2016 Memorial Cup host to be decided today . . . Everett D-man opens with Sharks

The WHL’s board of governors began meeting in Calgary on Tuesday, with the goal of selecting a host team/city for the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament. . . . The league is expecting to make an announcement today at around 2:15 p.m. Calgary time. . . . That tournament will be played in either Red Deer or Vancouver, as the Rebels and Giants both entered bids.
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Players with the Tri-City Americans are making a conscious effort to be careful with how they handle social media. . . . “In today’s day and age, the guys have to be very careful,” head coach Mike Williamson told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald. “They are public figures. They are in the spotlight and sometimes things get misconstrued when you put something out on social media. We haven’t told them not to do it, but we remind them to be smart and represent themselves, their families and the team in a professional manner. Things can get magnified and it stays with them forever.” . . . That story is right here.
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G Eric Comrie stopped 43 shots and F Vladislav Lukin scored twice to lead the visiting Tri-City Americans to a 4-1 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders on Tuesday night. . . . Lukin, a freshman from Ufa, Russia, isn’t related to former WHL F Jarret Lukin (Kamloops, Medicine Hat, 2000-05), who is from Fort McMurray, Alta. . . . In Kelowna, G Jackson Whistle stopped 18 shots as the Rockets ran their record to 7-0-0 with a 4-0 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. Whistle has four career shutouts, one in each of his first four seasons. Since the start of the 2012-13 season, when he was acquired from the Vancouver Giants, Whistle is 40-6-1. . . . F Carter Rigby had two goals and an assist for Kelowna.
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There has been a change at the top of the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ organizational structure. The board of directors has voted in Doug Paisley as its president, replacing Brian McNaughton. Reid Williams was voted in as vice-president. . . . McNaughton remains on the board, but no longer is an executive member. . . . Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Herald has more on the Hurricanes right here. He also explains why he thinks that the team’s latest trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings is a good one . . . for the Hurricanes.
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The BCHL’s Penticton Vees announced Tuesday that they have received a commitment from F Tak Anholt, 16, for the 2015-16 season. . . . Anholt’s WHL rights belong to the Brandon Wheat Kings, who acquired them from the Lethbridge Hurricanes last week in the deal that involved F Reid Duke and D Macoy Erkamps also moving to the Wheat City. . . . Anholt is playing at Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford, B.C. He has eight points, including six goals, in his first two games with the U-18 prep team. . . . Lethbridge selected him in the second round of the 2013 WHL bantam draft. . . .
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Apologies to Angela MacIsaac for having attributed quotes to Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province here the other day, when they actually were from a game story she had written for the Kelowna Daily Courier. . . . Ang has been doing some freelancing for the Daily Courier, an arrangement that soon will end as she heads for Spokane and a life of wedded bliss. . . . Are you ready, Spokane? . . . You are able to follow her on Twitter (@that_angela). Be aware that her tweeting from Rockets’ games is one of a kind. LOL!
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THE CONCUSSION REPORT:

It is a story that is becoming all too familiar. A hockey player suffers one brain injury, then another, and another. Finally, while still a teenager, he has to walk away from the game that has meant so much to him. . . . Ryan Cooke of the Truro, N.S., Daily News has another of those stories right here.
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James Shewaga, the sports editor of the Brandon Sun, tweets that Wheat Kings F John Quenneville will be out for a “couple weeks” with an undisclosed injury, while D Eric Roy (shoulder) is back skating. Roy, who returned from the camp of the NHL’s Calgary Flames with a shoulder injury, practised without restrictions on Tuesday. . . . The Prince Albert Raiders have released D Ben Verrall, 18, and he is expected to join the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. From Saskatoon, Verrall played in three exhibition games with the Raiders but didn’t get into any regular-season games. . . . The Raiders now are carrying 24 players, including 14 forwards and eight defencemen. . . .
Mirco Mueller, who played the last two seasons with the Everett Silvertips, is one of seven defencemen on the the opening-night roster of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. Mueller, 19, is from Switzerland. The Sharks selected him with the 18th overall pick in the NHL’s 2013 draft. . . . The Kamloops Blazers have released sophomore F Eric Krienke, 18. He was pointless in three games this season and has seven points, three of them goals, in 53 career regular-season games. The Calgarian was a ninth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Kamloops’ roster now is at 25, including 14 forwards and three goaltenders. . . .
The Moose Jaw Warriors have released D Christos Zinis, 17, and he is expected to join the NAHL’s Odessa Jackalopes. Zinis, from Broomfield, Colo., played one game for the Warriors last season, but didn’t see any regular-season action this time around. . . . He was an eighth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft.
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Marco Gonzales just won his second game in NLDS. Only 403 fans combined saw his two home starts in Saskatoon in the WMBL three years ago.
— Matthew Gourlie (@MattGourlie) October 8, 2014

