1. Jumbo Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks unleashed some locker-room humour on Thursday, before his side met the Canucks in Vancouver. One reporter took it and ran with it, and before long it was all over everywhere.
For starters, that's what you hear in men's locker-rooms, so stop pretending to blush. Wasn't it Gordie Howe who once said he spoke two languages, English and hockey? Well, in this instance, Jumbo Joe was speaking hockey.
Secondly, a whole lot of reporters/journalists apparently heard Thornton, but only one of them chose to take it and run with it, posting it on a blog on his newspaper's website. That reporter, Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province, later attempted to defend himself on TSN. Among the reasons he gave for posting Thornton's comment was that the newspaper's management expects him to write with an "edge." Botchford didn’t explain how reporting locker-room/toilet humour equates to writing with an edge.
Later in the day, Scott Emmert, the Sharks' director of media relations, issued a statement that included this: "I don't think it would be a surprise to anyone in the industry that 'locker room talk' exists. Professional reporters understand that concept and respect it."
According to Emmert, Botchford's decision to post the quote was "a pathetic attempt to generate some page hits and controversy by reporting an off-the-cuff and off-the-record comment made by someone who wasn't even being interviewed at the time."
Here's a tweet from reporter Jim Toth of Winnipeg radio station CJOB: "Heard Thornton audio, that is totally off the record & you can clearly tell he is joking. Regardless of what was said unprofessional to use."
And then there was this tweet (actually, it was two tweets) from Cory Wolfe, a former sports writer with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix: "#JoeThornton anatomical reference reminds me of time that former @MJWarriors coach Al Tuer described a role player's performance thus: He's got more balls than brains - and that's saying something 'cause he's a smart kid."
Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy fame has a good take on what happened right here.
Later, Botchford took to the blogosphere in an attempt to explain things. That is right here.
The last word on this situation goes to Stu Walters of Vancouver radio station CKNW. After San Jose's 4-1 victory, Walters tweeted: "About to head into #sharks room for post game, hope Thornton isn't too prickly."

2. On Thursday afternoon, I saw this tweet from Regan Bartel, the radio voice of the Kelowna Rockets: "The WHL has decided not to hand out copies of the beloved Official Guide, the Bible for radio broadcasters. #shame"
Later, I saw confirmation on the WHL website.
The decision by the WHL and its teams not to print the annual Guide is shameful. It also is terribly shortsighted and a slap in the face to its dedicated fanbase and media members who follow the league.
My late father used to tell me that there is a certain cost to doing business, and if the time comes that you can't pay that cost, then you should get out of the business. The publishing of an annual Guide is one of those costs that the WHL should be eager to pay every season.
Unfortunately, the WHL, in its haste to either save money or make even more use of an Internet that it already over-uses, has made a horrible mistake. That Guide is an invaluable resource; it also has contained the name of every player who ever has played in the league and you can bet a lot of those former players looked forward to seeing their names in there every autumn.
Sure, you can download the 2013-14 Guide onto your computer. Good luck accessing it while you’re in your seat at a WHL game.
The WHL and each of its teams should be ashamed and embarrassed by this decision.

3. With the fighting/no-fighting chatter brought on by a couple of recent incidents, some folks are forgetting why some people have taken a stance against fighting in hockey.
It has nothing to do with liking or not liking fighting, with enjoying or not enjoying a bout, with whether a scrap is capable of swinging the momentum of a hockey game.
Rather, this stance is all about three things, at least it is in my case: 1. With what we are learning about brain injuries and the long-term impact of them, more must be done to get rid of fighting; 2. Sooner or later, this is going to become an issue of liability and someone will have to pay the piper; and, 3. Society is recognizing how illogical it is to suspend a player for a check to the head of an opponent, while not suspending players for punching each other in the face.
That is what this is about. Period.

4. D Zach Hodder, 20, may have ended his WHL career on Thursday when he left the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald tweeted: "Zach Hodder has left the @MJWarriors and gone home to ponder his future. With Forsberg arriving writing was probably on the wall." . . . The Warriors acquired D Jesse Forsberg, 20, from the Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday, so the writing may have been on the wall for Hodder, who also has played for the Vancouver Giants, Saskatoon Blades, Prince Albert Raiders and Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . A native of Delta, B.C., Hodder battled injuries for a lot of his career and played in only 128 career regular-season games over four-plus seasons. He has 38 career points. . . . Hodder was a first-round selection, 20th overall, by Vancouver in the 2008 bantam draft.

