WHL taking stand on players who leave? . . . Giants lose sophomore to injury

Reid Duke is back. Macoy Erkamps isn’t.
Neither are Carson Bolduc, Landon Cross, Reid Gow, Geordie Maguire, Jeremy McIntosh, Landon Peel, Aspen Sterzer, Cole Wedman or Brett Zarowny.
The afore-mentioned 11 players didn’t report to their WHL teams for the beginning of training camps.
Erkamps has asked the Lethbridge Hurricanes to trade him. Cross and Peel have told the Kootenay Ice that they want to play their 20-year-old seasons in the MJHL. Bolduc, 18, has left the Kamloops Blazers and joined his hometown’s BCHL team, the Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Others have chosen to get started on life after the WHL, mostly by becoming fulltime university students.
Duke, an 18-year-old forward, was the fifth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. He didn’t report for the start of Lethbridge’s training camp, but rejoined his teammates on Friday, general manager Brad Robson saying that an “agreement” had been reached between the team, Duke, his family and his agent.
Only those involved know what is in that “agreement,” or whether it’s verbal or in writing, or anything else about it.
While the 19-year-old Erkamps sits and waits, you wonder if Robson, who had a number of players ask out last season, didn’t draw a line in the sand with Duke and decide that the next trade would be made on his terms.
Meanwhile, in Cranbrook, Jeff Chynoweth, the president and general manager of the Ice, is trying to cope with the loss of two 20-year-old defencemen, only one of whom likely would have made the roster, what with teams being allowed to keep three 20s.
(The Ice has 20-year-old forwards Levi Cable and Austin Vetterl in camp, and may get G Mackenzie Skapski, 20, back from the NHL’s New York Rangers.)
Chynoweth actually found out in June that Cross, a Brandon native who had brain injury issues after being acquired from Kamloops early last season, wasn’t coming back. Cross wants to complete his junior eligibility with the MJHL’s Steinbach Pistons.
Losing Peel, who is from Virden, Man., was a bigger shock because no one in the Ice office saw it coming. He wants to play for the MJHL’s Portage Terriers, the host team for the 2015 RBC Cup tournament.
The WHL isn’t happy with players who walk away before their eligibility is up.
“I think (the WHL is) concerned about players not fulfilling their contracts,” Chynoweth told Jeff Hollick, the radio voice of the Ice who blogs at Between The Lines. “When they signed their contracts, they’re for five years, usually from 16 to 20 and includes their 20-year-old season. . . . We’ve got to stick together as the Western Hockey League and the 22 teams because if players just want to walk whenever they can, it doesn’t bode well for our future.”
For now, Cross and Peel are on the Ice’s suspended list “for not reporting to camp and (not) fulfilling their 20-year-old year of their WHL Standard Contract,” Chynoweth said. “How long the suspensions last, I don't know. But I know the WHL is working with Hockey Manitoba and the Manitoba junior league.”
And then there’s Sterzer, who stunned general manager/head coach Brent Sutter and the Rebels with his decision not to report. Instead, Sterzer will attend the U of Calgary and play for the Dinos. The Rebels had acquired him from Kamloops last season for F Matt Bellerive and a third-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft.
With Sterzer, however, there are extenuating circumstances. Almost eight years ago, Sterzer, his mother, a brother and a sister were involved in an auto accident. Sterzer’s mother, Franci, was left a quadriplegic. (Marty Hastings of Kamloops This Week detailed it all in this 2012 story.)
Sterzer also spent much of 2012-13 dealing with a brain injury and other health-related issues. The result was that he played in only 31 games and missed all of the Blazers’ 15-game playoff run to the Western Conference final.
Last week, Sterzer explained his decision to attend school in an email to the Red Deer Advocate:
“First of all, I would like to say that I really appreciate that I was able to come to Red Deer and finish off my WHL career under coach Sutter.I feel that I learned a lot from him and only wish that I could have had more time to play for him.
“The simple truth is that before I signed my contract to play in the WHL I had several scholarship offers to the NCAA that my parents really wanted me to pursue. I, however, really wanted to play in the WHL, so my parents agreed to support me in playing in the Western League with one condition, which was that I had until I was 19 to catch the eye of a pro club, or I would have to go school.
“In all honesty, there would be nothing more that I would have liked to do than to have had a really successful 20-year-old year as a Rebel, hopefully contributing to an already talented team to perhaps make a cup run. However, I felt that I just could not lobby my family to help support me beyond my agreement with them.
“Personally, I have always loved the game. It is a long grind but aside from the sheer thrill of playing, if things go right, you can hopefully make a living doing what you love at the next level. For me, I am hopefully going on to the next step that may help me fulfill my dreams and obligations at the same time.
“That said, I am looking forward to playing this year at the University of Calgary for the Dinos. I am excited to join a group of excellent seasoned hockey players, coach (Mark) Howell and the staff while being able to pursue my education at the same time. I still hope to catch the eye of a team that post-university might want my skills and services, but for now I am just focusing on how I can add to the Dinos to do my part and to contribute as best I can.
“I have been blessed to have made many good friends in the WHL and hope that each of them will have a great year! As well, I hope the best for the Red Deer Rebels, my former teammates, the staff, the fans, and coach Sutter.”
Sincerely,
Aspen Sterzer

