THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Curtis Huppe (Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Tri-City, 1995-2000) signed a one-year contract extension with the Guildford Flames (England, Premier). He had 29 goals and 25 assists in 35 games for the Flames this season. . . .
F Daniel Rakos (Swift Current, 2005-07) signed a multi-year contract (length not announced) with Trinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had one goal and four assists in 27 games for Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season. . . .
F Zdenek Bahensky (Saskatoon, 2004-06) signed a one-year contract with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had 17 goals and seven assists in 47 games for Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season.
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If you have been paying attention to the NHL playoffs, you will have noticed that Alex Ovechkin, not that long ago one of the league’s most exciting players, has had his playing time somewhat limited of late.
That is, of course, because Washington head coach Dale Hunter is getting paid to win games and not to entertain hockey fans. Therefore, as the NHL slides back into another dead puck era, shot blockers are more important than shooters.
Ovechkin, then, has become almost a situational player. When the Capitals are behind, Ovechkin’s ice time increases; when they are nursing a lead, Ovechkin’s bench time increases.
A couple of tweets from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe:
“Alex Ovechkin on the bench. Ladies and Gents: we give you the parakeet in the coal mine. For $200 a seat.”
“Today's NHL would have Guy Lafleur on fourth line and PK duty.”
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The Central league’s Laredo Bucks have ceased operations. According to a press released from the team: “The Bucks have struggled with declining attendance over several seasons. Even though drastic changes to the seating structure, amongst other areas, did make an improvement last season, it was not enough to keep the franchise going.” . . . The ownership group maintains a franchise in the Central league, but it will be dormant from this point. . . . The Bucks’ final roster included former WHL G Torrie Jung.
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Former WHL D Bruin McDonald has committed to play next season for the Simon Fraser University Clan, which plays in the B.C. Intercollegiate league. McDonald, 20, has played in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars and Spokane Chiefs, and also played with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques.
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Ron Toigo, the majority owner of the Vancouver Giants, revealed last month on Dan Russell’s Sportstalk, Vancouver radio station CKNW’s talk show, that D Neil Manning would be attending UBC and playing for the Thunderbirds. He has been accepted into the Sauder School of Business. The Giants made it official with an announcement on Tuesday. . . . Manning is the only player in franchise history to have played five complete seasons with the Giants. He played out his eligibility this season and holds the franchise record for regular-season games played (310). . . . The Thunderbirds are coached by Milan Dragicevic, a former WHL defenceman and Giants head coach.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Former WHL player and coach Terry Virtue no longer is with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. Virtue had been an associate coach under head coach Greg Ireland. In 2009-10, Virtue, who had been on the Tri-City Americans’ staff, signed with the Attack and worked as an assistant coach under Mark Reeds as the Attack won the OHL championship. Virtue’s contract was up after this season and, according to Bill Walker of the Owen Sound Sun Times, they reached a mutual decision to part company. Virtue likely is looking for something closer to home as he lives in West Virginia, where his family stayed over the winter.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed D Jordan Davies, 15, who played this season with the Sherwood Park NIC Squires of the Alberta minor midget league. He had 27 points in 38 games and was named the team’s top defenceman. Davies was added to Portland’s protected list after attending its training camp prior to this season. . . .
The Winterhawks flew into Edmonton on Tuesday afternoon to begin preparations for Game 1 of the WHL final on Thursday night.
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F Kristians Pelss of the Edmonton Oil Kings has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL draft. Pelss, a Latvian, had 50 points, including 28 goals, in his second season with the Oil Kings. . . .
The Oil Kings will be without F Dylan Wruck (shoulder) for the remainder of this season. He is to undergo surgery at some point this week. . . . Wruck, a 19-year-old from Saskatoon, had 80 points, including 21 goals, in 66 games this season, his third with the Oil Kings. He had four points in eight playoff games.
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Here are the dates for the WHL’s championship final (all times local):
Thursday, May 3: at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 4: at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 6: at Portland (Rose Garden), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8: at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x-Thursday, May 10: at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, May 12: at Portland (Rose Garden), 6 p.m.
x-Sunday, May 13: at Edmonton, 6 p.m.

