THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Alex Leavitt (Swift Current, Everett, 2003-05) signed a contract for the rest of this season with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had one goal and four assists in 13 games with Medvescak Zagreb (Croatia, Austria Erste Bank Liga) prior to his release on Tuesday. Wild Wings GM Stefan Wagner: "When he came on the market, we did not think twice. He has proven himself in this league and with this, we have another option in our attack." Leavitt led 2. Bundesliga in scoring and assists in 2010-2011, getting 32 goals and 55 assists for 87 points in 48 games for Ravensburg to win the scoring championship by 21 points. . . .
D Shaun Heshka (Everett, 2003-06) signed a two-year contract extension with Ässät Pori (Finland, SM-Liiga). Currently in his first season with Ässät, Heshka has four goals and seven assists in 21 games, which ranks him seventh amongst defencemen in league scoring. Ässät GM Mika Toivola: "We have been very pleased with Heshka's performance. He has brought versatility and puck skill to our defense corps, and experience and leadership to the dressing room."
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Jesse Wallin, removed as head coach of the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday, met with the media in the Alberta city on Thursday.
“I had a lot to digest yesterday, but breaking the news to my kids was probably the toughest part of the day,” Wallin said in a story by Greg Meacham of the Red Deer Advocate. “I had a coach myself who once told me that you have a day to feel sorry for yourself, then you have to pick it up the next day and get back right after it, and that’s where I am today.”
Wallin, a hugely popular figure in the hockey world, admitted to being stunned by all the messages he received.
“I’ve been overwhelmed to the point of almost shock,” he said. “Friends and family, people from the community, fans, people from the hockey world, from within our league, former players and parents . . I’ve just been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received. I’m just really touched and really thankful for all of the support. I’m appreciative of every text, every phone call, every e-mail, ever message that came in.
“It makes you reflect. It’s really about the relationships. At the end of the day, that’s really what’s important — those relationships that you build along the way. That’s what you cherish when it’s all said and done and I’m just very thankful for that and very appreciative.”
What kind of a guy is Wallin? He picked up the tab.
At some point today, Meachem’s entire story should be available right here.
Read it and then ask yourself if you would be capable of handling the same situation with such grace.
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The Red Deer Rebels have added F Rhyse Dieno, 19, to their roster. Dieno, from Davidson, Sask., had been with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves, for whom he had 21 points, including 12 goals, in 15 games. He also played for Team West, winning a silver medal at the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, N.S., earlier this month. . . . Dieno has 12 points in 66 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers over the last two seasons.
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If there was any doubt that the Vancouver Giants are having one of those seasons, it ended Thursday with the announcement that F Marek Tvrdon, 19, is done for this season because of a blood clot in a shoulder.
“Marek had a small blockage isolated to a single vein in his left shoulder,” Scott Bonner, the Giants’ executive vice-president and general manager, said in a news release. “It was completely and rapidly dissolved and he is doing very well. Marek is under the excellent care of numerous specialists and he is recovering quickly. He will not be returning this season but he is expected to have a full recovery and future career as a hockey player.”
Tvrdon, a fourth-round selection by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2011 NHL draft, has 18 points, eight of them goals, in 18 games. Last season, he had 74 points, 31 of them goals, in 60 games.
This is the second time in three seasons that a shoulder problem has cost Tvrdon a big chunk of a season. His freshman season, 2010-11, was limited to 12 games as he underwent shoulder surgery.
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LW Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers has chosen not to play for France in the IIHF U20 Division 1 Group A championship next month. That tournament, featuring Austria, Belarus, Denmark, France, Norway and Slovakia, is to be played in Amiens, France, Dec. 9-15.
“This was a difficult decision but I think I made the right choice for my future,” Bozon tweeted (in French) on Thursday afternoon. “I wish good luck to Team France U20.”
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Former WHLer Kris Versteeg, now of the Florida Panthers, has time on his hands, what with the NHL in lockout mode. So the Lethbridge native, who played in the WHL with Lethbridge, Kamloops and Red Deer (2002-06) has chosen to help his hometown U of Lethbridge Pronghorns. He’ll make his coaching debut tonight as the Pronghorns play host to the Mount Royal Cougars. Lethbridge head coach Greg Gatto (Portland, Regina, Spokane, Brandon, 1990-92) lost an assistant coach this week when Jeff Truitt signed on as associate coach with the Red Deer Rebels.
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F Travis Ewanyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings suffered a knee injury early in the second period of the WHL’s 1-0 shootout victory over the Russians in the Super Series game in Vancouver on Wednesday. Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal reports that Ewanyk will undergo an MRI upon his return to Edmonton today. Despite the fact he couldn’t play, he accompanied Team WHL to Victoria and watched last night’s 5-2 series-ending loss. . . . Ewanyk played only 11 games in the 2011-12 regular season because of shoulder surgery. But he came back in time to get into 20 playoff games as the Oil Kings won the WHL title.
———
Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that Silvertips F Ryan Harrison has “a slight tear” in the meniscus of one knee. Head coach Mark Ferner told Patterson that Harrison could be out anywhere from one to eight weeks.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
Sportstalk (@DanRussellCKNW): “Need 3 unanswered WHL goals in the third, and then need Russia to win first shootout to get my Happy Hour ‘double’ shootout! #slimodds”
Sportstalk host Dan Russell, with Russia leading 4-1 in last night’s Super Series game in Victoria.
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TWEET OF THE DAY II:
From Edmonton Oil Kings D Griffin Reinhart (@GriffinReinhart): “Some guy asked me to sign his bag of almonds and I did it. He then proceeded to say ‘hey man you just signed my nuts’ well done sir”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jason Chimera (Medicine Hat, Brandon, 1996-99) signed a lockout contract with Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had 20 goals and 19 assists in 82 games with the Washington Capitals last season. The contract is for the rest of this season, should the NHL lockout last that long.
Chomutov has six former WHL players on the roster in addition to Chimera: Radek Duda (Regina, Lethbridge, 1998-2000), Karel Hromas (Everett, 2004-06), David Hruska (Red Deer, 1995-96), team captain Milan Kraft (Prince Albert, 1998-2000), Brett Palin (Kelowna, 2000-05) and Lukas Pulpan (Vancouver, 2003-04). The GM of Chomutov is Leo Gudas, father of current AHL-Syracuse D Radko Gudas (Everett, 2009-10).
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The Red Deer Rebels (10-11-2) woke up Wednesday morning tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. They are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and, with 22 points, they are seven points out of first place, tied with the Moose Jaw Warriors for the conference’s last playoff spot. Only 12 points separate first from 11th in the conference.
So Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ owner, president and general manager, did what most observers thought he would do in July or August — he dumped head coach Jesse Wallin and moved behind the bench himself.
Sutter, whose contract wasn’t renewed by the NHL’s Calgary Flames after last season, named himself the interim head coach. (The press release announcing the change was interesting in that it’s very last line reads: “Brent Sutter will be the interim Head Coach.”
Sutter told Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate:
“After discussions with Jesse I made the decision to move forward in a new direction with our head-coaching position. Coaching is a tough racket. Jesse is a very good coach, but for whatever reason the message just wasn’t getting through to the players and I really don’t know the exact reasons why that was or has been the case.
“The right thing is to make a change. Sometimes in life it’s never easy to do the right thing, but this is the right thing to do today moving forward. It’s too bad, though. It’s not a day that I’m sitting here feeling good about at all. It’s just not. But I know it’s something that has to be done.”
(Meachem’s complete story is right here.)
Sutter said Wallin will be offered another position in the organization.
“I told Jesse to go home for now and be a dad and a husband and spend time with your family, and then we’ll sit down in a couple of weeks,” Sutter said. “Jesse is a really good person and a good hockey man, but his time here ran its course. That happens in coaching and it’s not his fault, or anyone’s fault.
“You have to move forward and I had to make this decision, which was not an easy one to make.”
Sutter also named Jeff Truitt as associate coach. Truitt, a former head coach of the Kelowna Rockets who also worked in the Moose Jaw Warriors’ front office, spent last season as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Texas Stars. Most recently, he had been working with the U of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Assistant coach Bryce Thoma remains in place.
Wallin was a defenceman through four seasons (1994-98) with the Rebels and then joined their coaching staff in 1997 after post-concussion syndrome brought an end to his professional playing career.
He was an assistant coach until being named associate coach for 2005-07. He was in his fifth season as head coach and is seen as one of the bright, young coaches in the game today.
