Goaltender Ty Rimmer of the Tri-City Americans was a busy man Wednesday
as he posted his WHL-leading fourth shutout of the season.
 (Photo by John Allen / AridAcres.com)

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Marcel Hossa (Portland, 1998-2001) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL), three days after Russian reports had him signing with Atlant Mytishchi (Russia,
KHL) and five days after his release by Spartak Moscow (Russia, KHL). Hossa had six goals and 11 assists in 35 games for Spartak this season. . . .
F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) was released by Olten (Switzerland, NL B). He had six goals and 15 assists in 23 games with Olten this season. Olten loaned Redenbach to Red Bull Salzburg for the final games of the European Trophy competition, where he had one assist in three games for Red Bull. . . .
F Chad Klassen (Spokane, Saskatoon, 2001-06) signed a contract through the 2012-13 season with Alba Volan Szekesfehervar (Hungary, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 13 goals and 22 assists in 29 games with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) this season.
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There was horrible news Wednesday for Jack Jablonski, the Minnesota high schooler who was left paralyzed after taking a check in a game on Friday.
Jablonski underwent spinal fusion surgery yesterday and doctors discovered horrific damage, meaning he won’t walk again.
There is more right here.
Keep him in your thoughts as you walk through your world today.
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D Jesse Pauls of the Victoria Royals has announced his retirement from hockey.
Pauls, a 19-year-old from Chilliwack, played in Victoria’s 9-4 loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Tuesday. The retirement announcement came Wednesday morning.
According to a news release issued by the Royals, Pauls informed Marc Habscheid, the club’s GM and head coach, of his decision Wednesday morning.
“I am very disappointed that I have to retire from hockey at this point in my career,” Pauls is quoted as saying in the news release. “I want to thank my family, the Victoria Royals and the Western Hockey League for the support they have shown me and for allowing me the opportunity to compete at this level.”
Pauls had five assists in 13 games with the Chilliwack Bruins in 2009-10 and then had 14 points in 21 games last season. This season, he had 12 points in 26 games.
Pauls missed a good chunk of last season with a badly broken leg that needed surgery. This season, he missed time with an undisclosed injury.
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THE DEPT. OF DISCIPLINE:
The Kamloops Blazers and visiting Prince George Cougars have been fined for welcoming the new year with a line brawl. They danced on Sunday with one minute left in the third period. It was the Blazers’ first such incident so it cost them $250. The Cougars, having been involved in two line brawls, paid $500. . . . Meanwhile, Rich Preston, the GM/head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, has been fined $500 for getting the old heave-ho from a 3-2 loss to the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Dec. 30. . . . It is interesting that a game misconduct to Preston carries a larger fine than a team’s first line brawl, and is equal to a team’s second line brawl.
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JUST NOTES:
Dale McFee, who among other things is the president of the Prince Albert Raiders’ board of directors, has been named Prince Albert’s 2011 Citizen of the Year. McFee played four seasons with the Raiders (1982-86) and was on their 1986 Memorial Cup-winning team. He is the chief of the Prince Albert Police Service and serves in a number of volunteer positions. . . . He also is chairman of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. . . . "I truly believe that it's not about myself, it's about everybody else," McFee told the Prince Albert Daily Herald. "If we can make the community better, and if I can do some things with the power in the positions I hold, I should do that. It's giving back. The community's done so much for me." . . .
The Red Deer Rebels likely will be moving a 20-year-old this week. With F Josh Cowen and D Aaron Borejko about ready to come off the injury list, the Rebels will be left with four 20-year-olds — G Deven Dubyk and D Justin Weller are the others — and that is one too many. . . . The Rebels are expected to make a move by Friday.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
In Kennewick, Wash., G Ty Rimmer stoped 42 shots as the Tri-City Americans blanked the Moose Jaw Warriors, 5-0. . . . It was Rimmer’s fourth shutout this season and the eighth of his career. . . . Earlier in the day, he was named the WHL’s goaltender of the month for December. . . . These teams have met 37 times and this as the first time either has been blanked. . . . The Americans were 4-for-9 on the PP; the Warriors were 0-for-6. . . . F Jordan Messier and F Brendan Shinnimin each scored twice, while F Patrick Holland four assists. . . . Earlier in the day, the Americans found themselves atop the CHL rankings for the first time in franchise history. . . . The Americans have won six straight meetings with Moose Jaw. . . . Tri-City now has won a franchise-record 11 straight games. It also has won 11 straight at home, three shy of the franchise record from 2006-07. . . . Moose Jaw is 1-2-1 on its U.S. tour. . . .

