Friday notes . . .

C Blake Robson (Portland/Prince George) wasn’t out of work long. He has signed with Finland’s Sport Vaasa which plays in Mestis, the country’s second level. On Wednesday, he was released by Ässät Pori, which plays in SM-Liiga, the top level. Robson played two exhibition games with Ässät, both of them against Sport Vaasa, so he must have shown something. . . .

Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune reports that the Portland Winter Hawks haven’t yet signed a director of player personnel to replace Gord Loiselle, who quit over the summer and resurfaced with the Kamloops Blazers. In the meantime, Vondersmith reports, “Matt Bardsley, a longtime local scout who has been involved in minor-league hockey, has been filling in on an interim basis.” . . . Vondersmith also reports that Comcast hasn’t yet launched its regional sports channel, so no one knows how many Winter Hawks’ games will be televised. “It also remains unknown which TV production crews the team can use, as James Media Productions, which put on telecasts last season, might not be able to commit to all of them this season,” Vondersmith writes. He adds that “Randy Glanz, James Media president, says he hasn’t been paid for all of
last season’s work.” Glanz is quoted as saying: But I completely want them to be successful. I’m willing to be part of the solution.” . . . The Winter Hawks will play all 36 of their home games in Memorial Coliseum this season, meaning no more Rose Garden, at least for now. . . .

D Keith Seabrook, who left Denver U to join the Calgary Hitmen, will sit for up to four weeks with a shoulder injury. As a result, he won’t be in camp with the NHL’s Washington Capitals. Washington GM George McPhee told the Washington Post that Seabrook was injured while practising with the Hitmen. . . .

There were a couple of interesting exhibition games played in Quebec City on Friday night. The USHL’s Omaha Lancers scored a 3-2 victory over the Quebec Remparts, while the Rimouski Oceanic edged the USHL’s Indiana Ice 6-5 in a shootout. . . . Omaha’s Ben Arnt broke a 2-2 tie with about five minutes left in the third period, scoring on a power play. The Lancers outshot the Remparts, 35-30. Omaha was 1-for-5 on the PP; Quebec was 1-for-7. . . . The other game included four ties and five lead changes, before Rimouski counted two shootout goals — three shooters per team in the first round — to win it. The Ice had tied the game on Paul Carey’s PP goal with under four minutes left in the third period. . . . The Lancers and Oceanic will play tonight in Rimouski, while the Ice and Remparts meet in Quebec City.

More, including roundup of the night's games, to come later . . .