A WHL playoff situational ... Oil Kings shake that skid ... Hurricanes blow past Ice

If you’re wondering about there being four afternoon games on Monday and all of them in B.C., well, we are celebrating Family Day. Heaven forbid that we in B.C. should celebrate Family Day on Feb. 20, along with the good folks of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

If you know anything about the goofiness of B.C. politics, well, it’s a miracle that we don’t celebrate our Family Day on Feb. 30.

So that’s why the Portland Winterhawks are visiting the Blazers in Kamloops today, while the Seattle Thunderbirds meet the Rockets in Kelowna, the Spokane Chiefs are in Prince George to face the Cougars, and the Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants clash in Langley, B.C.

——

With five weeks left in the WHL’s regular season, it’s time for a look at the playoff picture.

As often has been stated, with the number of loser points being doled out — to date, the total this season is 136 — it is hard for teams to make up ground, especially if the need is to pass more than one team in order to move on up the standings.

Anyway . . . here’s a division-by-division look, with the number in parentheses after each division representing the number of loser points that its teams have been awarded:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

East Division (43): The Regina Pats (40-6-7) are going to finish atop the overall standings. They will win the conference pennant, so will play the second wild-card team that at the moment is the Saskatoon Blades. . . . The Moose Jaw Warriors (32-17-8) are second. They won’t catch Regina, but could be caught by the third-place Swift Current Broncos (29-17-9), who are five points back with two games in hand. Regardless, they may be headed to a first-round matchup with only home-ice to be decided. . . . The defending-champion Brandon Wheat Kings (27-20-8) will be in the playoffs, either in third place — they are five points behind Swift Current with each team having 17 games remaining — or in the conference’s first wild-card spot. The latter almost surely will mean a first-round go with the Medicine Hat Tigers, who seem likely to finish as the conference’s second seed. . . . This could be the season in which five East Division teams qualify for the playoffs with only the Prince Albert Raiders (14-38-5) not making it.

—

Central Division (40): The Medicine Hat Tigers (40-16-1) may have pocketed the division title on Saturday when they beat the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes, 5-0. The Tigers now lead the division by eight points. They only have one loser point, but have seven more victories than do the Hurricanes (33-16-7), the beneficiaries of seven loser points. . . . . The Tigers are six points behind league-leading Regina but the Pats hold four games in hand. The Tigers, then, would appear headed to a first-round engagement with the conference’s first wild-card team and that, right now, looks to be Brandon. . . . The Hurricanes are likely to go into a first-round meeting with the third-place Red Deer Rebels (23-24-9), whose season has been full of inconsistencies. . . . However, the Rebels need to be careful because they are only five points ahead of the Calgary Hitmen (20-26-10). . . . The Edmonton Oil Kings (19-33-4) and Kootenay Ice (12-35-9) aren’t going to make it.

—

WESTERN CONFERENCE

B.C. Division (23): The Prince George Cougars (37-16-4) once appeared to have an insurmountable lead, but that is down to four points over the hard-charging Kamloops Blazers (34-18-6). While the Cougars have been treading water — they are 4-4-2 in their past 10 games — the Blazers, with the WHL’s top goaltending tandem in Connor Ingram and Dylan Ferguson, have gotten close enough that they are looming large in Prince George’s rearview mirror. The teams will meet five times before season’s end, too. . . . Finish first and you’ll get the conference’s second wild-card team in the first round. Finish second and you’ll get the division’s third-place team. . . . It’s looking like the Kelowna Rockets (32-20-4) and Victoria Royals (31-22-4) will scrap for third spot. Kelowna goes into the week with a two-point edge over Victoria. . . . The Vancouver Giants (18-34-5) will be on the outside looking in for the fourth time in five seasons.

—

U.S. Division (30): The Seattle Thunderbirds (35-15-5) finally tracked down the Everett Silvertips (32-12-10) and passed them. Seattle is 18-2-2 since the Christmas break. . . . Seattle and Everett, which is 1-1-0 on its six-game East Division trip, will meet three more times. . . . The Tri-City Americans (31-23-3) are third, but have lost three in a row and now are only two points ahead of the Portland Winterhawks (30-23-3), who are 8-2-0 in their last 10 outings. Portland holds down the conference’s second wild-card spot, just three points behind Victoria. . . . About the only thing in the U.S. Division that isn’t up in the air is fifth place. The Spokane Chiefs (23-23-9) are eight points out of the playoffs and, with only 17 games remaining, have their work cut out if they are to make the playoffs. They last missed in 2005-06. 

——

If you enjoy stopping off here and would care to make a donation to the cause, please feel free to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

———

👊😂 #gold pic.twitter.com/0ONDjzDwUq

— Chirp Fest Hockey (@Chirp_X_Fest) February 13, 2017

———

SUNDAY’S GAMES:

At Edmonton, the Oil Kings broke a record-tying 16-game losing streak as they beat the Calgary Hitmen 3-2 in OT on F Tyler Robertson’s goal. . . . Robertson, now with 14 goals, scored at 1:12 of extra time. He

TYLER ROBERTSON

has tied his career high in goals from last season. . . . “It was a great feeling to watch that puck go in the net,” Steve Hamilton, Edmonton’s head coach, said in a story on the team’s website. “We talked about wanting to be dialed in for the full length of this game. Of course, we needed some extra time, but it only adds to the relief to watch (Robertson) get that goal. That was a pretty important goal for everybody. I think there was just a collective exhale from everyone involved.” . . . Edmonton hadn’t won since New Year’s Day when it beat the visiting Hitmen 4-3 on F Lane Bauer’s goal 21 seconds into OT. Bauer now plays for the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Edmonton also lost 16 in a row in 2009-10, from Dec. 19 through Jan. 30. That streak ended on Jan. 31 with a 5-4 victory over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on D Adrian Van de Mosselaer’s goal at 3:07 of OT. . . . On Sunday, the Oil Kings jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as F Trey Fix-Wolansky scored his 15th goal, on a PP, at 2:50 of the first period and F Davis Koch got No. 16 at 6:02. . . . The Hitmen tied it later in the first period. . . . F Beck Malenstyn got his 23rd goal at 13:37, with D Jake Bean scoring his seventh, on a PP, at 15:34. . . . G Patrick Dea stopped 22 shots for the Oil Kings. . . . Dea also set a franchise single-season record for assists by a goaltender. His fifth assist of the season, this one on Fix-Wolansky’s goal, broke the record he had shared with Laurent Brossoit, who did it in 2012-13. . . . The Hitmen got 29 saves from G Trevor Martin. . . . Each team was 1-7 on the PP. . . . Edmonton D Wyatt McLeod left in the second period with what appeared to be an injury to his right shoulder. McLeod, who turned 17 on Jan. 27, is a freshman from Dawson Creek, B.C. He has six assists in 41 games. . . . With McLeod out, the Oil Kings’ coaching staff gave ample ice time to Robertson’s brother, Matthew, a 15-year-old who joined the team earlier in the week from the midget AAA Sherwood Park Kings. . . . The Oil Kings (19-33-4) are 10 points from a playoff spot. . . . The Hitmen (20-26-10) are two points behind the Saskatoon Blades, who hold down the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. Calgary also has closed to within five points of the Red Deer Rebels, who are third in the Central Division. . . . Announced attendance: 13,524.

