Sunday . . .

The big story in the WHL today is that the Everett Silvertips have lost not one but both of their import players. C Vitaly Karamnov, a Russian, and LW Lukas Vartovnik, a Slovakian, are 19 and are veteran players. However, both have chosen to stay at home and play. . . . This really, really stiffs the Silvertips. Because neither player indicated before the CHL import draft that he wouldn’t return, the Silvertips chose not to make any selections; in fact, Everett traded its first pick to the Regina Pats for a first-rounder in 2009. "We're very disappointed with both those boys and their decision," Everett general manager Doug Soetaert tells Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald. Soetaert also told Patterson that he found out three weeks ago. "The biggest disappointment is they never told us before the European draft. They put is in quite a hole with regards to that." . . . . Vartovnik had 19 points in 58 games as a rookie and then last season had 22 points in 72 games. Karamnov had 25 points in 61 games last season, his first in the league. Everett had planned on having both among its top six forwards this season.
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You may recall the playoff brawl in the QMJHL that featured goaltender Jonathan Roy, the son of former NHL star Patrick Roy, who just happened to be his son’s coach with the Quebec Remparts. Well, one thing led to another after that game and the politicians got involved. Now a committee that had been struck has returned its recommendations. There’s a story right here that deals with those recommendations. It’s interesting to note that many of those recommendations have been in place in the WHL for some time.
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In one scrimmage at the Kamloops Blazers’ camp on Sunday, veterans Shayne Wiebe, C.J. Stretch and Jimmy Bubnick were on a line together. They accounted for all three of their team’s goals, each scoring once. Perhaps new head coach Barry Smith will throw the three of them together a time or two this season.
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The Red Deer Rebels released G Travis Rohlheiser, 19, his release after he requested it. He plans on playing for the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints this season.
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Interesting news out of Prince George where LW Brad Riege, 19, didn’t show up for the Cougars’ training camp. The Cougars had been planning on Riege, who was acquired last season from the Moose Jaw Warriors, being one of their top six forwards. What makes this story even more intriguing is that no one from the Cougars has been able to reach Riege. “We’re not really surprised — we had indications, fitness reports in late and we hadn’t heard from him in three weeks,” said Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson. “No phone calls, no email . . . that’s life. You have to be at training camp to be on the hockey team. I don’t know — I’m pretty busy this week and I’m not going to chase Brad Riege down, pretty simple.”