Monday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Lee Goren (Saskatoon, 1995-96) was ‘traded’ by Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden Elitserien) to Bern (Swiss NL A) for former St. Louis and Atlanta F Lubos Bartecko. Trades don’t officially happen between countries; this was a four-party agreement between the two clubs and the two players for a mutual release and signing. Goren was on a six-month artist's contract with Färjestad so he began the season on loan to Tappara Tampere (Finland SM-Liiga), where he had three goals and eight assists in 12 games. In 16 games for Färjestad, Goren had three goals and two assists.
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How much interest is there in the WHL’s trade deadline?
Well, if you go by the number of visitors to this site on Sunday, the answer is: A whole lot.
On Sunday, this site experienced 10,154 page views and 7,328 unique visits. Both are single-day records.
If you are wondering, the daily average here is 4,524 views and 3,516 unique visits.
I would suggest that the WHL needs to find a way to feed the fans’ hunger. Because the way the WHL handles the trade deadline now, by releasing a whole mess of stuff right after the deadline passes, doesn’t do anything to cater to the fans. (And it creates a horrible mess for the media, especially when the deadline occurs on a weekend.)
I spoke with one general manager more than two hours before the deadline and he had just completed a trade. But he said it wouldn’t be released until 3 p.m., Calgary time, which was the deadline.
Why not release the trades as they are made, giving the fans something to debate? Instead, the fans are left to speculate about rumours, most of which are fabricated and are embarrassingly insulting to the players whose names get tossed about like so much confetti.
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Here is more evidence that the CHL is in for a real battle with the NCAA if it hopes to keep bringing in more and more American players. This time Paul Kelly is selling his case in the pages of The Sporting News.
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And there’s even more evidence right here in a column by Kent Gilchrist of the Vancouver Province. It includes this quote from Kelly: “The CHL would prefer I not exist. What they have been telling young kids hasn't always been on the up and up, especially Canadian kids. Now it's time for somebody to call them on the carpet about their college package."
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The Kelowna Rockets have decided to shut down F Kyle St. Denis, 19, for the rest of this season. St. Denis suffered the fourth concussion of his WHL career during a 3-2 victory over the Broncos in Swift Current on Dec. 8. That was his first game back after sititng out five as he recovered from a concussion suffered in a 2-1 loss to the Bruins in Chilliwack on Nov. 27. . . . He has played just 48 games over two seasons and has 44 points. . . . Here’s hoping that St. Denis is able to regain his health and play again next season because he is one of those enthusiastic players who is fun to watch.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings have assigned C Paul Van de Velde, 19, to the MJHL’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines. He will remain one of the Wheat Kings’ roving affiliates so could see WHL playing time later in the season. He had 10 points in 35 games after joining the Wheat Kings from the Everett Silvertips. . . . Brandon now is carrying 23 players, including eight defencemen and 13 forwards. . . . D Travis Hamonic, acquired Sunday from the Moose Jaw Warriors, and C Brayden Schenn, who has been resting in Saskatoon since playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, were expected in Brandon on Monday. While Hamonic is out with a shoulder injury, likely until mid-February, Schenn should play Tuesday in Moose Jaw against the Warriors.
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Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reports that D Colten Teubert is expected to be named the Pats’ team captain before they meet the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday. The Pats have been playing without a captain this season. . . . D Victor Bartley, then 20, was the Pats’ captain last season. . . . This season, the team has rotated the alternate captaincys among Teubert, Jordan Eberle, Brett Leffler, Garrett Mitchell and Matt Delahey. Delahey was traded Sunday to Chilliwack for D Mitch McColm, who was the Bruins’ captain.
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The Portland Winterhawks’ decision to add F Taylor Peters, 17, to their roster brought some reaction from Fred Harbinson, the GM and head coach of the Penticton Vees. Harbinson wasn’t opposed to Portland’s decision to add Peters, who had eight points in 16 games with the Vees. Rather, he was upset about the timing. “I’m just disappointed they told us 24 hours before the deadline,” Harbinson told the Penticton Herald. “I thought they showed us zero respect in letting us know. They could have let us know sooner.”