Raiders do it again

F Brayden Cuthbert, who hasn’t played in the WHL since having his 2010-11 season ended by a brain injury, was dealt by the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives to the Dauphin Kings on Saturday. . . . Cuthbert, 19, was traded for F Michael Sofillas, 20, D Colton Magwood, 20, and a fifth-round selection in the MJHL’s 2014 bantam draft. . . . Cuthbert, who is from Brandon, put up 43 points, including 16 goals, in 63 games with the Natives. . . . Sofillas has played 119 WHL games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, including 52 last season.
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SUDBURY SATURDAY NIGHT:
In Swift Current, F Jay Merkley’s second goal of the game, at 10:56 of the third, broke a 3-3 tie as the Broncos got past the Red Deer Rebels, 4-3. . . . Merkley, who also had an assist, has 12 goals this season. . . . F Graham Black, who didn’t play Friday night, had two assists for the Broncos. . . . F Conner Bleackley had pulled Red Deer even at 3-3 just 31 seconds before Merkley’s score. . . . 

In Brandon, the Prince Albert Raiders scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Wheat Kings 5-4 in OT. . . . Raiders F Leon Draisaitl had two goals, giving him 15, and two assists. . . . He set up F Chance Braid’s tying goal with 11.1 seconds left in the third period and also had the primary assist on D Sawyer Lange’s winner just 18 seconds into extra time. . . . Draisaitl now has 100 regular-season points in 92 games. . . . The Raiders scored the game’s first two goals, then surrendered four in a row. . . . One night earlier, the Raiders erased a 5-0 lead in Regina and beat the Pats 7-6 in OT. Draisaitl, who has 42 points in 28 games, had two goals and an assist in that one. . . . Draisaitl has 11 points, five of them goals, in his last three games. . . . Brandon D Eric Roy finished minus-5, while partner Ryan Pulock was minus-4. . . . With G Curtis Honey injured, Brandon G Jordan Papirny made his 13th straight start. . . . This was the first appearance in Brandon for former Wheat Kings head coach Cory Clouston, who now is the Raiders’ head coach. He was fired in Brandon after th 2011-12 season. . . .

In Regina, F Boston Leier had two goals and three assists to spark the Pats to a 6-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . Leier has 29 points, including 17 goals, in 23 games since being acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Regina F Braden Christoffer added two goals — he went into the game with two in 21 games — and a pair of assists. . . . The Warriors had F Jayden Halbgewachs, 16, in the lineup. Earlier in the day, he had a goal and three assists in leading his Regina Pat Canadians to a 4-3 OT victory over the visiting Tisdale Trojans in a Saskatchewan Midget AAA League game. . . . Among the Warriors scratches were F Josh Uhrich and D Tanner Eberle. Uhrich served a one-game WHL suspension, while Eberle sat out the first of a two-game sentence. . . . Regina again was without F Morgan Klimchuk, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Thursday’s Subway Super Series game in Lethbridge. . . . The Warriors took 83 of 161 penalty minutes. . . . G Nick Schneider, 16, made his second career start for the Pats and stopped 13 shots in earning his first victory. . . . The Warriors went with G Zach Sawchenko, who is to turn 16 on Dec. 30. He stopped 29 shots. . . .

In Cranbrook, F Curtis Lazar had a goal, his 17th, and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings dropped the Ice, 5-1. . . . The Oil Kings, who have won 11 of their last 14 games, built a 4-0 lead before F Sam Reinhart scored shorthanded for the Ice at 12:20 of the third. . . . He’s got 16 goals. . . . Reinhart, who went into the game having taken one minor penalty this season, was hit with a misconduct at 19:27 of the first period. . . . If you’re wondering why I rarely refer to a player’s accumulated penalty minutes here it’s because the WHL refuses to include misconducts and game misconducts. For example, Reinhart’s total shows him with two penalty minutes this season. That is wrong. He has 12. . . . Edmonton D Griffin Reinhart picked up one assist, giving him 100 points in 181 career games. . . . The Ice had D Tanner Faith back after he sat out 21 games with a shoulder injury. . . .

In Kent, Wash., the host Seattle Thunderbirds broke a 2-2 tie with four second-period goals and went on to beat the Victoria Royals, 6-3. . . . It was Shea Theodore bobblehead night and the veteran defenceman responded with a goal, his 12th, and an assist. . . . Seattle F Branden Troock added his ninth goal and two assists, while F Roberts Lipsbergs had two goals, giving him 17, and an assist. . . . Victoria had won its previous five games. . . .

