Wednesday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Adam Courchaine (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, 2001-05) signed a one-year contract extension with the DEG Metro Stars Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL). He had 16 goals and 17 assists in 52 games for the Metro Stars last season. . . .
G Kyle Moir (Swift Current, 2002-07) signed a one-year contract with Eindhoven Kemphanen (Netherlands, Eredivisie). He had a 3.25 GAA and a .896 save percentage in nine games for Lakehead University (CIS) and allowed six goals in one game with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) last season. . . .
F Jeremy Williams (Swift Current, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 32 goals and 23 assists in 75 games for the Connecticut Whale (AHL) and was pointless in one game with the New York Rangers last season.
———

KONOWALCHUK

The WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds will introduce Steve Konowalchuk as their new head coach at a news conference today.
Konowalchuk, an assistant coach with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche for the last two seasons, replaces Rob Sumner who was fired following last season.
Konowalchuk, 38, is a native of Salt Lake City, who played two seasons (1990-92) with the Portland Winterhawks. He put up 196 points in 136 regular-season games.
He played in 790 NHL games over 14 seasons, splitting time between the Washington Capitals and Colorado.
Seattle’s move leaves the Everett Silvertips and Moose Jaw Warriors as the only WHL teams without head coaches under contract.
To the best of my knowledge, Jim Riley, a freelancer who covers the Thunderbirds for the Seattle Times, was first with this story.
———
Cory Wolfe, who is as good as any hockey writer in the game today, is leaving the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
Wolfe is leaving the newspaper to work in internal communications with Cameco.
You can bet that he will be missed by the other WHL beat writers.
It is a sad day when a talented writer with a terrific work ethic ends up leaving the newspaper business, but it is a sign of the times.
With the prevalence of the Internet in our day-to-day lives, newspapers everywhere are trying to find a business model that works. To date, that hasn’t happened.
Kevin Paul Dupont, a longtime hockey writer with the Boston Globe, tweeted on this subject Wednesday:
“If Exxon did all the work, brought gas to pump, gave free fill-ups . . . viable biz model?”
That about sums it up.
———
The WHL’s board of governors wrapped up its annual general meeting in Calgary on Wednesday by adopting what it is calling a “Seven Point Plan” aimed at reducing blows the head and concussions.
When I read — and re-read — the WHL’s press release I came up with eight points.
1. Adoption of new playing rules, specifically a checking to the head penalty for “lateral and blind-side hits to an unsuspecting opponent in open ice where the head is targeted or is the principle point of contact.”
2. More severe suspensions for repeat offenders.
3. Production of an educational video on risks of concussion.
4. Educating the players to be more responsible for themselves on the ice.
5. A seminar for all WHL head coaches and general managers.
6. New soft cap elbow and shoulder pads.
7. Expanded research data.
8. A review of all WHL arena facilities (and their) safety standards.
The WHL, according to its release, “also tightened the standard on late hits as well as charging and interference penalties to address players building up significant speed and hitting the opponent along the boards with excessive force.”
This all sounds great and for the sake of the young men involved — WHL players suffered more than 100 concussions in 2010-11 — you hope that it has a positive impact.
And as is usually the case with offseason changes, the proof will be in the pudding. So let's see what happens when another season gets here.
The one disappointing thing is that the WHL has done nothing to limit fighting. So while the WHL is acting in an attempt to cut down on checks to the head, it has done nothing to limit fists to faces.
———
The WHL’s board of governors also heard from five teams wanting to play host to the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
In the end, they set aside the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Prince George Cougars, while the Kelowna Rockets, Red Deer Rebels and Saskatoon Blades will make final presentations at a board meeting in Calgary on Oct. 12.
———
The Seattle Thunderbirds have launched their Sporcle page.
Sporcle? It is a popular quiz website.
There are two Thunderbirds quizzes up there now, one on coaches and the other on captains, with more promised.
Feel free to check it out.
———
JUST NOTES: F Juuso Puustinen, who played with the Kamloops Blazers (2006-08), has signed a two-year deal with the NHL’s Nashville Predators. According to capgeek.com, Puustinen, a free agent, gets a US$60,000 salary in the AHL and $610,000 in the NHL. He also got a $120,000 signing bonus over two seasons. . . . Puustinen, 23, was a fifth-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2006 NHL draft. . . . A Portland Winterhawks fan emails to let us know that “to the best of my knowledge, Andrew Ference becomes the third Hawk to win both the Memorial Cup and Stanley Cup. He joins John Kordic and Marian Hossa.” . . . The WHL office said it will release its preseason schedule on June 23 with the regular-season schedule coming out June 29.

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

Friday . . .