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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Giants D Blake Orban will be out for a couple of weeks after suffering an undisclosed injury during Thursday’s practice. The Giants will play tonight and Saturday in Prince George and hope to have D Neil Manning (back) in the lineup again. When healthy, Manning makes the Giants’ PP go from the back end. . . . The Cougars will be without D Martin Marincin, who was hit with a four-game suspension for an intereference major he incurred on Tuesday in Vancouver. He has sat out one game. . . . Vancouver F Anthony Ast was injured on the play and may not play this weekend. . . .
The Brandon Wheat Kings may have D Brodie Melnychuk, 20, in the lineup tonight for the first time this season. He suffered a broken wrist during training camp and finally has been cleared to return to game action. . . . The Wheat Kings are at home to the Moose Jaw Warriors tonight. This is the Wheat Kings’ first home game since returning from a lengthy road trip, during which they acquired G Brandon Anderson and F Darian Dziurzynski in deals. . . . The Warriors hope to have D Dylan McIlrath back in their lineup tonight. He practised Thursday after sitting out a Wednesday game with an undisclosed injury. . . .
In Prince Albert, the Swift Current Broncos scored the game’s first three goals and went on to beat the Raiders, 6-3. Prince Albert has lost four straight and has changed goaltenders in midstream in each of the last two. . . . Former WHL D Bruin McDonald has joined the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express. McDonald, 19, is attending Douglas College. After playing two seasons (2008-10) with the Prince George Cougars, McDonald started last season with the Spokane Chiefs, then joined the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies, before making a five-game stoip with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques. . . .
The Everett Silvertips have assigned D Tye Hand, 16, to the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons. Hand hadn’t gotten into a game with Everett this season. . . . The Pipeline Show is reporting that the Edmonton Oil Kings are about to add D Cody Corbett, a Minnesota high school product, to their roster. There’s more right here.
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The OHL has announced another lengthy suspension, this time to Oshawa Generals F Christian Thomas. He drew a 10-game sentence for a high-sticking match penalty. The video is right here.
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Jess Rubenstein is a blogger who pays particular attention to New York Rangers’ prospects over at The Prospect Park. And, as you will see by reading what follows, he has a bone to pick with the WHL:
“Dylan McIlrath (NYR 2010 1st) was not in the lineup for the Moose Jaw Warriors as they faced off with the Prince Albert Raiders (on Wednesday night). We have a reliable source who tells us that McIlrath is ‘day to day’ due to an upper body injury.
“We do know that McIlrath took an elbow to the head on Saturday in the Warriors game against the Kootenay Ice and he missed practice on Monday. It is sad that the WHL were the ones who were the first to announce their ‘7 point plan’ aimed at reducing injuries but now they will not say whether or not a player has a concussion.
“How are we supposed to know whether or not concussions are truly being reduced when there isn't any actual coverage of when a player has in fact suffered a concussion? We are reduced to gossip and guessing games but more importantly it damages the WHL's credibility since we have no way to verify whether or not a player has suffered a concussion.
“And really do you want New York Rangers fans who are already wondering about the status of Marc Staal and his own concussion issues wondering about a top prospect?
“Whether it is the Rangers or any other league, concussions are now a legit issue that needs to be dealt with in an open and honest manner. How are we supposed to believe anyone claiming concussions are down when you will not tell us when they happen?”
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Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post checks in with Curtis Hunt, the former Regina Pats’ head coach who, it turns out, is keeping his finger in the coaching game. That piece is right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

A couple of Robservations from Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post:
“If you are a member of a junior hockey team, how much fun can it possibly be to play a robotic, chip-and-chase, dump-it-in style of game? Too many coaches, at all levels of junior hockey, are seemingly determined to extract the fun and creativity from what should be a free-flowing game.
“Something is wrong with the WHL when a premier player like Everett Silvertips defenceman Ryan Murray — the pride of White City — visits his home province once every two years. The league's partial interlocking schedule is ridiculous. Every team should play in every building every season. Period.”