The Rebels didn’t make the playoffs last season when they finished 32-34-6. But they were hit with a horrible string of injuries and Wallin received a lot of credit for keeping his club playing hard every night.
He was the head coach of Canada’s Under-18 team that finished third at the 2012 IIHF World U-18 championship last spring in the Czech Republic.
This will be an interesting test for Sutter, whose coaching record over the last few seasons has been a bit spotty.
He missed the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the Flames, although he did win 40 and 41 games in his first two seasons (2009-11) there.
In two seasons (2007-09) with the New Jersey Devils, he won 46 and 51 games but bowed out in the first round of the playoffs each time.
He was the head coach when the Rebels won the 2001 Memorial Cup and lost in the WHL final in 2004. The Rebels lost out in the third round in 2003-04 and were gone in the first round in 2004-05.
It has been a while, then, since Sutter has seen even the second round of a playoff series.
Yes, these will be interesting times in Red Deer.
The Rebels next play Saturday when the Swift Current Broncos pay a visit.
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Sutter’s first player personnel move was to send home F Charles Inglis, 20, who leads the Rebels in goals (11) and points (14).
The Rebels acquired Inglis from the Prince George Cougars on Dec. 29, giving up F Daulton Siwak, who turned 19 on Oct.25, and a 2012 third-round bantam draft pick in the exchange.
At the time, Inglis was at home awaiting a trade, having been sent home by the Cougars. He began his WHL career with the Saskatoon Blades, but wore out his welcome there and was dealt to the Cougars.
“At this point in time he leads our team in goals and points, so the fact we’re sending him home kind of speaks for itself,” Sutter told the Red Deer Advocate. “What more can you say? His time here has run out.
“He’s being sent home (to Saskatoon) to await a trade. If nothing happens he’ll go on waivers next week and if there’s no interest then he’ll play with a junior A team if he wishes.”
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Inglis (@CharlesInglis) let the Twitter world know that he was gone: “Thank you red deer for the past year going to miss a lot of the guys and the city, fans here are second to none love the city #RebelsHockey”
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Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that the Saskatoon Blades could be without F Jessey Astles, 19, for quite some time.
Astles was injured Friday during a 6-3 victory over the visiting Regina Pats when he suffered a self-inflicted skate cut to a wrist following a fight.
According to Nugent-Bowman, Astles “had surgery Saturday to repair the radial artery and four cut tendons, leaving a large S-shaped scar running halfway down his forearm.”
Lorne Molleken, the Blades’ general manager and head coach, said Astles could miss anywhere from two months to the rest of the season.
The Blades open a B.C. Division tour on Friday in Prince George.
Nugent-Bowman’s story is right here.
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In Wednesday’s Globe and Mail, Hall of Famer Roy MacGregor takes a look at Edge School for Athletes, which is located in Calgary. . . . When it comes to hockey, from the junior level on down, there is a whole lot of symbolism in having an ATM machine mentioned in the essay’s first sentence. . . . That piece is right here.
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F Travis Ewanyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings left Wednesday’s Super Series game in Vancouver with an injury. Prior to the start of the third period, TSN’s Bob McKenzie tweeted that Ewanyk had suffered “an injury (foot or ankle) and not expected to return.”
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From F Jesse Mychan (@jmychan28): “Found out the bomb used in Hiroshima was built in tri! #crazyness #who knew”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Richard Mueller (Brandon, Saskatoon, Calgary, 1998-2003) signed a one-year contract with Lausitzer Fuchse Weisswasser (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had no points in seven games with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL) and seven goals and 11 assists in 41 games with Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season. . . .
D Keith Seabrook (Calgary, 2007-09) signed a one-year contract with Val Pusteria (Italy, Serie A). He had three goals and 10 assists in 45 games with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) and two goals and one assist in nine games with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) last season. . . .
F Kris Hogg (Kamloops, Lethbridge, 2002-07) signed a one-year contract with the Fife Flyers (England, UK Elite). He had 13 goals and 11 assists in 50 games with the Missouri Mavericks (CHL) last season. There is more on the Hogg signing right here.
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Teams throughout the WHL are on tenterhooks as they watch, like the rest of us, as the NHL and NHLPA continue to negotiate a CBA.
But it looks more and more as though that deal won’t be reached by the Sept. 15 deadline, at which time the NHL has said it will lockout its players.
But what happens to WHL teams and their drafted players if there is a lockout?
The Vancouver Giants, for example, have four drafted players — D David Musil, D Brett Kulak (Calgary), F Marek Tvrdon (Detroit) and F Jordan Martinook (Phoenix).
Of that bunch, only Martinook, who is 20, is able to play anywhere other than the NHL or the WHL.
Here’s Giants GM Scott Bonner, talking to Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: “The scariest scenario for us could be if, let’s say, Jordan Martinook starts the season with us, then the NHL starts up Dec. 1 and some of Phoenix’s players in the American League go back up to the NHL. Then Phoenix has to fill their Springfield roster and we might lose Marty. That would be a tough blow. Here’s your first-line centre . . . see you later. So there is definitely some grey area there.”
Pap’s story is right here.
Or consider the case of the Kamloops Blazers. They have four 20-year-olds on their roster at the moment — D Austin Madaisky, F Jordan DePape, F Brendan Ranford and F Dylan Willick.
Of those four, only Madaisky is tied to an NHL team; in fact, he has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
So what happens if there is a lockout and Madaisky ends up back with the Blazers? Obviously, they would keep him as he would be one of the WHL’s top defencemen. So let’s say they keep him and trade one of the three forwards.
And, as Bonner suggested in his example, let’s say the lockout ends on Dec. 1 and the Blue Jackets decide to assign Madaisky to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.
All of a sudden, Kamloops is out its top defenceman and a top-six forward who was traded away to make room for Madaisky.
Scenarios like this are certain to be played out across the WHL over the next few weeks.
It almost makes you wonder why the WHL doesn’t allow teams to carry five 20-year-olds throughout the season.
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It really was no surprise Monday when Brent Sutter, who owns the Red Deer Rebels, announced that he was moving back into the general manager’s office. Hey, when Willie Nelson had his own golf course, par was whatever he wanted it to be. This is Sutter's team so he can be whatever he wants to be.
Seriously, you had to know that if he wasn’t coaching somewhere in the NHL, he would be back with the Rebels.
Jesse Wallin, who had been GM/head coach, will stay on as head coach, with Bryce Thoma as his assistant.
Sutter was the club’s GM/head coach from 1999-2007 before going on to the NHL and coaching stints with the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames. His contract wasn’t renewed by the Flames after last season.
Wallin, one of the game’s bright young coaches, is preparing for his fifth season as head coach.
Here, from a news release, is Sutter’s explanation:
“After an evaluation of our hockey operations department throughout the summer, it became evident to me that we needed a separate general manager and head coach. Jesse Wallin will continue to be our head coach. After going through this portion of the evaluation, there were two options: Bring in someone from outside the organization to be the general manager, or I do it myself. With the familiarity I have with the coaching staff, scouting staff, players, and all other personnel inside hockey operations, I made the decision that I was the right person to take over this position at this point in time.”       
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F Keegan Iverson of the Portland Winterhawks plans on sticking with the WHL team this season at the age of 16. And he also plans on wearing No. 13 to honour his friend Jack Jablonski. Interestingly, according to the Winterhawks’ media guide, no player in franchise history has ever worn No. 13.
Paul Buker of The Oregonian has more right here.
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The Swift Current Broncos have apparently signed F Tanner LeSann, 17, who played the last two seasons with the midget AAA Yorkton Harvest. Last season, he had 42 points and 100 penalty minutes in 40 games. . . . LeSann announced his signing via Twitter (@TLeSann12): “officially signed with the swift current broncos #greatfeeling”
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The community-owned Lethbridge Hurricanes held their annual general meeting on Monday night, with more than 120 people in attendance.
The team announced a loss of $602,284 for 2011-12. The biggest chunk of that came from a lack of ticket sales — they had budgeted for $1.5 million, but, in fact, the number ended up being $984,000. . . . For 2012-13, the Hurricanes’ board is budgeting for a loss of $179,000. . . . For more on the meeting, check out Pat Siedlecki’s blog over there on the right.
I would like to thank Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Herald for his tweets from the Hurricanes’ annual meeting. Reading those was better than being there.
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The OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads have hired veteran coach Jason Nobili, 38, as assistant GM and assistant coach. He’ll work with GM/head coach James Boyd. . . . Nobili has been coaching for 16 years.

