Taking Note

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Vladislav Klochkov (Saskatoon, Lethbridge, 1996-98) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Yunost Minsk (Belarus, Extraliga). He had one goal in 12 games for Titan Klin (Russia, Vysshaya Liga) earlier this season. Last season, He had 10 goals and seven assists in 51 games with Yunost.
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G Tyler Bunz was back with the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday night, the first time he has played since taking a puck to the head last week while on the bench with the WHL team that was playing a Russian squad in Regina. . . . Bunz stopped 27 shots as the Tigers dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Blades in Saskatoon. . . . The Blades have won 10 in a row on home ice to start the season, tying the franchise record (1975-76). The Blades also have won their last eight games. . . . After the game, Tigers F Boston Leier tweeted a photo of his left hand, showing a damaged pinkie finger, with this message: “Guess my Dr Evil impersonations will be put on hold, #6weeks #really?” . . . 
The Everett Silvertips announced Tuesday that F Vladimir Dolnik, 18, will play for Slovakia at the 2012 World Junior Championship. He has five assists in 23 games in his first WHL season. The WJC runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Calgary and Edmonton. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reported Tuesday afternoon that D Ryan Murray (ankle) was back on skates for the first time since being injured. . . .
F Cody DePourcq of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees has committed to the U of Denver Pioneers. DePourcq, 16, has 11 points in 23 games with the Vees. The 5-foot-5 DePourcq was a 10th-round selection by the Everett Silvertips in the WHL’s 2010 bantam draft. Everett dropped him shortly after the draft and he was added by the Kamloops Blazers. . . . G Josh Thorimbert, who is on the Blazers' college list, is the WCHA's defensive player of the week after posting 4-2 and 4-1 victories over the visiting Wisconsin Badgers on the weekend. A sophomore from Saskatoon, he is 3-1, 2.42, .923 this season. He was a third-round pick by the Blazers in the 2007 bantam draft. . . .
The Brandon Wheat Kings played their fourth game in five nights on Tuesday when they played host to the Calgary Hitmen. A couple of the Wheat Kings, F Mark Stone and F Mike Ferland, played for the WHL against the Russians on Thursday so were playing their fifth game in six nights. The Hitmen beat the Wheat Kings, 6-3. . . . Brandon was without D Ryan Pulock, who is thought to have a concussion. F Tanner Eberle of the Moose Jaw Warriors drew a three-game suspension for the hit that put Pulock out of action. . . . What is former Edmonton Oil Kings head coach Steve Pleau doing these days? He’s a pro scout for the Calgary Flames and spent Tuesday night in Nashville watching the Edmonton Oilers beat the Predators 6-2. . . .
The Kootenay Ice sat out veteran F Jesse Ismond for its 3-2 victory over the Cougars in Prince George on Tuesday night. F Max Reinhart missed a game on Saturday and F Drew Czerwonka, the team captain, didn’t play Sunday. According to blogger Jeff Bromley, six players violated team rules, with F Dylen McKinley, D Luke Paulsen and F Elgin Pearce yet to sit out. . . . The Ice next plays tonight in Kamloops. . . . Kootenay is 3-0 on its swing into the B.C. Division, having also won in Victoria and Vancouver.
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TUESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Taylor Peters, Portland
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Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that the NFL has empowered its game observers to “alert the medical staffs of possible undetected injuries.”
There is more right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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