Thursday . . .

If you’re looking for results and statistics from the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup that runs through Sunday in Blackfalds, Alta., please visit the WHL website. Cory Flett, the WHL’s director of communications, is filing nightly reports.
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The OHL’s Barrie Colts are preparing to bid on the 2011 Memorial Cup tournament, and city hall is behind the bid in a big way. The Barrie Advance has that story right here.
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Whenever all-star or select teams are named, you can bet that there will be selections or omissions that will raise an eyebrow or two. In the case of the two WHL teams that will play in the Subway Super Series, there were 21 forwards named but none was named Jordan Weal. The Regina Pats star has 19 points, including nine goals, in 16 games. “I just got a call from my dad saying that I wasn’t on it,” Weal, 17, told John MacNeil of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. “It definitely sucks when you don’t make teams like that, but I’ve just got to not worry about it and use it as motivation to go out there and work even harder.” . . . Weal will attempt to take out his frustrations on the Raiders in Prince Albert on Friday night.
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The Everett Silvertips have added LW Scott MacDonald, 18, to their roster. He had been with the BCHL’s Westside Warriors for whom he had 20 points in 15 games. Last season, he had 12 points in 63 games with the Chilliwack Bruins.
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Here’s a look at some of what’s ahead Friday:
In Lethbridge, D Luca Sbisa is scheduled to be in the Hurricanes’ lineup as they play host to the Seattle Thunderbirds. Sbisa was returned to the Hurricanes this week by the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. Sbisa didn’t get to Lethbridge in time to practise Thursday. . . . The Thunderbirds have an unwanted visitor — a flu bug — in their dressing room as various players have been fighting the illness.
In Kamloops, the Blazers play their first game with interim head coach Scott Ferguson running the bench as they meet the Chilliwack Bruins. Ferguson, who had been an assistant coach, gained the new title Monday when Barry Smith was fired.
In Vancouver, two of the WHL’s top teams meet when the Giants play host to the Calgary Hitmen. Calgary (12-4-0-0) leads the Eastern Conference by two points over the Saskatoon Blades (10-3-0-2), while the Giants (10-3-1-2) are a point in arrears of the Portland Winterhawks (12-5-0-0). Yes, those Portland Winterhawks. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Giants head coach Don Hay is contemplating moving the recently acquired Milan Kytnar into the middle between Lance Bouma and Brendan Gallagher. . . . By the way, the Winterhawks are off until Saturday when they visit the Spokane Chiefs.
The Tri-City Americans (11-3-0-0), with the WHL’s best winning percentage (.786), are in Prince George for a Friday/Saturday doubleheader with the Cougars (3-10-0-0).
In Saskatoon, the Blades, with the WHL’s best GAA (2.24), begin a stretch of seven games in nine nights by entertaining the Edmonton Oil Kings (7-8-0-2). The Blades will complete their weekend by playing the Warriors in Moose Jaw on Saturday and the Broncos in Swift Current on Sunday. Saskatoon F Randy McNaught will miss the three weekend games as he completes a five-game WHL suspension.
In Kelowna, the Rockets (8-6-1-0) will play host to the Spokane Chiefs (5-5-1-0). The Rockets hope to have F Brandon McMillan back in their lineup. He has been out with a broken toe.
In Cranbrook, the Brandon Wheat Kings play Game 6 in a seven-game road trip when they meet the Kootenay Ice. The Wheat Kings (9-6-0-2) went 3-1-0-1 in a swing through the U.S. Division. They wind up the trip Saturday in Lethbridge. . . . The Ice (5-11-0-0) has lost four straight and is just 2-8-0-0 in its last 10. With G Nathan Lieuwen (concussion) out indefinitely, the Ice will go with Todd Mathews and use Tory Caldwell of the junior B Kimberley Dynamiters as the backup.
In Prince Albert, the Raiders will play host to the Regina Pats for the third time this season. That’s right. It’s only Oct. 30 and the Pats already will have played three games in Prince Albert. The Pats (6-8-2-0) won 9-3 on Sept. 30; the Raiders (8-8-0-0) won 3-2 in OT on Oct. 20. . . . The Raiders have yet to visit Regina this season.
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The ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors plan on honouring the memory of the King of Pop on Friday night by wearing special jerseys. Get a sneak peek right here.
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The Carman, Man., Beavers have a new head coach and the Carman Valley Leader has the story right here. . . . Why do I mention that here? Because I once played against the Beavers — that was a long, long time ago — and the collegiate principal in Carman for many years was old friend Frank McKinnon, one of hockey’s real good guys. . . . You’re right. Carman also is the hometown of former NHL goaltender Ed Belfour.
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The Anchorage Daily News has a story right here on the local ECHL team’s decision to sign former WHL F Moises Gutierrez.