Former WHLer needing some help

THE MacBETH REPORT:
The SM-Liiga had its board meeting on Tuesday at which it discussed the Jokerit Helsinki situation. At 7:50 p.m. Helsinki time, SM-Liiga announced the following via the league website:
“SM-Liiga and Jokerit on Tuesday reached agreement on the terms on which Jokerit has been granted the right to play in the SM-Liiga for the 2013-2014 season. It has also agreed on the terms of the agreement under which the League granted Jokerit the right to play in the Kontinental Hockey League beginning with the 2014-2015 season. SM-League Chairman Hannu Penttilä  and Jokerit owner Harry Harkimo are happy with the end result.”
It was reported to be a contentious meeting that began at 3 p.m., one where Harkimo angrily walked out twice, at 3:45 for about 45 minutes and again at 5:30 for about 30 minutes.
Initial reports are that Kärpät Oulu, HIFK Helsinki and TPS Turku were most reluctant to allow Jokerit to compete in the league under any circumstances, while some of the other clubs were open to a financial settlement from Jokerit.
After the announcement, Harkimo answered “I am not going to comment” when asked how much Jokerit had to pay to stay in SM-Liiga and whether Jokerit had to pay to leave SM-Liiga for the KHL.
When asked again, Harkimo said: “It is what it is.”
Harkimo did say: “Certainly SM-Liiga will survive Jokerit’s departure.”
SM-Liiga Chairman Hannu Penttilä said: “The process was not as it should have been, but everyone is happy now. SM-Liiga will begin as normal in September and there are no other clubs going to the KHL.”
Penttilä later said that the conditions attached to the agreement won’t be made public. It is rumoured that Jokerit must pay 5 to 8 million Euros (US$6.6 to 10.6 million, Cdn$6.8 to 10.9 million) to compensate the league and other clubs for lost revenues.
To put the amount in perspective, Jokerit’s player payroll for last season was about 4 million Euros.
Harkimo also said that the agreement for Jokerit to join the KHL is not final yet; a final decision will be made this fall.
It seems that public opinion in Finland is running against Jokerit playing in SM-Liiga this season.
On Friday, the Helsinki newspaper Iltalehti ran an online poll and 65 per cent of the 13,162 respondents said that Jokerit shouldn’t be allowed to play in SM-Liiga this season.
Another online poll, this one run by another Helsinki newspaper, Ilta-Sanomat, while the meeting was taking place, asked the question: “Should Jokerit be kicked out of SM-Liiga immediately?” Of the 8,046 respondents, 87 per cent said: “YES.”
A second Ilta-Sanomat online poll which ran after the decision was announced asked: “Was it the right decision to allow Jokerit to play in SM-Liiga this season?” Of the 10,475 respondents, 82 per cent said: “NO.”
Finally, a columnist for Ilta-Sanomat said in an editorial posted after the decision was announced that “this season, Jokerit is the most hated team more than ever.”
While we are talking SM-Liiga, here is a look at this season’s ice surface at Oulu's Energia Areena, the home arena for Kärpät Oulu. Try to find the puck quickly here. One Finnish commentator said this really gives a new meaning to the phrase “home ice advantage.”

Moving to central Europe, the Czech Republic Ice Hockey Federation and the Czech Extraliga have announced new roster rules for the 2013-14 season.
They are:
1) teams are allowed to dress for each game a maximum of 15 players born 1990 or earlier (age 23 and older);
2) each team must have at least three players dressed born between 1991 and 1993 (age 20-22); and,
3) at least one player dressed for a game must be born after 1993 (age 19 and under).
Goaltenders are exempt from these rules.
Additionally, each Extraliga team will be allowed six import (non-Czech citizen) licenses. Once an import is listed on a game sheet, that uses up one of the licenses, regardless of whether the import player actually plays in the game or not.
The intent is to try to keep more Czech young players at home and to get them drafted — there were only four Czech players drafted in the 2013 NHL draft and all four played in the CHL last season. The last player to go directly to the NHL from an Extraliga team was Edmonton Oilers D Ladislav Smid, drafted by Anaheim in 2004 from Liberec.
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Now for Tuesday’s moves . . .
F Ryan Russell (Kootenay, 2003-07) signed a one-year contract with Leksand (Sweden, SEL). He had 10 goals and six assists in 62 games with the Springfield Falcons (AHL) last season. . . .

F Brett Sonne (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had seven goals and eight assists in 56 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL), three goals and four assists in seven games with the Evansville Icemen (ECHL), and one goal and two assists in six games with the Texas Stars (AHL) last season. . . .

D Trevor Johnson (Kootenay, Seattle, Tri-City, 1998-2003) signed a one-year contract extension with Valpellice (Italy, Serie A). He had 10 goals and 34 assists in 42 games as captain of Valpellice last season. Johnson also represented Italy at both the Division 1 world championship and the Olympic Games Qualification Tournament, totaling four assists in eight games. . . .

