F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Banska Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga). He was pointless in two games on try-out with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) earlier this season. . . .
F Jordan Knackstedt (Red Deer, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Milan Rossoblu (Italy, Serie A). He had one assist in 11 games with Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan) to start the season. Knackstedt was on a two-month contract with Tingsryd that expired Thursday. This is a return to Italy for Knackstedt, who had 18 goals and 35 assists in 42 games with Bolzano in Serie A last season. . . .
F Lee Goren, who played two games with Saskatoon in 1995-96 before heading off to the University of North Dakota, was released by Pelicans Lahti (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had four goals and eight assists in 13 games this season.
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The Portland Winterhawks, the WHL’s hottest team at present, are in Vancouver to meet the Giants tonight. . . . Vancouver is expected to be without F Cain Franson, who is believed to have a concussion. He has missed the club’s last six games. . . . The Winterhawks (13-3-1) have won nine in a row; the Giants are 5-12-0. . . . This game is available on Shaw TV, with Dan Russell calling the play. . . . Meanwhile, Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that the Gaints “are changing up their play-by-play situation again.” . . . According to Ewen, Morley Scott is returning to do some road games, while Blake Price, who has been doing some home games, also will be going on the road. . . . “Team officials confirmed Thursday that they had let go Alex Grebenyuk,” Ewen writes. . . . Grebenyuk had taken over from Dan Elliott, who was dropped after two years on the job and now is doing media relations at UBC. . . . Ewen’s report is right here.
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The Prince George Cougars will be without sophomore F Jake Mykitiuk for the immediate future. Mykitiuk, who turns 17 on Nov. 21, has been diagnosed with mononucleosis. He already has missed four games.
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The Everett Silvertips have signed F Kyle Raymond to a WHL contract. Raymond, 16, as a seventh-round selection in the 2011 WHL bantam draft. He is playing with the junior B Princeton Posse of the Kootenay International Junior League. In 17 games, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound Raymond has 12 points and 22 penalty minutes. . . . Raymond, from Langley, B.C., is with the Silvertips for tonight’s game against the host Tri-City Americans. He will return to the Posse after the weekend. . . . At the same time, the Silvertips returned F Brandon Bruce, 19, to the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials. Bruce was pointless in four games with the Silvertips.
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D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, 20, the captain of the Vancouver Giants, took a puck to the mouth on Sunday night during a 9-1 loss to the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Wash. It cost him three teeth. “That's the way she goes,” he told Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun. “My mom told me it was bound to happen because I had so many problems with my front teeth before. I think I've had them chipped about four or five times already.” . . . Vannieuwenhuzien also has a four-stitch cut on his lower lip and a fractured upper palate. He will play tonight wearing a full cage. . . . Pap’s complete story is right here.
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Former Vancouver Giants F Casey Pierro-Zabotel scored two goals last night, leading the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators to a 4-3 victory over the host Orlando SolarBears. . . . Pierro-Zabotel, who has six goals, recovered from being drilled from behind by Orlando’s Mike Liambas in the first period to help the Gladiators win their sixth straight game. . . . With 19 points, Pierro-Zabotel leads the ECHL scoring race. He won the WHL’s 2008-09 scoring title, with 115 points in 72 games.
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G Logan Flodell, who signed with the Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday, stopped 18 shots last night to help the Regina Pat Canadians to a 5-1 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox, Sask. . . . The Pat Canadians got three goals from F Mitch Lipon, the younger brother of Kamloops Blazers F JC Lipon, who is leading the WHL scoring race. . . . Mitch has eight points, including five goals, in his last two games. . . . The Pat Canadians (8-2-2), who have won four straight, are tied for first place with the Tisdale Trojans (8-3-2). . . . The most amazing number, however, falls under goals-against -- the Pat Canadians have surrendered 17 goals in 12 games. The Prince Albert Mintos (7-3-2) are No. 2, having allowed 27 goals.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Edmonton broadcaster (630 CHED) Dan Tencer (@dantencer): “Oil Kings head coach Derek Laxdal says Oilers draft pick Mitch Moroz has upper body injury and might not play for Team WHL in Super Series.”
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