In Prince George, F Tim Traber broke a 3-3 tie at 14:05 of the second period as the Vancouver Giants beat the Cougars, 5-3. . . . Traber, 20, has six goals in 26 games with the Giants after totalling 11 in 215 games over four seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?) and Victoria Royals. . . . The Giants are 5-0-4 in their last nine games. . . . F Cain Franson had a goal, his eighth, and two assists for Vancouver. . . . Cougars G Ty Edmonds made his second start in two nights after Brett Zarowny was injured in Friday’s pregame warmup. G Matt Kustra, 16, was brought in from Notre Dame in Wilcox, Sask., and backed up Edmonds. . . . Edmonds made 49 saves last night. . . .

In Everett, D Matt Pufahl, who played 83 games with Saskatoon over the previous two seasons, scored twice and added an assist as the Silvertips bounced the Blades, 5-1. . . . Everett scored all five of its goals on the PP, in seven opportunities. . . . The Blades are 0-2-0 on their U.S. Division tour. . . . Everett F Josh Winquist had three assists as he ran his point streak to 17 games. . . . Everett F Ivan Nikolishin had a goal, his seventh, and two helpers. . . . Pufahl has 11 goals. . . .

In Kelowna, F Justin Kirkland scored the only goal of the skills competition (aka the shootout) to give the Rockets a 3-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Blazers captain Matt Needham forced OT with a PP goal at 4:14 of the third. He’s got five goals. . . . Kamloops now has lost 10 in a row. . . . Kelowna G Jackson Whistle stopped 35 shots through OT and three more in the shootout. . . . Kamloops scratched F Aspen Sterzer with an undisclosed injury. He was injured in Friday’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Rockets. . . . F Carson Bolduc, acquired earlier in the week from the Prince George Cougars, was in the Blazers’ lineup. He missed Friday’s game due to illness. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Connor Rankin and F Phil Tot scored in the six-round shootout as the Tri-City Americans beat the Spokane Chiefs, 2-1. . . . F Riley Whittingham got Spokane’s goal, at 7:41 of the first period. . . . F Jessey Astles pulled the Americans even, on the PP, at 19:19 of the first. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie stopped 26 shots through OT, while Eric Williams of the Chiefs turned aside 23. . . . Astles has five goals this season. He went into the season with seven in 179 career games split between the Kelowna Rockets and Saskatoon Blades. . . . F Mitch Holmberg was the only Spokane shooter to find success in the shootout.
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From Prince Albert Raiders D Josh Morrissey (@Morrissey_10): “4 nights, 4 games, 4 different cities, 3 provinces and what a way to end it off with another comeback OT win! #ComebackKids #bigweekend”
Morrissey played for Team WHL in the Subway Super Series on Wednesday and Thursday nights, then rejoined the Raiders for games on Friday and Saturday.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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”

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Warriors' Jackson retires, cites post-concussion syndrome

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Bernhard Keil (Kamloops, 2010-11) has been assigned on loan by the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL) to Kaufbeuren (Germany, DEL2). He had two assists in 40 games with Straubing and one goal and three assists in nine games on loan to Regensburg (Germany, Oberliga) last season. . . .
F Trent Whitfield (Spokane, 1993-98) signed a one-year contract with Bolzano (Italy, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had six goals and six assists in 48 games for the Providence Bruins (AHL). Whitfield was captain of the Bruins last season. . . .
F Tomas Polak (Red Deer, 2007-09) had his tryout contract with Landshut (Germany, DEL2) terminated due to injury. Polak suffered a broken wrist in his second exhibition game with Landshut on Monday. The injury will force him out of action for two to three months. Last season, Polak had one goal in one game with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga), three assists in 11 games on loan to Most (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), and two assists in 27 games on loan to Berounsti Medvedi (Czech Republic, 1. Liga).
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After 168 regular-season games over four WHL seasons, D Reid Jackson has retired.
“With the number of concussions I've had over my WHL career, my family and I decided it was time to stop,” he told me Thursday night in a lengthy conversation via Facebook.
“I haven't been able to work out at full capacity since last October and my memory isn't as good as it used to be.”

