Oil Kings win opener . . . Another team to hire head coach . . . Three WHLers get NHL deals

F Yannic Seidenberg (Medicine Hat, 2003-04) has signed a one-year extension with Red Bull Munich (Germany, DEL). In 46 games, he had 12 goals and 10 assists. . . .
D Colton Jobke (Kelowna, Regina, 2009-13) has signed a one-year contract with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL). This season, he had four assists in 20 games with the Alaska Aces (ECHL) and he was pointless in 20 games with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). Jobke is a dual Canadian-German citizen. . . .
D Craig Schira (Regina, Vancouver, 2003-09) has signed a two-year contract with Lulea (Sweden, SHL). This season, with HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, Liiga), he had five goals and 23 assists in 55 games while averaging 24:33 in ice time per game. He also was an alternate captain. . . .
D Daryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) has signed a one-year extension with Red Bull Munich (Germany, DEL). In 44 games, he had 11 goals and 21 assists. He is a dual Canadian-German citizen. . . .
D Richie Regehr (Kelowna, Portland, 1998-2004) has signed a one-year extension with Red Bull Munich (Germany, DEL). In 51 games, he had 10 goals and 30 assists.
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THURSDAY’S GAME:

In Brandon, the Edmonton Oil Kings, the defending Memorial Cup champions, scored two first-period goals en route to a 4-1 victory over the Wheat Kings. . . . It was Game 1 of their series, with Game 2 scheduled for Brandon tonight. . . . This is the only first-round series being played with a 2-3-2 format, with the middle three games scheduled for Edmonton. That means tonight’s game takes on even more importance. . . . Brandon was 27-3-6 at home in the regular season. . . . The Oil Kings scored 11 seconds in when F Tyler Robertson, who had one goal in his previous 22 games, found the net. . . . F Brett Pollock made it 2-0 at 11:55. . . . Brandon F Peter Quenneville scored a PP goal at 17:53 of the second to get his guys back in it. . . . Pollock scored off a PP rebound at 1:35 of the third for a 3-1 lead. . . . F Lane Bauer provided more insurance for the visitors at 9:07. . . . Edmonton D Dysin Mayo had two assists, while Pollock had one for a three-point night. . . . Oil Kings G Tristan Jarry was sharp in making 25 saves, five fewer than Brandon’s Jordan Papirny. . . . Edmonton was 1-for-2 on the PP; Brandon was 1-for-4. . . . Brandon had won three of four regular-season meetings, although the teams had only met once since Nov. 22. . . . The Wheat Kings had F Stelio Mattheos in the lineup. The Winnipegger was the first selection in the 2014 bantam draft. . . . Edmonton’s lineup included 15 players from last season’s championship club. . . . WHL commissioner Ron Robison presented the Wheat Kings with the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy prior to the game. The trophy is for finishing atop the overall standings in the regular season. . . . Attendance was announced as 3,086. That is 809 below Brandon’s regular-season average crowd.
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Two WHL teams are looking for head coaches. . . . Earlier in the week, the Vancouver Giants revealed that Claude Noel wouldn’t be returning as their head coach. . . . Peter Anholt, who finished the season as the general manager and head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, has confirmed to Paul Kingsmith of Global TV that he won’t be back on the bench. Anholt is involved in contract negotiations with the Hurricanes. Assuming he gets a deal as GM, he will hire a head coach and a head scout. . . . There’s more from Kingsmith right here.
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The Brandon Sun has covered a lot of Brandon Wheat Kings playoff games over the years. And it always, always, always has gotten a story from the game into the next day’s paper. That streak may come to an end next week when the Wheat Kings’ first-round series with the Edmonton Oil Kings moves to the Alberta capital. . . . Sportsnet requested a change in starting times for Games 4 and, if necessary, 5, both of which are scheduled to be played in Rexall Place on March 31 and April 1. Rather than starting at 7 p.m., the games are to begin at 8 o’clock. . . . With the difference in time zones, that is 9 o’clock in Brandon. . . . The Sun’s deadline is 11:05 p.m., and it’s doubtful that it can be changed enough to make a difference.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning has signed F Brayden Point, 19, of the Moose Jaw Warriors to a three-year, entry-level NHL contract. Point also signed an ATO (amateur tryout) with the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, and will finish the season there. . . . The Lightning selected Point in the third round of the 2014 NHL draft. . . . This season, he had 87 points, including 38 goals, in 60 games with the Warriors. In 204 career games, he has 236 points, including 99 goals. . . . From Calgary, he was a member of Team Canada as it won gold at the 2015 WJC in Montreal and Toronto.