5. The Red Deer Rebels have added a defenceman to their roster, while moving out a forward. . . . The new face belongs to D Nick Charif, 18, who had been with the BCHL's Victoria Grizzlies. He had two points in nine games with the Grizzlies. Last season, he had 14 points in 29 games with the midget AAA Edmonton-South Side Athletic Club. . . . The Rebels also dropped F Earl Webb, 17, and D Jake McLachlan, who turns 17 on Dec. 20. Webb will play with the AJHL's Calgary Mustangs. He was pointless in five games with the Rebels. . . . McLachlan is joining the BCHL's Cowichan Valley Capitals. He had one assist in five games with Red Deer.

6. The Saskatoon Blades made a couple of roster moves on Thursday. . . . They acquired F Cory Millette, 18, from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for F Evan Polei, 17. . . . Millette, who was released earlier this season by the Rebels, was with the SJHL's Estevan Bruins. From Storthoaks, Sask., he has 40 points in 106 regular-season WHL games. Red Deer selected him in the second round of the 2010 bantam draft. . . . Polei, 17, was an 11th-round pick by the Blades in the 2011 bantam draft. He had 32 points in 34 games with the Edmonton-South Side Athletic Club last season. . . . The Blades also have added D Ross Hnidy, 17, to their roster, while deleting D Kevin Pochuk. . . . Hnidy, a sixth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft, had been with the SJHL's Nipawin Hawks. He was pointless in one game with the Blades last month. He played the last two seasons with the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts. . . . Pochuk, 18, had been picked up from Red Deer in a deal over the summer. He was pointless in five games. In that deal, the Blades got Pochuk and third- and seventh-round picks in the 2014 bantam draft for F Lukas Sutter.

7. Major League Baseball is down to four times and a whole lot of history. The Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals open the NLCS today, with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox starting the ALCS on Saturday. . . . Who you got? . . . My heart tells me St. Louis and Detroit; my head says Los Angeles and Boston.

8. It was Thursday, so that meant Dorothy and I spent the morning at what is known as a "clinic" at the hospital. Bloodwork is done and then everything from that point goes off the numbers.
Dorothy's numbers are excellent. I mean, really excellent. Like Gretzky's were. On top of that, one doctor told her the new kidney is working "extremely well."
What this means is that the two of us may not have turkey this weekend -- we've joked about having kidney pie -- but this still will be the best Thanksgiving of our lives.


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Todd Dutiaume (Brandon, 1991-94) signed a one-year contract extension as player-head coach with the Fife Flyers (Scotland, UK Elite). He had nine goals and 17 assists in 54 games with the Flyers this season. Dutiaume has been with the Flyers since 1999 and has been the playing head coach since 2005. You can read about it right here and also get a look at Fife’s sweaters. You have to admire a team that has a tartan as part of the sweater, both home and away.

F Scott Wasden (Medicine Hat, Kamloops, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Duisburg (Germany, Oberliga). He had 11 goals and five assists in 28 games with the U of British Columbia Thunderbirds (CIS) this season.

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1. Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune takes a look back a the career of Portland Winterhawks sniper Ty Rattie right here. Where does former Winterhawks GM/head coach Ken Hodge rank Rattie in Portland’s history?

2. The Red Deer Rebels have acquired F Lukas Sutter, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades in a deal that comes with some conditions. . . . For starters, the Blades will get a third-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft should Sutter be returned by the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. . . . The Blades also will get D Kevin Pochuk, 18, or a seventh-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. The Blades will have to make that choice. . . . Pochuk, from Winnipeg, had five points in 32 games this season. He was a fifth-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. . . . Sutter played three seasons with the Blades, finishing with 103 points, 45 of them goals, and 520 penalty minutes in 220 games. . . . This season he had 24 points, including 13 goals, and 168 penalty minutes in 72 games. . . . Sutter was a second-round selection by Winnipeg in the NHL’s 2012 draft but hasn’t signed with the Jets. . . . Lukas is a nephew — his father is Rich Sutter — to Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ owner, general manager and head coach. . . .

