Nanaimo on one WHL schedule ... Blazers turn to business community ... Giants still hurting

F Jaroslav Vlach (Prince George, 2009-11) has signed a two-year contract extension with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season, he has two goals and five assists in 29 games with Liberec. He also had one assist in five games while on loan to Benátky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). . . .

F Robin Kovář (Vancouver, Regina, 2001-04) has signed for the rest of this season with the Swindon Wildcats (England, Premier). This season, he had 18 goals and 29 assists in 34 games with the Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier) before being released on Jan. 9 for financial reasons.

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The WHL is in the process of preparing two schedules for the 2017-18 regular season, one that would include the Kootenay Ice and one that would have that franchise in Nanaimo.

Taking Note learned Thursday that the schedule that includes Nanaimo would feature two 11-team

conferences, whereas the Eastern Conference now has 12 teams and the Western Conference has 10.

Voters in Nanaimo are scheduled to go to the polls, likely on March 11, for a referendum. The question on the ballot will be:

“Are you in favour of the City of Nanaimo Council adopting Loan Authorization Bylaw 2017 No. 7237 which will authorize Council to borrow a sum not exceeding $80,000,000, repayable over a period of no more than 20 years, for the development and construction of an event centre that will include an ice arena and other related entertainment, cultural and recreation facilities?”

While preparations for that have been ongoing, the city also has been talking to the WHL about acquiring a franchise for the new facility, should it get the go-ahead from voters.

It seems obvious that Kootenay is the franchise in question as the Chynoweth family has had a ‘for sale’ sticker on it since 2011.

Should the ‘Yes’ side win the Nanaimo referendum, it is anticipated that a WHL team would play out of the Frank Crane Arena for at least two seasons while a new facility is being built. The Frank Crane Arena, which is the home of the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, seats around 2,400.

What isn’t clear is who would own the Ice were the franchise to relocate. However, the WHL has been thirsting to get a team into Nanaimo, something that would allow teams to travel to Vancouver Island and make stops there and in Victoria. That alone should increase interest in the franchise.

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As they try to find their place in the community, the Kamloops Blazers have announced via a news release the formation of a nine-person advisory board comprising eight men and one woman from the local business community.

The chairman is Norm Daley of the accounting firm Daley & Company. Also on the board are Garth Buchko of NL Broadcasting, the Blazers’ long-time broadcast rights holder; Monica Dickinson of Tourism Kamloops; Steve Earl of Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott; Rob James of RJames Western Star Freightliner; Yves Lacasse of KGHM-Ajax; Jim Lightbody of the B.C. Lottery Corporation; Byron McCorkell of the city’s parks, recreation and culture department; and Rob Zimmer of the Zimmer AutoGroup.

According to a news release, “The advisory board will work with the hockey club to build new business relationships, enhance the game night experience and expand the hockey club’s fan base.”

While the Blazers are in second place in the B.C. Division, with a 29-17-3 record, their attendance continues to sputter. In fact, it has done a lot of that since the franchise went from being community-owned to private ownership during the summer of 2007. Tom Gaglardi, who also owns the NHL’s Dallas Stars, owns 51 per cent of the Blazers, while former Kamloops players Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor own the rest.

This season, through 26 home games, the Blazers are averaging an announced attendance of 3,626. Last season, their final average attendance was 3,769. 

In 2007-08, the first season under this ownership group, the average was 4,562. That figure topped out at 4,825 for 2012-13.

Of the 30 smallest announced crowds in the history of the Blazers’ home arena — what now is the Sandman Centre opened for 1992-93 — 26 have occurred since Jan. 28, 2014.

The Stars, under Gaglardi’s ownership, have an ownership advisory board.

“The advice and guidance the Stars have received from business leaders in Dallas has been immeasurable,” Gaglardi said in the news release. “We think we can create a similar model in Kamloops.”

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The Vancouver Giants remain without F Tyler Benson and D Darian Skeoch as they prepare for a weekend tripleheader with the Victoria Royals. Benson has missed 10 games with what originally was referred to as a minor injury, while Skeoch has sat out 18 straight with an ankle issue. . . . Vancouver D Matt Barberis remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury, but F Ty Ronning and F Tyler Popowich, both of whom have been bothered by the flu, are set to return. . . . The Giants and Royals will meet tonight (Friday) in Langley, B.C., before playing Saturday and Sunday in Victoria. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province has more right here.

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The Regina Pats should have their top two goaltenders available at the same time tonight for the first time since Nov. 20. . . . Starter Tyler Brown has missed five games with an undisclosed injury. . . . Jordan Hollett missed 22 games after suffering a high ankle sprain. He returned for a 6-5 victory over the host Swift Current Broncos on Saturday, but was rested the following day. . . . The Pats are scheduled to play two games this weekend — in Calgary against the Hitmen tonight and in Red Deer against the Rebels on Saturday.

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With F Brett Clayton having returned from an undisclosed injury, the Portland Winterhawks have dropped F Ty Westgard, 19, from their roster. Westgard, who was acquired from the Victoria Royals early in the season, is pointless in five games with the Winterhawks. From White Rock, B.C., he has nine points, three of them goals, in 22 games with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles. . . . Clayton, 18, has a goal and an assist in 19 games with the Winterhawks. Last season, he had a goal and two assists in 57 games. . . . Clayton returned to Portland’s lineup on Tuesday after not playing since Dec. 31.

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

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JUST NOTES:

The Prince George Cougars have signed F Max Kryski, 16, to a WHL contract. He is the younger brother of F Jake Kryski, 18, who has played with the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets, and now is with the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Max, from Kelowna, was added to the Cougars’ protected list in December. This season, he has 18 goals and 23 assists in 27 games with the Kelowna-based Okanagan Rockets of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. . . .

The Everett Silvertips have signed G Dustin Wolf, 15, to a WHL contract. Wolf, who is from Tustin, Calif., was a fifth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. He is playing for the U-16 Los Angeles Jr. Kings. In 18 games, he is 10-5-3, 1.63, .941. . . . 

The Portland Winterhawks have moved a March 3 game against the Vancouver Giants from the Moda Center to Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It will start at 7 p.m. . . . The Giants also are to play in Vancouver on March 4. That game also will be played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, but will start at 6 p.m. Originally, it was to begin at 2 p.m. . . .

