Thursday . . .

If you were watching Switzerland play the United States at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver on Wednesday, you will recall seeing Swiss D Luca Sbisa, who plays for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, block a shot with a hand.
It turns out that Sbisa suffered a broken left ring finger, but that didn’t keep him from finishing the game. And he played awfully well, considering his age — he turned 20 on Jan. 30 — and the calibre of the competition.
Mike Johnston, the Winterhawks’ GM and head coach, told me in an email Thursday night that “Luca has a broken finger but can play — we will see him (Friday).”
The Winterhawks play Saturday in Kent, Wash., against the host Seattle Thunderbirds and Sunday at home to the Portland Winterhawks. Sbisa isn’t expected to play in either game.
“I expect he will be in the lineup next week,” Johnston wrote.
The Winterhawks are at home to the Tri-City Americans on Tuesday.
At the same time, the Winterhawks don’t know when D Eric Doyle will be back. He has a concussion after taking a tough hit from Tri-City Americans F Todd Kennedy, who is awaiting word on the length of a suspension he will receive from the WHL office.
As of Thursday night, Kennedy was under indefinite suspension.
The Americans meet the Silvertips in Everett on Friday night then are on the road Saturday (Spokane) and Sunday (Kent).
———
If you haven’t seen the three goals the Tri-City Americans scored within 25 seconds of the game’s opening minute on Tuesday, there’s a clip right here. . . . The Americans went on to beat the visiting Portland Winterhawks, 6-0. . . . Fans of U.S. Division teams no doubt will especially enjoy the dulcet tones of Americans’ play-caller Craig West.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings are at home to the Chilliwack Bruins on Friday and the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday. . . . The Wheat Kings, who are third in the Eastern Conference after a brief stay on top, have eight games left, six of them on home ice. . . . Brandon F Aaron Lewadniuk sat out Thursday’s practice with a shoulder injury and may not play this weekend. At the same time, F Paul Ciarelli (thumb), F Mike Ferland (hand) and F Mark Stone (concussion) are out and won’t play. . . . As well, F Ryley Miller took a puck in the face during Thursday’s practice, although the extent of any injuries had yet to be determined. . . . The Wheat Kings would like to bring in F Paul Van de Velde, who is an affiliate player, but he is out with a thigh injury. Van de Velde plays for the MJHL’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
———
The Spokane Chiefs will entertain the Prince George Cougars on Friday night and the Tri-City Americans on Saturday. The big party, however, may well be Friday when the organization unveils the Top 25 Chiefs in 25 Years. . . . According to a press release from the Chiefs: “Sixteen of the 25 players on the list will be in the building, including:
8 Memorial Cup Champions
3 Stanley Cup Championships
6 of the top 10 scorers in Chiefs history
6 players who played in the NHL
3 first round NHL picks
4 second round NHL picks
5 of the top 25 players in penalty minutes in Chiefs history.”
———
F Evan Bloodoff was in the Kelowna Rockets’ lineup for the first time this season as they lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Hurricanes in Lethbridge. Bloodoff, 19, underwent surgery on his right knee in September. Bloodoff took a regular shift but admitted there was some rust. “It felt really good to be out there again, it’s been a while,” Bloodoff told the Kelowna Capital News’s Warren Henderson. “Things were a little bit off, but I just have to keep it simple. My teammates need to be patient with me. I need some time to get back playing again and feeling comfortable.” . . . The Rockets meet the Oil Kings in Edmonton on Friday and then head for Calgary and a Saturday date with the Hitmen.
———
Former WHL player and coach Mark Ferner has been named the BCHL Interior Conference’s coach of the year for a second straight season. He receives the Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy. Ferner’s Vernon Vipers went 51-6-0-3 this season and won their first BCHL overall title in seven seasons. Vernon also set a league record for fewest goals against (119), breaking the previous record by 18.
———
The Chilliwack Bruins have made some moves in an attempt to bring back fans who may have left them over the last season or two. That story is right here.