Defending champs near elimination . . . Hitmen can't solve Steel . . . Hart blanks Royals

F Thomas Raffl (Kelowna, Swift Current, 2005-06) has signed a one-year extension with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, he had 26 goals and 24 assists in 43 games. . . .

D Mike Card (Kelowna, 2002-06) has signed a one-year extension with Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, DEL2). In 52 games this season, he had five goals and 22 assists. . . .

F Clarke Breitkreuz (Regina, Prince George, 2008-10) has signed a one-year extension with Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, DEL2). This season, in 52 games, he had 16 goals and 12 assists. . . .

F Brent Raedeke (Edmonton, Brandon, 2007-10) has signed a three-year extension with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL). He had 16 goals and 17 assists in 52 games this season. . . .

F Joel Broda (Tri-City, Moose Jaw, Calgary, 2004-10) has signed a one-year extension with Linz (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, in 53 games, he had 28 goals and 20 assists. . . .

F Ondrej Vesely (Portland, Tri-City, 1996-98) has signed a one-year extension with Zlin (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had four goals and nine assists in 45 games this season, while serving as an alternate captain. . . .

F Kevin Sundher (Chilliwack/Victoria, Brandon, 2007-12) has signed a one-year extension with Olomouc (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had one goal and one assist in 10 games there this season. He started the season with the Reading Royals (ECHL), putting up five goals and 12 assists in 32 games. He signed with Olomouc on Feb. 2. . . .

F Thomas Raffl (Kelowna, Swift Current, 2005-06) has signed a one-year extension with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, in 53 games, he had 26 goals and 24 assists. . . .

D Layne Viveiros (Portland, 2011-15) has signed a one-year extension with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had nine goals and 13 assists in 54 games this season.

———

The OHL came down on the Windsor Spitfires for comments and actions following their Sunday loss to the host London Knights.

You may have read or seen clips of Rocky Thompson, Windsor’s head coach, ripping into the referees and also accusing the Knights of diving.

From an OHL release that was issued Tuesday:

“It is the position of the league that the post-game media comments made by . . . Rocky Thompson were most inappropriate and detrimental to the welfare of the league.  As a result of his comments, and the Spitfires’ Twitter post including such comments which is not consistent with the league’s social media policy, the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club is fined $7,500.

“In addition, Windsor Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel has been sanctioned by the league for certain actions including violating league policy concerning interaction with on-ice officials before, during, and after the game. The league reserves finalizing any further disciplinary action against Mr. Rychel and the Spitfires pending a hearing to be held on Friday, March 31.”

Last night, the host Spitfires posted a 3-1 victory over the Knights to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series. Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday in Windsor, with Game 5 in London on Friday.

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

If interested, you also are able to follow me on Twitter at @gdrinnan.

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TUESDAY GAMES:

The Warrior signal is on in downtown Moose Jaw pic.twitter.com/C1jBUiPk4p

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) March 29, 2017

At Swift Current, F Thomas Foster scored twice to help the Moose Jaw Warriors  to a 4-3 victory over the

THOMAS FOSTER

Broncos. . . . Foster celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring his second and third goals of the series. . . . The Warriors now hold a 2-1 lead, with Game 4 in Swift Current tonight. . . . D Colby Sissons gave the home team a 1-0 lead at 6:49 of the first period. . . . The Warriors took a 2-1 lead on second-period goals by F Brayden Burke (2), at 2:16, and Foster, at 11:18. . . . The Broncos pulled even when F Glenn Gawdin (2) scored at 8:15. . . . F Jayden Halbgewachs (1) got the Warriors back into the lead at 15:34 of the third period, and Foster upped the lead to 4-2 at 18:34. . . . The Warriors got back to within a goal when F Ryley Lindgren scored, on a PP, at 19:31. . . . D Josh Brook and D Matt Sozanski each had two assists for Moose Jaw. . . . F Aleksi Heponiemi had two assists for the Broncos, with Gawdin adding one to his goal. . . . Moose Jaw G Zach Sawchenko stopped 32 shots, six fewer than Swift Current’s Jordan Papirny. . . . The Broncos were 1-3 on the PP; the Warriors were 0-2. . . . Announced attendance: 2,890.

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Perry's snow report: Dauphin edition.
Annoyed. Very, very annoyed. pic.twitter.com/gu3SDiCM1R

— Perry Bergson (@PerryBergson) March 29, 2017

At Dauphin, Man., the Medicine Hat Tigers scored four third-period goals and beat the Brandon Wheat

DAVID QUENNEVILLE

Kings, 6-2. . . . The Tigers lead the series, 3-0, and get their first opportunity to eliminate the WHL’s defending champions tonight in Dauphin’s Credit Union Place. . . . The Wheat Kings had to take their first-round games on the road because the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair has taken over the Keystone Centre complex. . . . The Tigers got the only goal of the first period when F Steve Owre scored at 7:13. . . . Brandon F Ben McCartney, a 15-year-old from Macdonald, Man., tied it with his first WHL goal at 3:41 of the second period. He was a second-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. . . . Medicine Hat got that one back at 5:42, with F John Dahlstrom scoring his third goal in as many games. . . . Brandon F Reid Duke (2) pulled his guys even, on a PP, at 6:50. . . . The Tigers went back out front at 4:12 of the third period, with F Mark Rassell getting his fourth goal of the series, on a PP. . . . F Chad Butcher added insurance at 5:49, and F Ryan Jevne and D David Quenneville, into an empty net, closed it out. . . . Quenneville also drew three assists, with Owre and Butcher earning one each. . . . G Michael Bullion stopped 27 shots in his third straight playoff complete game for the Tigers. . . . Brandon got 41 saves from G Logan Thompson. . . . Brandon was 1-3 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 1-6. . . . The Wheat Kings were without injured F Nolan Patrick for a third straight game. . . . Medicine Hat scratched injured D Brad Forrest. . . . Announced attendance: 1,912. The arena has 1,763 seats.