F Noah Prokop, a 17-year-old from Highlands Ranch, Colo., has committed to attend the U of Nebraska-Omaha for 2019-20. Prokop was a seventh-round selection by the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft. . . . He is in his second season at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. This season, with the midget prep team, he has 34 points, including 14 goals, in 39 games.

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Today Coach Reg would have been 92 #SlapShot40 pic.twitter.com/dFRTzpWbZG

— The Hanson Brothers (@Hanson_Brothers) January 26, 2017

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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Regina at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Portland at Everett, 7:35 p.m.

Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Spokane vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.

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

Saskatoon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Lethbridge at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

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

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

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

It's official! Hay's at 704 ... Benson still sidelined ... Silvertips power past Rockets

The official figure is 704.

The WHL office has done the research and announced on Monday that Don Hay, the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, has 704 career regular-season WHL coaching victories.

DON HAY

Taylor Rocca, the WHL’s co-ordinator, communications, did the work, going over game sheets from 1987-88 and 1991-92, and found that Hay posted nine victories as a head coach during those two seasons.

Hay, then a Kamloops assistant, took over as the Blazers’ head coach for the first time in December 1987 when Ken Hitchcock left to join the staff of Canada’s national junior team at the World Junior Championship.

The same thing happened in December 1991 when Hay stepped up as head coach Tom Renney joined Team Canada.

Rocca discovered that the Blazers under Hay were 4-3-0 in Hitchock’s absence, and 5-4-0 when Renney was gone.

Those nine victories are one more than my records had given to Hay, but going off the actual game sheets makes it all official.

So . . . what this all means is that Hay is at 704.

That 3-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets on Jan. 6 that we all thought was No. 700 actually was No. 703.

Hay, then, will go into the Blazers game tonight (Tuesday) against the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors with 704 victories, the latest one by a 6-3 count over the Vancouver Giants in Kamloops on Saturday.

The game between the Warriors and Blazers will be televised by Shaw, so chances are there’ll be some chatter there about Hay’s pursuit of the WHL record for career coaching victories.

That record (742) is held by Ken Hodge, who coached the original Edmonton Oil Kings and made the move to Portland as the franchise became the Winterhawks for the 1976-77 season

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A Vancouver radio station reported Monday morning that F Tyler Benson, the captain of the Vancouver Giants, “has a pubic-pelvis bone injury that results in groin pain.”

According to News 1130 Sports, the Giants “say Benson’s pubic-pelvis bone injury is not serious or season-ending but sounds similar to the injury he suffered last (season).”

Benson, 18, has missed the Giants’ past six games.

Last season, he underwent surgery for a cyst near his tailbone and then was done in by inflammation near the pubic bone. He was limited to 30 games and finished with 28 points, including nine goals.

This season, he has 42 points, 11 of them goals, in 33 games.

Benson, who is from Edmonton, was selected by the Oilers in the second round of the NHL’s 2016 draft. The Oilers signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract on Dec. 31.

D Darian Skeoch also is expected to be missing again tonight when the Giants and Victoria Royals meet at the Langley Events Centre. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Skeoch, who has an ankle injury, last played on Dec. 3.

The Giants (16-25-3) have lost five in a row and are 10 points away from a playoff spot.

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The Kootenay Ice, with three defenceman injured, have brought in D Loeden Schaufler, 16, from the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. This season, he has 11 points, including four goals, in 22 games, with the Hounds. From Dewinton, Alta., he was a third-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . The Ice has lost D Sam Huston (2-3 weeks), D Nikita Radzivilyuk (two weeks) and D Ryan Pouliot (1-2 weeks), all with undisclosed injuries. . . . The Ice next plays on Wednesday when it entertains the Prince Albert Raiders.

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Our next home games are this Tuesday and Wednesday night at the @CNCentre. We look forward to welcoming the @pdxwinterhawks Booster Club! pic.twitter.com/iKtbIgudHk

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 16, 2017

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MONDAY’S GAME:

Mitch Love had some words over the glass with one of the kelowna coaches

— Jesse Geleynse (@JesseGeleynse) January 17, 2017

At Everett, the Silvertips scored three times on the power play and beat the Kelowna Rockets, 5-4. . . . It was Martin Luther King Day in the U.S., and these teams played an afternoon affair. . . . The Silvertips

RILEY SUTTER

finished 3-7 on the PP; the Rockets were 0-3. . . . “(The Rockets) are big, they’re physical, they’re old school, and by old school I mean war,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine told Jesse Geleynse of the Everett Herald. “Tonight was war. I respect them for how they play. They play extremely hard and I admire that. I thought it was a playoff type of hockey (game) where it was very emotional and physical, and I’m proud of our guys for hanging in that kind of environment.” . . . D Kevin Davis (4), on a PP, gave Everett a 1-0 lead at 2:55 of the first period. . . . The teams then exchanged goals until the middle of the second period. . . . Kelowna D Lucas Johansen (2) tied it at 4:05 of the first period, with Everett F Bryce Kindopp (6) restoring the lead, at 5:50. . . . F Jack Cowell (4) pulled the Rockets into a 2-2 tie at 12:21, only to have F Connor Dewar (8) put the home boys out front again, at 18:22. . . . F Calvin Thurkauf’s 19th goal, at 19:38, tied it again. . . . In the end, the difference was two second-period PP goals scored by Everett. F Dominic Zwerger scored his 19th at 9:27 and F Riley Sutter got his 14th at 19:17. . . . Kelowna F Conner Bruggen-Cate’s third goal got Kelowna to within one at 13:26. . . . Sutter added two assists to his goal, for his first career three-point outing, while Davis and Zwerger each had one. . . . F Reid Gardiner had two assists for Kelowna but wasn’t able to finish the game after absorbing a hard hit in a second-period collision with Thurkauf. . . . Everett G Carter Hart recorded the victory with 25 stops. It was his 71st career victory, tying him for third with Kent Simpson on the Silvertips’ all-time list. Austin Lotz is next, at 72. Leland Irving is No. 1, with 107. . . . Kelowna starter Michael Herringer gave up four goals on 11 shots in 29:27. Brodan Salmond came on in relief and was beaten once on 15 shots in 29:01. . . . Everett lost F Devon Skoleski in the second period after he took a check from Kelowna F Dillon Dube. . . . The Silvertips (28-5-8) have points in five straight (3-0-2). They are tied for second in the overall standings with the Prince George Cougars, one point behind the Regina Pats. Everett and Regina hold four games in hand on Prince George. . . . The Rockets (26-16-3) had won their previous three games. They are tied for second in the B.C. Division, with the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Announced attendance: 3,712.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Portland at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Everett vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Victoria at Vancouver, 7 p.m.