THE CHILLIWACK-TO-VICTORIA SAGA, Chapter 57:
The Regina Moose? The Regina Gophers? The Chilliwack Pats?
The Victoria Bruins?
When the dominoes start falling, who knows how all this will shake out. And now you have to wonder if one of the dominoes might be the Regina Pats?
The Pats are in lease negotiations with Evraz Place, the landlord that controls the Brandt Centre, the arena the team calls home.
These negotiations have been messy in the past and they appear headed down Nasty Street once again.
In fact, a source has told me that the Evraz people have given the Pats “a take-it-or-leave-it offer.”
The Pats’ owners — Diane and Russ Parker — are said to be seriously thinking of leaving it. Their son, Brent, is the team’s president after a long run as general manager.
I also have been told that the Evraz Place people have had discussions with the American Hockey League, which is doing preliminary planning in case a new home is needed for the Winnipeg-based Manitoba Moose. That move would become necessary should the NHL move the Phoenix Coyotes back to Winnipeg.
All of this is nothing more than speculation, of course, but it does mean there may be a sliver of light so far as the WHL fans of Chilliwack are concerned.
Understand that the Pats have been down this road a few times before and, at the end of the day, have always reached agreement with their landlord.
However, I don’t think the Pats have ever been in a position like they are now — with an arena such as the one in Chilliwack looking for a primary tenant. (The Bruins, if you’ve come in late, have been sold, presumably to Vancouver-based RG Properties, and will be relocated to Victoria.)
Yes, the Pats could very well use Chilliwack as a bargaining chip. However, it could work the other way, too, meaning that Evraz Place might have to be careful in calling the Pats’ bluff because the hockey team just might have another landing place.
Of course, it could be that Evraz Place has its eyes on an AHL franchise.
Oh, what a tangled web . . .
———
Interestingly, the Colorado-based Arabian Horse Association wasn’t able to close negotiations to keep its Royal Red horse show at Evraz Place and revealed late in March that it has chosen to move it to Brandon’s Keystone Centre. The Royal Red had been held in Regina for 22 years.
———
The Parkers have a long sporting history in the west and, in fact, Russ and Brent likely would be quick to tell you that baseball is their first love. Russ owned a AAA baseball franchise in Calgary not all that long ago, but it left town when he and the City couldn’t come together on the building of a new facility or the refurbishing of an old one.
A year ago, the Parkers bought a Golden Baseball League franchise and set it up in Victoria as the Seals. Darren Parker, another son, was put in charge. However, the owners weren’t at all pleased with playing conditions — apparently, Victoria is lacking in baseball facilities and the Seals played on a soccer pitch with a portable snow fence around the outfield — and the franchise folded over the winter.
Should the Pats end up in the centre of a controversy related to a possible move, it wouldn’t be the first time. In 1985-86, the franchise, then owned by the Pinder family of Saskatoon, was so close to moving to Swift Current during the Christmas break that one game scheduled to be played in Regina was postponed. The marquee in front of the Agridome even announced that the team was on the move. Saner heads prevailed, of course, and the Pats stayed where they belong.
The bone of contention back then was a $1 parking charge that Regina Exhibition Park, then the Pats’ landlord, chose to implement.
———
And if you’re wondering how the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings are doing . . . they opened a best-of-seven second-round series with the host Utah Grizzlies on Friday night. The Salmon Kings won, 4-2, with former Kootenay Ice F Adam Taylor sealing the victory with an empty-netter. . . . Attendance in the 10,207-seat Maverik Center was 3,063. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for tonight. . . . The series heads to Victoria for Games 3, 4 and, if necessary, 5 on Wednesday, Friday and April 23.
———
MEANWHILE . . .
The hurt will be a while in going away, but Lorne Molleken, the general manager and head coach of the Saskatoon Blades, says he’ll be back behind the team’s bench next season.
After last season, Molleken thought about leaving the bench and focussing on the front-office duties.
“I sat down last year at the end of the (season) with (Blades co-owner) Jack Brodsky and we talked about the coaching,” Molleken told Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “The Brodsky family, at that time, their wishes were that I stay behind the bench. Jack asked me to commit for another three years, so I made that
commitment to him and we’ll move forward.”
Molleken told Wolfe that he plans “to stay coaching for a long time.”
For more on the Blades and how they are dealing with the way their season ended, check out Wolfe’s copy right here.
———