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D Bruin McDonald made his QMJHL debut on Friday night as his Gatineau Olympiques dropped a 4-3 decision to the visiting Victoriaville Tigres. McDonald, who started his season with the Spokane Chiefs, was pointless and plus-1. The teams were 3-3 after one period, with the Tigres getting the winner on a third-period PP. . . . The Olympiques are home to the Rimouski Oceanic today.
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The Saskatoon Blades have traded D Tyler Kizuik, 18, to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a sixth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . The Hurricanes held two sixth-round picks, their own and Seattle’s. Even after this trade, Lethbridge still holds four selections in the first four two rounds of the 2011 draft. . . . The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Kizuik, who is from Indian Head, Sask., was a third-round pick of the Prince George Cougars in the 2009 bantam draft. He had nine points in 48 games last season. . . . Kizuik should be in the Hurricanes’ lineup tonight when they play host to the Medicine Hat Tigers.
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A note from Kevin Paul Dupont in today’s Boston Globe:
A league source with direct knowledge of the negotiations reports that the sale of the Dallas Stars would have been concluded a month ago to Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi, but for commissioner Gary Bettman insisting the selling price ($175 million?) was too low. Gaglardi, majority owner of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, subsequently bowed out of the process. Another serious Canadian bidder, Bill Gallacher, also walked. Gaglardi, with partner Ryan Beedie, once tried to buy the Canucks. He’s serious about hockey and a serious businessman, traits that often have been lacking among the Lords of the Boards. As of Feb. 4, the Stars will have been up for sale for one year.
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Some highlights from Saturday’s WHL games . . .
In Prince Albert, the Raiders scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Everett Silvertips, 5-1. . . . F Brandon Herrod scored twice for the Raiders. He has 14 on the season. . . . F Mark McNeill had a goal, his 15^th, and an assist for Prince Albert, which spent the night celebrating its 40^th anniversary season. . . . The game was tied 1-1 until Herrod scored at 15:35 of the second period and McNeill got his goal at 19:23. . . . Everett G Luke Siemens was credited with 47 saves. . . . F Jonathan Parker got his 17^th goal for the Raiders. He had 15 last season -- 13 with the Seattle Thunderbirds and two with P.A. -- and 17 as a freshman with Seattle in 2008-09. . . . G Eric Williams stopped 28 shots for the Raiders. . . . Attendance was 2,418. . . . Raiders D Jordan Rowley was plus-4, while D Ryan Button had one assist and also was plus-4. . . . Everett finished its East Division tour at 3-3-0 after a 3-1-0 start. . . .
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In Brandon, the Kootenay Ice scored twice in the shootout and beat the Wheat Kings, 3-2. . . . That was Brandon’s 11^th straight loss. . . . The Ice led 2-0 on first-period goals by F Elgin Pearce, his sixth on the season and fourth in two games, and F Max Reinhart, his 16^th. . . . The Wheat Kings tied it on second-period PP goals from F Shayne Wiebe, his 16^th, and F Mark Stone, his 18^th. . . . F Matt Fraser and Reinhart scored in the shootout for the Ice, while Brandon F Scott Glennie and F Michael Ferland were foiled. . . . D Joey Leach had two assists for the Ice. . . . Attendance was 4,343. . . . Ice G Nathan Lieuwen stopped 34 shots, two more than Brandon’s Corbin Boes. . . . Kootenay was without D Brayden McNabb, who is in camp with the Canadian national junior team, and F Kevin King (infected elbow), who is its leading scorer. . . . Brandon was without F Brayden Schenn, who also is in camp with the Canadian team. . . .
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In Edmonton, F T.J. Foster broke a 1-1 tie at 5:27 of the third period as the Oil Kings beat the Kelowna Rockets, 2-1. . . . The Oil Kings are 7-1-1 in their last nine games. . . . F Mitchell (Dirty Harry) Callahan scored for Kelowna, his 15^th, on a PP, at 1:01 of the second. . . . F Mike Piluso, with his sixth, pulled Edmonton even at 15:25 of the second. . . . Edmonton F Michael St. Croix had one assist. . . . Attendance was 4,502. . . . Foster, who has 10 goals, also had an assist. . . . Edmonton G Jon Groenheyde stopped 28 shots, five fewer than Kelowna’s Adam Brown. . . .