F Ales Kilnar (Vancouver, 2012-13) signed a tryout contract with Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had no points in one game with Vancouver, no points in three games with Jokipojat Joensuu U20 (Finland, SM-Liiga A-Juniors), four goals and seven assists in 15 games with Vitkovice Ostrava U20 (Czech Republic, U20 Extraliga), and three goals and three assists in seven games with Poruba (Czech Republic, 2. Liga) last season. Kilnar had a goal for Orli in Tuesday’s 4-1 exhibition game victory against Mlada Boleslav, playing on a line with Ondrej Fiala (Everett, Saskatoon, 2005-08).
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Jonathan Parker played three seasons (Seattle, Prince Albert, 2008-11) in the WHL. Now 21, Parker, a forward from Solona Beach, Calif., is preparing for his third season in the Buffalo Sabres’ organization. But, as Jeff Cox writes at sbnation.com, this season will be different for Parker because his father, Steven, won’t be there to enjoy it with him. Steven Parker lost a three-year battle with cancer last week. . . . As Cox points out right here, there’s more to the story and now Jonathan Parker and his sister, Charlene, need help. Here’s hoping the hockey community will provide some.
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F Adam Kambeitz (Red Deer, Saskatoon, Seattle, 2008-13) has decided he’ll go to the U of Calgary and play for the Dinos. Kambeitz is from Coaldale, Alta. He played out his WHL eligibility last season. He was in his fifth season with the Red Deer Rebels when he was traded to the Saskatoon Blades early last season. Then, at the trade deadline, the Blades sent him to the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Kambeitz told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that it came down to Calgary or Acadia U in Wolfville, N.S. . . . Nugent-Bowman also reports that F Chris Collins (Chilliwack, Saskatoon, 2007-12) also will attend the U of Calgary. Collins, from Calgary, played last season with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers.
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F James Henry (Vancouver, Moose Jaw, 2007-12) has chosen to leave school after one season with the U of Manitoba Bisons. He has signed with the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. Henry, 22, is a Winnipeg native. He had 22 points in 28 games with the Bisons last season. He earned CIS all-rookie team honours and was named Canada West’s most outstanding freshman. . . . While in Vancouver, Henry was teammates with F Garet Hunt, who is a fan favourite in Stockton.
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There isn’t a more polarizing sports figure anywhere than Ken (Hawk) Harrelson, the TV play-by-play voice of the Chicago White Sox. He has referred to the explosion of mathematical-based analytics in baseball as “the biggest joke I’ve ever seen.” . . . Ben Strauss of The New York Times has more on Harrelson right here. BTW, Hawk says the only stat that matters is “T.W.T.W.”
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THE COACHING GAME:
Randy Ladouceur has signed on as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters. Ladouceur, a veteran of the NHL playing and coaching wars, will work alongside head coach Dean Chynoweth. Ladouceur has worked as an assisteant coach for four NHL teams since he ended his playing career in 1996. . . . Ladouceur’s arrival allows David Oliver to return to his role as director of AHL operations. The Monsters are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. . . . Jock Callander is preparing for his second season as an assistant coach, while Jean-Ian Filiatrault has come on board as the goaltending coach.
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The ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings have signed Colin Chaulk as an assistant coach. Chaulk retired as a player after last season. He spent 10 pro seasons playing for the Fort Wayne Komets, a rival of the Wings. . . . In Kalamazoo, he will work with Nick Bootland, the director of hockey operations and head coach.

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The Vancouver Giants are back to having three goaltenders on their roster. The Giants have acquired G Jared Rathjen, 18, from the Victoria Royals for a 2013 eighth-round bantam draft pick. . . . Rathjen is with the AJHL’s Whitecourt Wolverines but is expected to join the Giants in Red Deer, where they are to play the Rebels tonight. . . . Rathjen played in 26 games with the Royals over the last two seasons. This season, he was 2-2-0, 2.92, .912 in four appearances. . . . His arrival in Vancouver puts him in a battle with Tyler Fuhr, 17, to back up Payton Lee, the 16-year-old who has been getting most of the starts.
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The Vancouver Giants have added F Luca Leone, 16, to their roster. Leone had been with the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express after spending two seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the prep school in Faribault, Minn. He had 93 points in 61 games with a bantam Tier 1 team and last season had 34 points in 45 games with a midget team. This season, with the Express, he had six points in 29 games.
The 6-foot-0, 190-pound Leone expected to join the Giants in Red Deer today.
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The Victoria Royals have acquired F Trent Lofthouse, 18, from the Everett Silvertips for a sixth-round draft pick in the 2014 bantam draft. . . . This season, Lofthouse has 12 points, including nine goals, in 34 games. That includes his first WHL three-goal game. . . . Lofthouse, 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, had five points in 58 games with Everett last season. . . . His father, Mark, played in the WHL with the New Westminster Bruins (1974-77). Mark put up 116 and 112 points in his last two WHL seasons.
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D Brenden Kichton, 20, will play in his 300th regular-season game with the Spokane Chiefs tonight in Everett against the Silvertips. He will be the eighth player in Chiefs history to get there, but just the first defenceman. . . . Kichton is putting the wraps on a fabulous WHL career. He leads the franchise in goals, assists and points by a defenceman. His 172 assists have him fourth on the Spokane career list, 14 behind F Mitch Wahl. F Ray Whitney is No. 1 at 207, with F Pat Falloon second at 194. . . . The other seven Chiefs to have played 300 games: Brandin Cote (1996-2002), 352; Tim Krymusa (1998-2003), 332; Levko Koper (2006-11), 330; Derek Schutz (1994-2000), 322; Mason Wallin (1998-2003), 319; Jeff Lynch (2001-06),  313; and Jevon Desautels (2000-05), 301. . . . It is worth noting that of the 10 players to have played the most games with the Chiefs – Blake Gal is at 290 and Steven Kuhn finished at 288  – eight were Spokane draft picks. The exceptions are Koper and Kuhn, both of whom were listed by the Chiefs.
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F Adam Kambeitz and F Josh Nicholls, teammates with the Saskatoon Blades, also will play in their 300th regular-season games tonight. The Blades are playing host to the Prince Albert Raiders tonight. . . . Nicholls was a second-round pick by the Blades in the 2007 bantam draft. Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix points out that if Nicholls plays every game this season, he will finish with 332 games, five shy of the franchise record held by Paul Buczkowski. . . . The Blades acquired Kambeitz from the Red Deer Rebels earlier this season.
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After Thursday’s happenings at the World Junior Championship, Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun points out right here that hockey no longer is Canada’s game. In fact, as he writes, it hasn’t been since about 1971.
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And the last word on Canada at the WJC goes to The Globe and Mail’s Roy MacGregor, who is in Ufa. As he puts it, “Stuff happens.” His piece is right here.
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THURSDAY’S GAME:
In Lethbridge, G Laurent Brossoit stopped 45 shots as the Edmonton Oil Kings beat the Hurricanes, 4-0. . . . It was Brossoit’s first shutout this season. He has a franchise-record six shutouts in his career. . . . His 45 saves are the most for a WHL goaltender in a shutout this season. . . . F Stephane Legault had two goals, giving him seven on the season. . . . Lethbridge was 0-for-6 on the PP. The Oil Kings, with the WHL’s best penalty killing, have killed off the last 15 PP opportunities they have faced. . . . Edmonton has won three straight and eight of 10.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Henrik Samuelsson, Edmonton
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 From Tom Reale (@realet): “Canada has not won the WJC since they unleashed Bieber on the world. This is not a coincidence. #2013WJC”