——

.@t_murs plays in career game number 250 today. Now tied for fourth (Chad Greenan) among franchise d-man GP leaders.

#1 - @jaggerdirk (310)

— Kootenay ICE (@WHLKootenayICE) February 13, 2017

At Cranbrook, B.C., F Zak Zborosky returned to haunt his former teammates as he scored twice and added an assist in leading the Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 6-4 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . .

ZAK ZBOROSKY

Zborosky, a 20-year-old from Regina, had 44 points, 28 of them goals, in 41 games with the Ice when he was moved at the trade deadline. With Lethbridge, he has eight goals and 11 assists in 15 games. . . . F Matt Alfaro, who also went to Lethbridge in that deal, had one assist. . . . The Ice got F Colton Kroeker and F Brett Davis in return, along with a couple of draft picks. Kroeker matched Zborosky with two goals and an assist, while Davis had two assists. . . . Kroeker, who has 13 goals, gave the Ice a 2-0 lead when he scored at 1:01 and 8:23 of the first period. . . . Zborosky answered with goals at 11:22 and 12:49 of the first. . . . F Josh Tarzwell’s second goal, at 16:27, gave the visitors their first lead. . . . Kootenay tied it on F Vince Loschiavo’s 21st goal, at 18:44. . . . F Egor Babenko’s 19th goal, at 19:45, capped a seven-goal first period and gave Lethbridge a 4-3 lead. . . . F Tyler Wong’s 40th goal increased the lead to 5-3 at 6:10 of the second and F Ryan Vandervlis (5) added a shorthanded goal at 9:21. . . . Kootenay got its final goal from F Kaeden Taphorn (4) at 14:32 of the second. . . . Wong also added an assist to his goal. . . . G Adam Swan blocked 28 shots to earn his first WHL victory for Lethbridge. Swan, who will turn 17 on March 25, was an 11th-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. From Ashern, Man., he has been playing for the midget AAA Interlake Lightning. . . . The Ice started G Jakob Walter, who gave up five goals on 25 shots in 26:10. Payton Lee finished up with 33 saves on 34 shots in 32:34. . . . Lethbridge was 1-3 on the PP; Kootenay was 0-3. . . . The Hurricanes played three games in fewer than 48 hours, winning two of them. . . . Lethbridge (34-16-7) has won 10 of its past 11 games. The Hurricanes are second in the Central Division, six points behind the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Kootenay (12-35-9) has lost six in a row (0-5-1). . . . Announced attendance: 1,597.

Wong becomes the first Hurricane to score #40 goals or more in consecutive seasons since Nathan Barrett in 2002 (who did so for 3 seasons)

— LethbridgeHurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) February 13, 2017

——

MONDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Portland at Kamloops, 2 p.m.

Seattle at Kelowna, 2:05 p.m.

Spokane at Prince George, 2 p.m.

Tri-City vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 2 p.m.

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.

Cougars, 'Tips tied on top ... 'Canes win old-fashioned shootout ... Ferguson great for Blazers

Happy Cam Moon day at Rebels World Headquarters!  Props to local hero and alum Devin Francon at @1823FinishCarp for the swag. #mooners1500 pic.twitter.com/Y2aRrXsJzS

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 30, 2016

FRIDAY’S GAMES:

Here it is....tonight's Overtime winner courtesy of @rduke96! #Duker pic.twitter.com/S8Hf0cL5RL

— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) December 31, 2016

At Brandon, F Reid Duke scored at 4:31 of OT to give the Wheat Kings a 4-3 victory over the Moose Jaw

REID DUKE

Warriors. . . . Duke, who drew the primary assist on the goal that forced OT, now has 20 goals in 28 games. He finished last season with 33 in 68. . . . Brandon forced OT when F Tyler Coulter scored his second goal of the game, and 15th of the season, at 6:33 of the third period. . . . F Connor Gutenberg (6) gave the Wheat Kings a 1-0 lead 47 seconds into the first period . . . Warriors F Nikita Popugaev (22) tied it at 16:57 of the first period. . . . Coulter’s shorthanded goal gave the home side a 2-1 lead at 10:17 of the second period. Coulter also drew the lone assist on the winner. . . . The Warriors took a 3-2 lead on goals from F Tristin Langan (3), at 14:03 of the second period, and F Jayden Halbgewachs, at 4:42 of the third period. Halbgewachs leads the WHL with 31 goals. . . . Brandon F Ty Lewis had two assists. He also was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down by Moose Jaw D Josh Thrower at 17:20 of the third period with the score 3-3. Lewis wasn’t able to solve G Brody Willms. . . . Willms finished with 38 saves, while Brandon’s Logan Thompson earned the victory with 24 stops. . . . The Warriors were 0-3 on the PP; the Wheat Kings were 0-4. . . . The Wheat Kings (17-15-4) have won two in a row. They are fourth in the East Division, nine points out of third, but hold down a wild-card spot. . . . The Warriors now are 21-9-6 and sit second in the division, one point ahead of the third-place Swift Current Broncos. . . . The rematch is scheduled for tonight in Moose Jaw. . . . The Wheat Kings lost two forwards — Gutenberg and Meyer Nell — to undisclosed injuries in the first period. . . . F Ben McCartney, a second-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft, made his WHL debut with the Wheat Kings. From Portage la Praire, Man., McCartney plays at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C. . . . Announced attendance: 3,625.

