Wheaties rout Hitmen . . . Calgary coach tossed . . . Rockets come back for victory

F Jason Bast (Moose Jaw, 2005-10) has signed a one-year contract with Visp (Switzerland, NL B). This season, with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL), he had 30 goals and 22 assists in 52 games. He also saw some AHL action, going pointless in two games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and earning one assist in four games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).
———

FRIDAY’S GAMES:

pic.twitter.com/IRlGwjhqX6
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) April 25, 2015

In Brandon, the Wheat Kings broke a 2-2 tie with three straight second-period goals en route to a 9-4 victory over the Calgary
Hitmen. . . . The Wheat Kings lead the series 1-0 with Game 2 in Brandon tonight. . . . The Wheat Kings set a single-game high for goals by a team in these playoffs. Calgary and the Portland Winterhawks each have had an eight-goal game this spring. . . . Calgary F Adam Tambellini needed help leaving the ice after going hard into the end boards with the score 2-2 in the second period. He missed a few shifts and while he was gone the Wheat Kings scored three times. . . . F Peter Quenneville scored his fifth playoff

goal on a PP at 9:02, with F Braylon Shmyr adding his first of two goals at 12:17 and F Nolan Patrick getting his fifth at 12:39. . . . Shmyr just happens to be from Calgary. . . . The Wheat Kings, who had the game’s first six shots, had taken an early 2-0 first-period lead as F Jayce Hawryluk, who had missed the previous three games, scored his sixth goal and set up F John Quenneville for his fifth, via the PP. . . . The Hitmen tied it on goals from F Pavel Kamaukhov, his fourth, at 17:34 of the first and F Beck Malenstyn, his first, at 5:26 of the second. . . . John Quenneville finished with two goals and three assists, giving him 14 points in 11 games. D Eric Roy and F Rihards Bukarts, the latter having returned after a three-game absence, each had three assists. . . . Brandon F Tim McGauley scored his fifth goal and added two assists. . . . Shmyr’s goals were his first of the playoffs. . . . Brandon D Reid Gow added two assists. . . . Brandon was 3-for-9 on the PP; Calgary was 1-for-6. . . . Calgary F Chase Lang, who missed the last three games of the second round, left in the third period with an apparent right leg injury after Brandon F Duncan Campbell fell on him. . . . Hawryluk left the game late in the second period after blocking a shot by Calgary D Travis Sanheim. Hawryluk returned early in the third period. . . . Brandon D Kale Clague didn’t come out of the dressing room to start the second period, while F Tanner Kaspick didn’t finish the game, either. . . . Calgary G Mack Shields, who surrendered four goals on 19 shots, wasn’t on the Hitmen bench in the third period. . . . G Brendan Burke came on to give up five goals on 22 shots. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny turned aside 34 shots. . . . F Reid Duke was among the Wheat Kings’ scratches, while F Connor Rankin, a 20-year-old with nine goals in these playoffs, didn’t play for the Hitmen. . . . Brandon D Colton Waltz returned after missing the last three second-round games. . . . Calgary took 46 of the game’s 76 penalty minutes. . . . The referees were Adam Byblow and Chris Crich. . . .

Hitmen coach Mark French is headed to the room, but not before a stick slam and toss.
— Robert Henderson (@HendoRob) April 25, 2015

Ch-ch-ching! Calgary head coach Mark French was ejected in the third period after banging on the boards with a stick and then tossing a stick onto the ice. . . . Brandon head coach Kelly McCrimmon has won 61 playoff games, moving him into a tie for ninth with Dean Clark on the all-time list. Don Hay is No. 1, with 103. . . . Attendance was 5,028. . . . Shaw TV is televising this series in its entirety.
Laurence Heinen wrote this game story for the Calgary Herald.

In Kelowna, the Rockets erased a 2-0 deficit with two goals 46 seconds apart in the second period and went on to beat the Portland Winterhawks, 3-2. . . . They’ll play Game 2 tonight in Kelowna. . . . The Rockets took their first lead when F Rourke Chartier got his eighth goal at 15:56 of the second period.