In Edmonton, F Michael St. Croix had a goal and two assists to help the Oil Kings to a 6-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Earlier in the day, St. Croix had been named the WHL’s player of the month for December. . . . St. Croix has 65 points in 40 games. He is tied with Brandon Wheat Kings F Mark Stone and Regina Pats F Jordan Weal, four points behind Portland Winterhawks F Ty Rattie, who leads the WHL points derby. . . . The Oil Kings broke open a 2-2 game with four straight goals, three of them in a 10-minute span of the second period. . . . F Henrik Samuelsson, a son of former NHL D Ulf Samuelsson, wasn’t in Edmonton’s lineup. He will join the Oil Kings later this week. . . . Lethbridge F Reid Duke scored his second goal. Duke, a 15-year-old from Calgary, has five points in seven games. He was the fifth overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Lethbridge F Cam Braes had a goal and an assist, giving him 200 points in 318 career games. . . .

In Regina, F Jordan Weal put on another show, scoring one goal and setting up four others as the Pats dropped the Prince Albert Raiders, 8-3. . . . Regina F Matt Marantz scored three times, giving him eight on the season. . . . It was the second time this season Regina has scored eight goals. . . . Weal was in on four of the Pats’ first five goals, scoring his 23rd and drawing three assists as they took a 4-1 lead at 12:20 of the second period. . . . Weal has 65 points, four off the scoring lead. . . . Regina was 4-for-6 on the PP. . . . Prince Albert F Justin Maylan played in his 300th regular-season game. He earned an assist to run his points streak to nine games. . . . Raiders F Mark McNeill had two assists and is on a 10-game points streak. . . . F Logan McVeigh, acquired Saturday from the Kamloops Blazers, had a goal and an assist in his first game with the Raiders. . . . The Raiders have followed a five-game winning streak with two straight losses. . . .

In Cranbrook, the Kootenay Ice erased a 1-0 deficit with five goals as they beat the Swift Current Broncos, 5-1. . . . Ice F Max Reinhart had two goals, giving him 20, and two assists. He has 47 points in 35 games. . . . On Monday, Reinhart had picked up his 200th career point in a 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes in Lethbridge. . . . F Drew Czerwonka picked up four assists. . . . Kootenay was 3-for-7 on the PP. . . . F Dakota Odgers, 15, made his WHL debut with the Broncos. His brother John, 16, did the same last week with the Prince George Cougars. They are the sons of former WHL/NHL F Jeff Odgers. . . .

In Vancouver, the Calgary Hitmen fell behind 2-0 before the game was five minutes old and then came back to beat the Giants, 6-4. . . . The Hitmen lost 3-1 to the Cougars in Prince George on Dec. 28 but habe since won four in a row — in Kamloops, Kelowna, Victoria and Vancouver. . . . Calgary D Collin Bowman had a goal — an empty-netter — and an assist, and was plus-4. . . . The Giants went 5-4-0 with assistant coach Glen Hanlon running things while head coach Don Hay was with Canada’s national junior team. . . . F Jake Virtanen, 15, the first pick in the 2011 bantam draft, scored his second goal of this swing for the Hitmen. He is from Abbotsford, B.C., so you know he had some fans in the stands for this one. . . .

In Everett, F Josh Birkholz scored three times as the  Silvertips dumped the Seattle Thunderbirds, 5-2. . . . It was Birkholz’ second career hat trick. . . . Birkholz has 17 goals. . . . Everett F J.T. Barnett had three assists. . . . Seattle opened the scoring when F Branden Troock scored at 3:11 of the first period. Everett then struck for the next four scores. . . . Everett G Kent Simpson stopped 32 shots. . . . Everett D Brennan Yadlowski was given a match penalty for attempt to injure (kicking) as the second period ended. . . . Seattle wasn’t able to score on the ensuing five-minute power play. . . . This was the third time these teams had met over the last nine days. Seattle had won the first two in shootouts. . . .

In Kelowna, F Brett Bulmer scored three straight goals as the Rockets dumped the Spokane Chiefs, 5-2. . . . Bulmer scored three times in a span of 9:16 in the second period. . . . Bulmer has 31 points, including 17 goals, in 22 games. . . . Last season, he finished with 18 goals in 57 games. . . .
———
WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Dakota Odgers, Swift Current.
F Colin Jacobs, Seattle.
D Brenden Kichton, Spokane.