Lukowich files wrongful dismissal suit; City Council grills Lethbridge president, WHL commish

G Justin Pogge (Prince George, Calgary, 2003-06) has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL). This season with Karlskoga (Sweden, Allsvenskan), he was 2.16 and .921 in 51 games. . . .
D Tomáš Slovák (Kelowna, 2001-03) has signed a two-year contract with Hradec Králové (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season with Plzeň (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had 13 points, including four goals, in 47 games.
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Brad Lukowich, a former assistant coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, is suing the WHL team, claiming wrongful dismissal.
On Monday afternoon, Paul Kingsmith (@paulkingsmith) of Global-TV in Lethbridge tweeted: “Documents obtained by Global show Hurricanes sued by former assistant coach Brad Lukowich for wrongful dismissal.”
Neither the Hurricanes nor Lukowich would comment, according to Kingsmith.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the lawsuit is this, which came in another tweet from Kingsmith: “In the suit, Lukowich alleges he raised concerns ‘regarding non-compliance by certain Hurricanes coaches with policies mandated by the WHL.’ ”
Later in the day, Kingsmith and Bradley Jones posted a story that is right here.
Lukowich began this season as an assistant coach under Lethbridge head coach Drake Berehowsky. When Lukowich wasn’t at practices in early February, the team claimed that he was ill. On Feb. 8, general manager Brad Robson announced that Lukowich had been “terminated for cause."
Robson told the Lethbridge Herald at the time:
"It’s been going on for a couple of weeks, of course you know Brad left the team last week and I’ve been dealing with it, speaking with him and we’ve decided this is the course of action. For Brad’s future and for the Hurricanes’ future.
“Brad’s goal is still to be a coach, to eventually become a head coach and he’ll continue to work toward that, just not with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.”
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Brian McNaughton, the president of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and WHL commissioner Ron Robison appeared in front of Lethbridge city council on Monday night.
Here are some highlights, as tweeted by Pat Siedlecki, the radio voice of the Hurricanes on 94.1 CJOC (BTW, it’s worth noting that the Hurricanes no longer have a broadcast contract; it expired with the end of this season):
“Robison says WHL is fully committed to Lethbridge market and the league will NOT be leaving the Lethbridge area.”
“Robison says WHL has had straight forward talks with Pres. Brian McNaughton & Governor Herman Elfring.”
“Robison says the WHL has agreed to approve the Lethbridge Hurricanes current business plan going forward.”
“Robison states the status quo is not acceptable for the Hurricanes going forward and club must adhere to new guidelines.”
“McNaughton says moving forward the team must do two things: (1) Be competitive and (2) Be profitable.”
“McNaughton says: ‘We expect to make the playoffs, but not deviate from the plan to build from within.’ ”
“McNaughton says team will be filling Assistant Coach & Assistant GM positions.”
“Commissioner Ron Robison says Lethbridge is one of the best markets in the WHL. He states team needs stronger leadership.”
“McNaughton tells Councillor Coffman the Hurricanes currently have around 2200 shareholders.”
“McNaughton tells Councillor Mauro team will be better next season by making younger players better and bringing in older players to help.”
“Robison says people need to be patient, although patience is getting thin in Lethbridge. He says there is no quick fix.”
“McNaughton says the number one thing the Hurricanes need to focus on is selling tickets.”
“Robison says he believes no team has an economic advantage over another in the WHL. Says the difference is management.”
Siedlecki has posted some audio from the City Council meeting right here. The second link is a question-and-answer session and is worth a listen. (At one point, about 30 minutes in, Robison says that the Portland Winterhawks are "arguably a model franchise within our league."
Paul Kingsmith of Global-TV also was paying attention to the goings-on at the council meeting. Among his tweets was this one:
“ 'Canes President McNaughton says team is resetting its objectives with league guidance after previous 5 year plan failed.”
Later in the evening, Kingsmith posted a story and it is right here.
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1. F Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice is making good progress as he recovers from his battle with Neisseria meningitis. On Monday, Bozon (@timbozon94) tweeted: “Two months today since I got really sick .. Made lots improvement #RoadtoRecovery #good.” . . . Bozon is going through the rehabilitation process in Capbreton, France.

