F Milan Bartovic (Brandon, Tri-City, 1999-2001) signed a contract with Liberec (Czech Republic Extraliga) after requesting and receiving his release from Atlant Moscow Oblast (Russia KHL). He had two goals and four assists in 23 games for Atlant this season. The contract with Liberec is through the 2012-2013 season. . . .
F Zdenek Blatny (Seattle, Kootenay, 1998-2001) signed a contract for the rest of the season with Kosice (Slovakia Extraliga). He had two goals and four assists in six games with the Hannover Indians (Germany 2.Bundesliga) earlier this season. . . .
F Frantisek Mrazek (Red Deer, 1997-99) signed a contract for the rest of this season after a successful tryout with the Landshut Cannibals (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He has six goals and three assists in 14 games for the Cannibals this season.
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The Portland Winterhawks say they expect D William Wrenn, 19, to sign with them now that he has left the U of Denver. Wrenn, a 19-year-old from Anchorage, was a second-round pick by the San Jose Sharks in the NHL’s 2009 draft. Portland listed him after the 2006 WHL bantam draft. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Wrenn has one assist in 18 games this season. Last season, as a freshman, he had seven assists in 23 games. . . . Before heading to Denver, Wrenn spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. . . . Portland GM/head coach Mike Johnston said he first saw Wrenn at the 2009 IIHF U-18 world championship and “was very impressed with his overall game.” Johnston continued in a press release: “He is a big, mobile defenseman who plays with an edge. I liked how responsible he was defensively.”There is a bit more from the Denver Post right here.
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The Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans will meet Feb. 21 in Kennewick, Wash., in a game rescheduled from Dec. 31. The teams actually began that game and got into the second period before it was postponed due to unsafe ice conditions. The game will be played in its entirety, meaning all statistics from 
the period and a bit that was played have been erased. . . . The Americans are at home to the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight.For an update on the hole that caused so many problems — yes, it resurfaced on Monday — check out this right here.
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F Austin Fyten of the Lethbridge Hurricanes is the WHL’s player of the week after he put up 10 points in four games. . . . James Priestner of the Prince George Cougars is the WHL’s nominee as the CHL’s goaltender of the week. He went 2-0-0 with a shutout during the week. . . . D Austin Bourhis of the Prince Albert Raiders drew a one-game suspension for the charging major and game misconduct he incurred Jan. 1 in a game against the Pats in Regina. That same night, F Josh Cowen of the Red Deer Rebels got tossed from a game against the Blades in Saskatoon and has been suspended indefinitely for his actions. . . . The Kamloops Blazers lost F JC Lipon with an ankle injury during a 5-1 victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets on Sunday. They are bringing in F Aspen Sterzer, 16, to play tonight against the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. Sterzer, who is pointless in seven games with the Blazers this season, will return to the Calgary-based midget AAA EDGE academy team after the game. . . . For those who have asked, the WHL trade deadline arrives Monday at 3 p.m. Calgary time. . . . The SJHL’s Estevan Bruins have fired GM/head coach Karry Biette (Regina, 1990-94). Rick Oakes, the Bruins’ director of player personnel, is the interim GM, while assistant coach Chad Leslie is the new head coach. The Bruins (18-16-4) are fourth in the Sherwood Division, just three points out of second.gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
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