——

Russians Andrei Grishakov and Anatolii Elizarov drop the gloves. It must be the Battle of Alberta!#CGYvsEDM

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) December 31, 2016

At Calgary, G Cody Porter stopped 31 shots to lead the Hitmen to a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oil

CODY PORTER

Kings. . . . D Aaron Irving’s 14th goal put the Oil Kings ahead 1-0 at 5:23 of the first period. . . . Calgary then scored the next three goals. . . . F Andrei Grishakov (4) tied it on a PP at 9:28. . . . F Beck Malenstyn got his 14th goal, and fourth in the past three games, at 5:27 of the second period. . . . F Andrew Fyten (4) increased the lead to 3-1 at 16:25. . . . Edmonton D Will Warm scored his fifth goal with 5.5 seconds left in the third period to get the visitors to within a goal. . . . Irving also had an assist. . . . The Oil Kings got 29 saves from G Patrick Dea. . . . F Liam Keeler, who was a first-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, was in Edmonton’s lineup. He plays for the midget AAA team at the Edmonton Southside Athletic Club (AMHL). He has 10 goals and 18 assists in 22 games with the Lions. . . . The Hitmen (14-17-3) had lost their previous two games (0-1-1). They are seven points out of a playoff spot. . . . The Oil Kings slipped to 17-17-4, but still hold down a wild-card spot. . . . They’ll clash again Sunday afternoon in Edmonton. . . . Announced attendance: 8,754.

——

Zwerger ties it on the PP and it's 2-2. He then fell down on his celebration, but he incorporated the fall into the display

— Jesse Geleynse (@JesseGeleynse) December 31, 2016

At Everett, F Josh Curtis broke a 3-3 tie at 14:16 of the third period as the Prince George Cougars beat

JOSH CURTIS

the Silvertips, 4-3. . . . The victory lifted the Cougars (27-10-2) into a tie with the Silvertips (25-5-6) atop the overall standings. They are one point ahead of the Regina Pats (24-3-7) and Medicine Hat Tigers (27-11-1). . . . F Jansen Harkins had given the Cougars a 2-0 lead with goals at 1:02 of the first period and 1:04 of the second. He’s got nine goals. . . . Everett scored the next three goals, with D Kevin Davis drawing an assist on each of them. . . . F Matt Fonteyne scored at 9:19 of the second, and F Dominic Zwerger (17) tied it, on a PP, at 13:48. Fonteyne gave Everett the lead with his 10th goal, on a PP, at 2:26 of the third period. . . . That lead stood less than two minutes as Cougars D Brendan Guhle tied it with No. 9, at 4:15. . . . Harkins added an assist to his brace of goals, while F Brad Morrison and F Kody McDonald each had two assists. Guhle added one. . . . F Patrick Bajkov had two assists for Everett. . . . Prince George got 17 stops from G Ty Edmonds, while Mario Petit stopped 21 shots for Everett. . . . The Silvertips were 2-7 on the PP; the Cougars were 0-3. . . . Mike Benton, the Silvertips’ radio voice, reports that Everett’s record (25-5-6, 56 points) is the second-best through 36 games in franchise history, behind the 2006-07 team that was 30-5-1. . . . Announced attendance: 5,323.

——

GRIFFEN OUTHOUSE

At Kelowna, G Griffen Outhouse stopped 26 shots to lead the Victoria Royals to a 2-1 victory over the Rockets. . . . Outhouse stopped four shots in the first period and then turned aside 15 in the second. . . . F Jack Walker gave the Royals a 1-0 lead with his 19th goal at 4:12 of the first period. . . . F Kaid Oliver increased that to 2-0 with his second goal, at 8:17 of the third period. . . . Outhouse lost his shutout bid when Rockets freshman F Nolan Foote scored No. 10, on a PP, at 15:39. . . . The Rockets got 26 saves from G Michael Herringer. . . . Kelowna was 1-5 on the PP; Victoria was 0-4. . . . The Royals (20-15-4) are 3-0-1 in their past four games. They are fourth in the B.C. Division, four points behind the second-place Rockets and Kamloops Blazers. . . . The Rockets (23-14-2) have lost two in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 5,839.

——

We got one HAPPY FAN BUS decided to go with 9 Honks #canetrain #30yearsstrong

— LethbridgeHurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) December 31, 2016

At Medicine Hat, F Brett Davis broke a 7-7 tie — yes, 7-7 — at 16:23 of the third period as the Lethbridge

BRETT DAVIS

Hurricanes beat the Tigers, 9-7. . . . Davis has 10 points, including six goals, in 25 games. Four of his goals have come over his past three games. Last season, he finished with five goals and four assists in 53 games. . . . F Giorgio Estephan put this one away with the empty-net goal. He’s got 19 goals. . . . The Hurricanes scored three goals in the second-half of the second period to take a 6-3 lead. Estephan and F Tyler Wong scored PP goals, at 10:54 and 14:22, with F Egor Babenko (11) counting at 19:06. . . . The Tigers tied it by scoring three times in 2:17 in the third period. F Mason Shaw got it started at 9:46, with F Chad Butcher (17) scoring at 11:35. Shaw’s 13th goal tied it 6-6 at 12:03. . . . Wong, with his 25th, gave Lethbridge the lead at 12:25. . . . Tigers F Zach Fischer tied it, again, with his 20th goal, at 15:15. . . . Wong finished with two goals and three assists, while Estephan had two goals and two assists, and F Ryley Lindgren had a goal (13) and two helpers. D Brennan Menell and F Colton Kroeker had two assists each, while Davis and Bellerive each had a goal and an assist. Bellerive has 15 goals. . . . F Matt Bradley scored twice, giving him 17, and added three assists for Medicine Hat, while Shaw added two assist to his two goals. F John Dahlstrom drew three assists and D David Quenneville had two. . . . Lethbridge G Stuart Skinner stopped 43 shots, while Medicine Hat’s Nick Schneider blocked 22. . . . The Hurricanes were 3-5 on the PP; the Tigers were 1-5. . . . Lethbridge (20-13-5) has won two in a row and is second in the Central Division, 10 points behind the Tigers and five points ahead of the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Medicine Hat (27-11-1) had a six-game winning streak snapped, but still leads the Central Division by 10 points. . . . Announced attendance: 3,803.

