Reinhart, Valk put streaks on line tonight

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Stefan Warg (Seattle, Prince Albert, 2008-10) signed a two-year deal with Skellefteå (Sweden, SEL) and is to join the team immediately. This season, he had one assist in 21 games with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) and two assist in three games with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL). . . .
F Eric Schneider (Tri-City, 1995-96) has signed for the rest of this season with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Bentley, Alta., Generals (Chinook Sr.), he had five points, including three goals, in two games. Last season with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL), he had nine points, three of them goals, in 13 games. He started last season with Bentley, putting up 13 points, including three goals, in 10 games and then signed with Hamburg to finish season.
---
Everett is off to Kent, Wash., for a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent) tonight. Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips were short five forwards at practice on Monday, with Logan Aasman (finger), Manraj Hayer (undisclosed), Jujhar Khaira (undisclosed), Zane Jones (undisclosed) and Tyler Sandhu (undisclosed) all sitting out. All are likely to sit out again tonight. . . . Patterson also notes that D Ben Betker (undisclosed) practised Monday and may play tonight.
---
D Dylan Busenius of the Saskatoon Blades is scheduled to play in his 300th regular-season game later this week. Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here.
---
TUESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Swift Current at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Regina, 7 p.m.
Saskatoon at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
---
The Prince Albert Raiders have lost eight of their last 10 games and find themselves eight points out of the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot as they play host to the Swift Current Broncos tonight. The Broncos lead the season series 4-1-1. . . . Andrew Schopp of the Prince Albert Daily Herald looks at the Raiders’ recent struggles right here. . . . The Eastern Conference is going to be rather interesting down the stretch and the three-point games are likely to have a huge impact. Going into tonight’s play, the Edmonton Oil Kings have 75 points and the Calgary Hitmen have 70. After that, it’s the Medicine Hat Tigers (61), Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current (60), Regina Pats (59), Kootenay Ice (58) and Red Deer Rebels (57). They all have played 51, 52 or 53 games. . . . While the Raiders are bordering on next-year country, the Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades and Lethbridge Hurricanes already are there. In the Western Conference, the Kamloops Blazers won’t make the playoffs, while the Prince George Cougars, who are six points out with 17 games remaining, have a tough task ahead of them. . . . All told, 16 of the WHL’s 22 teams have winning percentages above .500. That number was 17 before Prince Albert’s tailspin took them to 23-25-3. . . . F Nikita Scherbak, the WHL’s leading freshman scorer, remains out of Saskatoon’s lineup as the Blades are in Cranbrook to meet the Kootenay Ice tonight. . . . F Sam Reinhart of the Ice takes a 10-game point streak into that game while, in Regina, F Curtis Valk of the Medicine Hat Tigers goes into tonight’s game with the Pats on a 10-game run. Reinhart has 18 points, including eight goals, in those 10 games, while Valk has 15 points, 10 of them goals. It’s the second time this season that Valk has put together a 10-game streak. . . . The longest point streak this season, 18 games, belongs to Everett F Josh Winquist.

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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Eric Schneider (Tri-City, 1995-96) signed a contract for the rest of this season with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL). He had two goals and 10 assists in 10 games with the Bentley Generals (Alberta, Chinook Senior) this season. Last season, Schneider had 16 goals and 30 assists in 52 games with Munich (Germany, DEL), where he was an alternate captain. . . .

F Eric Johansson (Tri-City, 1997-2002) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Västerås (Sweden, Allsvenskan) after being released a few days ago by Alba Volan Szekesfehervar (Hungary, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had six goals and 23 assists in 41 games with Alba Volan this season. Västerås GM Niklas Johansson (no relation): “He's a two-way centre with a good drive and lovely set-up skills who can also play wing. We need to lift our offensive game and therefore it feels good to be able to snag a player like Eric.” Johansson has dual Canadian and Swedish citizenship so he doesn’t count as an import.
———
On my list of today’s best sports writers, two names are atop the list. There are Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post and Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail, and then there is everyone else.
They are essayists, wordsmiths . . . who regularly provide readers with the best they’ve got.
I mention this because Boswell spent a lot of time covering Earl Weaver when he really was the Earl of Baltimore. Weaver died Saturday at the age of 82, and Boswell came up with this piece right here.
———
The headline reads: Las Vegas Hooker Rear Ended.
The story, involving a player from a Mountain West Hockey League team, is right here.
———
SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, F Trevor Cheek and F Curtis Lazar each scored his 20th goal as the Oil Kings beat the Prince George Cougars, 6-1. . . . The Oil Kings erased a 1-0 first-period deficit with the game’s next three goals — they scored at even strength, on the power play and shorthanded — and took a 3-1 lead into the third period. . . . The first two periods included a combined 13 power-play opportunities. There was one minor penalty called in the third. . . . Edmonton F Edgars Kulda scored his fifth goal. His folks from Latvia were in the crowd. . . . F Henrik Samuelsson scored twice for Edmonton, giving him 24 goals. . . . Among the Cougars scratches was D Marc McNulty (undisclosed). . . . The Oil Kings, who had lost their previous two games, are back atop the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the idle Calgary Hitmen. . . .