2. The Portland Winterhawks will be without F Brendan Leipsic for Game 1 of the WHL’s championship final for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Leipsic has been suspended for one game for a spearing major and game misconduct that he incurred late in the fifth and final game of the Western Conference final on Friday in Kelowna. He was penalized after getting involved with Kelowna Rockets F Tyrell Goulbourne. . . . Leipsic is a repeat offender, having already served three- and seven-game suspensions this season. The fact the WHL chose to give him only one game for this latest incident would seem to indicate that it didn’t deem this one as being very serious.

3. The Coaches Conference has announced three guest speakers for its 2014 weekend. Former Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz, Ryan Huska, the head coach of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, and strength-and-conditioning guru Matt Nichol all will be involved in this year’s conference, which is scheduled for July 18 and 19 at the U of British Columbia. . . . For more info, visit the conference’s website at thecoachessite.com or click on the ad at the top of this page.

4. The QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs and Halifax Mooseheads are going to a Game 7. The Foreurs beat the visiting Mooseheads 7-5 on Monday night, meaning the third-round series is 3-3. It will be decided tonight in Halifax. . . . The other semifinal, between the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Baie-Comeau Drakkar, also has gone to a Game 7. It will be played tonight in Baie-Comeau.

5. Dear Sportsnet: My brain turns to hazelnut mush whenever that Hazel promo appears. Once an hour is enough. Thank you.

6. G Eetu Laurikainen, who played the last two seasons with the Swift Current Broncos, has signed with the Espoo Blues (Finland, SM-liiga). Laurikainen played out his junior eligibility this season with the Broncos, going 25-20-6, 2.90, .914. He is from Jyvaskyla, Finland.

7. The ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., which is home to the Seattle Thunderbirds, didn’t lose as much money in the first quarter of 2014 as officials had projected. That was thanks, at least in part, to the Thunderbirds getting three home playoff games. . . . Steve Hunter of the Kent Reporter has more right here.

8. The Austrian Ice Hockey Association won’t be resigning Emanuel Viveiros, the head coach of its national men’s team. The announcement came two days after Austria wound up second in the IIHF Division 1 Group A world championship, earning promotion to the top division. . . . Viveiros is a former WHL defenceman (Prince Albert, 1983-88) who has a son, Layne, on the Portland Winterhawks’ roster. . . . There is more on that story right here.
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THE FOURTH ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
WHL final, for the Ed Chynoweth Cup
(x - if necessary)
(all games televised by Shaw)
PORTLAND (2, West) vs. Edmonton (1, East)
Season series: Portland, 0-0-1; Edmonton, 1-0-0.
Saturday: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (Moda Center)
Sunday: Edmonton at Portland, 5 p.m. (Moda Center)
Tuesday, May 6: Portland at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7: Portland at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, May 9: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (TBA)
x-Sunday, May 11: Portland at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
x-Monday, May 12: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (TBA)
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Edmonton: None.
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MONDAY’S GAME:
No game scheduled.
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From Tyson Dallman (@dolly_lama83): “Why don't Portland and Edmonton just have a seven game series in September and save everyone a whole bunch of time? #WHL”