DAWSON GUHLE

The Medicine Hat Tigers get their second opportunity to eliminate the Red Deer Rebels tonight. The Tigers take a 3-1 series lead into Game 5 in Red Deer.
The Tigers won the first three games of the series and a lot of fans thought the series was over when Red Deer lost G Darcy Kuemper with a high ankle sprain suffered in Game 3.
However, backup Dawson Guhle, 18, stepped in and pitched a shutout, stopping 19 shots as the Rebels won Game 4, 1-0.
Guhle will be back in goal tonight, as Kuemper, 20, still is on the limp. In fact, Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate reports that Kuemper “has been fitted with a special boot which he will wear for a least a month.”
Backing up Guhle, who was acquired from the Regina Pats in November, will be Bolton Pouliot, 16, from the midget AAA Calgary Royals.
The Rebels have scored just three goals in the four games with Medicine Hat. Obviously, then, Red Deer is going to have to find some offence if it hopes to keep on playing.
———
The Tri-City Americans and the visiting Spokane Chiefs are 2-2 going into Game 5 in Kennewick, Wash., on Sunday. The Americans evened the series with a 4-3 double-overtime victory on Thursday.
If you’re planning on attending Sunday’s game, perhaps you should be prepared for OT. Nine of the last 14 playoff games between these teams have needed extra time.
If you’re wondering why this series has a 2-3-2 format, with the Americans playing host to the middle three, it’s because of scheduling difficulties involving an Elton John concert, a two-day youth wrestling tournament and an Amway convention.
The wrestling tournament will be held today and Sunday in the Toyota Center in Kennewick, with the facility to be converted for hockey in time for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Bob Tory, the Americans’ GM, wasn’t at all happy about not having any Friday dates.
"It's bad management," Tory told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald earlier this month. "When you have Spokane and Tri-City and we can't have a weekend date, that is unacceptable. We are the anchor tenant with a history of playoff success the last five years."
———
ON THE ICE FRIDAY NIGHT:

JESSEY ASTLES

In Portland, F Jessey Astles scored at 7:08 of OT to give the Kelowna Rockets a 2-1 victory over the Winterhawks. . . . Kelowna G Adam Brown stopped 54 shots. . . . The goal was Astles third of the playoffs. He picked off a pass at the Kelowna blue line and skated in alone to beat G Mac Carruth to the blocker side. . . . Astles, an 18-year-old from Coquitlam, scored one goal in 56 regular-season games last season and three times in 59 games this season. Now, he has three goals in nine playoff games. . . . The Winterhawks hold a 3-2 lead as the series goes back to Kelowna for Game 6 on Sunday. . . . Kelowna won the first game, with Portland winning the next three. . . . F Mitchell (Dirty Harry) Callahan gave Kelowna a 1-0 lead at 4:38 of the second period via the PP. . . . Portland F Nino Niederreiter, on the PP, tied it at 15:09 of the second. . . . Callahan has five goals; Niederreiter has seven. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 36 shots. . . . Attendance in the Rose Garden was 8,505. . . . The Rockets lost D Colton Jobke to a boarding major and game misconduct at 16:34 of the first period. The play will be reviewed by the WHL office and he could be suspended. . . . Portland had F Brad Ross back in the lineup after he served a three-game suspension. He picked up two minor penalties, one of them coincidental, the other resulting in a Kelowna PP. . . . Kelowna F Zach Franko, who was hit by Ross in Game 1, didn’t play.
———
FRIDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
———
A tip of the cap to Taylor Piller, a 20-year-old forward with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves. From Saskatoon, Piller has played four seasons in the SJHL — two with the Humboldt Broncos and two with the Ice Wolves. Remarkably, he has won four SJHL championships.
Darren Zary of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has that story right here.

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

Sunday . . .

Doug Soetaert, the general manager of the Everett Silvertips, says there won’t be anymore reloading. Starting now, he says, the Silvertips are rebuilding. "We can't continue to bring other people's players in to win a championship every year," Soetaert told the Everett Herald‘s Nick Patterson. "It catches up to you. You have to get back to creating your identity and bringing your players through your system."