3. Here’s what Brent Sutter told Greg Meachem, the sports editor of the Red Deer Advocate: “You look at our top nine forwards and it was important to add someone like Lukas to our team,” said Sutter. “Our hockey operations staff sat down and evaluated players in our league who we thought could fit in here with an element that we need, and he was at the top of our list. Yes, there are things that have to happen to get him here and Winnipeg will decide that. That being said, it’s a deal that was worth doing. Lukas should fill a gap in our forward group. If we can get him here, he’ll be a great addition to our team.”

4. Lukas Sutter’s presence leaves the Rebels with five 1993-born players on their rosters, the others being F Rhyse Dieno, F Tyson Ness, D Cody Thiel and G Patrik Bartosak. . . . The Blades, who aleady have traded away three players off the roster that played in the Memorial Cup last month, still have a dozen 1993-born players on their roster, although two of those are imports.

5. Willy Palov of the Halifax Chronicle Herald checks in right here with his opinion of the CHL’s ban on European goaltenders. No, he doesn’t like it, either.

6. The Lethbridge Hurricanes have a new look and a new logo. It all was unveiled at a news conference on Thursday morning. . . . The Hurricanes were forced into the change when they, according to a news release, “were informed by the NHL that they could no longer use their current logo.” It was too similar to the logo that belongs to the Washington Capitals. . . . At the same news conference, the Hurricanes announced a partnership with the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association. All LMHA rep teams will be nicknamed the Junior Hurricanes and will use the same logo.

7. Austin Madaisky and his family are back in their Surrey, B.C., home for the first time since it was gutted by fire on Aug. 11. . . . Madaisky, who played four seasons in the WHL (Calgary, Kamloops, 2008-12), tweeted: “First time sleeping back in the house since the fire...it sure has come a long way #home”

8. Hockey fans are hoping for the best but fearing the worst as former Edmonton Oil Kings F Kristians Pelss is missing and feared dead in Riga, Latvia. . . . There have been numerous reports of a man believed to be Pelss having jumped from the Stone Bridge and into the Daugava River in Riga. . . . However, a body has yet to be found. . . . The Edmonton Journal has more right here.

9. When Kevin Constantine walked into a news conference to be introduced as the new head coach of the Everett Silvertips, he received a standing ovation. Constantine, 54, is back for a second go-round with the Silvertips, having been the head coach for the first four years of their existence. They won seven playoff series under his guidance; they haven’t won any since his departure. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald has more right here.