All of which didn’t necessarily impress Sutter.
“To play at this level takes a major commitment and he’s not a committed player,” he told Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate. “There’s a lot of commitment required to play in the WHL, both on and off the ice, with games, practices, video sessions and all of the travel involved.
“It’s disappointing because we gave up assets to acquire him. He’s quitting on us and it’s a knock to his teammates. It’s tough, but that’s his decision, his choice . . . to play CIS hockey.”
Meachem’s story is right here.
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Vancouver Giants sophomore F Ty Ronning has a suspected broken collarbone and “is expected to miss at least six weeks of action.” . . . Ronning, the 15th overall pick in the 2012 bantam draft, was injured on a check by Kamloops D Brady Gaudet in the opening minute of a 5-4 shootout loss to the host Blazers on Friday night. . . . Vancouver head coach Troy Ward said the injury “is going to take a while to heal.” . . . Ronning had 20 points, nine of them goals, in 56 games as a freshman last season. . . . Ewen’s report is right here. . . . A tip of the hat to Ewen, too, as he was inducted into the Vancouver Canadians' Hall of Fame on Saturday. When he isn't covering hockey, Ewen is writing baseball for The Province.
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The Red Deer Rebels appear prepared to head into the season with Rylan Toth, an 18-year-old from Saskatoon, and Taz Burman, a 17-year-old Vancouverite, as their two goaltenders. . . . Burman played in 17 games last season with the Rebels, going 2-6-0/3.85/.884, while Toth has yet to play in a regular-season game. . . . The Rebels are looking to replace Patrik Bartosak, a Czech who played in 145 games over the previous three seasons, including 65 last season and 55 in 2012-13. Bartosak has played out his junior eligibility. He was a fifth-round selection by Los Angeles in the 2013 NHL draft. He has signed a three-year contract with the Kings.
---The Prince George Cougars have signed F Colby McAuley, a list player from Sherwood Park, Alta. McAuley, 18, made his debut with the Cougars on the weekend at a tournament in St. Albert, Alta. In fact, shortly after the Cougars announced his signing, he scored twice as the Cougars dropped a 6-5 OT decision to the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Last season, McAuley had 13 goals and 16 assists in 64 games with the midget AAA Sherwood Park Kings. . . . At one time, McAuley was on the Medicine Hat Tigers’ protected list. They dropped him and he was added by the Cougars. . . . McAuley is one of 18 forwards remaining on the Cougars’ roster.
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Steve Coury, the head football coach at Lake Oswego, Ore., High, has suspended 10 players, nine of them starters, for the season’s first three games. . . . Why? . . . Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune reports that he disciplined “a group that broke the team's code of conduct by smoking marijuana during a preseason senior retreat at Welches.” . . . Eggers also reported that Coury “had suspended only three players in his 23 years at Lake Oswego.” . . . Interestingly, Coury told Eggers that six of the team’s eight coaches favoured kicking the players off the team. However, Coury said that he is a “second-chance guy” so chose the suspensions instead. . . . The players, all of them seniors, also were suspended for the first three days of school and must do community service on seven Sundays. . . . Yes, Coury did the right thing. . . . Makes you wonder how other coaches in this age group would react in the same situation.
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In St. Albert, Alta., on Sunday night, the Edmonton Oil Kings scored a 3-2 OT victory over the Saskatoon Blades. F Tyler Robertson got the winner at 2:25 of extra time. . . . Les Lazaruk, the radio voice of the Blades, later tweeted that the dry scrape too 11 minutes 21 seconds. . . . Guy Flaming of The Pipeline Show was in attendance and tweeted: “The verdict is in on the dry scrape before OT idea (that the WHL) is considering; awful. Need 2 zambonis in every rink or else it's a huge delay.” . . . F Keegan Iverson of the Portland Winterhawks and F Blair Oneschuk of the Spokane Chiefs are the first WHL players to draw suspensions this season. Iverson got two games for a checking to the head major against Spokane in Everett on Friday, while Oneschuk got a game for a checking-from-behind major in the same game.
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Four out of five TSN channels showing same game. Four out of five Sportsnet channels showing same game. We truly live in an era of choice.
— Steve Ladurantaye (@sladurantaye) August 31, 2014

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Two more veterans leave WHL . . . Ex-WHLer forced to stop playing