He hit the cross-bar on a breakaway, with the puck then bouncing in off G Adin Hill. . . . Portland F Oliver Bjorkstrand opened the scoring on Portland’s first shot of the game, 35 seconds in. It was his WHL-leading 11th goal of these playoffs. . . . D Adam Henry upped the lead to 2-0 at 18:00 with his fourth goal. . . . Kelowna D Madison Bowey got his fifth goal, shorthanded, at 1:38 of the second and F Justin Kirkland, with his first, tied it at 2:24. Kirkland was playing only his second game of these playoffs. . . . Kelowna G Jackson Whistle stopped 30 shots, 13 fewer than Hill. . . . Each team was 0-for-2 on the PP. . . . The referees were Matt Kirk and Chris Schlenker. . . . The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, who placed Draisaitl with the Rockets in January, were well-represented with Bob Nicholson, Peter Chiarelli, Craig MacTavish and Kevin Lowe all on hand. . . . Draisaitl had one assist, on Kirkland’s goal. . . . Portland F Nic Petan had one assist as he ran his point streak to 12 games. Petan played in his 83rd career playoff game. That is two shy of D Derrick Pouliot’s franchise record (2010-14). The WHL record his held by F Shay Stephenson, who played in 87 playoff games with the Red Deer Rebels (2000-04). . . . Bjorkstrand scored his 35th career playoff goal, moving into No. 2 in franchise history. He passed F Brendan Leipsic and trails only F Ty Rattie, who had 50. . . . The Winterhawks now have lost Game 1 of all three of their playoff series this spring. . . . Portland freelancer Scott Sepich notes that “since 2011, the Winterhawks are 8-0 in Game 2s after losing Game 1.” . . . Attendance was 5,871; a sellout is 6,007. . . . It will be interesting to see what tonight’s attendance is as this game will be up against Game 6 between the Vancouver Canucks and host Calgary Flames. . . . Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier has a game story right here.
———


The Portland Winterhawks have signed D Conor MacEachern, a list player who spent this season with the Cariboo Cougars of the British Columbia Major Midget Hockey League. The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder had 17 points, including four goals, in 33 games with the Cougars. They won the prestigious Mac’s Tournament in Calgary and he was named the top defenceman. . . . MacEachern, who will turn 17 on Aug. 12, is from Charlottetown, P.E.I. The Winterhawks placed him on their protected list in December.
——
Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald takes a look at the offseason that awaits the Everett Silvertips and how much depends on a decision yet to be made by F Auston Matthews, who is in the U.S. National Team Development Program. . . . That piece is right here.
——
In the OHL, F Connor McDavid had two goals and two assists, leading the Erie Otters to a 6-3 victory over the host Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The Western Conference final is 1-1. . . . McDavid had scored three times in a 6-3 loss on Thursday. . . . McDavid has 30 points, 16 of them goals, in 11 playoff games. . . . They’ll play again Sunday, this time in Erie, and the game will be televised by Sportsnet. . . . In the Eastern Conference final, the North Bay Battalion went into Oshawa and beat the Generals, 6-1, in the opener. They’ll play again Sunday in Oshawa.
——
In the QMJHL, the host Rimouski Oceanic beat the Val-d’Or Foreurs 4-3 in overtime in Game 1 of their semifinal. They’ll play again today in Rimouski. Last night, F Anthony DeLuca won it with his third goal of the game, and sixth of the playoffs, on a PP, at 1:50 of OT. DeLuca had forced OT with a goal at 18:55 of the third period. . . . In the other semifinal, the visiting Quebec Remparts beat the Moncton Wildcats 4-1 on Thursday night. Game 2 is scheduled for today in Moncton.
———
Former WHL G Andy Desautels (Everett, Prince Albert, 2010-13), who has played out his junior eligibility, will attend the U of Regina and play for the Cougars. Desautels is from White City, Sask., which is just east of Regina. He was a fifth-round selection by the Everett Silvertips in the 2009 bantam draft. He played the last two seasons with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors.
———