REID JACKSON

Under normal circumstances, Jackson, who is from Weyburn, Sask., and whose father, Les, is the assistant GM of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, would be preparing for his 20-year-old season.
However, Reid is suffering from post-concussion syndrome.
Asked how many concussions he incurred during his WHL career, Jackson replied: “I would say anywhere between five and eight in my four seasons.”
Jackson began his WHL career with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, playing 50 games in 2009-10. Early in the 2011-12 season, he was dealt to the Prince George Cougars. On May 3, 2012, the Cougars traded him to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
He played only 12 games with Moose Jaw, shutting it down after an Oct. 24 game against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Jackson said he has tried working in construction but had some “episodes” and now has decided to go to school.
“I did have episodes where I would have to stop and take a break from being light-headed or dizzy,” he said, adding that he “just recently took a few weeks off to recover and decided to get out of a physical labour career and go to school.”
Jackson also had issues with depression, something “my doctor and I believe has stemmed from the injuries.”
While he fights this latest battle, Jackson said he keeps in contact with his agent, Jason Taylor, and that he regularly hears from the Warriors.
The Warriors, he said, call to “see how things are going” and suggesting that if he ever needs anything to let them know.
Interestingly, Jackson and Brent Benson, another WHLer who has had to quit hockey due to post-concussion syndrome, are the best of friends.
“We have been since childhood,” Jackson noted.
As Jackson attempts to resume something of a ‘normal’ lifestyle, he said that he is able to watch TV and to read without experiencing any issues.
“Living an every day lifestyle is pretty normal,” he said, “but there isn't any chance of any more contact sports.”
Jackson was a defenceman who played a gritty game. Now having been forced into retirement, he said one of the keys to dealing with brain injuries rests with players who have been injured.
“I don't think they can be avoided,” he said. “I think the players with concussions need to be more honest with their symptoms so the chances of them getting another are less and they won't suffer the long-term effects.
“I think hockey should stay as a rough sport. I think they just need to teach kids to protect themselves at a young age, rather than punish kids for playing the game the way it is meant to be played.”
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Wade Klippenstein has signed on as the Brandon Wheat Kings’ new director of scouting. He takes over from Al Macpherson, who stepped down as director of player personnel earlier this summer after being with the club since 1986. . . . Klippenstein, 43, was born in Boissevain, which is about six slapshots south of Brandon, and raised in Dauphin, which is that far north of Brandon. He spent the last six seasons with the Prince George Cougars. For the last four seasons, he was assistant general manager and director of player personnel. Klippenstein left the Cougars just before the 2013 bantam draft; neither he nor the Cougars have explained the obvious falling out. . . . Klippenstein also is the head scout for Team Pacific, which will play in the U-17 World Hockey Challenge.
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F Tanner Eberle of the Moose Jaw Warriors will go to camp with the Montreal Canadiens’ prospects, Sept. 5-9. “I was pretty excited,” the undrafted Eberle, 19, told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I’ve kind of stuck in the shadows until I got my chance and hopefully I can break out. Getting to go to a camp is a big deal for me and that’s something I’ve wanted to do since I got to the WHL.” . . . Eberle had 36 points in 65 games last season.
Gourlie reports that two other Warriors — D Morgan Rielly (Toronto) and D Travis Brown (Chicago) — also will go to NHL camps.
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Greg Meachem, the sports editor at the Red Deer Advocate, reports that the Red Deer Rebels will have players going to NHL camps — D Mathew Dumba, Minnesota; G Patrik Bartosak, Los Angeles; F Rhyse Dieno, Minnesota; D Kayle Doetzel, Nashville, and F Lukas Sutter, Winnipeg. . . . Dumba, Bartosak and Sutter are NHL draft picks, while Dieno and Doetzel are free-agent invitees.
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F Logan Nelson, 20, of the Victoria Royals will play for the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects in the annual tournament at Traverse City, Mich., Sept. 5-9. Nelson was a fifth-round selection by the Sabres in the 2012 NHL draft. . . . Royals F Ben Walker, 20, also will play in that tournament. He is a free-agent invitee to the Minnesota Wild’s camp. . . . Victoria D Keegan Kanzig, a third-round pick by Calgary in the 2013 draft, will play for the Flames at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, B.C., Sept. 5-9. . . . Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Time Colonist also reports that F Steven Hodges was to attend the Florida Panthers’ prospects camp but that he may have to sit this one out because “of an injury that might require minor surgery.” He was a third-round selection by Florida in 2012.
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F Eetu Selanne, 15, will be in camp with the Calgary Hitmen rookies today. Yes, he is Teemu’s son. Eetu was born in Coto de Caza, Calif. . . . F Brayden Cuthbert, 19, who last played in the WHL in 2010-11, is in camp with the Saskatoon Blades. Cuthbert played 39 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2010-11 before his season was ended by a brain injury. He last played on Jan. 22, 2011. Cuthbert didn’t play in 2011-12, and spent last season with the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives. . . . G Spencer Tremblay, 19, who got into one game with the Red Deer Rebels last season after playing 20 for the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2011-12, is in camp with the Saskatoon Blades, as is F Daniel Wray, 18, who had one assist in 31 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds last season. . . .
F Daniel Nachbaur, the son of Spokane Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur, is in camp with the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials. Daniel will turn 18 on Sept. 30. . . . The Centennials opened the BCHL preseason last night with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that F Taylor Vickerman, 17, hasn’t reported to the Vancouver Giants “and scuttlebutt around the league is that the sophomore left winger would prefer a trade closer to his Kennewick, Wash., home.”
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Richard Sandomir of The New York Times has an interesting piece right here.
He writes: “ESPN on Thursday ended its official association with ‘Frontline,’ the public television public affairs series, on a two-part documentary about concussions in the N.F.L. that is scheduled to be televised in October. After 15 months on the venture, ESPN chose to strip its name, logo and credit from the films, ‘League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis.’ ”
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And now for some really good news. . . .
The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to announce today that the legendary Vin Scully will be back calling the play in 2014. Scully, 85, will be calling baseball for a 65th season in 2014.
The Los Angeles Times has more right here.