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The Calgary Flames have signed F Austin Carroll, who turned 21 on Thursday, to an entry-level deal. He led the Victoria Royals in goals (38) and points (77) in the regular season. Carroll, from Calgary, was a seventh-round pick by the Flames in the 2014 NHL draft. . . . In 268 games with the Royals over four seasons, Carroll had 196 points, including 95 goals.
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The Winnipeg Jets have assigned F Axel Blomqvist of the Moose Jaw Warriors to the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps. Blomqvist, 20, was acquired by Moose from the Victoria Royals during the season. From Sweden, he finished the season with 59 points, including 25 goals, in 61 games. The 6-foot-6, 212-pounder was a NHL free agent when he signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Jets prior to the 2013-14 season.
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The Edmonton Oilers have signed D Ben Betker of the Everett Silvertips to a three-year, entry-level NHL contract. Betker, 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, was a sixth-round pick in the NHL’s 2013 draft. From Cranbrook, Betker, 20, had 31 points, including six goals, in 64 gamers this season. In 201 career games, he has 58 points, including 14 goals.
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The AHL’s Toronto Marlies have signed F Jack Rodewald of the Moose Jaw Warriors to an ATO (amateur tryout) for the remainder of this season and to an AHL contract for 2015-16. Rodewald, who turned 21 on Feb. 14, had career highs in goals (35), assists (50) and points (85) this season, all in 71 games. . . . In 255 career games, he put up 166 points, including 76 goals.
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Cody Nickolet, over at Dub From Above, reports that only six WHLers who were selected in the NHL’s 2013 draft haven’t signed NHL contracts. Those six are F Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants (Edmonton Oilers); D Eric Roy of the Brandon Wheat Kings (Calgary Flames); D Mitch Wheaton of the Kelowna Rockets (Detroit Red Wings); G Brendan Burke of the Calgary Hitmen (Arizona Coyotes); D Mark McNulty of the Kamloops Blazers (Detroit); and D Kyle Burroughs of the Medicine Hat Tigers (New York Islanders).
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The Medicine Hat Tigers open a first-round series against the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Saturday. The Tigers were a bit banged up down the stretch, but reports out of Medicine Hat indicate that F Anthony Ast, F Matt Bradley and D Tommy Vannelli will be available for Game 1. . . . The Tigers will be without D Ty Lewington, their captain, as he serves a one-game WHL suspension. . . .
The Kootenay Ice and Calgary Hitmen open their first-round series tonight in Calgary. The game will be televised by Shaw with Dan Russell calling the play and Bill Wilms riding shotgun. . . .
The Tri-City Americans are huge underdogs as they open a first-round series with the Rockets in Kelowna tonight. The Americans have five injured players who aren’t expected to play — F Parker Bowles, D Carter Cochrane, D Riley Hillis, F Braden Purtill and F Taylor Vickerman. All five are said to be done for the season. . . . The Rockets aren’t expected to have D Josh Morrissey back for this series, but F Justin Kirkland, who hasn’t played since Feb. 14, might return. . . .
The Spokane Chiefs go into these playoffs having lost eight straight playoff games. The Chiefs open in Everett against the Silvertips tonight. . . . Spokane was swept by the Portland Winterhawks in the first round in 2013 and then was swept by the Victoria Royals a year ago. . . . The Chiefs also go into these playoffs having lost their last five regular-season games. . . .
The starting time for Game 3 between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the host Red Deer Rebels on March 31 has been changed. Originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. start, it now is listed as TBD (to be determined). . . . Why? According to a note from the Rebels, it is “to accommodate the possibility of a TV broadcast of the game. . . . Game time will either be 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.”