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 The WHL’s trade deadline arrives on Jan. 10. Here is a look at trades since the end of the WHL’s Christmas trade moratorium:

Jan. 1: Medicine Hat trades D Dylan Busenius, 19, F Jayden Hart, 18, and a 2014 sixth-round pick to Prince Albert for F Logan McVeigh, 18, D Zach Hodder, 19, F Connor Hobbs, 15, and a 2013 second-round pick.

Jan. 2: Vancouver trades F Kale Kessy, 20, to Kamloops for F Rob Trzonkowski, 18, and a 2015 fifth-round pick.

Jan. 3: Everett trades F Trent Lofthouse, 18, to Victoria for a 2014 sixth-round draft pick.

Jan. 3: Victoria trades G Jared Rathjen, 18, to Vancouver for a 2013 eighth-round draft pick.

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Happy New Year!
The Prince Albert Raiders served notice Tuesday that they are intent on spoiling the Saskatoon Blades’ Memorial Cup party.
With the WHL trade deadline arriving on Jan. 10, the Raiders began the day with a 12-point lead over the Blades atop the East Division. The Blades, of course, are the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup but have had more ups and downs than a yoyo in the first 38 games of their season.
The Raiders, who haven’t even made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, perhaps sense an opening here, so they and the Medicine Hat Tigers got together Tuesday and agreed to swap five players and two draft picks.
The Raiders acquired D Dylan Busenius, 19, F Jayden Hart, 18, and a sixth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft from Medicine Hat for D Zach Hodder, 19, F Logan McVeigh, 18, D Connor Hobbs, 15, and a second-round pick in the 2013 draft.
Hobbs is the the only player involved who isn’t in the WHL. A fourth-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft, he turns 16 on Friday and is with the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder has eight points in 22 games.
Busenius, from Edmonton, was in his fourth season with the Tigers. He has 26 points in 37 games this season. The 16th overall pick in the 2008 bantam draft, he gives the Raiders some size – he’s 6-foot-1, 190 pounds – and some more offence from the back end.
Hart had been at home in Spruce Grove, Alta., having asked the Tigers to trade him. A third-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft, he put up 32 points in 67 games as a freshman. This season, he has 10 points in 18 games.
Hodder, from Delta, B.C., was a first-round selection, 20th overall, in the 2008 bantam draft by the Vancouver Giants. He has a history of shoulder problems and has played 87 games with the Giants, Saskatoon Blades and the Raiders over three season. He has three points in 25 games this season.
McVeigh, from Kenaston, Sask., was a second-round selection by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2009 bantam draft. In his third WHL season, he has 23 points in 38 games with the Raiders this season.
On Dec. 31, 2011, the Blazers dealt McVeigh, and a second-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, to the Raiders for F Brandon Herrod, 20.
Hodder and McVeigh were in the Tigers’ lineup last night as they brought in 2013 with a 7-2 loss to the Blades in Saskatoon. McVeigh scored the Tigers’ first goal, while Hodder was minus-4.
The Tigers meet the Raiders in Prince Albert tonight.
For more on the trade, check out the story right here by Dave Leaderhouse of the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings close out a three-game Alberta swing in Calgary against the Hitmen tonight. F Mike Ferland, 20, has an undisclosed injury and will be re-evaluated today before a decision is made as to whether he will play. He left in the second period of Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the host Edmonton Oil Kings.
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D Sena Acolatse (Seattle, Saskatoon, Prince George, 2006-11) underwent surgery for a broken jaw after being hit in the face by a puck on Saturday as his Worcester Sharks dropped a 3-2 decision to the host Providence Bruins. . . . Acolatse, in his second AHL season, had his jaw broken in two places.
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In the OHL, F Nikolay Goldobin scored four times, the last one in OT, as the Sarnia Sting beat host London 6-5 to end the Knights’ winning streak at 24 games. . . . That is one shy of the OHL record held by the 1983-84 Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers share the CHL record with the QMJHL’s 1973-74 Sorel Eparviers. . . . The WHL single-season record of 22 straight is held by the 1967-68 Estevan Bruins. . . . Goldobin, a Russian who isn’t eligible for the NHL draft until 2014, now has 18 goals. . . . London had won 3-2 in Sarnia on Monday. . . . The Knights actually had a 3-0 first-period lead.
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Concussions and how to prevent them will continue to be a big story in 2013.
Men’s Health magazine has come up with a list of “13 ladies to look for this year.”
No. 3 on the list is Dr. Ann McKee, the co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University.
There’s more right here.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Swift Current, the Lethbridge Hurricanes struck for five third-period goals and beat the Broncos, 6-4. . . . The Broncos led this one 4-2 with 13 minutes left in the third period. . . . F Tyler Wong got the visitors to within one at 7:14 and F Sam Mckechnie tied it at 8:05, with his 18th. . . . D Daniel Johnston got the winner, his seventh, at 14:42, via the PP. . . . F Graham Hood wrapped it up with the empty-netter, at 19:51. . . . Swift Current F Adam Lowry ran his point streak to 15 games with his 25th goal and an assist. . . . Johnston also had an assist, giving him 31 points in 38 games this season. Last season, he finished with 30 points on 55 games. . . . Lethbridge F Brady Ramsay had a goal, his 11th, and two assists. . . . The Hurricanes brought in G Jonny Hogue to backup starter Ty Rimmer as Chris Tai had to leave the club to deal with a family matter. Hogue, 16, was an eight-round bantam draft pick in 2011. Hogue plays for the midget AAA Lethbridge Pronghorns. . . .