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Injury bug bites Giants . . . A scout's coldest rinks . . . Weatherill hot in Kent

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAKING NOTE

Our countdown to the big day continues with . . . John Lennon and Happy Xmas (War Is Over). . . . It’s right here.

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The Calgary Hitmen put together their annual Christmas video and this time they brought in some help from their front office. It’s fun and it’s right here.

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F Ashton Rome (Moose Jaw, Red Deer, Kamloops, 2002-06) has been released by the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL). He had three goals in nine games.

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Three WHL players were released from the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp following a 3-0 victory over a team of Canadian university all-stars in Boisbriand, Que., on Tuesday afternoon.

F Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who scored one of Team Canada’s goals and was chosen as the game’s first star, F Nick Merkley of the Kelowna Rockets and F Austin Wagner of the Regina Pats were sent home after the game.

Team Canada now has 27 players on its roster — three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards — with five cuts still to come.

Still on the roster are goaltenders Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips and Connor Ingram of the Kamloops Blazers. Observers seem to think that Hart has a leg up on the No. 1 spot, with Ingram and Michael McNiven of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack in competition for the other spot. Ingram and McNiven are likely to split the goaltending duties tonight against the Czechs.

Other WHLers still on the roster are F Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds), D Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen), D Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings), F Dillon Dube (Kelowna), D Noah Juulsen (Everett) and F Sam Steel (Regina).

Yesterday, Hart made four saves as he started and played the first 30 minutes. Ingram came on to play the second half and turned aside 11 shots. McNiven, playing for the U Sports side, blocked 24 shots.

Two of the three goal scorers — Howden and Victor Mete of the OHL’s London Knights — were released after the game.

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The Edmonton Oil Kings have added F Scott Atkinson, 16, to their roster for a pre-Christmas swing into Saskatchewan. Atkinson, a fifth-round pick in the 2015 WHL bantam draft, plays for the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. He has 14 goals and 14 assists in 20 games there. Last season, he finished with five goals and nine assists in 40 games with the Canadians. . . . Atkinson was in Edmonton’s lineup last night against the host Prince Albert Raiders.

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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that the Vancouver Giants have a handful of players who won’t play again until after the Christmas break. . . . D Darian Skeoch (ankle) was injured during a practice last week. F Tyler Popowich, F Dawson Holt and F Johnny Wesley all suffered undisclosed injuries. GM Glen Hanlon told Ewen that Holt will be out for at least three weeks, while Wesley is gone for a month or more. . . . The Giants also are without F Radovan Bondra, who is with Slovakian national junior team. . . . They also have brought in F Hunor Torzsok, 16, from the Delta Hockey Academy. Torzsok, who was born in Budapest, Hungary, is in his second season at Delta. He has five goals and six assists in 14 games with the prep team in the Canada Sport School Hockey League. . . . Ewen’s story is right here.

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Mike Fraser, who scouts for the Brandon Wheat Kings out of Edmonton, also writes a weekly column for the Brandon-based Westman Journal. In his latest jottings, he discusses “my coldest scouting rink visits on the Prairies.” If you think you’ve been in a chilly arena or two, well, you may want to check this out right here.

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Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet filed his latest 30 Thoughts essay on Tuesday afternoon, and he leads off with a piece that involves possible NHL interest in the League of Legends. . . . You may check it out right here.

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If you’ve got a comment, some information you would like to pass along, or if you just want to say hello, feel free to contact me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to the cause, please visit the bottom of this post and go right ahead.

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JUST NOTES:

F Riley McKay of the Spokane Chiefs has been suspend for four games after becoming involved in a one-man fight during a game against the host Vancouver Giants on Saturday night. McKay has served one game. He will be eligible to return on Dec. 28 when the Chiefs play host to the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . .

F Cole Sanford has left the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles to attend the U of Alberta, where he will play with the Golden Bears. The AHL’s San Antonio Rampage had assigned him to the Eagles for whom he had seven goals and eight assists in 19 games. In 260 regular-season WHL games (2012-16), 230 with the Medicine Hat Tigers and the last 30 with the Regina Pats, the native of Vernon, B.C., put up 126 goals and 123 assists.

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WHL Trading deadline in 4 weeks away and no shortage of teams are calling #WHLGiants GM Glen Hanlon.

— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) December 13, 2016

Tyler Benson on trade rumours : "The thought of leaving Van has never crossed my mind, main focus is getting into playoffs." #WHLGiants .

— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) December 13, 2016

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TUESDAY’S GAMES:

50 - Already with a goal & 2 assists tonight, @tigershockey Chad Butcher just became the first WHL'er to reach 50 points this season

— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) December 14, 2016

At Medicine Hat, D Ty Schultz scored at 2:09 of OT to give the Tigers an 8-7 — yes, 8-7! — victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . It was his third goal of the season. . . . The Tigers held 2-0, 4-1, 6-4 and 7-6