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In Medicine Hat, F Kevin Sundher scored twice to lead the Chilliwack Bruins to a 4-1 victory over the Tigers. . . . F Jamie Crooks added two assists for the Bruins. . . . Sundher has 11 goals this season. . . . The Bruins took control by breaking a scoreless draw with three second-period goals, started by Sundher’s shorthanded score at 8:08. . . . F Emerson Etem got his 19^th of the season for the Tigers. That was their Teddy Bear goal. . . . Bruins G Braden Gamble stopped 31 shots, 11 more than Medicine Hat’s Tyler Bunz. . . .
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In Red Deer, the Regina Pats outscored the Rebels 3-2 in the shootout and posted a 3-2 victory. . . . F Jordan Weal, F Colin Reddin and F Thomas Frazee all scored for Regina in the circus, with F Daulton Siwak and F Brett Ferguson counting for the Rebels. . . . The teams exchanged goals in regulation, with F Josh Cowen getting Red Deer on the board with his second goal, on the PP, at 13:07 of the second period. . . . Regina F Andrew Rieder, with his fifth, equalized at 12:27 of the third. . . . F Byron Froese got his 12^th to give Red Deer the lead at 17:49 of the third. . . . F Garrett Mitchell pulled Regina into a tie at 19:41 with his 10th. . . . Attendance was 4,074. . . . Regina G Matt Hewitt stopped 35 shots. Red Deer’s Dawson Guhle, who was acquired earlier in the season from the Pats, turned aside 26. . . .
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In Spokane, F Tyler Johnson had a career-high six points, including four assists, to lead the Chiefs to a 10-5 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . In the Blazers’ last visit to Spokane, on Nov. 24, they were beaten 10-1. . . . The Chiefs, who fired 64 shots on two Blazers goaltenders, have won five straight games. . . . F Dominik Uher had three goals for the Chiefs. . . . Last season, Uher had four goals in 53 games. He went into last night with one goal in 24 games this season. . . . Spokane was 4-for-7 on the PP. . . . Uher also had an assist, while F Levko Koper had a goal and three assists. . . . Spokane D Tyler Vanscourt, D Brendon Kichton and F Brady Brassart each had two assists. . . . D Brady Gaudet scored three times for Kamloops. It was his first WHL hat trick and came in his 22^nd game of the season. He now has four goals this season. . . . Kamloops LW Brendan Ranford had one assist and moved into the WHL scoring lead with 50 points, one more than Medicine Hat Tigers F Linden Vey, who is in camp with the Canadian national junior team. . . . Ranford also leads the WHL in goals, with 26. . . . Kamloops F Shayne Neigum got his first goal of the season and also had two assists. . . . Kamloops ended up without both of Ranford’s linemates. RW Jordan DePape has been suspended after a Friday night hit on F Killian Hutt of the Swift Current Broncos. C Chase Schaber was given a game misconduct following a first-period fight with D Brenden Kitchton. Schaber was given the game misconduct for making an inappropriate gesture and is likely looking at a suspension. It was his sixth game back after serving a three-game suspension for making physical contact with an official. . . . The Chiefs have scored 10 goals on three occasions this season. . . . Attendance was 5,460. . . .
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In Vancouver, the Swift Current Broncos scored the game’s first four goals and went onto a 4-1 victory over the Giants. . . . The Broncos, who lost 3-2 in Kamloops on Friday night, were without three of their top forwards, with Cody Eakin having left for the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp and Killian Hutt and Stepan Novotny both injured. . . . The Broncos scored three times in the last half of the first period, with F Brad Hoban getting his 13^th, D Kyle Verdino his second and F Dillon Wagner his third in nine games since returning from offseason knee surgery. . . . Vancouver G Mark Segal, the first star in each the last three games, was lifted after that first period. . . . F Adam Lowry had two assists for the Broncos. . . . Swift Current G Mark Friesen stopped 26 shots, losing his shutout bid to F James Henry at 13:24 of the third period. . . . Attendance was 6,391. . . .
