Monday . . .

Big, big news out of Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings have signed F Aaron Lewadniuk, a former MJHL rookie of the year who spent last season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. As a freshman with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers, Lewadniuk, 19, had 87 points in 61 games. Last season, with Omaha, he had 54 points in 58 games. Lewadniuk was selected by Portland in the sixth round of the 2004 bantam draft. After he committed to the Bemidji State Beavers, the Winter Hawks dealt him to Brandon for a conditional draft pick. . . . The Wheat Kings also have signed F Klarc Wilson of Edmonton, who was the 13th pick in the 2008 bantam draft. . . . However, RW Brandon Regier, Brandon’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, won’t be in camp. Regier signed with the Wheat Kings prior to last season, but didn’t show up for a prospects’ camp this spring and now apparently has decided to stay home in Abbotsford, B.C., and concentrate on his education.
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JUNIOR JOTTINGS: G Chet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans has signed a three-year contract with the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2008 NHL draft. Pickard, who turns 19 on Nov. 29, was the WHL’s top goaltender last season as he led the Americans to the regular-season championship. He will be in Nashville’s camp when it opens Sept. 19, but is expected to return to the Americans and will be one of the candidates for Canada’s national junior team. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province had a recent chat with Paul Fenton, the assistant GM of the Nashville Predators. Fenton told Ewen that the Chilliwack Bruins shouldn’t count on Mark Santorelli, the WHL’s reigning scoring champion, opening the season with them. It seems the Predators plan on starting Santorelli, 20, with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Santorelli was a fourth-round pick by the Predators in the NHL’s 2007 draft. "We see him as a good fit with his brother," Fenton told Ewen. F Mike Santorelli had 42 points in 90 games with Milwaukee last season. . . . Ewen also spoke with Fenton about Vancouver Giants D Jon Blum, 19. With the Predators being so deep in young defencemen, you can bet on Blum spending this season with the Giants. In fact, he is expected to be the team captain.
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Former Brandon LW Brian Propp has been dropped as the analyst on Philadelphia Flyers’ radio broadcasts. Anthony SanFilippo of the Delaware County Times reports that Propp has been replaced by former NHL D Chris Therien and that it’s all mutual decision. Propp apparently is involved in some business dealings that are eating into his time in a big way. . . . Russian F Mikhail Fisenko, taken by the Vancouver Giants in the CHL’s 2008 import draft, was on the ice Monday in Delta. . . . .The MJHL is looking for a “creative individual to fill the role of Media Relations Officer for the 2008 - 2009 season.” It’s a part-time paid position.