Wednesday . . .

WHL PLAYOFFS
FOURTH ROUND
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
(Ed Chynoweth Cup)
Calgary (1E) vs. Tri-City (1W)
(Calgary leads best-of-7 series 3-1)
(all times local)
April 30: Tri-City 0 at Calgary 7 (10,980)
May 1: Tri-City 1 at Calgary 4 (10,049)
May 4: Calgary 4 at Tri-City 1 (4,699)
Wednesday: Calgary 2 at Tri-City 4 (4,532)
Friday: Tri-City at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Calgary at Tri-City, 5:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Tri-City at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x — if necessary.
———
WEDNESDAY:
In Kennewick, Wash., the host Tri-City Americans finally put a dent in the Calgary Hitmen, posting a 4-2 victory and taking the WHL championship final to at least a fifth game. . . . Calgary, which had a seven-game winning streak snapped, takes a 3-1 lead into Friday’s fifth game at Pengrowth Saddledome. . . . The Americans took their first lead of the series at 9:51 of the first period when D Zach Yuen scored his second goal of the playoffs. . . . Tri-City took a 2-0 lead less than five minutes later as F Mason Wilgosh scored his first playoff goal. . . . .The Hitmen cut the lead in half at 16:38 of the first period when F Mackenzie Royer scored his first goal of these playoffs. . . . After a scoreless second period, The Americans took control when F Kruise Reddick scored a PP goal just 20 seconds into the third period. Reddick has 11 goals. . . . Tri-City F Justin Feser added his fourth goal at 15:29. . . . Calgary D Giffen Nyren scored at 18:27 to get his side to within two. . . . Tri-City G Alex Pechurskiy, in his second straight start after not starting in these playoffs, stopped 40 shots, including 22 in the second period when Calgary threatened to take over the game. . . . Calgary G Martin Jones turned aside 26 shots. . . . F Brendan Shinnimin had two assists for the Americans. . . . The Americans were 1-for-4 on the PP; the Hitmen were 0-for-1. . . . The referees were Matt Kirk and Pat Smith. . . . Attendance was 4,532. . . . Both teams are scheduled to board a charter Thursday morning and fly to Calgary. “I didn’t know a charter flight had to leave at 8 a.m.,” said a laughing Tri-City assistant coach Terry Virtue on the Americans’ post-game show. . . . Only one team in WHL history has come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a series. In the spring of 1996, the Spokane Chiefs did it against the Portland Winterhawks. Mike Williamson, now Calgary’s head coach, was an assistant coach with the Winterhawks.
———
THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Christian Chartier (Saskatoon, Prince George, 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with Ingolstadt (Germany DEL). He had seven goals and 26 assists in 56 games for Augsburger Panther (Germany DEL) this season. . . .
D Petr Kubos (Prince George, 1997-99) signed a one-year contract with Slavia Prague (Czech Republic Extraliga). He had four goals and 12 assists in 47 games with Vitkovice (Czech Republic Extraliga) this season. . . .
D Matt Suderman (Saskatoon, Everett, 1999-2004) was released by Morzine-Avoriaz (France Ligue Magnus). He had one goal and two assists in 21 games this season. . . .
F Ty Morris (Swift Current, Vancouver, Red Deer, 2003-05) signed a one-year contract extension with the Landshut Cannibals (Germany DEL). He had 20 goals and 25 assists in 50 games for the Cannibals this season. . . .
F Kevin Saurette (Regina, 1997-99) signed a one-year contract extension with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had 14 goals and 22 assists in 49 games for the Ice Pirates this season. . . .
 F Sean McAslan (Calgary, 1996-2001) has elected not to return to the Nottingham Panthers (UK Elite) for next season. The Nottingham Post reports that McAslan’s wife has been offered “a tremendous career opportunity” in Calgary that would be “silly to turn down.” He had 39 goals and 44 assists in 67 games this season. . . .