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1. It was entirely predictable that, with the Lethbridge Hurricanes off to a horrid start, someone would express interest in purchasing the community-owned WHL team.
That has happened with former WHLer Kris Versteeg, who began his career with the Hurricanes, having written a letter to the Lethbridge Herald stating his interest in getting involved.
That letter, which is right here, begins: "I would like to stress the purpose of this message is not to kick this organization while it is down, but simply to express my strong interest in wanting to be a part of it."
Judging by the contents of the letter, Versteeg is aligned with a number of partners, none of whom is named, and is prepared to move forward.
Of course, this isn't the first time someone has expressed interest in purchasing a franchise that has stumbled through a lot of the most recent seasons. Twin brothers Rich and Ron Sutter have long stated that they are interested in the franchise.
It seems, however, that the Lethbridge franchise isn't for sale.
“Well, the board’s position is that the team is not for sale,” team president Brian McNaughton told Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Herald in reacting to Versteeg's letter. “And that’s been our position for a long, long time. We believe that the board is committed to running the hockey team and keeping the hockey team in Lethbridge and we believe that’s the most viable option.”
Purcell's story is right here.

2. Tweet from Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) of Yahoo! Sports: "Kris Versteeg's letter mentions 2 goals: Win Stanley Cup with Panthers & take Hurricanes to next level... I bet goal 3 is broker world peace."

3. A few words from Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post:
"How long will it be before fan support, or lack thereof, becomes a major issue surrounding the Regina Pats? The Pats drew only 3,254 spectators for Wednesday’s WHL East Division first-place showdown with the Prince Albert Raiders, who won 3-1.
"The poor attendance is partially attributable to the fact that the Pats have missed the playoffs for four of the past five seasons. However, they carried a six-game winning streak into Wednesday’s game, and they are playing an entertaining brand of hockey. What will it take to entice more people to buy in?
"Once upon a time, disenchanted fans were heard to declare that they would not set foot inside the Brandt Centre as long as Brent Parker was involved with the Pats organization. Well, guess what? Parker, a one-time lightning rod for criticism, is no longer part of the team (which is owned by his father, Russ). So where is everyone?"
The Pats drew a season-high 5,432 fans to their Friday night game with the Edmonton Oil Kings, who got off to a 7-0 lead en route to a 7-2 victory.

4. In light of the headshot delivered by John Scott of the Buffalo Sabres the other night, John Shannon of Sportsnet weighs in right here with his thoughts on the situation. Yes, more food for thought. . . .

5. F Matt Anholt, the son of long-time WHL coach Peter Anholt, has committed to attend the U of Alaska-Anchorage and play for the Seawolves. From Prince Albert, Matt is in his second season with the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors. This season, he is the Warriors' captain. . . . Peter, who now scouts for the Seattle Thunderbirds, has 450 coaching victories to his credit. He coached Prince Albert, Seattle, Red Deer and Kelowna.



Brent Sutter of the Red Deer Rebels will be the head coach of Team WHL when it plays a Russian side in the Subway Series next month. Ryan McGill of the Kootenay Ice will serve as Sutter's assistant coach. Games are scheduled for Nov. 27 in Red Deer and Nov. 28 in Lethbridge. . . . The WHL has suspended Prince Albert Raiders F Mike Winther for four games after he took a headshot major during a 3-1 victory over the Pats in Regina on Wednesday night. . . . After Friday's games, the WHL, thanks to loser points, has 15 of its 22 teams playing at .500 or better. That includes seven of 10 teams in the Western Conference. . . . The OHL's Erie Otters are riding a nine-game winning streak. At 11-2-1, their .821 winning percentage is second only to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (10-1-2, .846). The Otters’ head coach is Kris Knoblauch, a former WHL player and coach.

FRIDAY NIGHT:
D Ashton Sautner, with two goals in each of the last two seasons, scored twice and added an assist as the Edmonton Oil Kings scored a 7-2 victory over the Pats in Regina. . . . Sautner went into the game with four goals in 121 career regular-season games. From Wolseley, Sask., which is a few slapshots east of Regina on No. 1 Highway, he has three goals this season. . . . Sautner's father, Blaine, is a former head coach of the U of Regina Cougars. . . . The Oil Kings have won three in a row. . . . The Pats have followed a six-game winning streak with two losses. . . .

