Friday . . . early

Here we got again! The good people of Moose Jaw are preparing to head back to the polls as the battle to build, or not to build, a new multiplex continues. There’s a CBC.ca story right here, along with a picture of the Civic Centre (aka the Crushed Can) for anyone who has never seen it.
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The Canadian team taking part in the Universiade in Harbin, China, is loaded with former WHL players. Here is the CIS press release from the first game . . .

HARBIN, China (CIS) - University of Alberta forward Brian Woolger of Edmonton notched a hat trick as Canada opened the defence of its Universiade men's hockey title with a spectacular 13-0 round-robin win over host China, Friday.
Ben Kilgour (Leduc, Alta.), also of the reigning University Cup champion Golden Bears, and Brett O'Malley (Stettler, Alta.) of the Calgary Dinos both added two markers as the Canadian side comprised of all-stars from CIS' Canada West conference outshot the Chinese 94 to 18, including a 29-7 advantage in the opening period, 39-4 in the second frame and 26-7 in the third.
Kilgour also had an assist for a three-point outing while Golden Bear teammate Ian McDonald (Edmonton) and Dino Reid Jorgensen (Vancouver) had three helpers apiece.
Also scoring for Team Canada, which claimed its third world university games championship two years ago in Turin, Italy, when the country was represented by AUS all-stars, were Ryan Pottruf (Woodstock, Ont. / U of Lethbridge), Steve DaSilva (Saskatoon / Saskatchewan), Mike Hellyer (Winnipeg / Manitoba), Stephane Lenoski (Winnipeg / Manitoba), Dustin Moore (Red Deer, Alta. / Lethbridge) and Torrie Wheat (Calgary / Calgary).
Alberta goaltender Aaron Sorochan (Edmonton) earned the shutout victory.
Canada led 2-0 after 20 minutes, exploded for eight goals in the second stanza and closed things out with three more in the third. The Canadian power play produced five goals, including four in the middle period, while Hellyer scored on a penalty shot midway through the second frame.
A boisterous, packed house at the Skating Gym of Harbin Institute of Physical Education watched as the Canadians took the play directly to the Chinese squad right from the opening faceoff. In a precursor to the events that were about to unfold, Kilgour nearly scored the opening goal on the game's first shift, nearly sliding the puck past netminder Xie Ming less than 10 seconds in.
Canada's show cased virtually the entire hockey arsenal with all but three of the 18 skaters registering points on the night.
"We've got a lot of firepower in that room," said Kilgour, the Team Canada captain. "I think that's evident when you see every line had three or four on the night. We didn't rely on one line for six or seven. It was nice to get everyone involved like we did because you never know who might have to step up and be there for the guys later in the week."
Given the extent of the offensive talent throughout the Canadian lineup, the game's first goal was oddly unimpressive. A shot that sailed wide, took a high bounce of the end wall, and was gloved into the net by a Chinese defender. Despite an admirable sell-job by the Chinese players, Pottruff was credited with the goal.
"It certainly wasn't pretty, but sometimes you need those kind of goals," said DaSilva. "I thought we might have been a little tight in the first few minutes as the guys tried to get into the game. When you get a goal like that, everyone kind of loosens up a bit."
With Chinese forward Guan Jian serving a high-sticking double-minor, Canada made it 2-0 when O'Malley scored the first of his two on the day.
"I thought the guys had a lot of jump in the first - even though we were only up 2-0," said head coach Milan Dragecivic, from UBC. " We got some quality shots on net and got the chance to see what the power play could do. I thought their goalie did a good job keeping it close with some big saves."
In the middle period, Canada's offensive prowess started to become evident as they scored three goals in less than four minutes. Kilgour scored a power-play marker to make it 3-0, with DaSilva and Woolger following up the captain's goal in quick succession to make it 5-0.
Following Woolger's second of the night, Hellyer was hooked from behind on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. The Bison forward converted the opportunity to make it a 7-0 count.
The second period surge continued with additional markers from Lenoski, Moore and Wheat giving the Canadians an even ten at the intermission.
China made a goaltending switch heading into the third period, but relief keeper Cao Longhai fared no better than Xie Ming, surrendering goals to O'Malley, Kilgour and the hat-trick marker to Woolger rounding out the scoring.
Despite being badly outshot, the Chinese showed an immense level of pride in the final period, upping their level of play in the third in an effort to not be shut out in front of the home crowd.
The best opportunity for the Chinese to notch a goal came midway through the final frame as Canada took two successive penalties - granting China an extended five-on-three power play.
Sorochan shut the door with a number of saves on the man advantage, securing the whitewash despite the best intentions of the home side.
After enjoying two non-competition days to open the tournament, Team Canada (1-0) continues the round-robin portion of the event with a game against Great Britain (0-2) on Saturday afternoon.
Team Canada website: www.cisport.ca/harbin