Monday's musings . . .

D Eddie Friesen has paid the price for an indiscretion and no longer is with the Everett Silvertips. Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that Friesen, 17, has been sent home for disciplinary reasons. Friesen, a third-round pick by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2005 bantam draft, is from Gladstone, Man. "We set a standard here that we're trying to maintain," Everett head coach John Becanic told Patterson. "When guys fall below that standard then you have to act accordingly. We're trying to make good hockey players and good people. Sometimes you have to do some things to make sure they understand what's right and wrong. I think we got that clarified this weekend." . . . C Vitali Karamnov and LW Jordan Mistelbacher, along with Friesen, were left at home Saturday when the Silvertips traveled to Kennewick, Wash., for a game with the Tri-City Americans. Karamnov and Mistelbacher have since been reinstated. . . . Friesen had played in four games, with zero points and two penalty minutes. . . . The Silvertips now have 24 players on their roster, including G David Reekie, 20, who is due off the 60-day injury list on Saturday. . . .

Colin Campbell got it right. The two-game suspension he issued Monday to Philadelphia Flyers D Randy Jones for the hit Saturday on Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins was about right. In fact, it may even have been a game or two too many. . . . Hockey is a physical game — players are going to get injured — and too many people seem to be forgetting that. Just because a player gets injured doesn’t mean there was an illegal play involved. . . . There wasn’t any intent to injure Bergeron on the play but you can make the case that Jones hit a player who was in a vulnerable position. . . . Thus the two-game suspension. . . . But, please, let’s not be comparing this incident to the ones involving the two other suspended Philly players — Jesse Boulerice and Steve Downie. . . .

The Calgary Hitmen have named D Karl Alzner as the franchise’s 12th captain. He takes over from D Dylan Yeo, who graduated and now is with the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings. . . . Alternate captains with the Hitmen are F Ryan White, F Brett Sonne and F Carson McMillan. . . . It is interesting to note that McMillan and White are from Brandon. . . .

The Western Major Junior Hockey Writers weekly rankings of WHL teams, showing last week’s ranking, first-place votes and total points (22 points for first-place vote, 21 for second and so on):
1. (2) Vancouver Giants (11) 410; 2. (4) Spokane Chiefs (8) 405; 3. (8) Medicine Hat Tigers 362; 4. (3) Tri-City Americans 351; 5. (1) Calgary Hitmen 342;
6. (6) Regina Pats 331; 7. (9) Chilliwack Bruins 299; 8. (5) Swift Current Broncos 288; 9. (10) Moose Jaw Warriors 277; 10. (7) Seattle Thunderbirds 238;
11. (T13) Everett Silvertips 221; 12. (11) Brandon Wheat Kings 218; 13. (T13) Lethbridge Hurricanes 209; 14. (12) Kamloops Blazers 167; 15. (15) Kelowna Rockets 134;
16. (16) Kootenay Ice 133; 17. (19) Edmonton Oil Kings 122; 18. (17) Prince George Cougars 103; 19. (21) Prince Albert Raiders 73; 20. (18) Red Deer Rebels 63;
21. (20) Saskatoon Blades 42; 22. (22) Portland Winter Hawks 19.

D Matt Swaby of the Edmonton Oil Kings and Marty Becker, a former Canadian champion team roper, will be at a ranch outside Fort Saskatchewan on Wednesday to put on a “hockey meets rodeo” demonstration. It’s all part of the Oil Kings’ attempts to promote Rodeo Night in the WHL. . . . The Oil Kings will be the Rodeo Kings on Thursday when they entertain the Everett Silvertips. . . . Hopefully, they’ve brought in Blackie and the Rodeo Kings to provide the intermission entertainment. . . . And, hopefully, the zebras don’t allow the game to turn into a rodeo. . . .

This blog never will become rewrite central for WHL-related press releases. But some promotions are worth mentioning, and this is one of them. . . . The Kelowna Rockets are teaming up with Tim Hortons on Warm Hearts Warm Kids. . . . On Sunday, players and staff will be at Tim Hortons outlets from 2 to 4 p.m., assisting with service and sorting donations. So if you’re in the area, show up with new or used clean coats, gloves and toques for kids. And during their game of Nov. 7 the Rockets will take donations of those clothing items. . . .

Andy Kemper, the voice of the Winter Hawks, has a couple of interesting notes on his After The Whistle Blog. . . . He points out that Spokane has outscored the Winter Hawks 33-8 in its last four visits to Portland. That includes Sunday’s 9-1 victory, along with earlier scores of 8-2, 9-1 and 7-4. . . . .With Portland heading into the Central Division for three games this weekend, Kemper expects to see F Bradley Ross, the Winter Hawks’ first pick, fifth overall, in the 2007 bantam draft. Ross, the younger brother of Regina Pats D Nick Ross, likely will play Saturday in his hometown of Lethbridge. . . . LW Kevin Undershute (shoulder) is at home in Medicine Hat rehabbing but will rejoin his teammates this weekend.

From westerncollegehockey.blogspot.com: “A source in western Canada has informed me that Michigan Tech recruit Casey Pierro-Zabotel may soon be suiting up for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, and thus giving up on joining Michigan Tech's program midway through the season. It's very important to note that this is still just a rumor, albeit one from a fairly credible source, and things can always change, but as of right now, it doesn't sound promising for the Huskies.” . . . Pierro-Zabotel, who is from Kamloops, presently is with the BCHL's Merritt Centennials. . . .

The WHL back in Victoria? Hey, why not? Check out this story from Brian Drewry and Cleeve Deenshaw of the Victoria Times-Colonist — www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/story.html?id=459b3030-3978-4019-ad4b-d3f578586c5d

MONDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
In Prince George, G Tommy Tartaglione blanked his former teammates as the Cougars scored three first-period power-play goals and dropped the Vancouver Giants, 3-0. . . . Tartaglione, who began his WHL career with the Giants, stopped 31 shots for his first shutout this season and the fourth of his career. . . . With the victory, the Cougars (7-9-0-0) leaped over the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers into seventh spot in the Western Conference. . . . The Giants (11-3-1-2) had beaten the Blazers 3-0 in Kamloops on Saturday. . . . Dana Tyrell scored twice for the Cougars, with Greg Gardner getting the game’s first goal, just 1:05 in. . . . Prince George was 3-for-7 on the PP; the Giants were 0-for-5. . . . Cougars D Ty Wishart, who leads all WHL defencemen in points, had one assist, his 16th. He has 20 points in 16 games. . . . RW Devin Setoguchi, who had such a terrific playoff for the Cougars last spring, scored two third-period goals in his first NHL game to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 4-2 victory over the host Dallas Stars.