In Saskatoon, the Blades opened up a 7-0 lead and went on to beat the Medicine Hat Tigers, 7-2. . . . The Blades had lost their previous four games. . . . F Adam Kambeitz had two goals, giving him eight, and an assist for Saskatoon. . . . Blades F Shane McColgan had a goal, his 11th, and an assist on his 20th birthday. . . . Saskatoon G Patrick Johnson stopped 38 shots in earning his first WHL victory. . . . F Josh Nicholls scored his 27th goal for the Blades and now is tied for the WHL lead with F Colin Smith of the Kamloops Blazers and F Todd Fiddler of the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Nicholls scored off a turnover high in the Medicine Hat zone. He went in alone on G Cam Lanigan, put his stick between his legs and went upstairs. “I practise that a lot in warm-ups just for fun,” Nicholls told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “It just felt like the right time to do it. I got it off nicely, luckily. I would have looked pretty stupid if I missed that.” . . . Nicholls, F Shane McColgan and D Dalton Thrower had been bench for the third period of a 6-2 loss in Regina on Sunday. . . . And what did Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken think of the goal? “It was a highlight goal,” Molleken told Nugent-Bowman. “Those are things that the fans like to see. I’ll keep my own remarks to myself.” . . . The Blades lost F Nathan Burns in the second period when he didn’t return after being cross-checked from behind by Medicine Hat D Ty Stanton. “It doesn’t look good,” Molleken told Nugent-Bowman. . . . Medicine Hat lost D Kyle Becker following a first-period collision with Saskatoon F Alex Elliott. Becker may be concussed.
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The first time I saw the move that Nicholls used to score last night was in the mid-1980s.
F Theo Fleury of the Moose Jaw Warriors went in alone on G Stacey Nickel of the host Regina Pats, who went down and stacked his pads. Fleury tucked the stick through his legs, reached back and lifted the puck over Nickel’s pads and into the net.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Graeme Craig, Saskatoon