Jerrid Sauer has joined the Medicine Hat Tigers' coaching staff.
(Photo: Medicine Hat Tigers)

It may not be a problem, but it would seem to be a trend.
First, there was D Reid Gow, 20. Then, D Cole Wedman, 20, followed suit. On Sunday, it was D Jeremy McIntosh's turn.
And now F Geordie Maguire and F Aspen Sterzer have moved on.
Gow and McIntosh, 19, both cited a loss of passion in deciding not to return to the Spokane Chiefs. Wedman, who had been dealt by Spokane to Moose Jaw over the summer, has informed the Warriors that he won't report, choosing instead to attend the U of Alberta.
Now you can add Maguire and Sterzer to the list.
Maguire, 19, isn’t in camp with the Swift Current Broncos and apparently will be heading to school.
From Winnipeg, he began his WHL career in 2012-13, picking up nine points, including four goals, in 65 games with the Wheat Kings. The Everett Silvertips had selected Maguire in the fifth round of the 2010 bantam draft, then dealt him to Brandon for G Brandon Anderson, 20, and a fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft.
At the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft, the Wheat Kings dealt Maguire to Regina, along with a third-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft, in exchange for "draft day considerations."
At the 2013-14 trade deadline, the Pats traded Maguire to the Broncos for a sixth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. Maguire, who led the Manitoba midget AAA league in scoring in 2011-12, had 14 points, seven of them goals, in 27 games with Regina, and one goal in eight games with the Broncos.
Sterzer, meanwhile, has chosen not to report to the Red Deer Rebels for his 20-year-old season.
Greg Meachem, the Red Deer Advocate's sports editor, reports that Sterzer has told Brent Sutter, the Rebels' GM/head coach, that the passion is gone and that he plans on going to school.
“We’ll stay patient with it and see what happens," Sutter told Meachem, "but during my conversation with him he said he just didn’t feel he has the passion to play any more. He made that commitment to his family, to his mom and dad, that if he wasn’t at the pro level after his 19-year-old year that he would go to school.”
Sterzer played 174 regular-season WHL games, 144 of those with the Kamloops Blazers. He missed a lot of the 2012-13 season with health issues, including a brain injury. The Blazers traded him to the Rebels last season, giving up F Matt Bellerive and a third-round 2014 bantam pick. Sterzer had 21 points, 12 of them goals, in 30 games with Red Deer. Between the two teams, he had 53 points, including 29 goals, in 70 games.
“For us, it was disappointing. It caught us off guard,” Sutter added. “We didn’t expect it after our year-end exit meetings. He kept in contact with our coaches through the summer and was doing the conditioning stuff that was required of him.
“Then all of a sudden he changed his mind.”
Without Sterzer, the Rebels have three 20-year-olds on their roster -- D Brett Cote, who was acquired from the Victoria Royals for a second-round 2014 draft pick on May 1, D Devan Fafard and F Brooks Maxwell.
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Albin Blomqvist turned 21 on Jan. 8, so no longer is eligible to play in the WHL.
Not that he would be able to were he 20 years of age, because he has become another victim of brain injuries.
Blomqvist, from Osby, Sweden, played two seasons (2011-13) with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. In his first season, he had a goal and two assists in 38 games; the next season, he had three assists in 31 games.
Last season, he was limited to one game with Osby IK, a Division 2 club in Sweden.
As Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News reports, Blomqvist has had to retire, and he has written a letter to Hockeysverige.se.
“It’s a tough read and brings up a lot of important issues for the hockey world,” Kennedy writes right here.
Kennedy continues: “Translated into English, Blomqvist rails against a culture that pushes dreams more than reality. With his hockey career over and no chance at playing in the NHL, the defenceman also has come to the realization that his singular focus and lack of education may not have been the best idea.”
Blomqvist‘s brother, Axel, plays for the Victoria Royals and has signed with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.
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The OHL announced Wednesday that it has made more moves aimed at getting fighting out of the game.
What follows is from the OHL news release:
“The OHL will be augmenting the current staged fight rule whereby players receive an automatic game misconduct for a fight occurring immediately following the drop of the puck at the commencement of a period or game. Such rule has been expanded so as to include a fight that occurs immediately following any faceoff during the game. Should a staged fight occur, the player(s) involved shall each receive a game misconduct in addition to the major penalty and any other penalties assessed.
“If a player receives a third game misconduct during the season for a combination of any five-minute major and game misconduct penalties for checking to the head, checking from behind, boarding, kneeing and clipping, for which suspensions have not previously been applied, he shall receive an automatic one-game suspension. For each subsequent game misconduct, the suspension shall be increased accordingly.
“If a player receives a third minor penalty for instigating during the season, he shall receive an automatic one-game suspension. For each subsequent instigating minor penalty, the suspension shall be increased accordingly.