Patterson’s story is right here.
———
The QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads are looking for a new coaching staff, reports Willy Panov of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald. Former NHLer Bobby Smith, who is the club’s majority owner, is out as head coach, as is associate coach Chris Donnelly. Cam Russell, who started the season as general manager/head coach before Smith took over as coach, remains the GM but won’t be on the bench. Assistant coach Jason Troini has returned to the major midget Dartmouth Ice Dawgs as GM and head coach. Only goaltender coach Eric Raymond will be returning. . . . The Mooseheads were 4-9-1 when Smith moved in; they went 16-34-4 under him, and were swept by the Montreal Juniors in the first round of playoffs.
———
The gang from NHL Central Scouting has been in meetings, working to compile their final list before the June draft. There won’t be an official release with players ranked numerically until April 12, but Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com has a look right here at the top 10 from each of the three major junior leagues, as well as some other areas.
———
THE PLAYOFF PICTURE:
Seven of the eight first-round series are dust, with only the Medicine Hat Tigers versus Brandon Wheat Kings still on the go. The Tigers, who have won the last two games, take a 3-2 edge into Game 6 tonight in Winnipeg.
The Saskatoon Blades and Kootenay Ice advanced with victories on Sunday night.
Should Medicine Hat win its series, the second-round matchups will be Saskatoon against Kootenay and the Red Deer Rebels versus the Tigers. A Brandon victory, would put the Wheat Kings against the Blades, with the Rebels meeting the Ice.
Should the Wheat Kings win tonight to force a Game 7, that series will be decided Wednesday in Medicine Hat.
The Blades will open the second round at home on Friday night.
———
SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Prince Albert, the Saskatoon Blades beat the Raiders 2-1 in overtime to win that series, 4-2. . . . F Matej Stransky took advantage of a turnover by Raiders G Jamie Tucker behind his net to score the winner at 4:24 of OT. . . . Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that Blades F Marek Viedensky duped Tucker into passing him the puck. “I just heard my name ‘Tucks’ get called,” a teary-eyed Tucker told Wolfe. “I was on my backhand, so I thought it was my guy but I guess it was him.” . . . Viedensky flipped the puck out front to Stransky, who promptly scored the series winner. . . . Moments earlier, Tucker had robbed Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls with a huge glove save. . . . D Antoine Corbin gave the Raidersd a 1-0 lead at 2:43 of the first period. . . . Saskatoon F Brent Benson tied it at 12:21 of the second. . . . Stransky, who has three playoff goals, drew an assist on Benson’s goal. . . . Tucker finished with 35 saves, six more than Saskatoon’s Steven Stanford. . . . Attendance was 3,366 as the Art Hauser Memorial Centre was sold right out. . . .
In Moose Jaw, the Kootenay Ice jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and went on to beat the Warriors 5-4. . . . The Ice won the series 4-2. . . . This was the final WHL game in the Moose Jaw Civic Centre (aka the Crushed Can) as the Warriors are scheduled to move into a new multiplex in time for next season. . . . D Brayden McNabb gave the visitors a 1-0 lead just 1:36 into the first period. . . . F Max Reinhart and F Matt Fraser upped it to 3-0 with goals 1:04 apart later in the period. . . . The Warriors got back to within 3-2 and 4-3 and 5-4 but weren’t able to equalize. . . . Fraser finished with three goals, giving him five in the series. He gave the Ice a 4-2 lead at 9:12 of the second and a 5-3 edge at 9:22 of the third. . . . Reinhart also had three assists. . . . F Quinton Howden had a goal, his fifth, and an assist for the Warriors. . . . Attendance was 2,727.
———
SUNDAY’S CFB COUNT:
None.
———
And now for something completely different. . . .
This is every team’s worst nightmare . . . its season over before it really gets started. But, in truth, it happens a lot because there always are teams in a league that don’t have a chance of winning the championship.
But check this out right here to see what happened to the New York Mets the other day. (Hint: It involves a clip from Family Guy.)