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
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From hockey fan Chris Cote (@RealChrisCote): “Who needs a winter classic? The @SCBroncos play today.”
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From Everett Silvertips assistant coach Mitch Love (@mlovehockey): “I swear I grab a broken down grocery cart every time I attempt to go to the store. #nomoreshoppingfor this guy”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Patrik Vrana (Moose Jaw, Prince George, 2006-07) was released by mutual agreement by Sumperk (Czech Republic, 1.Liga). He had one goal in nine games with Sumperk this season. Last season, Vrana had three goals and three assists in 31 games with Piestany (Slovakia, 1.Liga) and no points in seven games with Olomouc (Czech Republic, 1.Liga). . . .
D Jordan Henry (Moose Jaw, Red Deer, 2003-07) was released at the end of his tryout contract with Södertälje (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had one goal and one assist in seven games during his tryout. . . .
F Matt Keith (Spokane, Red Deer, 1999-2003) signed a tryout contract with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had no points in four games with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga) earlier this season. . . .
G Alexander Fomitchev (Calgary, Seattle, 1997-2000) was traded from Tver (Russia, Vysshaya Liga) to Ryazan (Russia, Vysshaya Liga) for G Andrei Shutov. Fomitchev had a 3.63 GAA and a .884 save percentage in eight games with Tver this season.
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The fur has started to fly in Saskatoon where the Blades, the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup, are trying to put the brakes on an early-season skid.
The Blades, whose 2-5-0 start includes a 10-1 loss to the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Friday, have acquired F Adam Kambeitz, 20, who was the captain of the Red Deer Rebels.
In return for Kambeitz, the Blades surrendered F Christian Stockl, 17, and a third-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft.
That moves gets the Rebels down to the limit of three 20-year-olds — F Turner Elson, F Charles Inglis and D Brandon Underwood. Elson has been on the shelf with a lower-body injury, but might return tonight in Swift Current against the Broncos.
The deal also allows the Rebels to get back a third-round pick in the 2014 draft, as they had given one to the Vancouver Giants last month in exchange for F Matt Bellerive.
The Blades, meanwhile, will have to make another move this week, as they also are carrying F Brenden Walker, F Josh Nicholls and D Connor Cox as 20s.
Stockl, a Winnipegger, was a fourth-round pick by the Blades in the 2010 bantam draft. He had 69 points in 38 games with the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild last season. D Kevin Pochuk and F Jesse Miller, both of whom are on the Rebels’ roster, also were with the Wild lastd season.
Stockl played in five of the Blades’ seven games, scoring once.
As for Kambeitz, there’s not much doubt what the Blades are hoping to get from him.
“He’s a real intense kid that plays the game for keeps,” Lorne Molleken, the Blades’ GM/head coach, told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “That’s something we need to improve on in our forward group. I think that he’ll do a real good job for us.”
Kambeitz has four points, all assists, in nine games with the Rebels this season.
Nugent-Bowman’s complete story is right here.
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D Dalton Thrower, a healthy scratch for two games, is expected back in the Saskatoon Blades’ lineup when they play host to the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday. Thrower was a second-round selection by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL draft.
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For today’s good read, check out the incomparable Roy MacGregor’s latest take on the NHL lockout. It’s right here.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Vancouver Sun sports columnist Iain MacIntyre (@imacVanSun): “As long as Bettman insists on immediate rollback and Fehr says every $ of every contract must be paid, nothing else matters.”

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The Wenatchee Wild won’t be joining the BCHL, at least not for the 2012-13 season. . . . The BCHL has denied the Wild’s request for entry, so the Wild has withdrawn its request for dormancy within the NAHL and owner Bill Stewart has said the team will play in that league next season. . . . The Wild is expected to continue its attempt to get into the BCHL, now aiming for the 2013-14 season. . . . The Wenatchee World reports: “The Wild has been pursuing a move to the BCHL for travel reasons. In the NAHL, its closest opponents are 920 miles away (Fresno, Calif., and Dawson Creek, B.C.), while all 16 BCHL teams are within 635 miles of Wenatchee.”
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The QMJHL has suspended Benoit Groulx, the head coach of the Gatineau Olympiques, for two games after he threw a few sticks and a garbage can during a game on Wednesday. . . . Groulx will miss his club’s last two regular-season games, both of them in Rouyn-Noranda against the Huskies.
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Winnipeg’s hockey community is mourning the death of Dave (The Wrecker) Hrechkosy. He died early this month from brain cancer. Doug Lunney of the Winnipeg Sun takes a look back right here.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Prince Albert, the Moose Jaw Warriors scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Raiders, 4-1. . . . With the victory, the Warriors tied franchise records for victories (44) and points (96) set in 2005-06. The Warriors can break both those records tonight when the Raiders visit Moose Jaw. . . . F Brayden Point scored his first WHL goal for Moose Jaw. Point, the 14th overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft, was playing in his fourth game. . . . Moose Jaw F Cam Braes scored his 40th goal. . . . F James Henry was among the Warriors’ scratches. Head coach Mike Stothers told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald that Henry was “attending to some personal issues.” Henry isn’t expected to play tonight either. . . . The Warriors have won three in a row. . . . The Warriors will be the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed but won’t know until tonight who will provide the first-round opposition. . . .

In Regina, F Michael Ferland scored twice to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 2-1 victory over the Pats. . . . Ferland has 47 goals, eight of which have been against the Pats. . . . He scored at 8:07 of the first and 8:28 of the second, the latter via the PP. . . . F Tanner Olstad scored for Regina, at 15:19 of the third. . . . Brandon F Mark Stone had two assists. . . . Brandon is 5-2-0 against Regina this season. . . . The teams play again tonight in Brandon. . . . Brandon F Kevin Sundher (concussion) took the pregame skate and then was scratched. . . . With the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair moving into their home arena, the Wheat Kings will play first-round playoff games at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. . . . The Wheat Kings are eighth in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Regina and Kootenay. . .