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Greg and Beate Evtushevski (left) turned a 10th anniversary fund-raiser
into scholarships. Here, they present a cheque to Pauline Kirk and Anne
Pistawka of the Central Okanagan Bursary & Scholarship Society (COBSS).

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Brooks Laich (Moose Jaw, Seattle, 2000-03) signed a lockout contract with Kloten (Switzerland, NL A). He had 16 goals and 25 assists in 82 games with the Washington Capitals last season.
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The Prince Albert Raiders announced a loss of $63,906 at their annual meeting on Thursday. Perry Bergson of the Prince Albert Daily Herald was there and his story is right here.
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When Greg Evtushevski (Kamloops, 1982-86) and his wife, Beate, set up shop in Kelowna following his hockey career, they had no idea what the future held for them.
Well, they recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of Chevy’s Source for Sports. And they did it in style, with a fund-raiser that included a silent auction.
When it was all over, they had raised more than $41,000, money that has been earmarked for two annual post-secondary scholarships worth $2,000 for graduating students in the Okanagan.
Well done, Beate and Chevy!
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F Kyle Haas, 18, has joined the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats after clearing WHL waivers. Haas, from Calgary, had four points and 106 penalty minutes in 46 games with the Saskatoon Blades last season.
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There was an interesting development in Saskatoon late Friday afternoon when the Blades named F Brenden Walker as captain. Walker, 20, was acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings at the 2012 bantam draft.
In that deal, the Blades got Walker and a conditional second-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft for a second-round selection in 2012, a second-rounder in 2013 and a third-rounder in 2014. The Wheat Kings also have the option to swap 2014 first-round picks with Saskatoon.
Most teams name a captain and three alternates — some teams just go with alternates — with either the coaching staff doing the picking, or players voting on it.
In Saskatoon, GM/head coach Lorne Molleken and his staff selected Walker and will leave it up to him to choose his alternates, something that is likely to happen today.
What makes all of this even more interesting is that D Duncan Siemens, Saskatoon’s captain last season, is still with the Blades.
“We decided to go in a different direction this year,” Molleken told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
The Blades are the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup. Walker has experience in the tournament, having played in it with the host Wheat Kings in 2010.
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SOME FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHT STUFF:
The Calgary Hitmen won the Battle of Alberta, beating the Oil Kings 4-1 in Edmonton. . . . The Hitmen improved to 3-0-0, while the Oil Kings slipped to 3-1-0. . . . The Oil Kings won their last 11 regular-season games last season and the first two of this season. Prior to last night, they last lost a regular-season game on Feb. 22 when the visiting Kelowna Rockets put up a 6-4 victory. . . . Edmonton G Laurent Brossoit became the franchise’s career leader in saves, passing Torrie Jung (2,437). . . . The Oil Kings were without D Cody Corbett, who is in Buffalo for tonight’s All-American Prospects Game. With Corbett gone, the Oil Kings brought in D Aaron Irving from the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs. Irving was the ninth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Edmonton also is without D Martin Gernat (shoulder) and D Keegan Lowe (undisclosed injury). . . .

The Kootenay Ice posted the franchise’s 600th victory, beating the visiting Regina Pats, 4-1. . . . The Pats remain without head coach Pat Conacher, who left the team early in the week to deal with an undisclosed family matter. . . . Regina G Matt Hewitt (ill) sat this one out. G Teagan Sacher stopped 18 shots in his first WHL start. . . .