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Pats HC John Paddock won't be happy with shots given up in game 3..I don't think the officials will grade out well either..#WHLPlayoffs

— Warren Woods (@WoodsyCJME) March 29, 2017

At Calgary, F Sam Steel, the WHL scoring champion, torched the Hitmen for three goals, leading the

SAM STEEL

Regina Pats to a 5-2 victory. . . . Regina, with a 15-5 edge in goals, leads the series, 3-0, and can end it Thursday night in Calgary. . . . Steel has nine points, four of them goals, in the first three games of this series. He had a goal and four assists in Regina’s 5-1 home-ice victory in Game 2 on Saturday. . . . Steel now leads the playoff scoring race with nine points, one more than D David Quenneville of the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Steel gave Regina a 2-0 with first-period goals at 1:02 and 9:31. . . . F Wyatt Sloboshan increased the lead to 3-0, on a PP, at 19:57. . . . F Dawson Leedahl scored his third goal of the series, on a PP, at 16:59 of the second period. . . . Steel completed his hat trick with a shorthanded goal, at 4:16 of the third period. . . . The Hitmen got third-period goals from F Matteo Gennaro (1), on a PP, and F Luke Coleman (1). . . . The Pats got two assists from D Connor Hobbs, with Leedahl adding one to his goal. . . . Regina G Tyler Brown had a solid night, with 41 saves and an assist on what turned out to be the winning goal. . . . The Hitmen got 30 saves from G Kyle Dumba. . . . Calgary held a 16-11 edge in second-period shots, and it was 17-10 in the third. . . . Regina was 2-3 on the PP; Calgary was 1-6. . . . The Pats had F Jeff de Wit back after a one-game absence with an undisclosed injury. . . . Announced attendance: 6,736.

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I continually tell myself that @blazerhockey HC Don Hay and I have a great relationship. This photo may suggest otherwise. Listen @AM1150. pic.twitter.com/WkhamBYhST

— Regan Bartel (@Reganrant) March 29, 2017

At Kamloops, the Blazers broke a 1-1 tie with two goals 28 seconds apart in the second period as they

JERMAINE LOEWEN

skated to a 4-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Kelowna holds a 2-1 edge in the series, with Game 4 in Kamloops tonight. . . . There were five WHL playoff games on Tuesday night and Kamloops was the only home team to post a victory. . . . F Lane Bauer opened the scoring for Kamloops at 8:06 of the first period. . . . The Rockets tied it when F Kole Lind scored his first WHL playoff goal at 16:28. He was playing in his 26th career post-season game. . . . The Blazers took advantage of a shoddy Kelowna change to take a 2-1 lead at 12:10, the goal coming from F Jermaine Loewen as he finished off a 3-on-2 break. Loewen, a fan favourite in Kamloops, was the most effective player in this one as he wreaked havoc with his physical play and constantly got under the skin of the visitors. . . . Just 28 seconds later, Blazers F Rudolfs Balcers split the defensive pairing of Cal Foote and Gordie Ballhorn, who put on a hook that resulted in a penalty shot. Balcers beat G Michael Herringer to the glove side for a 3-1 lead. It was Balcers’ first playoff goal. . . . Bauer’s second goal, at 18:07, provided a 4-1 edge. . . . Balcers also added an assist to his goal. . . . The last time Kamloops had a penalty shot goal in a playoff game was on April 14, 2012, when F Tim Bozon scored in a 7-2 victory over the host Portland Winterhawks. . . . G Connor Ingram stopped 37 shots in a solid night for Kamloops. . . . Herringer was good, too, with 34 saves. . . . Kelowna was 0-2 on the PP; Kamloops was 0-5. . . . Things got heated late in the third period, with the two coaching staffs exchanging words. . . . Kamloops F Luc Smith was injured in the second-last game of the regular season and has yet to play in this series. . . . Announced attendance: 3,878. . . . Prior to the game, Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president, hockey, presented WHL Milestone Awards to Blazers trainer Colin (Toledo) Robinson and Kamloops head coach Don Hay. Robinson worked his 1,500th game as a WHL trainer earlier this season, while Hay recorded his 700th victory as a WHL head coach.

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At Victoria, G Carter Hart stopped 25 shots to help the Everett Silvertips to a 2-0 victory over the Royals. .

CARTER HART

. . Everett took a 2-1 lead in the series with Game 4 scheduled for tonight in Victoria. . . . Hart has two career shutouts, one this season and one a year ago. . . . The Silvertips scored both their goals via the PP. . . . F Patrick Bajkov counted his third goal of the series 22 seconds into the second period. . . . F Eetu Tuulola (1) added the insurance goal at 17:37 of the second. . . . F Dominic Zwerger drew two assists. . . . The Royals got 19 stops from G Griffen Outhouse. . . . Everett was 2-6 on the PP; Victoria was 0-3. . . . The Royals scratched F Jack Walker, who had two goals and two assists through the first two games. They remain without D Scott Walford. . . . Everett continues to be without F Riley Sutter and F Devon Skoleski, both with undisclosed injuries. . . . Announced attendance: 4,790.

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WEDNESDAY GAMES (all times local):

Lethbridge at Red Deer, 7 p.m. (Series tied, 1-1)

Seattle vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m. (Seattle leads, 2-0)

Prince George at Portland, 7 p.m. (Series tied, 1-1)

Moose Jaw at Swift Current, 7 p.m. (Moose Jaw leads, 2-1)

Medicine Hat vs. Brandon, at Dauphin, Man., 7:30 p.m. (Medicine Hat leads, 3-0)

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m. (Kelowna leads, 2-1)

Everett at Victoria, 7:05 p.m. (Everett leads, 2-1)

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Cougars roll into break . . . Silvertips right there, too . . . Steel leading scoring derby

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAKING NOTE

You’re back home after a long day of hacks and whacks at the shopping mall. Right here, to help you chill, are Elvis Presley and Martina McBride with . . . Blue Christmas.

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If you haven’t seen it, the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, as they always do, have had some fun with a Christmas classic. Their take on the movie Elf is right here.