The @CoachStanButler on @OHLBattalion fans: "We call them the 7th Man. They never take a shift off, unlike some of our guys." #OHLplayoffs
— Neate Sager (@neatebuzzthenet) April 25, 2015

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

A happy Chiefs' head coach

With most WHL training camps rolling and more to start this week, Alan Caldwell over there at Small Thoughts at Large is endeavouring to keep rosters up to date. . . . Feel free to pay a visit to his site for roster info.
———
The Victoria Royals open their main camp today without Czech F Jiri Fronk, 19, who was selected in the 2013 CHL import draft. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist reports that Fronk wants to play for the Royals, but there is a problem in gaining his release. That story is right here.
———
Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Everett Silvertips scrimmaged Sunday without three forwards – Manraj Hayer, Ty Mappin and Jujhar Khaira. “Hayer and Mappin are nursing minor injuries,” Patterson writes, “(while) Khaira is home preparing for camp with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.” . . . Patterson also reported that F Alec Mehr has left Everett’s camp. Mehr, a 16-year-old from Los Angeles, was a 12th-round selection by the Silvertips in the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft. “It looks like the Tips weren't able to sign the promising 16-year-old forward from California,” notes Patters, “at least not for now. I'm told it wasn't for a lack of trying.”
———
I was told Sunday that F Rob Trzonkowski of the Vancouver Giants suffered a shoulder separation during camp on Saturday. Trzonkowski, is coming off a knee injury that ended his 2012-13 season in January. He moved to the Giants from the Kamloops Blazers in a deal last season that had F Kale Kessy move to the Blazers.
———
G Andy Desautels, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders, is leaving the WHL for the BCHL. As he tweeted Sunday afternoon: “I am very excited to say that I will be joining the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL this season. Can't wait to get the season going!” The Warriors obtained his rights from the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers on Saturday.
———
F Mitch Holmberg, 20, scored three times as Team Red doubled Team White 4-2 in the Spokane Chiefs’ annual Red-White game on Sunday. The game was played before 2,972 fans.
———
F Mason Blacklock has committed to Michigan Tech. A 19-year-old from Surrey, B.C., Blacklock was an eighth-round selection by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL’s 2009 bantam draft. He split last season between the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, Surrey Eagles and Vernon Vipers.
———
If you are wondering where the next WHL franchise may end up, you should stroke Yakima, Wash., off the list. Dave Thomas of the Yakima Herald-Republic has more right here.
———
Robert Lipsyte, the ombudsman at ESPN, has weighed in with his first piece involving the network’s decision to separate itself from the PBS documentary Frontline. That piece is right here.
———






From Spokane Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur (@HCChiefs42): “Nothing better than seeing @D_Nachbaur fire a rocket top shelf for the GWG in the PG Coliseum. #Sweet #inmyhouse #Cents”
F Daniel Nachbaur, Don’s son, scored the winner as the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials beat the host Spruce Kings 5-2 on Sunday night. Don Nachbaur is a member of the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

The worst baseball card ever?