“The number of fighting majors that a player can receive in a game before a game misconduct is assessed shall be reduced from three to two.
“If a player receives a fourth minor penalty during the regular season in any one of the following categories, ie., checking from behind, checking to the head, kneeing, clipping or boarding, he shall receive a one-game suspension. For each subsequent minor penalty in any of the particular categories, the suspension shall be increased accordingly.
“Each OHL team shall have a threshold of three major penalties for fighting during each game. A disciplinary fine shall be assessed for each team exceeding such threshold.”
Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports Canada has more on the OHL changes right here.
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Alan Caldwell, over at Small Thoughts At Large, is in pre-training camp form in a big way. The other day, he took a look at the team-by-team 20-year-old situation. . . . Now he’s working on training camps, starting with rosters as they become available, and opening dates. Check it out right here; there also is a link over there on the right.
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F Jake Mykitiuk, who played two seasons (2011-13) with the Prince George Cougars, is going to camp with the Tri-City Americans. He had 21 points, including seven goals, in 126 games with the Cougars. Last season, the 5-foot-7, 160-pound Mykitiuk, who turns 19 on Nov. 21, split last season between the AJHL's Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints. He totalled 38 points, 16 of them goals, in 39 AJHL games.
---
F Austin Calladine, who turns 19 on Dec. 21, is in camp with the Swift Current Broncos. A second-round pick by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2010 bantam draft, he has a goal and two assists in 37 regular-season games, 33 with the Hitmen in 2012-13. The Hitmen dealt him to the Saskatoon Blades for a conditional 2015 eighth-round bantam draft pick on Sept. 26. The Saskatoon native was pointless in three games with the Blades, then put up 34 points, 17 of them goals, in 46 games with the SJHL's Flin Flon Bombers.
---
F Shane Danyluk won’t be back with the Prince Albert Raiders for a fifth season. Danyluk, 20, cleared WHL waivers on Wednesday. He expressed a desire to play in the BCHL for his hometown Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Danyluk was a second-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft. . . . Last season, he had 24 points, including seven goals, in 71 games. In 248 regular-season games, he put up 77 points, 25 of them goals. . . . Danyluk’s departure leaves the Raiders with five 20-year-olds on their roster -- F Calder Brooks, F Dakota Conroy, F Jayden Hart, D Sawyer Lange and F Carson Perreaux.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers have added Jerrid Sauer, 26, to their coaching staff. He will work as an assistant coach, alongside GM/head coach Shaun Clouston and assistant coach Joe Frazer. . . . Sauer, from Medicine Hat, played in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos (2002-06) and the Tigers (2005-08). He then went on to the U of Calgary. . . . On the Tigers’ staff, he will replace Darren Kruger, who now is senior director, player development. . . . Sauer played for the Tigers in 2006-07 when they won the WHL championship.
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The Everett Silvertips go into the season under a bit more pressure than some other teams. That's because ownership has guaranteed its season-ticket holders at least a fourth-place finish in the 10-team Western Conference.
In February 2013, the Silvertips guaranteed season-ticket holders that they would finish at least sixth in the 10-team Western Conference or they would cough up $100 towards 2014-15 season tickets. Everett didn't have to pay up after finishing fourth.
At the same time, Everett management guaranteed at least a fourth-place finish in the conference in 2014-15. If the Silvertips don't get that high, season-ticket holders who renewed early will get a $100 credit towards 2015-16 tickets.
---
Veteran F Trent Lofthouse, who turns 20 on Nov. 17, is in camp with the Portland Winterhawks. He also has played with the Everett Silvertips, Victoria Royals and Vancouver Giants. Last season, he started with Victoria, playing 11 games, and finished with the Giants. In 148 regular-season games, he has 38 points, including 25 goals. . . . As of now, Lofthouse is scrapping with F Adam De Champlain, F Trace Elson and D Josh Hanson for Portland’s three 20-year-old spots.
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The Central Hockey League’s Denver Cutthroats have suspended operations effective immediately. The franchise now is looking for additional investors and hopes to operate again in 2015-16. For now, all players who had signed with Denver are free agents.
The Central league also appears to have lost the Arizona Sundogs, and this could be permanent.
Brandon-based player agent Darryl Wolski tweeted Wednesday evening that the Sundogs “have ceased operations . . . players have been notified.”
That being the case, any players who have signed with the Sundogs now will be free agents.
Without Denver and Arizona, the Central league is down to seven teams. Shed a tear for F T.J. Fox. He played last season for the Cutthroats. On Friday, he signed with the Sundogs.
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Love the #OHL's additional penalties for fighting and dirty play. Players will eventually get the message #hockey
— Morris Dallacosta (@MoDaCoatLFPress) August 20, 2014