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Another player leaves the game

Max Adolph retired on Tuesday.
You can bet the news didn’t cause even a ripple in Shawinigan, Que., where major junior hockey is playing out its season at the Memorial Cup tournament.
Max Adolph?
He was a fourth-round selection by the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL’s 2007 bantam draft. Adolph’s WHL career ended after just 97 regular-season games, 36 of them in 2010-11, none of them this season. He leaves with 16 points and 52 penalty minutes to his credit.
In the summer of 2009, his parents sent him to Kelowna as a 17-year-old centre with big dreams. He returned to the family home in Saskatoon three years later, having experienced six concussions.
“After assessment from our doctors, we’re doing what is in the best interest of Max,” Bruce Hamilton, the Rockets’ president and general manager, said at the time. “Our medical team has advised Max to avoid body contact and shut his season down for now.”
Adolph, the son of U of Saskatchewan Huskies head coach Dave Adolph, never played again.
Concussion-related problems limited Max to 36 games in 2010-11. He suffered a concussion on Oct. 30, 2010, in Portland, returned in January and was knocked out of the lineup again with another head injury. He tried to return in February but was gone again after just two weeks.
Adolph attended training camp prior to this season but suffered yet another concussion in an exhibition game and was sent home.
“At the time,” Adolph, who turned 20 on April 1, told Regan Bartel, the veteran radio voice of the Rockets, “(going home) didn’t seem like the best decision. But now, (after) going to school and looking back at it, I think it was the better decision rather than risk more injuries and turning into a vegetable.”
It is inconceivable that a WHL player, a young man who has so much to live for, is even thinking about “turning into a vegetable.”
Yes, the time has come for the WHL to take its head out of the sand and get serious about head injuries.
You may recall almost a year ago that the WHL, with great fanfare, announced a seven-step plan aimed at addressing the issues of headshots and concussions.
“The WHL is fully committed to addressing head blows and concussions in a comprehensive manner,” WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in a news release.
The WHL, whose teams had experienced more than 100 concussions during the 2010-11 season, immediately stopped reporting specific injuries on its weekly injury report. Instead, every injury was either of the lower- or upper-body variety. You can bet, however, that concussions didn’t decrease this season in the WHL.
It is time, then, for the WHL to stop with the lip service and do something about the concussions. It is time to start walking the walk.
Any contact with an opponent’s head, no matter how incidental, should be greeted with at least a minor penalty. Referees need to stop erring on the side of caution — more major penalties and game misconducts need to be assessed for headshots.
Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president, hockey, handles discipline. He needs to stop with the one- and two-game suspensions; he needs to start with five and work up from there.
It also is time for the WHL to outlaw fighting. Granted, a small number of concussions are the result of fights, but even one is too many. A fighting major should be accompanied by a game misconduct. There also should be a sliding suspension scale for those inclined to fight on a regular or semi-regular basis.
And please don’t try feeding me the nonsense about how getting rid of fighting will lead to an increase in stickwork. There are referees on the ice who should be calling the penalties.
Remember, too, that as the Edmonton Oil Kings play through the aforementioned Memorial Cup, their roster is missing two players.
Veteran forward Colton Stephenson retired without playing even one game this season. Five concussions meant his career line ended with 17 points in 70 games. Stephenson will turn 20 on July 16.
Jesse Pearson, a defenceman who turned 21 on March 13, got into 18 games last season. He never played again after suffering a concussion in a fight on Dec. 17, 2010. Pearson now is an assistant coach with the Oil Kings.
The list of players who have retired due to concussion-related issues grows longer and longer. It includes Jesse Wallin, the Red Deer Rebels’ general manager and head coach, Kelowna assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert, former Tri-City Americans forward Taylor Procyshen and on and on.
That list now includes Max Adolph. It soon may include Joey Hishon.
Joey Hishon?
You may remember him from the 2011 Memorial Cup. It was May 21, 2011, when Hishon, a forward in his fourth season with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, was on the receiving end of an ugly elbow to the head from Kootenay Ice defenceman Brayden McNabb.
McNabb was suspended for one game. This season, he played 25 games with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, and another 45 with their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
Joey Hishon?
A first-round selection by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2010 NHL draft, Hishon hasn’t played since May 21, 2011.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Alexander Boikov (Victoria/Prince George, Tri-City, 1993-96) signed a one-year contract extension with Dynamo Moscow (Russia, KHL). He had one goal and six assists in 41 games with Dynamo this season. . . .
By my count, Boikov, Winnipeg Jets G Chris Mason and D Dwayne Newman (Chelmsford, England National League) are the only players still playing pro hockey who played for the Victoria Cougars. Victoria relocated to Prince George for the 1994-95 season.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Twenty years to the day after he celebrated a Memorial Cup victory, Tom Renney was dumped as head coach of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. On May 17, 1992, Renney’s Kamloops Blazers beat the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-4 in the Memorial Cup final in Seattle. On Thursday, Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini travelled to Castlegar, B.C., and informed Renney that his contract wouldn’t be renewed. . . .
Chris Johnston, who played in the WHL with Brandon, Red Der and Regina (1990-95), is the new head coach of the midget AAA Southwest Cougars, who play out of Souris, Man. This season, he was the head coach of the bantam AA Brandon Wheat Kings. Johnston, who is from Brandon, replaces Troy Leslie, who now is the head coach of the MJHL’s Virden Oil Capitals. . . . Johnston is the son of former WHL player and coach Mark Johnston. . . .
Mark DeSantis, an assistant coach with the Central league’s Rapid City Rush, has signed on as head coach of the Southern Professional league’s Fayetteville FireAntz. . . . DeSantis is a former Rush captain who has been an assistant coach for three seasons. . . . The FireAntz began the season with Sean Gillam as head coach; he was fired Feb. 16 and Todd Bidner was named interim head coach.
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Jason Becker, the lead assistant coach with the Prince George Cougars, has been named head coach of Team Pacific that will compete in the 2013 U-17 World Hockey Challenge. That tournament runs Dec. 28 through Jan. 4 in Victoriaville and Drummondville, Que. . . . Wade Klippenstein, the Cougars’ assistant GM and director of player personnel, has been named Team Pacific’s head scout, while Steve Hamilton, an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings, will work with Becker as an assistant coach. . . . Also on the staff will be athletic therapist Brian Cheeseman, also of the Oil Kings. . . . Brent Polischuk of Victoria is the director of operations, while Brandon West of Kelowna is the other assistant coach and Troy Clifford of Kamloops is the equipment manager. . . . Team Pacific will comprise the top 22 players from the Pacific Region (Alberta and B.C.), with 34 players from each region taking part in a camp in Kamloops, July 25-29. The final 22-player roster will be announced in November.
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Shane Malloy at The Art of Scouting has posted his top 40 eligibles for the NHL’s 2012 draft. That list is right here.
Malloy has D Griffin Reinhart of the Edmonton Oil Kings listed fourth overall, proving once again that a draft-eligible player can only do himself a whole lot of good with a deep playoff run.
Interestingly, Malloy is swimming a bit against the stream as he has Red Deer Rebels D Matt Dumba ranked No. 25.
The list is right here.
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Jesse Wallin, the general manager and head coach of the Red Deer Rebels, along with his wife Jenn, will be taking part in an awareness session on concussions. Concussion: A Game Changer is scheduled for June 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Frontier Room at Westerner Park in Red Deer. The Wallins know of what they speak as Jesse’s career ended because of concussion problems.
Jim Claggett of the Red Deer Express has more right here.
“As a traditionalist I’d love to see hockey maintain a physicality in the game," Wallin tells Claggett. "I think that’s a big part of hockey but I think if we’re going to be able to do that there’s going to have to be a level of respect in the game.
“It’s the old adage, do unto others as you would have done to you.”
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JUST NOTES:
G Drew Owsley, who played out his eligibility last season with the Prince George Cougars, has committed to attend St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., and play for the X-Men. . . . Owley announced the move via Twitter last night: “Excited to announce I committed to StFX university of be an X-men!” . . . D Bronson Maschmeyer, who finished up his WHL career with the Kamloops Blazers this season, announced Wednesday that he, too, will attend St. FX and play for the X-Men. . . .
F Joe Antilla, who played five seasons with the Kootenay Ice, will attend UBC and play for the Thunderbirds next season. He has been accepted into the UBC School of Kinesiology. . . . In 340 regular-season games with the Ice, he put up 140 points, including 56 goals.
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Rob Facca is an assistant coach with the Western Michigan  Broncos whose four-year-old son, Louie, 4, has been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal genetic disorder.
Rob’s father, Bob, was devastated by the news and has decided to go for a long, long walk.
Their story is right here.