In Vancouver, F Josh Winquist scored three times to lead the Everett Silvertips to a 4-0 victory over the Giants. . . . Winquist, who also had an assist, has 21 goals. . . . Everett G Daniel Cotton stopped 31 shots for his second shutout of the season, both against Vancouver. . . . The Silvertips swept a three-game weekend; earlier, they beat Seattle and Lethbridge at home. . . . Everett is 5-0-0 against Vancouver this season. . . . Everett F Manraj Hayer drew three assists. He’s from Vancouver and was celebrating his 19th birthday. . . .

In Kent, Wash., Lethbridge G Ty Rimmer stopped 54 shots through OT but gave up a goal in the circus and his Lethbridge Hurricanes dropped a 6-5 decision to the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent). . . . Seattle F Luke Lockhart, who shot first, scored the only goal of the shootout. . . . Seattle has won twice in as many nights after losing 15 in a row. . . . Lethbridge led 3-1 in the second period, only to have Seattle come back with four straight goals. . . . The Hurricanes trailed 5-3 in the third period. D Adam Henry got them to within one at 6:45. F Jaimon Yakubowski forced OT with his 26th goal at 16:18 of the third. . . . Seattle lost F Branden Troock late in the second period with an apparent shoulder injury after he went heavily into the boards. He didn’t return. . . . Lethbridge was playing its third game in as many nights and dressed only 16 skaters. It was missing six regulars. D Albin Blomqvist, D Dan Johnston, F Reid Duke, F Josh Derko and F Russell Maxwell all are hurt, while D Joel Topping was writing exams. . . .

In Medicine Hat, G Cam Lanigan stopped 26 shots as the Tigers beat the Red Deer Rebels, 3-0. . . . Lanigan, 20, has three career shutouts, all of them this season. He had one with Portland before joining the Tigers. . . . F Hunter Shinkaruk scored the game’s first goal, his 26th, at 10:51 of the second period. . . . Shinkaruk had sat out for a week with the flu. F Miles Koules now is ill and didn’t play. . . . F Curtis Valk, with his 27th, and F Logan McVeigh, with his 13th, also scored. . . .  The Tigers swept a three-game weekend, as they also won in Edmonton and beat visiting Calgary. The Tigers beat Edmonton 2-1 and Calgary 4-0. . . . Medicine Hat is seventh in the Eastern Conference, but just six points behind the fourth-place Rebels. . . . Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer are running 1-2-3 in the Central Division.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Martin Gernat, Edmonton
F Alex Delnov, Seattle
F Tyler Wong, Lethbridge

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Brandon Baddock, Edmonton
———


From Portland F Brendan Leipsic (@leip28): “I eat because I’m unhappy, I’m unhappy because I eat.”


