Some notes . . .

One interesting player in the Regina Pats’ rookie camp is RW Ryan Ostertag, 15. His grandfather, the late Bill Hicke, is a former Pats’ owner and one of the greatest player in the franchise’s long history. . . . The Pats have released C Justin Scott, leaving them with three returning 20-year-olds — LW Troy Ofukany, RW Kaspars Saulietis and RW Myles Stoesz, all of whom were acquired in trades last season. . . . Stoesz will go to camp with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. . . . Saulietis, a Latvian, is one of three import forwards in camp — Czech Rudolf Cerveny and Italian Marco Insam are the others — and would be a two-spotter so could be in tough.

The Moose Jaw Warriors have signed LW Quinton Howden, the first overall pick in the WHL’s 2007 bantam draft. Howden, 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, is in camp with the Warriors. He had 121 goals and 76 assists in 51 games with the Springfield, Man., Ice Hawks last season. He is from Oakbank, Man. . . . Howden’s agent is former Warriors captain Mark MacKay — in fact, he was the team’s first captain and is the only player to win the WHL rookie of the year award as a 20-year-old. MacKay and Troy Edwards will be the inaugural inductees into the Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame, a ceremony that is to take place this weekend.

The Vancouver Giants have handed out some new contracts. General manager Scott Bonner got a five-year deal, as did head coach Don Hay, who now is said by owner Ron Toigo to be the highest-paid coach in the WHL. Craig Bonner, who is Scott’s younger brother, got a three-year contract. In all cases, the old contracts were torn up.

C Brayden Schenn, 16, the ninth pick in the 2006 bantam draft, has made a verbal commitment to the Brandon Wheat Kings. Schenn, who had said he wanted to play closer to his brother — Kelowna Rockets D Luke Schenn — told the Brandon Sun’s James Shewaga that he is excited and that "I just hope to get a new start and wash everything that happened between me and Brandon and it should be a nice, new start.” Schenn had 70 points in 41 games with the Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League last season.