——

At Prince Albert, G Tyler Brown stopped 24 shots to help the Regina Pats to an 8-0 victory over the

LANE SCHIOLER

Raiders. . . . Brown has two shutouts this season and four in his career. . . . D Lane Schioler got the winning goal, his first WHL score coming at 8:48 of the first period. The goal came in his 69th regular-season game. . . . F Nick Henry (17) and F Lane Zablocki (10) each scored twice for Regina, while F Sam Steel scored his 25th goal and added two assists. F Austin Wagner also had a goal, his 16th, and two helpers. . . . The Pats got two assists from each of D Chase Harrison and D Jonathan Smart. . . . Steel’s goal came while the Pats were shorthanded. That was their WHL-leading 17th shorthanded score. . . . Prince Albert G Ian Scott gave up three goals on 13 shots in 22:46. Nic Sanders came on to finish up, allowing five goals on 19 shots in 37:14. . . . Regina was 3-5 on the PP; the Raiders were 0-3. . . . Regina (24-3-7) has points in four straight (3-0-1) and leads the East Division by seven points over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Raiders (8-28-2) have lost two in a row. . . . The teams will meet again on Sunday in Regina. . . . Announced attendance: 2,137.

——

#NailedIt #Mooners1500 pic.twitter.com/QfUhrvVJcM

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 31, 2016

At Red Deer, D Troy Murray broke a 1-1 tie at 5:31 of the third period and the Kootenay Ice went on to a

ZAK ZBOROSKY

4-1 victory over the Rebels. . . . Murray has three goals this season. . . . F Zak Zborosky led the Ice with a goal, his 27th, and two assists. . . . F Matt Alfaro (12) gave the visitors a 1-0 lead, on a PP, at 2:00 of the first period. . . . F Brandon Hagel’s 18th goal tied the score 41 seconds into the second period. . . . Zborosky’s 27th goal, in his 39th game, upped the Ice lead to 3-1 at 9:32 of the third period. Last season, Zborosky finished with 32 goals in 58 games. . . . Ice F Vince Loschiavo (13) iced it with an empty-netter, at 19:40. . . . F Noah Philp had two assists for Kootenay. . . . Ice G Payton Lee was outstanding, with 41 saves, 20 more than Red Deer’s Riley Lamb. . . . The Ice was 1-3 on the PP; the Rebels were 0-4. . . . By game’s end, Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ GM and head coach, had his top line — Evan Polei, Austin Glover and Hagel — firmly planted on the bench. “In the third period tonight,” Sutter told reporters later, “our best players were terrible. That’s why they sat for the last 11 minutes.” . . . The Ice improved to 8-23-8. . . . The Rebels (17-16-6) have lost two in a row and remain third in the Central Division. . . . Announced attendance: 5,104.

——

At Kent, Wash., the Portland Winterhawks got 40 saves from G Cole Kehler as they beat the Seattle

COLE KEHLER

Thunderbirds, 2-1. . . . Kehler, an off-season pickup from the Kamloops Blazers, is 16-12-0, 3.04, .911 with Portland. . . . The Winterhawks won this one when F Skyler McKenzie scored his 25th goal, unassisted, to break a 1-1 tie at 15:42 of the third period. . . . He has 47 points in 39 games, after going into this season with 12 goals and 29 assists in 138 regular-season games. . . . F Keegan Iverson (14) gave the Winterhawks a 1-0 lead at 8:29 of the first period. . . . Seattle tied it when D Aaron Hyman (2) scored his first goal with the Thunderbirds, on a PP, at 6:01 of the second period. He was acquired on Tuesday from the Calgary Hitmen. . . . G Rylan Toth stopped 34 shots for the Thunderbirds. . . . Seattle was 1-2 on the PP; Portland was 0-2. . . . Seattle F Scott Eansor was back after a one-game absence. . . . The Winterhawks (21-17-1) have won two in a row. They are third in the U.S. Division, two points behind the Tri-City Americans and three ahead of the Thunderbirds. . . Seattle (18-14-4) had points in each of its previous three games (2-0-1) and holds down a wild-card spot. . . . Announced attendance: 5,019.

——

At Spokane, the Tri-City Americans rode a pair of three-goal outbursts to a 6-3 victory over the Chiefs. . .

PARKER AuCOIN

. D Ty Smith (3) got Spokane on the scoreboard first, at 4:37 of the first period. . . . The Americans scored the next three goals, with D Parker Wotherspoon (6) counting at 9:42, F Parker AuCoin scoring at 18:59, and F Morgan Geekie (21) making it 3-1 at 15:46 of the second period. . . . F Kailer Yamamoto’s 22nd goal, shorthanded, at 0:37 of the third period got the home side to within a goal. . . . The Americans then scored three straight, with F Michael Rasmussen (27) counting shorthanded, at 10:37, AuCoin getting his 14th, at 16:05, and F Max James (6) finding the range at 18:33. . . . F Keanu Yamamoto (15) scored for the Chiefs, at 18:49. . . . AuCoin has four goals in three games after not scoring for 14 in a row. . . . James, who hadn’t played since Oct. 22, now has six goals in 11 games. . . . Tri-City F Nolan Yaremko had two assists. . . . G Rylan Parenteau stopped 25 shots to earn the victory over Dawson Weatherill, who made 24 saves. . . . Each team was 0-4 on the PP. . . . The Americans (21-16-3) are second in the U.S. Division, two points ahead of Portland. . . . The Chiefs (15-15-6) are four points out of a playoff spot. . . . The same teams will meet again tonight in Kennewick, Wash. . . . Announced attendance: 7,740.