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THE MATCHUPS
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Moose Jaw (2) vs. Regina (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Brandon (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Saskatoon (5)
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Western Conference
Tri-City (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kamloops (2) vs. Victoria (7)
Portland (3) vs. Kelowna (6)
Vancouver (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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SUNDAY’S GAME:
In Portland, the Winterhawks beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 8-2 in the final game of the WHL’s 2011-12 regular season. . . . The outcome allowed the Everett Silvertips to finish eighth in the Western Conference, meaning a first-round date with the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Thunderbirds needed a victory in order to pull into a tie with Everett. Had that happened, the teams would have played a sudden-death game in Seattle’s home arena in Kent, Wash. . . . Portland will open as the No. 3 seed against the No. 7 Kelowna Rockets. That series starts Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. . . . Portland got three goals from F Oliver Gabriel, his second hat trick this season and the 13th by the Winterhawks. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie had two goals, giving him 57, and an assist. He finished third in goals and third in points (121). . . . The Winterhawks rested starter Mac Carruth, who led the WHL with 42 victories, and started Brendan Burke. Portland also scratched D Joe Morrow, F Brad Ross, F Brendan Leipsic and F Sven Baertschi, who was returned by the NHL’s Calgary Flames on Saturday. . . . Burke stopped 29 shots to earn the victory. . . . Portland had F Keegan Iverson, who signed yesterday (more on this below) in the lineup. . . .
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After the game in Portland, Winterhawks D Troy Rutkowski (@TRutter2) tweeted: “Congrats to @cpickard1 on a great career in the #whl. 3 years with 2000 saves. Anyone who's played against him knows how good he is #theman”
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However, the tweet of the week goes to Everett D Brennan Yadlowski (@BigBadYads) for this one on Sunday: “If Portland beats Seattle I’ll come in their room again . . . except this time to kiss every one of them #ptownforplayoffs”
Of course, Yadlowski served a 10-game suspension earlier in the season after entering the Portland dressing room following an on-ice altercation.
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SUNDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Dillon Wagner, Seattle.
———
SATURDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None.
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A note from a reader of the blog:
Thanks for the tip on Thom Beuning . . . what a refreshing upgrade, even in tough circumstances. Not the greatest scenario to describe tonight, but he is very good, and pleasant to tune to . . . even sounded like he could be a neutral site.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Keegan Iverson, a 15-year-old product of Breck High School in Minneapolis. Iverson had 36 points, including 13 goals, in 23 games with Breck this season. He was the only Grade 9 player on Breck’s varsity team that got to the state semifinals. Iverson has been on Portland’s protected list since last summer and was in its training camp prior to this season. “Keegan was outstanding in training camp for us last summer, and went on to have a terrific season at Breck. Signing him has been a big priority for us this season,” Mike Johnston, Portland’s general manager and head coach, said in a news release. “As a converted defenseman, Keegan combines physical play with tremendous offensive abilities. To thrive as a 15-year-old in Minnesota high school hockey is remarkable.” . . . More from that news release: “Iverson is the latest high-profile American player the Hawks have signed in the last year, joining recent signees Dominic Turgeon (Colorado) and Alex Schoenborn (North Dakota), along with last year’s signings of Brendan Burke (Arizona) and Chase De Leo (California), who are playing for the Winterhawks this season as 16-year-olds.”
———
F Brody Sutter, the captain of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, will join the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers early this week. The Checkers are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. They selected Sutter in the seventh round of the 2011 NHL draft. He had 60 points, including 30 goals, in 65 games this season.
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Jesse Wallin, the general manager and head coach of the Red Deer Rebels, has been named head coach of the Canadian U-18 team that will play in the 2012 IIHF World Championship, April 12-22 in Brno and Znojmo, Czech Republic. . . . The assistant coaches will be Gordie Dwyer, the head coach of the QMJHL’s P.E.I. Rocket, and Todd Gill, the head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. . . . Ron Tugnutt, Hockey Canada’s goaltending consultant, will serve as goalie coach. . . . Canada’s team will comprise players from CHL teams that missed the playoffs or lose out in the first round. . . . Canada opens April 12 in Brno against Denmark. The Canadians will also face the Czech Republic, Finland and the United States in the preliminary round. . . . As an aside, Wallin told Greg Meachem, the sports editor of the Red Deer Advocate, that he and Gill have some history. “Todd was my defence partner in my first NHL game (with Detroit in 1999-2000), so it’s funny how the world kind of spins,”  Wallin told Meachem.