F Oliver Bjorkstrand drew three assists and G Jarrod Schamerhorn earned his first WHL victory in his second start as the visiting Portland Winterhawks got past the Kootenay Ice, 6-3. . . . Portland F Chase De Leo added two goals on his 18th birthday. . . . The Winterhawks, who wrap up a five-game road trip in Spokane tonight, have won seven in a row. . . .

In Red Deer, F Nikita Scherbak had a goal and two assists as the Saskatoon Blades edged the Rebels, 4-3. . . . Scherbak broke a 3-3 tie with a PP goal at 17:56 of the third period. . . . There was a bizarre play in this one, at 2:49 of the third period, as Saskatoon F Collin Valcourt drove to the Red Deer net, scored a goal and was given a major and game misconduct for goaltending interference after colliding with G Patrik Bartosak. The puck was ruled to have crossed the goal line before Valcourt made contact with Bartosak. That goal gave Saskatoon a 3-2 lead and knocked Bartosak out of the game. He was replaced by Taz Burman. . . . After opening the season with five losses, the Blades are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. . . . The Rebels have lost four in a row, all at home. . . .

D Reid Gow picked up four assists as the Spokane Chiefs dropped the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings, 7-1. . . . Gow is from Killarney, Man., which is located about an hour's drive south of Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings were playing the first of a six-game road swing that includes five stops in the U.S. Division. . . . Spokane Mitch Holmberg had a goal and two assists. He leads the WHL in goals (17) and points (35). . . . Spokane F Liam Stewart, who missed two weeks with an undisclosed injury, scored once in his return, as did F Adam Helewka, who hadn't played since suffering a back injury in the season's third game. . . . The Chiefs (11-3-0) lead the U.S. division by a point  over the Portland Winterhawks (10-3-1). Portland visits Spokane tonight. . . .

F Jessey Astles, who has eight goals in 192 regular-season games, scored the only goal of the shootout as the host Tri-City Americans beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-2. . . . Astles, 20, is in his fifth season. Playing with the Kelowna Rockets, Saskatoon Blades and Tri-City, he has had seasons of 1, 3, 2 and 1 goal. He has one goal in 13 games this season. . . . F Ryan Gropp, who left the BCHL's Penticton Vees earlier this month to join Seattle, scored on his first WHL shift. Gropp, from Kamloops, was the sixth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . The Thunderbirds didn't have F Jaimen Yakubowski and F Sam Mckechnie in their lineup. They were acquired Thursday from the Lethbrige Hurricanes. . . .

In Prince George, Slovakian F David Soltes scored in the shootout to give the Cougars a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . With the loser point, the Hitmen have at least a point in each of their last nine games. . . .

F Manraj Hayer scored three times as the visiting Everett Silvertips got past the Vancouver Giants, 6-5. . . . Hayer, who is from Vancouver, broke a 5-5 tie at 18:01 of the third period to complete his first WHL hat trick. . . .

In Victoria, G Jordon Cooke stopped 28 shots, including two penalty shots, as the Kelowna Rockets beat the Royals, 4-1. . . . Cooke stopped F Logan Nelson on a penalty shot at 11:36 of the second period to preserve a 2-0 lead, and then beat F Luke Harrison at 10:22 of the third. . . . Cooke is 7-0-0 this season. . . . The Royals had won five straight home games. . . . D Riley Stadel was scratched by Kelowna. Head coach Ryan Huska told Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier that Stadel underwent a "minor procedure" in Vancouver and should be back with the team next weekend.