——

Thank you @SCBroncos @TheWHL @City_SC  Bill Lee and all Sponsors for this Beautiful Monument.  #RIP
TRENT, SCOTT, BRENT AND CHRIS pic.twitter.com/dPvZNEIhxH

— Sheldon Kennedy (@ShelKenn) December 30, 2016

At Swift Current, F Kaden Elder scored off a pass from F Aleksi Heponiemi at 2:11 of OT to give the

KADEN ELDER

Broncos a 3-2 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Elder has eight goals this season. . . . The Broncos won on a night when families of the four players killed in a Dec. 30, 1986 bus crash were recognized in a pre-game ceremony. . . . The Blades took a 2-0 lead on goals from F Josh Paterson (9), on a PP, at 10:31 of the first period, and F Lukus MacKenzie (5), at 7:29 of the second period. . . . Paterson was playing in his 100th regular-season game. . . . D Max Lajoie (6) pulled the Broncos to within a goal, on a PP, at 8:25 of the second period. . . . F Kole Gable tied the score with his fifth goal, at 10:14 of the second. . . . The Broncos got 21 saves from G Travis Child. . . . G Brock Hamm turned aside 32 shots for the Blades. . . . Saskatoon was 1-2 on the PP; Swift Current was 1-4. . . . With four forwards out with injuries, the Blades dressed eight defencemen. . . . The Broncos (20-11-7) are third in the East Division, on point behind the Swift Current Broncos. . . . The Blades (14-20-5) are five points out of a playoff spot. . . . The same teams will go at it again on Sunday in Saskatoon. . . . Announced attendance: 2,234.

——

At Langley, B.C., G Dylan Ferguson stopped 39 shots to lead the Kamloops Blazers to a 4-2 victory over

DYLAN FERGUSON

the Vancouver Giants. . . . Ferguson, an 18-year-old from Lantzville, B.C., started on Nov. 18, in a 6-5 victory over the host Tri-City Americans, then didn’t play until Dec. 10. With G Connor Ingram with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, Ferguson now has made nine straight starts, and the Blazers are 6-2-1 in those games. . . . D Dallas Valentine’s first goal of the season gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 14:39 of the first period. . . . The Blazers went up 2-0 on second-period goals from F Garrett Pilon (9), at 1:06, and F Quinn Benjafield (10), on a PP, at 19:47. . . . Benjafield also had an assist. . . . The Giants made it interesting on third-period goals from F James Malm (10), on a PP, at 16:27, and F Ty Ronning (13), at 18:31. . . . The Blazers put it away when F Collin Shirley scored his 16th, into an empty net, at 19:21. . . .  Vancouver G Ryan Kubic turned aside 26 shots. . . . Each team was 1-5 on the PP. . . . The Blazers (23-14-2) have won two in a row. They are tied with the Kelowna Rockets for second in the B.C. Division. . . . The Giants (14-20-3) have lost two straight and are nine points from a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 4,446.

——

SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Victoria at Kamloops, 5 p.m.

Brandon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Seattle at Portland, 7:30 p.m.

Spokane vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

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.

Silvertips move into penthouse ... Koch in record book ... Ferguson rolling ... Outhouse slams door

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

Logan Thompson is a perfect 11/11 this season in shootouts as the Wheat Kings knock off the Pats 2-1 tonight. Ty Coulter with the SO winner!

— Branden Crowe (@branden_crowe) December 29, 2016

At Brandon, F Tyler Coulter scored the only goal of a shootout as the Wheat Kings beat the Regina Pats,

LOGAN THOMPSON

2-1. . . . Regina took a 1-0 lead when F Nick Henry scored his 15th goal, on a PP, at 12:32 of the first period. . . . Brandon tied it at 17:02 as F Ty Lewis scored No. 18. . . . With Regina shooting first in the circus, Brandon G Logan Thompson denied F Sam Steel, Henry and F Adam Brooks. . . . Brandon F Reid Duke didn’t score on the home side’s first attempt, with Coulter scoring as the second Wheat Kings shooter. . . . Regina had what it thought was a goal disallowed late i the second period when Brooks was ruled to have scored off a pass that had been gloved to him. . . . The Pats also hit two posts on a third-period PP. . . . Thompson stopped 39 shots through OT, five more than Regina’s Tyler Brown. . . . In his WHL career, Thompson is 5-0 in shootouts and a perfect 14-for-14 versus the shooters. . . . The Pats were 1-7 on the PP; the Wheat Kings were 0-4. . . . Brandon improved to 16-15-4. . . . The Pats (23-3-7) had won their previous two games. . . . The Pats beat the visiting Wheat Kings 7-4 on Tuesday. . . . Announced attendance: 4,339.

——

At Calgary, G Nick Schneider stopped 40 shots to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the

NICK SCHNEIDER

Hitmen. . . . One night earlier, in Medicine Hat, the Tigers beat the Hitmen, 5-4, in a shootout. . . . Last night, the Tigers scored the game’s first three goals. . . . F Gary Haden (3) got it started at 8:28 of the first period, with F Zach Fischer (19) making it 2-0 at 10:01. . . . D David Quenneville scored his 20th goal of the season at 3:57 of the second period, for a 3-0 edge. . . . The Hitmen made it interesting on third-period goals from F Beck Malenstyn (13), at 10:47 of the third period, and F Jordy Stallard (7), at 14:01. . . . Quenneville has 20 goals in 36 games this season; he went into the season with 20 goals in 132 regular-season games. . . . Schneider leads the WHL with 24 victories. . . . Calgary starter Cody Porter surrendered three goals on 12 shots in 23:57. Kyle Dumba came on in relief to stop all 23 shots he faced in 35:31. . . . Each team was 0-4 on the PP. . . . The Tigers (27-10-1) have won six in a row. . . . The Hitmen (13-17-3) had points in their previous two games (1-0-1). . . . Announced attendance: 9,048.

——

Davis Koch has equaled an Oil King record with 4 assists in the game. He joins Van de Mosselaer, Wruck, St.Croix, Samulesson and Petryk.

— Corey Graham (@CoreyGraham) December 29, 2016

At Edmonton, D Davis Koch recorded four assists to help the Oil Kings to a 7-2 victory over the Red Deer