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Jesse Pearson was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings last season, his playing career having been derailed by post-concussion syndrome.
But just the other day, the Oil Kings added Sean Brown to their coaching staff, filling a spot that had been held by Pearson.
So . . . whatever happened to Jesse Pearson?
“Things are going well, just working, trying to make money and figuring out classes for next semester,” Pearson, a 21-year-old native of Winnipeg, told me. “Nothing too exciting.”
Pearson actually has returned to Winnipeg where he plans to attend the U of Winnipeg.
Unfortunately, he still has remnants of post-concussion syndrome.
Asked if everything had cleared up, he replied: “No, not really. My head is good but, regardless, I'm always gonna have headaches that I can't get rid of sometimes.”
Pearson’s WHL career amounted to 53 games with the Oil Kings. He played 35 in 2008-09, sat out the 2009-10 season and played 18 games in 2010-11. His career ended after a fight with F Curt Gogol of the Chilliwack Bruins.
But Pearson has a championship ring, thanks to his stint on the coaching staff last season.
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Mark Ferner, the head coach of the Everett Silvertips, went to sleep Saturday night with a smile on his face. He woke up today and the smile was still there.
That’s because D Ryan Murray is to report to the Silvertips this week.
TSN reported Saturday that Murray will report despite concerns from his agent, Rick Valette. Yes, Valette was once the GM of the Prince Albert Raiders.
According to TSN, “Valette is concerned that if there is an NHL lockout that lasts several months, when and if the NHL season does begin, Murray will not be allowed to join the Blue Jackets.”
The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Murray with the second pick of the NHL’s 2012 draft.
Bob McKenzie of TSN reported earlier that “there is an agreement in principal between the NHL and the CHL that will allow players to join their NHL clubs should the season start late, but there may be a time limit involved.”
Valette is attempting to get a guarantee in writing that Murray will be allowed to move to the Columbus Blue Jackets whenever the NHL season gets started. That guarantee hasn’t been forthcoming, but Murray will head for Everett regardless.
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The Calgary Hitmen have five 20-year-olds on their roster after having released F Danny Gayle. Gayle, from Calgary, had 39 points, including 15 goals, in 61 games last season. In fact, he had career highs in goals, assists (24) and points. . . . Gayle played 34 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2009-10 and was dealt to the Hitmen early in 2010-11. He has 70 points in 162 career regular-season games. . . . F Trevor Cheek, F Alex Gogolev, D Spencer Humphries, F Brooks Macek and F Cody Sylvester are the 20s remaining on Calgary’s roster. . . . Gogolev, who is from Moscow, would be a two-spotter (20-year-old import) should the Hitmen keep him. Cheek won’t turn 20 until Dec. 29.
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JUST NOTES: The Red Deer Rebels are down to 26 players after assigning two on Saturday night. G Grant Naherniak, 16, is from Moose Jaw and will join the midget AAA Moose Jaw Warriors. D Kevin Pochuk, 17, is from Winnipeg and is off to the MJHL’s Virden Oil Capitals. . . . Naherniak was a fifth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft; Pochuk was taken in the fifth round of the 2010 bantam draft.
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The ECHL’s Elmira Jackals are looking for a head coach following the resignation of Pat Bingham on Saturday. . . . "Pat made this decision solely on what was best for his family,” Elmira GM Matt Hufnagel said in a news release. “An opportunity outside of professional hockey presented itself and he took it. While unfortunate that Pat won't be coaching the Jackals this season, we wish him, his wife, and his son the best," said Jackals general manager Matt Hufnagel.” . . . Bingham, 44, is a Vancouver native who played in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers and New Westminster Bruins (1985-89). He was head coach of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2010-11 and the Jackals last season.

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Pouliot backstops Rebels past Blazers

Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers beat Red Deer goaltender Bolton
Pouliot here, but the Rebels had the last laugh with a 3-2 victory
on Friday night.
(Photo by Murray Mitchell / Kamloops Daily News)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor

It happens.
Every once in a while man bites dog, David beats Goliath, Buster Douglas takes out Mike Tyson.
On Friday night, it happened at the Interior Savings Centre as the Red Deer Rebels, with seven regulars out of the lineup and their starting goaltender on the limp, scored a 3-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers.
The Blazers, who lead the WHL’s overall standings at 41-13-4, had won nine in a row — and 15 of 16 — at home. They last lost at home on Dec. 30 when the Calgary Hitmen, who are here tonight, posted a 6-3 victory.
The Rebels, now 26-26-5, came in having lost two in a row. They are eight points out of the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot.
On top of that, Jesse Wallin, the Rebels’ general manager and head coach, was forced into using starting a goaltender who had yet to win in this league.
“I didn’t know I was playing until five minutes left in warmup,” offered Bolton Pouliot, a 17-year-old freshman from Calgary who got the start because Deven Dubyk, 20, is fighting a sore back and the flu. “Jesse said you’re going to go in. I took the opportunity . . . it was pretty exciting.”
(Dubyk actually is the Rebels’ second No. 1 goaltender this season. Patrik Bartosak, a Czech freshman, was having a terrific season when his season was ended by shoulder surgery. Dubyk was then brought in from the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos.)
Pouliot was making his third appearance of 2012 — he came on in relief on Jan. 6 and Feb. 4 — and his first start since Dec. 9, when the Rebels dropped a 5-3 decision to the Brandon Wheat Kings. He actually played more minutes last night (60) than he did in his previous three appearances combined (36).
Pouliot, who now is 1-4-2, didn’t face a whole lot of pressure from a Kamloops team that was clearly out of sync, but he held the fort in the third period when his guy were outshot, 16-3.
“That was to be expected, especially with the quality of team they have,” Pouliot said of the third-period onslaught.
His best stop came at 18:26, when he took what appeared to be a sure-fire score away from defenceman Austin Madaisky, who had taken a back-door pass from Colin Smith and thought he was looking at an open net. Pouliot, however, was able to get his glove on the shot.
Asked if any one save stood out, Pouliot shook his head.
“Just solid,” he said, after making 37 saves. “Just stop the puck.”
Pouliot did admit that there was a personal touch to this game as he dates Sierra Sterzer, a sister to Kamloops forward Aspen Sterzer, who was scratched last night.
“All summer we go at each other, chirping back and forth,” Pouliot said with a laugh.
While the Blazers didn’t have anything to laugh about after this one, they were in it right to the end.
The score was 2-2 late in the third period when centre Charles Inglis, whom the Rebels acquired from the Prince George Cougars on Dec. 29, beat forward Brandon Herrod off the right boards in the Kamloops zone.
“I was just trying to rag the puck . . . looking for guys coming in,” Inglis said, “because I saw our guys were changing. I was hoping for a trailer. I shoulder-checked and I had a lot more room than I thought. So I walked to the middle, threw it on net and luckily she went in.”
Just prior to the goal, which came at 17:37, Inglis said he and Kamloops winger Brendan Ranford were chirping at each other from their benches.
“He told me he was going to score next shift,” said Inglis, who has 17 goals. “I said, ‘Nah, I’m going to score.’ ”
Inglis now has scored two game-winners for two different teams at the ISC this season. He had the game’s only goal on Sept. 24 when the Cougars beat the Blazers 1-0 in Kamloops’ home-opener.
Ranford had scored his 33rd goal of the season to forge a 2-2 tie at 17:02 of the second.
“We didn’t rise to the challenge for 40 minutes,” Kamloops head coach Guy Charron said. “In the third period, they had one scoring chance. They scored. They only had three shots on goal. For the first 40 minutes, 5-on-5, they outplayed us.
“As well as (Pouliot) played, if we could have sustained the pressure that we did in the third period for 60 minutes, maybe we would have had a chance to make him collapse.”
Pouliot was quick to compliment Kamloops goaltender Cole Cheveldave, who finished with 31 saves, including two when he was down and out but still had pucks hit outstretched legs.
“Cheveldave was unbelievable in the second period,” Pouliot said “He deserved a better fate. He played incredibly well.”
Tim Bozon had the Blazers’ other goal, opening the scoring in the first period with his 28th of the season. The Rebels took the lead on goals by defencemen — Kevin Pochuk, in from the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild, got his first WHL goal three minutes after Bozon scored and Alex Petrovic, who always plays like he owns the building here, got his ninth midway through the second.
The Blazers, who lead the overall standings by three points over the Edmonton Oil Kings and hold a five-point lead over the Tri-City Americans and Portland Winterhawks in the Western Conference, could have their hands full again tonight. The Hitmen, who beat the Royals 5-3 in Victoria on Wednesday night, whipped the Rockets 7-1 in Kelowna last night.
“We are faced with another team that has had success against us and they’re playing well,” Charron said. “If we get the same kind of effort, we’ll probably face the same result.”
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 4,077. . . . Kamloops F Chase Schaber, the team captain, is questionable tonight with what the team says is a lower-body injury. He wasn’t on the bench for the third period. . . . The Rebels went 3-0 against Kamloops this season. . . . Kamloops G Cam Lanigan was ill and didn’t dress. G Ty Hamer-Jackson of the midget Tier 1 North Kamloops Lions was on the bench. . . . The Daily News’ Three Stars: 1. Pouliot: Full marks for first victory; 2. Petrovic: Big, physical and moves well; 3. Cheveldave: Gave his guys a chance to pull one out. 