F Rob Trzonkowski, whose 2012-13 season ended with an early January knee injury three games after Vancouver acquired him from the Kamloops Blazers, is in camp with the Giants. Vancouver GM Scott Bonner told Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province that Trzonkowski, 19, “came in unbelievable shape and he looks like a guy who is quite focussed on not just making the team but also being a contributor." Trzonkowski has 21 points in 155 regular-season games. . . .
Among the players released by the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday was F Brayden Cuthbert, 19, who missed all of the 2011-12 season with post-concussion syndrome after being injured while with the Moose Jaw Warriors the previous season. Last season, Cuthbert, a Brandon native, had 37 points in 51 games with the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives. . . .
The junior A rights to G Andy Desautels, 19, have been traded by the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers to the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors for future considerations. Desautels, from White City, Sask., got into 13 games with the Prince Albert Raiders last season. When the Raiders acquired G Cole Cheveldave, 20, from the Kamloops Blazers earlier this season, Desautels is believed to have asked Prince Albert to trade him. . . . He was 2-7-1, 4.01, .873 with the Raiders last season. . . . Brian Wiebe at briansbanter.com was the first to report this deal. . . .
A source in Portland indicates that Winterhawks F Taylor Leier is back on the ice and appears “to be healthy and 100 per cent.” You’ll recall that Leier’s Memorial Cup tournament ended when he took an elbow to the head and then had his head bounce twice on the ice when he went down. Although there wasn’t a penalty on the play, Saskatoon Blades D Dalton Thrower later was suspended for the remainder of the tournament — it turned out to be one game.
———
The worst baseball card ever produced? Think hard. And then read this right here by Josh Levin of slate.com. Tough to argue with what he writes, that’s for sure.
———
Janet Maslin of The New York Times writes that Elmore Leonard’s “prime never ended.” She is correct. Leonard, who died on Tuesday, was one of a kind. Maslin’s piece is right here.
———






From Steve Ewen (@SteveEwen) of the Vancouver Province: “#WHL D Tyler Nanne has left Giants training camp and returned to Minnesota. Word is Lou Nanne's grandson wants to finish Grade 12 at home.”
———
From Tyler Nanne (@Tyler23Nanne): “I've decided to stay my senior year of high school, can't wait to put the hornet jersey on for one more season! #hornets”

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Apparently, pigs can fly.
That’s what you think when you hear that the Seattle Thunderbirds have made a trade with their fiercest rivals, the Everett Silvertips.
But that’s what happened Sunday when the Thunderbirds dealt G Daniel Cotton, 18, to Everett for a 2014 sixth-round bantam draft pick. (The Seattle news release had the deal for a sixth-round pick; Everett’s news release reported it is a “conditional” sixth-rounder.)
Cotton, 0-8-0 in 18 appearances with the Thunderbirds while backing up Calvin Pickard over the last two seasons, had yet to play for Seattle this season. Last season, he was 0-8-0, 4.91, .876.
But it has been obvious for a while that Seattle will go with Brandon Glover, 20, as its starter, with Justin Myles, 17, in a support role.
The 6-foot-5 Cotton, who is from Vancouver, had not appeared in a Seattle game yet this season.
Everett lost G Austin Lotz, 17, to a groin injury during the second period of a 5-2 loss to the host Thunderbirds on Saturday night.
Cotton joined the Silvertips immediately and was on the bench, backing up Cole Holowenko, as Everett played host to the Tr-City Americans on Sunday night. Cotton came on in relief to stop 14 shots as Everett dropped a 5-3 decision to Tri-City.
The Silvertips now head out on a six-game swing into the East Division that opens Friday in Brandon.
———
Interestingly, the Silvertips, as Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald points out, have traded for three goaltenders since July.
On July 23, Everett dealt F Geordie Maguire to the Brandon Wheat Kings for G Brandon Anderson and a 2013 fifth-round bantam draft pick. Anderson, 20, is with the ECHL's Reading Royals at the moment.
Then, on Sept. 17, Everett got Cole Holowenko from the Prince Albert Raiders for G Andy Desautels and D Evan Morden.
———
F Nicolas Kerdiles had 48 points, including 22 goals, with the U.S. NTDP U-18 team last season. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder was a second-round selection, 36th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2012 NHL draft. This season, the Irvine, Calif., native was going to play with the U of Wisconsin Badgers. . . . But somethine has gone awry and he was declared ineligible for a game the Badgers played Saturday. . . . No one seems quite sure what is going on, but Kerdiles’ WHL rights are owned by the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Kelly Friesen of Yahoo! Sports has more right here.
———
G Spencer Tremblay, 18, who was released last month by the Moose Jaw Warriors, is joining the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats. Tremblay, from Winnipeg, got into 20 games with the Warriors last season. He was 7-4-3, 3.62, .896.
———
SUNDAY’S STUFF:
D Spencer Humphries scored on the PP at 4:11 of OT to give the host Calgary Hitmen a 6-5 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . That ruined a terrific game by Edmonton F T.J. Foster, who scored his side’s first four goals. . . . This was Foster’s first four-game game but the third hat trick of his career. It also was the first four-goal game in the modern day history of the Oil Kings, who came into the WHL in 2007-08. . . . The Hitmen are 2-0-0 versus Edmonton this season. . . . Edmonton F Michael St. Croix forced OT with a PP goal at 19:20 of the third. . . . Calgary D Alex Roach, who had four goals in each of his first two seasons, had two goals and and an assist, and was plus-4. . . .