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By my count, the WHL has 28 players involved in Christmas tournaments.

One of those, D Vladislav Yeryomenko of the Calgary Hitmen, completed his involvement on Saturday as he helped Belarus to the IIHF Under-20 Division 1 Group A championship in Bremerhaven, Germany, thus earning promotion to the 2018 World Junior Championship in Buffalo.

Belarus beat Austria, 4-0, in its final game. Belarus finished with four victories and an OT loss, its 13 points leaving it two clear of Germany.

Yeryomenko finished with a goal and two assists in five games.

With Yeryomenko and Belarus finished, there are 27 other WHL players who are either in a selection camp or will play in the World Junior Championship when it opens in Montreal and Toronto on Boxing Day.

Here’s a look at who’s where, at least for the moment:

Brandon (1): D Kale Clague (Canada).

Calgary (2): D Jake Bean (Canada), D Vladislav Yeryomenko (Belarus).

Edmonton (0).

Everett (2): G Carter Hart (Canada), D Noah Juulsen (Canada).

Kamloops (3): F Rudolfs Balcers (Latvia), F G Connor Ingram (Canada), D Ondrej Vala (Czech Republic).

Kelowna (3): F Dillon Dube (Canada), F Calvin Thurkauf (Switzerland), F Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic).

Kootenay (0),

Lethbridge (0).

Medicine Hat (2): F John Dahlstrom (Sweden), D Kristians Rubins (Latvia).

Moose Jaw (0).

Portland (2): F Joachim Blichfeld (Denmark), D Caleb Jones (U.S.).

Prince Albert (2): D Vojtech Budik (Czech Republic), F Simon Stransky (Czech Republic).

Prince George (0).

Red Deer (3): F Adam Musil (Czech Republic), G Lasse Petersen (Denmark), F Michael Spacek (Czech Republic).

Regina (2): F Filip Ahl (Sweden), D Sergey Zborovskiy (Russia).

Saskatoon (1): D Libor Hajek (Czech Republic).

Seattle (2): F Mathew Barzal (Canada), F Alexander True (Denmark).

Spokane (1): F Pavel Kousal (Czech Republic).

Swift Current (0).

Tri-City (1): D Juuso Valimaki (Finland).

Vancouver (1): F Radovan Bondra (Slovakia).

Victoria (0).

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SATURDAY’S GAMES:

.@WHLHitmen iced an all-American line of Mark Kastelic, Matt Dorsey & Murphy Stratton, which is something I can't recall seeing before.

— Laurence Heinen (@lheinen21) December 18, 2016

At Calgary, the Kelowna Rockets erased a 2-1 deficit with five straight goals as they beat the Hitmen, 6-2.

JAKE KRYSKI

. . . The Rockets took a 1-0 lead when F Jake Kryski scored at 8:56 of the first period. . . . Calgary went up 2-1 on goals from F Mark Kastelic (4), at 12:32, and F Jakob Stukel (9), on a PP, at 11:29 of the second. . . . Kryski tied it on a PP, at 13:16. Kryski, who was acquired from the Kamloops Blazers, has 13 goals in 30 games; he finished last season with 12 goals in 67 games. . . . Kelowna F Kyle Topping put his guys out front, on another PP, at 15:02, and D Riley Stadel (4) provided some insurance, on yet another PP, at 19:12. . . . Topping got his second goal of the game and eighth of the season in the third period, while F Nick Merkley scored No. 9. . . . Rockets F Kole Lind ran his point streak to 13 games with three assists, while D Lucas Johansen and F Erik Gardiner each had two. . . . G Brodan Salmond stopped 17 shots for Kelowna. . . . Calgary got 19 saves from Cody Porter. . . . Kelowna (21-12-2) has points in three straight (2-0-1). . . . The Hitmen slipped to 12-16-2. . . . The Rockets are 4-1-1 on a seven-game road trip that ends in Edmonton on Sunday afternoon. . . . D Micheal Zipp, Calgary’s captain, was scratched with an undisclosed injury. . . . Announced attendance: 6,144.

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The banner is here: pic.twitter.com/BQ7wNjNu73

— Jesse Geleynse (@JesseGeleynse) December 18, 2016

At Everett, F Devon Skoleski broke a 2-2 tie at 17:10 of the third period and the Silvertips went on to beat the Portland Winterhawks, 4-2. . . . He’s got four goals. . . . F Connor Dewar added insurance with his

DEVON SKOLESKI

fourth goal, at 18:12. . . . F Cody Glass scored both Portland goals, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead at 2:53 of the second period and pulling them into a 2-2 tie at 16:39 of the third period. Glass has 19 goals. . . . Everett F Eetu Tuulola’s eighth goal, at 19:28 of the second period, tied the score 1-1 and was the Teddy Bear Goal. . . . F Matt Fonteyne’s eighth goal gave Everett a 2-1 led at 12:22 of the third period. . . . D Kevin Davis had two assists for Everett, while Tuulola added one. . . . Davis has three goals and 21 assists in 32 games. His career highs are three goals, in each of the previous two seasons, and 22 assists in 2014-15. . . . Everett G Mario Petit stopped 25 shots, while Portland’s Cole Kehler turned aside 41. . . . Portland was 0-1 on the PP; Everett was 0-5. . . . Portland had a 10-1 edge in shots in the game’s first 10 minutes; Everett had a 13-1 edge in the second 10 minutes. . . . The Silvertips (24-4-5) have won three in a row. They go into the break in second place in the overall standings, one point behind the Prince George Cougars and with three games in hand. . . . The Winterhawks (19-16-1) have lost two straight. . . . Announced attendance: 5,733.