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Troy Bourke of the Prince George Cougars, here getting tight coverage
from Patrick Holland (41) of the Tri-City Cougars, beat goaltender
Ty Rimmer twice on Tuesday night.
(Photo by John Allen / AridAcres.com)

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Zdenek Blatny (Seattle, Kootenay, 1998-2001) signed a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 20 goals and 26 assists in 47 games this season with the Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga).
———
The NHL in Saskatoon? Why not?
Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun spent 10 days in Saskatoon covering the Tim Hortons Brier (aka the Canadian men’s curling championship) and takes an extensive look at Toontown and the NHL right here.
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A note from a WHL fan who lives in Sudbury, Ont.:

JESSE WALLIN

“Is there any precedent in the WHL in giving coach of the year honours to someone whose team never made the playoffs?
“Because I think Jesse Wallin really deserves it.
“I can't think of any coach who's managed to keep his team together with all the injuries he's had to endure.
“The Rebels have won road games in tough buildings on a regular basis with 14 or 15 skaters.
“I don't know if coaches or media vote on this, but it would make a
real statement about the integrity of this league if he got the plaque.”
Can’t argue with that!
And as if to empasize the point, the Rebels, who won’t make the playoffs, went into Medicine Hat and beat the Tigers 4-2 last night.
———
F Dylan Wruck of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who suffered a shoulder injury in a 7-4 victory over the visiting Red Deer Rebels, won’t play until at least the start of playoffs. Head coach Derek Laxdal has told Chris O’Leary of the Edmonton Journal: “He’s doing OK. . . . We’re hoping to have him back for Game 1 of the playoffs, but it’s a wait-and-see approach right now.” . . . The Oil Kings, who will finish atop the Eastern Conference, have three games remaining and are a point behind the Tri-City Americans, who lead the overall standings. Should the Oil Kings win out, they will finish first overall. The Oil Kings are on the road against the Kootenay Ice tonight, the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday and Red Deer on Saturday.
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The Kelowna Rockets expect to have F Colton Sissons, their captain, back in their lineup on Friday night as they open a season-ending home-and-home series with the Vancouver Giants. They’ll play in Vancouver on Friday and in Kelowna on Saturday. . . . Sissons, who has been out with a concussion since Feb. 11, skated with contact on Tuesday. . . . Meanwhile, F Spencer Main, who also has been concussed, has skated, albeit without contact, and will see a doctor this week. Main hasn’t played since Oct. 23. . . . Neither will play tonight against the visiting Everett Silvertips. . . . Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier reports that D Mitchell Chapman is likely to miss the Rockets’ last three regular-season games with an undisclosed injury. He should be ready to go when the playoffs open.
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If you think there’s a war going on with Brian Burke, the man who runs the Toronto Maple Leafs, and anyone in the media, well, forget it. It’s nothing. Howard Berger, who has been around the Leafs for a long time, has a piece right here that is all about the way it used to be . . . when Harold Ballard was around.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The QMJHL’s Baie Comeau Drakkar have fired head coach Mario Pouliot. The axe fell with three games left in the regular season and the Drakkar 2-7-1 in its last 10 games and tumbling from ninth to 14th place. Pouliot spent 114 games as the head coach, winning just 37. . . . General manager Steve Ahern has taken over as head coach.
———
F Sven Baertschi of the Portland Winterhawks scored his second goal in three games with the NHL’s Calgary Flames last night. He got the game’s second goal in the Flames’ 3-2 victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks. . . . Former Chilliwack Bruins F Roman Horak drew an assist on Baertschi’s goal. . . . Interestingly, the Flames returned F Krys Kolanos to the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat after the game, while keeping Baertschi on emergency recall. Kolanos was a healthy scratch last night. . . . Baertschi played 20 shifts, including two in OT, totaling 14:06. . . . Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald has the details of Baertschi’s latest game right here.
In Tampa Bay, G Dustin Tokarski, a product of the Spokane Chiefs (2006-09), stopped 33 shots as the Lightning beat the Stanley Cup-champion Boston Bruins, 6-1. That was Tokarski’s first NHL victory. He was named the game’s second star. . . . This was his fifth appearance with Tampa Bay, three of which have come this season. This season, he is 1-1-0, 2.64, .906. . . .
I got a phone call on Tuesday from a fan of the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?), pointing out that I missed D Brandon Manning’s NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers last week. Manning played three games, finishing plus-2. He played 14:59, 14:01 and 13:57 against visiting Florida, in Toronto and in New Jersey, respectively. . . . With D Kimmo Timonen returning from injury and playing in last night’s 3-0 victory over the visiting New Jersey Devils, Manning was a healthy scratch. But he took part in the morning skate and is still with the Flyers, at least as of last night.
———
TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Saskatoon, F Matej Stransky had a goal and four assists as the Blades beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 11-5. . . . The game was televised by Shaw and featured a third-period line brawl. . . . Prince Albert D Josh Morrissey tied the game 5-5 on a PP just 37 seconds into the third period. . . . The Blades then scored six straight goals. . . . Stransky, 18, has 77 points, including 37 goals, in 68 games. Last season, he finished with 26 points, 14 of them goals, in 71 games. . . . Saskatoon got two goals from each of F Ryan Olsen, who has 15, Jake Trask, who has 22, and Travis McEvoy, who has six. . . . Prince Albert F Joey Santucci scored his first WHL goal while killing a penalty. Santucci, 17, is from Coquitlam, B.C. He was playing in his eighth game. . . . Saskatoon was 4-6 on the PP. . . . Referees Adam Byblow and Reagan Vetter gave the Raiders 86 of the game’s 165 penalty minutes. Ch-ch-ching! They handed out 85 minutes from a line dance at 14:37 of the third period. . . . Because of injuries, the Blades dressed only four defencemen. . . . The victory lifted the Blades one point ahead of Kootenay and Regina, into fifth in the Eastern Conference. . . .