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

Monday's stuff . . .

There is an issue with the Twitter box over there on the right that I have to clear up.
And if it can’t be cleared up, the Twitter box will disappear.
For whatever reason, the source of a retweet doesn’t show up there.
For example, on Monday night, I retweeted an item from TSN’s Ryan Rishaug on Seattle Thunderbirds D Brenden Dillon signing with the Dallas Stars. Unfortunately, because Rishaug’s avatar doesn’t show up, it appears as though this tweet originated with me.
It did not.
We are working to repair this situation. As mentioned, if it can’t be repaired, the Taking Note on Twitter box will disappear.
———
Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix made the trek to Moose Jaw with the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday for their very last game in the Civic Centre (aka the Crushed Can).
That story is right here. And it includes a photo of the Crushed Can, in case you haven't seen one.
In Wolfe’s story, Lorne Molleken, the GM and head coach of the Blades, offers a few reminisces, including the relationship between fans and Molson Canadian and smoke.
I haven’t been in the Crushed Can in more than 10 years. But how well I remember when there was a room for the fans located next to the visiting team’s dressing room. In the intermissions, the fans would head there to have a pop and a cigarette or two. It may have been my imagination, but it always struck me that all the smoke would waft from that room, through and over the wall and into the dressing room where the visitors were trying to catch their breath.
In those days, that was home-ice advantage.
And then there was the leather-lunged fan who spent two periods standing behind the visiting team’s goaltender. This fan wore big leather mitts. He would cup those mitts around his mouth and yell at the goaltender through the split between two panes of glass. And it would go on and on and on. . . .
One former WHL coach once told me that fan was worth at least a goal a game.
“If I ever get another job in the WHL,” that coach said, “I’m taking that guy with me.”
———
OK, people, here we go!
Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times-Colonist writes: “Sources have indicated to the Times Colonist an announcement may be coming this spring about a Victoria team in the WHL for the 2012-13 season.”
Dheensaw mentions the Kootenay Ice, Prince George Cougars, Chilliwack Bruins, Porltand Winterhawks, Saskatoon Blades . . .
Dheensaw’s story is right here.
———
Kevin Clark of the Wall Street Journal has a good read here on how NHL teams are burying mistakes in the AHL. Did you know: D Wade Redden makes the AHL minimum salary of $37,500 in just one period play. That and more right here.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings have lost D Ryley Miller, 18, with an injury to his left hand. Miller, who will be out indefinitely, was injured in Saturday’s 9-3 victory over the visiting Regina Pats. . . . The Wheat Kings have had a tough time keeping veteran defencemen in the lineup. D Brodie Melnychuk, 19, recently returned after missing 12 games with a broken leg. . . . The Wheat Kings have brought in D Ayrton Nikkel, 15, of Kelowna, and he’ll spend the week with them. A second-round draft pick by the Saskatoon Blades in 2010, the Wheat Kings acquired him from the Saskatoon Blades in the Brayden Schenn deal. Nikkel has 41 points in 52 games with the Pursuit of Excellence team in Kelowna. . . . Not counting Nikkel, Brandon is carrying six defencemen and five of those are finishing up their freshman seasons — Ryan Pulock and Eric Roy both are 16, while Jordan Fransoo, Spencer Galbraith and Rene Hunter are 17. Pulock should be in any conversation as the Eastern Conference’s rookie of the year. . . . The Wheat Kings, who have won nine in a row at home, play the visiting Kootenay Ice on Wednesday, with Regina back on Friday.
———
JUST NOTES: F Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants is the WHL’s player of the week. He had 10 points, including five goals, as the Giants went 2-1-0. . . . Thomas Heemskerk of the Moose Jaw Warriors is the WHL’s nominee as the CHL’s goaltender of the week. He was 1-1-0, 0.48, .984 last week. . . . Ryan Rishaug of TSN reported last night that the Dallas Stars “have agreed to terms with” D Brenden Dillon, the captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Dillon, a 20-year-old from Surrey, B.C., was a free agent. He has 49 points in 63 games with the Thunderbirds. . . .
Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate reports that the Rebels should have F John Persson back tonight after a three-game absence. Persson was injured when he went heavily into the boards during a game against the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Feb. 19. Persson, who has 53 points, should be back alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrej Kudrna tonight when the Medicine Hat Tigers come calling. . . . The Rebels, however, remain without D Aaron Borejko (concussion) and F Josh Cowen (broken hand). . . . Borejko has missed two games but isn’t yet symptom-free so hasn’t even been on a bike. . . . The Tri-City Americans were without six regulars when they dropped a 5-0 decision to the host Vancouver Giants on Sunday. F Adam Hughesman, F Jordan Messier, F Marcus Messier, G Drew Owsley, F Neal Prokop and F Mason Wilgosh are were sidelined. Owsley has missed seven games with a knee injury. . . .
The Edmonton Oil Kings scored the game’s first seven goals as they beat the visiting Calgary Hitmen 7-1 on Monday night. The Oil Kings are sixth in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The Hitmen were minus five forwards — Jimmy Bubnick, Trevor Cheek, Tyler Fiddler, Kris Foucault and Cody Sylvester. All are either ill or injured. . . . Kootenay Ice D Brayden McNabb, who played in his 250th regular-season game on Saturday, has 19 goals this season, one shy of the franchise’s record for goals in one season by a defenceman. Mike Busto scored 20 in 2006-07. . . . .
The Swift Current Broncos raised $8,300 through their Rider Night promotion on Feb. 12. All proceeds went to the Swift Current Minor Hockey Association and Swift Current Minor Football. F Andy Blanke’s jersey went for $2,300 and F Justin Dowling’s for $1,000 in the live auction. F Adam Lowry’s went for $725.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Forward Carter Ashton (7), in his debut with the Tri-City
Americans on Friday, hangs around Kamloops goaltender
Cam Lanigan in the hopes of finding a loose puck.
(Photo courtesy John Allen/Tri-City Americans)

