Red Deer drops goaltender . . . Blades, Giants create two homecomings. . . . Everett makes some moves

The Red Deer Rebels released G Trevor Martin, 20, on Wednesday. They had placed him on waivers and he was released after he cleared. . . . The Rebels acquired Martin from the Saskatoon Blades in

2014-15. He was 19-9-3 in 42 regular-season appearances with the Rebels. In three appearances this season, Martin was 0-1-1, 4.14, .888. . . . The move leaves the Rebels with two 20s — F Evan Polei and D Colton Bobyk. It also leaves them with two goaltenders — Lasse Pettersen, 19, who was acquired last week from the Everett Silvertips and has yet to make his Red Deer debut, and Riley Lamb, an 18-year-old freshman. . . . The Rebels also acquired G Tyson Verhelst, 19, from the Spokane Chiefs this month. But Verhelst, who suffered at least two concussions last season, is out long-term with an undisclosed upper-body injury. . . . With Pettersen expected to play for Denmark at the 2017 World Junior Championship, the Rebels are likely to bring in Byron Fancy to support Lamb when necessary. Fancy, who will turn 16 on Jan. 1, is from Claresholm, Alta., and is playing with the midget AAA Lethbridge Hurricanes. He was a second-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. . . . The Rebels had a pair of 20-year-old goaltenders on their roster earlier in the season. They dealt Rylan Toth to the Seattle Thunderbirds and now Martin is gone.

——

If this blog had sound effects, you would be listening to Hagood Hardy playing The Homecoming right now, thanks to a Wednesday afternoon deal made between the Saskatoon Blades and Vancouver Giants. . . . In a swap of 18-year-old forwards, the Blades dealt Josh Bruce to the Giants for Gage Ramsay. Bruce is from Surrey, B.C., while Ramsay is from Saskatoon. . . . Bruce has one goal in four games with the Blades this season. . . . Ramsay has one assist in six games with the Giants. He was a third-round pick by the Giants in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . The Blades are to meet the Giants in Vancouver tonight (Wednesday), but neither is expected to play for his new team.

——

According to Jesse Geleynse of the Everett Herald, F Brad Goethals has left the Everett Silvertips and

returned to his Manitoba home for “personal reasons.” The Silvertips acquired Goethals, 18, from the Brandon Wheat Kings on Oct. 11, in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2018 bantam draft. Goethals led the Manitoba Midget Hockey League in scoring last season, with 74 points, including 41 goals, in 43 games for the Eastman Selects. . . . The Silvertips have recalled D Gianni Fairbrother, 16, to fill a hole created by an undisclosed injury to F Orrin Centazzo. He apparently was injured during Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the host Spokane Chiefs. . . . Last season, Fairbrother was named the top defenceman in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League (Elite 15s) while with the Burnaby Winter Club. . . . Fairbrother started this season with the Silvertips but joined the Vancouver-North West Giants of the B.C. Midget Major Junior Hockey League after not getting into any WHL games. He was expected to join the Silvertips in time for tonight’s game in Kelowna against the Rockets.

——

Hockey Canada announced the roster for its Deutschland Cup team on Wednesday. That roster, which includes a handful of ex-WHLers, is right here. . . . It is great to see Dave King back with Hockey Canada as the head coach of its entry. His staff will include former Spokane Chiefs assistant coach Mike Pelino (1997-99). He’s in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk. . . . The tournament runs Nov. 4-6 in Augsburg Germany.

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.

Hauf penalty rescinded . . . Virtanen closer to returning . . . Rockets stay perfect

