Giants' Benson has shoulder injury . . . Thunderbirds get goaltender from Rebels . . . Broncos win, go to 5-1-1

F Erik Christensen (Kamloops, Brandon, 1999-2004) has signed a one-year extension with HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SHL). Last season, he had nine goals and 15 assists in 42 games.

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F Tyler Benson of the Vancouver Giants just can’t seem to escape the injury bug. Benson, the first overall selection in the 2013 bantam draft, is in Penticton, B.C., with the Edmonton Oilers prospects team for the annual YoungStars Classic. But he didn’t play in the Oilers’ tournament opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night thanks to a shoulder injury incurred in a WHL exhibition game against the visiting Victoria Royals on Sunday. Benson sat out the last eight minutes of that game, something the Giants said was precautionary. . . . Benson got into 30 games last season and put up 28 points, including nine goals. But he had early-season surgery to remove a cyst from his lower back area and missed a lot of time. . . . An Edmonton native, he was selected by the Oilers in the second round of the NHL’s 2016 draft. . . . In 2014-15, as a freshman, he recorded 45 points, 14 of them goals, in 62 games.

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The Seattle Thunderbirds acquired G Rylan Toth, 20, from the Red Deer Rebels on Friday for a third-round selection in the 2017 bantam draft. . . . Toth, who was placed on the Rebels’ protected list in December 2012, had a regular-season record of 54-33-10 in 100 appearances with Red Deer. The Saskatoon native is 4-10 in the playoffs. . . . Last season, Toth was 26-15-1, 2.67, .912 and put up five shutouts. In the playoffs, he went 3-6, 3.15, .905. He also played in four Memorial Cup games, going 2-2, 2.99, .901. . . . Toth’s arrival in Seattle gives the Thunderbirds three 20-year-olds, the others being F Scott Eansor and F Cavin Leth. . . . The Rebels also have the maximum three 20-year-olds — G Trevor Martin, D Colton Bobyk and F Evan Polei. . . .

In Seattle, Toth joins Logan Flodell, 19, Ryan Gilchrist, 18, and Carl Stankowski, 16, as goaltenders still on the roster. . . . The Rebels, meanwhile, are left with veteran Trevor Martin, 20, and freshmen Riley Lamb, 18, and Dawson Weatherill, 17, competing for their goaltending spots. . . . 

This isn’t the first time Seattle has gone to Red Deer for a goaltender. On Aug. 5, 2015, the Thunderbirds got Taz Burman from the Rebels F Lane Pederson and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft. Burman was 7-4-0, 3.20, .877 in 16 appearances with Seattle before being dealt to the Swift Current Broncos with F Jamal Watson and a conditional second-round draft pick for G Landon Bow. With the Broncos, Burman was 8-10-3, 3.39, .903. . . . Burman, 19, is 1-0-0, 2.19, .921 in two appearances in this exhibition season.

@EdmOilKings we have 8 tickets for sale for your home opener! Message me! Section 209

— Marie Toth (@marie_toth) September 17, 2016

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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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FRIDAY’S GAMES:

In Brandon, D Ivan Provorov and F Ty Lewis had shootout goals to give the Wheat Kings a 3-2 victory over the Regina Pats. . . . F Connor Gutenberg scored twice for Brandon (2-2-0), his second goal, and third of the preseason, forging a 2-2 tie at 15:41 of the third period. That one came via the PP; his first goal was a shorthanded effort. . . . D Chase Harrison and F Dawson Leedahl each had a goal and an assist for the Pats (3-3-1). . . . F Nolan Patrick, who is recovering from sports hernia surgery in July, wasn’t in Brandon’s lineup. . . . 