Here is the beginning of an interview between Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and F Brayden Schenn, who joined the Saskatoon Blades in a trade from the Brandon Wheat Kings on Monday.
The SP: In Saskatoon, you might be more popular than Santa Claus right now. What’s the most interesting reaction you’ve had from a fan since joining the Blades this week?
Schenn: Well, I was in a public bathroom and a guy put his arm around me
while I was (at the urinal).
The SP: So, you’re feeling the love?
Schenn: Yes, I have felt the love coming from Saskatoon and it’s good to
have. I just can’t wait to start playing games.
The complete interview is right here.
———
You may have heard that the first outdoor game in WHL history is to be played today in Spokane. John Blanchette of the Spokane Spokesman-Review takes a look at the spectacle right here.
However, as KREM-TV reports right here, there has been rain.
As of 11:30 p.m. PT on Friday, The Weather Network was calling for showers in the morning with cloudy skies and highs of plus-6 C in the afternoon.
———
After a story appeared here Friday on Medicine Hat Tigers F Hunter Shinkaruk, I was reminded that his WHL career actually started at a much younger age. He was actually in a photo taken by Dave Chidley of the Calgary Sun that won a National Newspaper Award in 1997. . . . The photo was taken on Oct. 15, 1997. Shinkaruk was two days past his third birthday at the time. . . . He was on the ice prior to a game as part of a Junior Fan promotion. . . . Check out that photo right here.
———
Wondering how Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province is doing as he continues to crush the tumour with humour? Well, one of the two titanium rods that was surgically implanted in his back has snapped. . . . Check out Ewen’s blog right here.
———
JUST NOTES: The CHL’s Top Prospects game is scheduled for Thursday, and perhaps someone out there is able to explain how it is that Edmonton Oil Kings F Michael St. Croix won’t be there. Then, again, maybe they can’t. I realize there’s more to this game than numbers but, sheesh, compare St. Croix’s stats to, say, those of Red Deer Rebels F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and get back to me. . . . Thanks to those who responded for a count of junior A trades made on Monday. In the AJHL, there were nine or 10 trades, while there were 13 in the MJHL and 11 in the BCHL, six of which involved the Prince George Spruce Kings. The SJHL has yet to post any trades made after Jan. 3. . . . The Central league’s Wichita Thunder has acquired F Dustin Donaghy, 21, from the Allen Americans for futures. Donaghy (Spokane, Lethbridge, 2007-10) had seven points and 43 penalty minutes in 23 games with Allen.
———
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM FRIDAY’S WHL GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, F Mark McNeill set up two goals to lead the Prince Albert Raiders to a 4-2 victory over the Warriors. . . . The Raiders have won five of six. . . . Prince Albert G Eric Williams stopped 29 shots. . . . The Warriors have lost three in a row and have scored only three goals in those losses. . . . The Warriors are scheduled to play in Prince Albert tonight. . . . F Cody Beach (head) and F Antonin Honejsek (charley horse) both sat out for Moose Jaw. . . .
In Regina, the Edmonton Oil Kings completed a sweep of the season series with the Pats as they posted a 4-1 victory. . . . The outcome put a damper on the Pats’ celebrations — they honoured Mike Sillinger in a pregame ceremony. . . . The Oil Kings went 4-0 in the season series, outscoring the Pats 27-8 in the process. . . . The Pats scored the first goal last night, but the Oil Kings got the last four. . . . Edmonton F Dylan Wruck ran his point streak to nine games with a goal and an assist. . . . Edmonton has won 14 of its last 21 games. . . . Edmonton G Jon Groenheyde stopped 19 shots. . . . Regina G Matt Hewitt stopped 34 shots. In his previous start, Hewitt turned aside 59 shots in a 4-3 shootout victory over the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday. . . .
In Swift Current, the Saskatoon Blades got out to a 3-0 first-period lead and went on to beat the Broncos, 5-2. . . . The Broncos cut the deficit to 3-2 with goals 1:04 apart early in the second period, but F Chris Collins, with his seventh, restored the two-goal edgee at 5:57 of the second and F Darius Dziurzynski, with his second of the game and 21st of the season, iced it at 8:37 of the third. . . .
In Brandon, the Red Deer Rebels got two shootout goals and beat the Wheat Kings, 2-1. . . . The Rebels have won three straight. . . . F Colten Mayor, with his fifth of the season, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 13:17 of the first period. . . . Brandon tied it 1-1 on F Jens Meilleur’s first WHL goal at 6:41 of the second. . . . Meilleur, a 17-year-old from Elie, Man., has three points in 15 games. . . . Red Deer got shootout goals from F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Daulton Siwak, while only F Mark Stone could counter for Brandon. . . . Brandon is 0-7 in shootouts this season. . . . G Michael Tadjdeh stopped 38 shots in his Brandon debut. Tadjdeh, 19, who has WHL experience with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Spokane Chiefs, had been with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers. The Wheat Kings have been going with a pair of 17-year-olds, however Corbin Boes suffered a concussion during an 8-4 loss to the Raiders in Prince Albert on Wednesday and Liam Liston, who was on the bench last night, has a hamstring problem. . . . Tadjdeh also picked up an assist on Meilleur’s goal. . . . F Byron Froese was back in Red Deer’s lineup after serving a two-game WHL suspension. . . .