F Austin Carroll’s PP goal at 6:15 of the second period broke a 1-1 tie and the Victoria Royals went on to a 2-1 victory over the host Vancouver Giants. . . . Victoria G Patrik Polivka got the victory with a 29-save performance. . . . Vancouver F Cain Franson came up empty on a penalty shot at 18:29 of the third period. . . . The Royals went 2-1-0 in a three-in-three road swing. They are back on the road Wednesday, against the Blazers in Kamloops, before enjoying a four-game homestand. The Royals then will play seven in a row on the road and then return for six straight at home. . . .

The Prince Albert Raiders continue to tear it up, scoring the first four goals and going on to beat the Kootenay Ice, 5-3, in Cranbrook. . . . The Raiders now are 6-0-1 and have the WHL’s best winning percentage (.929). . . . The Raiders are 3-0-0 on a four-game swing into the Central Division that wraps up Tuesday in Lethbridge. . . . F Shane Danyluk scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist for the Raiders. . . . F Sam Reinhart drew three assists for the Ice. He has eight points in five games. . . . D Davis Vandane scored Prince Albert’s second goal in his first game since being acquired from the Spokane Chiefs. . . . F Leon Draisaitl, the Raiders’ exciting German freshman, scored his first goal and added an assist. . . . G Andy Desautels, in his first appearance with the Raiders since being acquired from the Everett Silvertips, stopped 26 shots for the victory. . . . An 18-year-old from White City, Sask., Desautels hadn’t appeared in a WHL game since March 20, 2011, when he played 9:37 for the Everett Silvertips in a 5-0 loss to the Giants in Vancouver. He came on in relief of Luke Siemens in that one. . . . Siemens now is the Raiders’ starter, with Desautels in a backup role. . . .

F Matt Bellerive scored the only goal of the shootout as the visiting Red Deer Rebels dumped the Moose Jaw Warriors, 4-3. . . . F Cory Millette, who is from Storthoaks, Sask., and played for the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals, forced OT with a goal at 19:11 of the third. . . . F Sam Fioretti scored his seventh goal of the season for Moose Jaw. He has 12 points and a share of the WHL scoring lead. . . . However, Fioretti, Moose Jaw’s third shooter in the circus, hit the crossbar. . . . The Warriors had won 19 straight regular-season home games. . . .

The Tri-City Americans jumped out to a 4-0 lead and then hung on for a 5-3 victory over the host Everett Silvertips. . . . Tri-City scored four goals on 16 shots to drive Everett starter Cole Holowenko to the bench at 6:03 of the second period. . . . G Daniel Cotton, acquired earlier in the day from Seattle, came on to stop all 14 shots he faced. . . . The Americans are 4-3-1 with three of those victories over Everett. . . . The Americans open their six-game East Division swing in Brandon on Saturday.
———
CHECKING FROM BEHIND COUNT:
None.
———
CHECKING TO THE HEAD COUNT:
D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, Vancouver
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Jonathan Filewich (@jonfilewich), who played four seasons (2000-04) with the Prince George Cougars: “This Thanksgiving I can’t help but think of the Fogolin family feeding the @PGCougars a decade ago. I’m thankful I met Michael Fogolin.”

