Thursday stuff. . . .

Here we are, reporting live from Kennewick, Wash. Just trying to get caught up on the day’s goings-on.
In case you missed them, here are the WHL Western Conference all-star teams (x-unanimous selection):
FIRST TEAM
Goaltender: Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans.
Defence: T.J. Fast, Tri-City; Thomas Hickey, Seattle Thunderbirds.
Forwards: x-Colton Yellow Horn, Tri-City; Colin Long, Kelowna Rockets; Oscar Moller, Chilliwack Bruins.
SECOND TEAM
Goal: Tyson Sexsmith, Vancouver Giants.
Defence: Jonathon Blum, Vancouver; Luke Schenn, Kelowna.
Forwards: Dan Gendur, Everett Silvertips; Mark Santorelli, Chilliwack; Drayson Bowman, Spokane Chiefs.
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The Western Conference awards finalists:
WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants.
WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy: Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans.
WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy: T.J. Fast, Tri-City.
WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player, Brad Hornung Trophy: Colin Long, Kelowna Rockets.
WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Jared Cowen, Spokane Chiefs.
WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Don Nachbaur, Tri-City.
WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy: Bob Tory, Tri-City.
The WHL will reveal its player of the year finalists on April 8. All winners will be announced April 30 at the annual awards luncheon in Calgary.
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C Greg Gardner, who captained the Prince George Cougars, will join the AHL’s Portland Pirates on a tryout basis. Gardner, 20, had planned on leaving for Australia to visit his parents, who are there on a three-year posting. Instead, he is off to Portland, Maine. . . . D Kalvin Sagert, who also used up his WHL eligibility with the Cougars, was plus-1 in his ECHL debut with the Victoria Salmon Kings on Wednesday as they beat the Utah Grizzlies, 7-3. . . . The Prince George Citizen reports that the Cougars will release import LW Jan Kupec, 17, before the CHL import draft. They are also thinking about releasing import D Patrick Magnusson, who would be a 20-year-old next season. “We haven’t closed the door on Patrik completely, we’re going to see what happens at the import draft and go from there,” Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson told Citizen sports editor Jim Swanson. “He could sign a pro contract either with an NHL team or in Sweden, who knows. I’ve talked to his agent a number of times, and if he can’t make the pro league (in Sweden) this might be his best option. We’d have to decide if we want to take the two spots up with one guy.” . . . Magnusson had 19 points and 102 penalty minutes in 70 games with P.G. Kupec, from Czech Republic, had eight points in 32 games as he battled shoulder problems for much of the season.