F Zdenek Okal (Medicine Hat, 2008-10) has signed with HC Zlin (Czech Republic Extraliga), no terms announced. He had 10 goals and 11 assists in 46 games for Medicine Hat this season. Okal will be 20 on July 8.
———
The Swift Current Broncos have dumped assistant coach Tim Kehler after he spent three seasons there. GM/head coach Mark Lamb announced Wednesday that Kehler’s contract won’t be renewed. Lamb is preparing for his second season as GM/head coach and, of course, Kehler wasn’t a Lamb hire, so perhaps this shouldn’t come as a surprise. . . . Lamb is quoted in a press release as saying: “He did a great job here and we wish him the best in his future endeavours.” . . . OK. Why do team officials say someone did a great job as they are booting them out the door? If they did such a great job, why are they leaving? . . . Kehler came to the Broncos from the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters, where he spent three seasons as GM/head coach. . . . I heard over a week ago that this move was in the works. And, at the same time, I was told that Darren Evjen was the man the Broncos wanted to add to their staff. He spent this season as GM/head coach of the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds. However, he resigned last month in order to return to Saskatoon, where his family had remained while he moved to Wilcox, Sask.
———
The OHL’s Niagara IceDogs have cleaned house. Owner Bill Burke has announced that the team won’t renew the contracts of general manager Dave Brown, head coach Mike McCourt and assistant coach Randy Ladouceur. . . . The IceDogs were 26-34-2-6 this season, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference. They bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, losing in five games to the Ottawa 67s.
———
Dave Trimmer of the Spokane Spokesman-Review has a story on the Chiefs’ decision not to pick up the option on head coach Hardy Sauter’s contract. That story is right here.
———
ESPN Northwest has an interview with Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz right here.
———
F Terrance Delaronde (Regina, Kamloops, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) has left the U of Manitoba Bisons to attend the U of Regina and play for the Cougars. Delaronde, now 23, played for the Bisons in 2008-09, but didn’t play in 2009-10.
———
The IHL’s Port Huron Icehawks are in the market for a GM/head coach after Stan Drulia resigned Wednesday after three seasons with the team. Drulia had been in Port Huron for four seasons, including his first season there with the United league’s Flags. Port Huron teams were 161-112-31 with Drulia running things.
———
Dave Boitz has stepped aside as head coach of the NAHL’s Alaska Avalanche, a franchise that plays out of Wasilla. Boitz will focus on being the team’s general manager. His first move was to promote assistant coach Brian Huebel to head coach. . . . Part-time assistant coach Sean Fish has been named the full-time assistant. . . . And you thought Sarah Palin might get one of those jobs.
———
D Colby Robak of the Brandon Wheat Kings has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. He was selected in the second round, 46th overall, by the Panthers in the NHL’s 2008 draft. Robak had 66 points in 71 games during the regular season, then added 12 points in 15 playoff games. . . . The Wheat Kings, the host team for the Memorial Cup, returned to practice on Monday after taking a week off following their elimination from the playoffs. Brandon will play in the first game of this year’s Memorial Cup, meeting the OHL-champion Windsor Spitfires on May 14.
———
Two former WHLers will play for Italy at the IIHF world championship that opens Saturday in Cologne and Mannheim, Germany. . . . F Pat Iannone (Kootenay, Tri-City, Medicine Hat Regina, 1999-2003) and D Trevor Johnson (Kootenay, Seattle, Tri-City, 1993-2003) are on Italy’s roster. Iannone also played for Italy at the world championship in Quebec City in 2008; this will be Johnson’s first time with Italy on the international stage. . . . Italy opens play Saturday against Team Canada.
———
The B.C. Major Midget Hockey League, which was established in 2004, has opened up its rosters to more 17-year-old players. BC Hockey announced Wednesday that it “has removed the policy limiting the number” of 17-year-olds that teams are permitted to have on their rosters. “The change,” according to press release, “was made to allow all players aged 15-17 the opportunity to play in the league.”