Wednesday is over

With Milan Lucic, 19, still with the Boston Bruins, the Vancouver Giants selected RW Spencer Machacek, 18, as their nex captain. It is only a coincidence that Machacek likely is Lucic’s best friend among the Giants. D Jon Blum and LW Garet Hunt are full-time alternates, while RW Michal Repik and D Mike Berube will share one, with Repik having it at home and Berube on the road. . . .

WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
When the Prince Albert beat the Kootenay Ice 2-1, it was the Raiders’ first victory in Cranbrook since New Year’s Eve of 2004. . . . D Blaine Tendler’s first WHL goal — it was his 62nd regular-season game — late in the second period was the game-winner. . . . G Dustin Butler stopped 31 shots for the Raiders and was named the game’s first star. . . .

In Calgary, D Eric Frere’s first WHL goal — it came in his 150th regular-season game — highlighted the Hitmen’s 7-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. Earlier in the day, the CHL released its weekly rankings and the Hitmen, who were No. 1 last week, slipped to No. 2, behind the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. . . .

The Prince George Cougars, who never once played with a lead in losing their first four games, hit the win column with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Tri-City Americans, who lost for the first time in six games. The Americans had won, 5-2, in Prince George on Tuesday night. Attendance was announced at 2,385, the smallest crowd to attend a game in Prince George since the Multiplex (now the CN Centre) opened in 1996. . . . The Cougars lost C Alex Poulter in the second period to an arm or shoulder injury. He will be evaluated Thursday. . . .

In Everett, the Silvertips won for the first time in five games as they blanked the Spokane Chiefs, 4-0. The Chiefs had won their first three regular-season games after posting six straight preseason victories. . . . Leland Irving stopped 15 shots for his 17th career shutout. That ties him for fifth with Jeff Glass, who played for Kootenay, on the WHL’s all-time list. Ahead of Irving are Bryan Bridges (21), Justin Pogge (20), Kelly Guard (19) and Dustin Slade (18). . . . Everett C Zack Dailey left the ice surface on a stretcher and was taken to hospital after a third-period hit by Spokane D Justin Falk left him convulsing on the ice. Dailey acknowledged the crowd as he was taken off on a stretcher. An injury report wasn’t available last night. . . . Everett D Dane Crowley, 20, missed the game as he left the club to attend a funeral.