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Blazers begin eastern swing tonight

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The Kamloops Blazers will put their seven-game winning streak on the line tonight as they open an East Division swing against the Swift Current Broncos.
The Blazers (21-7-1) haven’t been on such a streak since 2006-07 (Dec. 28 through Jan. 13) when they ran off eight in a row.
This will be Teddy Bear Night for the Broncos (15-13-3), who have won three in a row, including a 4-3 shootout victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets on Friday night.
The Blazers also go in with all hands on deck and ready to go, according to head coach Guy Charron.
He said Friday that forwards Matt Needham and Chase Souto, both of whom left Wednesday’s 6-1victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips after taking checks to the head, “should both play.”
Needham was injured at 2:30 of the first period; forward Josh Birkholz was given a major and game misconduct for checking to the head. However, Birkholz wasn’t suspended and was in Everett’s lineup last night against the visiting Spokane Chiefs.
Needham missed the remainder of the first period, returned at 6:30 of the second period, saw limited playing time and wasn’t on the bench at game’s end.
The 16-year-old freshman from Penticton has been rounding into form after a shaky start. He went into Wednesday with five points over his previous two games and 11 in his last eight outings. On the season, he has 18 points, seven of them goals, in 27 games.
Souto left Wednesday’s game at 17:33 of the third period following a play on which Everett defenceman Lucas Grayson was given a minor penalty for checking to the head. Like Needham, Souto, who has had at least three concussions over the last 16 months, was in the dressing room when the game ended.
The Blazers will continue their trek on Sunday when they meet the Pats in Regina. The Pats will be without former Kamloops defenceman Brandon Underwood, who suffered a cracked bone in an ankle when he blocked a shot during a 2-0 victory over the Wheat Kings in Brandon on Sunday. Underwood, who played three seasons in Kamloops before being sent to Regina over the summer, won’t play again until after Christmas.
And when the Blazers play in Saskatoon on Wednesday, the Blades will be without forward Jake Trask, who was acquired from Kamloops early last season. Trask, who went on to put up 61 points, including 30 goals, with Saskatoon, is serving a two-game WHL suspension.
The Blades also will be without forward Josh Nicholls, who is their leading scorer but is nursing a wounded knee.
Tonight, Kamloops may face former Blazers goaltender Jon Groenheyde, whom the Broncos acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings earlier this season. Groenheyde started last night but apparently became ill and left at 11:52 of the first period after surrendering two goals on five shots, including one from the neutral zone.
If Groenheyde can’t go, the Broncos will start Austin Smith, who is 3-5-0 but got his first home-ice victory last night.
JUST NOTES: Kamloops G Cole Cheveldave will start tonight. This will be his 10th start in the team’s last 11 games. . . . The Blazers spent last night watching the Rockets and Broncos. . . . Kamloops LW Brendan Ranford has 13 points, including nine assists, over his last six games. . . . Blazers D Austin Madaisky had the first four-point game of his career in Wednesday’s victory. Madaisky, who has played in 197 regular-season games, had had three three-point outings. . . . The Blazers held a promotion for the Kamloops Food Bank at Wednesday’s game and collected 3,000 pounds of food and $1,250. . . . Kamloops has been involved in 26 fights this season, but only one in its last seven games.

Blazers run winning streak to four

Tim Bozon (15) and Colin Smith (9) of the Kamloops Blazers work to control
a bouncing puck on Saturday night in Everett.
(Photo by Christopher Mast)

Tim Bozon (15) of the Kamloops Blazers is unable to beat Everett goaltender
Kent Simpson from in close on Saturday night.
(Photo by Christopher Mast)

Defenceman Josh Caron of the Kamloops Blazers carries the
puck out of danger while goaltender Cole Cheveldave takes
a deep breath.
(Photo by Christopher Mast)

Matt Needham (14) scored two power-play goals to key the Kamloops
Blazers' 5-2 victory over the Silvertips in Everett on Saturday.
(Photo by Christopher Mast)