In Kelowna, F Brendan Semchuk had a goal and two assists to lead the Vancouver Giants to a 5-4 victory over the Rockets. . . . Semchuk was playing his first game since Jan. 2 when his freshman season was ended by an injury. . . . D Dylan Plouffe also had a goal and two assists for Vancouver (1-3-1), while D Marcus Kichton had two assists. F James Malm and D Matt Barberis each had a goal and an assist. . . . Kelowna (3-2-0) got a goal and two assists from F Kole Lind. . . . The Rockets dressed only 14 skaters, four under the maximum. They have eight players at NHL camps, with F Rod Southam injured and D Nolan Foote ill. . . . The Giants, meanwhile, dressed 15 skaters, including five defencemen. . . . 

In Crowsnest Pass, Alta., F Tristen Nielsen scored two goals and added an assist to help the Calgary Hitmen to a 6-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . F Lucas Cullen also scored twice for Calgary (3-1-1), with D Vladislav Yeryomenko scoring his fourth goal and and adding an assist. . . . F Colton Kroeker scored his fifth goal for Lethbridge (2-4-0). . . . 

In Ralston, Alta., the Medicine Hat Tigers blanked the Red Deer Rebels, 4-0. . . . F Steven Owre scored three times for the Tigers (3-2-0), with F Mason Shaw drawing three assists. . . . The Rebels (3-2-0) were outshot 32-14. . . . G Duncan McGovern recorded the shutout. . . .

In Prince George, F Yan Khomenko scored twice to help the Cougars to a 4-0 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Khomenko, a Russian, had five goals and three assists in 46 games as a freshman with the Everett Silvertips last season. The Cougars picked him up last week. . . . F Colby McAuley added a goal and an assist for the Cougars (3-3-0), while D Max Martin had two assists. . . . Goaltenders Nick McBride (19 saves) and Tavin Grant (9) shared the shutout. . . . The Blazers (2-3-0) have nine players at NHL camps; the Cougars have eight. . . . 

In Kent, Wash., F Alexander True scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 3-2 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . F Sami Moilanen scored twice for Seattle (4-2-0). . . . D Lucas Skrumeda had a goal and an assist for Everett (2-3-1), which forced OT on F Riley Sutter’s goal at 8:26 of the third period. . . . True, who is from Denmark, scored the shootout winner against Everett G Lasse Petersen, who also is from Denmark. . . .  

In Swift Current, the Broncos scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 4-2. . . . F Tyler Steenbergen pulled the Broncos into a 2-2 tie at 17:38 of the first period. The home boys won it with two third-period goals, from F Calvin Spencer and D Artyom Minulin, the latter into an empty net. . . . The Broncos (5-1-1), who were 3-for-5 on the PP, got two assists from F Aleksi Heponiemi, giving him 15 points, including 10 assists, in six games. . . . F Tim Vanstone scored his third goal for the Raiders (3-2-0). . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Kailer Yamamoto scored 41 seconds into OT to give the Spokane Chiefs a 3-2 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Chiefs (3-3-0) led this one 2-0 in the first period, only to have the Americans (3-3-1) tie it on a goal by F Vladislav Lukin at 15:29 of the second. . . . D Evan Fiala had two assists for Spokane.

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Gordie Howe patch @theSJHL teams are wearing. Cc: @sportslogosnet pic.twitter.com/DujU6etEWS

— Matt Kelly (@mattjkelly2) September 17, 2016

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Lipsbergs wins it for Seattle