Mental illness costs Cdn economy $51B/year in direct treatment costs, lost productivity & quality of life. Early intervention is paramount!
— Wood's Homes (@ChildMntlHealth) August 21, 2014

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Wheat Kings big winners in draft lottery

TIM BOZON

As of Wednesday morning, Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon was listed in stable condition at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.
According to a news release issued by the Saskatoon Health Region at the request of his family, Bozon, who has been hospitalized since March 1 with Neisseria meningitis, has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and onto one of the hospital’s wards.
“Last week,” according to the news released, “Tim Bozon’s condition was changed to critical but stable and improving. Over the weekend, his condition continued to improve and he was moved out of (ICU) and into one of the hospital wards. His physicians have listed his condition as stable.”
According to Helene and Philippe Bozon, Tim’s parents, “Tim is awake, moving around in his bed, trying to feed himself and trying to speak.”
Bozon, a third-year WHLer, was acquired by the Ice from the Kamloops Blazers early this season. He was in Saskatoon with the Ice when he took ill. He was diagnosed with meningitis and placed in a medically induced coma as doctors worked to slow the meningitis.
His parents arrived from their home in Switzerland and have been with their son throughout his ordeal.
“Since arriving in Saskatoon,” the news release reads, “the family has received a lot of support from the hockey community, friends and even strangers. Anonymous gifts from restaurant vouchers (and) fruit baskets to a box containing blankets and other bedding has been brought to the hospital. The Bozons are once again asking the media to share their thanks for these gifts.”
With their son facing a long period of recovery, the Bozon family is facing extensive medical- and rehabilitation-related expenses. With that in mind, a trust fund (the Tim Bozon Trust) has been established to assist them.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jaroslav Vlach (Prince George, 2009-11) had his club option picked up by Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga) for next season. This season, Vlach had seven points, four of them goals, in 36 games with Liberec. While on loan to Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), he had six points, including three goals, in nine games.
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On May 3, 2012, the Brandon Wheat Kings dealt F Brenden Walker and a conditional second-round pick in the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft to the Saskatoon Blades for second-round picks in 2012 and 2013 and a third-rounder in 2014.
The Wheat Kings also obtained the right to swap first-round picks with Saskatoon in the 2014 draft.
Well, guess what happened on Wednesday?
Yes, the WHL held its draft lottery at its Calgary office and the Wheat Kings, who are a playoff team so weren’t eligible to take part, emerged as the big winners.
Each of the six non-playoff teams took part, with no team allowed to move up more than two spots. Except that the Wheat Kings moved up from 10th as they now own the first overall selection.
Saskatoon won the lottery, thus moving from third to first. The Wheat Kings, of course, will swap picks with the Blades, giving Brandon the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history.
A year ago, Brandon picked fourth and sixth in the first round, taking F Nolan Patrick and D Kale Clague, both of whom are projected as solider WHLers.
In the 2014 draft, the Lethbridge Hurricanes will pick second, followed, in order, by the Kamloops Blazers, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince George Cougars and Red Deer Rebels.
The draft is scheduled for Calgary on May 1.
As for Brenden Walker, he captained the Blades last season when they were the host team for the Memorial Cup. In 72 games, the native of St. Anne, Man., put up 76 points, including 33 goals.
This season, Walker, now 21, is with the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators.
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Brandon used the 2012 second-round selection it acquired from Saskatoon to take D Tanner Browne, who was included in the package that was sent to the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season for D Ryan Pilon. Browne, from Kelowna, played this season with the major midget Okanagan Rockets.
The Wheat Kings used the second-round selection in the 2013 draft to take F Tanner Kaspick, a Brandon native who played for the midget AAA Wheat Kings.
The conditional second-round pick that went to Saskatoon would go to the Blades only if Walker wasn’t back in the WHL as a 20-year-old. He was, meaning the Blades didn’t get that selection.
---
For some reason, the WHL chose to ignore the Wheat Kings during Wednesday’s bantam draft lottery.
The Wheat Kings own the Saskatoon Blades’ first-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft, but the WHL didn’t make any mention of it.
The WHL’s post-lottery news release read: “A Saskatoon Blades ball was drawn, meaning Saskatoon moves up two spots in the first round of the draft, and will select first overall.”
Further down in that news release, there is a list showing the order of selection in the first round. That list shows Saskatoon with the No. 1 pick.
During the videocast, Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president, hockey, held up the winning ball and said: ”As you can see, a ball from the Saskatoon Blades has been drawn. Saskatoon has the first pick in the 2014 WHL bantam draft.”
That, of course, isn’t the case. Brandon has the first pick.
In this day and age of instant communication, the hockey world immediately was atwitter with the fact that the Wheat Kings would be picking first in the May 1 draft. It really is unfortunate that the WHL didn’t add a few minutes to its videocast and explain that Brandon does, indeed, hold the first selection and also explain how that came to pass.
And, at the same time, why not extend the videocast by a few minutes and have someone, or even a panel, there to talk about some of the prospects and what fans might look for in the buildup to draft day?
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While the Wheat Kings have never picked first overall, they have held the second selection on three occasions. In fact, they picked second in three consecutive drafts, taking F Colin Cloutier (1991), D Wade Redden (1992) and F Darren Van Oene (1993).
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And don’t think for a moment that the Blades will pick 10th with the selection they got in the flip with Brandon.
No.
The Blades traded a 2014 first-round selection to the Vancouver Giants for F Nathan Burns. Thus, the Giants will be selecting 10th in the first round.
In that Nov. 2, 2012, exchange, the Giants gave up Burns for F Travis McEvoy, a third-round pick in 2013 and a first-round selection in 2014.
Burns, 20, now is with the Swift Current Broncos, having been involved in a trade on Jan. 1, 2014. That deal didn’t include a first-round pick.
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Red Deer F Aspen Sterzer suffered a separated shoulder during the Rebels’ 5-3 loss to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders in Tuesday’s tiebreaker. Had the Rebels won that game and advanced into the playoffs, Sterzer wouldn’t have been able to play. . . .
F Anthony Ast of the Medicine Hat Tigers underwent an appendectomy on Monday and isn’t expected to play in any first-round games against the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News has more right here. . . .
Some people were wondering whether Calgary Hitmen F Jake Virtanen had injured a hand during a third-period scrap with D Rinat Valiev of the Kootenay Ice on Saturday. . . . Virtanen says he’s fine. . . . "It was just the heat of the moment," he told Laurence Heinen of the Calgary Herald. "There were a lot of tweets to me, people asking me about my hand. It's fine. There's nothing wrong with it. During the moment, it was just kind of a stinger." . . .
A court case involving Tom Gaglardi, the majority owner of the Kamloops Blazers, will resume in Kamloops on April 14. Gaglardi, his father Bob, and their company, Northland Properties Corp., face two counts each of harmful alteration of a fish habitat. . . . There’s more right here. . . .
The St. Louis Blues have signed Prince George Cougars F Zach Pochiro, who turned 20 on March 6, to a three-year entry-level contract. Pochiro, who is from Las Vegas, had 66 points, including 27 goals, in 63 games this season. He was a fourth-round selection by the Blues in the 2013 NHL draft. . . .
F Troy Bourke, the captain of the Prince George Cougars, has signed an ATO with the Lake Erie Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. Bourke, 19, was selected by the Avalanche in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft. . . .
Prince George F Todd Fiddler, who got to the 50-goal plateau in the Cougars’ final game of the regular season, has signed an ATO with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. Fiddler, 20, has completed his major junior eligibility.
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THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE





EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.
Saturday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Tuesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite.
Prince Albert: D Graeme Craig, indefinite.
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REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.
Saturday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Sunday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Regina at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 28: Regina at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Regina vs. Brandon, site TBA, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Brandon: None.
Regina: D Kyle Burroughs, day-to-day; D Tye Hand, indefinite; G Daniel Wapple, indefinite; D Colby Williams, day-to-day; F Dyson Stevenson, day-to-day.
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CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.
Thursday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Monday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Thursday, March 27: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Calgary: F Cal Babych, day-to-day; F Radel Fazleev, day-to-day; F Connor Rankin, day-to-day.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Landon Cross, 1 week; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months; D Landon Peel, 1 week.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.
Friday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Swift Current: None.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE





KELOWNA (1) vs. TRI-CITY (8)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Tri-City, 0-3-1.
Saturday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 5:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday, March 28: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Tyson Baillie, 1-2 weeks; D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Tri-City: F Phil Tot, day-to-day; F Taylor Vickerman, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.
Friday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, March 28: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Portland at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: F Adam de Champlain, day-to-day.
Vancouver: F Tyler Benson, indefinite; G Jared Rathjen, day-to-day; F Jakob Stukel, indefinite; D Dalton Thrower, indefinite; F Cain Franson, day-to-day.
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VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.
Saturday: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: Spokane at Victoria, 5:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 27: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 30: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
INJURIES
Victoria: None.
Spokane: F Jacob Cardiff, day-to-day; D Colton Bobyk, week-to-week; F Adam Hascic, day-to-day; F Blair Oneschuk, week-to-week.
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SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: Seattle at Everett, 4:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 28: Seattle at Everett, 7:35 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
Everett: F Kohl Baum, indefinite.