In Medicine Hat, D Alex Petrovic scored twice to lead the Red Deer Rebels to a 4-2 victory over the Tigers. . . . Petrovic broke a 1-1 tie 39 seconds into the third period with PP goal. . . . F Tyson Ness upped the visitors’ lead to 3-1 with his 20th goal at 10:00. . . . Petrovic has 12 goals. . . . Medicine Hat D James Bettauer scored his 21st goal of the season. . . . Red Deer G Deven Dubyk stopped 28 shots. . . . Medicine Hat G Tyler Bunz turned aside 31 shots but was unable to pick up his 40th victory of the season. . . . The Tigers had six players out with injuries; the Rebels, who had lost four in a row, scratched nine injured players. . . . Jesse Wallin, the Rebels’ general manager and head coach, watched the game from the press box. “I wanted to take in the game from a little different perspective,” Wallin told Greg Meachem, the sports editor of the Red Deer Advocate. “You kind of remove the emotion a bit when you’re sitting up top, it’s a different point of evaluation.” . . . The Tigers remained third in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of Calgary. . . .

In Kent, Wash., G Calvin Pickard kicked out 41 shots to lead the host Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-1 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Pickard stopped Spokane F Steve Kuhn on a first-period penalty shot with the game still scoreless. . . . F Connor Honey scored twice, giving him eight this season, and F Seth Swenson ran his goal streak to three games with his 10th. Swenson also drew two assists. . . . F Brendan Rouse also had two assists for Seattle. . . . All three Seattle goals came via the PP as it went 3-4 with the man advantage. . . . The Chiefs’ PP was 0-6. . . . A note from @WHLFacts: “It's now been 150 games since someone not named Calvin Pickard has won a @SeattleTbirds game.” . . . The Thunderbirds are ninth in the Western Conference but now are just one point behind the Victoria Royals. Seattle has three games remaining, while Victoria has two to play. . . . The Chiefs are fifth, two points behind Vancouver. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., D Jesse Forsberg scored at 1:02 of OT to give the Prince George Cougars a 5-4 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The goal was Forsberg’s fifth this season. . . . F Troy Bourke scored twice for the Cougars, giving him 18, while F Spencer Asuchak, who began his WHL career with the Americans, had his 16th goal and an assist. . . . Prince George also got two assists from F Caleb Belter. . . . The Cougars erased a 3-1 deficit and took a 4-3 lead on Bourke’s second goal at 12:42 of the second. . . . Tri-City F Adam Hughesman forced OT with his 48th goal at 3:52 of the third. . . . Cougars G Drew Owsley stopped 31 shots, 12 more than Tri-City’s Ty Rimmer. . . . Owsley has 98 career victories, 76 of them with the Americans, who dealt him to the Cougars for Rimmer over the summer. . . . Hughesman scored twice, giving him nine goals in his last five games, and added an assist. . . . Tri-City F Brendan Shinnimin scored his 58th goal and added an assist. The WHL’s leading scorer ran his point streak to 21 games and is the first WHLer to 130 points since F Pavel Brendl put up 134 with the Calgary Hitmen in 1998-99. . . . Tri-City F Patrick Holland had two assists, meaning he has at least one assist in 18 straight games. . . . Holland also finished minus-4. . . . The Cougars kept their playoff hopes alive. With two games remaining, they are three points behind eighth-place Victoria. . . . The Americans lead the overall standings by one point over Edmonton and are two points ahead of Portland atop the Western Conference. . . . Edmonton has three games left, while Tri-City has two to play. So if the Oil Kings run the table they would finish first overall.
———
TUESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Jesse Forsberg, Prince George.
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TUESDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None.
———
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Brandon (8)
Moose Jaw (2) vs. Regina (7)
Medicine Hat (3) vs. Kootenay (6)
Calgary (4) vs. Saskatoon (5)
———
Western Conference
Tri-City (1) vs. Victoria (8)
Kamloops (2) vs. Everett (7)
Portland (3) vs. Kelowna (6)
Vancouver (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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TODAY’S GAMES
Moose Jaw at Brandon
Lethbridge at Calgary
Edmonton at Kootenay
Prince Albert at Regina
Everett at Kelowna
Kamloops at Spokane
Portland at Victoria