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First baseman Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins is all to familiar with post-concussion syndrome, and the former hockey player tells Tom Maloney of The Globe and Mail all about it right here.
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How quickly things change in the coaching game.
Less than 10 months ago, on July 12, the Lethbridge Hurricanes announced that they were picking up the 2013-14 option on the contract belonging to general manager/head coach Rich Preston.
On Tuesday morning, they fired him and promoted Brad Robson, who had been the assistant general manager and director of player personnel, to general manager.
The Hurricanes have missed the playoffs each of the last four seasons, going 100-156-32 during that time.
Robson, a familiar face around the WHL, has been with the Hurricanes since 2007. While Robson has been working out of Calgary, he said his plan now is to relocate his family to Lethbridge.
In conversation with Pat Siedlecki, who calls the play on 94.1 CJOC, and his partner, Fred Jack, Hurricanes president Brian McNaughton said:
“This is not a business that’s about potential; this is a business that’s about performance. We are on a five-year plan; we’re still on that plan. But I think the performance in the last half of the season had to be better. There’s really no way that I think I could justify in my own mind that we were going to be better next (season), so that forced a decision like this, which is unfortunate.”
Asked by Siedlecki if the franchise’s financial situation played any role at all in the decision, McNaughton replied:
“Absolutely not at all. Quite honestly, everyone keeps focusing on how bad our financial situation is. We had an outstanding year . . . we’re way ahead of where we projected. Our attendance is up 11 per cent and as a result of that there’s a lot of revenues that are up in that area and in other areas. We’ve made a major turn here financially this season. We’ll present that to our shareholders in September . . . and we have a business plan in place that is going to mitigate this expense. We have an obligation, we are prepared to live up to our obligation, but we have a plan to deal with it.”
McNaughton pointed to the Hurricanes’ final 30 games as the harbinger.
The Hurricanes came back from the Christmas break with 34 games remaining, 21 of those on the road. They went 10-19-5 in those 34 games. Six times they went to extra time – they lost twice in OT and three times in shootouts. The only victory in extra time came on Jan. 18 when they went into Portland and beat the Winterhawks 5-4 in a shootout.
As for promoting Robson to the GM’s post, McNaughton said the directors came up with a short list, went through the process and “came to the conclusion very quickly that this is the right decision for us.”
In conversation with Siedlecki, Robson said all of this came together in the previous 12 hours. He added that he will take the organization through the bantam draft and then look after hiring a coach.
“After a coach is selected,” Robson said, “whoever that person may be and myself will select an assistant coach that will help our hockey club, help our young players. I’m looking for two coaches that are young, have experience . . . the main thing is I want guys who can teach . . .”
Assistant coaches Matt Kabayama and Chris Chisamore are under contract through May 31. Robson told Siedlecki he will take with both men over the next while.
There’s more on Siedlecki’s blog right here, or you can find it over there on the right.
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THE COACHING GAME:
In the OHL, the Guelph Storm has signed vice-president and general manager Mike Kelly to a deal that takes him through next season. The club has an option on the 2014-15 season.
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The WHL’s first-round situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
(Edmonton leads 2-1; Game 4 tonight in Cranbrook)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
(Medicine Hat leads 3-0; Game 4 tonight in Medicine Hat)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
(Calgary leads 3-1; Game 5 on Thursday in Calgary)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)
(Red Deer leads 3-0; Game 4 tonight in Prince Albert)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
(Series tied 1-1; Game 3 tonight in Everett)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
(Seattle leads 3-0; Game 4 tonight in Kent, Wash.)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
(Kamloops leads 2-1; Game 4 on Thursday in Victoria, Bear Mountain Arena)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
(Spokane leads 2-1; Game 3 on Thursday in Kennewick, Wash.)
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Medicine Hat, the Tigers scored the game’s first five goals and went on to beat the Saskatoon Blades, 5-2. . . . The Blades, the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup, trail the series, 3-0, with Game 4 in Medicine Hat tonight. . . . In 2001, the Regina Pats were the host team for the Memorial Cup and lost a first-round series to the Calgary Hitmen in six games. . . . Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken was the head coach of the Pats in 2000-01. . . . The Tigers swept the Blades from a first-round series last spring. . . . Saskatoon now has lost 11 straight playoff games. . . . The Blades have been outscored 12-3 in this series. . . . F Curtis Valk and D Kyle Becker had the Tigers up 2-0 by 5:01 of the first period. . . . Valk also had two assists. . . . Saskatoon G Andrey Makarov surrendered four goals on 14 shots and was gone when the second period started. Alex Moodie came on to stop 19 of 20. . . . Medicine Hat G Cam Lanigan continued his strong playing with 42 saves, the third straight game in which he has done that. . . . “They took full advantage and came at us hard and we didn’t get a save,” Molleken told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “(It’s) mental. We’re mental midgets right now.” . . . When F Lukas Sutter scored for the Blades in the second period, it ended Medicine Hat G Cam Lanigan’s shutout streak at 110:03. . . . Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls was hit with a slashing major for a hack on Medicine Hat F Hunter Shinkaruk at game’s end. Chances are Nicholls won’t be allowed to play in Game 4. . . . Saskatoon F Jessey Astles served the second game of his two-game suspension that resulted from a Game 1 hit on Medicine Hat F Matt Staples, who is concussed. . . . With Astles out, Saskatoon F Logan Harland played for the first time since Feb. 12. . . . Nugent-Bowman’s full report is right here.