DAVIS KOCH

Rebels. . . . On Tuesday, the host Rebels blanked the Oil Kings, 3-0. . . . Last night, the Oil Kings’ offence had its best night of this season. The home boys scored the game’s first five goals and led 5-0 halfway through the second period. . . . D Anatolii Elizarov (5) scored shorthanded at 10:58 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. . . . F Branden Klatt (4) upped that to 2-0 at 12:10. . . . F Colton Kehler (9) struck on a PP at 3:49 of the second period, followed by D Will Warm (4), at 7:31, and F Lane Bauer (23), at 9:28. . . . Red Deer cut into the deficit on goals from F Cameron Hausinger (4) and F Dawson Martin (6), at 11:38 and 13:28. . . . Bauer’s 24th goal and one from D Aaron Irving (13) finished the scoring at 14:33 of the second period and 16:58 of the third. . . . Warm added two assists to his goal, while Irving also had two assists, as did D Brayden Gorda. . . . Edmonton G Patrick Dea blocked 17 shots. . . . Red Deer starter Riley Lamb, who posted the shutout on Tuesday, was beaten four times on 21 shots in 27:31. . . . Byron Fancy came on in relief to make his WHL debut. He allowed three goals on 18 shots in 32:29. Fancy, who will turn 16 on Sunday, was a second-round pick by Red Deer in the 2016 bantam draft. He plays for the midget AAA Lethbridge Hurricanes, but is with the Rebels while Lasse Petersen is with the Danish national junior team. . . . There were only seven PPs in the game despite the teams combining for 156 penalty minutes. . . . Edmonton was 1-3 on the PP; Red Deer was 1-4. . . . The Oil Kings (17-16-4) had lost their previous two games (0-1-1). . . . The Rebels slid to 17-15-6. . . . Announced attendance: 12,689.

——

By my math, that works out to $33.75 for the every minute he took walking across the ice to the Everett dressing room. Good value for him. https://t.co/CZZKGrDUcY

— Steve Ewen (@SteveEwen) December 28, 2016

At Everett, the Silvertips scored the game’s first three goals and went on to beat the Vancouver Giants, 4-

PATRICK BAJKOV

1. . . . The Giants beat the visiting Silvertips 5-4 in OT on Tuesday night. . . . Last night, F Patrick Pajkov got the home side started with his 18th goal, at 5:34 of the first period. . . . F Graham Millar (9) made it 2-0 at 14:12. . . . F Eetu Tuulola (10) gave Everett a 3-0 lead, on a PP, at 3:18 of the second period. . . . D Jeff Rayman, with his third goal of the season, and third in four games, scored for Vancouver at 7:27 of the second. . . . The Silvertips iced it when F Dominic Zwerger scored his 16th goal into an empty net, at 17:40 of the third. . . . Zwerger, Bakkov and Millar added an assist each. . . . Everett D Kevin Davis picked up an assist to run his point streak to 10 games. . . . G Mario Petit stopped 22 shots for the winners. . . . Vancouver’s Ryan Kubic turned back 31 shots. . . . Everett was 1-5 on the PP; Vancouver was 0-3. . . . The Silvertips (25-4-6) are 4-0-1 in their last five games and hold down first place in the overall standings. . . . Announced attendance: 4,602.

——

Pretty sombre in the media/scouts room before tonites game. Off-ice official Pat Rozek will be remembered before the game. His last work. pic.twitter.com/tzr1hfspF1

— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) December 29, 2016

At Kamloops, G Dylan Ferguson continued his strong play as he stopped 46 shots to lead the Blazers to

DYLAN FERGUSON

a 5-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Rockets had beaten the visiting Blazers 3-2 on Tuesday night. . . . Last night, F Garrett Pilon scored twice for the Blazers, giving him eight this season. . . . Pilon gave the home side a 1-0 lead at 5:21 of the first period. . . . Kelowna pulled even when F Nolan Foote (9) scored, on a PP, at 3:03 of the second period . . . Pilon snapped the tie at 8:58. . . . Blazers F Jermaine Loewen (4) added insurance at 2:17 of the third period. . . . The Blazers put it away when F Deven Sideroff (23) scored, on a PP, at 11:12 and F Travis Walton (3) counted at 19:13. . . . F Nic Holowko, who is playing alongside Pilon and Sideroff with Rudolfs Balcers at the World Junior Championship with Latvia, had two assists. . . . With G Connor Ingram at the WJC with Canada, Ferguson made his eighth straight start. He is 5-2-1 and has allowed two or fewer goals in six of those games. . . . Kelowna got 20 saves from G Brodan Salmond. . . . Each team was 1-6 on the PP. . . . F Luc Smith, acquired Tuesday from the Regina Pats, made his Kamloops debut, playing between Loewen and F Quinn Benjafield. . . . The Rockets revealed that F Erik Gardiner, 17, will remain with them for the remainder of the season. He had been with the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos when Kelowna acquired his rights from the Regina Pats in a deal that had D Jonathan Smart head east. Gardiner, the younger brother of former Prince Albert Raiders F Reid Gardiner, had an assist last night. He has a goal and five assists in six games since joining the Rockets. . . . Kamloops (22-14-2) is third in the B.C. Division, two points behind the Rockets (23-13-2), who had been 4-0-1 in their previous five games. . . . Announced attendance: 4,456.

——

BRETT DAVIS

At Lethbridge, F Jordy Bellerive broke a 1-1 tie at 12:01 of the second period and the Hurricanes went on to a 4-1 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . On Tuesday night, the Ice got past the visiting Hurricanes, 6-4. . . . Last night, F Brett Davis gave the hosts a 1-0 lead with his fourth goal, at 4:36 of the first period. . . . Ice F Matt Alfaro (11) tied it at 5:56. . . . Bellerive scored his 14th goal, on a PP, at 12:01 of the second period, with Davis sniping again, on a PP, at 16:16. . . . F Tanner Nagel iced it with his seventh goal, at 5:37 of the third period. . . . The Hurricanes got 29 stops from G Stuart Skinner, while the Ice’s Payton Lee turned aside 33 shots. . . . Lethbridge was 2-4 on the PP; Kootenay was 0-4. . . . The Hurricanes (19-13-5) has lost their previous three games (0-2-1). . . . The Ice now is 7-23-8. . . . Announced attendance: 4,028.

——

At Moose Jaw, F Brayden Burke scored once and added two assists to help the Warriors to a 4-1 victory

BRAYDEN BURKE

over the Swift Current Broncos. . . . A night previous the host Broncos beat the Warriors, 6-1. . . . Burke has three goals and 19 assists in 15 games with the Warriors since being acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He had put up four goals and 19 assists in 15 games with Lethbridge at the time of the trade. . . . Burke’s seventh goal of the season got things going at 11:33 of the first period. . . . Burke drew the secondary assist on F Brett Howden’s 17th goal, at 6:24 of the second. . . . Broncos F Tyler Steenbergen got his 26th, at 8:16 of the second, to get his guys to within one. . . . Moose Jaw F Tanner Jeannot added insurance with his 11th, at 9:55. . . . F Jayden Halbgewachs of the Warriors became the season’s first 30-goal man when he scored at 5:58 of the third period. He is the WHL’s top sniper. . . . Howden also had an assist. . . . Warriors G Zach Sawchenko earned the victory with 29 saves. . . . At the other end, Taz Burman stopped 22 shots. . . . Swift Current was 0-3 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 0-4. . . . The Warriors (21-9-5) had lost their previous two games. . . . The Broncos (19-11-7) have points in their previous five games (4-0-1). . . . Announced attendance: 3,016.

