Thursday's over . . .

All the best to former Portland Winter Hawks defenceman and head coach Mike Williamson and his wife, Michelle. She gave birth to Nicholas Michael on Friday at 8:44 p.m. . . .

Brad McCrimmon, who was as good as any defenceman the WHL has seen during his days with the Brandon Wheat Kings, has been an assistant coach with the Atlanta Thrashers since 2003. Might he replaced the fired Bob Hartley? . . .

Everett Silvertips G David Reekie, 20, is healthy again but unable to play until he is eligible to return from the 60-day injury list. That won’t happen until Nov. 9. . . . Reekie went down with mononucleosis during the exhibition season and was placed on the 60-day list at least in part because the Silvertips, at the time, had an overabundance of 20-year-olds. . . . Come Nov. 9, they’ll have to make another decision. . . .

Our European correspondent reports that F Ben Knopp (Moose Jaw/Kamloops) has signed with SSI Vipiteno Broncos in Italy’s Serie A2. He was with Eisbären Berlin Juniors last season in the German Oberliga, getting 16 goals and 12 assists to go along with 102 PIM in 32 games. He joins F Shaun Landolt (Moose Jaw/Calgary) on the Broncos. Vipiteno is in the Italian Alps about 55 km south of Innsbruck, Austria. . . .

D Theran Yeo, 20, has received medical clearance to return to the Brandon Wheat Kings’ lineup and should play Friday against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. Yeo had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee three weeks. He was in Winnipeg on Wednesday where the surgeon cleared him to play again. . . . The Wheat Kings have added G Zach Munn, 19, to their protected list and will use him to back up Joe Caligiuri until Andrew Hayes (concussion) is cleared to play. . . .

Chilliwack Bruins enforcer Partik Bhungal left Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds after a scrap with D Benn Olson. Bhungal, who had a couple of hand injuries last season, didn’t return. . . .

In closing up shop for the day, here are a couple of gems from the mind (and blog) of Daryl Reaugh, the former Kamloops goaltender who now is on the Dallas Stars’ broadcast crew:

“In Chicago, Frank Pellico endures and delights on Hawk game nights as his fingers dance across the keys of that throaty pipe organ. There's just something about organ music and hockey that seems a marriage made for eternity. And it’s a welcome respite from the audio flogging fans get at every whistle. There is nothing more jarringly artificial than ‘cuts’ from pop music followed by complete silence (or what the league refers to as ‘Continuous Action’). Take that 11 seconds of Maroon 5 played at a shockingly high volume and cram it in an orifice.

“Next topic, ‘Kiss Cam’. I don't know what frustrated and voyeuristic cupid started this but enough. The NHL did away with ‘sister kissers’ when they introduced the shootout. I suggest the public displays of spit swapping or ‘tonsil hockey’ get retooled as well. In its stead may I suggest ‘Fight Cam’?”

Thanks, Razor, and on that note. . . . g’night from Kamloops.