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Ten things I think, I think:

1. Mike Mayock, the analyst on the NFL Network’s Thursday night games, is the best in the business. He and Brad Nessler, the play-by-play man, have a high listenability quotient.
2. Sorry, but I don’t care about day-to-day updates on the NHL lockout. Just send me a tweet when it’s over.
3. The Twitterverse about exploded on Thursday as hockey writers scurried to the keyboards to get out the news that the NHL had cancelled some regular-season games. Since when did the expected become breaking news?
4. If you haven’t yet seen the piece that CTV Winnipeg reporter Leah Hextall did earlier this week on Brandon Wheat Kings D Ryan Pulock and his relationship with owner/GM Kelly McCrimmon, you’re cheating yourself. Find it and give it a watch.
5. The Swift Current Broncos meet the Blades in Saskatoon tonight. Will the Broncos lose in overtime or a shootout? They are 1-0-4 to date.
6. The Calgary Hitmen are a rather quiet 3-0-1, including a 4-1 victory over the Oil Kings in Edmonton. Yes, the Hitmen could be very good this season. But let’s not forget they put up 44 victories and 91 points last season. Yes, it’s time head coach Mike Williamson got a whole lot more attention.
7. If I could be anywhere tonight, it would be in Brandon to watch D Ryan Pulock of the Wheat Kings go against D Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks. It’s not fair to Jones, whose WHL career comprises all of five games, but a lot of NHL scouting eyes will be on this one. . . . Pulock, who turns 18 on Saturday, will play his 140th regular-season game tonight. How special is Pulock? In his first 139 games, he has put up 111 points. And if you believe in plus-minus, he’s 45 on the good side.
8. The Vancouver Giants have the WHL’s poorest winning percentage (.200) so probably weren’t in the spirit of giving yesterday as minority owner Michael Bublé taped his NBC Christmas special on the Lower Mainland. . . . A rock star who has a son playing in the WHL is rumoured to be on that Christmas special.
9. If starter Luke Siemens and backup Andy Desautels are able to give Prince Albert some goaltending, the Raiders will be fun to watch. F Mark McNeill, D Harrison Ruopp and D Josh Morrissey give the Raiders three of the WHL’s finest young players.
10. I recently have seen two lists of players to watch this WHL season and Kootenay Ice F Sam Reinhart wasn’t on either one. He won’t turn 17 until Nov. 6. He hung up 62 points in 67 games last season and has five points in four games this season. He may not be No. 1 on the to-watch list, but he’s in the conversation and definitely has a spot in my Top 5.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

The Kamloops Blazers assigned F Brock Balson, 19, to an undisclosed junior A team on Monday. Balson was a third-round selection by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2008 bantam draft. He joined the Blazers last season from the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks and had six points in 42 games with the Blazers. . . .
With the move, Kamloops is down to 25 players. That doesn’t include D Austin Madaisky, 20, who has been assigned by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets to the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. That leaves Kamloops with three 20-year-olds — F Brendan Ranford, F Dylan Willick and F Jordan DePape, who finished the exhibition season playing on the same line. . . .
———
The Saskatoon Blades are down to 23 players after assigning D Kyle Schmidt, 19, to the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars and G Patrick Johnson, 19, to the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs. Schmidt, from Waldheim, Sask., was acquired last season from the Calgary Hitmen and had 12 points in 61 games with the Blades. Johnson, from Saskatoon, got into one game with the Blades last season. . . .
———
The Moose Jaw Warriors have assigned F Darcy DeRoose, 17, to the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins and F Brayden Cuthbert, 18, to the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires. Cuthbert is awaiting medical clearance after not having played since suffering a concussion on Jan. 22, 2011. . . .
———
The Spokane Chiefs assigned F Markson Bechtold, 16, to the midget UFA Bisons, who play out of Strathmore, Alta. Bechtold was a third-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft. . . .

