McKenzie looks at Canada's prospects . . . Benson leads WHL to win . . . Blades' analytics guru gets NHL gig

F Adam Courchaine (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, 2001-05) has signed a one-year contract with Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL). He had been released by Székesfehérvár (Hungary, Erste Bank Liga) by mutual agreement after scoring five goals and adding six assists in 16 games.

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Bob McKenzie of TSN, hockey’s ultimate insider, took time out from his busy schedule on Tuesday to post a good look at the prospects for the Canadian national junior team’s roster.

Hockey Canada is to issue selection camp invitations on Nov. 29, with the camp scheduled for Dec. 11-15 in Blainville, Que.

Of course, a lot of hockey fans are wondering about the status of C Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who hasn’t played since Oct. 11.

“Patrick isn't expected back for another two-to-three weeks,” McKenzie writes. “He had sports hernia surgery in the off-season. There were fears he would need the same procedure done on the other side, but the prognosis now is for some rest and rehab. It's expected he will be ready before Dec. 11, but how much hockey will he have played?”

As for the goaltending, McKenzie offers:

“Tampa Bay’s 19-year-old prospect Connor Ingram of Kamloops and Philadelphia’s 18-year-old prospect Carter Hart of Everett have been the best Canadian goalies in junior hockey this season. And it really hasn't been close either. Barring unforeseen developments, they are expected to be Team Canada's tandem.”

McKenzie’s complete piece, including all kinds of information, is right here.

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At Edmonton, F Tyler Benson of the Vancouver Giants had a goal and two assists to help Team WHL to a

4-1 victory over a touring Russian side in Game 2 of the CIBC Canada-Russia series. . . . The Russians had won, 3-2, in overtime one night earlier in Prince George. . . . Last night, Team WHL scored three third-period goals for the victory. . . . D Noah Juulsen of the Everett Silvertips, who was Team WHL’s captain, broke a 1-1 tie, taking a nifty cross-ice pass from F Nick Merkley of the Kelowna Rockets and scoring from the back door, at 6:30 of the third period. . . . F Austin Wagner of the Regina Pats added insurance at 7:34, taking a lead pass from Benson and speeding down the right side to beat G Anton Krasotkin to the glove side. . . . Benson, whose NHL rights belong to the Edmonton Oilers, iced it with the empty-net goal at 19:12. . . . Merkley, who also drew an assist on Benson’s goal, was terrific in both games. . . . D Kale Clague of the Brandon Wheat Kings had opened the scoring at 9:18 of the second period. . . . Russian F Danila Kvartalnov tied the score at 19:55 of the second. . . . G Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips was solid, with 33 stops. . . . The Russians got 15 saves on 19 shots from Krasotkin in 28:26, with Vladislav Sukhachev stopped 18 of 19 shots in 30:56. . . . Sukhachev started but exited a couple of times with apparent equipment issues. . . . The series resumes Thursday with the Russians meeting Team OHL in North Bay. . . . The WHL handed over a 4-2 points lead to Team OHL, thanks to three points for the victory and the loser point for the OT loss. Team Russia earned two points for the OT victory. . . . Announced attendance: 9,641.

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The Moose Jaw Warriors will be without F Jaxan Kaluski, 17, for an indefinite period that could stretch through the end of this season.

Kaluski suffered a fractured ankle during Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds. He underwent surgery in Saskatoon on Monday.

According to the Warriors, “The surgery was a success and he’s expected to make a full recovery.”

The Warriors say Kaluski will be out indefinitely. He is unlikely to play again this season.

A freshman from Lloydminster, Alta., Kaluski had one assist in 16 games with the Warriors.

A tip of the cap to the Warriors for the update on Kaluski’s condition.

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Cody Nickolet, the Saskatoon Blades' analytics guy, now will spend some of his time working with the NHL's Florida Panthers. It isn’t that long ago when he was keeping track of WHL forward lines and defensive pairings and making them available to media and WHL fans. Yesterday, he tweeted: “Thrilled to be joining the Florida Panthers to track games and prospect data.” . . . He also will continue on as the Blades' director of analytics and one of their scouts.

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Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet posted his lastest 30 Thoughts on Tuesday. As usual, this is a must read for any hockey fan, and it’s right here.

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Well look at this birthday present @CZabby19 💍🎉 pic.twitter.com/OTnN9XX4XT

— levi pierro-zabotel (@lmpierrozabotel) November 8, 2016

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LEADERS

POINTS: F Sam Steel, Regina, F Mason Shaw, Medicine Hat, each 28; F Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane, 26; F Chad Butcher, Medicine Hat, F Cody Glass, Portland, each 25.

GOALS: F Michael Rasmussen, Tri-City, 16; Steel, F Tyler Steenbergen, Swift Current, each 14; Yamamoto, F Zak Zborosky, Kootenay, each 13.

ASSISTS: Shaw, 23; F Brayden Burke, Moose Jaw, 19; Butcher, Glass, each 18; F Tyler Sandhu, Tri-City, 17.

VICTORIES: Nick Schneider, Medicine Hat, 11; Ty Edmonds, Prince George, Griffen Outhouse, Victoria, each 10; Carter Hart, Everett, Michael Herringer, Kelowna, each 9.

GAA: Hart, 1.89; Connor Ingram, Kamloops, 2.01; Ty Edmonds, Prince George, 2.29; Logan Flodell, Saskatoon, 2.34; Cody Porter, Calgary, 2.46.

SAVE %: Ingram, .937; Flodell, .932; Hart, .926; Edmonds, .921; Outhouse, Porter, Ian Scott, Prince Albert, each .920.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

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