilly, followed by the introduction of alumni T.J. Aceti, Chris Berti, Courtney, Mike McKeown, Steve Nimigon and Brad Yeo. But the current Otters didn’t initially turn the emotion into momentum.

Instead, the Spitfires took a 1-0 lead on defenseman Ryan Ellis’ rocket from the left point 3:43 into the opening period. Meanwhile, the Otters failed to capitalize on several early scoring chances.

Yet they finally tied the score at 1 on Thompson’s goal with 2:59 left in the period. He poked a rebound of Luciani’s shot past Spitfires goaltender Jack Campbell. Then 1:41 into the second, Shawn Szydlowski scored his 29^th goal of the season off an assist from Brady Austin to snap the tie.

Thompson added his second goal of the night to extend the Otters’ lead to 3-1 at the 4:18 into the period.

He assisted on rookie Luke Cairns’ power-play goal – his first goal in 30 games – at the 7:04 mark for a 4-1 Otters’ lead. Then Thompson recorded his second hat trick of the season and third of his OHL career to cap the Otters’ fourth-goal outburst in a 6-minute span. Thompson has five goals in his past two games.

The Otters’ barrage ended Campbell’s night after five goals on 17 shots. But Thompson and the Otters weren’t done, as he assisted on Varone’s power-play goal with 58 seconds left in the period. Luciani and Thompson added another goal apiece early in the third to complete the best night of his career. Varone’s five points also were a career high.

SUMMARY

Otters 8, Spitfires 2

Windsor  1  0  1  —  2

Erie  1  5  2  —  8

1^st Period — 1. Windsor, Ryan Ellis 17 (unassisted), 3:45. 2. Erie, Brett Thompson 31 (Luciani, Varone), 17:01. Penalties — Sadikov (E) tripping (served by Luciani), :19; McGuire (E) 5-min. fighting, 5:10; Czinder (W) 5-min. fighting, 5:10; Appio (E) 5-min. fighting, 6:06; Duininck (W) 5-min. fighting, 6:06; Crisp (E) 5-min. fighting, 9:12; Rychel (W) 5-min. fighting, 9:12; Vail (W) hooking, 14:21.

2^nd Period — 3. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 29 (Austin), 1:41. 4. Erie, Thompson 32 (McKegg, Holden), 4:18. 5. Erie, Luke Cairns 4 (Thompson), 7:04 (pp). 6. Erie, Thompson 33 (Varone), 7:54. 7. Erie, Phil Varone 24 (Thompson, Luciani), 19:02 (pp). Penalties — Cook (E) holding, 4:44; Rychel (W) tripping, 6:56; Brown (W) charging, 14:45; Ellis (W) interference, 17:59.

3^rd Period — 8. Erie, Anthony Luciani 19 (Cairns, Varone), 4:13 (pp). 9. Erie, Thompson 34 (Varone, Luciani), 9:06. 10. Windsor, Brady Vail 2 (Rychel, Webermin), 14:16. Penalties — Carnevale (W) goaltender interference, 2:51; Vail (W) goaltender interference, 3:58; Windsor, bench minor (served) Czinder), 4:13; Luciani (E) tripping, 11:51; Cazzola (E) slashing, 12:14.

Shots on goal — Windsor, 14-8-13—35; Erie, 13-20-8—41.

Goaltenders — Windsor, Jack Campbell 16-11-1-2 (17 shots, 12 saves), Michael Nishi (24 shots, 21 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 27-16-1-1 (25 shots, 24 saves), Festarini (10 shots, 9 saves).

Power plays — Windsor (0-4), Erie (3-7).

Referees — Darcy Burchell, Dave Gauthier. Linesmen — Matthew Traub, Mike Malott.

Attendance — 5,417.

Three stars

* Brett Thompson, Otters (4 goals, 2 assists) ** Phil Varone, Otters (goal, 4 assists) *** Anthony Luciani, Otters (goal, 3 assists)

DENVER (AP) — Colorado forward Ryan O’Reilly, a former Erie Otter, will miss his sixth straight game with a shoulder injury when the Avalanche host Minnesota on Thursday night.

Avs coach Joe Sacco said after the morning skate that he’s “hopeful” O’Reilly will be ready soon, but he won’t be available against the Wild. O’Reilly has been out since crashing into the boards headfirst on Jan. 14 at Minnesota.

Peter Forsberg participated in the morning skate as he considers a comeback. He’s been testing his fitness and the strength of his chronically injured right foot to see if he can return. Forsberg had a solid skate Thursday. He sounded a bit discouraged the day before following an intense workout. As for a return, Sacco said: “Peter’s the only one that’s going to be able to tell us really how he feels.”