By Jamie Harkins
LOS ANGELES—The 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings roster remains virtually intact for the 2014-2015 campaign with the only new plate above a dressing room stall bearing the name Brayden McNabb.
As of press time, the Davidson-born defenceman has appeared in all six Kings games this season where he has recorded zero points, two penalty minutes, 16 hits and a plus-one rating in 17:21 of average ice time each game. Due to an early season injury to Jake Muzzin, McNabb has spent this time on ice playing alongside all-star defenceman Drew Doughty.
“He’s a great player,” said McNabb, 23, who beat out fellow Manchester Monarchs rearguard Jeff Schultz for the sole vacant roster spot in camp. “He’s one of the best if not the best defenceman out there, so it’s pretty fun. He’s an easy player to play with and when you give him the puck you know he’s going to do something good with it. It’s just a good experience to learn from him.”
McNabb said playing with Doughty presents a good challenge for him because the duo are facing the opposing team’s best line each shift. He said lining up with Doughty for one game in the pre-season and black acing with the team during the Cup run has helped him transition to this spot, but there are still areas of the game he needs to get better at and the coaching staff is helping him in this regard.
“I do video with (defensive coach) John Stevens almost after every game,” he said. “We watch over my shifts and he’s really good at analyzing the game and helping me on what I need to work on. But that basically is just playing within the dots and having good angles on players and just being a hard guy to play against.”
The current edition of the Kings is proving to be just as hard to play against as they were during last spring’s Cup run. Los Angeles has a 4-1-1 record through the first six games and sits in second place in the Pacific Division.
McNabb said the veteran laden team is a confident group and should be considering everyone on the roster except himself has at least one or two Cup rings. He said the players in the room are really tight and it is easy for him to see why they win so much with the great chemistry they have.
“It’s good to be around the older guys,” said McNabb. “You get to watch and learn from them and use it for now and for the future of my career.”
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RM residents may tap into town water supply
By Kevin Gilby
DAVIDSON—R.M. of Arm River council members and Davidson town council met Tuesday to discuss the RM’s letter of request to install a small water tank at the R.M. Shop in Davidson.
R.M. councillor Billy Gust was present to answer questions the town had regarding anticipated demand on the town’s reverse osmosis plant.
The town was requesting the estimated demand a pump would introduce to their system. Gust was able to present usage for a year, which included spraying and cistern applications not intended to be applicable to the proposed in-town water pump.
Further, the R.M. intends to install either a flow-rate limited pump or restrictor valve at the R.M. shop to provide potable water to its population. The limit of the flow rate would make it impractical for bulk users to use the supply.
Confident that the usage would not negatively impact the Davidson water supply, town council agreed to allow the R.M. to proceed with installing a water pump. In addition, town suggested that the R.M. contact Young’s Equipment to determine if they could ‘tap into’ Young’s service when it is installed.
A fee schedule is to be determined at a future date.
Davidson donates $2 per capita to STARS
By Kevin Gilby
DAVIDSON—STARS emergency air ambulance service has asked rural communities of Saskatchewan to voluntarily donate an annual amount of two dollars per resident to help cover operational costs.
At its meeting Tuesday, Davidson town council voted to make the voluntary donation of about $2,000 because members feel the community has already used its services enough to justify the sum.
Rural communities have been quick to respond favourably to the request, with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) having already urged its member communities to contribute resulting in $300,000 towards costs.
STARS has also requested cities to contribute at the same level as rural areas, reminding residents that they are spending leisure time and travel in rural Saskatchewan as well.
The non-profit service obtains approximately half of its $20 million operational costs from the provincial government, with the remainder coming from corporate donations, and fundraising. Money raised through donations is expected to ease the challenge of raising the funds necessary every year though fundraising activities.
In 2013, STARS operated over 800 missions throughout the province, four to Davidson itself, and eight to communities within Davidson EMS’s coverage area. The province currently has the service of two STARS helicopter bases, one in Regina and one in Saskatoon.
Buckingham, Christine
Christine Phyllis Buckingham, formerly of Aylesbury, Sask., passed away peacefully on October 13, 2014 at the age of 85.
She will be greatly missed by her daughter Maureen Penner, grandchildren Brody and Natasha Penner, sister Agnus Hunter, as well as numerous other family members.
Christine was predeceased by her beloved husband Stuart, her brothers Alexander, Albert and Raymond and her sister Marie.
Christine was born near Strong Pine Sask., on May 9, 1929. She enjoyed her life as a farmer’s wife. Christine also enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking and helping out around the farm when needed. Christine loved to spend time with her grandchildren and watch them grow up.
A celebration of Christine’s life was held at the Aylesbury Community Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, at 2:00 p.m.
As an expression of sympathy, donations in memory of Christine may be directed to the Aylesbury Hall or to the Aylesbury Cemetery Fund.
Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements.
Bruch, Rose Marie
Rose Marie Bruch of Davidson, Sask. passed away October 8, 2014 at the age of 80. She is survived by her sister Caroline Young-Grenier of St. Etienne, Quebec; and her children Cathy (Rex) Preston, Phil (Kirsten) Bruch, Doug (Danielle Nault) Bruch, Paul Bruch, Shirley (Peter) Voldeng, Tim Bruch and Trish (Clayton) Schilling; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church.
Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson in care of arrangements.
Heiser, Stu
It is with profound sadness the family of Stu Heiser announces his peaceful passing Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at the Palliative Care Unit of the Grey Nuns Community Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Born October 13, 1950 in Mankota Saskatchewan, he attended Alloa school and later Mankota and Ponteix schools. From a very young age, Stu loved horses, hunting and spending time in the outdoors. Stu’s personality and genuine interest in people, along with an ability to connect with people, brought him many opportunities in life. He managed hotels, sold farm machinery and spent his later years as a radiation safety officer with IRISNDT in Edmonton, Alberta, a job that gave him much satisfaction and fulfillment.
Stu will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his loving family: daughter, Michelle (Curtis) Gursky and their son, Grayson; daughter, Marcia (Dan) McIvor and their children, Ava and Marek; son, Blaine (Kelly) Heiser and their children, Abby and Cole; sister, Brenda (Garry) Resvick as well as his nephews, Rod Deibert and Ryan (Nicole) Deibert and their son, Landon and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his parents, George (April 1996) and Bridie (July 1973) and one brother, George Alexander (April 1948).
A Prayer Service was held on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. and a Memorial Service on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Hainstock’s Funeral Home, in Edmonton AB.
Interment Service will take place on November 8, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in Mankota, SK at the Mankota cemetery. There will be a celebration of life held following the interment service at the Mankota hall.
Stu was blessed with outstanding care during his stay in the Palliative Care Unit at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital and the family wishes to extend a sincere thanks to the palliative care staff, and especially to Dr. Amigo, Dr. Fainsinger, Annie and Joanie, for the kindness, care and compassion they all showed during this difficult time. In lieu of floral tributes, donations may be made in Stu’s name to Unit 43 Palliative Care at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital or the Alberta Cancer Foundation using the following links: Unit 43 Palliative Care, Grey Nuns Community Hospital: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/862 ( The family kindly requests that donations be designated to Unit 43 Palliative Care)
Alberta Cancer Foundation: https://albertacancer.ca/give-in-memory?tab=1 (The family kindly requests that donations to the Alberta Cancer Foundation be designated for “promotion of prevention and screening”)