Thursday's notes . . .

Dale Derkatch, the Regina Pats’ new head coach, should have his complete roster at his disposal tonight as his squad opens a home-and-home series with the Raiders in Prince Albert. Yesterday, the Pats welcomed back RW Jordan Eberle (Edmonton Oilers) and D Matt Delahey (New Jersey Devils), along with G Linden Rowat and D Colten Teubert, both of whom were with the Los Angeles Kings. . . . F Brett Leffler (Washington Capitals) returned to Regina earlier in the week. . . .
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The Swift Current Broncos have welcomed back D Ryan Molle from the camp of the New Jersey Devils. Molle, a seventh-round pick in the NHL’s 2007 draft, is expected to play this weekend in a home-and-home series with the Saskatoon Blades. The series begins Friday in Swift Current. . . . Other players on their way back, as of late Thursday, were: D Stefan Warg to the Seattle Thunderbirds from the Anaheim Ducks; C Cody Almond (Minnesota Wild) to the Kelowna Rockets; RW Carson McMillan (Minnesota) to the Calgary Hitmen; D Tyler Schmidt (Minnesota) to the Tri-City Americans; and, D Tomas Kundarek (New York Rangers) to the Medicine Hat Tigers.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes remain without F Mitch Fadden, 20, who was sent by the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning to the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals; D Luca Sbisa (Philadelphia Flyers); and, F Zach Boychuk (Carolina Hurricanes). . . . Lethbridge got LW Carter Bancks back from the Atlanta Thrashers but he returned with a broken foot and won’t play until the latter part of October.
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The New York Rangers have assigned D Tysen Dowzak, 20, to the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack. Which means the Kelowna Rockets may be waiting a while to get him back. . . . Where are they now: LW Troy Ofukany, who completed his WHL eligibility last season with the Red Deer Rebels, has signed an amateur tryout deal with the AHL’s Quad City Flames. . . . D Justin Palazzo, 20, who played three seasons in the WHL before finishing up last season with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, is going to school in Kamloops and working a part-time job.
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If you’re wondering why so many people hold Wayne Gretzky, the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, in such high esteem, consider this story, as related by Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier in story about Rockets’ centre Colin Long:
“In Phoenix, Long’s exhibition team included NHLers Shane Doan, Ed Jovanovski and Peter Mueller. Long added that Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky also coached his team for one game. . . . Further, Long added that Gretzky asked him if his parents were in town for one game, and Long said, ‘Yes, they were.’
“That night, No. 99 made Long a starter.”
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In the same story, Potenteau mentioned that while in Phoenix, Long spent a lot of time on a line with Russian RW Enver Lisin. To show you how small the hockey world is, Lisin, who is from Moscow, played on the Russian team in the 2006 World Junior Championship. That team played three games in Kelowna’s Prospera Place.
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The Saskatoon Blades assigned G Matthew Krahn, 17, to the MJHL’s Portage Terriers, so will go with Braden Holtby, 19, and freshman Adam Morrison, 17, as their goaltenders. . . . Saskatoon also sent LW Jamie Crooks to the midget AAA Lloydminster Bobcats. . . .
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While F Chris Cloud isn’t on the Vancouver Giants’ roster, the team is hanging on to his WHL playing rights. Cloud lost out in the numbers game as the Giants have chosen to keep D Mike Berube, D Craig Schira and F Casey Pierro-Zabotel as their 20-year-olds. But Cloud remains in Vancouver while GM Scott Bonner tries to find another WHL team that will take him. With the Giants scheduled to play the host Chilliwack Bruins on Sunday, there’s no way Bonner would risk having Cloud surface with the Lower Mainland rivals in time to play in that game. If he doesn’t resurface in the WHL, Cloud likely will end up with the MJHL’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
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The Bonner brother now are in the same boat — each is trying to trade a goaltender.
Craig Bonner, the GM of the Kamloops Blazers, has been working on dealing sophomore G James Priestner all week. Priestner, 17, left the Blazers on Wednesday and is at home in Edmonton awaiting word on a destination.
Scott Bonner, the Giants’ veteran GM, is trying to move Kraymer Barnstable, 18, who backed up Tyson Sexsmith last season. Barnstable left the Giants on Thursday after it became apparent that freshman Jamie Tucker, 17, would be backing up Sexsmith this season. Tucker, in fact, started Vancouver’s first two games this season. Sexsmith, who has been in camp with the San Jose Sharks, will start Friday in the Giants’ home-opener against the Prince George Cougars.
And just like that the WHL’s goaltender market has been flooded.
The Kelowna Rockets are trying to find a spot for Torrie Jung, 19. He is at home in Nanaimo, B.C., after the Rockets acquired Kris Lazaruk, 20, from the Kootenay Ice last weekend.
The Regina Pats’ roster shows four goaltenders — Derek Tendler, 16, from Regina; Damien Ketlo, 17, from Fort Fraser, B.C.; veteran Linden Rowat, 19; and, sophomore Jeff Bosch, 18.
The Calgary Hitmen are carrying three goaltenders — freshman Michael Snider, 17, and veterans Martin Jones, 18, and Dan Spence, 20.
With veteran Kurtis Mucha, 19, back from the Phoenix Coyotes, the Portland Winter Hawks are carrying three, the others being Jordan White, 20, and Keith Hamilton, 18.
The Moose Jaw Warriors also are carrying three, having acquired Kyle Birch, 18, from the Tri-City Americans and added him to sophomore Todd Mathews, 18, and freshman Devin Dubyk, 17.
Also carrying three are the Memorial Cup-champion Spokane Chiefs. Right now, veteran Dustin Tokarski, 19, is being supported by Alex Wright, 18, a recent acquisition from the Prince George Cougars, and sophomore James Reid, 19.
So just who is in the market for a goaltender?
Craig Bonner was close to sending Priestner to the Brandon Wheat Kings and those talks are believed to be continuing. Bonner also is believed to be talking with Tri-City GM Bob Tory. Of course, no one in the WHL is involved in more trade chatter over a season than ‘Trader’ Bob.
The Everett Silvertips are rumoured to be interested, but would want someone with starting experience. Right now, the ’Tips have sophomore Shayne Barrie, who turns 19 on Nov. 30 and backed up Leland Irving last season, and freshman Kent Simpson, 17.
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Did you know: Claude Lemieux, yes that Claude Lemieux, is skating and pondering an attempted comeback. Lemieux is 43.