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The Edmonton Oil Kings are rewriting the franchise’s modern day record book. In the process, this team is setting the bar for the teams that will follow.
Of course, the modern-day Oil Kings are in only their fifth season but, still, the numbers are impressive.
Here’s a quick look at some of the franchise records that already have fallen (with a tip of the hat to Ryan Ohashi, the Oil Kings’ manager of communications):
REGULAR SEASON
Most Points (Team): 83
Previous record: 69 (2010-11)
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Most Wins (Team): 38
Previous record: 34 (2010-11)
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Most Assists: 54 (Dylan Wruck)
Previous Record: 48 (Michael St.Croix, 2010-11)
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CAREER
Most Games Played: 255 (T.J. Foster)
Previous record: 218 (Adrian Van De Mosselaer, 2007-11)
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Most Goals: 83 (Michael St. Croix)
Previous Record: 50 (Brent Raedeke and Tomas Vincour, both 2007-10)
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Most Assists: 129 (Michael St.Croix, 2009-11)
Previous Record: 77 (Michael St.Croix, 2009-11)
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Most Points: 212 (Michael St.Croix, 2009-11)
Previous Record: 123 (Michael St.Croix, 2009-11)
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Most Shutouts: 5 (Laurent Brossoit)
Previous Record: 4 (Torrie Jung, 2008-10)
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The Oil Kings also lead the wHL in goals scored (244) and goal differential (plus-97). . . . The Oil Kings continue their record run tonight when they meet the Giants in Vancouver.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Southern Professional league’s Fayetteville FireAntz have brought in Todd Bidner to replace the fired Sean Gillam (Spokane, 1992-96). . . . The FireAntz went 12-25-5 under Gillam, who was in his first season. They are in last place in the SPHL. . . . Bidner, 40, was selected by the Washington Capitals in the sixth round of the NHL’s 1980 draft. He played most of his pro career in Great Britain.
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JUST NOTES:
The Saskatoon Blades have brought in D Brett Lernout, 16, from the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Lernout has 35 points and is plus-54 in 44 games with the Wild. A late birthday, he will be eligible for the 2013 NHL draft. . . . Kevin Pochuk, another Wild defenceman, also is in the WHL. He is with the Red Deer Rebels on their swing into the B.C. Division. Pochuk has 64 points and is plus-81 in 42 games with the Wild. . . . If you were wondering, the Wild is 41-2-1. . . . Saskatoon also owns the WHL rights to Wild G Alex Moodie, who had a good run with the Blades early in the new year following an injury to starter Andrey Markarov.
The Kelowna Rockets should have F Brett Lyon and F Jessey Astles back in the lineup tonight when they play host to the Calgary Hitmen. Lyon, 20, has served a WHL-issued six-game suspension, while Astles, 18, has missed 18 games with what the team says is an “upper-body injury.” It is believed that he was out with a concussion. . . . Due to injuries and Lyon’s suspensions, the Rockets had six 16-year-olds dressed on Tuesday when they lost 6-3 to the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. . . .
The Vancouver Giants will add D Cody Franson of the Toronto Maple Leafs to their Ring of Honour tonight as part of the festivities when they play host to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Franson, 24, played three full seasons (2004-07) for the Giants. His younger brother Cain, 18, plays for the Giants now. "It's exciting and I'm very honoured to have this happen but I also haven't seen my brother play since he was 15 years old, or maybe even younger than that," Cody told Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province. "I'm very excited to watch him play." . . . Vancouver has lost F Anthony Ast to a four-game suspension for a charging major he incurred during a game against the Tri-City Americans on Tuesday. Ast didn’t play in Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over the Chiefs in Spokane so has three games left to serve. F Mitch Messier, the subject of Ast’s hit, didn’t return to Tuesday’s game and didn’t play Wednesday in a ?? loss to the host Portland Winterhawks. . . . The Giants also will be without F Marek Tvrdon, who picked up a match penalty for spearing in Spokane. . . . Ewen reports that the Giants will have F Brodyn Nielsen, 18, in their lineup tonight. He already has played seven games with the Giants this season but plays regularly for the junior B North Vancouver Wolf Pack. . . . The Giants also may get F Carter Popoff, a 16-year-old from the junior B Richmond Sockeyes into their lineup. . . .
The Brandon Wheat Kings have been bitten by the injury bug as it seems have so many teams of late. The Wheat Kings beat the Hurricanes 4-2 in Lethbridge on Wednesday without the services of five forwards — Alessio Bertaggia, Dominick Favreau, Tyrel Seaman and Kevin Sundher and Jason Swyripa. The Wheat Kings are at home to the Prince Albert Raiders and apparently don’t know if any of the injured will return. . . .
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Saskatoon soon will have a new cardiac care lab and CTVNews has a piece right here that includes some time with Darren Lefebvre, who you will recall had a cardiac issue while playing for the Spokane Chiefs in 2002-03. That piece is right here.
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Today’s good read comes from The New Yorker and has nothing to do with hockey. Instead, it’s all about football. Rather, it’s all about Jon Gruden. Kelefa Sanneh has written a terrific piece and it’s right here. And it's lengthy, so be prepared.


