Monday . . .

THE PLAYOFF CHASE
Teams in the running for playoff spots, showing games remaining (d — denotes division leaders, who are seeded one-two):
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(top eight advance)
dx-Calgary (7) 45-17-1-2-93
dx-Saskatoon (7) 43-15-3-4-93
x-Brandon (6) 44-18-1-3-92
x-Kootenay (6) 39-22-3-2-83
x-Red Deer (7) 38-23-0-4-80
Medicine Hat (6) 35-23-3-5-78
Moose Jaw (8) 31-24-4-5-71
Swift Current (6) 33-29-0-4-70
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Prince Albert (7) 30-30-3-2-65
Regina (6) 27-32-3-4-61
x — clinched playoff spot.
Monday: No games scheduled.
Tuesday: Prince Albert at Calgary; Moose Jaw at Lethbridge; Regina at Swift Current.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
(top eight advance)
dx-Tri-City (7) 44-18-1-2-91
dx-Vancouver (6) 39-22-2-3-83
x-Everett (7) 41-19-3-2-87
x-Spokane (7) 40-21-3-1-84
x-Portland (6) 40-23-2-1-83
x-Kelowna (6) 30-30-2-4-66
x-Kamloops (5) 30-31-2-4-66
x-Chilliwack (6) 29-31-1-5-64
x — clinched playoff spot.
Monday: No games scheduled.
Tuesday: Everett at Kamloops; Tri-City at Portland.
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It's not a headshot or a check from behind, but a player in the QMJHL has been charged with attempted robbery. The story is right here.
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Former NHLer John Chabot is the new head coach of the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques. He replaces Jerome Dupont, who resigned Saturday.
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The Swift Current Broncos issued this press release on Monday:
“The Swift Current Broncos would like to clarify the team's possible playoff situation should the team make it into the Western Hockey League's post-season.
“The Broncos understand that fans have questions regarding the location of the playoffs for the Broncos due to the Credit Union i-plex hosting the Ford World Women's Curling Championships from March 20-28th. The Broncos are working closely with the Western Hockey League to have viable options should the Broncos make the playoffs. The Broncos will make a formal announcement when there is an official announcement of a location. Should the Broncos make the playoffs; the organization along with the WHL will be working diligently to make it as easy as possible for Bronco fans to attend the games. The Broncos are in the process of booking fan buses and will make them available at a discounted price to ensure the games are as accessible to the fans as possible.
"We would like to thank our fans for their understanding of our situation", comments Broncos' head coach and general manager Mark Lamb, "we want to ensure the fans we will do our very best to try and accommodate their needs in this unique situation."
“The Broncos have sent out a playoff ticket option to season tickets holders, the option is for a deposit on playoff games played in Swift Current only, should the Broncos reach round two. If the Broncos do not reach the second round, the deposit will be carried over as a deposit on next year's season tickets. Ticket prices for a potential round 1 series will be determined by the location of the games.”
How’s that for clarification?
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As I understand it, the Broncos are waiting to see how things shake out in terms of playoff matchups.
Let’s say the Broncos make the playoffs and are matched up against the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round, while the Regina Pats fail to qualify. . . . In that case, the Broncos are likely to play their first-round home games in Regina. . . . But if the Broncos’ first-round opponent happens to be from Alberta, chances are they would call Lethbridge home.
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The AHL’s Norfolk Admirals are getting a solid season out of former WHL D Scott Jackson, who these days is paired with Ty Wishart, another former WHL defenceman. There’s more on Jackson right here.
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Richard Martel of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens now is the winningest head coach in QMJHL history. He put up victory No. 570 on Sunday, beating the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 3-1 to break the record held by Guy Chouinard, who is in the QMJHL’s Hall of Fame.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings have lost yet another player to injury. D Mark Schneider is out indefinitely with a concussion after absorbing a hit from Prince Albert D Tyler Yaworski during a 5-3 victory over the visiting Raiders. . . . The Wheat Kings also are without D Ryley Miller (broken jaw), F Paul Ciarelli (broken thumb), F Mike Ferland (broken hand) and F Mark Stone (concussion), all of whom are out indefinitely. . . . The Wheat Kings next play Wednesday when they are at home to the Saskatoon Blades.
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The Tri-City Americans will be without G Drew Owsley (concussion) when they meet the Portland Winterhawks on Tuesday night in the Rose Garden. Owsley was injured Saturday in a collision with Spokane F Blake Gal during a 5-2 loss to the host Chiefs. . . . That means the Americans will be riding G Alex Pechurskiy for a bit. . . . Tri-City F Todd Kennedy remains on indefinite suspension — the WHL website shows it as "tbd," meaning to be determined — for a high hit on Portland D Eric Doyle. That hit took place on Feb. 23.
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Regina F Jordan Eberle has 299 career points as the Pats prepare to meet the Broncos in Swift Current on Tuesday night. That is good for 13th on the club’s all-time list, eight points behind F Dave Michayluk. . . . Eberle also is eighth on the Pats’ all-time goal-scoring list, with 150, just four behind F Louis Dumont. . . . By the way, an interesting rumour making the rounds on the Prairie has Pats GM Brent Parker moving upstairs as president with Chad Lang, the former Moose Jaw Warriors GM, joining the Pats as their GM. . . . At this point, it’s simply a rumour.
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F Michael Backlund, who spent the second half of last season with the Kelowna Rockets, is the AHL’s Reebok player of the week. He had six points and was plus-6 in three games with the Abbotsford Heat. Backlund, taken 24th overall by the Calgary Flames in the NHL’s 2007 draft, has 32 points in 54 games with the Heat.