The WHL’s 20-year-old deadline zipped past on Wednesday afternoon.
At the deadline, each team has to declare a maximum of three 20-year-olds, with excess players being placed on waivers.
On Wednesday, none of the players on waivers was claimed so any 20-year-olds not on rosters now are free agents.
---
The Swift Current Broncos got down to the maximum three 20-year-olds by placing F Andrew Johnson and D Stephen Shmoorkoff on waivers. . . . That left the Broncos with F Carter Rigby, F Colby Cave and F Coda Gordon as their 1994-born players. . . . Johnson, from Saskatoon, got his walking papers on his 20th birthday. A second-round pick by Moose Jaw in the 2009 bantam draft, he also has played for the Warriors and Seattle Thunderbirds. In 262 regular-season games, he has 102 points, including 44 goals. . . . Shmoorkoff, from Edmonton, turned 20 on Sunday. He played the first 40 games of his WHL career with the Edmonton Oil Kings. In 95 career games, he had seven points, including one goal.
---
Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix tweeted Tuesday night that F Gage Ramsay had left the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers and was bound for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. . . . On Wednesday morning, the Giants issued a news release stating that Ramsay “has been added to the club’s active roster.” . . . Ramsay, from Saskatoon, was a third-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. He turned 16 on Wednesday. Last season, with the midget AAA Notre Dame Argos, Ramsay had 45 points, 20 of them goals, in 35 games. This season, he had three points in three games with the Blazers. According to Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province, Ramsay had left the Giants during their training camp in order to play midget hockey.
---
Earlier, it was mentioned here that the Saskatoon Blades had posted the 1,600th victory in franchise history and that it came in game No. 3,507. . . . Les Lazaruk, the Blades’ long-time (that just means he’s getting old!) radio voice, checks in with some clarifying numbers:
“It was the 1,600th win in WHL franchise history. But the 3,507 games includes 116 games in the SJHL from 1964-66. The Blades’ WHL record in 3,391 WHL games is 1,600-1,522-202-38-29. Throw in the two SJHL seasons and it's 1,640-1,591-209-38-29.
“Also, the 18-game losing streak is a franchise record. The previous ‘high’ was 17 straight in the 2004 part of the seven-win 2003-04 season. Another franchise record was 13 consecutive home-ice losses snapped on Saturday. The previous home win was Jan. 25 vs. Swift Current . . . 3-2 on a MacKenzie Johnston overtime goal.”
---
It’s good to see that Mark Ferner, the general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, is in mid-season form.
His club is 5-3-0-1 and preparing to meet the 8-1-0-0 Penticton Vees in Vernon on Friday and to visit the West Kelowna Warriors (5-4-0-0) on Saturday.
“We’ll be making sure our compete level is there for the weekend,” Ferner told Kevin Mitchell of the Vernon Morning Star. “There’s too much swinging away from the puck for my liking. Guys are sniffing offensively and they think if they get a point, it makes them a good hockey player. I told them . . . that winning is like deodorant; it just covers up the stink.”
---
Former WHL D Travis Hamonic (Moose Jaw, Brandon, 2006-10) is making his mark in the NHL with the New York Islanders. He also is making a lot of young friends along the way as he befriends grief-stricken children. Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post has more right here.
---
D Jason Fram, the captain of the Spokane Chiefs, addressed the crowd prior to a game against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday night. Fram, on behalf of his teammates, apologized for the inappropriate actions of a few teammates during the national anthem prior to Friday's game against visiting Seattle. . . . In that incident, players who were scratched from the lineup apparently made some inappropriate comments during the anthem. . . . Spokane general manager Tim Speltz addressed the issue prior to the Chiefs' 2-1 victory over the Thunderbirds in Kent, Wash., on Tuesday. Speltz appeared on Spokane radio, explained what actions the team has taken and issued a broad apology.
---
Elliotte Friedman has filed his latest version of 30 Thoughts and, as usual, it's a good read. Grab a cuppa and click right here. Fans of the Edmonton Oil Kings should be warned, though, that there is a mention here of F Curtis Lazar, who remains with the Ottawa Senators.
---




D Jared Hauf of the Seattle Thunderbirds was given a headshot major and game misconduct for a first-period hit on Spokane F Liam Stewart during a Tuesday night game against the visiting Chiefs. On Wednesday, the WHL rescinded that penalty, meaning there won’t be a suspension. . . . The Kootenay Ice are giving fans a chance to double up on their pleasure. Each of the Ice’s five Tuesday night home games will feature 2-for-1 walk-up tickets, hot dogs, small popcorn and fountain drinks. The promotion begins with an Oct. 28 game against the visiting Prince Albert Raiders. . . .

Former Everett Silvertips assistant/associate coach Jay Varady has been named head coach of the U.S. Junior Selects who will take part in the 2014 Junior A Challenge in Kindersley, Sask., Dec. 14-20. Varady, the director of hockey operations and head coach of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, was the video coach with the U.S. team that won the 2010 World Junior Championship. He spent eight seasons (2003-11) with the Silvertips. . . .