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ASK THE COMMISSIONER:
The Seattle Thunderbirds are scheduled to visit the Everett Silvertips tonight, while the Portland Winterhawks will be in Kennewick, Wash., to play the Tri-City Americans. Mr. Commissioner, with Portland and Tri-City embroiled in a battle for first place overall, why is it that Root Sports is televising the Seattle at Everett game?
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TEN QUESTIONS, OR MORE:
1. Is there a head coach in the WHL who has done a better job this season than Jesse Wallin of the Red Deer Rebels? How many votes does he get as coach of the year?
2. How about Dave Hunchak of the Kamloops Blazers as the Western Conference nominee as coach of the year? An associate head coach never has won the coach-of-the-year award but you could make a case that no coach in the Western Conference has had a bigger impact than has Hunchak.
3. Why do so many people not understand that those people calling for an end to fighting recognize that its inclusion has become a safety issue? Those in control of such things must do all they can to reduce head trauma.
4. Brandon without the Wheat Kings? Surely, the speculation about serious problems in lease negotations between the Wheat Kings and Westman Place can’t be true.
5. The Tri-City Americans have taken some heat of late because the players have taken to using the ‘Bonesaw’ gimmick from Spiderman as a game-ending victory celebration. Some fans have interpreted it as something of an obscene gesture, however, so will the league step in and put a stop to it?
6. The Kamloops Blazers are 14-2-1 against the U.S. Division. They are 36-6-3 inside the Western Conference. How is that possible?
7. How much long can owner Rick Brodsky keep the Cougars in Prince George with announced attendance now having fallen to the 1,500 range? How many times a week does he hear from someone in another city who kicking tires?
8. If someone built a 5,500-seat arena in Nanaimo, would the WHL give — give, not sell — that person an expansion franchise?
9. What happened to F Brendan Shinnimin of the Tri-City Americans? He didn’t pick up any points on Thursday.
10. Is it really just three weeks until the playoffs begin?
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JUST NOTES:
You may recall having read here earlier this week about former WHL D Ryan Bender, who was participating in The Interview Season, a reality webinar in Regina. When I wrote about it earlier in the week, Bender had made the cut and was in the final pair. Well, Bender, who played in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers and Regina Pats (2003-08), was named the winner on Thursday.
He gets a prize package worth more than $100,000, the best part of which is a $50,000 contract with Rock Bridge Reality, a deal that includes education, training and licensing needed to become a real estate agent. Bender also picks up a one-year lease on a Cadillac vehicle, a professional photo shoot, a marketing package that includes an advertising package from The Wolf 104.9, a Regina radio station, and a business wardrobe.
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that F Austin Fyten, 20, may get into the Vancouver Giants’ lineup before the end of the regular season. Fyten, who was dropped by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in January, hasn’t played at all this season because of a knee injury. . . . Ewen speculates that Fyten, a left winger with Lethbridge, may find himself playing between wingers Marek Tvrdon and Brendan Gallagher on Vancouver’s top line.
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Chris Peters of The United States of Hockey offers up his take on the fighting conundrum right here. And he gets it. Fighting has to go, not as part of the move to get concussions out of the game, but to cut down on the amount of head trauma experienced by participants.
As Peters writes”
“It is very important to understand that the rule to ban fighting is indeed a plot to reduce concussions, but more specifically, it is a quest to reduce instances of contact to the head. Fighting will not always, but often result in one or more blows to the head. If you are unaware, every fighter’s goal is to connect his fist with his opponent’s face as many times as possible.
“Another huge factor in this debate is the difference between the teenage brain and the adult brain. The teenage brain is more succeptable to brain trauma and yes, concussions, putting them at a greater risk for CTE.”
———
Bernard Goldberg of HBO Sports has taken a look at the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl tragedy. It is nine minutes in length and is right here. And it’s really worth watching, even if it will make your eyes water.
———
Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun reports that “C Kevin Sundher (concussion) and C/RW Jason Swyripa both practised fully on Thursday and appear ready to return to the lineup tonight. C Tyrel Seaman (concussion) also practised without restrictions, but was not on one of the top four lines, suggesting he is not likely to (play).” . . . The Wheat Kings are at home to the Lethbridge Hurricanes tonight.
———
The Wheat Kings, who at present are eighth in the Eastern Conference, still could move up a spot or two. Wherever they finish, though, they will play their first-round home playoff games at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. . . . That, as usual, is because the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair will be moving into the facility in Brandon.
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A Thursday tweet from F Cody Beach (@CodyBeach16) of the Moose Jaw Warriors: “Car gets stuck in the snow, who stops to help? Homeless guy on a bike, thank you sir #10buckpayday”
———
The Tri-City Americans have signed F Beau McCue, 16, to a WHL contract. McCue, a native of Missoula, Montana, has 26 points, including 16 goals, in 39 games with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes of the Tier 1 Elite League. The 6-foot-0, 180-pound McCue is the team captain. He has been on the Americans’ 50-play list since October 2010 and was at their training camp prior to this season.
———
With all the chatter this week about to fight or not to fight, Gilles Courteau, the QMJHL’s commissioner, felt a need to release this statement on Thursday, pointing out that he has been aware of discussions between Hockey Canada and USA Hockey:
“"We discussed it during the last World Junior Championship. However it is important to distinguish between minor hockey and the QMJHL and CHL when we talk about abolishing fights. We have been discussing this issue for several years now and have constantly revised our regulations in regards to fighting in order to provide a safer environment for our players."
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In the BCHL, the visiting Penticton Vees ran their winning streak to 38 games with a 5-3 victory over the Merritt Centennials. The Vees scored the game’s last two goals to get the victory, which set a BCHL record for consecutive road victories. The Vees, with five games remaining, next play tonight against the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks.
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For today’s good read, we leave the slippery ice surfaces of hockey and go to the slippery surface of golf greens. Here is Karen Crouse of The New York Times on the newest version of Tiger Woods, one that doesn’t seem to be much different than the old one.


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JOEL HAMILTON

F Joel Hamilton of the Red Deer Rebels is resting comfortable in Red Deer Regional Hospital after having fractured his L1 and L2 vertebrae during an 8-5 loss to the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday. Hamilton was taken to hospital after the game where X-rays discovered the fractures. He is expected to be out at least four weeks.
According to Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate, Hamilton was injured when he absorbed a check in the first period. “Hamilton stayed on the bench for the remainder of the game after it became apparent that he was in too much pain to be helped to the dressing room. Paramedics attended to the rookie forward at the conclusion of the contest and administered morphine intravenously before placing him on a backboard.”
Jesse Wallin, the Rebels’ general manager and head coach, told Meachem: “He’ll be out a minimum of four weeks. The doctors expect him to make a full recovery and he’ll certainly be able to return to play at some point.”
The Rebels, who already had seven players out with injuries, also lost F Cory Millette (foot) after he blocked a shot early in the game. X-rays proved negative and he is listed as day-to-day.
Red Deer went into that game with seven players out with injuries. G Patrik Bartosak and D Justin Weller won’t play again this season. F Adam Kambeitz, D Aaron Borejko and F Colten Mayor are out indefinitely.
With the Scotties Canadian women’s curling championship to start this weekend in their home rink, the Rebels are hitting the road, starting with a four-game swing into the B.C. Division. They’ll begin by playing the Cougars in Prince George on Wednesday.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Ryan Papaioannou has signed a five-year contract extension as general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits. . . . That will take him through the 2016-17 season. . . . Papaioannou has been with the Bandits since signing on as an assistant coach in 2008. . . . He took over as interim GM/head coach on Oct. 16, 2009, and was named GM/head coach on Nov. 5, 2009. . . . The Bandits are 101-49-16 under him. . . . This season, the Bandits are 45-7-0-6 and leading the South Division by 29 points.
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The owners of the NAHL’s Wenatchee Wild have won their appeal to USA Hockey’s expansion review board and it now appears the road is clear for the franchise to join the BCHL.
There is more right here from juniorhockey.com.
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Medicine Hat, F Emerson Etem scored twice, giving him 51 goals in 50 games, as the Tigers doubled the Brandon Wheat Kings, 4-2. . . . Etem is the first Medicine Hat skater with 50 goals since F Joffrey Lupul hit for 56 in 2001-02. . . .

EMERSON ETEM

The last WHL player to score 50 in 50 was F Layne Ulmer of the Swift Current Broncos. He notched 50 in 47 games in 2000-01. . . . Earlier in the game, before he got his 50th goal, Etem hit a post and the crossbar. . . . When he scored No. 50, the crowd of 4,006 rewarded him with a standing ovation that losted more than a minute. . . . "It got me excited for playoffs, to be honest," Etem told Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News. "I haven’t heard the fans that loud since last playoffs. . . . The three years I have been here, it is one of the proudest moments." . . . A number of Brandon players, including Stone and D Eric Roy, congratulated Etem. . . . "I think it is really impressive for him to be able to get 50 in 50," Stone told Steinke. "Obviously, we didn’t want it to happen against us. It is something that might never happen again. A congratulations is deserved. We needed to acknowledge that moment." . . . Stone scored his 36th goal and set up the other. That was enough to lift him into the lead in the WHL scoring race, with 90 points. That’s one more than Etem, F Ty Rattie of the Portland Winterhawks and F Jordan Weal of the Regina Pats. . . . The Tigers, who have won five in a row, scratched F Hunter Shinkaruk (undisclosed) and put F Rhyse Dieno in his spot with Etem and F Dylan Bredo. Dieno responded with his fourth goal of the season. . . . Dieno tied the game 2-2 at 17:36 of the first period on a PP after Brandon had taken a 2-0 lead. . . . Etem broke the tie at 6:04 of the third and added an empty-netter at 19:13. . . . Brandon F Paul Ciarelli returned from a three-game absence. . . . Brandon F Mike Ferland had two assists. He wasn’t suspended after being hit with an interference major and game misconduct in a 6-3 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Friday.