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Erik Christensen (Kamloops, Brandon, 1999-2004) has signed a two-year extension with HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SHL). This season, Christensen had two points, one of them a goal, in 12 games with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL). He was released on Oct. 17 and signed with HV71 on Oct. 22. There, he had 27 points, including 13 goals, in 38 games.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Red Deer (8)
Regina (2) vs. Prince Albert (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
(NOTE: Prince Albert, Red Deer and Brandon are tied for eighth, each with 71 points. Prince Albert has four games remaining; the other two have three games left.)
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Western Conference
Kelowna (1) vs. Tri-City (8)
Portland (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
Victoria (3) vs. Everett (6)
Seattle (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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MONDAY’s WHL GAMES (all times local):
No games scheduled.
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TUESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Saskatoon at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Lethbridge at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Kootenay at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Prince Albert at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Tri-City at Portland, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Spokane at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
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SUNDAY’S GAME:
In Kent, Wash., F Roberts Lipsbergs scored in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . F Cain Franson, Vancouver’s first shooter, scored the first goal of the shootout. . . . D Shea Theodore, Seattle’s third shooter, tied it. . . . The Thunderbirds had taken a 3-1 lead into the third period. . . . Vancouver D Mason Geertsen scoed his fourth goal at 10:01, via the PP, and Franson tied it, with his 30th goal, just five seconds later. . . . Theodore had three assists for Seattle. . . . F Alexander Delnov scored his 28th goal for Seattle. . . . Vancouver G Payton Lee stopped 43 shots through OT, 11 more than Seattle’s Danny Mumaugh. . . . The Thunderbirds (40-22-6), who snapped a three-game losing skid, are fourth in the Western Conference, four points ahead of the Spokane Chiefs. Each team has four games remaining. . . . The Giants (31-27-11) lead the WHL in loser points. They are locked into seventh in the conference and almost certainly will face the Portland Winterhawks in a first-round playoff series.
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From Lee-Gaye Hicketts (@lhicketts), the mother of Victoria Royals D Joe Hicketts: “@HeleneBozon from our family in Kamloops we are praying for Tim. Hockey Mom's from all teams are thinking of you all.”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Dominik Pacovsky (Kootenay, 2008-10) signed for the rest of the season with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL). It's a two-way deal with him scheduled to join Lev today. This season with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had five points, including three goals, in 13 games. Last season with Sparta, he had 26 points, 13 of them goals, in 37 games. . . .
F Alex Leavitt (Swift Current, Everett, 2003-05) signed a tryout contract with Aalborg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). The tryout runs until Nov. 1. He was released earlier by Oskarshamn (Sweden, Allsvenskan) after picking up three points, one of them a goal, in 10 games. . . .
F Erik Christensen (Kamloops, Brandon, 1999-2004) signed for the rest of this season with HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SHL) after being released by Lev Prague on Thursday. He is to arrive in Jönköping on Thursday. With Lev this season, he had a goal and an assist in 12 games.
F Kris Beech (Calgary, 1996-2001) has signed a tryout deal with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL). He played last season with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga), getting eight points, including two goals, in 21 games, and AIK Stockholm (Sweden, Elitserien), putting up five points, three of them goals, in 23 games. . . .
D Tomas Fojtik (Portland, 2003-04) has been released by the Slough Jets (England, Premier). He had three assists in 10 games. . . .
F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) has been released by the Tohoku Free Blades Hachinohe (Japan, Asian HL). He had seven points, including two goals, in 10 games. . . . Lukacevic has since signed with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors.