Jim Benning, the general manager of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, told TSN 1040 on Wednesday that F Jake Virtanen, who had off-season shoulder surgery, might be cleared to play for the Calgary Hitmen in 10 days to two weeks. Virtanen, a first-round selection by the Canucks in the 2014 NHL draft, arrived in Vancouver yesterday and will be meeting with team doctors. . . . Virtanen had 71 points, including 45 goals, in 71 games with the Hitmen last season. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft. . . .

In Edmonton on Wednesday night, the Oil Kings scored the game's first three goals and went on to a 3-2 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . F Edgars Kulda's second goal of the season, shorthanded at 3:30 of the second period, was the winner. F Brett Pollock scored Edmonton's first two goals. . . . F Austin Carroll scored for the Royals, running his goal-scoring streak to eight games. He has one goal in each game. . . .

In Swift Current, the Saskatoon Blades beat the Broncos 4-3, thanks to an eight-round shootout. . . . Broncos F Tanner LeSann forced OT with his second goal of the season at 16:59 of the third. . . . Saskatoon F Austin Adamson won it in the shootout. . . . The Blades were 3-for-4 on the PP as they won for the second straight game after opening with six losses. . . . F Jake DeBrusk had two goals, giving him seven, and an assist for the Broncos. . . .

In Moose Jaw, the Warriors opened up a 5-1 lead and hung on for a 5-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders, who have lost four in a row. . . . F Jack Rodewald and F Brayden Point each had a goal and an assist for the winners, who are 5-0-1 in their last six. . . .

In Spokane, the Chiefs outshot Seattle 43-19 en route to a 4-1 victory over the Thunderbirds. . . . It was the third straight meeting between the teams. The Thunderbirds won the opener in OT, with the Chiefs taking the second one in a shootout. . . . F Liam Stewart scored twice for the Chiefs, giving him five goals this season. He also had an assist. . . .

In Kamloops, the Blazers gave the Kelowna Rockets all they could handle before falling 6-4, a decision that left the visitors with a 9-0-0 record as they head for Spokane and a Friday night date with the Chiefs. . . . F Nick Merkley drew three assists for the Rockets, giving him a WHL-leading 15. . . . His patience with the puck is something to watch. . . . The Blazers (6-4-1) got two goals from the always reliable Cole Ully. . . . Kelowna was 3-for-5 on the PP, and there's a lesson there. The Rockets will grind you down 5-on-5 and beat you with the league's best PP unit that now is 19-for-53, for 35.8 per cent. . . . I realize that plus-minus is a flawed statistic in a lot of ways, but it must mean something that Kelowna D Cole Martin is plus-119 in 151 regular-season games over the past two-plus seasons. . . . The three stars in the building were Merkley, Ully and Kelowna F Tyrell Goulborne, in that order. I went with Merkley, Ully and Kelowna F Austin Glover, a big body who grinds and had two goals.
---

Can we all just accept the fact that regardless of the outcome of tonight's Rockets/Blazers game, all three stars will be from the Blazers?
— Regan Bartel (@Reganrant) October 15, 2014

Spokane GM issues apology . . . Seattle D-man gets seven games

F Anders Lövdahl (Calgary, Moose Jaw, Lethbridge, 1999-2001) was granted his release by Narvik (Norway, Division 1) for personal reasons. This season, he had two assists in two games. Last season, with Falu IF Falun (Sweden, Division 1), he had 63 points, including 50 assists, in 38 games. He was second in Division 1 in assists.
---

THE APOLOGY:

Players with the Spokane Chiefs are going to be getting up close and personal with members of the U.S. military over the next while.
Tim Speltz, the Chiefs' general manager, appeared on CBS Sports 1510 KGA, which carries the WHL team's games, on Tuesday night to apologize to fans for the actions of some players during the anthem prior to Friday's game against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds.
Players who were scratched from Spokane's lineup apparently made inappropriate comments during the national anthem. According to Chris Derrick of the Spokane Spokesman-Review: "The players reportedly yelled comments about the female singer during the anthem."
"We as an organization sure feel it's necessary for us to comment and address the inappropriate actions of our players," Speltz said. "We're working with young guys all the time. When we make mistakes, we have to be responsible and . . . accountable. We talk about that with our guys all the time.
"Our players who weren't dressed on Friday took a time that is a real special time . . . we were very inappropriate with comments."
Speltz described the comments as "immature and childish." He said the incident was "disrespectful" and "offended people who heard it."
"Our staff and organization were very disappointed, but we have to move forward," he continued.
Speltz apologized "on behalf of management, ownership and staff," adding that "we were wrong . . . no way we can justify it."
Before he was done, Speltz had apologized to "our fans and to current men and women in the armed forces, veterans . . . and the anthem singer."
Speltz has had a former member of the military meet with the Chiefs "to reinforce the magnitude of the situation . . . how offensive the actions were during the anthem."
Speltz said the former military member "talked with three players" and that the situation was addressed with the rest of the team. Speltz said the anthem and flag must be honoured and respected, no matter what country they represent.
The Chiefs, Speltz said, will perform "some service in the military community," adding that it will become "an ongoing practice with us."
Speltz pointed out that junior hockey players are young and there are times when "they just flat out don't think. That's probably the best way we can explain it, but that doesn't make it right.
"From our standpoint, we are truly sorry it happened. . . . We were a little misguided in our enthusiasm."
Tonight, the Chiefs will play at home, with Seattle again providing the opposition.
Before the game, Speltz said, the Chiefs "will send a message to our fans . . . it's a chance to apologize and take a step forward."
"We owned it," he said. "We're going to take the necessary steps to make sure everyone understands the consequences and magnitude of it and, at the same time, make sure that it never happens again."
---



The Seattle Thunderbirds will be without D Evan Wardley for seven games after he was suspended by the WHL on Tuesday. Wardley was disciplined for a headshot major and game misconduct he took for a hit on F Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night. . . . According to the WHL's reasoning, "The hit resulted in an injury to opponent. . . . The player is a repeat offender." . . . Wardley will be eligible to return on Nov. 1 against the visiting Vancouver Giants. He sat out his first game last night against the visiting Spokane Chiefs and won't play tonight in Spokane. He also will miss a three-game homestand (Prince George, Kamloops, Spokane), a game in Everett and a visit by the Edmonton Oil Kings). . . . Interestingly, Wardley won't miss any games against Portland. . . . Petan was on Portland's bus on Tuesday when it left the Oregon city and headed for Moose Jaw where the Winterhawks open an East Division tour against the Warriors on Friday.
---
The Swift Current Broncos have claimed F Kristian Ferletak, 18, off waivers from the Victoria Royals. Ferletak, a freshman from Slovakia, was dropped by the Royals after they claimed D Marsel Ibragimov, a 17-year-old Russian freshman who had been placed on waivers by the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton released Ibragimov in order to keep veteran forwards Mads Eller and Edgars Kulda. . . . The Broncos were carrying just one import player, that being Swedish F Andreas Schumacher, 18. . . . Swift Current had been hoping to get D Julius Honka, 18, back from the NHL's Dallas Stars. However, Honka, who was selected by the Stars in the first round of the NHL's 2014 draft, was assigned to the AHL's Texas Stars. Honka was eligible for the AHL because his rights had been loaned to the Broncos by his Finnish club team; most import players are released to junior teams. . . . Ferletak may get into action with the Broncos as soon as tonight. They are at home to the Saskatoon Blades and have two forwards on the shelf -- Jay Merkley (ill) and Cole Johnson (undisclosed injury).
---
The Swift Current Broncos, while adding Slovakian F Kristian Ferletak to their roster on Tuesday, will be making more moves today. As of Tuesday night, they still had five 20-year-olds on their roster and that's two over the limit. The 20-year-old deadline arrives this afternoon. . . . The Broncos acquired F Carter Rigby from the Kelowna Rockets on the weekend and also have been carrying F Colby Cave, F Coda Gordon, F Andrew Johnson and D Stephen Shmoorkoff.
---
The Regina Pats got down to three 20-year-olds on Tuesday by waiving F Logan McVeigh. That leaves Regina with F Braden Christoffer, F Patrick D'Amico and F Pavel Padakin as its three 1994-born players. . . . McVeigh was pointless in two games with the Pats, although a knee injury kept him from playing since the season's second game. . . . The Pats had acquired McVeigh,who is from Kenaston, Sask., last season from the Medicine Hat Tigers. He had four goals and five assists in 26 games with the Pats. In 267 career regular-season games, McVeigh has 116 points, including 45 goals. McVeigh was a second-round pick by the Kamloops Blazes in the 2009 bantam draft. He also played with the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Regina now is carrying 24 players, including three goaltenders and 15 forwards.
---