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Black tickles the ivories; Driedger talks about his goal

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Dave Sutter (Seattle, 2010-12) has signed a B-license card with Bern (Switzerland, NL A). He currently is playing with Red Ice Martigny (Switzerland, NL B). Signing a B-license allows Sutter to play with Bern on loan once Red Ice season is over. This season with Red Ice, he has 12 points, including three goals, in 42 games. . . .
F Yegor Mikhailov (Spokane, 1996-97) signed a B-license card with Fribourg-Gottéron (Switzerland, NL A). He is playing with Red Ice Martigny and is in the same situation as Sutter. Mikhailov is eligible to join Fribourg-Gottéron after Red Ice's season. He leads Red Ice in scoring, with 37 points, including 18 goals, in 42 games.
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If you are a WHL fan who is on Twitter, make sure you are following WHL Facts (@WHLFacts).
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The headline in the Prairie Post reads: 'Johann Sebastian' Black hitting all the right notes. . . . It's atop a story by Brad Brown on F Graham Black, a classical pianist who is having a terrific season with the Swift Current Broncos. That story is well worth reading and it's right here.
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F Jagger Williamson, who was selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the sixth round of the 2013 bantam draft, has said he will play next season with the BCHL's Vernon Vipers. Williamson, a 15-year-old from Vernon, is playing for the midget Tier 1 team in Vernon.
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The Concussion Blog, which is linked to over there on the right, has an interesting season-ending look at the NFL and brain injuries. It's well worth a read and it's right here.
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Elliotte Friedman has his weekly compilation 30 Thoughts posted and it is as readable as always. It's right here, and Portland Winterhawks followers should know there is a Nino Niederreiter mention.
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Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen is the sixth goaltender in WHL history to score a goal. He was credited with a Kootenay Ice own goal on Saturday night in Cranbrook. Jefferson Hagen of the Calgary Herald caught up with Driedger and has the story right here. The goal actually was scored by Ice F Zach Franko, whose pass attempt during a delayed penalty call against the Hitmen split the points and travelled the length of the ice and into the open net. Franko and Driedger are offseason training partners.
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Jonny Hogue used to be a stickboy for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. These days you can find him minding the WHL team’s goal. Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Hurricanes has more right here.
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THURSDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
No games scheduled.
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FRIDAY’S WHL GAMES:
Moose Jaw at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Swift Current at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Kootenay at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Portland at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.
Spokane at Seattle, 7:35 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
The visiting Saskatoon Blades erased a 2-0 second-period deficit and beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 6-3. . . . Blades F Mitch Lipon gave his guys a 3-2 lead with his fifth goal at 1:37 of the third. . . . Saskatoon D Dylan Busenius played in his 300th regular-season game and scored his eighth goal of the season, a shorthanded marker at 9:21 of the third. It stood up as the winner. . . . F Jamal Watson scored twice for Lethbridge. He's got 15. . . . Saskatoon G Troy Trombley turned aside 50 shots. . . . Saskatoon F Austin Adamson scored his first goal and it came in his 37th game. Adamson, who turned 18 on Feb. 2, is from Vancouver. . . . The Hurricanes had won their previous two games. . . . Neither the Blades (15-37-4) nor Hurricanes (11-39-5) will make the playoffs. The Hurricanes continue to hold down last place in the overall standings, their .245 winning percentage slightly ahead of the Kamloops Blazers’ .250. . . .

In Brandon, F Trevor Cox scored twice to help the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Wheat Kings. . . . Cox broke a 1-1 tie at 10:47 of the second period and upped the lead to 3-1 just 19 seconds into the third. He's got 18 goals. . . . Tigers F Cole Sanford had a goal, his 25th, and two assists. . . . Medicine Hat F Curtis Valk ran his point streak to 12 games, the longest in the WHL at present, with two assists. . . . Tigers G Marek Langhamer stopped 23 shots, including one on Brandon F Ryley Lindgren on a second-period penalty shot with the visitors leading 2-1. . . . The Tigers (31-19-3) have won two in a row and are fourth in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind the Calgary Hitmen and five ahead of the Kootenay Ice. . . . Brandon (27-20-6) is tied with Kootenay (28-21-4) and the Swift Current Broncos (26-20-8) atop the East Division. . . .