TY SCHULTZ

leads in this one. . . . Kelowna F Jake Kryski tied it 4-4 with this second goal, and 11th of the season, at 19:24 of the second period. . . . The third period featured six goals, three by each team. . . . The Tigers took a 6-4 lead on goals from F Mason Shaw (9) and D David Quenneville (17), on a PP. Shaw scored at 2:29 and Quenneville at 2:51. . . . Kelowna pulled back into a tie on goals from F Kyle Topping (6) and F Leif Mattson (3), at 6:59 and 8:20. . . . Medicine Hat F Zach Fischer, in his first game after serving a five-game suspension, got his 18th goal at 13:31. . . . Kelowna forced OT when D Braydyn Chizen (2) scored at 14:14. . . . The Tigers got a goal and three assists from F Steve Owre, who has 10 scores, while Butcher added two assists to his goal. His three-point night moved him into the WHL scoring lead with 50 points, two more than F Adam Brooks and F Sam Steel, both of the Regina Pats, and Shaw, who added an assist to his goal. . . . Quenneville also had an assist. The Tigers are 17-0-0 when he has at least one assist; they are 6-10-1 when he doesn’t. . . . F Max Gerlach had a goal, his 21st, and an assist. . . . D Clayton Kirichenko (3) also scored for the Tigers. . . . Kryski had two assists for Kelowna, giving him a four-point night, while F Kole Lind had a goal, his 18th, and three assists. D Cal Foote score once, giving him three, and added two assists, while his younger brother, F Nolan, had two assists. Chizen also had an assist. . . . G Nick Schneider stopped 28 shots for the Tigers as he put up victory No. 21, tops in the WHL. . . . Kelowna started Michael Herringer gave up six goals on 21 shots in 42:51. Reliever Brodan Salmond was beaten twice on 12 shots in 19:17. . . . Kelowna was 2-5 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 1-4. . . . Fischer had been suspended for a one-man fight. He hit F Matt Fonteyne of the Silvertips during a game in Everett on Dec. 2. . . . F Erik Gardiner made his Kelowna debut, but was pointless. Gardiner, who plays for the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos, was acquired from the Regina Pats in a deal that had D Jonathan Smart go the other way. . . . The Rockets, playing their fifth game in seven nights, were without F Calvin Thurkauf (Switzerland), F Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic) and F Dillon Dube (Team Canada). Also missing was F Nick Merkley, who was released by Team Canada on Tuesday. As well, D Gordie Ballhorn remains out with a hand injury. . . . Medicine Hat (23-10-1) has won two in a row. . . . Kelowna (19-12-2) has lost two straight (0-1-1). . . . Announced attendance: 2,932.

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At Prince Albert, F Austin Glover scored at 1:07 of OT to give the Raiders a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Glover has 10 goals this season. . . . F Lane Bauer (22) gave the Oil Kings a 1-0 lead at 4:04 of the second period. . . . The Raiders took a 2-1 lead on second-period goals from D Nick Heid and F Cavin Leth (8), on a PP, at 13:47 and 19:03. . . . Heid’s first career WHL goal came in his 105th game. . . . Edmonton D Aaron Irving’s 12th goal, on a PP, tied it at 3:58 of the third period. . . . F Drew Warkentine, with his first goal, on a PP, put the Raiders oiut front again, at 6:45. . . . D Will Warm (3) pulled the visitors back into a tie at 14:37. . . . F Parker Kelly had two assists for the Raiders, while Glover had one. . . . G Ian Scott stopped 32 shots for the Raiders, seven more than Edmonton’s Patrick Dea. . . . Prince Albert was 2-6 on the PP; Edmonton was 1-3. . . . The Raiders were without D Vojtech Budik and F Simon Stransky, both of whom are with the Czech Republic’s national junior team. . . . The Raiders (7-23-2) had lost their previous four games (0-3-1). . . . The Oil Kings (14-15-3) have lost two in a row (0-1-1). . . . Announced attendance: 2,081.

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At Prince George, the Cougars scored the game’s first two goals and the last two as they beat the Tri-City

JOSH MASER

Americans, 4-1. . . . F Ethan O’Rourke got the Cougars started with his first goal, on a PP, at 18:12 of the first period. . . . F Jared Bethune (10) made it 2-0, on a PP, at 18:57 of the second. . . . The Americans cut into the lead on F Morgan Geekie’s 17th goal, at 6:14 of the third period. . . . Prince George iced it on goals from F Jansen Harkins (7) and F Josh Maser (2), at 12:59 and 17:18. . . . Maser, 17, has two goals in as many games since joining the Cougars from the junior B Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He had seven goals and five assists in six games with the Storm. . . . Prince George got two assists from each of F Kody McDonald and D Josh Anderson. . . . Tri-City D Dalton Yorke played in his 200th regular-season game. He played the first 66 with the Kelowna Rockets and the next 100 with the Prince Albert Raiders. This was No. 34 with the Americans. . . . G Ty Edmonds earned the victory with 16 saves. . . . Tri-City G Beck Warm stopped 33 shots. . . . The Cougars were 2-7 on the PP; the Americans were 0-4. . . . The teams will meet again tonight in Prince George. . . . The Cougars (23-8-2) have won two straight. . . . The Americans (19-12-3) had been 3-0-1 in their previous four games. . . . Announced attendance: 2,357.

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Hey, @blazerhockey. Not trying to point fingers here but the screen under the scoreboard was working before you guys hit it with a puck...

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 14, 2016

At Red Deer, F Deven Sideroff scored his second goal of the game on an OT breakaway; to give the

DEVEN SIDEROFF

Kamloops Blazers a 4-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Sideroff has 19 goals in 31 games this season and three of them have come in OT. Last season, he finished with 19 goals in 63 games. . . . Goals from F Spencer Bast (6) and F Rudolfs Balcers (19) at 8:00 of the first period and 1:07 of the second gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. . . . F Cameron Hausinger (3) got Red Deer on the scoreboard at 6:14. . . . Sideroff restored the Blazers’ two-goal lead, with a PP scored, at 18:32. . . . F Austin Pratt (10) scored on a PP at 1:15 of the third period to cut Red Deer’s deficit to one. . . . F Evan Polei forced OT with his 14th goal at 18:04. . . . Balcers and Sideroff also had an assist each. . . . The Rebels got two assists from D Josh Mahura and one from Polei. . . . With G Connor Ingram (Team Canada) away, G Dylan Ferguson made his third straight start for Kamloops. He made 29 stops. It is the first time this season he has started three in a row. The Blazers are 2-0-1 in the three games, all in the Central Division. . . . The Blazers, outshot 19-3 in the third period, were playing their third game in four nights. . . . Red Deer G Lasse Petersen stopped 29 shots. . . . Red Deer was 1-4 on the PP; Kamloops was 1-6. . . . F Nic Holowko, 19, was pointless in his debut with the Blazers. He was acquired Sunday from the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . The Rebels were without F Michael Spacek and F Adam Musil, both of whom are with the Czech Republic’s national junior team, while Kamloops D Ondrej Vala has joined them. . . . Also missing from Red Deer’s lineup: F Grayson Pawlenchuk and F Jeff de Wit, both with undisclosed injuries. . . . The Blazers (19-12-2) are 5-0-1 in their last six games. . . . The Rebels (16-12-6) have points in five straight (3-0-2). . . . Announced attendance: 4,093.