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In Portland, the Winterhawks broke a 3-3 tie with four third-period goals and beat the Prince George Cougars, 7-4. . . . Attendance on Teddy Bear Night in the Rose Garden was 10,558. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie got the Teddy Bear goal at 12:44 of the first period, and fans tossed 12,178 stuffed toys onto the ice. . . . Rattie has 16 goals. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 44 shots as the Cougars held a 48-26 edge in shots. . . . Rattie and D Joe Morrow each had a goal and two assists. . . . Portland F Riley Boychuk broke a 3-3 tie with his ninth goal at 2:36 of third on a PP. . . . F Taylor Peters added insurance with his third of the season at 7:30. . . . Portland F Sven Bartschi had two assists, as did countryman Nino Niederreiter. . . . F Jaroslav Vlach, in his third game since returning from a broken thumb suffered in October, got his first goal of the season for the Cougars. . . . The Winterhawks had beaten the visiting Cougars 4-1 on Friday. . . .
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In Kent, Wash., the visiting Tri-City Americans scored the game’s first five goals and beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 5-1. . . . Tri-City has won seven of its last nine games. . . . F Jordan Messier led the Americans with two goals, giving him 18. . . . F Brooks Macek, F Brendan Shinnimin and F Neal Prokop each had two assists for the Americans. . . . With G Calvin Pickard in camp with Canada’s national junior team, Seattle gave Michael Salmon his second start of the season. He made 28 saves. . . . Attendance was 3,577. . . . The Americans had beaten the visiting Thunderbirds 4-1 on Friday and now are 5-0 against Seattle this season. . . . The Americans were late arriving in Kent because of tough travel conditions in the mountain passes.
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SATURDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (yes, there were 11 -- count 'em, 11 -- checking-from-behind calls made last night; do you think there might be a problem here, or was there a full moon?):
One major:
Red Deer F John Persson
Ten minors:
Edmonton D Adrian Van de Mosselaer
Medicine Hat F Dylan Bredo
Regina F Colin Reddin
Red Deer F Daulton Siwak
Red Deer F Adam Kambeitz
Vancouver F Brett Lyon
Vancouver D Tyler Hart
Seattle D Dave Sutter
Portland D Brett Ponich
Kamloops D Brandon Underwood

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter

The QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques have added D Bruin McDonald, 18, to their roster. At first, it was thought he might join the Olympiques in time to play last weekend. That didn’t happen. Why not? Because he hadn’t headed east. McDonald, who started this season with the Spokane Chiefs, who had acquired him from the Prince George Cougars, is scheduled to fly out of Vancouver today at 7:30 a.m. . . . The Olympiques next play Friday when they are at home to the Victoriaville Tigers. . . . After being released by the Chiefs, McDonald joined the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. They traded him last week to the Vernon Vipers. While preparing to join the Vipers, McDonald was contacted by the Olympiques, who apparently have promised him a roster spot for the remainder of this season.
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The Saskatoon Blades understand the importance of media coverage. Which is why the Blades, under GM/head coach Lorne Molleken, gave Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix complete access to their operation on Saturday as they prepared to play the Rockets in Kelowna. Wolfe’s story provides great insight into what goes on, especially involving a coach and his staff, in the hours and minutes leading up to a game. Check out the StarPhoenix’s website for Wolfe’s story. . . . By the way, Wolfe regularly makes the Blades’ B.C. or U.S. division swing, and his copy is as good as you’ll find in the world of hockey. Period.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca  gdrinnan.blogspot.com  Taking Note on Twitter

What's Bruin doin'? He's in Gatineau

The WHL season was underway when the NHL’s Ottawa Senators returned D Jared Cowen to the Spokane Chiefs.
Because of that move, D Bruin McDonald now is with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques.
A stretch? Perhaps. But you can make the case . . .
The Chiefs acquired McDonald, an 18-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., from the Prince George Cougars, who had selected him in the seventh round of the 2007 bantam draft. The Chiefs gave up a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft for McDonald, but then released him. He had recorded one assist in three games.