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THE COACHING GAME:

The OHL’s Flint, Mich., Firebirds have signed Terry Christensen as general manager and John Gruden as head coach. The Firebirds are the former Plymouth Whalers franchise. . . . Christensen, 60, has been with the Little Caesars program and with the USA Selects Elite AAA junior program of late. He has coached in the ECHL, NAHL, Colonial league and NCAA. . . . Gruden, 44, has been in USA Hockey’s program. . . . The Firebirds have kept assistant general manager Joe Stefan and head scout Dave McParlan, both of whom were with the Whalers.


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Ice rewrites record book, but Hitmen win game

Tim (left) and Kévin Bozon

F Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice turned 20 on Monday, which was his 24th day as a patient in Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital.
Bozon has been there since March 1, when he was diagnosed with Nesseria meningitis. He was placed in a medically induced coma on March 1, but has since been brought out of that state and is making good progress.
His brother, Kévin, 18, tweeted the above photo, along with “Just arrived in Saskatoon, happy birthday ❤ #fighter #TB20.”
In the photo, the brothers are sharing Kévin’s silver medal, won with Lugano’s U20 team that plays in Switzerland’s elite junior A league.
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Here’s a Monday tweet from Colin Priestner (@colinpriestner), the Saskatoon Blades’ managing partner: “Unbelievable what a week can do. Just finished visit with @timbozon94, looks like a completely different person from last week. Happy bday!”
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A trust fund has been established to assist the Bozon family with medical- and rehabilitation-related costs with which they now are faced.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area and want to donate, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Daryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) has signed a one-year deal with Red Bull Munich (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL), he had 26 points, including four goals, in 52 games. He was Augsburg’s captain for the last two seasons. . . .
D Dave Sutter (Seattle, 2010-12) has signed a two-year contract with La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland, NL B). This season, with Red Ice Martigny (Switzerland, NL B), he had 14 points, three of them goals, in 45 games.
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According to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, “Tuesday is decision day when it comes to the job statuses of Saskatoon Blades head coach Dave Struch and general manager Lorne Molleken.”
Yes, that would be today.
Mike Priestner, the Blades’ owner, told Nugent-Bowman on Monday that “we will be coming forth with our plans at some point tomorrow for the future of the Blades.”
Molleken has two years left on his contract as the club’s general manager.
Struch just completed his first season as head coach, after seven seasons as an assistant. His contract expires in July.
The Blades, who sold everything in order to load up last season when they were the host team for the Memorial Cup, went 16-51-5 and missed the playoffs this season.
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As usual, Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts is a solid read. This week’s package is right here.
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The U of Alberta Golden Bears won their record 14th CIS championship on Sunday, beating the U of Saskatchewan Huskies, the host team, 3-1 in the championship game. . . . Alberta went in as the No. 1 seed and outshot the oppostion 131-57 over three games. . . . Of the 20 players dressed by Alberta for the final, 18 were products of the WHL. . . . Alberta head coach Ian Herbers won a national title in his second season with the Golden Bears. A defenceman, he, too, played in the WHL (Kelowna, Lethbridge, Spokane, Swift Current, 1984-88). . . . The final game, televised by Sportsnet, was terrific, with the turning point coming when Alberta’s Levko Koper (Spokane, 2006-11) gave his side a 2-0 lead with a shorthanded goal in the second period. . . . There’s more on the game right here.
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G Daniel Wapple, who has been out for almost three weeks with an ankle injury, isn’t yet ready to return to the Regina Pats’ lineup. So it will be either Dawson MacAuley or Tyler Fuhr in goal when the Pats resume their first-round series with the host Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday. The Wheat Kings lead the best-of-seven affair, 2-0. . . . MacAuley has surrendered 12 goals on 54 shots as the Pats lost 6-3 and 8-4 on home ice on the weekend. . . . Fuhr, who played this season with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves, was selected by Brandon in the fourth round of the 2010 bantam draft. Prior to joining the Pats after Wapple was injured, Fuhr’s WHL experience consisted of 15 appearances with the Vancouver Giants in 2012-13. . . . “The options right now would be Tyler or Dawson,” Pats head coach Malcolm Cameron told Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post. “I’ll make the ultimate call but all the voices will have a say. (Wapple) hasn’t practised in a couple weeks so it wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the team, nor him, to put that type of burden on him going into Game 3. We have the two guys here and one of them will get the start and win us a game.” . . .

The Wheat Kings didn’t have F Peter Quenneville or D Eric Roy in their lineup for Game 2 in Regina. Quenneville went the distance in Game 1, while Roy didn’t finish that one. . . . In the playoffs, WHL teams aren’t required to provide any information on injuries, thus there isn’t a weekly injury report like the one that goes up on the WHL website during the regular season. . . . When Brandon Sun sports editor James Shewaga asked Kelly McCrimmon, the Wheat Kings’ owner, GM and head coach, about Roy and Quenneville, the response was: “I understand you asking and I know you understand me not answering.” . . .
The Wheat Kings went into Regina and won the first two games against the Pats, who finished atop the East Division. Looking back, the Wheat Kings have won three straight playoff series from Regina. . . . Brandon also is on a five-game winning streak, with four of those victories against the Pats. . . . Apologies to Brandon D Rene Hunter. Last week, I wrote that he is from Roblin, Man. He’s actually from Ebb and Flow. . . . The Pats and Wheat Kings play Wednesday and Friday in Brandon. . . .

If you’re into statistics, you should know that a scoring change has been made to the Seattle Thunderbirds’ second goal in its 2-1 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips in Game 1 of their first-round series. Originally credited to D Shea Theodore, the goal now belongs to F Ryan Gropp, with assists from Theodore and F Branden Troock. . . .

The Portland Winterhawks take a nine-game winning streak into Game 3 against the Giants in Vancouver tonight. Portland won it’s last seven regular-season games and then won the first two games of their first-round series on the weekend. . . . Portland has won 30 of its last 31 games. . . . In its first two games against Vancouver, Portland held an 88-31 edge in shots on goal in posting 4-3 and 3-0 victories. . . .
Portland D Derrick Pouliot has three points in the first two games of these playoffs. That gives him 44 career playoff points. He is four behind Glen Wesley, who holds the franchise record for career playoff points by a defenceman and one behind Troy Rutkowski, who holds down second spot. . . .

Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that G Jared Rathjen “didn’t skate with the Giants on Monday.” Rathjen, who has been backing up Payton Lee, was struck in the face by a puck while on the bench during Game 2 in Portland on Saturday. According to Ewen, Rathjen took 15 stitches near an eye. . . . Cody Porter, a 16-year-old who played with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors, was on the ice with the Giants on Monday. . . . The Giants also expect to have F Ty Ronning back for Game 3 tonight. He missed the first two games due to illness.
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MONDAY’S GAME:
In  Cranbrook, F Greg Chase scored at 5:05 of OT to give the Calgary Hitmen a wild and crazy 7-6 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Hitmen lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 in Cranbrook tonight. . . . The teams had combined for 12 goals in splitting the first two games in Calgary. . . . Last night, they alternated goals, Calgary scoring first, until Ice F Jaedon Descheneau, who had six points, scored at 19:47 of the second period for a 5-4 lead. . . . Calgary D Trevor Sanheim tied it again at 5:17, only to have Ice D Jagger Dirk scored his second goal of the game at 11:23 to restore the lead. . . . Hitmen F Radel Fazleev, who had two goals and an assist, forced OT when he scored at 12:00. . . . Calgary F Landon Welykholowa scored twice in the game’s first 23 minutes. He was a healthy scratch in Game 1, got into Game 2 because of suspensions and scored twice, and now leads all playoff goal scorers, with four. The Calgarian, who turned 18 on Jan. 1, had one goal in 18 games with the Victoria Royals this season and none in 16 games with the Hitmen. . . . Calgary F Adam Tambellini had a goal and two assists, while F Mike Winther and F Pavel Padakin each drew two assists. . . . Descheneau added five assists to his goal, while F Sam Reinhart had a goal and four assists, and Dirk had two goals and two assists. . . . The Ice was 5-for-6 on the PP and only five points recorded points. . . . Calgary was 0-for-3 on the PP. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 25 shots. Ice starter Mackenzie Skapski turned aside 21, while Wyatt Hoflin, who came on for the last 5:50 of the second period, was 2-for-2. . . . F Joe Mahon was back in Calgary’s lineup after serving a one-game WHL suspension, while F Linden Penner completed his two-game sentence. Both were suspended for Game 1 transgressions. . . . The Ice had veteran D Landon Cross back after he missed six games with an undisclosed injury. . . .
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Jeff Chynoweth, the Ice’s president and general manager, has always loved statistics. Which is the main reason why you are able to find a 165-page franchise record book on the Ice’s website. So thanks to Chynoweth and K.C. Fisher, who compiled the record book, here are some of the records the Ice broke or tied last night.
BROKE
Most goals, two teams (home) -- 13: The record had been 11 (Red Deer Rebels 4 at Ice 7, March 30, 2000).
Most assists -- 5: Descheneau broke a record that had been shared by Zdenek Blatny (vs. Moose Jaw, March 23, 2001); Bret DeCicco (at Moose Jaw, March 28, 2001); Duncan Milroy (vs. Kelowna, April 20, 2002); and Nigel Dawes (at Kamloops, March 29, 2003), each with 4.
Most points -- 6: Descheneau broke a record that had been shared by Blatny (1-4--5, vs. Moose Jaw, March 23, 2001) and Max Reinhart (five goals, vs. Medicine Hat, April 27, 2011).
Most points, defenceman -- 4: Dirk broke a record that had been shared by Scott Roles (1-2, at Calgary, March 24, 1999); Cole Fischer (0-3, vs. Moose Jaw, March 23, 2001); Gerard Dicaire (1-2, at Kamloops, March 29, 2003); Brayden McNabb (three times -- 1-2, vs. Moose Jaw, March 26, 2011; 1-2, vs. Saskatoon, April 12, 2011; 0-3, vs. Saskatoon, April 13, 2011); and Joey Leach (0-3, vs. Portland, May 11, 2011).
Most points, one period -- 4: With a goal and three assists in the second period, Descheneau broke a record that had been shared by Trevor Wasyluk (3-0, 2nd period, at Calgary, March 24, 1999); Nigel Dawes (0-3, 2nd period, at Kamloops, March 29, 2003); Martin Sagat (3-0, 3rd period, vs. Everett, April 9, 2005); Adam Taylor (0-3, 3rd period, vs. Everett, April 9, 2005); Andrew Bailey (2-1, 3rd period, at Lethbridge, April 5, 2008); and Max Reinhart (3-0, 1st period, vs. Medicine Hat, April 27, 2011).
TIED
Most goals, two teams (overall) -- 13: Ice 6 at Kamloops Blazers 7, March 29, 2003.
Most power-play goals by Ice (overall, home) -- 5: Red Deer 4 at Ice 7, March 30, 2000.
Most goals, one game, defenceman -- 2: Dirk tied Matt Walker, who did it against Red Deer on March 31, 2000.
Most assists in one period -- 3: Descheneau tied a record shared by Nigel Dawes (2nd period, at Kamloops, March 29, 2003) and Adam Taylor (3rd period, vs. Everett, April 9, 2005).
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A tweet from Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge): “PP goals in this series: Kootenay 8, Calgary 1. ES goals: Calgary 13, Kootenay 3. Hitmen dominating at ES, but need to avoid penalties.”
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THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.
Saturday: Prince Albert 3 at Edmonton 5 (6,534)
Sunday: Prince Albert 1 at Edmonton 3 (6,584)
Tuesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite.
Prince Albert: D Graeme Craig, indefinite.
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REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.
Saturday: Brandon 6 at Regina 3 (6,200)
Sunday: Brandon 8 at Regina 4 (5,014)
Wednesday: Regina at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Friday: Regina at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
x-Saturday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Regina vs. Brandon, at Dauphin, Man., 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Brandon: F Peter Quenneville, day-to-day; D Eric Roy, day-to-day.
Regina: D Tye Hand, indefinite; G Daniel Wapple, day-to-day.
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CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.
Thursday: Kootenay 5 at Calgary 2 (6,649)
Saturday: Kootenay 0 at Calgary 5 (9,019)
Monday: Calgary 7 at Kootenay 6 (OT) (1,992)
Tuesday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Calgary: F Cal Babych, day-to-day; F Connor Rankin, day-to-day.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.
Friday: Swift Current 1 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,512)
Saturday: Swift Current 2 at Medicine Hat 4 (3743)
Tuesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Sunday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Steve Owre, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Swift Current: None.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