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At Kent, Wash., G Dawson Weatherill stopped 29 shots, 16 of them in the third period, to lead the

DAWSON WEATHERILL

Spokane Chiefs to a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . F Keegan Kolesar gave the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead with his fourth goal, at 1:32 of the second period. . . . The visitors scored the last three goals. . . . F Ethan McIndoe got his seventh, at 9:38 of the second. . . . F Jaret Anderson-Dolan’s 17th goal, on a PP, at 9:23 of the second proved to be the winner. . . . F Keanu Yamamoto earned the primary assist on that goal as he ran his point streak to 13 games, the longest active streak in the WHL. . . . F Kailer Yamamoto scored his 20th goal, in his 26th game, into an empty net at 19:59. Last season, he totalled 19 goals in 57 games. . . . Anderson-Dolan has seven goals and two assists over his past five games. In 32 games, he has put up 17 goals and 13 assists. Last season, in 65 games, he had 14 goals and 12 assists. . . . G Rylan Toth stopped 30 shots for Seattle. . . . The Chiefs were 1-6 on the PP; the Thunderbirds were 0-3. . . . Spokane F Koby Morrisseau left the game and didn’t return after taking a hard hit from Seattle D Turner Ottenbreit. Before leaving the ice, Morrisseau received attention from both team trainers. Morrisseau, a 16-year-old from Grandview, Man., spent some time in hospital after taking a hit during an exhibition game against the Portland Winterhawks in September. . . . Linesman Zach Brooks needed attention from Seattle trainer Phil Varney after taking a puck to the face earlier in the game. Brooks didn’t miss a shift. . . . Spokane (14-11-6) has points in four straight (3-0-1). . . . Seattle (16-12-3) has lost two in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 4,510.

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At Victoria, F Ryan Peckford scored two goals and added an assist to help the Royals to a 5-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Victoria took a 3-0 lead in to the second period on goals from F Jack Walker (16) at 6:13, Peckford at 7:29, and F Carter Folk (2) at 16:19. . . . F Joachim Blichfeld scored for Portland, getting his 12th goal at 12:33 of the second period. . . . Victoria F Dante Hannoun (13) got that one back just 2:07 later and Peckford got his 11th goal at 3:28 of the third period. . . . The game’s last three goals all came via the PP. . . . Victoria was 2-8 on the PP; Portland was 1-2. . . . The Royals got three assists from F Matt Phillips, while Walker added one to his goal. . . . The Royals got 32 saves from G Griffen Outhouse. . . . Portland G Cole Kehler stopped 29 shots. . . . F Vladimir Bobylev was pointless as he returned to the Royals’ lineup after a stint in his native Russia. . . . The teams are scheduled to play again tonight in Victoria. . . . The Royals (17-14-3) had lost their previous two games (0-1-1). . . . The Winterhawks (18-14-1) had a three-game winning streak snapped. . . . Announced attendance: 3,157.

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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Swift Current at Kootenay, 7 p.m.

Kamloops at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Prince Albert at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Tri-City at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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TEDDY BEAR, TOQUE AND MITTEN TOSS GAMES:

Friday, Dec. 16: Saskatoon at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 16: Portland vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Brandon at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Portland at Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Vancouver at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 21: Vancouver vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 26: D Micheal Zipp, 19:47 1st period, Lethbridge 4 at Calgary 2.

Dec. 2: D Artyom Minulin, 13:24 1st period, Calgary 1 at Swift Current 5.

Dec. 2: F Jordy Bellerive, 14:00 1st period, Red Deer 3 at Lethbridge 5.

Dec. 3: F Adam Musil, 14:27 1st period, Lethbridge 2 at Red Deer 3 (OT).

Dec. 3: D Ondrej Vala, 10:38 1st period, Vancouver 2 at Kamloops 5.

Dec. 3: F Nick Merkley, 6:54 2nd period, Brandon 1 at Kelowna 3.

Dec. 9: F Austin Glover, 0:32 2nd period, Moose Jaw 7 at Prince Albert 3. 

Dec. 9: F Riley Woods, 11:45 1st period, Swift Current 1 at Regina 8.

Dec. 9: F Keanu Yamamoto, 4:01 1st period, Kootenay 3 at Spokane 4.

Dec. 10: D Josh Thrower, 12:13 1st period, Prince Albert 4 at Moose Jaw 5 (SO).

Dec. 10: F Nick Bowman, 13:38 2nd period, Kamloops 3 at Edmonton 2.

Dec. 10: D Troy Murray, 1:51 2nd, Kelowna 7 at Kootenay 3.

Dec. 10: F Max Gerlach, 5:26 1st period, Calgary 4 at Medicine Hat 7.

Dec. 10: F Skyler McKenzie 2:21 1st, Everett 2 at Portland 5.

Dec. 10: F Josh Curtis, 6:02 2nd period, Seattle 4 at Prince George 6.
Dec. 10: F Tyler Sandhu, 0:36 1st period, Victoria 3 at Tri-City 4.

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Välimäki feted in Finland . . . Brooks' streak at 20 . . . Blades stun Warriors

Juuso Välimäki (centre) of the Tri-City Americans shakes hands
with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, who is behind his
wife Jenni Haukio (in purple). (YLE screen grab)

Juuso Välimäki is greeted by Finnish First Lady Jenni Haukio.(YLE screen grab)

D Juuso Välimäki of the Tri-City Americans was in Helsinki, Finland, on Tuesday where he was among those feted in that country’s Independence Day celebrations that included the Linnan Juhlat — Palace Ball — which, according to The MacBeth Report, “is a REALLY big deal . . . it is televised live and garners high ratings.

Välimäki was among the honourees because he captained the Finnish team that won the U-18 IIHF world championship in Grand Forks, N.D., in April.

Here’s more from The MacBeth Report:

It begins with the reception line, where everyone is individually greeted by the President (currently Sauli Niinistö) and spouse/significant other (wife in this case, Jenni Haukio).

The first people through the line are war veterans, led this year by 91-year- old General Jaakko Valtanen, former Commander of the Finnish Armed Forces. These are veterans of the Winter War and Continuation War, two wars fought during the Second World War, when the Soviet Union twice attacked Finland. The veterans are dwindling in number every year, just like here.

Afterwards, it's dinner, then dancing. 

Anyway . . . 

From Turun Sanomat (Turku's daily newspaper), a story that includes a picture of Välimäki arriving at the Palace is right here.