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1. The Kootenay Ice was looking for a defenceman who could play in its top four; the Kamloops Blazers were looking for draft picks.
So general managers Jeff Chynoweth (Ice) and Craig Bonner (Blazers) got together and swapped four players and three bantam draft picks on Tuesday.
The Ice got F Tim Bozon and D Landon Cross, both 19, with the Blazers landing D Matt Thomas, 18, F Collin Shirley, 17, and the three picks -- first- and fifth-round selections in 2015 and a third-rounder in 2014.
While Bozon, a third-round pick by the Montreal Canadians in the 2012 NHL draft who has signed with the Habs, is the biggest name in the deal, the swap's genesis came on the weekend when Ice general manager Jeff Chynoweth inquired about the availability of Cross.
Chynoweth told me via text yesterday afternoon that he made the first call, inquiring "about Cross."
"It just grew from there," Chynoweth said. "We thought why not ask about Bozon, thinking he would look very good playing with (Sam) Reinhart and (Jaedon) Descheneau."
As well, Chynoweth said, "Cross gives us much needed depth on our back end."
Bozon is coming off 71- and 91-point seasons and has seven points in 13 games this season. He is an interesting study because he was born in St. Louis, while his father, Philippe, was playing with the Blues, calls Switzerland home and plays internationally for France.
Bozon had great chemistry for most of the last two seasons with forwards Colin Smith and JC Lipon, both of whom have signed NHL deals and are in the AHL. The Blazers don't have anyone who has been able to fit that well with Bozon, who has played like it. With the Ice, Bozon will get a chance to revive his role as a triggerman, this time alongside Reinhart and Descheneau.
Cross, from Brandon, was a third-round pick by Kamloops in the 2009 bantam draft. In his third full WHL season, he has 24 points in 134 regular-season games. He has turned into a solid stay-at-home defender who should enjoy playing for Ice head coach Ryan McGill.
Shirley, from Saskatoon, had 23 points, including nine goals, in 60 games last season. This season, he has three points, two of them goals, in 11 games. He was the 17th overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft.
Thomas, who was listed by the Ice prior to last season, is from Calgary. He had two assists in 66 games last season and has one in 11 outings this season.
Here's a paragraph from the Blazers' news release, which sums up their reason for making this trade: "In acquiring a first-round pick in 2015 and a third-round pick in 2014, the Blazers recoup draft picks that were traded to acquire defenceman Joel Edmundson last season and (forward) Tyson Ness this season."
The Ice is off to a 6-5-2 start, and has scored 37 goals. Reinhart and Descheneau have accounted for 16 of those, and have combined for 42 points. Yes, Chynoweth and McGill will be eager to get a look at Bozon alongside those two.
The Blazers are 4-9-0 and in a definite rebuilding/reloading mode, although they will continue to pursue a Western Conference playoff spot.
The Ice next plays Friday against the visiting Portland Winterhawks, while the Blazers are at home to the Everett Silvertips on Saturday.
The Ice is scheduled to visit Kamloops on Dec. 6.
Meanwhile, the Ice has dropped D Clint Filbrandt, 18, from its roster. He is expected to end up with a junior A team. Filbrandt was acquired from the Tri-City Americans on May 14 for a fifth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft.
Some Twittering on the Kamloops-Kootenay swap:
From Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge): "I'm surprised Blazers are declaring themselves as sellers so early though. I didn't think they'd drop as much from last year as they have."
From Trevor Crawley (@tcrawls) of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman: "#FunFact: Tim Bozon is the 4th @WHLKootenayICE player whose father played in the NHL (Elynuik, Reinhart & Dirk).)
From Dan Russell (@DanRussellST): "Taking page out of brother Scott's book? Last yr D Musil signified rebuild mode in Oct for Van -Craig's T Bozon deal today says same in Kam?"
From Regan Bartel (@Reganrant), the radio voice of the Kelowna Rockets: "I won't bet against Chynoweth. I mean really, have the @WHLKootenayICE ever sucked? No! Plus the little engine that could has 3 WHL titles."
From Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix: "Spoke with Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth about the trade. Said talks started with Landon Cross and expanded from there."