In Kamloops, the Edmonton Oil Kings ran their winning streak to a season-high nine games as they got past the Blazers, 4-1. . . . Edmonton F Riley Kieser broke a 1-1 tie with his ninth goal at 2:05 of the third period. . . . Kieser finished with two goals, giving him 10, and an assist. He was the Oil Kings' best skater in this one. . . . The Oil Kings now have won 15 of their last 16 games and 24 of 28. . . . The Kamloops PP unit was 0-for-8 and gave up two shorthanded goals, the last one Kieser’s empty-netter. . . . Kamloops D Sam Grist drew an interference major and game misconduct at 10:12 of the first period for a hit on Edmonton F Reid Petryk, who needed help on the ice but was out on the PP shortly thereafter. . . . It was a dangerous hit and Grist can expect a call from the WHL office today. . . . The Blazers won't play in Edmonton this season, but the Oil Kings played twice in Kamloops. Edmonton won 5-0 on Nov. 8. . . . Edmonton G Tyler Santos, who posted that 5-0 shutout, stopped 31 shots last night. The Oil Kings needed him through the first two periods as they were outshot 27-17. Edmonton held a 21-6 edge in the third, though. . . . The Oil Kings will visit the Kelowna Rockets on Friday for a battle of the conference leaders. . . . The Blazers (11-38-5) have lost seven in a row; they are 1-9-1 since Guy Charron took over as head coach from Dave Hunchak on Jan. 11. The Blazers will play their next five games at home, after which they will hit the road for 10. . . . The Blazers were the better team through two periods but couldn’t get enough pucks past Santos to give them some breathing room. For the most part, Edmonton’s best players didn’t show up until the third period. Perhaps they were looking ahead to Friday. . . . The Oil Kings (38-13-1) are comfortably atop the Eastern Conference standings, five points ahead of Calgary with two games in hand. . . .

In Kelowna, the Rockets scored four first-period goals and went on to beat the Red Deer Rebels, 4-3. . . . The Rockets had 11 players with one point each in that first period, and every skater but two was at least plus-1. . . . Red Deer G Taz Burman was gone 1:34 in to the first period after stopping one of three shots. G Patrik Bartosak came on and finished up. . . . Kelowna held a 22-8 edge in shots after one period. . . . The Rebels scored three times in the third period to make it interesting, the last one coming from F Aspen Sterzer, at 18:13. . . . Sterzer scored Red Deer's last two goals, giving him 24 in 52 games this season. . . . He had two goals in 31 games last season and five in 63 games in 2011-12. . . . Kelowna G Jackson Whistle stopped 35 shots. . . . The Rockets (43-7-3) have a 12-point lead atop the overall standings. . . . The Kelowna franchise record for victories (52) was set last season. . . . The Rebels (27-23-4) are eighth in the Eastern Conference. . . .

In Spokane, Seattle G Taran Kozun continued his magical run as the Thunderbirds blanked the Chiefs, 4-0. . . . Kozun stopped 29 shots in posting his third shutout in nine starts with Seattle. Two of the blank jobs have been against the Chiefs. . . . Kozun was acquired from the Kamloops Blazers at the trade deadline. . . . With Kamloops, the 19-year-old from Nipawin, Sask., was 5-19-3, 3.95, .897. With Seattle, he is 8-1-0, 1.31, .957. . . .  Seattle F Justin Hickman had three goals for his first WHL hat trick. He has 18 goals this season, five of them coming over the last two games. . . . The Thunderbirds are 6-0 versus the Chiefs this season. The teams meet again Friday, this time in Kent, Wash. . . . Seattle (34-16-5) is fourth in the Western Conference, one point behind the Victoria Royals and six ahead of the Chiefs (31-17-5). . . . 

In Victoria, Calgary F Pavel Padakin scored on a breakaway at 1:26 of OT to give the Calgary Hitmen a 7-6 victory over the Royals. . . . The Royals looked to be in control after scoring three PP goals and taking a 3-0 lead into the second period. . . . The Royals had dumped the Hitmen 7-2 on Tuesday night. . . . This was the second time this season Victoria has given up seven goals. The Royals lost 7-4 to the visiting Vancouver Giants on Dec. 7. . . . The Hitmen took the first period's last three minors and the Royals scored on each of them. . . . The Hitmen forced OT on third-period goals by F Brady Brassart, at 5:03; F Adam Tambellini, at 6:36, via the PP; and F Mike Winther, at 12:23. . . . Padakin finished with two goals and an assist. He has 19 goals this season. . . . Brassart had a goal, his 24th and two assists. . . . Tambellini's goal was his fifth. . . . F Ben Walker had two goals, giving him 22, and an assist for Victoria. . . . F Logan Nelson was among Victoria's scratches. . . . Royals D Joe Hicketts had two assists. He's got a goal and five assists in four games since returning from an injury. He had last played on Oct. 26. . . . Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson was hired in Calgary when Dave Lowry, now the Royals’ head coach, left for an assistant coaching job with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . The Royals were without G Patrik Polivka for both games. He has an undisclosed injury. Michael Herringer, a ninth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft, backed up Coleman Vollrath. Herringer plays for the junior B Kerry Park Islanders who are coached by former WHL toughie Dale Purinton.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Global Lethbridge sports director Paul Kingsmith (@paulkingsmith): "Crazy but true -- @WHLHurricanes record w/@radiopat258 calling the game: 7-39-2-3. Record without @radiopat258 calling: 4-0-0-0."
Pat Siedlecki (@radiopat258) is the radio voice of the Hurricanes.

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