In Lethbridge, the Hurricanes scored a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen in a game that included a line brawl at 19:30 of the third period. . . . Ch-ch-ching! . . . The teams compiled 180 penalty minutes, 97 of them to the Hurricanes. . . . The Hurricanes, who scored the game’s first three goals, got two scores from F Cam Braes, who now has 20. . . . F Brody Sutter added two assists for the winners. . . . Calgary was 0-for-8 on the PP. . . . The teams meet for a third straight time Sunday afternoon in Calgary. . . .
In Cranbrook, F Kevin King scored twice as the Kootenay Ice got past the Spokane Chiefs 6-2 in a game that included 136 minutes in penalties. . . . The teams are to meet again this afternoon in Spokane in the first outdoor game in WHL history. . . . King now has 20 goals this season. . . . He scored 2:33 apart early in the second period to give the Ice a 5-1 lead. . . . F Matt Fraser and F Max Reinhart each had a goal and two helpers for the Ice. . . . F Tyler Johnson scored his WHL-leading 32nd goal for the Chiefs. . . . F Cody Eakin (hand), who was acquired by the Ice from the Swift Current Broncos on Monday, didn’t play. . . . Attendance was 2,535. . . . The Ice was 3-for-5 on the PP. . . .
In Prince George, F Taylor Stefishen scored twice to lead the Cougars to a 7-3 victory over the Chilliwack Bruins. . . . The Bruins had beaten the Cougars 5-2 in Chilliwack on Wednesday. . . . The teams will play in Prince George against tonight. . . . D Jesse Forsberg added a goal and two assists for the Cougars, who also got two assists from D Martin Marincin. . . . Stefishen hass 11 goals. . . . F Ryan Howse got his 28th goal for the Bruins. . . . The Cougars were 3-for-6 on the PP, while the Bruins went 0-for-5. . . . Bruins D Brandon Manning (leg), who hadn’t played since Dec. 31, was back in the lineup. . . .
In Kelowna, the Rockets scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Portland Winterhawks, 5-3. . . . The Winterhawks took a 3-1 lead in the first period as they outshot the host team, 19-9. . . . F Sven Bartschi scored his 24th goal and F Ryan Johansen had two assists for Portland. . . . G Geordie Wudrick scored twice for Kelowna, including an empty-netter. He has 24 swcores. . . . His first goal got the Rockets to within one and F Shane McColgan tied it with his 15th at 11:59 of the second. . . . F Zach Franko gave the Rockets a 4-3 lead at 18:10 of the second with his ninth. . . . Wudrick also had two assists, while D Tyson Barrie drew three helpers. Barrie now has 201 career points. . . . Kelowna G Adam Brown stopped 43 shots. . . .
In Kennewick, Wash., F Adam Hughesman scored two goals and set up two others as the Tri-City Americans beat the Kamloops Blazers, 7-3. . . . F Carter Ashton, playing his first game with the Americans after being acquired from the Regina Pats early in December, had a goal and an assist. . . . F Brendan Shinnimin, the third member of that line, had two assists. . . . Hughesman broke a 1-1 tie with his 25th and 26th goals 3:20 apart in the second half of the first period. . . . D Tyler Schmidt and D Brock Sutherland each had two assists for the Americans. . . .
In Vancouver, F Spencer Bennett’s second goal of the game broke a 2-2 tie as the Giants beat the Medicine Hat Tigers, 3-2. . . . The Giants have won five of six. . . . Bennett, who has 18 goals, scored the winner at 12:49 of the third period on the PP. . . . Bennett has 10 points, including six goals, in seven games since joining the Giants in a trade from the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Medicine Hat F Emerson Etem gave his side a 2-1 lead at 5:25 of the second period with his 24th goal. . . . Vancouver F Brendan Rowinski tied it at 14:16 with his ninth. . . . F Brendan Gallagher had three assists for the Giants. . . . Gallagher, Rowinski and Bennett are playing on a line together. . . . Vancouver G Mark Segal made 30 saves. . . . According to Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun, Giants D Joel Rogers left in the first period after taking “a bump to the head.” Rogers won’t play tonight in Kennewick, Wash., against the Tri-City Americans or Sunday in Kent, Wash., against the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . .
In Kent, Wash., G Calvin Pickard stopped 35 shots to lead the host Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Thunderbirds scored the game’s first three goals, with F Brendan Rouse and F Marcel Noebels scoring the first period and F Chance Lund counting in the second. . . . F Landon Ferraro got Everett’s goal, his ninth, at 3:53 of the third.
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FRIDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
One minor:
Swift Current D Richard Nedomlel