McDonald, whose father is a big fan of Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins, ended up with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies for whom he had five points in 14 games.
But he found himself a healthy scratch on Tuesday, and then he was traded Wednesday to the Vernon Vipers for future considerations. Strangely, McDonald was a healthy scratch as the Grizzlies played the host Westside Warriors, with Vernon GM/head coach Mark Ferner in attendance.
(The future considerations may have been to clean up an earlier deal in which the rights to F Kyle St. Denis, 20, moved to Victoria. By the way, there now are rumours that St. Denis is going to join the Grizzlies after initially saying he wanted to play with his hometown Trail Smoke Eaters.)
Shortly after McDonald’s junior A rights had been moved from Vancouver Island to the Interior of B.C., the Olympiques called.
McDonald, who by now was in Vernon, had met Ferner and had been taken to new billets, told Gatineau that he would play there if he was guaranteed a spot for the remainder of this season.
The Olympiques, having had a defenceman go down in a mid-week game, wanted McDonald there in time to play Wednesday night against the host P.E.I. Rocket.
However, at that point, the Olympiques said they couldn’t guarantee him anything. They did, however, tell McDonald they would like him in training camp in August and that they would follow his progress in Vernon.
So . . . McDonald began to prepare to play for the Vipers in a Friday night game at home against Westside.
Except that the saga wasn’t yet finished.
You see, the Olympiques had a change of mind and called him back. They have guaranteed him a roster spot for the rest of this season so he is on his way east. He didn’t get there in time to play Friday night in Moncton against the Wildcats. Tonight, the Olympiques are to play the Sea Dogs in Saint John, N.B.
As someone close to McDonald put it, “It is like becoming the best looking girl in Grade 12 after being the ugly duckling. . . . it’s absolutely whacky. . . . Bruin’s head is spinning. . . . But he seems really happy.”
If you are wondering how a player from the west is eligible to play in the QMJHL, a WHL official explained it this way: “All players 18 years of age or older who do not appear on the protected list of a WHL club are free agents and are eligible to transer to another league in the CHL.”
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Petr Vala (Seattle, 1997-98) requested and was granted his release by Dukla Trencin (Slovakia Extraliga) for personal reasons. He had four goals and no assists in 17 games for Dukla this season.
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The Tri-City Americans have signed two 17-year-old forwards who are with the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos. . . . Brennan Bosovich, who is from Martensville, Sask., goes into the weekend tied for the scoring lead in the Saskatchewan midget AAA league, with 34 points in 19 games. . . . Dallman has 16 points in 12 games. A Prince Albert native, he is the son of Rod Dallman, who played three seasons with the Raiders and was part of the team that won the 1985 Memorial Cup. . . . Both players will travel to Kennewick, Wash., next week and are expected to play for the Americans as they go home-and-home with the Seattle Thunderbirds on Dec. 10 and 11.
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Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix notes that the Hamilton family feud resumes tonight when the Saskatoon Blades meet the Rockets in Kelowna.
Blades F Curtis Hamilton turns 19 today and would love nothing better than to stick it to the Rockets. After all, his father, Bruce, is the Rockets’ president and general manager.
“My wife (Laureen) will cheer for him and his grandpa (Gavin Hamilton Sr.)
will be really mixed up because he won’t know which side to go for,” Bruce told Wolfe. “The best thing for us would be a 4-3 (Kelowna) win in overtime. Then they’d get a point, we’d get two and hopefully (Curtis) gets their three goals.”
The teams have played three times since Curtis joined the Blades. He holds a 2-0-1 edge.
For the rest of Wolfe’s story, and it’s a good one, especially the part about Curtis napping under his dad’s desk, check out the StarPhoenix’s website right here.
———JUST NOTES: D Ayrton Nikkel of Kelowna is expected to make his WHL debut tonight for the Saskatoon Blades in Kelowna against the Rockets. Nikkel was the 42nd selection in the 2010 WHL bantam draft. . . . F Neil Tarnasky of hte Lethbridge Hurricanes drew a three-game suspension for a checking-from-behind major on Wednesday night against the host Swift Current Broncos.