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Great road trip for @dferg_98 for the Blazers. 2.26 GAA .931 save % 4-1-0-1.  1st time in WHL career he's started more than 2 games in a row

— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) December 18, 2016

At Cranbrook, B.C., F Quinn Benjafield and F Jermaine Loewen each had two goals and an assist as the

JERMAINE LOEWEN

Kamloops Blazers overwhelmed the Kootenay Ice, 8-1. . . . The Blazers went 4-1-1 on a six-game Central Division swing in which they played six games in eight nights. . . . The Blazers took control with the only three goals of the first period, as Loewen, who has three goals, scored at 11:35, F Deven Sideroff got his 22nd, on a PP, at 13:02, and D Dawson Davidson got No. 3 at 18:28. . . . F Ryley Appelt made his WHL debut with the Blazers and he started on their big line, alongside Garrett Pilon and Deven Sideroff, with Rudolfs Balcers having left to join the Latvian national junior team. An Edmonton native, Appelt was a fourth-round pick by the Blazers in the 2015 bantam draft. He plays for the Norther Alberta X-Treme prep team in the CSSHL. . . . Appelt made it 4-0 with his first WHL goal, at 3:53 of the second. . . . F Vince Loschiavo scored for the Ice, getting his 12th goal at 4:56. He takes a seven-game goal streak into a Sunday afternoon game against the Hitmen in Calgary. . . . Benjafield, who has nine goals, scored at 6:10 and 14:32 of the second period. . . . Pilon also scored for Kamloops, giving him six goals. . . . D Joe Gatenby and F Nick Chyzowski each had two assists for Kamloops, while Sideroff had one. . . . G Dylan Ferguson blocked 19 shots for Kamloops. He went the distance in all six games on the road trip. . . . Ice starter Jakob Walter surrendered five goals on 18 shots in 26:10. Payton Lee came on in relief to stop 13 of 16 shots in 33:50. . . . Kamloops was 2-4 on the PP; Kootenay was 0-3. . . . The Blades go into the break at 21-13-2. . . . The Ice (6-21-8) has lost five in a row (0-4-1). . . . Announced attendance: 1,731.

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At Medicine Hat, F Max Gerlach scored twice to help the Tigers to a 5-3 victory over the Red Deer

MAX GERLACH

Rebels. . . . The teams were tied 2-2 going into the third period when F Matt Bradley put the Tigers ahead with No. 15, at 12:49. . . . Gerlach, who has 23 goals, added insurance at 15:03, on a PP. . . . Gerlach had opened the scoring at 6:19 of the second period and D Dave Quenneville (19) made it 2-0, on a PP, at 16:20. . . . The Rebels tied it as F Dawson Martin got his fifth goal, at 18:15 of the second, and F Evan Polei scored his 15th just 37 seconds later. . . . The Tigers’ final goal, shorthanded, came from F Mark Rassell, his 17th, at 18:23 of the third. . . . F Akash Bains (6), who also had an assist, scored for Red Deer at 18:48. . . . F James Hamblin and F Mason Shaw each had two assists for the Tigers, while Rassell had one. . . . G Nick Schneider turned back 25 shots for Medicine Hat, while Riley Lamb stopped 38 for the Rebels. . . . The Tigers were 2-6 on the PP; the Rebels were 1-3. . . . Medicine Hat (25-10-1) has won four in a row. . . . Red Deer (16-14-6) has lost three straight (0-2-1). . . . Announced attendance: 3,286.

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At Prince Albert, D Kade Jensen broke a 3-3 tie at 16:22 of the third period as the Swift Current Broncos

KADE JENSEN

got past the Raiders, 4-3. . . . The Raiders took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals from D Loch Morrison (2), at 3:20, and D Max Martin (5), on a PP, at 12:16. . . . It didn’t last, though, as Swift Current tied it on goals from F Kole Gable, at 15:06, and F Aleksi Heponiemi (10), at 18:18. . . . Gable’s fourth goal gave the Broncos a 3-2 lead 4:05 of the second period. . . . The Raiders tied it on F Austin Glover’s 12th goal at 15:15 of the third period. . . . Jensen, who also had an assist, won it with his third goal, with Heponiemi getting the only assist. . . . Broncos G Travis Child allowed two goals on four shots in 12:16. Taz Burman came on to get the victory, stopping 16 of 17 shots in 47:44. . . . The Raiders got 31 saves from Ian Scott. . . . Prince Albert was 1-1 on the PP; Swift Current was 0-3. . . . The Broncos (18-10-7) are 3-0-1 in their last four games. They are 5-0-0 against Prince Albert this season. . . . The Raiders (7-26-2) have lost three in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 1,977.

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At Regina, F Adam Brooks scored three goals and added two assists, and F Sam Steel had a goal and

ADAM BROOKS

three assists, as the Pats bounced the Moose Jaw Warriors, 7-3. . . . One night earlier, in Moose Jaw, the Warriors had beaten the Pats, 5-4. . . . Last night, the Pats took a 2-0 lead, then fell behind 3-2, before scoring the game’s last five goals, all in the third period. . . . F Dawson Leedahl (14) got Regina started 55 seconds into the game, with Brooks making it 2-0 at 10:13. . . . D Matt Sozanski (1) got the Warriors on the scoreboard, on a  PP, at 11:33. Sozanksi, who returned Friday after missing two weeks, has one goal and 20 assists in 26 games with Moose Jaw, after putting up three goals and 18 assists in 62 games with the Spokane Chiefs last season. . . . Moose Jaw tied it at 12:10 when F Jayden Halbgewachs, who had a 10-game goal streak end on Friday, got his WHL-leading 29th goal. . . . F Brett Howden put the visitors in front, 3-2, with his 15th goal, on a PP, at 5:35 of the second period. . . . Regina D Connor Hobbs (14) tied it on a PP at 2:23 of the third period, with Brooks making it 4-3 at 12:46. . . . Brooks, who has 17 goals, completed the hat trick while shorthanded at 15:23. . . . Steel got his 23rd goal, on a PP, at 17:13, and F Rykr Cole scored his fifth goal at 18:54. . . . Steel now leads the WHL scoring race, with 54 points, one more than Brooks and F Chad Butcher and F Mason Shaw, both of the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Halbgewachs is two points off the pace. . . . Regina got two assists from F Austin Wagner, with Hobbs and Leedahl each getting one. . . . Sozanski added two assists to his goal for Moose Jaw, with Halbgewachs and Howden getting one each. . . . Regina G Tyler Brown stopped 28 shots, while Moose Jaw’s Zach Sawchenko was considerably busier, with 47 saves. . . . Regina was 2-4 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 2-5. . . . Regina (22-3-6) had lost its previous two games (0-1-1). The Pats are third in the overall standings, four points behind the Prince George Cougars but with five games in hand. . . . Moose Jaw (20-8-5) had won its last two games, but now is five points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Pats, who hold two games in hand. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484.

