Wednesday . . .

The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed assistant coach Rocky Thompson to an extension that runs through 2010-11. Thompson has been an assistant under head coach Steve Pleau for both of the Oil Kings’ first two seasons. . . .
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Former Portland Winterhawks C Todd Robinson has signed for a ninth season with the IHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. This will be his 11th season as a pro. Robinson, 31, is from Trail, B.C. He has 926 points in 669 professional games. He won the IHL scoring title last season, with 112 points in 67 games, and a second IHL MVP award. . . .
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The Kelowna Rockets have added former WHL all-star D Dan Lambert to their coaching staff. Lambert spent four seasons (1986-90) with the Swift Broncos and was part of their 1989 Memorial Cup-winning team, as was Lorne Frey, the Rockets’ assistant GM and director of player personnel. After a brief pro career here, Lambert went overseas and has played in Germany for the last 10 seasons. . . .
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And now for something completely different. . . . Jamie McOwen, an outfielder with the California League’s High Desert Mavericks, extended his hitting streak to 45 games with a first-inning hit on Wednesday against host San Jose. McOwen, a 23-year-old from Miami, is riding the longest such minor-league streak since Roman Mejias hit in 55 straight games for a team in Waco, Texas, in 1954. . . . The Mavericks are a Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. . . . Tyson Gillies, a Mariners prospect from Kamloops, plays in the outfield alongside McOwen. Gillies, who hits out of the leadoff spot, singled in each of his first two at-bats Wednesday, finished 2-for-4 with a walk, and is hitting .325. . . . McOwen will be featured at espn.com sometime Thursday. . . .
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Found this on the website of Kelowna radio station AM 1150:
Was former Westside Warriors head coach Mark Howell black listed in obtaining a possible coaching position in the Western Hockey League?
Howell took over the coaching duties with the Calgary Dinos after resigning from the BC Hockey League's Westside Warriors, yet Howell is no stranger to the W-H-L, having been an assistant coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings during the 2002-2003 season.
"I don't know if I want to go on record...but there is friction right now, players here going there and vice versa kind of thing. I think for me the logical step is somewhere out of there (WHL) to get back to there. Coaching CIS is hopefully a step towards the pros," Howell added.
The BC Hockey League and the W.H.L have a rocky relationship as they compete directly in recruiting players.

Regan Bartel/Matt Folkard - Kelowna
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Former Prince George Cougars captain Dana Tyrell played in a hockey game July 4 for the first time since mid-December when he tore up a knee while playing in an exhibition game with Canada’s national junior team. This time it was only a charity game played in Airdrie, Alta., but, still, Tyrell was on skates. “I’m feeling good,” Tyrell, who has signed with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, told the Airdrie Echo. “I’m a little tired, but I worked pretty hard out there. I didn’t want to take it easy.”