Mel Rothenburger, the editor of the Kamloops Daily News, makes a couple of points on the resolution of things that have gone on in these parts over the last three weeks. He does it right here on his blog.
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Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, who covers the Saskatoon Blades on a daily basis, weighs in on the situation right here.
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Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post, who covers the Regina Pats for that newspaper, offers up his opinion right here.
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And, finally, I think my 15 minutes is pretty much up after an appearance on CBC Radio’s As It Happens. . . . That happened on Wednesday and it’s right here. I am told that it’s somewhere near the end of Part Two.
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Adrian Foster (Saskatoon, Brandon, 1999-2002) was released by Örebro (Sweden Allsvenskan) at the end of his one-month tryout contract. He was pointless in seven games. . . .
G Scott Reid (Tri-City, Seattle, Kamloops, Saskatoon, 1994-97) and D Evan Schafer (Prince Albert, 2002-06) were granted their releases from Edinburgh Capitals (UK Elite). Reid has a 5.26 GAA and a .867 save percentage in 34 games. Schafer has three goals and seven assists in 34 games for the Capitals this season. The Capitals are in financial difficulties and have seen their coach and eight of their 11 import players leave the team. . . .
F Tim Konsorada (Brandon, 1999-2005) signed a contract for the rest of the season with Selb (Germany Oberliga) after obtaining his release from Merano (Italy Serie A2). He had 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games for Merano this season.
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JUST NOTES: The OHL’s Soo Greyhounds fired head coach Denny Lambert on Tuesday, with general manager Dave Torrie stepping in on an interim basis. The Greyhounds are 14-21-5 and last in the Western Conference. Lambert, a former NHL player, took over from Craig Hartsburg for 2008-09. Lambert was an assistant under Hartsburg for four seasons. Hartsburg now is in his second season as head coach of the Everett Silvertips. . . . Ice F Matt Fraser had a goal and two assists. . . .
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SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:   
In Edmonton, the Oil Kings played one of those day games aimed at the youngsters and drew 7,066 fans as they dropped a 5-2 decision to the Kootenay Ice. . . . Ice F Drew Czerwonka had a goal and two assists. He was a sixth-round draft choice of the Edmonton Oilers in 2010. . . . Ice F Max Reinhart got bragging rights, at least for now, with two goals and two assists. He was plus-4. His brother, Edmonton D Griffin Reinhart, was pointless and minus-3. . . . The teams were on their best behaviour with nary a scrap in front of all the school children. . . .
In Moose Jaw, G Darcy Kuemper stopped 32 shots as the Red Deer Rebels dumped the Warriors, 4-0. . . . Kuemper leads the WHL with seven shutouts, and he has 13 in his career — both franchise records. He had three shutouts in each of his last two seasons. . . . F Brett Ferguson had a goal and two assists for the Rebels. . . .
In Prince Albert, F Jonathan Parker continued with the best season of his WHL career, scoring three times and adding two helpers in an 8-4 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Parker, a 19-year-old from Solana Beach, Calif., has 27 goals. He is in his third WHL season — in his first two, he had 17 and then 15 goals. Parker has 53 points in 45 games. He had 39 in his first season (2008-09) with the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Parker has two career hat tricks — one with the Raiders and one with Seattle. . . . Raiders D Tyler Yaworski, who had missed the previous seven games with mononucleosis, had a goal and two assists, and was plus-5. . . . Raiders F Brandon Herrod also had a goal and two assists, while F Mark McNeill got his 20th goal of the season. . . . The Raiders have beaten Brandon three times in nine days. Those are tough losses for the Wheat Kings because the Raiders, who hold down the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot, are five points ahead of Brandon. . . . John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun notes: “Wheat Kings D Brodie Melnychuk, who suffered a leg injury while blocking a shot in Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout loss at Saskatoon, sat out Wednesday, snapping a 208-game ironman streak for the Balgonie, Sask., native.” . . .
In Regina, G Matt Hewitt stopped 59 shots through overtime and the Pats went on to beat the Saskatoon Blades, 4-3, in a shootout. . . . Hewitt stopped 22 shots in the first period, 17 in the second and 16 in the third. He then was perfect in OT as the Blades outshot Regina, 4-0. . . . The Pats outscored the Blades 3-2 in the shootout. . . . F Jordan Weal had two assists for the Pats. . . .
In Lethbridge, the Calgary Hitmen forced OT at 19:02 of the third period and beat the Hurricanes, 4-3, in a shootout. . . . Calgary D Kyle Schmidt scored his second goal of the season late in the third period. . . . Lethbridge had taken a 3-1 lead into the third period. Caglary F Justin Kirsch got Calgary to within one with his 20th, at 5:52. . . . Calgary scored the only two goals of the shootout, one of them coming from F Brooks Macek, who was acquired Monday from the Tri-City Americans. . . .
In Chilliwack, D Jesse Zgraggen got his first goal of the season to help the Bruins to a 5-2 victory over the Prince George Cougars. . . . Zgraggen, a 17-year-old from Lethbridge, had been pointless in his first 33 games. . . . Prince George D Cody Carlson finished at minus-5, while D Daniel Gibb was minus-4. . . . Chilliwack also got a goal each from three of its top guns — Kevin Sundher (15), Roman Horak (16) and Ryan Howse (27). . . . The Bruins will head north and meet the Cougars in Prince George on Friday and Saturday. . . .
In Kamloops, Medicine Hat F Linden Vey moved into the WHL scoring lead as the Tigers got past the Blazers, 4-1. . . . Vey scored one goal and set up another, giving him 67 points. That’s one more than Kamloops F Brendan Ranford, who went pointless. . . . Vey was playing on a line with Emerson Etem, who scored his 23rd goal of the season, and Kellan Tochkin, who was acquired from the Everett Silvertips on Monday. . . . Tochkin had one assist. . . . The Tigers had only one two-minute PP — their other one lasted 11 seconds — but head coach Shaun Clouston started it with five forwards, the first time he has done that this season. The five were Vey, Tochkin, Etem, Wacey Hamilton and Tyler Pitlick. . . . Emerson’s goal was the Tigers’ WHL-leading 12th shorthanded score of the season. . . .
In Portland, the Spokane Chiefs built up a 4-1 lead and hung on for a 4-3 victory over the Winterhawks. . . . Portland got third-period goals from F Riley Boychuk, at 12:33, and F Sven Bartschi, his 23rd, at 13:04, but couldn’t get the equalizer. . . . Spokane G James Reid stopped 29 shots. . . . Spokane F Tyler Johnson took over the WHL goal-scoring lead with his 31st. He has one more than Kamloops F Brendan Ranford. . . . The Chiefs now are two points behind the Western Conference-leading Winterhawks and Spokane holds three games in hand. . . . Spokane has lost three fewer games than Portland.
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WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
Three minors:
D Connor Cox, Saskatoon.
F Shayn Neigum, Regina (double minor)

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