The Brandon Wheat Kings ran their record to 4-0 with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Broncos in Swift Current. . . . Brandon D Eric Roy got the winner. . . . The Broncos have lost three times in four games — twice in OT and once in a shootout — but have points in all four. . . . Brandon F Nick Buonassisi had two goals and an assist, with D Ryan Pulock adding one of each. They are leading the WHL scoring race, each with nine points in four games. . . .

F Dakota Conroy, acquired this week from the Victoria Royals, got the winner as the host Prince Albert Raiders dumped the Moose Jaw Warriors, 5-2. . . . G Luke Siemens, who spent last season with the Warriors, stopped 25 shots for the Raiders. “No better feeling than beating a team you used to play for,” he tweeted after the game. . . . The Raiders have started 2-0-1. . . . D Shayne Gwinner, another offseason acquisition from the Warriors, had a goal for the Raiders. . . .

The Medicine Hat Tigers, down 3-0 at 5:02 of the first period, roared back to beat the Rebels 5-4 in Red Deer. . . . Including playoff games, the Tigers have won 12 straight games in Red Deer. . . . The Rebels are 0-3 after giving up a shorthanded goal and two PP scores. . . . Rebels D Mathew Dumba completed his two-game suspension. . . .

The Prince George Cougars ran their record to 3-0 with a 4-3 victory over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The Cougars scored three straight goals to erase a 3-1 deficit. . . . Prince George got its first goal from F Colin Jacobs, on a penalty shot. Jacobs was acquired from Seattle over the summer for D Jesse Forsberg. . . The goal was Jacobs’ third of the season, with two of them coming via the penalty shot. . . . He has eight points in three games. . . . Cougars freshman D Mark McNulty left early with an undisclosed injury. . . .

G Cam Lanigan posted his first career shutout as the host Portland Winterhawks beat the Kelowna Rockets, 1-0. . . . Lanigan, 20, was picked up off waivers from the Kamloops Blazers over the summer. He made 31 saves in beating the Rockets. . . . Lanigan was appearing in his 115th regular-season game. . . . The Rockets (0-2-1) have lose three straight one-goal games. . . . Kelowna was without F J.T. Barnett (knee), D Mitchell Chapman (ankle) and D Jesse Lees (flu). . . . Portland D Seth Jones left after the game for Buffalo, where he will play in tonight’s All-American Prospects Game.

The Victoria Royals won their third straight game, beating the visiting Kamloops Blazers 4-3 in a shootout. . . . F Logan Nelson, who had a goal and an assist in regulation time, scored the only goal of the shootout. . . . Sophomore Kamloops F Cole Ully scored two first-period goals, the second two-goal game of his career. He scored nine goals last season, with two of them coming Oct. 21 in a 7-4 victory over the host Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . The Blazers were without G Cole Cheveldave (suspected knee injury), who backed up, D Tyler Hansen (concussion) and F Brendan Ranford (AHL-Hamilton Bulldogs). . . . Victoria D Tyler Stahl served the final game of a six-game suspension. . . .

The Everett Silvertips won their first game of the season, 5-3 over the Giants in Vancouver. . . . Everett is 1-2-1. . . . The Giants are 0-3-0. . . . Vancouver G Liam Liston gave up four goals on nine shots and left early in the third period. . . . Vancouver head coach Don Hay has indicated that freshman G Tyler Fuhr will start Sunday against the visiting Spokane Chiefs. . . . In three losses, the Giants have yet to hold a lead.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Brayden Cuthbert (@bcuthbert56), who has been dealing with post-concussion syndrome for more than 20 months: “Well, looks like I'll be in the line up tonight. First time since Jan.22/11. Its been a long road. #615days #LongTimeNoCelly #LETSGO #PUCK”
The Moose Jaw Warriors announced on Sept. 17 that they had assigned Cuthbert to the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires.
However, he’s now with the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives. He played Friday night and picked up two assists in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Portage Terriers. Cuthbert was named the game’s third start.
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For today’s good read, don’t miss this piece right here by Dan Bickley, a columnist with the Arizona Republic.
Bob Francis was the NHL’s coach of the year not that long ago. Now he needs a walker to help him get around. He doesn’t know what is wrong — he continues to search for answers — but wonders if his problems aren’t concussion-related.
“I used to pray for everyone but myself," Francis tells Bickley. "I thought it was hypocritical to ask for anything yourself. But I'll admit it: I pray for myself nowadays."

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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. . . .
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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. . . .
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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. . . .
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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. . . .

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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. . . .
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.

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