KELOWNA (1) vs. TRI-CITY (8)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Tri-City, 0-3-1.
Saturday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,827)
Sunday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,041)
Tuesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Tri-City: F Taylor Vickerman, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.
Friday: Vancouver 3 at Portland 4 (9,756)
Saturday: Vancouver 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Tuesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Portland at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Vancouver: F Tyler Benson, indefinite; F Jakob Stukel, indefinite; D Dalton Thrower, indefinite; F Ty Ronning, day-to-day.
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VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.
Saturday: Spokane 1 at Victoria 2 (OT) (6,615)
Sunday: Spokane 3 at Victoria 4 (OT) (4,629)
Wednesday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
INJURIES
Victoria: None.
Spokane: D Colton Bobyk, week-to-week; F Adam Hascic, day-to-day; F Blair Oneschuk, week-to-week.
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SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett 1 at Seattle 2 (4,650)
Sunday: Seattle 3 at Everett 1 (4,150)
Tuesday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Friday: Seattle at Everett, 7:35 p.m.
x-Saturday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
Everett: F Kohl Baum, indefinite; F Tyler Sandhu, day-to-day.
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From Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon (@timbozon94): “Thanks everyone for the bday wishes.”


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Daryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract extension with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). He has three goals and 10 assists in his second season in Augsburg, where he is the team captain.
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Alan Caldwell of Small Thoughts At Large has taken an extensive look at which WHL players might play for teams in the World Junior Championship. That is right here.
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It would appear that D Layne Viveiros of the Portland Winterhawks is leaving to play for Austria in the IIHF U20 Division 1 Group A championship in Amiens, France, Dec. 9-15. Viveiros, the 17-year-old son of former Prince Albert Raiders D Emanuel Viveiros, tweeted early today: “Last minute packing for tomorrow. Off to europe again #cant wait #teamAustria #3rdhome” . . . He has one assist in 15 games this season, after recording three assists in 39 games as a freshman last season. . . . Emanuel played four seasons (1982-86) with the Raiders. He is the head coach of the Austrian national team. One of his assistants is former WHL coach Rob Daum, the head coach of Black Wings Linz.
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The Portland versus WHL or, if you prefer, WHL versus Portland brawl isn’t going away any time soon.
Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports has his take on things right here.
I meant to provide a link yesterday to a piece by Elliotte Friedman of CBC Sports. He begins with this: “One thing I’ve learned about the Portland Winterhawks — the rest of the WHL hates them.”
His complete piece is right here and it may be the most thorough explanation to date of exactly what happened.
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Jeff Z. Klein of The New York Times has written more on the “major concussion study” that was published Friday in the journal Neurosurgical Focus. That piece is right here.
In this piece, Klein writes that Dr. Paul S. Echlin, a concussion specialist and researcher in Burlington, Ont., “said that dismissive attitudes toward head trauma persisted in hockey at all levels, despite the widespread attention on Sidney Crosby’s drawn-out recovery from concussion symptoms in 2011 and 2012.
“This is our national game which we all love,” Echlin wrote, “and it is time to consider a cultural shift to address the prevention and treatment of this serious brain injury that is occurring at epidemic proportions.”
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During the NHL craziness, Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail has been writing about various aspects of The Game of hockey. His latest piece looks at hockey and how it is quickly becoming a sport for the elite. That piece is right here.
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So if you haven’t heard . . . the Saskatchewan Roughriders attempted to get into the Christmas spirit by putting a Yule log video on the big screen at Mosaic Stadium or Taylor Field or whatever it’s called. (It’ll always be Taylor Field for me, named after Piffles, you know.)
Anyway . . . there were at least four fire calls to 9-1-1. Seriously!
Deadspin puts its spin on the story right here, and make sure to read the comments.
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We are into Teddy Bear Game season (or toque toss), and here is some food for thought from an avid reader of this blog:
“I only want to say that people are allowed to throw other things than stuffed animals during those special nights . . . that each team is holding once a year. While Teddy Bears can be cute, they are nonetheless useless and not that much desired by kids. Or shelf bound after 2 days!!
“At the Teddy Bear Toss of the Surrey Eagles, like past years, I will be throwing kid's winter boots, scarves and toques, all brand new items of course. Every year I keep hoping that people will start to get it but it's a slow process. I have a friend from Manitoba and he is telling me that people in Brandon start to get it and a percentage of them throw other useful items along with the stuffies at the Wheaties’ annual Teddy Bear Toss. It all goes to the Salvation Army anyway, or other charities.
“I'm not sure if you agree with me or not, but I wanted to tell you and I hoped that maybe you could write a short note reminding people about it. The Teddy Bear Toss is a good idea, but I really think that other items are more needed by families in need.”
The writer also points out that $20 spent on a stuffie could buy a pair of boots/shoes in a bix box store like Walmart or Zellers (40 per cent off right now). . . . $20 could buy food for a day or two . . . $20 could buy toques and mittens.
“I understand that a Teddy Bear has the potential of warming up the heart of a child, but it's pointless if the child is cold or hungry.
“As well, firefighters and other parties are already doing a fantastic job in gathering toys for Christmas.
“Anyway, It's only my opinion.”
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SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Regina, Morgan Klimchuk had a five-point night for the Pats, but it wasn’t enough as they lost 6-5 in OT to the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Klimchuk had two goals and three assists in the game’s first 29:23. . . . But it was Spokane D Tyler King who ended it, scoring his fifth goal of the season at 2:46 of extra time. . . . King is from Pilot Butte, Sask., a community just a couple of slapshots from Regina. . . . Spokane F Tyson Predinchuk, a freshman from Regina, had two assists. He had two assists in his previous 19 games. . . . The Chiefs are 5-0-1 in their last six. . . . F Lane Scheidl scored twice for the Pats, giving him 18. . . . Klimchuk has 16 goals. . . . Spokane had a 60-25 edge in shots. . . . Regina G Teagan Sacher stopped 54 of those but wasn’t one of the three stars. . . . It’s interesting that King was the first star, with Klimchuk second. . . . The Chiefs scored the game’s last three goals with F Carter Proft forcing OT at 6:59 of the third. . . . The Chiefs are 2-0 on their East Division swing. They play in Prince Albert on Tuesday. . . . Regina played this one without F Dryden Hunt, D Colton Jobke, F Trent Ouellette, D Kade Pilton, F Jack Rodewald, F Chandler Stephenson, F Dyson Stevenson and F Emil Sylvegard, all out with injuries or illness. . . . Regina, which lost 5-3 in Prince Albert on Friday, is at home to the Raiders tonight. . . .

In Swift Current, the Broncos blanked the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-0 as the goaltending tandem of Landon Bow and Eetu Laurikainen combined to stop 17 shots. . . . The Broncos gave the start to Bow, but he left with an injury at 16:49 of the first period after stopping all five shots he saw. Laurikainen, who had started 19 straight games, came off the bench. . . . Swift Current F Ryon Moser had two goals and an assist. . . . The Broncos were without F Daniel Dale, who drew a suspension after being hit with an instigating penalty in the last five minutes of Friday’s 7-2 loss to the visiting Spokane Chiefs. . . . Brandon D Ryan Pulock sat out his fifth straight game with an undisclosed injury. The Wheaties also were missing D Eric Roy, D Rene Hunter, F Jack Palmer, F Tyrel Seaman, F Tim McGauley and F Jens Meilleur. . . . The Wheat Kings have lost five straight and nine of 10. . . . Swift Current beat Brandon three times in a week, outscoring it 15-4 in the process. . . .

In Red Deer, G Patrik Bartosak stopped 21 shots to lead the Rebels to a 3-0 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . The Blades gave up two first-period goals and weren’t able to get back into this one. . . . The Rebels are 7-0-0 since owner/GM Brent Sutter stepped in as interim head coach. . . . Ch-ch-ching! Just in time for Christmas shopping, there was a line brawl at game’s end. Both teams will be contributing to the WHL office early in the week. . . . Bartosak has put up two shutouts in his last five outings. . . . The Rebels are into fourth in the Eastern Conference, just a point behind the Calgary Hitmen, who hold four games in hand. . . .

In Medicine Hat, F Curtis Valk and F Elgin Pearce scored in the circus to give the Tigers a 2-1 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . F Craig Leverton scored for Lethbridge at 2:51 of the first period, with D Dylan Busenius scoring the Teddy Bear goal for the Tigers at 2:09 of the second. . . . Lethbridge Michael Sofillas (concussion) was back in the lineup after a 20-game absence. . . . Medicine Hat G Cam Lanigan stopped 41 shots, four more than Lethbridge’s Ty Rimmer. . . .