——

At Portland, D Henri Jokiharju had a goal and two assists as the Winterhawks skated past the Tri-City

HENRI JOKIHARJU

Americans, 4-3. . . . The Americans had beaten the visiting Winterhawks, 6-2, the previous night. . . . Last night, the Winterhawks erased a 2-1 deficit with three straight goals. . . . D Keoni Texeira gave Portland a 1-0 lead with his eighth goal at 1:33 of the first period, on a PP. . . . Tri-City F Morgan Geekie (20) tied it just 43 seconds later. . . . F Parker AuCoin (12) gave the Amerians the lead at 5:01 with his third goal in two games. . . . F Brendan De Jong (6) pulled Portland into a 2-2 tie at 1:38 of the second and the Winterhawks took the lead when Jokijarju (6) scored, on a PP, at 17:17. . . . Portland F Colton Veloso provided insurance with his ninth goal, at 16:55 of the third period. . . . Americans F Tyler Sandhu’s 10th goal, at 19:30, made it interesting at the end. . . . The Winterhawks got 33 saves from G Michael Bullion. . . . Tri-City starter Evan Sarthou stopped 38 shots, with Rylan Parenteau coming on for a five-second appearance late in the third period. . . . Portland was 2-5 on the PP; Tri-City was 0-7. . . . The Winterhawks (20-17-1) snapped a three-game losing skid. . . . The Americans now are 20-16-3. . . . Announced attendance: 6,148.

——

Nothing good comes easy. #Blades HC Dean Brockman says newcomer Markson Bechtold, who missed tonight's game, will be out "longer term."

— Ryan Flaherty (@RFlahertyGlobal) December 29, 2016

At Saskatoon, D Mark Rubinchik scored once and added an assist as the Blades beat the Prince Albert

MARK RUBINCHIK

Raiders, 3-2. . . . Rubinchik, a freshman from Russia, scored his first goal in his 29th game. He also has eight assists. . . .  F Braylon Shmyr, who scored twice in a 5-3 loss in Prince Albert on Tuesday night, gave the Blades a 1-0 lead with 4.7 seconds left in the first period. . . . Rubinchik made it 2-0, on a PP, at 9:32 of the second period. . . . F Carson Miller pulled the Raiders to within a goal at 14:12 of the third period, but Saskatoon F Josh Paterson (8) got that one back, on a PP, at 16:32. . . . Miller made it close with his second goal, and fourth of the season, at 17:15. . . . F Jesse Shynkaruk had two assists for the Blades. . . . Saskatoon got 24 saves from G Brock Hamm, while Ian Scott blocked 39 for Prince Albert. . . . Saskatoon was 2-5 on the PP; Prince Albert was 1-5. . . . The Blades (14-20-4) had lost their previous four games (0-2-2). . . . The Raiders slipped to 8-27-2. . . . Announced attendance: 3,673.

——

At Spokane, D Ty Smith’s goal at 1:12 of OT gave the Chiefs, who had a 52-20 edge in shots, a 5-4

TY SMITH

victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . F Kailer Yamamoto had a goal and three assists for the Chiefs. . . . The Thunderbirds had beaten the Chiefs 3-2 in Kent, Wash., on Tuesday night. . . . Last night, the Thunderbirds overcame 3-1 and 4-3 deficits before losing in extra time. . . . The visitors took a 1-0 lead when F Keegan Kolesar (5) scored at 7:10 of the first period. . . . Spokane then scored three in a row — D Tyson Helgesen (5) tied it at 9:12 before F Hudson Elynuik (14) scored twice, shorthanded at 1:05 of the second period and again at 4:53. . . . Seattle tied it on goals from F Nolan Volcan (13), at 7:41, and F Zack Andrusiak (3), at 10:14. . . . Yamamoto (21) put Spokane back out front, at 11:20 of the third period. . . . Seattle tied it, again, when D Jarret Tyszka (4) scored at 14:13. . . . Smith’s second goal of the season won it, off assists from Yamamoto and Elynuik. . . . Yamamoto, who came up short on a first-period penalty shot, has four goals and 13 assists over his past eight games. He has 21 goals and 27 assists in 29 games. . . . Seattle got two assists from each of F Ryan Gropp and F Donovan Neuls. . . . Spokane G Jayden Sittler stopped 16 shots. . . . Seattle got 47 saves from G Matt Berlin. . . . Spokane was 0-2 on the PP; Seattle was 0-4. . . . The Chiefs (15-14-6) had lost their previous two games. . . . Seattle (18-13-4) is 2-0-1 in its past three games. . . . The Thunderbirds were without their top three centres. Scott Eansor was scratched after suffering an undisclosed injury on Tuesday. Mathew Barzal (Canada) and Alexander True (Denmark) are at the World Junior Championship. . . . Announced attendance: 4,809.

——

Nothing like home cooking in #WHL after Christmas. Home teams are 21-1 over two nights; 11-0 Tuesday and 10-1 Wednesday. @WHLFacts @TheWHL

— Hartley Miller (@Hartley_Miller) December 29, 2016

At Victoria, G Griffen Outhouse turned aside 40 shots to lead the Royals to a 3-0 victory over the Prince

GRIFFEN OUTHOUSE

George Cougars. . . . On Tuesday night, the Royals got past the visiting Cougars, 5-1. . . . F Jack Walker (9) got the Royals rolling at 8:42 of the first period. . . . F Vladimir Bobylev made it 2-0 at 10:03 of the second period, with his first goal since rejoining the Royals from his native Russia prior to Christmas. . . . D Chaz Reddekopp (7) completed the scoring at 4:19 of the third period. . . . That was Outhouse’s first shutout this season and the fifth of his career. . . . G Nick McBride stopped 21 shots for the Cougars. . . . G Riley Mathieson, who signed with the Royals this week, backed up Outhouse. Mathieson plays for the junior B Saanich Braves. . . . Victoria was 0-6 on the PP; Prince George was 0-5. . . . Victoria F Matt Phillips had a 10-game point streak snapped. He put up 19 points, including nine goals, during that stretch. . . . The Royals (19-15-4) have points in three straight (2-0-1). . . . The Cougars (26-10-2) have lost two in a row and have fallen off the top rung of the overall standings. . . . Announced attendance: 5,833.

