Taking Note

DAN RUSSELL

Dan Russell, the voice of many WHL games on Shaw TV, is into the stretch run as the host of Sportstalk on Vancouver radio station CKNW.
Tom Plasteras, the station’s program director, informed staff via email on Thursday that “we are reviewing CKNW’s programming in the 9-Midnight time-slot with the intention of the taking the station in a new direction.
“As a result, we will not be renewing our contract with Dan Russell for his Sportstalk program when it expires on August 31, 2013.
“We will announce our plans at a later date.”
Sportstalk is into its 29th year and bills itself as “Canada’s longest running talk show.”
Russell recently returned to the show after a vacation. However, he hasn’t appeared on the show the last two nights after experiencing voice-related problems. Dave Sheldon, the regular weekend host, has handled Russell’s duties.
Russell is expected to be back in the host’s chair tonight or Monday.
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province weighs in right here on which players he feels should win five of the Western Conference’s individual awards.
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D Kendall McFaull, 20, of the Moose Jaw Warriors will join the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons after the weekend. He has signed with the Barons, who are affiliated with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, for the remainder of this season. McFaull was selected By the Atlanta Thrashers in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL draft, but never signed with them.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed Edmonton Oil Kings D Keegan Lowe to a three-year, entry-level NHL contract. Lowe was a third-round selection in the 2011 entry draft. He is the son of former NHL D Kevin Lowe, who now is the Edmonton Oilers’ president of hockey operations. . . . Keegan’s contract will pay him $610,000, $660,000 and $710,000 in the NHL. It carries an AHL salary of $67,500. There is a $235,000 signing bonus. . . . The contract figures were released by the Hurricanes, which is a pleasant change seeing as the numbers all become public anyway. . . . Lowe, 19, has 30 points, including 15 goals, in 63 games with the Oil Kings this season.
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The matchups, if the WHL playoffs opened today:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
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THURSDAY’S GAME:
In Kelowna, the Rockets won for the 50th time this season, beating the Prince George Cougars, 5-2. . . . Kelowna (50-16-4) and the Portland Winterhawks (54-12-3) are the only WHL teams with 50 victories, although the Edmonton Oil Kings (49-15-6) still may get there. . . . The Kelowna franchise record is 51 (2002-03) and the Rockets have two games remaining, both against the Vancouver Giants. . . . The Cougars scored the game’s first two goals, but F Colton Sissons got the home side on the board with his career-high 27th at 19:11 of the first period. . . . D Damon Severson tied the score at 12:22 of the second. . . . F Zach Franko broke a 17-game drought with his 22nd at 19:53 to break the tie. . . . According to Gord McGarva, the analyst on the Rockets' radio crew, Kelowna F Tyrell Goulbourne didn’t return after a second-period scrap with Prince George F Klarc Wilson. . . . The Rockets had F J.T. Barnett back after he missed a couple of weeks due to illness. . . . With Barnett in, F Tyson Baillie, who has 24 goals, didn’t dress. . . . Kelowna also went without D MacKenzie Johnston, who apparently lost four teeth when he was hit by puck at practice on Wednesday. . . . The Cougars are four points out of a playoff spot with two games remaining, both against Kamloops. The best the Cougars can hope for is a sudden-death play-in game with the Everett Silvertips, who have a four-point lead with three games remaining.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
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From WHL Facts (@WHLFacts): “If you’re wondering about my lack of tweets over the last 24 hrs, I’ve been kinda busy . . . (well, mostly my wife)”
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More from @WHLFacts: “Meet Penelope, future gold medallist in women’s hockey . . . #ProudPapa #DaddysLittleGirl #ZeroSleep”
For a peek at the really young Ms. @WHLFacts, click right here.

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