In Prince George, the Victoria Royals scored the game’s last two goals and beat the Cougars, 4-3. . . . The two teams played four times in eight nights, with the Royals winning three of them. . . . D Mark (Jimmy) McNulty scored his fifth goal at 10:16 of the second period to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead. . . . Royals F Mitch Deacon tied it at 12:15 of the third and D Brett Cote won it at 13:14. . . . The Cougars were without F Colin Jacobs after he drew a ‘tbd’ suspension for a headshot in Friday’s 2-0 loss to the Royals. . . .

In Vancouver, the Tri-City Americans pulled one out of the fire as they snuck past the Giants, 4-3. . . . Vancouver F Tristan Sieben gave the Giants a 3-2 lead at 12:39 of the third period. . . . Tri-City D Justin Hamonic tied it with his first goal this season at 17:49. . . . Americans F Beau McCue won it with a shorthanded goal at 19:54. . . . McCue, a 17-year-old freshman from Missoula, Mont., had another goal and an assist for the first three-point game of his career. . . . The Americans ended a three-game losing skid. . . . The Giants have lost seven in a row. . . . G Luke Lee-Knight, in his first appearance with the Americans this season, stopped 38 shots. . . . Vancouver G Liam Liston (ankle) turned aside 32 shots in his first appearance since Nov. 1. . . .

In Kamloops, the Moose Jaw Warriors got two goals in the circus and beat the Kamloops Blazers, 3-2. . . . F Justin Kirsch and F Brayden Point scored in the shootout, while G Justin Paulic stopped both Kamloops shooters. . . . Blazers D Tyler Bell scored the game’s first goal, his first of the season and the second of his 81-game career, and it was the Teddy Bear goal. . . . During the break, Blazers majority owner Tom Gaglardi announced that the Blazers will retire D Scott Niedermayer’s No. 28 on Jan. 25 with the Prince Albert Raiders providing the opposition. Niedermayer (1989-92) had 190 points in 156 regular-season games and was on one Memorial Cup winner in Kamloops. . . . The Blazers have played in six straight one-goal games; they are 3-1-2 in those games. . . . Moose Jaw D Morgan Rielly scored his sixth goal of the season and that equals a career high. He had six goals in 65 games as a freshman in 2010-11. Of course, a knee injury limited him to 18 games last season, and he finished with three goals. . . . The Blazers boarded their bus immediately after the game and headed for Kent, Wash., where they will play the Thunderbirds this evening. D Jordan Thomson (ill) wasn’t on the Blazers’ bus. . . .

In Kent, Wash., the Seattle Thunderbirds got a pair of late goals and beat the Kelowna Rockets, 4-2. . . . The Thunderbirds held a 2-0 lead in the first period but the visitors tied it in the second. . . . Seattle D Shea Theodore broke a 2-2 tie at 14:12 of the third. . . . Kelowna G Jackson Whistle lost for the first time in seven decisions. . . . Seattle F Luke Lockhart played in his 300th regular-season game. He is sixth on the franchise’s career list, behind Glen Goodall (399), Tyler Metcalfe (333), Scott Jackson (326), Aaron Gagnon (318) and Rob Dumas (315). . . . Seattle G Brandon Glover stopped 37 shots. . . . The Thunderbirds have shut down F Tyler Alos, 19, for the remainder of this season with post-concussion syndrome. Alos, from Spokane, had three points in 10 games this season. He was in his fourth season with the Thunderbirds. Alos last played on Nov. 2. He returned that night after not playing since Oct. 19. . . . The Rockets were without F Colton Sissons, their captain, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Friday’s 3-2 victory over visiting Moose Jaw. . . . Kelowna also was without F Carter Rigby, who sat out a one-game suspension for coming off the bench and getting into an altercation at the end of the game with Moose Jaw. . . .

In Everett, the Portland Winterhawks ran their winning streak to six games with a 4-1 victory over the Silvertips. . . . The Winterhawks (22-4-1) now are tied for first place atop the WHL’s overall standings with the Kamloops Blazers. Portland holds three games in hand. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic scored his 16th goal of the season to run his point streak to 15 games. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke stopped 29 shots, including a third-period stop on a penalty shot attempt by Everett F Manraj Hayer. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie had a goal and an assist, giving him points in 20 his last 21 games. He has 41 points over that stretch. . . . Portland D Seth Jones had one assist and was plus-2 in his first regular-season game in Everett. The Silvertips selected him in the first round of the 2009 bantam draft. He chose not to sign with the Silvertips, who dealt his rights to Portland earlier this year. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reported: “Everett's fans made sure Jones knew they didn't approve as the 4,957 in attendance booed him vociferously every time he touched the puck.” . . . "It was exciting," Jones told Patterson. “The fans were really into it, obviously. Every time I got the puck it was always an exciting atmosphere. It was good. You just have to laugh about it, really." . . . Patterson reported that Everett D Nick Walters sat out “as a result of damage sustained during a fight in Friday’s 4-0 victory over Vancouver.” . . . Portland F Taylor Peters sat out for what Patterson reported  were “undisclosed reasons.” . . . Everett visits Portland on Tuesday. . . . The Winterhawks are two games into a stretch in which they play 15 straight games against U.S. Division opponents.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Carter Proft, Spokane
D Tyler Yaworski, Brandon
F Reid Petryk, Everett
D Sam Grist, Kamloops
F Justin Feser, Tri-City
D Zach Yuen, Tri-City