In Swift Current, F Josh Nicholls had two goals and an assist to help the Saskatoon Blades to a 5-3 victory over the Broncos. . . . Nicholls has 30 goals. . . . F Taylor Vause and F Brad Hoban, both 20 years of age, scored in their final home games with the Broncos. Vause has 37 goals; Hoban has 20. Vause also had two assists. . . . F Matej Stransky had his 38th goal and two assists for the Blades. . . . It was Scratch City before this one. . . . The Broncos, who were playing their final home game, also scratched six players, although three of those were due to numbers. . . . The Blades were without six players, including D Tommy Stipancik, who has been plagued by concussion-related problems and now has mononucleosis, and backup goaltender Adam Todd, who is injured. D Dalton Thrower also remains out, along with D Matt Pufahl and F Michael Burns. Todd was hit in the head by a puck during practice on Thursday and is expected to sit for at least 10 days with a concussion. The Blades had G Patrick Johnson, an 18-year-old from Saskatoon, on the bench. He played in the SJHL with the Kindersley Klippers and Melfort Mustangs this season. . . . You’re wondering about G Alex Moodie, who played so well for the Blades in January. His midget AAA Winnipeg Wild opened the best-of-five Manitoba league final last night with a 4-1 victory over the Southwest Cougars in the Manitoba capital. Game 2 is Sunday in Souris, Man. . . . The Blades won their 40th game and are one point ahead of Regina and Kootenay. . . .

In Medicine Hat, the Edmonton Oil Kings scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Tigers, 4-2. . . . F Henrik Samuelsson broke a 1-1 tie at 14:47 of the first period. . . . Edmonton G Laurent Brossoit stopped 36 shots. . . . The Tigers welcomed back D Spenser Jensen, who hadn’t played since Feb. 18 due to an injury. . . . Medicine Hat F Emerson Etem got his WHL-leading 61st goal at 19:56 of the third. . . . The Oil Kings have won 10 in a row. . . . The Oil Kings can clinch first place in the overall standings with a victory in Red Deer tonight. . . . The Tigers were 0-8 on the PP; the Oil Kings were 0-2. . . .

In Red Deer, F Adam Kambeitz broke a 2-2 tie at 13:12 of the third period as the Rebels beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 3-2. . . . Kambeitz has 18 goals. . . . The Rebels dressed 15 skaters, three under the maximum. . . . Red Deer G Bolton Pouliot stopped 34 shots. . . . Medicine Hat is tied for third with Calgary but the Hitmen have one more victory. . . .

In Cranbrook, the Calgary Hitmen erased a 4-0 first-period deficit and beat the Kootenay Ice 6-5 in OT. . . . D Spencer Humphries won it with a PP goal just 59 seconds into OT. . . . The Ice took a 5-3 lead into the last minute of the third period. . . . Calgary F Jimmy Bubnick got his 34th goal at 19:03 and F Greg Chase tied it with his sixth goal at 19:18. . . . Bubnick had two goals. . . . Calgary got three assists from each of F Alex Gogolev and F Brooks Macek. . . . F Joey Leach had a goal, his 12th, and two assists for the Ice. . . . Calgary was 3-7 on the PP; the Ice was 1-3. . . . The Ice now is tied with Regina for sixth in the Eastern Conference. . . . Calgary is tied with Medicine Hat for third. . . .

In Kamloops, the Blazers scored six third-period goals and beat the Prince George Cougars, 10-4. . . . The loss ended any chance the Cougars had of making the playoffs. . . . F Colin Smith scored three times for Kamloops. It was his first hat trick this season and the third of his career. He has 35 goals. . . . F Brandon Herrod had a goal and three assists for Kamloops, while linemates Jordan DePape had two goals and an assist, and Brendan Ranford added a goal and two helpers. . . . The Blazers were 3-5 on the PP; the Cougars were 1-3. . . . Cougars F Campbell Elynuik took a cross-checking major and game misconduct late in the third period and will be suspended for tonight’s rematch in Prince George. . . . The Blazers will be the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference but don’t yet know who they will play. . . .

In Spokane, F Burke Gallimore’s 100th career goal, at 15:51 of the third period, gave the Seattle Thunderbirds a 4-3 victory over the Chiefs. . . . With Gallimore driving to the net, a Colin Jacobs centring pass went off one of his skates and over Spokane G Eric Williams. Video review determined there wasn’t a kicking motion involved and the goal stood. . . . F Dylan Walchuk gave the Chiefs a 3-2 lead at 13:08 of the second period. . . . Seattle F Colin Jacobs tied it with 31 seconds left in the period. . . . F Marek Kalus scored his 20th goal for Spokane. . . . Seattle G Calvin Pickard stopped 36 shots. . . . The loss means the Chiefs will finish fifth in the Western Conference and meet the No. 4 Vancouver Giants in the first round. . . . The Thunderbirds, with two games remaining, are tied with Everett for eighth but can still finish seventh. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., the Tri-City Americans clinched the Westerm Conference and U.S. Division pennants with a 4-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . D Zach Yuen broke a 1-1 tie with his 12th goal at 15:35 of the third period. . . . F Adam Hughesman iced it with two late goals, giving him 50 on the season. . . . That gives the Americans two 50-goal men for the first time since 1994-95 (Daymond Langkow and Terry Ryan). . . . Hughesman also had an assist and now has 350 career points. . . . F Brendan Shinnimin had two assists as he ran his point streak to 22 games, matching the franchise record set by Colton Yellow Horn in 2007-08. . . . Shinnimin leads the WHL with 133 points, 14 more than Brandon F Mark Stone. . . . Tri-City F Patrick Holland drew one assist, running his assist streak to 19 games. . . . The Americans won their 50th game, the first CHL team to get there this season. It is the second time in franchise history the Americans have won 50; they also did it in 2007-08. . . . The Americans are one point behind Edmonton, which leads the overall standings. . . . Everett is tied for eighth with Seattle and the teams meet tonight in Kent, Wash. A Seattle victory clinches a playoff spot and eliminates Everett. . . . An Everett victory would mean Seattle would have to win in Portland on Sunday to force a sudden-death playoff game. If it comes to that, Everett would play Seattle in Kent on Tuesday. . . . If Seattle wins both its remaining game, it finishes seventh, with Victoria eighth. . . .