There are more pictures of the reception line right here.

And there is more coverage right here, in Finnish, from the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE).

As best as we can tell, Välimäki was the youngest guest at age 18. A Finnish singer named Robin Packalén also is 18, but Välimäki is about six weeks younger. The oldest was a veteran aged 101.

——

The Brandon Wheat Kings have acquired F Meyer Nell, 19, from the Red Deer Rebels for a conditonal 10th-round selection in the 2018 bantam draft. Nell is from Boissevain, Man., which is south of Brandon and is playing for the Boissevain Border Kings of the Tiger Hills Hockey League while attending the U of Manitoba in Winnipeg. He spent two seasons with the Rebels, picking up nine goals and 15 assists in 121 games. . . . The Rebels selected Nell in the fifth round of the 2012 bantam draft. . . . Nell is expected to join the Wheat Kings after the Christmas break.

——

F Vladimir Bobylyov chose to return to Russia this season, rather than play a second season with the Victoria Royals. Now, according to News 1130 Sports, a Vancouver radio station, Bobylyov, 19, may be coming back to Victoria. Bobylyov — he was Bobylev in his first stint in the WHL — had 67 points, including 28 goals, in 72 games with the Royals last season, after putting up three goals and six assists in 52 games with the Vancouver Giants in 2014-15. After last season, he was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round of the NHL’s 2016 draft. . . . He hasn’t been productive in Russia, recording one goal and two assists in 20 games with Spartak Moskva of the KHL before being sent to the VHL’s Khimik Voskresensk. He has a goal and an assist in two games there. . . . The Royals have only one import — Russian D Marsel Ibragimov — on their roster so there is room for Bobylyov.

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The WHL handed out 16 games worth of suspensions and $500 in fines on Tuesday. . . . F Zach Fischer of the Medicine Hat Tigers was given a five-game suspension for becoming “engaged with an unsuspecting opponent.” He hit F Matt Fonteyne of the host Everett Silvertips during a Friday game. Fischer has missed two games and will be eligible to return on Dec. 13 against the visiting Kelowna Rockets. He will miss games divisional games against the Red Deer Rebels, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Calgary Hitmen. . . . F Baron Thompson of the Brandon Wheat Kings was hit with a three-game suspension after taking a headshot major and game misconduct for a hit on F Connor Bruggen-Cate against the host Kelowna Rockets on Saturday. He already has sat out one game and will miss another tonight (Wednesday) when the Wheat Kings play the Cougars in Prince George. . . . F Kolby Johnson of the Prince Albert Raiders was given four games for a headshot major and game misconduct after hitting D Chase Harrison of the host Regina Pats on Saturday. Harrison began this week in concussion protocol. Johnson began his suspension by missing Tuesday’s game against the visiting Calgary Hitmen. . . . D Ryan Gagnon of the Victoria Royals will sit for four games after taking a charging major and game misconduct in a Saturday game against the Cougars in Prince George. . . . The Medicine Hat Tigers and Seattle Thunderbirds each were fined $250 for warm-up violations prior to their Saturday game in Kent, Wash. Ch-ch-ching! Just in time for the WHL office’s Christmas party!

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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that the Vancouver Giants were missing two players from Monday’s practice. F Radovan Bondra suffered a leg injury on Friday night against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings and is expected to return Friday against the visiting Everett Silvertips. D Darian Skeoch watched with his right foot/ankle in an air cast. According to Ewen, Skeoch is week-to-week.

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F Pavel Kousal of the Spokane Chiefs will be leaving the team to play for his native Czech Republic at the World Junior A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta., Dec. 11-17. Kousal, who is eligible for the 2017 NHL draft, has seven goals and two assists in 24 games in his first season with the Chiefs.

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Patrick Conway offers up his latest look at the KHL and its teams and it’s all right here.

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If you’ve got a comment, some information you would like to pass along, or if you just want to say hello, feel free to contact me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to the cause, please visit the bottom of this post and go right ahead.

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20+ - WHL 20+ Game Point Streaks, Last 5 seasons:
McGauley (24, 2014-15)
S.Reinhart (22, 2013-14)
Lowry (21, 2012-13)
Brooks (20*, 2016-17)

— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) December 7, 2016

TUESDAY’S GAMES:

At Cranbrook, B.C., F Riley Woods scored at 2:20 of OT to give the Regina Pats a 5-4 victory over the

RILEY WOODS

Kootenay Ice. . . . Woods has four goals this season. . . . Regina F Adam Brooks ran his point streak to 20 games with a third-period goal. He leads the WHL with 46 points, two more than teammate Sam Steel. . . . F Jake Leschyshyn (11) gave Regina a 1-0 lead at 10:47 of the first period. . . . The Ice then took a 3-1 lead on second-period goals from F Vince Loschiavo (7), at 0:33; F Noah Philp (4), at 1:01; and F Zak Zborosky, on a PP, at 5:02. . . . Zborosky has 22 goals and is tied for the WHL lead with F Jayden Halbgewachs of the Moose Jar Warriors. . . . Steel pulled Regina even with two goals, giving him 19, at 10:55 and 15:39. . . . Brooks gave the Pats a 4-3 lead with his 13th goal, at 3:27 of the third period. . . . Loschiavo forced OT with a goal at 11:07. . . . Regina D Sergey Zborovskiy had three assists, giving him 12 points, including nine assists, over his past three games. . . . The Pats got two assists from D Jonathan Smart, who has five points in three games since being acquired from the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Leschyshyn added an assist to his goal. . . . Zborosky added two assists to his goal. . . . It was Zborovskiy versus Zborosky and each had three points. . . . The Pats got 46 saves from G Tyler Brown, while Payton Lee stopped 39 for the Ice. . . . Kootenay was 1-8 on the PP; Regina was 0-1. . . . The Pats (20-2-4) are 4-0-1 in their past five games and now are tied with the idle Everett Silvertips for first place in the overall standings. . . . The Ice (6-17-8) has points in three straight (1-0-2). . . . Announced attendance: 1,538.