———
The Brandon Wheat Kings have trimmed G Jordan Papirny, 16, from their roster which means they will open the season with Corbin Boes, 19, and Curtis Honey, 18, as their goaltenders. . . . Papirny was a first-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Brandon also released F Dominic Favreau, 20, leaving it with three 20s – F Nick Buonassisi, D Ryley Miller and D Tyler Yaworski. . . . Favreau spent two seasons in Brandon after being acquired from the Regina Pats for D Mark Schneider. Last season, Favreau had 18 points in 42 games with Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings got down to 26 players by also assigning F Kailum Gervais, F Kyler Hehn, 17, and F Hunter Smith, 17. . . .
———
The Vancouver Giants, with one victory in six exhibition games, made some significant moves on Monday, especially considering that they came four days before the start of the regular season.
Vancouver acquired F Tanner Moar, 18, and F Stewart Coyle, 17, from the Kelowna Rockets for a fourth-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft and a sixth-round pick in 2015.
The Giants also picked up F Tristan Sieben, 18, from the Edmonton Oil Kings for a sixth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. Sieben, from Edmonton, played 34 games with the Oil Kings last season, picking up 14 points.
Moar, from Canwood, Sask., had eight points in 65 games with Kelowna last season. At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, he brings some size to the Giants’ forward ranks, something that has been lacking of late.
Coyle, 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, played last season with the junior B Sicamous Eagles of the Kootenay International league. He had five points in 22 games with the Eagles. In four exhibition game with the Rockets, he had three points. Coyle is from Sicamous.
The Giants now have 29 players on their roster, including injured F Arvin Atwal, so more moves are imminent.
———
The Prince Albert Raiders have traded G Cole Holowenko, 19, to the Everett Silvertips for G Andy Desautels, 18, and D Evan Morden, 19.
Desautels, from White City, Sask., played last season with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers, going 3.64, .899 in 25 games. His arrival leaves the Raiders still with three goaltenders, the other two being Luke Siemens, 20, who was acquired over the summer from the Moose Jaw Warriors, and Rylan Parenteau, a 16-year-old from Saskatoon.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Morden, from Swan River, Man., is prepping for his third WHL season. He had 13 points and 92 penalty minutes in 114 games over the last two seasons.
Holowenko, from Penticton, B.C., was 13-26-2, 3.98, .890 in 47 games as a freshman with the Raiders last season.
The Silvertips then got down to two goaltenders by assigning 6-foot-7 Troy Trombley, 18, to the SHL’s Melville Millionaires. That leaves Holowenko and sophomore Austin Lotz, 17, to mind the twine in Everett.
———
The Tri-City Americans got down to 27 players by dropping G Luke Lee-Knight, 19, F Dallin Wolf, 18, and F Dylan Schellenberg, 19. . . . Lee-Knight, from Calgary, played 22 games in the WHL last season, splitting them with the Spokane Chiefs and Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Lee-Knight’s departure means that freshman Brenden Fiebelkorn, 17, of Winnipeg will back up sophomore G Eric Comrie. . . . Wolf has been returned to the junior B Kimberley Dynamiters of the Kootenay International league. He had 14 points and 135 penalty minutes in 39 games there last season. . . . Schellenberg, from Drumheller, split last season between the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons and Camrose Kodiaks. . . . The Americans are carrying two goaltenders, nine defencemen and 16 forwards.
———
It would seem that the Seattle Thunderbirds are down to three 20-year-olds — G Brandon Glover, F Luke Lockhart and F Brendan Rouse.
Deagle (@BraDeagle92) tweeted this on Monday: “Was fortunate to meet a lot of great people in Seattle made many new friends and a lot of new brothers! Going to miss it #thunderbeauties.”
———
G Keith Hamilton, who has WHL experience with the Portland Winterhawks and Victoria Royals, has signed with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar. . . . Hamilton, a 20-year-old from Kelowna, was 20-31-5, 4.10, .880 with Victoria last season. He was released by the Royals last week as they worked to get down to the maximum three 20-year-olds. . . . The signing of Hamilton was first reported by Parlons junior, a Quebec-based website.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Riley Armstrong (Kootenay, Everett, 2002-04) signed a contract with SaiPa Lappeenranta (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had three goals and four assists in nine games with the Elmira Jackals (ECHL) and one goal and two assists in five games with the Binghamton Senators (AHL) this season. The contract is for the rest of the season but there is an opt-out clause which can be exercised during the next two weeks.