In Calgary, G Nathan Lieuwen turned aside 26 shots to help the Kootenay Ice to a 4-0 victory over the Hitmen. . . . Lieuwen has three shutouts this season and nine for his career. . . . D Jagger Dirk got the game’s first goal, his sixth, at 11:14 of the first period on a PP. . . . D Joey Leach had a goal and an assist, while F Drew Czerwonka helped out with two assists. . . . The Hitmen have lost four in a row. . . . Calgary took 93 of the 138 penalty minutes handed out by referees Steve Papp and Colin Watt. . . . There was some ch-ch-ching time, too, as Calgary head coach Mike Williamson did the water bottle-throwing thing and got tossed at 4:34 of the third period. . . . Gotta think that had more to do with four straight losses than anything else. . . .
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SUNDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
———
SUNDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None.
———
LOOK OUT OGOPOGO:
The Edmonton Oil Kings played two games in Prince George on the weekend, then headed for Kelowna on Sunday. Brian Cheeseman, the team’s athletic therapist, tweeted: “In Kelowna for 4 days, might have to take a look for @theogopogo while I'm here #whl #roadie.”
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NOW THAT’S GRIT:
F Joel Hamilton of the Red Deer Rebels tweeted this from his hospital room on Sunday night:
“Bull rider just gets out of surgery beside me and asks the nurse for a spit cup #cope #beauty.”

Who knew that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were hockey fans?
Furthermore, who knew that they were fans of the BCHL's Vernon Vipers?
Hey, there they were on Friday night, watching the Vipers and Victoria Grizzlies go at it in the Wesbild Centre in Vernon.
Apparently, the happy couple was enjoying some skiing time at Silver Star, a resort near Vernon, when they decided to drop in on the hockey game.
Kidman and Urban left the game just prior to the end of the second period, which is even earlier than when NHL scouts bow out.
Sheesh, had Mark Ferner known such celebrities would drop by, he may have decided to stay with the Vipers, rather than leave for the WHL's Everett Silvertips. In fact, maybe the Aussie stars left because Ferner wasn't there!
For more, including a photo, click right here.
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WHL TRADE TRACKER (trades made since Dec. 27):
Trades made: 7
Players: 15
Draft picks: 6
Deadline: Tuesday, 3 p.m. MT
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The Red Deer Rebels have lost D Justin Weller for at least six weeks with a broken wrist. Weller, 20, underwent surgery on Sunday. He was injured during a 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday. Ironically, it was just last week when the Rebels found themselves carrying four 20-year-olds and were forced into dropping F Josh Cowen, who immediately was added to the coaching staff. . . . With the trade deadline approaching Tuesday, Jesse Wallin, the Rebels' GM and head coach, told Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate that he isn't sure what he will do. “I don't know that a whole lot is going to happen,” Wallin said of the approaching trade deadline and how it is impacted by the Weller injury. “Nothing is imminent at this time. “t's tough to comment. We have a decision to make over the next couple of days.”
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The Saskatoon Blades have had to change their plans regarding their goaltending situation. They had planned on returning Alex Moodie, 16, to the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild. However, Andrey Makarov will be out at least a week after suffering a concussion in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the visiting Regina Pats. Makarov was injured in the first period when he was run over by Regina F Morgan Klimchuk, who was given a charging major and game misconduct. It seems, however, that Klimchuk may have received some help from Blades D Darren Dietz. . . . The Blades now will keep Moodie and go with him and Adam Todd until Makarov comes back. . . . There is, of course, another option. Perhaps they will trade for a goaltender prior to Tuesday afternoon's deadline. . . . The Blades next are scheduled to play Wednesday in Brandon.
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SUNDAY'S GAMES:
In Calgary, the Hitmen overcame an early 3-0 deficit and beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 6-3. . . . Calgary has won five in a row. . . . F Brady Brassart had two goals and assist, while F Brooks Macek added a goal and two helpers for Calgary. . . . The Hitmen trailed 3-0 with three minutes left in the second period. They scored twice before the period ended and added four more in the third. . . . F Phil Tot scored his sixth goal for Lethbridge. This season, in 33 games, he has six goals and 15 assists. Last season, in 58 games, he had six goals and 15 assists. . . .

In Cranbrook, G Nathan Lieuwen stopped 31 shots and F Max Reinhart drew two assists as the Kootenay Ice got past the Medicine Hat Tigers, 3-1. . . . Lieuwen's evening included stopping Medicine Hat F Hunter Shinkaruk on a penalty shot at 7:41 of the third period with his club leading 2-1. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart scored his 12th goal to run his point streak to four games. . . . Tigers F Emerson Etem scored his 34th goal of the season. . . . Tigers G Tyler Bunz left the game in the first period to have a skate problem  fixed. Kenny Cameron came on and played 2:58 before Bunz re-entered. . . .

In Edmonton, F Colten Mayor, the 10th shooter, scored to give the Red Deer Rebels a 4-3 shootout victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton F Kristians Pelss forced OT with his 15th goal, at 12:07 of the third period. . . . Red Deer G Deven Dubyk stopped 37 shots through OT. He was beaten by F Tyler Maxwell, Edmonton's first shootout shooter, but then closed the door on the next four. . . . Red Deer took 61 of the 114 penalty minutes handed out. . . .

In Everett, F Todd Fiddler ran his goal streak to three games to help the Spokane Chiefs to a 5-3 victory over the Silvertips. . . . This was the Chiefs' third victory in as many nights in three different cities. They beat the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 5-2 on Friday and then doubled the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 in Kent, Wash., on Saturday. . . . The Chiefs erased a 2-1 deficit when F Mike Aviani and F Mitch Holmberg scored 26 seconds apart in the first period. . . . Aviani's goal came 42 seconds after F Kohl Bauml had given Everett a 2-1 lead with his sixth goal of the season, via the PP. . . . Fiddler, who was acquired last month from the Prince Albert Raiders, has eight goals, four of them in six games with Spokane. Fiddler has six points over his last three games. . . . G Eric Williams, who also came west in that deal, stopped 27 shots. . . . Everett F Trent Lofthouse, the son of former WHLer Mark Lofthouse, scored his second goal of the season. . . . Everett was playing its fourth game in five nights. . . . The teams will meet again Wednesday in Spokane and then go at it again Friday in Everett.
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SUNDAY'S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Jaimen Yakubowski, Lethbridge.
D Albin Blomqvist, Lethbridge.
D Mathew Dumba, Red Deer.
F Jordan Peddle, Edmonton.
F Jarid Hauptman, Spokane
F Collin Valcourt, Spokane (double minor)
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David Shoalts of The Globe and Mail suggests some areas that should be under consideration if the NHL is serious about ridding itself of what is an obvious problem with concussions. That piece is right here.
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For today's good read, we visit the Toronto Star where Rick Westhead provides an intriguing look at the Kontinental Hockey League. It is right here.


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