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🚨🚨🚨MICHAEL FARREN!!!!!!!! BLADES WIN!!!!🎉🎉🎉#RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/ylMiCLvI3G

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 7, 2016

At Moose Jaw, the Saskatoon Blades scored twice in the last two minutes of the third period and then

MICHAEL FARREN

beat the Warriors, 4-3, in a shootout. . . . F Michael Farren scored in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Blades the victory. . . . It was the first shootout of the season for both teams. . . . With the Warriors leading 3-1, Saskatoon F Chase Wouters (3) scored a PP goal at 18:05. . . . The Blades tied it when F Jesse Shynkaruk got No. 8 at 19:01. . . . The last two goals came with G Brock Hamm out for the extra attacker. . . . The Warriors had taken a 2-0 lead into the third period on goals from F Brett Howden (13), at 11:34 of the first period, and F Noah Gregor (13), on a PP, at 19:06 of the second period. . . . F Caleb Fantillo’s second goal of the season allowed the Blades to halve the deficit at 1:36 of the third period. . . . Warriors F Jayden Halbgewachs gave his guys a 3-1 lead, on a PP, at 12:34. The goal gave Halbgewachs the WHL’s goal-scoring lead. F Zak Zborosky of the Kootenay Ice scored his 22nd later in the evening. . . . Halbgewachs also had an assist, while F Nikita Popugaev had two of them. . . . Farren, a 16-year-old from Surrey, B.C., also had two assists for the Blades, as did F Kolten Olynek. . . . Hamm finished with 33 saves through OT and added four more in the shootout as he won for the second time this season. He hadn’t gotten a victory since Oct. 1. . . . Zach Sawchenko stopped 31 shots for the Warriors. . . . Moose Jaw was 2-3 on the PP; Saskatoon was 1-2. . . . The Blades (11-17-2) had been 0-2-1 in their previous three games. . . . Moose Jaw D Matt Sozanski missed his second game with what is believed to be a shoulder injury. . . . The Warriors (16-6-5) had D Matthew Benson, 16, make his WHL debut. Benson has two goals and six assists in 14 games with the Delta Hockey Academy team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. . . . The Blades had F Tyler Lees, 16, in their lineup. He has six goals and 14 assists in 19 games with the midget AAA Regina Pats Canadians. He was a fifth-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . Some notes from Les Lazaruk, the youthful radio voice of the Blazers: “The victory ended a three-game winless streak, was the Double Blue's first win over the Warriors after five straight losses and was the first win at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw after eight consecutive setbacks, dating back to Nov. 8, 2013. Add in the fact that the Blades were 0-14-0 when trailing after two periods this season and had only won once previously in 18 games when the opposition opened the scoring, and the result was remarkable.” . . . Announced attendance: 2,808.

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At Prince Albert, F Jordy Stallard broke a 2-2 tie at 15:47 of the third period as the Calgary Hitmen got

JORDY STALLARD

past the Raiders, 3-2. . . . Stallard scored his fourth goal on a PP. . . . F Carsen Twarynski (9) gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 2:29 of the second period. . . . The Raiders tied it when F Sean Montgomery scored his eighth goal at 4:36. . . . Calgary took the lead right back, with F Beck Malenstyn (7) scoring at 7:07. . . . That lasted until 19:10 when F Simon Stransky (12) pulled the Raiders into a 2-2 tie. . . . Stransky also had an assist. . . . The Hitmen got 22 saves from G Cody Porter, while Ian Scott of the Raiders blocked 39 shots. . . . Calgary was 1-6 on the PP; Prince Albert was 0-3. . . . The Hitmen (9-14-2) had lost their previous five games. . . . The Raiders 6-22-1 have lost two in a row. . . . F Justyn Gurney, 16, made his WHL debut with the Hitmen. From Delta, B.C., he has 25 points, including eight goals, in 17 games with the Valley West Hawks of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. Gurney was a sixth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . Announced attendance: 1,824.

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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

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

Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Regina at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Red Deer at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.

Brandon at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

——

TEDDY BEAR, TOQUE AND MITTEN TOSS GAMES:

Friday, Dec. 9: Moose Jaw at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 9: Swift Current at Regina, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 9: Kootenay at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10: Prince Albert at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10: Kamloops at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10: Kelowna at Kootenay, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10: Calgary at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10: Everett at Portland, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10: Seattle at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10: Victoria vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 16: Saskatoon at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 16: Portland vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Brandon at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Portland at Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Vancouver at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 21: Vancouver vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 26: D Micheal Zipp, 19:47 1st period, Lethbridge 4 at Calgary 2.

Dec. 2: D Artyom Minulin, 13:24 1st period, Calgary 1 at Swift Current 5.

Dec. 2: F Jordy Bellerive, 14:00 1st period, Red Deer 3 at Lethbridge 5.

Dec. 3: F Adam Musil, 14:27 1st period, Lethbridge 2 at Red Deer 3 (OT).

Dec. 3: D Ondrej Vala, 10:38 1st period, Vancouver 2 at Kamloops 5.
Dec. 3: F Nick Merkley, 6:54 2nd period, Brandon 1 at Kelowna 3.

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Chiefs, Rockets swing deal . . . Four suspensions finalized . . . Jeannot ruins Edmonton comeback

Brandon Carlo's First NHL Goal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/GyDoPAgp30

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 18, 2016

The Spokane Chiefs got a bit older on Monday; the Kelowna Rockets got younger.

In a one-for-one exchange, the Chiefs got F Tanner Wishnowski, 19, for F Colum McGauley, 16.

Wishnowski, a list player from Oakbank, Man., has a goal and an assist in 10 games in his sophomore season. As a freshman, he put up seven goals and six assists in 54 games.

He is expected to join his new team in time for a game against the visiting Everett Silvertips tonight (Tuesday).

McGauley was a fourth-round pick by Spokane in the 2015 WHL bantam draft. He is from Nelson, B.C., and is playing for the junior B Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay Junior International Hockey League. Last season, he had three goals and 15 assists in 39 games with the midget AAA Notre Dame Hounds, who play out of Wilcox, Sask.

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The Vancouver Giants have added D Jeff Rayman, 20, to their roster after claiming him off waivers from the Tri-City Americans. They placed him on waivers last week after acquiring G Rylan Parenteau, 20, from the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Rayman, from Fernie, B.C., had a goal and seven assists in 86 games over two seasons (2013-15) with the Spokane Chiefs. He had three goals and two assists in 54 games with the Americans last season, and was pointless in seven games this season. . . . With the Giants, he joins F Thomas Foster and Russian D Dmitry Osipov as the 20-year-olds. . . . The Giants, who have won four in a row, all on the road, next play Wednesday when the Saskatoon Blades come calling to Langley, B.C.