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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jaroslav Svoboda (Kootenay, 1998-2000) signed a one-year contract with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL). He had five goals and six assists in 41 games with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga) last season. . . .
D Craig Schira (Regina, Vancouver, 2003-09) signed a one-year contract with Frisk Asker (Norway, GET-Ligaen). He had four goals and nine assists in 73 games with the Binghamton Senators (AHL) last season. . . .
D Michael Busto (Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Kootenay, 2001-07) signed a one-year contract with Angers (France, Ligue Magnus). He had one goal and 12 assists in 65 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) last season. . . .
F Kris Beech (Calgary. 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had 15 goals and 20 assists in 59 games for Lukko Raumu (Finland, SM-Liiga) last season. . . .
F Tyler Mosienko (Kelowna, 2000-05) signed a one-year contract with Esbjerg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He had 13 goals and 26 assists in 36 games for the Nippon Paper Cranes Kushiro (Japan, Asia Hockey League) last season. . . .
Red Bull Munich (Germany, DEL) announced that F Eric Schneider (Tri-City, 1995-96) will sit out the 2012-2013 season due to ongoing knee issues. He had 16 goals and 30 assists in 52 games last season while dealing throughout the entire season with what Red Bull called "a serious knee injury." In spite of this, Schneider didn’t miss a game during the regular season, leading the team in goals, assists, and points and finishing 12th in DEL scoring. He signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull Munich in March 2011.
———
There isn’t a prouder father around these days than Bill Stewart, who owns the NAHL’s Wenatchee, Wash., Wild. His daughter, Chelsea, was on the roster when the Canadian women’s soccer team for the London Olympics was named on Monday. . . . Bill Stewart is from The Pas, Man., and, if you aren’t aware, starred as Albert in a Canadian Tire commercial back in the day. . . . “I guess that leaves Albert.” . . . “Boy, I sure wish we had a guy like Albert.”
If you haven’t seen it, or want another look, it’s right here. And it’s a great one!
———
The Prince George Cougars have signed F Brad Morrison, who was the seventh overall selection in the 2012 bantam draft. Morrison, from Westside, B.C., had 141 points, including 83 goals, for team at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton last season. . . . The Cougars cut a deal with Everett Silvertips in order to move up in the draft and select Morrison, who has family in the Prince George area. . . . The Cougars now have signed their two first-round selections, as they got a deal done with F Jansen Harkins earlier.
———
The Lethbridge Hurricanes have released Slovakian F Juraj Bezuch, 18, so will be using the 17th overall selection in today’s CHL import draft. Bezuch, the 56th pick in last year’s import draft, had 21 points in 67 games with Lethbridge. . . . Lethbridge GM/head coach Rich Preston confirmed yesterday that the Hurricanes are bringing back D Albin Blomqvist, 19, who had three points in 38 games last season.
———
Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada has his weekly 30 Thoughts right here.
It includes a piece on the New York Islanders apparently offering all of their 2012 draft picks to Columbus for the Blue Jacket’s first selection.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Scott Arniel is the new head coach of the Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. He replaces Craig McTavish, who left to rejoin the Edmonton Oilers as vice-president of hockey operations. . . .
According to multiple reports, the Edmonton Oilers are poised to introduce Ralph Krueger as their new head coach today. He would replace Tom Renney, who was dropped after last season. . . . There now are reports that Renney, a former Kamloops Blazers’ head coach, will end up with the ZSC Lions in Zurich, Switzerland. Bob Hartley left the Lions to sign on as head coach of the Calgary Flames. There then were rumours that Krueger, a veteran of the Swiss coaching scene, would be joining the Lions. . . . Instead, it could be Krueger taking Renney’s spot and Renney going to Zurich. . . . The carousel continues. . . . Krueger played three games with the New Westminster Bruins in 1978-79 and had 83 points with the 1978-79 Calgary Wranglers.
———
The Kootenay Ice has traded D John Neibrandt to the Vancouver Giants for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. Neibrandt is 19 now, but turns 20 on Oct. 9 so is going into his 20-year-old season. . . . In 134 regular-season games with the Ice, the 6-foot-5, 196-pounder from Yorkton, Sask., has 19 points and 83 penalty minutes. . . . The deal leaves the Ice with seven 20-year-olds on its roster, four over the limit. F Max Reinhart (Calgary) and D Luke Paulsen (post-concussion syndrome) aren’t expected to return. F Drew Czerwonka, D Joey Leach, F Dylen McKinlay, F Brock Montgomery and F Elgin Pearce also are on the Ice roster. . . . The Giants’ roster now includes six 20-year-olds, although F Brendan Gallagher (Montreal) and F Jordan Martinook (Phoenix) are eligible to play professionally.  The others are D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, D Tyler Vanscourt and F Taylor Makin.
———
The Vancouver Giants have signed D Shaun Dosanjh. From Richmond, B.C., he was a third-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft.
———
With Joe Sakic, a product of the Swift Current Broncos, going into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Mark Spector of sportsnet.ca mentioned on Twitter (@SportsnetSpec) that he hasn’t seen a wrist shot as good as Sakic’s. . . . A fan tweeting as @AndersonEd27 responded: During the lock out I was playing pickup vs Joe. His wrist shot broke the webbing in my catching. . . . He dropped $300 in my locker after for a new one.#Class.
———
If you haven’t seen minor hockey’s latest black eye, it’s right here. Watch as a Vancouver minor hockey sticks out his right foot and trips an opposing player during the handshake line last weekend at the U of British Columbia. . . . The video and story are from CTV News.
———
Leonard Pitts Jr. of the Miami Herald toots his own profession’s horn right here. Hey, someone has to do it.
———
And while we’re on that subject, right here is a piece from the Sherman Report that carries this headline: Deford address to sports editors: New media age creating sociery of ‘optionally illiterate people.’ . . . That would be Frank Deford, and this is an interesting read.


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.