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ASK THE COMMISSIONER:
I have been told by two people that a player who is selected as the WHL player of the week doesn’t receive anything. Mr. Commissioner, is that true? According to Bruce Hamilton, the chairman of the WHL’s board of governors, you have teams operating on annual budgets of $3 million. That being the case, can you not find something — gas coupons, fast food coupons, a free movie — for your players of the week?
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The Red Deer Rebels, with eight players injured, have added a couple of younger players as they head into the B.C. Division for four games. . . . D Kevin Pochuk, 16, has joined the Rebels from the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild. Pochuk, the highest-scoring defenceman in the Manitoba midget AAA league, actually got to Red Deer late last week, played in two weekend games and now will stay for at least four more games. . . . Pochuk’s presence gives the Rebels five defencemen. He was a fifth-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. . . . F Dexter Bricker of the midget AAA Swift Current Legionnaires also is expected to join the Rebels for at least part of this swing. Bricker has some experience with the Rebels and already has served a three-game suspension for a charging major in an exhibition game on Sept. 6. Later, he went pointless in three regular-season games.
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MONDAY’S GAME:
In Regina, G Matt Hewitt stopped 27 shots to lead the Pats to a 1-0 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Hewitt has four shutouts this season, two of them against Saskatoon. . . . The Blades have been blanked three times this season. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal scored the game’s only goal, getting his fifth shorthanded tally of the season at 18:54 of the second period. . . . That gave Weal 90 points, moving him into a tie for the WHL scoring lead with F Mark Stone of the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Saskatoon G Andrey Makarov stopped 28 shots. . . . The Blades and Pats completed their season series with Saskatoon holding a 5-3 edge. . . . Regina, seventh in the Eastern Conference, is three points behind the Calgary Hitmen and five ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Here’s how Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post described Weal’s goal: “Weal started off the highlight-reel effort by blocking a shot at the point, grabbing the puck and quickly pulling away from the first defender. Gaining speed into Saskatoon’s zone, Weal danced around defenceman Darren Dietz and sliced his way to the net before going top shelf on goaltender Andrey Makarov, bringing the crowd — along with the players on the bench — to their feet in jaw-dropping fashion.”
And a tip of the hat to Lorne Molleken, the Blades’ GM/head coach, who was quick to credit the Pats after the game.
“Regina played a real solid game,” Molleken told Harder. “In the last couple games we played them we found the back of the net and tonight we had a real hard time. We didn’t get all five guys involved in the offence. Regina did a good job eliminating that. Their defence was real strong from the top of the circles down. Our one-on-one situations, we didn’t do a real good job in that area. Give them credit, they played extremely well.”
More coaches should be that effusive in their praise of a worthy opponent.
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MONDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
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MONDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None.
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Check out the latest effort by F Taylor Vause of the Swift Current Broncos. . . . It’s a poster for New York Power Rangers, and it is right here.
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By now if you haven’t seen the 50/50 system that is in some arenas, you have at least heard about it. You know, the one that was in use at the World Junior Championship in Saskatoon and the Memorial Cup in Brandon and the WJC in Edmonton and Calgary, and on and on. Ever wonder how it all got started? Stephen Brun of the Summerside Journal-Pioneer has that story right here.
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If you have been following the saga of Boston Bruins G Tim Thomas since he stiffed President Barack Obama and the White House, Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe has a good look at it and the impact it has had and may have with the team. That is right here.


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