In Victoria, G Keith Hamilton stopped 37 shots to lead the Royals to a 3-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. . . . The Royals had beaten the visiting Winterhawks 4-3 on Wednesday. . . . After the game, Portland D Derrick Pouliot tweeted: “Sick of Victoria.” . . . F Mike Forsyth broke a 1-1 tie at 5:40 of the third period. He has three goals this season. . . . F Jamie Crooks added insurance with his 37th at 7:28. . . . F Dakota Conroy had a goal, his 11th, and an assist for Victoria. . . . F Dominic Turgeon, the son of former NHLer Pierre Turgeon, made his WHL debut with the Winterhawks. . . . The Royals clinched a playoff spot. They will finish seventh or eighth in the Western Conference. . . . The Winterhawks will be the third seed in the Western Conference and will open at home to the No. 6 Kelowna Rockets on Friday. . . . Portland and Kelowna met in the second round last season, with the Winterhawks winning in six games. . . .

In Vancouver, F Jordan Martinook scored his third goal of the game, and 40th of the season, at 1:05 of OT to give the Giants a 5-4 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Martinook, who also had an assist, at tied the game at 15:13 of the third on a PP. . . . F Marek Tvrdon had three assists for Vancouver. . . . Kelowna took a 3-1 lead into the third period. . . . F Brett Bulmer had a goal, his 34th, and two assists for Kelowna. . . . The Giants clinched home-ice advantage in their first-round series with the Spokane Chiefs. . . . The Rockets, the sixth seed in the Western Conference, will be in Portland to open a first-round series on Friday.
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FRIDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Matej Stransky, Saskatoon.
F Curtis Valk, Medicine Hat.
D Tanner Muth, Kootenay
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FRIDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Justin Hickman, Seattle.
D Drydn Dowd, Tri-City.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Brandon (8)
Moose Jaw (2) vs. Kootenay (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Regina (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Saskatoon (5)
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Western Conference
Tri-City (1) vs. Everett/Seattle (8)
Kamloops (2) vs. Victoria (7)
Portland (3) vs. Kelowna (6)
Vancouver (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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TODAY’S GAMES:
Regina at Brandon
Kootenay at Calgary
Lethbridge at Medicine Hat
Prince Albert at Moose Jaw
Edmonton at Red Deer
Swift Current at Saskatoon
Vancouver at Kelowna
Kamloops at Prince George
Everett at Seattle
Spokane at Tri-City
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SUNDAY’S GAME
Seattle at Portland
(End of regular season)

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SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, F Justin Kirsch had a goal and three assists as the Warriors scored a 5-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Moose Jaw F Cam Braes broke a 1-1 tie with his 29th goal 41 seconds into the second period. . . . Kirsch then drew assists on three straight goals and scored a fourth before the period ended. . . . Freshman F Coda Gordon got his 20th goal of the season for the Broncos. . . . The Warriors were 3-6 on the PP; the Broncos were 2-4. . . . Moose Jaw has points in seven straight games (6-0-1). . . .

In Saskatoon, the Blades scored the game’s last seven goals and beat the Regina Pats, 8-1. . . . F Josh Nicholls had two goals and an assist for the Blades, who also got two goals from each of F Brett Stovin and D Darren Dietz. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal picked up an assist to run his point streak to 13 games. . . . Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken won his 549th game, moving him past Ernie (Punch) McLean and into second place on the WHL’s all-time list. Only Ken Hodge (742) has more WHL coaching victories than Molleken. . . . Molleken also has coached in 972 games. He is one shy of tying Peter Anholt for third spot on the WHL’s all-time list. . . .

In Edmonton, G Adam Morrison turned back 28 shots as the Vancouver Giants scored a 3-2 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . The Giants opened up a 3-0 lead early in the third period and hung on after the Oil Kings closed the gap. . . . Vancouver F Brendan Gallagher scored his first goal for the Giants since missing almost two weeks with a shoulder injury. He’s got 29. . . . Vancouver F Cain Franson scored his 20th goal. . . . F Thomas Foster, the Giants’ first pick in the 2011 bantam draft, made his WHL debut. He played against his brother T.J., who plays for the Oil Kings. . . . Oil Kings D Griffin Reinhart, in his third game since missing a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury, left in the second period and didn’t return. . . .

In Lethbridge, D Josh Morrissey scored twice to help the Prince Albert Raiders to a 6-3 victory over the Hurricanes. . . . Morrissey, 1 16-year-old from Calgary, has 29 points, including seven goals, in 46 games. He also is plus-11 on a team that has struggled defensively. . . . F Anthony Bardaro had four assists for the Raiders, while F Mike Winther and F Shane Danyluk each had a goal and two assists. . . . Raiders G Cole Holowenko stopped 34 shots. . . .