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Make the final: @bdnwheatkings 3, @BladesHockey 2. #WheatKings held 29-24 edge in shots. #WHL. pic.twitter.com/Gz7Uq12w5R

— Darren Steinke (@StanksSports) December 18, 2016

At Saskatoon, F Connor Gutenberg snapped a 2-2 tie at 18:54 of the third period as the Brandon Wheat

CONNOR GUTENBERG

Kings edged the Blades, 3-2. . . . F Meyer Nell scored his first goal, shorthanded, to give Brandon a 1-0 lead at 3:42 of the first period. . . . Saskatoon tied it at 2:13 of the second period when F Braylon Shmyr (14) scored the Teddy Bear Goal on a PP. . . . The Wheat Kings went back in front, at 8:54, as F Tyler Coulter got his 11th goal. . . . F Jesse Shynkaruk (11) pulled the Blades back into a tie, at 3:40 of the third period. . . . Brandon F Tanner Kaspick earned two assists. He returned in Brandon’s 3-2 shootout victory over the visiting Blades on Friday night after being out since Dec. 3. . . . Shmyr and Shynkaruk added an assist each for Saskatoon. . . . Here is Les Lazaruk, the Blades’ radio voice: “ All three Wheaties' goals came off face-offs in the (Saskatoon) zone . . . with Brandon centres pushing the puck past the (Blades’) faceoff taker, stepping around him and setting up a team-mate in the slot for fairly easy scores.” . . . Brandon got 22 stops from G Jordan Papirny, while Logan Flodell stopped 26 for Saskatoon. . . . F Tyler Lees of the Blades was given a penalty shot at 5:19 of the second period, with the game tied 1-1, but wasn’t able to beat Papirny. Lees, a fifth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft, was playing his third game this season with the Blades, but his first at home. Lees, 16, plays for his hometown midget AAA team, the Regina Pat Canadians. . . . The Blades were 1-7 on the PP; the Wheat Kings were 0-4. . . . The Wheat Kings (15-14-4) have won two in a row. . . . The Blades (13-19-4) had points in their previous four games (2-0-2). . . . Brandon holds down the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot and now is four points ahead of Saskatoon. . . . Announced attendance: 4,319.

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At Kent, Wash., G Rylan Toth stopped 26 shots to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-0 victory over the

RYLAN TOTH

Tri-City Americans. . . . That was Toth’s first shutout of the season and the seventh of his career. He had five last season and one in 2014-15, all with the Red Deer Rebels. . . . D Jarrett Tyszka scored his third goal, at 6:06 of the second period, on a PP, and that was all Toth would need on this night. . . . He preserved the blank job with 15 third-period saves. . . . Seattle got a shorthanded goal from F Sami Moilanen, his 11th, at 5:58 of the third period. . . . D Brandon Schuldaus finished it with his second goal, an empty-netter, at 16:58 of the third. . . . D Ethan Bear had two assists. . . . Seattle’s PP was 0-16 before Tyszka’s goal. . . . The Americans got 22 saves from G Rylan Parenteau. . . . The Thunderbirds were 1-2 on the PP; the Americans were 0-5. . . . Seattle (17-13-3) had lost its previous three games. . . . Tri-City (19-15-3) has lost four in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 3,601.

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Coach Nachbaur is ready. And in the holiday spirit too! pic.twitter.com/hE1umRqSLy

— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) December 18, 2016

At Spokane, G Ty Edmonds stopped 30 shots to lead the Prince George Cougars to a 2-1 victory over

TY EDMONDS

the Chiefs. . . . Edmonds, 20, made his 188th appearance with the Cougars, tying the franchise record held by Scott Myers. Edmonds also went over 5,000 career saves during this game. . . . The Cougars took a 2-0 lead on goals from D Tate Olson, his third, on a PP, at 5:07 of the first period, and F Aaron Boyd, his fourth, at 14:11 of the third. . . . F Keanu Yamamoto scored his 14th goal for the Chiefs, at 16:41 of the third. That ran his point streak to 14, the longest active run in the WHL at the moment. He’s got 21 points, including nine goals, in those 14 games. . . . Spokane G Dawson Weatherill turned aside 26 shots. . . . The Cougars were 1-2 on the PP; the Chiefs were 0-3. . . . The Cougars (26-8-2) go into the break having won five in a row. They will have a happy holiday as they assured themselves of staying in first place overall. . . . The Chiefs are 14-13-6. . . . The Cougars were without F Jesse Gabrielle (undisclosed injury) for a second straight game. . . . F Wyatt Sloboshan and D Nolan Reid, who were acquired earlier in the week from the Saskatoon Blades, made their Spokane debuts. . . . Announced attendance: 6,094.