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The Spokane Chiefs will be without F Hudson Elynuik when they play host to the Everett Silvertips tonight. He drew a three-game suspension after taking a charging major and game misconduct for a hit on Silvertips F Devon Skoleski in Everett on Friday night. Elynuik has missed one game. He also will miss a game on Friday when the Chiefs open an East Division swing against the Regina Pats. Elynuik will be eligible to return on Saturday in Brandon against the Wheat Kings.

The WHL also firmed up suspensions to a pair of Vancouver Giants. F Johnny Wesley was given a one-game suspension for a charging major and game misconduct in a game against the host Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday, while D Darian Skeoch was given one game after he took a charging major and game misconduct in a game against the host Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday. . . . Wesley has served his suspension. Skeoch won’t play tonight against the visiting Saskatoon Blades.

——

F Chad Butcher of the Medicine Hat Tigers has been suspended for three games. He was hit under supplemental discipline after an unpenalized incident during a 7-2 victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Friday. Butcher has missed one game and won’t play in a home-and-home Wednesday-Friday series with the Kootenay Ice.

The Hitmen asked for supplemental discipline, claiming that Butcher had slashed D Jake Bean, who apparently was left with a broken finger. The Hitmen are saying that he is out week-to-week.

“I watched the play and I’ve been slashed a lot harder than that,” Tigers F Steve Owre told Ryan McCracken of the Medicine Hat News.“It’s the league’s decision and we’re pretty biased on this side but, I think if you watch it, it was just a hockey play.”

Shaun Clouston, the Tigers’ GM/head coach, told McCracken: “It wasn’t called a penalty. It was kind of a one-handed slash . . . I believe it’s going to be very short because there was no intent. The ref on the ice was in real good position and didn’t call it, so we’re very optimistic it will just be the one game.”

So much for optimism . . . . three games it is.

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Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated convened a media panel and discussed a number of goings-on involving the NHL. One of the questions he asked: What rule — in game or of the greater league — would you get rid of and why.

Sean McIndoe, a writer with Vice Sports, Sportsnet and The Hockey News replied:

“The loser point. It’s completely ridiculous that this league still rewards teams for losing. The rule made a small amount of success when it was introduced in 1999, because the league felt they needed to discourage teams from playing for the tie in overtime. But since ties were eliminated with the introduction of the shootout, that reason doesn’t exist anymore. Yet we’re still stuck with this thing. The league tries to justify it by claiming that the loser point makes playoff races closer, but that’s simply not true. All it really accomplishes is artificially inflating the standings and making everyone’s record look better. Which, of course, is the whole point of the rule. GMs love it, because every year roughly 80% of the league gets to be over .500 in terms of points percentage. That’s completely absurd and makes a mockery of the integrity of the standings, but if you can tell your owner that you had a winning record even though you lost 45 games then you might get to keep your job. It’s a confidence scam, nothing more, and it’s embarrassing that we still have it.

“Even worse, the practical effect of the rule is that teams are encouraged to play for a tie in regulation. Which they do, especially as the season goes on. In every other sport, the end of a deadlocked game is edge-of-your-seat time, but in the NHL it’s when everyone shuts down and tries to run out of the clock so that the magic bonus point fairy will arrive. At some point, years down the road, we’re going to get rid of this thing. And then future generations will look back at the record books and wonder why the standings were all screwed up for decades and everyone was just OK with it.”

The complete roundtable is right here and it’s an interesting read.

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JUST NOTES:

The Prince Albert Raiders are down to two goaltenders after dropping Curtis Meger, 18, from their roster. He is expected to join the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins. Meger, from Regina, didn’t get into any games with the Raiders, who now will go with Ian Scott, 17, and Nick Sanders, 18, as their goaltenders. . . . 

The MJHL’s Winkler Flyers have acquired the junior A rights to G Cole Kehler, who will be 19 on Dec. 17, and future considerations from the Swan Valley Stampeders for G Connor Slip, 20, and F Jason Cohan, 20. . . . Kehler, who is 6-1-0, 2.57, .913 with the Portland Winterhawks, is from Altona, Man., which is about a 30-minute drive from Winkler. It could be that Ken Pearson, the Flyers’ GM/head coach, is looking ahead to next season and thinking that maybe, just maybe, Kehler will be available as a 20-year-old. . . .

Portland D Caleb Jones has a shootout winner and an OT winner in the Winterhawks’ last two games. The OT goal was the third of his career, leaving him one away from the franchise record that is shared by Nino Niederreiter, Todd Robinson and Ken Yaremchuk.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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MONDAY’S GAME:

At Edmonton, F Tanner Jeannot scored off a rebound at 3:10 of OT to give the Moose Jaw Warriors a 5-4 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . Moose Jaw led this one 4-2 with less than four minutes to play in

TANNER JEANNOT

the third period. . . . Edmonton F Davis Koch scored, shorthanded, at 16:43 to get the Oil Kings to within one. . . . Freshman F Trey Fix-Wolansky’s third goal of the season, at 19:29, with G Liam Hughes on the bench for the extra attacker, tied it. . . . Moose Jaw F Ryan Bowen had given his side a 1-0 lead at 1:04 of the first period. . . . F Lane Bauer, playing in his 200th regular-season game, pulled Edmonton even at 2:59. . . . The Warriors then took a 3-1 lead on goals from F Noah Gregor, at 5:51 of the first, and F Brett Howden, on a PP, at 7:04 of the second period. . . . F Kobe Mohr got the home side back to within one at 7:34 of the third period, only to have Howden get his second of the game, and eighth of the season, at 9:57. . . . F Jayden Halbgewachs had two assists for the winners, while Gregor added an assist to his goal. . . . D Aaron Irving drew two assists for Edmonton (3-5-2), which has lost three in a row, all at home. . . . The Warriors improved to 6-2-2. . . . G Zach Sawchenko stopped 34 shots for Moose Jaw, while Hughes turned aside 25 for Edmonton. . . . Moose Jaw was 1-6 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-4. . . . Announced attendance: 4,729.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Tri-City at Portland, 7 p.m.

Swift Current at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Lethbridge at Regina, 7 p.m.

Everett at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Saskatoon at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.