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SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM FRIDAY’S WHL GAMES:
In Regina, F Antonin Honejsek and F Spencer Edwards each scored three times to lead the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 9-6 victory over the Pats. . . . The Warriors’ goals all came from the last five numbered skaters on their roster. . . . Honejsek, who has 14 goals, also had two assists. It was his second WHL hat trick. . . . Edwards, who enjoyed his first three-goal game, has 11 goals. . . . Moose Jaw, which is at home to the Everett Silvertips tonight, has won three in a row. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal scored on a second-period penalty shot that got the Pats to within one at 4-3. However, Honejsek restored the two-goal lead just 1:11 later, at 19:02, and F Dylan Hood added another just 54 seconds into the third period. . . . F Thomas Frazee had two goals and an assist for the Pats, while Weal had a goal and two assists. . . . Regina F Trent Ouellette, a 17-year-old from Drumheller, Alta., scored his first WHL goal. It came in his 26th game. . . . Attendance was 4,462. . . . Despite the rivalry, there were only five minors and two majors handed out. . . . D Dylan McIlrath (knee) was back in Moose Jaw’s lineup after a six-game absence.
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In Swift Current, G Luke Siemens put up his first WHL shutout as the Everett Silvertips stoned the Broncos 6-0 in the Teddy Bear Game. . . . Siemens, 18, is from Delta, B.C. He was making his fifth appearance of the season and sixth of his career. That includes one start last season with the Prince George Cougars. . . . F Kellan Tochkin stretched a 2-0 lead to 5-0 with three straight goals, two in the second period. He’s got 14 goals this season. Tochkin also had an assist. . . . F Manraj Hayer had three assists for Everett. He went into the game with a goal and two assists in 21 games. . . . Attendance was 2,107.
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In Edmonton, F Michael St. Croix and D Mark Pysyk each had four points as the Oil Kings doubled the Brandon Whet Kings, 8-4. . . . St. Croix had two goals and two assists, while Pysyk had a goal and three helpers. . . . Brandon, which has lost eight in a row, led 3-1 in the first period but Edmonton tied it on goals by D Braeden Laroque, at 17:26, and F Kristians Pelss, at 18:49. . . . Brandon took a 4-3 lead when D Ryan Bulock scored at 18:49. . . . Edmonton scored the game’s last five goals, four of them in the second period. . . . Pysyk tied it at 6:47, with his first goal this season, and St. Croix then got his 14th and 15th. . . . Laroque, an 18-year-old from Saskatoon, scored his first WHL goal in his 16th game. . . . St. Croix has 15 points in a seven-game point streak. . . . Attendance was 4,621. . . . F Brayden Schenn, who has been returned to Brandon by the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, didn’t play. He is scheduled to travel today and might play tonight in Red Deer against the Rebels.
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In Red Deer, G Darcy Kuemper posted his WHL-leading fifth shutout of the season as the Rebels beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 3-0. . . . Kuemper, 20, stopped 33 shots as he earned the 11th shutout of his career. He had three in each of the last two season. . . . Kuemper has tied the single-season and franchise shutout records that were held by Cam Ward. . . . Kuemper’s goals-against average is down to 1.77. He has a .937 save percentage with a record of 19-4-2. . . . F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored once and added an assist, as did F John Persson, while F Andrej Kudrna had two assists. . . . Attendance was 4,258.
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In Kamloops, F Josh Nicholls scored on a 5-on-3 PP at 3:46 of OT as the Saskatoon Blades beat the Blazers, 4-3. . . . The rare 5-on-3 PP occurred when Kamloops forwards Chase Schaber and Brendan Ranford were penalized on the same play. . . . Nicholls won it with his 15th goal of the season. . . . He was foiled by G Jeff Bosch on a first-period penalty shot attempt. . . . The Blades trailed 3-1 going into the third period, but tied it on goals by F Matej Stransky, at 1:52, and Ryan Olsen, at 12:43. . . . Attendance was 3,928. . . . Saskatoon D Stefan Elliott drew assists on his club’s last two goals.