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At Victoria, F Ty Ronning’s PP goal, at 4:46 of OT, gave the Vancouver Giants a 5-4 victory over the

TY RONNING

Royals. . . . Ronning has 11 goals this season. . . . The Giants took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals from F Jack Flaman (10), at 9:56, and F Tyler Benson, on a PP, at 13:34. . . . (Flaman is from Vibank, Sask. Might he be related to ex-NHLer Fernie Flaman, who was from Dysart, Sask.?) . . . Victoria F Eric Flochuk’s second goal, at 15:57, was the Teddy Bear Goal. . . . Because that goal came in the last five minutes of a period, the teams were sent to their dressing rooms while the ice was cleared. . . . When play resumed, Vancouver D Jeff Rayman got his first goal, at 17:53, for a 3-1 lead. . . . The Royals roared back to take the lead on goals from D Chaz Reddekopp (5), on a PP, 54 seconds into the second period; F Matt Phillips (24), at 19:55; and F Jack Walker (17), at 8:44. Walker scored from behind the icing line as he banked the puck in off G Ryan Kubic. . . . The Giants forced OT when F Thomas Foster scored his eighth goal, at 18:42 of the third period. . . . One night after he drew three assists in a 6-4 victory over the visiting Portland Winterhawks, Benson had a goal and three assists. He drew assists on the Giants’ last two goals. This season, he has 10 goals and 24 assists in 28 games. Last season, one that was ruined by health and injury concerns, he finished with nine goals and 19 assists in 30 games. . . . Ronning and Foster each added an assist. . . . Victoria D Ryan Gagnon had two assists, with Walker and Phillips adding one each. . . . Gagnon played in his 284th regular-season game, setting a Royals’ career record. He had shared the record with F Logan Fisher (2012-16). The Chilliwack/Victoria record belongs to F Brandon Magee, who played in 318 games with the Bruins (2010-15). Gagnon could finish this season having played in 320 games. . . . Kubic finished with 38 saves. . . . Victoria starter Griffen Outhouse gave up four goals on 17 shots in 22:39. Dylan Myskiw stopped 24 of 25 shots in 42:07. . . . Vancouver was 2-5 on the PP; Victoria was 1-4. . . . The Giants (13-18-3) have won two in a row. . . . The Royals (17-15-4) have lost two straight. . . . Announced attendance: 6,129.

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SUNDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Kootenay at Calgary, 2 p.m.

Kelowna at Edmonton, 4 p.m.

——

DEC. 19-26:

No Games Scheduled.

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TEDDY BEAR, TOQUE AND MITTEN TOSS GAMES:

Dec. 17: F Braylon Shmyr, 2:13 2nd period, Brandon 3 at Saskatoon 2.

Dec. 17: F Eetu Tuulola, 19:29 2nd period, Portland 2 at Everett 4.

Dec. 17: F Eric Florchuk, 15:57 1st period, Vancouver 5 at Victoria 4 (OT).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dec. 10: F Josh Curtis, 6:02 2nd period, Seattle 4 at Prince George 6.

Dec. 10: F Tyler Sandhu, 0:36 1st period, Victoria 3 at Tri-City 4.

Dec. 16: F Linden McCorrister, 17:47 1st period, Saskatoon 2 at Brandon 3 (SO).

Dec. 16: F James Malm, 3:34 1st period, Portland 4 vs. Vancouver 6, at Langley, B.C.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:


F Tomas Netik (Medicine Hat, 2000-01) has signed with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL) for the rest of season. He played with this club last season.
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The Portland Winterhawks have scored a WHL-leading 156 goals this season. Not only is that the most in the WHL . . . it’s the most by 39 (Seattle and Swift Current each has scored 117 times). . . . Portland has four skaters among the WHL’s top 10 point-getters — Nic Petan has 66 points, one off the WHL lead that is held by Spokane Chiefs F Mitch Holmberg; F Oliver Bjorkstrand, 56; F Taylor Leier, 43; and, F Brendan Leipsic, 42. . . . Portland is about to lose five players to international tournaments. Leier, Petan and D Derrick Pouliot will attend the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp. Bjorkstrand (Denmark) and D Layne Viveiros (Austria) are scheduled to play in the World Junior Championship (Division 1, Group A) in Sanok, Poland. That tournament begins on Sunday. . . . And here's a teaser for you: I have no idea what might be announced today, but I have been told there is "big news coming out of Portland" today. So don't say you weren't warned!
———
F Jermaine Loewen, 15, practised with the Kamloops Blazers in Brandon on Monday. Loewen, a third-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft, may play against the Wheat Kings tonight. He has eight points, including five goals, in 21 games with the Interlake Lightning, a Manitoba midget AAA club. . . . The Blazers have last a franchise record-tying 12 straight games as they open a six-game East Division swing in Brandon tonight. . . . The Wheat Kings will have F Jayce Hawryluk back in their lineup tonight. He has served a two-game suspension for a hit on Regina Pats D Kyle Burroughs, who ended up concussed.
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Former WHLer Ned Lukacevic (Vancouver, Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) has been suspended by the ECHL’s Reading Royals. From a Reading news release: “Lukacevic, an eighth year pro who was born in Podgorica, Montenegro, was claimed by the Royals from ECHL waivers on October 28. He played nine games with Reading and scored two goals. In 136 career games with the Royals, Lukacevic recorded 69 points (30g-39a). . . . It is the understanding of the team that Lukacevic intends to pursue an opportunity to play hockey in Europe.”
———
From Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post: “Regina has called up two players from the junior A ranks to fill holes created by injuries, bringing in F Dane Schioler, 17, from the MJHL’s Portage Terriers and D Nathyn Mortlock, 17, a recent list pickup from the AJHL’s Grand Prairie Storm.”
———
Ch-ching! Ch-ching!! Just in time for Christmas, the WHL has fined the Seattle Thunderbirds and Spokane Chiefs for a “multiple fight situation” during their game in Seattle on Friday night.”
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F Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants will complete a three-game suspension tonight as his mates play host to the Victoria Royals, the third straight game in which these teams will have met. Houck drew a three-game suspension for a hit from behind that has left Kootenay Ice F Ryan Chynoweth with a concussion.
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The junior B Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League have gone through a coaching change. Darren Naylor left the team after Thursday’s practice, citing family reasons. He was in his first season with the team that is eight points out of a playoff spot. . . . Sheldon Nohr has stepped in as interim head coach. . . . Alex Cooper of the Revelstoke Times Review has more right here.
———
The BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies unveiled a new ownership group at a news conference on Monday. Interestingly, as Mario Annicchiarico of the Victoria Times Colonist notes right here, general manager and head coach Bill Bestwick wasn’t in attendance.
———

Geoff Baker spent a number of years covering the Seattle Mariners for the Seattle Times. He recently left sports for investigative reporting. Right here, Baker takes a lengthy and intriguing look at goings-on in the Mariners’ front office. Brew a pot of coffee and settle in for an outstanding read.
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Wes Welker, a receiver with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, suffered his second concussion in four weeks on Sunday. . . . Sports writer Jeff Pearlman penned a letter to Welker, asking the NFLer to retire. That is right here.
———
Just in case you weren’t aware, TSN is televising every game of basketball that involves Andrew Wiggins.