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Ryan Olsen, Kelowna
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From former Spokane Chiefs captain Darren Kramer (@DarrenKramer22): “I am a Chief for life but I will say I feel for Mike Johnston and the sanctions on the Portland Winterhawks. #toofar #relax”
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From Swift Current Broncos F Daniel Dale (@DDaleOne7): “A little vacation never hurt anyone #supsy”


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Is everyone going across the pond?

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Daryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). He had one goal and four assists in five games with the Alaska Aces (ECHL) and one goal and four assists in 26 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) last season. . . .
F Gasper Kopitar (Portland, 2009-11) signed a tryout contract with Södertälje J20 (Sweden, J20 SuperElit). He had one goal in two games with the Winterhawks and 12 goals and 12 assists in 55 games with Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) last season. . . .
F Casper Carning (Vancouver, 2010-11) signed a one-year contract with Kungälv (Sweden, Division 1). He had two assists in six games with the GIants, 14 goals and 29 assists in 31 games with Frölunda J20 Gothenburg (Sweden, J20 SuperElit), no points in eight games with Frölunda Gothenburg (Sweden, Elitserien), and one goal and one assist in two games on loan with Kungälv last season. . . .
D Brent Sopel (Saskatoon, Swift Current, 1993-97) signed a two-year contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and five assists in 71 games with the Atlanta Thrashers and Montreal Canadiens last season. . . .
D Harlan Pratt (Seattle, Red Deer, Prince Albert, Regina, Portland, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract with Szekesfehervar (Hungary, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had five assists in 40 games for Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season. . . .
G Todd Ford (Swift Current, Prince George, Vancouver, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with Heilbronner Falken (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had a 2.94 GAA and a .886 save percentage in 13 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and a 2.74 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 22 games with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) last season.
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Former WHL scoring champion Brian Varga is the new GM of the Medicine Hat Minor Hockey Association. Varga, 50, played four WHL seasons (1978-82), the first three with the Regina Pats and the last one with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He won the 1981-82 scoring title, with 187 points. And, although his name is missing from the WHL Guide recap on 1981-82, he actually finished sixth that season, with 156 points. . . . Varga is a long-time Medicine Hat minor hockey coach and volunteer. "When they decided a long time ago to have a GM within minor hockey,” Varga told Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News, “I thought that maybe some day I could do that job. It has been on my mind for quite a while. . . . It is something where maybe I can give back to the community again too by being in that role."
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Chris Peters over at the United States of Hockey has taken a good look at the beating that NCAA hockey has taken over the last little while. If you missed it, a number of high-profile players who had committed to one school or another have de-committed and now are headed to OHL teams. What does it all mean? Check out Peters’ piece right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
From the department of horrible timing comes news that the Mississippi RiverKings, who moved from the Central League to the Southern Professional league over the summer, fired head coach Paul Gardner on Thursday. He had taken over from Kevin Kaminski early in the 2010-11 season. "I was told that because of moving to the SPHL, they were going in a different direction," Gardner told Chris Van Tuyl of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Very shocked. The hardest thing about it is having to tell the kids, and the kids haven't stopped crying. That's the difficult part of the whole thing." . . . As for finding work in the coaching game at this late date, Gardner said: "I think that would be difficult. The majority of the coaches are hired now. I emailed my agent and that's exactly what he said, 'Why did they wait until now?' " . . .
Steve Chapman, the president of the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators, has revealed that his search for a head coach is down to a shortlist that contains three names -- Leigh Mendelson, Steve Weeks and John Wroblewski. . . . Mendelson is a former Spokane Chiefs assistant coach. Last season, he was on staff with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. . . . The Gladiators need a head coach to replace Jeff Pyle, now head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars.
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Various reports — and I think TSN’s Farhan Lalji was first with it — have former NHLer Ryan Walter to be named president of the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat on Tuesday.
This is a rather interesting move.
Walter, you may recall, was dismissed as an assistant coach by the Vancouver Canucks after the 2009-10 season. He spent two seasons on the coaching staff. The Heat, which plays in Canucks’ territory in what is generically known as the Lower Mainland, is the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
The Flames have signed F Ben Walter, Ryan’s son, to a two-year contract and chances are he will start the season with the Heat.
Cam Tucker of the Abbotsford Times has more right here on the Heat, including a bit of news on the deficit the team ran last season, which the city and taxpayers have to cover.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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