2. How did Hamilton Burger keep his job for so long?

3. When the Kamloops Blazers played the Silvertips in Everett on Saturday night, it marked a return for Mark Ferner. Fired as the Silvertips' head coach last season, he now is the Blazers' associate coach. Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald checks in with Ferner right here.

4. As I stroll the streets of downtown Vancouver, I notice that most pedestrians have only one free hand, the other carrying either a phone or a cup of coffee. (Of course, some of the more highly skilled pedastrians fill both hands.) Hilary Stout of The New York Times has more right here on our love affair with coffee. This is interesting stuff.

5. Over at the Monday Morning Quarterback website, they are spending a lot of this week with the focus on concussions in football. You should check it out right here because it's important stuff.

6. Steve Miller, an assistant coach with the Denver University Pioneers for more than 19 seasons, is flying like an eagle (sorry!) to a USHL expansion franchise that will begin play in Madison, Wis., next season. He will be the general manager and head coach in Madison. Miller starts his new job on Jan. 1.

7. If you enjoy good hockey photos, check out this spot right here. You may even be interested in purchasing a photo or two. Yes, Chris Mast is involved.

8. F Zach Jones scored with 1:05 left in the third period Tuesday night, giving the visiting Calgary Hitmen a 2-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 38 shots. Attendance was 4,674. . . . In Lethbridge, the Portland Winterhawks scored three first-period goals and went on to a 3-2 victory over the Hurricanes. Portland, the WHL's defending champion, has won five straight games. . . . In Kennewick, Wash., F Phil Tot scored 34 seconds into the game and added an empty-netter as the Tri-City Americans dumped the Swift Current Broncos, 4-1. The Broncos went 0-5 on their U.S. Division swing and were outscored 24-10 in the process.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Sebastian Svendsen (Vancouver, Edmonton, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, 2009-12) signed a two-year contract with Aalborg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). Svendsen started the season with Moose Jaw, getting two goals and two assists in 11 games. He returned to Denmark in December, where he played four games with Hvidovre (Denmark, U20 Liga), getting four goals and two assists in four games, and 12 games with Copenhagen Hockey, (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga), scoring three goals and four assists to go along with 49 PIMs. . . .
F Erik Christensen (Kamloops, Brandon, 1999-2004) signed a one-year contract with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL). He had one goal and four assists in 20 games with the New York Rangers, two goals and one assist in five games with Connecticut Whale (AHL), and six goals and one assist in 29 games with Minnesota Wild this season.
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JUST NOTES:
Rob Morphy of Kamloops has been named director of scouting/head scout by the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks. It’s a reunion of sorts for Morphy and Troy Mick, the Silverbacks’ new GM and head coach. The two worked together with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers and won the 1999 Royal Bank Cup. . . . Morphy also is a veteran WHL scout, most recently having worked with the Chilliwack Bruins and Tri-City Americans. . . .
The Tri-City Americans have signed D Tyler Fraser, who was a third-round pick, 55th overall, in the 2012 bantam draft. Fraser, from Surrey, B.C., played for the bantam AAA Cloverdale Colts; in fact, he was the team captain. He also was partnered with Parker Wotherspoon, the Americans’ first-round selection in the 2012 draft. . . .
Hockey Now has named F Mathew Barzal of the Burnaby Winter Club and F Jansen Harkins of the North Shore Winter Club as co-winners of its B.C. minor hockey player-of-the-year award. . . . Barzal was selected first overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft. . . . Harkins went second overall to the Prince George Cougars. . . . There’s more right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Steve Johnson has signed on as an assistant coach with the U of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. He will work alongside head coach Dean Blais. Johnson and Blais both are former head coaches of the USHL’s Fargo Force. In fact, Johnson replaced Blais for the 2009-10 season. For the last two seasons, Johnson has been an assistant coach at St. Cloud State. . . . Back in the day, Johnson spent four seasons as a player at the U of North Dakota; Blais was an assistant coach with the Fighting Sioux at the time. . . .
Gary Graham is the new head coach of the Southern Professional league’s Pensacola Ice Flyers. Graham is coming off four seasons as an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Komets, who played in the IHL and the Central league and now are making the move to the ECHL. Graham worked under veteran coach Al Sims with the Komets.
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The 2012 Hockey Coaches Conference is all set for July 20-21 at the Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre. And it promises to be the best one yet, with presenters like Ken Hitchcock, Mike Keenan, Don Hay, Glen Hanlon, Brent Peterson, Milan Dragicevic and Troy Ward.
There’s more on the conference right here. In fact, if you’re a coach — or an aspiring coach — you should have this site bookmarked.

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