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Ully ready to be go-to guy with Blazers

Cole Ully of the Dallas Stars moves the puck up ice during a game against
the Detroit Red Wings in Traverse City, Mich.
(Photo by Wes Heatherington)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports EditorLike Facebook, Twitter and Barack Obama, Cole Ully’s time is now.
Ully, 18, is preparing for his third WHL season with the Kamloops Blazers and he has, indeed, shown great improvement during his time here.
NHL scouts noticed, too, because UIly, who is from Calgary, was selected by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round of the NHL’s 2013 draft. As a result, he already has had two tastes of the pro game, one at a development camp in Frisco, Texas, in July, and last week with the Dallas team at the annual prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich.
“The guys are bigger there and that makes a difference,” the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Ully said after practice at Interior Savings Centre on Wednesday. “The skill margin between guys is a lot smaller . . . everyone can play so it comes down to compete more.”
Ully’s two appearances with the Stars also has shown him one other thing.
“It’s a lot different when guys are playing for jobs and their (livelihood) and some have families . . . it’s different than playing for yourself,” he said.
As Ully added, he has learned “what it takes to be there.”
Just like he has learned over time what it takes to play in the WHL.
A second-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft, Ully had 20 points in 55 games as a freshman (2011-12) and then more than doubled that to 50 points, including 22 goals, in 62 games last season.
Having had that taste of the high life, he’s now looking for more.
“Expectations are high but I’m happy with where I am now and looking to really improve on last season,” he said. “Expectations from others and myself are a lot higher.”
Blazers head coach Dave Hunchak agreed.
“He’s an offensive player and we are going to expect him to produce this season,” Hunchak said. “He has tremendous skill and great vision. He’s a drafted guy and we expect him to produce.
“It’s his time now.”
Having played in the shadows for much of the last two seasons, Ully can expect more playing time in all situations this season.
“His role is going to be expanded even more now,” Hunchak said. “He’s a guy we’re going to rely on to put the puck in the net for us.
“He’ll also play both special teams. He’s an intelligent player . . . he can play on the power play, he can kill penalties.”
All of which is music to Ully’s ears.
“It feels good,” he said. “It’s what every player wants . . . the trust from your teammates and coaches that you can do it and that you’re a guy they need every night.
“It’s different for me this season, being a top guy.”
JUST NOTES: Kamloops (1-3) concludes its exhibition season in Prince George against the Cougars (4-0) on Saturday. . . . The Blazers open the regular season against the visiting Kelowna Rockets on Sept. 20. . . . F Matt Needham was on the ice yesterday but didn’t take part in battle drills as the Blazers practised at Interior Savings Centre. He’s day-to-day with what Hunchak called a “burner” but should play in the season-opener. . . . The WHL has suspended Blazers F Devin Oakes for three games after he took a checking-to-the-head penalty in Friday’s 4-0 loss to the visiting Rockets. He will be eligible to return for the second game of the regular season. . . .
F Jermaine Loewen, a third-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft, has signed with the Blazers. Loewen, from Arborg, Man., had 55 points in 31 games with the bantam AAA Interlake Lightning last season. . . . G Liam McLeod of Kamloops, who was released by the Blazers on Aug. 28, has seized he backup role with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers. McLeod, 17, is backing up Jayson Argue, 20, who was acquired prior to last season from the MJHL’s Swan Valley Stampeders where he was a finalist for the CJHL player-of-the-year award in 2011-12. . . .
Prince George has acquired D Peter Kosterman, 20, from the Calgary Hitmen for a fourth-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft and a sixth-rounder in 2015. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Kosterman, who is from Calgary, was the 19th overall selection in the 2008 bantam draft. He has played 234 regular-season games with the Hitmen. He his heading into his fifth WHL season.

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Blazers' Blue-White game on tap tonight