In Medicine Hat, the Calgary Hitmen scored the game’s last three goals, all in the third period, and beat the Tigers, 5-2. . . . F Alex Gogolev broke a 2-2 tie at 1:28 of the third on a PP. It was his 20th goal of the season. . . . The Hitmen led 2-0 after one period; the teams were tied 2-2 after two. . . . Medicine Hat F Emerson Etem had two assists, but had his goal-scoring streak end at 11 games. . . . The Hitmen have won five in a row and 13 of 14. They are at home to the Tri-City Americans today. . . . The Tigers had won six in a row. . . . Calgary G Brandon Glover stopped 28 shots. . . . Medicine Hat G Tyler Bunz missed in his first opportunity to set the franchise record for career victories. He has tied Matt Keetley’s record of 105. . . . The Hitmen were 3-3 on the PP; the Tigers went 2-5. . . . The games’ first five goals were scored on the PP. . . . Calgary D Alex Roach was back after serving a three-game suspension. He had a first-period PP goal. . . .

In Red Deer, G Corbin Boes stopped 39 shots to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Rebels. . . . F Turner Elson scored twice for Red Deer, including the game’s first goal at 9:01 of the first period. . . . D Ryan Pulock pulled Brandon even at 11:31 of the first and F Mark Stone put the visitors out front at 19:58. Stone has 32 goals. . . . Referees Matt Kirk and Matt Thurston handed out three minor penalties, all to Brandon. . . . Red Deer F Adam Kambeitz, who left Friday’s game with an ankle injury, will be out at least six weeks. The Rebels captain joins D Justin Weller and G Patrik Bartosak on the long-term injury list. . . .

In Prince George, F Josh Winquist scored twice to help the Everett Silvertips to a 4-3 victory over the Cougars. . . . The Silvertips swept the doubleheader, having won 5-2 on Friday night. . . . This is Everett’s first winning streak of the season. . . . The victory lifted Everett past the Cougars and into ninth place in the 10-team Western Conference. . . . Everett now is four points out of a playoff spot. . . . Winquist, who has 12 goals, scored twice in the second period to stretch Everett’s lead to 4-1. . . . F Spencer Asuchak scored for the Cougars in his 200th WHL game. . . . Prince George D Daniel Gibb, who left Friday night’s game, didn’t play last night. . . . The Cougars, who have lost five straight, will play in Victoria on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the first time the team has played in the B.C. capital since it left for Prince George after the 1993-94 season. . . .

In Victoria, linemates Tim Bozon, Colin Smith and J.C. Lipon each scored once as the Kamloops Blazers dumped the Royals, 5-1. . . . The Royals had beaten the Blazers 4-2 on Friday. . . . The Blazers, who haven’t lost three straight all season, had lost their previous two games. . . . F Brendan Ranford’s shorthanded goal broke a 1-1 tie at 14:38 of the second. He’s got 26 goals. . . . The Blazers lead the WHL with 15 shorthanded goals. . . . D Landon Cross had two assists for Kamloops. . . . F Tim Traber scored his second goal of the season for the Royals, opening the scoring at 11:01 of the first period. . . . Kamloops G Cam Lanigan stopped 26 shots. . . . It was Pink in the Rink Night and the Royals wore pink uniforms to support cancer research. The promotion-filled evening drew 7,006 fans. . . . The victory lifted the Blazers back into first place overall. They went into the night tied with the Tri-City Americans and Edmonton Oil Kings. The Americans were idle; the Oil Kings lost at home. . . . The Americans are in Calgary today. . . .

In Kent, Wash., F Marcel Noebels earned three assists as the Portland Winterhawks beat the host Seattle Thunderbirds, 8-3. . . . The Winterhawks acquired Noebels from Seattle on Jan. 10. . . . He now has seven points in nine games with Portland. . . . F Sven Baertschi and F Brendan Leipsic each had two goals and an assist for Portland. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 51 shots in earning his 30th victory of the season. . . . The Winterhawks have won three in a row. . . . The Thunderbirds held their Teddy Bear and collected 4,832 stuffed toys. . . .

In Spokane, the Chiefs came back from a three-goal deficit to beat the Kootenay Ice 5-4 in OT on D Brenden Kichton’s goal at 3:10. . . . Chiefs F Darren Kramer forced OT with his 18th goal at 17:16 of the third. . . . D Corbin Baldwin had gotten the Chiefs to within one with his fourth goal at 14:31 of the third, via the PP. . . . The Ice scored three first-period goals on six shots. . . . The Chiefs then outshot the Ice 18-4 in the second and cut the deficit to 3-2. . . . Spokane G Eric Williams came on to start the second period and stopped 18 of 19 shots. . . . F Joe Antilla had two goals for the Ice. . . . The Chiefs are 5-0-1 in their last six and are in a fourth-place tie with Vancouver in the Western Conference. Spokane holds three games in hand. . . .
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SATURDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Ryan Olsen, Saskatoon.
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in the BCHL, the Penticton Vees ran their winning streak to 28 games with an 8-1 victory over the SilverBacks in Salmon Arm. . . . That is one shy of the BCHL record that is held by the 1989-90 New Westminster Royals. . . . The Vees are next scheduled to play Friday against the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs. As Fraser Rodgers, the radio voice of the Vees, mentioned on his blog, Harvey Smyl, the Chiefs' head coach, was an assistant with the Royals in 1989-90.
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Today’s good read comes from Jim Matheson at the Edmonton Journal. Matty’s Hockey World is right here and, as usual, it’s full of all kinds of good stuff, including an update on former WHLer Brantt Myhres, who seems to have found some peace.
 
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