Deadline day

The WHL's 20-year-old deadline has passed. . . . The expansion Edmonton Oil Kings are allowed to keep five; the other 21 teams can each keep three. . . . Any 20s not on rosters after the deadline become free agents . . .

The Vancouver Giants made the most interesting move, claiming RW Ken Petkau, who had told the Chilliwack Bruins he was retiring. Now it seems he is in Oklahoma City on a central league tryout with Doug Sauter's Blazers. Should Petkau choose to play for Vancouver, the Giants meet the Bruins in Chilliwack on Sunday. Of such things are rivalries made. . . .

The Lethbridge Hurricanes added LW Mike Wuchterl, who had been dropped earlier in the week by Vancouver. Lethbridge then released C Yashar Farmanara . . .

The Kelowna Rockets released D Lyon Messier. . . .

The Brandon Wheat Kings got down to three 20-year-olds by sending D Mark Louis to the Red Deer Rebels for a 2009 third-round bantam draft pick. That leaves Brandon with LW Tyler Dittmer, D Darryl Boyle, who is the team captain, and D Theran Yeo, who did take part in practice Wednesday as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery. . . . Louis had been the Wheat Kings’ active leader in games played (241). In six games this season, he had two assists and 15 penalty minutes. . . . This more would appear to indicate that Red Deer won't be getting back Russian LW Kirill Starkov, who is in the Columbus Blue Jackets' organization. . . .

The Everett Silvertips have the rights to four 20-year-olds but G David Reekie (mononucleosis) is on the 60-day injury list so doesn't have to be accounted for right now. . . .

The 20-year-old situation:
BRANDON (3): C Tyler Dittmer, D Daryl Boyle, D Theran Yeo.
CALGARY (2): D Ryan Gillen, D Dan Mercer.
CHILLIWACK (3): LW Brandon Campos, D Dylan Chapman, D Nick Holden.
EDMONTON (5): G Alex Archibald, D Michael Hengen, LW Karey Pieper, D Bretton Stamler, D Matt Swaby.
EVERETT (4): D Dane Crowley, C Dan Gendur, G David Reekie (injured), LW Brennan Sonne.
KAMLOOPS (3): D Ryan Bender, C Brock Nixon, D Ryan White.
KELOWNA (3): RW Brady Leavold, LW James McEwan, G Kris Westblom.
KOOTENAY (3): C Steve Da Silva, D Chad Greenan, D Paul Kurceba.
LETHBRIDGE (3): C Jacob Dietrich, RW Luke Wiens, LW Mike Wuchterl.
MEDICINE HAT (2): RW Jerrid Sauer, C Daine Todd.
MOOSE JAW (3): LW Terrance Delaronde, G Joey Perricone, LW Keith Voytechek.
PORTLAND (3): RW Nick Hotson, LW Frazer McLaren, LW Kevin Undershute.
PRINCE ALBERT (3): G Dustin Butler, D Mike Gauthier, D Jeff May.
PRINCE GEORGE (3): G Real Cyr, C Greg Gardner, D Kalvin Sagert.
RED DEER (3): LW Clayton Bauer, D Mark Louis, RW J.D. Watt.
REGINA (2): C Tim Kraus, LW Troy Ofukany.
SASKATOON (3): C Chris Durand, D John Flatters, LW Ondrej Fiala.
SEATTLE (3): D Scott Jackson, RW Ian McKenzie, D Benn Olson.
SPOKANE (3): C Judd Blackwater, C Chris Bruton, C David Rutherford.
SWIFT CURRENT (3): LW Erik Felde, D R.J. LaRochelle, D Michael Wilson.
TRI-CITY (3): D T.J. Fast, C Shaun Vey, LW Colton Yellow Horn.
VANCOUVER (3): C Mario Bliznak, LW Garet Hunt, RW Ken Petkau.