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The Kamloops Blazers are getting down to the nitty gritty.
And things will get nittier and grittier tonight as the WHL team holds its annual Blue-White intrasquad game, 7 p.m., at the Interior Savings Centre.
The Blazers have 39 players left in training camp. Most of them took part in a controlled scrimmage on Tuesday night, the exceptions being five veterans — forwards Tim Bozon, JC Lipon, Matt Needham and Colin Smith, along with goaltender Taran Kozun.
All hands are expected to be on deck tonight, however.
“The two games will tell the tale for some of the players,” head coach Dave Hunchak said. “It allows us to give a real good evaluation to those kids who are on the bubble.”
While the microscope is on everyone, it is especially on Cole Kehler of Altona, Man., Liam McLeod of Kamloops and Cameron Pateman of Regina, who are competing to back up starting goaltender Taran Kozun.
Each played two periods last night — Teams Black and Orange played 5-on-5 in the first, 4-on-4 in the second and alternated special teams in the third — and it is quite possible that Kehler, who doesn’t turn 16 until Dec. 17, has the edge on the two 17-year-olds going into tonight’s intrasquad game.
However, the highlight of training camp, at least to now, may well be the team’s 1998-born players.
As Hunchak said: “The ’98 group, the forwards we have, that’s a special group of kids.”
That group is headed up by two first-round selections from the 2013 bantam draft — Quinn Benjafield of North Vancouver, whom the Blazers took with the 19th overall pick, and Jake Kryski of Vancouver, the 11th overall pick who was acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders in the Cole Cheveldave exchange — and Jermaine Loewen of Arborg,  Man., who was a third-round selection.
“Benjafield is a strong power forward,” Hunchak said. “Kryski has a lot of skill and plays a great 200-foot game. And just look at Jermaine Lowewne and the package he brings. He’s going to be something special down the road, too.”
Hunchak also pointed to Garrett Pilon, another 1998-born forward. From Saskatoon, the son of former NHL defenceman Rich Pilon was taken in the seventh round.
“Pilon looks like he’s playing pond hockey all the time,” Hunchak said, “and I mean that in a good way. He always looks like he’s enjoying the game and having fun.”
After last night’s scrimmage, Pilon was assigned to the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts.
It’s not known what the forward lines will look like tonight, but Loewen, Kryski and Benjafield, left to right, were on the ice together a fair amount last night. It’s fair to say that they created some magic.
JUST NOTES: Team Orange beat Team Black 8-7 in a shootout last night. Nick Chyzowski had two goals, plus the shootout winner. Kryski and Joe Kornelsen also scored twice for Orange, while Nathan Looysen and Chase Souto each scored twice for Black. . . . The Blazers also assigned F Spencer Bast of Macklin, Sask., to the midget AAA Battlefords Stars and F Josh Stang, who also is from Macklin, to the midget AAA Swift Current Legionnaires. . . . The WHL’s exhibition season began last night with the host Swift Current Broncos beating the Moose Jaw Warriors, 5-4. . . . The Blazers meet the Rockets in Kelowna on Friday and then are at home to the Vancouver Giants on Sunday, 6 p.m. . . . D Connor Hamonic, 17, of Winnipeg, a seventh-round pick by the Blazers in 2011, was released by the Red Deer Rebels yesterday. . . .
F Max James, 16, of Kamloops has signed a WHL deal with the Tri-City Americans, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2012 bantam draft. James had 12 points in 40 games with the major midget Thompson Blazers last season. . . . Pat Mangold, who played for the WHL Blazers in 1984-85, was killed Saturday evening on Okanagan Lake near Kelowna when the personal watercraft on which he was riding struck a log boom near Traders Cove. Mangold, 47, was a native of Kelowna, who also played in the WHL with the Calgary Wranglers. With the Blazers, he had 20 points, nine of them goals, in 53 games.

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From Jamaica with gloves and sticks

Jermaine Loewen can hardly wait to start his WHL career.
(Jonathan Kozub/Point Shot Photography)

 By SCOTT BILLECK

WINNIPEG — Stories of hockey success usually don’t start in the Caribbean country of Jamaica. In fact, only one player from Jamaica, Graeme Townshend, has ever played in the NHL.
Jermaine Loewen of Arborg, Man., by way of Jamaica, hopes to change the total to two.
Loewen’s life began in Jamaica when Stan and Tara Loewen, his parents, were there doing short-term volunteer work at a children’s home.
“That is where we met him,” Stan says. “We didn’t go down there with the intent to adopt, but we met this little boy there, three years old at the time, and we said we’ve got to give him a family.  And so we started the process of adopting.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
Jermaine first strapped on a pair of skates a year after he came to Canada. He started playing organized hockey at the age of 10.
“This upcoming fall will be five years since he first started playing hockey,” Stan says. “When he started playing organized hockey he picked up on it fairly quickly. He was obviously rough around the edges, including all the rules. He didn’t understand the lines on the ice and icings and offsides, but he was a very athletic kid.”
These days, Loewen is a highly touted prospect. In fact, the Kamloops Blazers selected him with the 48th pick of the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft last month.
“We really like his size, for a big guy he is a very good skater,” says Matt Recchi, the Blazers’ director of player personnel. “His work ethic is top of the charts. He is a complete player with how hard he works offensively and defensively.”
At just 15 years of age, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound left winger possesses vision and a knack for scoring goals, as well as the grittiness to be effective in the WHL. This season, Loewen recorded 55 points, including 31 goals, in 31 games with the bantam AAA Interlake Lightning.
“He has very good skill set,” Recchi says. “He knows how to score goals. He knows how to make plays. He is the captain of the Interlake Lightning and he leads by example every night. We envision him as a player who could push to make our roster at the age of 16.
“In how far he has come, the fact he has played hockey for only four or five years, our projection on him is he is going to continue to improve and be a very good player for us in a few years.”
Jermaine’s parents couldn’t be more thrilled for their son.
“We are obviously very happy for him,” Stan says. “It is Jermaine’s goal and dream to play at an elite level. He is a very hard-working kid, very self-motivated. He works out very hard at home in the offseason. So it is good to see him rewarded.
“It makes all the travel, the thousands of miles driven, worth it as well.”
Like any parents of an adolescent, Stan and Tara have the normal thoughts about having their child move forward with hockey.
“We have the normal parent concerns of a 16-year-old moving away from home,” Stan says. “If he did move away we ask questions about how is the organization, not the winning or losing record, but is it a stable organization with good management and also a good billet family and good schooling, as well.”
With the help of friends, coaches and advisors, the Loewens are confident in the team that drafted their son.
“We are certainly happy with the organization in Kamloops,” Stan says. “We have heard nothing but good things from multiple people, so we have been assured that there is a good ownership group and a good organization.”
Strong coaching has been an invaluable asset to Loewen’s development over the last five seasons. However, Dwayne Swanson, his coach with the Lightning, gives Loewen all of the credit.
“His best attribute is his strength in general,” Swanson says. “There were times where he basically carried our team on his shoulders. His competitiveness is just outstanding.
“His work ethic is second to none as well, even with being the most-talented kid on the team. He is always looking for more, trying to push harder every drill.  He has got this thirst to learn . . . a good, good hockey player.”
Loewen is excited about his opportunities.
“I was really stoked. I’m really happy to be drafted by the Kamloops organization,” he says. “I was hoping that I got drafted and when I saw my name there I was really happy.”
When it comes to his future, Loewen makes no qualms about where he wants to be and what he wants to achieve.
“I want to play in the NHL,” he says.

(Scott Billeck writes for ManitobaHockeyNews.com. He’s at twitter.com/scottbilleck.)


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