In Cranbrook, F Michael St. Croix had two goals and an assist as the Edmonton Oil Kings dropped the Kootenay Ice, 7-1. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar broke a 1-1 tie at 4:13 of the first period and the Oil Kings went from there. . . . Edmonton scored on each of its first three shots. . . . Edmonton F Trevor Cheek had a goal and two assists. . . . Edmonton D Martin Gernat was pointless and plus-4. . . . The Oil Kings have outscored the Ice 17-3 in three games. . . . The Oil Kings inserted D Dysin Mayo into their lineup, replacing D Ashton Sautner, who has an undisclosed injury. . . . The Ice averaged 2,411 fans during the regular season, the lowest average in the team’s 15 seasons in Cranbrook. Attendance last night was 2,204. . . .

In Prince Albert, the Red Deer Rebels broke a scoreless tie with two second-period goals and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Raiders. . . . F Brooks Maxwell and F Turner Elson, on the PP, scored 3:24 apart in the first half of the second. . . . Elson added a second goal into an empty net at 19:16 of the third. . . . Red Deer G Patrik Bartosak stopped 29 shots. . . . Red Deer D Mathew Dumba had two assists, as did F Rhyse Dieno. . . .

In Swift Current, F Victor Rask scored the game’s only goal, banging home a rebound just 37 seconds into OT to give the Calgary Hitmen a 1-0 victory over the Broncos. . . . It was the third time in four games that these teams have gone to OT. . . . The Broncos felt the goal should have been disallowed because of a gloved pass between two Hitmen. . . . A tweet from Broncos radio voice Shawn Mullin (@shawnmullin): “Upon review of the replay... Macek clearly scooped the puck in his glove and tossed it into the crease…” . . . More from Mullin: “There is some question as to if it hit Laurikainen's stick before Rask's but it was _clearly_ gloved into the crease.” . . . A tweet from the Calgary Herald’s Kristen Odland (@KristenOdlandCH): “A seething Mark Lamb on Calgary's OT goal (which had been apparently gloved down by Brooks Macek): ‘(The referees) totally missed the call.’ ” . . . Lamb is the Broncos’ GM/head coach. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 28 shots, while Swift Current’s Eetu Laurikainen turned aside 26. . . .

In Kent, Wash., D Evan Wardley scored at 4:55 of OT was the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent) got past the Kelowna Rockets, 3-2. . . . It was the third time in as many games that OT was needed to decide the issue. The Thunderbirds had won 5-4 and 2-1 in Kelowna to begin the series. . . . Wardley has two goals in 90 career regular-season games, both of them scored this season when he played in 60 games. . . . Seattle D Jesse Forsberg tied the game at 2 at 19:35 of the second period. . . . The Rockets led 2-0 at 6:10 of the first period on goals by F Zach Franko and F Cody Fowlie. . . . F Roberts Lipsbergs of the Thunderbirds scored at 15:25 of the first period. . . . Seattle G Brandon Glover stopped 33 shots, six more than Kelowna’s Jordon Cooke. . . . Kelowna had a glorious opportunity in OT when Seattle was penalized for having too many men on the ice at 0:34. . . .