F Brandon Vuic of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads is facing an impaired driving charge from an incident that occurred on Oct. 7. As well, the Halifax Chronicle Herald is reporting that Vuic, 19, is beig "investigated for alleged drug possession in connection with the same incident." That story is right here.
---




The Vancouver Giants hope to have D Arvin Atwal back in their lineup on Friday when they play host to the Kamloops Blazers. Atwal missed two weekend losses to the Cougars in Prince George with a shoulder injury. . . . Friday's game marks the regular-season return to Vancouver of former Giants head coach Don Hay. He spent 10 seasons as the Giants' head coach before leaving to return to Kamloops over the summer. Hay had one season left on his contract with the Giants, who didn't ask for compensation when he returned to the Blazers. . . .

F Jaedon Descheneau of the Kootenay Ice goes into Friday's game against the visiting Regina Pats with 199 career regular-season points. He also has played 199 regular-season games. . . . F Tim Bozon is expected to play his first game for the Ice on Friday since being stricken with Neisseria meningitis late last season. Bozon, 20, was returned to the Ice by the Montreal Canadiens this week. . . . Taylor Rocca of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman chatted with Bozon on Tuesday, and filed this story right here. . . .

The Kelowna Rockets put their 8-0-0 record on the line tonight when they meet the Blazers (6-3-1) in Kamloops. The Rockets are expected to get back F Dillon Dube and D Joe Gatenby, both of whom have undisclosed injuries, this week. However, D Mitchell Wheaton and F James Wishnowski will remain out, also with undisclosed injuries. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix tweeted Tuesday night that "Gage Ramsay has left the Sask. Blazers. Unconfirmed, but appears the '98-born F will join Vancouver (WHL). He was picked 50th in 2013 draft." The Blazers play in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Ramsay had two goals and an assist in three games with the Blazers. . . .

In Red Deer, F Tyler Soy scored at 1:09 of OT to give the Victoria Royals a 6-5 vicory over the Rebels on Tuesday night. The Royals trailed 4-0 in the first period and forced OT on F Axel Blomqvist's goal with 56.6 seconds left in the third period. . . . F Austin Carroll scored his seventh goal of the season for Victoria. He has one goal in each of his club's last seven games. . . .

In Kent, Wash., F Adam Helewka, playing his first game since Sept. 27, scored the only goal of the shootout as the Spokane Chiefs beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-2. . . . It was the third straight OT game for Seattle, with the Chiefs needing OT for the third time in four games. . . . This was the second of three straight games between these teams. The Thunderbirds won 2-1 in OT in Spokane on Friday. They'll meet again tonight in Spokane. . . . The Chiefs had F Devon McAndrews in their lineup after acquiring him from the Tri-City Americans on Monday. As well, Helewka and F Jacob Cardiff returned after being out with undisclosed injuries. . . . Seattle, already without D Shea Theodore (injured) and D Evan Wardley (suspended), was down to three defencemen late in the first period after losing Ethan Bear and Turner Ottenbreit to first-period injuries and Jared Hauf to a headshot major and game misconduct. . . . Bear left after being cut up in a scrap with F Riley Whittingham. . . . Ottenbreit was looking woozy when he left after taking a check from Cardiff. . . . Hauf was tossed for a hit on F Liam Stewart. . . . D Scott Allan, acquired Monday from the Medicine Hat Tigers, was in Seattle's lineup. . . . The Thunderbirds moved F Justin Hickman back to defence, with Keegan Kolesar moving up alongside Mathew Barzal and Ryan Gropp. . . . Barzal scored his fourth goal of the season, this one shorthanded, giving him a four-game goal streak. . . . There were 20 NHL scouts on hand for this one.
---

Find it humorous that people who got there start from me continue to take pathetic runs at me. Oh well im sure they will "Flame" out in time
— Brent Parker (@Patguy65) October 15, 2014