——

THURSDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

—— 

FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Everett, 7:35 p.m.

Victoria at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Lethbridge at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.

Regina at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Kootenay at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Portland vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:35 p.m.

Tri-City at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

Kamloops vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.

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.

WHL feeling secure with Lacasse . . . Brain injury ends another career

D Jim Vandermeer (Red Deer, 1997-2001) has signed two-year extension with Kloten (Switzerland, NL A). Last season, he had two goals and 10 assists in 49 games. . . .
F Milan Kytnár (Kelowna, Saskatoon, Vancouver, 2007-10) has signed a contract through Nov. 2 with Banská Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga). Last season, with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had four goals and six assists in 41 games. . . .
F Petr Kalus (Regina, 2005-06) has signed a one-year contract with Herning (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Last season, with Dukla Trenčín (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had one assist in three games; with Djurgården Stockholm (Sweden, Allsvenskan), he was pointless in two games; and in 42 games with the Nottingham Panthers, he had 38 points, including 18 goals. . . .
F Masi Marjamäki (Red Deer, Moose Jaw, 2002-05) has signed a one-year-plus-option contract with Tappara Tampere (Finland, Liiga). Marjamäki missed all of last season and most of 2012-13 due to injury. In 2012-13, with Ilves Tampere (Finland, Liiga), he had three goals and three assists in nine games.
---

Yves Lacasse has joined the WHL as its volunteer
security officer.
(Photo: Kamloops Daily News files)

The WHL announced Tuesday that Yves Lacasse, a former RCMP superintendent in Kamloops, has signed on as its volunteer security officer.
Lacasse, who had been with the Kamloops detachment for eight years, left the RCMP after 27 years early in 2013 to become the manager of external affairs for KGHM International, which is wanting to start a copper and gold mine near Kamloops.
The proposed mine, which would border the Aberdeen section of Kamloops, has caused a deep divide in the community because those who are opposed to it for environmental reasons and those who are for it because of the economic benefits for the community.
Lacasse, who was raised in Thetford Mines, Que., is friends with Kamloops Blazers majority owner Tom Gaglardi and general manager Craig Bonner. Lacasse also has worked with the Blazers for 10 seasons.
According to a WHL news release: “Acting in a volunteer capacity in his new role with the WHL, Lacasse will conduct internal reviews and investigations on behalf of the WHL office to ensure WHL clubs are operating in accordance with league standards and regulations.”
The news release adds that Lacasse “will also be responsible to facilitate the implementation of a new league-wide security program with all WHL clubs.”
The news release also made mention of the success of the WHL's seven-point plan that was enacted in time for 2011-12.“In the first three seasons since being implemented by the WHL, the (plan) has been effective in reducing concussions and other injuries,” according to the news release.
Unfortunately, the WHL, once again, didn’t release any numbers to back up its claims.
At the same time as the WHL was issuing this release, Sean Rooney and Ryan McCracken of the Medicine Hat News were preparing a story that marks the end of F Gavin Broadhead’s career with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Broadhead, a 19-year-old from Hay River, NWT, last played on Jan. 22.
According to The News’ story, Broadhead took a shoulder to the face during a Jan. 18 game against the Calgary Hitmen. Then, despite not feeling well, he went on a road trip to the West Coast. On Jan. 21, in Victoria, he took another hit. Broadhead said that a Royals’ team doctor checked him over and, according to The News, “concluded it wasn’t a concussion.”
On Jan. 22, Broadhead said he was hit from behind in Vancouver. “Then I knew,” he said. “I was dizzy, I wasn’t feeling well, I was nauseous.”
What followed was eight months of headaches, and now Broadhead, whose father, Curt, also played for the Tigers (1977-81), is moving on.
“My head just wasn’t going to hold up,” Gavin said. “I want to be able to think . . . I don’t want to be smashing up my head anymore.”
Broadhead was selected by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2010 bantam draft. In 97 regular-season games over parts of three seasons, he had four goals and eight assists. Last season, in 44 games, he had a goal and eight assists.
At some point this morning, The News’ story should appear right here.
---


The Everett Silvertips have their roster down to 27 players after releasing F Chris Stockl, 19, on Tuesday. Stockl, from Winnipeg, played with the Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer Rebels over the last two seasons. Last season, he had one goal in 16 games with Red Deer. In 78 regular-season games, he has four goals and seven assists. . . . The Silvertips are carrying four goaltenders, eight defencemen and 15 forwards.
---
The Lethbridge Hurricanes have signed F Brett Davis, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. From Oakbank, Man., he had 49 points, 26 of them goals, in 36 games with the bantam Notre Dame Hounds, who play in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League.
---
Two men have been indicted on drug-related charges in the death of former WHL and NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard. One of the men is Jordan Hart, the son of former Flin Flon Bombers/New York Islanders D Gerry Hart. . . . John Branch and Benjamin Weiser of The New York Times have more right here.
Branch has been on top of the Boogaard story right from the start. Right here, there’s a piece he wrote almost three years ago that is headlined Derek Boogaard: A boy learns to brawl.
---
Kevin Kwasny was a football player at Bishop’s U in Montreal when he suffered a concussion during a game. Now he is suing the school, asking for $9.3 million in damages. Karen Seidman of the Montreal Gazette has more right here.
---
Today, while the Ray Rice thing is fresh in our minds, is a good time to take a look at some sporting sleazebags. Thanks to Drew Magary and GQ Magazine we can do just that and we can do it right here. Enjoy . . . then take a shower!
---




The Everett Silvertips have signed Wayne Duncan as their new trainer. He had been working with high schools in the Seattle area. Duncan takes over from Marc Paquet, who has moved on to the AHL’s Adirondack Flames. . . . The 2016 IIHF world women’s hockey championship will be played in Kamloops. Dates for the 22-game championship have yet to be released, but it will be played in April in the Interior Savings Centre and McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre.

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.