In Victoria, F Tim Traber broke a 1-1 tie 50 seconds into the third period and the Royals beat the Kamloops Blazers, 2-1. . . . F Ben Walker gave Victoria a 1-0 lead at 18:23 of the first. . . . Kamloops F JC Lipon tied it with his third goal of the series, at 12:52 of the second, on a PP. . . . Victoria G Patrik Polivka stopped 39 shots. . . . Attendance in Bear Mountain Arena was 2,395. The Royals are having to play first-round games there because Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre is home to the world men’s curling championship. . . . Bear Mountain will be home tonight to the deciding game in a best-of-five BCHL series between the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Victoria Grizzlies. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Parker Bowles scored his second goal of the game at 10:46 of OT to give the host Tri-City Americans a 5-4 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . The Americans forced OT by coming back from a 4-1 second-period deficit. . . . F Mitch Messier scored at 10:38 of the second and F Justin Feser added a goal at 12:00. . . . D Drydn Dow tied it at 18:06 of the second, via a PP. . . . Americans F Connor Rankin had three assists. . . . Tri-City G Luke Lee-Knight made 34 saves, while Eric Williams of the Chiefs stopped 38. . . . This was the 15th time in the last 28 playoff meetings between these teams that OT was needed.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (5):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (3):
F Carson Perreaux, Prince Albert

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From Swift Current Broncos D Reece Scarlett (@reecescarlett): “What a travesty... That's all that can be said about that #movingonnow”
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From Swift Current G Eetu Laurikainen (@eetu41): “It's ice hockey. Not basketball.. #alleyoop”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Andrej Kudrna (Vancouver, Red Deer, 2008-2011) signed a one year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, Extraliga). He had 29 goals and 53 assists in 65 games for the Rebels last season.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes’ annual general meeting was told Wednesday night that the WHL club lost almost $400,000 in the 2010-11 season.
However, a lot of that was due to writedowns for such things as renovations at the ENMAX Centre. Take those away and the club bled more than $170,000.
For the upcoming season, the club’s board is budgeting for a $40,000 surplus.
Pat Siedlecki, the radio voice of the Hurricanes, has a thorough recap of the meeting over there on the right at Hurricane Watch. His report includes club president Brian McNaughton’s explanation for the deficit and the fact that McNaughton wasn’t re-elected to the board.
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The Calgary Hitmen have picked up F Brady Brassart, 18, from the Spokane Chiefs for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . He was a second-round selection by the Chiefs in the 2008 draft. . . . A native of Vernon, B.C., Brassart had 32 points, including eight goals, in 65 games last season. That followed a freshman season in which he had 15 points in 53 games. . . .
"Brady fell behind in his development with our forwards at the similar age," Tim Speltz, the Chiefs’ GM, said in a news release. "That said, we felt it would be best for Brady to get a fresh start with another WHL team. Acquiring our choice with these draft picks we now have an asset to work with when we choose to." . . . Brassart was the Chiefs’ scholastic player of the year each of the last two seasons and also was their rookie of the year in 2009-10.
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JUST NOTES: Bil La Forge is the new head scout with the Everett Silvertips. LaForge has been an Everett scout for three seasons. He replaces Scott Scoville, who left to join the Winnipeg Jets’ scouting staff. La Forge, the son of the late Bill LaForge, who coached in the WHL with Regina and Kamloops, also has scouted for the Tri-City Americans and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He is a long-time minor hockey coach in the Edmonton area. . . . Graham Skilliter, who spent six seasons as a WHL referee, has been hired by the NHL. Skilliter, 26, worked last season in the ECHL. . . . Veteran F Neil Tarnasky, who was released by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, is on the training camp roster of the Vancouver Giants. He is to turn 19 on oct. 8.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors are working to get their season-ticket holders settled in their new building, Mosaic Place. Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald has a look right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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