———
For a taste of some hockey Christmas spirit, head on over to Joe Pelletiers’s Greatest Hockey Legends — the link is over there on the right — and check out some of his recent postings. . . . You will especially enjoy the posting “Merry Christmas from the Montreal Canadiens” — even if you’re not a fan of the Habs.
———
F Adam Lowry of the Swift Current Broncos is scheduled to have surgery this morning to repair a fractured wrist. It isn’t yet known how long he will be out. “We don’t know all the details yet so I’m not sure how it will affect our thinking towards the deadline,” Mark Lamb, the Broncos’ GM/head coach, told me in a text message on Monday afternoon.
Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Broncos on The Eagle 94.1 FM, tweeted: “Apparently Lowry got hurt in Game 4 of the season but tests were not conclusive until now. It's amazing Lowry played this well (point per game, PP, PK, big hits, fighting, made super series) all with a fractured wrist. A huge loss!”
Mullin had some spare time on his hands Monday — LOL! He was stuck in an airport due to travel delays — and was able to post some thoughts on the Lowry injury and what it means to the Broncos.
———
The Everett Silvertips have brought back G Andy Desautels, 17, to ride shotgun with Kent Simpson while Austin Lotz is with Team West at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in the Windsor area. Desautels, who was with the Silvertips for a while last season, has been with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers, going 9-4-1, 3.35, .903. Everett selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 bantam draft. . . The Silvertips meet the host Seattle Thunderbirds tonight in Kent, Wash.
———
There was an interesting debate taking place on the Portland Winterhawks forum at OregonLive.com on Monday night.
It seems the Winterhawks are promoting themselves in a TV commercial that has caused some controversy.
While I haven't seen it, according to one Portland fan, “The commercial featured footage of Hawks players delivering hard hits/checks or clearly getting the better of a foe in a fight.
“The ‘tag line’ . . . at the end of the commercial was ‘Season's Beatings from the Winterhawks’.”
Seriously! Season’s Beatings.
At a time of year when police forces and support groups all say there is an increase in domestic abuse, we have a WHL team wishing folks “Season’s Beatings.”
Now that is an interesting marketing strategy.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings have brought in F Tim McGauley, 16, from the midget AAA Notre Dame Hounds. The Wheat Kings have three players away with F Mark Stone (Canada) and F Alessio Bertaggia (Switzerland) at the World Junior Championship and D Ayrton Nikkel at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. . . . McGauley was a first-round pick by the Saskatoon Blades in the 2010 bantam draft. Brandon acquired his rights in the Brayden Schenn deal that was made prior to the last trade deadline. . . . McGauley has 35 points, including 22 goals, in 25 games with the Hounds. . . . The Wheat Kings are at home to the Regina Pats on Wednesday.
———
D Jordan Thomson, 15, is expected to make his WHL debut with the Kamloops Blazers tonight against the Giants in Vancouver. Thomson, the fourth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft, will stay with the Blazers through Jan. 2. They play four games between tonight and New Year’s Day. . . . Thomson has 15 points, including 12 assists, in 20 games with the midget AAA Southwest Cougars, who play out of Souris, Man.
———
With G Andrey Makarov (Russia) at the World Junior Championship, the Saskatoon Blades will go with Adam Todd, who has gotten into only six games to this point, and Alex Moodie, 16, who has been brought in from the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild. . . . Todd is 1-2-1, 5.15, .852. . . . Moodie was a fifth-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. He is 15-0-1, 1.87 with the Wild. . . . The Blades are at home to the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight, then go home-and-home with the Prince Albert Raiders.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.