The Kamloops Blazers erased a 2-1 deficit with three straight goals Saturday night and went on to beat the Silvertips 5-2 in Everett.
The Blazers, who lost their season-opener 1-0 to the visiting Prince George Cougars, now have won four straight games.
Last season, the best the Blazers were able to muster was a pair of three-game winning streaks. The end result was that they didn’t qualify for the playoffs,
The Blazers will try to make it five in a row when they play host to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Monday afternoon. The Blazers last won five straight Jan. 8-16, 2010.
Kamloops, which is 4-1-0, last opened 5-1-0 in 2009-10. That season, the Blazers began the season 8-2-2, and then lost seven in a row.
The Silvertips (1-2-2), who are home Tuesday night to the Prince Albert Raiders, got a goal and an assist from F Josh Birkholz as they took a 2-1 lead late in the second period.
Kamloops F Matt Needham scored two PP goals late in the second period — at 17:02 ad 19:52 — to put his side out front
Dylan Willick, who got his first of the season early in the first period, added another goal at 17:11 of the third period for the visitors, and Jordan DePape iced it with an empty-netter.
Kamloops G Cole Cheveldave, the AJHL’s rookie of the year with the Drumheller Dragons last season, stopped 17 shots as he improved his record to 2-0-0.
Everett G Kent Simpson turned aside 33 shots.
F Jesse Mychan had Everett’s other goal, banging home a rebound after a shot had hit a post to forge a 1-1 tie in the first period.
The Blazers were 2-for-6 on the PP; the Silvertips were 1-for-2.
"Our efforts away from the puck weren't very good," Everett head coach Mark Ferner told Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald. "We have to make sure we're working hard back, make sure we're on the right side of the puck, make sure we're not just sitting here trying to be a one-dimensional hockey team where we just worry about scoring goals. In this time and age it doesn't work like that. If you want to have an opportunity to move on and make a living out of (hockey), you have to be accountable for your actions."
Ferner wasn’t at all happy with his club’s play, especially after a 4-2 victory over the visiting Portland Winterhawks just 24 hours earlier.
"There was no accountability whatsoever. Absolutely none," Ferner told Patterson. "We always had an excuse for what went wrong, and you can't have that, that's not what good teams do. I'll take some of the responsibility. If they were unsure what we're supposed to be doing, then that's my fault. But I don't know how that changes from one night to the next."
The Blazers have scored 25 goals in the four games since their opener and really have played just one poor period, that being the third in a 6-4 victory over the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Friday. Kamloops led that one 5-1 in the third period, then watched as the Chiefs got to within one at 5-4.
"I thought we played hard," Kamloops head coach Guy Charron told Patterson. "We came strong in the first period and their goaltender made some really key saves to keep it 1-1. We knew to be successful we had to maintain that level of play for 60 minutes, and fortunately for us we were able to sustain that effort and consequently we got the win."

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Some Thursday notes . . .

The rumour has been out there for three weeks or more.
“There will be an announcement,” according to the rumour, “that the WHL is returning to Victoria. And the announcement will be made on Feb. 28.”
I thought the rumour died with February, but an NHL scout asked me about it on Wednesday night.
Seeing as it’s now March 4, and there hasn’t been an announcement, it’s safe to say the rumour is dead. At least for now.
Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times-Colonist was at an ECHL game in his city on Wednesday. Here’s a note from his story:
ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna, in town recently, addressed the increasing speculation Victoria may soon announce a jump to the junior Western Hockey League. “These (WHL) rumours have been there since Day 1 of Victoria joining the ECHL and are nothing new and we hear it on an annual basis,” said McKenna, who has astutely positioned the ECHL as the main development league in pro hockey below the AHL.
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As anticipated, Regina Pats head coach Curtis Hunt has been fined by the WHL for comments he made following a 5-3 loss to the Warriors in Moose Jaw on Tuesday night.
If you missed it, here’s what Hunt told the Regina Leader-Post:
"It's really hard to compete against two teams. The Moose Jaw Warriors are a good hockey team and I thought our guys worked hard. We just couldn't overcome the striped team tonight."
For that, Hunt was fined $500.
———
Chase Martin has pads and will travel.
On Tuesday, Martin was the backup goaltender for the Tri-City Americans in a 6-5 loss to the visiting Portland Winterhawks. He was there in support of Chris Driedger, who has been starting while Drew Owsley recovers from a knee injury.
But now it seems that Martin, 18, is off to join the Medicine Hat Tigers, who lost backup Deven Dubyk to a shoulder injury during a 7-3 victory over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday.
The Tigers had Dawson MacAuley, 16, backing up Tyler Bunz in a 4-2 victory over the Rebels in Red Deer on Tuesday, but he has gone back to the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos.
Martin played his minor hockey in Medicine Hat. He’s available for spot duty now because his Cowichan Valley Capitals didn’t qualify for the BCHL playoffs.
Darren Steinke in the Medicine Hat News reports that Martin will be with the Tigers for two games through the weekend.
As well, F Cole Grbavac, who is having a solid season, suffered a head injury on Tuesday and is listed as questionable for the weekend.
Of course, the Tigers also have lost F Tyler Pitlick for up to eight weeks with a broken ankle.
If Grbavac is diagnosed with a concussion, he would become the fifth Tigers’ skater to be sidelined with that injury. Steinke reports that D Matthew Konan and D Jace Coyle are day-to-day, while D Scott Ramsay is week-to-week and F Sam Dezman remains out indefinitely.
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The Everett Silvertips might have F Landon Ferraro back in the lineup tonight when they meet the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Wash. He had hernia surgery in January and returned to practice earlier this week. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald says that F Josh Birkholz, who has been out with a head injury, also might return tonight.