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In Portland, F Ryan Johansen and F Nino Niederreiter each scored twice to lead the Winterhawks to a 5-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans, who had won four in a row. . . . The Winterhawks had lost four straight. . . . Niederreiter has 18 points, including 10 goals, in 18 games since returning from the NHL’s New York Islanders. . . . Johansen, who also had an assist, has 16 goals. . . . Attendance was 5,732. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 26 shots, losing his shutout bid at 10:22 of the third period when F Adam Hughesman got his 15th on the PP. . . . Tri-City still has four 20-year-olds on its roster and has until Wednesday to get down to three. Last night, F Neal Prokop, who has returned after breaking a leg last spring, sat out. D Zak Stebner, D Tyler Schmidt and F Kruise Reddick were the 20-year-olds in the lineup. When Prokop returned, each of the Tri-City 20-year-olds was told he would sit out one of the next four games. Those four games are over and a decision is pending.
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In Prince George, F Colin Jacobs broke a 4-4 tie with his third goal of the game at 6:48 of the third period as the Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Cougars, 5-4. . . . Jacobs, a 17-year-old from Coppell, Texas, has 13 goals this season. He finished last season with 13 goals in 72 games. This was his first three-goal game in the WHL. . . . Jacobs, who also had an assist, has 25 points this season, one fewer than he had last season. . . . F Tyler Alos had a goal and two helpers for Seattle. . . . Seattle D Erik Bonsor was pointless but finished plus-4. . . . F James Dobrowolski had two goals for the Cougars, while F Brett Connolly had a goal and two assists. . . . Connolly has 37 points in 28 games. . . . Attendance was 1,790.
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In Spokane, F Anthony Bardaro scored on a PP at 3:12 of OT to give the Chiefs a 3-2 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Spokane F Tyler Johnson had forced OT with his 19th goal at 5:27 of the third period. It was his second goal of the game. . . . Johnson has 16 points, including 12 goals, over his last 10 gmes. . . . Bardaro has nine goals. . . . Spokane has points in 11 of its last 12 games. . . . The Chiefs kept Tigers F Linden Vey, the WHL scoring leader, off the scoresheet. . . . Attendance was 4,927. . . . The Tigers took a 2-1 third-period lead on goals by F Tyler Pitlick, his 12th, at 1:46, and F Kale Kessy, his fifth, at 2:56. . . . Spokane G James Reid went the distance — he made 17 saves — one week after injuring his right leg during a game in Kamloops. . . . “I didn’t like us at all,” Spokane head coach Don Nachbaur told Dave Trimmer of the Spokane Spokesman-Review. “I thought we had a lot of passengers looking out the back window of the bus.” . . . The Tigers were playing their fifth game in seven days in the U.S. Division — they went 3-1-1 — while the Chiefs hadn’t played since Saturday.
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In Chilliwack, the Bruins erased a 2-0 third-period deficit and beat the Kelowna Rockets, 3-2. . . . The Rockets, who went in having won 11 of 12, led 2-0 on two goals from F Brett Bulmer, who has 10 goals. . . . Chilliwack D Brandon Manning scored twice, at 1:45 and 10:48 of the third period, to tie it. . . . Manning, who signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers late last month, has 13 goals. . . . D Mitch Topping got the winner at 12:11. . . . That was Topping’s second goal this season. . . . Attendance was 3,379.
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In Vancouver, F Cody Sylvester broke a 3-3 tie at 4:35 of the third period as the Calgary Hitmen beat the Giants, 4-3. . . . Vancouver, which now has lost four straight and six of seven, had scored two goals early in the third period to take a 3-2 lead. F Brendan Gallagher got No. 23 at 1:37 and D David Musil added his fourth at 4:10. . . . F Brendan Rowinski assisted on both goals. . . . The Hitmen got two goals from F Justin Kirsch, who has 13. . . . Musil scored twice, giving him four. . . . Attendance was 6,073.
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FRIDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
One minor:
Medicine Hat F Kale Kessy
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