Butler to Prince Albert

The Kamloops Blazers have traded G Dustin Butler, 20, to the Prince Albert Raiders for a 2008 sixth-round bantam draft pick. That means the Blazers will go into the season with Justin Leclerc, 18, who was acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, as the starter. James Priestner, 16, whose father, Mike, was involved in an offseason attempt to purchase the Blazers, is the backup. . . . The Raiders now have three goaltenders on their roster, with Butler, whom the Blazers acquired in October from the Portland Winter Hawks, the starter and sophomore David Aime, 18, backing up. Prior to acquiring Butler, Steven Stanford, 17, was backing up Aime. . . . There are at least two other 20-year-old goaltenders available, with the Everett Silvertips trying to find a spot for David Reekie and the Moose Jaw Warriors looking to more Kurt Jory, which would leave Joey Perricone, also 20, as their starter. . . .

The Blazers held a news conference Tuesday afternoon at which D Ryan Bender was introduced as the team’s new captain. Alternats are Victor Bartley, Brock Nixon and C.J. Stretch. . . . No surprises there. . . . The Blazers also revealed that they will be changing benches for the 2008-09 season. A few seasons ago, the Blazers had a new dressing room constructed at the opposite end of the arena from their previous one. However, they never changed benches, which has led to logistical problems with visiting teams. Those will end after this season as, the Blazers said, “the WHL is ordering a compulsory change.” . . . The same situation exists in Spokane and it, too, will apparently be coming to an end prior to next season. . . .

The Kelowna Rockets named LW James McEwan, 20, as their captain. . . .

The Brandon Wheat Kings have added Matt Cockell to their coaching staff as the goaltending coach. Cockell, 28, played three seasons in the WHL (1996-99), spending time in Saskatoon, Seattle, Regina and Spokane along the way. Cockell also is a goaltending consultant with Hockey Canada. . . .

The Vancouver Giants have reassigned G Jamie Tucker, 16, leaving Kraymer Barnstable, 17, to backup Tyson Sexsmith, 18. Tucker is from Victoria and is likely to play major midget somewhere on Vancouver Island. . . .

Three players with WHL experience — C Reid Jorgensen, D Daryl Boyle and LW Jamison Orr — were in camp with the NHL’s Boston Bruins and have been invited to go to camp with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. They open camp Saturday. . . .

The Swift Current Broncos have reassigned F Kris Foucault to the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes. He had three assists in six WHL exhibition games. That gets the Broncos‚ roster down to 25, including two goaltenders and eight defencemen. . . .

The Regina Pats released three players — F Dru Cotteril, G Damien Ketlo and import F Marco Insam. Cotteril will join the midget AAA team in Spruce Grove, Alta., with Ketlo joining the Prince George-based Cariboo Cougars, a major midget team. Insam’s release leaves Regina with F Kaspars Saulietis, 20, and F Rudolf Cerveny, 18, as its imports. That’s intereting because Saulietis, who was acquired last season from Kelowna, is a two-spotter. . . . Regina’s roster sits at 25, including two goaltenders and nine defencemen.