Wednesday is over

Back with WHL teams after stints in NHL camps:
D Keaton Ellerby, to Kamloops from the Florida Panthers.
RW Michal Repik, to Vancouver from Florida.
C Mark Santorelli, to Chilliwack from the Nashville Predators.
F Viktor Sjodin, to Portland from Nashville.
D Jonathon Blum, to Vancouver from Nashville.
D Nick Ross, to Regina from the Phoenix Coytoes.
LW Drayson Bowman, to Spokane from the Carolina Hurricanes.
RW Spencer Machacek, to Vancouver from the Atlanta Thrashers.
C Riley Holzapfel, to Moose Jaw from Atlanta.

With Ross’s return, Regina assigned D Matt MacDermott to the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs. He has been out with a concussion. That move got Regina down to 24 players, including two goalies and 14 forwards. . . .
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RW Patrick Kane, the first pick in the NHL’s 2007 draft, made his Chicago Blackhawks debut Wednesay night and he did it on a line with former WHL’er Kris Versteeg (Lethbridge/Kamloops/Red Deer). The centre on the line was Jonathan Toews, another rookie. . . . As it turned out, Toews suffered a broken right index finter and will miss up to three weeks. . . .
The host ‘Hawks lost the game, 4-3, to Ken Hitchcock’s Columbus Blue Jackets. . . . But you know it’s the exhibition season when Manny Malhotra scores twice for Columbus. . . .

The Kelowna Rockets are a hurtin’ crew as they prepare to open the WHL season at home to the Tri-City Americans on Saturday. D Colin Joe will miss a month with a chipped bone in a wrist; freshman D Kyle Verdino (shoulder) is week-to-week, as is D/LW Matt Brusciano (concussion). LW Justin Bernhardt (groin) and LW James McEwan (flu) are day-to-day. . . . McEwan was named captain earlier this week, with the alternates being Joe, C Colin Long and D Luke Schenn. . . .

The Boston Bruins will keep LW Milan Lucic, the Vancouver Giants’ captain, through the weekend, at least. That means Lucic will miss Friday’s opener against the Winter Hawks in Portland and Saturday’s game in Everett against the Silvertips. . . . The Giants have designated rookie D Linden Saip for assignment, getting their roster to 24, which includes Lucic. They still are carrying 15 forwards, so one is likely to go soon. . . .

The CHL issued its preseason rankings, as selected by a panel of anonymous NHL scouts: 1. London Knights (OHL); 2. Calgary Hitmen (WHL); 3. Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL); 4. Everett Silvertips (WHL); 5. Niagara IceDogs (OHL); 6. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL); 7. Sarnia Sting (OHL); 8. Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL); 9. Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL); 10. Oshawa Generals (OHL). . . . You know it’s early when there are only two WHL teams in the top 10. . . . Talk about no respect: No sign of the defending Memorial Cup-champion Vancouver Giants or the defending WHL-champion Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . By season’s end, I would suggest, you may find the Kamloops Blazers, Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds or Spokane Chiefs in the hunt. . . .

Ken Schneider, a former Brandon Wheat Kings captain, is the new president of the WHL team’s Alumni Association. He takes over from Jeff Lawson, who has relocated to Kelowna (here’s hoping he knows about the goofy bridge). . . . Schneider, whose son Mark is a defenceman with the Kamloops Blazers, and Lawson will handle the opening faceoff prior to Friday’s game with the visiting Saskatoon Blades. . . . If you’re a former Wheat Kings player, check out www.wheatkings.com/alumni . . . Also taking part in the faceoff will be Mac Beaton, 78, who was on the Wheat Kings team that lost the 1949 Memorial Cup final to the Montreal Royals. . . .

RW Ryan DePape, 19, is the new captain of the Prince Albert Raiders. The alternates are to be announced Friday. . . . D Bretton Stamler is the first captain of the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings.

Don’t forget it’s the old Edmonton team (the Kootenay Ice) against the new Edmonton team (the Oil Kings) tonight as the WHL season gets rolling. . . . If you have access to Shaw Cable, the game is to be televised. If you’re like me and you don’t have cable, well, it’s the best time of year for baseball fans. . . .

Do you think New England knows that the Yankees are only a game and a half back? Or is it a case of Sleepless in New England?