Wednesday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Eric Schneider (Tri-City, 1995-96) signed a two-year contract extension with Munich (Germany DEL). He had 21 goals and 35 assists in 52 games for Munich this season. . . . F Sean O'Connor (Moose Jaw, 1999-2002) signed a one-year contract extension with the Augsburger Panther (Germany DEL). He had six goals and six assists in 33 games for Augsburg this season.
———
Mike Williamson, the head coach of the Calgary Hitmen, has been named head coach of the Canadian team that will compete in the 2011 IIHF World U-18 championship in Dresden and Crimmitschau, Germany, , April 14-24.
Also on the coaching staff are assistants Mark Lamb, who is the GM/head coach of the Swift Current Broncos, and Dale Hawerchuk, the director of hockey operations and head coach of the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The goaltending coach will be former NHLer Ron Tugnutt, who works with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.
Canada opens the tournament against the Czech Republic on April 15 in Dresden. Also in Canada’s preliminary pool are Finland, Norway and Sweden.
———
A note from Rich Hammond at lakingsinsider.com points out that Ron Hextall, the Los Angeles Kings assistant GM, completed his first marathon on Sunday when he ran in the Los Angeles Marathon. According to Hammond, runners competed in “cold, dismal conditions.” . . . Hextall, who played goal for the Brandon Wheat Kings (1981-84), was joined by his wife Diane and Kings broadcaster Daryl Evans. The three ran together and finished in four hours 37 minutes 11 seconds. . . . Diane is the former Diane Ogibowski of Minnedosa, Man. In her day, she was one of Canada’s top female figure skaters.
———
The Red Deer Rebels made it official Wednesday. They are preparing a bid on the 2013 Memorial Cup tournament.
“It’s something that has been discussed for awhile,” Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ owner, told Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate. “Before even considering a bid, you have to feel confident that you will have a quality team at the time, a team that will be able to compete in such a prestigious event.
“I had lengthy discussions with Jesse (Rebels head coach/vice-president of hockey operations) and also with (director of scouting/player development) Randy Peterson, and they both felt very confident and comfortable that we’d be able to compete.”
The Lethbridge Hurricanes also have said they will bid on the host rights, while it is widely believed that the Saskatoon Blades also will be involved.
According to Meachem’s story, “If five or more cities bid for the event, the WHL will review preliminary bid information and shortlist the bids to a maximum of four by June 15.”
———
JUST NOTES: Deven Dubyk of the Medicine Hat Tigers is the CHL’s goaltender of the week. Dubyk put up back-to-back shutouts over the Calgary Hitmen last weekend as the Tigers rested starter Tyler Bunz. . . . Those were Dubyk’s first career shutouts. . . . The Tri-City Americans won’t have F Adam Hughesman (knee) back for the opening of their series with the Vancouver Giants. Hughesman, who has been out for a month, is back skating and might return for Game 3. . . . Vancouver F James Henry (knee) didn’t practise Wednesday. . . . The Giants also will be without D Joel Rogers, 20, who suffered a concussion on the weekend on a hit by Kelowna Rockets F Evan Bloodoff. Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun reports that Rogers “almost certainly won't play again this season.” That was Rogers’ second concussion in a two-month period. Bloodoff drew a four-game suspension.
———
Darren Zary of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has a story right here about the Rosetown Redwings, who are 31-0 as they chase a Hardy Cup (senior B) championship. And there are lots of names here that will be familiar to WHL fans.
———
Here, for your reading enjoyment, is a great little piece from the Washington Post on the time Liz Taylor took part in the coin flip prior to an NFL game between the Washinton Redskins and the host Dallas Cowboys.
Be prepared to chuckle when you read it. It’s right here.
———
The WHL held its draft lottery Wednesday morning and the Kamloops Blazers were the winners. They had just one of the 21 balls in the lottery, but their ball came up, allowing them to move up two spots to fourth.
Here then, courtesy of Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post, is the order of selection for the first round of the draft, which is scheduled for May 5 in Calgary:
1. Calgary Hitmen
2. Swift Current Broncos
3. Lethbridge Hurricanes (From Regina)
4. Kamloops Blazers
5. Lethbridge Hurricanes
6. Seattle Thunderbirds
7. Everett Silvertips
8. Prince Albert Raiders
9. Edmonton Oil Kings
10. Prince George Cougars
11. Brandon Wheat Kings
12. Chilliwack Bruins
13. Swift Current Broncos (From Kootenay/Vancouver)
14. Moose Jaw Warriors
15. Kelowna Rockets
16. Regina Pats (From Tri-City)
17. Kootenay Ice
18. Medicine Hat Tigers
19. Spokane Chiefs
20. Vancouver Giants (From Portland)
21. Red Deer Rebels
22. Brandon Wheat Kings (From Saskatoon)
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter