WHL talks 50th anniversary season . . . Holt, Kennedy head to Swift Current . . . Merkley among U of L recruits

G Tyler Plante (Brandon, 2003-07) signed a one-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). Last season, with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen), he was 18-9, 2.36, .918 with two shutouts in 27 games. He was third in the league in save percentage. . . .
F Mike Piluso (Vancouver, Edmonton, 2006-11) signed a one-year contract with Hamburger SV (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (ACAA), he had 46 points, including 23 goals, in 27 games. He was second in the league’s scoring race. He also was the playoff MVP.
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The WHL’s annual general meeting wrapped up in Vancouver on Wednesday and, if you go by the news release

issued by the league office, hardly anything of note happened.
At least nothing happened unless it had to do with the fact that the 2015-16 season will be the WHL’s 50th anniversary season.
From the news release:
* The WHL season will open Sept. 24 with the Regina Pats visiting the Moose Jaw Warriors. Why open in Moose Jaw? “The East Division is considered the birthplace of the WHL,” according to the news release, “and Moose Jaw is the home of the first ever WHL championship team.”
* The WHL will announce it’s top 50 players of all-time at some point during the season. Fans will help determine that list, while a select panel of long-time WHL observers also will take part.
* In September, the WHL will publish a 50th anniversary book that will “detail the history of the league as well as its clubs, builders, players and key members.”
* Each of the WHL’s 22 teams will play host to one game that will celebrate the 50th season and “honour the history of its franchise and alumni.”
* As well, the Subway Super Series — Team WHL against a touring Russian side — will be played in Kelowna on Nov. 9 and Kamloops on Nov. 10. . . . The CHL Top Prospects Game is to be played in Vancouver on Jan. 28. . . . Red Deer is the host city for the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament, May 19-29.
Unfortunately, there was nothing in the WHL’s news release detailing whether the pooh-bahs discussed such matters as dealing with mental health through education, efforts to prevent concussions, or possible rule changes.
Nor does the news release indicate when the WHL will release its regular-season schedule. Last year, the WHL released its regular-season schedule two weeks after its AGM.
If you are wondering about a playoff format, the one that was in use this spring will be used for at least two more seasons. The WHL announced that format after its 2015 AGM, saying that it would be in place for three seasons.
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“The Western Hockey League is prepared to ‘exhaust every avenue’ to keep the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, but commissioner Ron Robison reaffirmed there is a demand from other markets, including in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland, for a franchise if relocation becomes a reality,” writes Cam Tucker of Metro Vancouver. . . . That story is right here.
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The WHL announced Wednesday that former player Greg Gardner is its manager of education services. According to a news release, Gardner “will be responsible to administer the WHL league-wide education program policies and procedures, including monitoring the academic progress” of all players through each team’s education advisor. . . . After playing five seasons (2003-08) with the Prince George Cougars, Gardner spent five seasons with the U of Alberta Golden Bears. He played the last two seasons with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. At the U of A, he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a concentration in sports performance.
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Todd Holt and Sheldon Kennedy, a pair of former Swift Current Broncos forwards who were sexually abused by GM/head coach Graham James, will be in Swift Current on Friday to support the latest ex-player to come forward with accusations about James. . . . Bill Graveland of The Canadian Press has more right here.
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There is a definite WHL flavour to the U of Lethbridge Pronghorns’ recruits for the 2015-16 season. Head coach Spiros Anastas, who is heading into his second season, announced the commitment of 12 players, including seven with WHL experience. . . . F Bryson Gore (Moose Jaw), D Tyler Hansen (Kamloops), F Sam McKechnie (Lethbridge, Seattle, Saskatoon), F Jay Merkley (Lethbridge, Swift Current), D Blake Orban (Vancouver, Edmonton), F Brett Roulston (Prince George), and F Dalton Sward (Vancouver). . . . Hansen is returning to the ice after leaving the Kamloops Blazers following the 2012-13 season in order to serve a two-year mission with the Church of Latter Day Saints. . . . McKechnie and Orban are second-generation Pronghorns, their fathers, Dana and Scott, having also played at the U of L. . . . Merkley is eligible to return to the WHL for his 20-year-old season, but obviously has decided to go to school.
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Things got a little weird in Major League Baseball on Tuesday. How weird? Well, I would suggest it was one of the goofiest days in MLB history. Jayston Stark of espn.com recaps what truly was a bizarre day right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Tom Keca has taken over as the general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Keca, 44, has previous experience with the Oil Barons, as an assistant coach for nine seasons (2000-06, 2011-14). He also spent four seasons (2006-10) as head coach of the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. . . . Keca, who also played for the Oil Barons, takes over from Curtis Hunt, who resigned and signed on as general manager with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.
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USA Hockey has rounded out the coaching staff for its national junior team. Earlier, it named former NHL coach Ron Wilson as head coach. Joining him as assistant coaches are former NHL players Chris Chelios and Danton Cole, along with Kevin Reiter. . . . Since his retirement as a player, Chelios has worked as an advisor to hockey operations with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. . . . Cole is preparing for his sixth season as a head coach in the U.S. National Team Development Program. . . . Reiter has completed two seasons as the NTDP’s goaltending coach. . . . The U.S. will hold its summer evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 1-8. . . . The 2016 World Junior Championship will be decided in Helsinki, Finland, from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.
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F Klarc Wilson (Brandon, Edmonton, Prince George, 2009-2014) will attend NAIT and play for the Ooks. Wilson, 22, is from Edmonton. He split last season between the ECHL’s Indy Fuel and Stockton Thunder.
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Americans Championship fever has invaded downtown Dallas tonight thanks to the @OmniHotels Dallas. #KellyCupChampions pic.twitter.com/Ag2VmaFUNN

— #RockYourRed (@AllenAmericans) June 18, 2015

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Goaltender Mac Carruth of the Portland Winterhawks accepts congratulations
from Darrell May Sr. after breaking the latter's franchise record for career
victories on Wednesday night.
(Bryan Heim / Portland Winterhawks)

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lukas Vartovnik (Everett, 2006-08) was one of seven players released by Martin (Slovakia, Extraliga) for financial reasons. Vartovnik had five goals and three assists in 25 games for Martin this season.
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The Prince George Cougars have acquired F Klarc Wilson, 19, from the Edmonton Oil Kings for a third-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. . . . Wilson was taken 10th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2008 bantam draft. . . . He has 16 points, five of them goals, and 55 penalty minutes in 40 games this season. In 225 career games with Brandon (19) and Edmonton (206), he has 78 points and 332 penalty minutes.
The Cougars, with F Daulton Siwak, 19, and F Alex Forsberg, who turned 18 on Jan. 4, having left them in recent days, get a badly needed forward and one with some experience. Wilson will get a lot more ice time with the Cougars.
Prince George general manager Dallas Thompson is going right down to the wire with Forsberg, who didn’t return to the team after the Christmas break and asked to be traded. He was the first overall selection in the 2010 bantam draft.
Thompson has said that he will only move Forsberg if the gets a substantial return and it seems that as of Wednesday he hadn’t seen anything resembling what he wants.
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The Edmonton Oil Kings have acquired F Trevor Cheek, 20, from the Vancouver Giants for a second-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft. It will be a late second-round selection because it originally belonged to the Portland Winterhawks, who gave it up last season in order to land F Cam Reid, a 20-year-old who left St. Cloud State to come to the WHL. . . . Cheek, who is from Vancouver, Wash., began this season with the Calgary Hitmen. They dealt him to Vancouver for a fourth-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft and a fifth-rounder in 2014. . . . Cheek had 32 points, including 18 goals, in 39 games with the Giants, after picking up one assist in one game with Calgary. In the previous two seasons, he had 74 points in 124 games with Calgary. . . . The trade leaves Edmonton with Cheek, F T.J. Foster and F Dylan Wruck as it’s three 20-year-old players. . . . The Giants are left with D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, their captain, as their only 20 and he will sit for the next few weeks with a hand injury.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have added some more size with the acquisition of D Mike Simpson, 18, from the Kootenay Ice. The Hurricanes gave up a 2013 fifth-round bantam draft pick in the exchange. Simpson, 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, is from Semiahmoo, B.C. He has one assist and 47 penalty minutes in 40 games this season, after putting up four points and 52 penalty minutes in 52 games last season. He was a sixth-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft. . . . Earlier in the week, the Hurricanes added 6-foot-2, 190-pound F Josh Derko in a deal with the Swift Current Broncos.
As for the Ice, the deal left it with five defencemen on the roster, so obviously something will happen there. But as of last night GM Jeff Chynoweth hadn’t moved either D Joey Leach or F Brock Montgomery, both of whom are 20. You get the feeling that Chynoweth won’t be unhappy if he ends up keeping both of them.
After the Simpson deal, the Ice owns seven selections in the first five rounds of the 2013 bantam draft, including four fifth-rounders.
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The Spokane Chiefs have acquired D Stewart Coyle, 17, from the Vancouver Giants for a sixth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. . . . Unofficially, that is the first 2016 draft pick to change hands. . . . The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Coyle, who is from Sicamous, B.C., was pointless in 10 games with the Kelowna Rockets last season. This season, he had two assists in 17 games with the Giants. . . . The Giants got Coyle and F Tanner Moar from t he Rockets for two draft picks, a fourth in 2014 and a sixth in 2015, on Sept. 17.
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F Tanner Moar has left the Vancouver Giants, apparently choosing to retire rather than continue his WHL career. Moar, 18, is from Canwood, Sask. He had four points in 29 games with the Giants. Last season, he had eight points in 65 games with the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Moar was a seventh-round selection by the Rockets in the 2009 bantam draft.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors have assigned F Brett Brooks, who turned 18 on Dec. 2, to the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues. A Winnipeg native, he had one point in 31 games this season after putting up three points in 38 games last season. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels have added F Hunter Smith, 17, of Carlyle, Sask., to their roster. He had four points in nine games with the Carlyle Cougars of the Big 6 Hockey League. . . . Smith was a ninth-round selection by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2010 bantam draft. . . .
Bruce Fuhr of the Castlegar Source has more right here on that bizarre situation involving the junior B Beaver Valley Nitehawks and the junior A Trail Smoke Eaters. And, yes, it seems there will be an investigation. . . .
The NAHL’s Wenatchee Wild have once again begun the process that could lead to its moving into the BCHL. Brent Stecker of the Wenatchee World has that story right here.
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A note from Cam Wietzel advises that the 35th anniversary edition of the John Reid Memorial bantam tournament is scheduled for Jan. 17-20 at Servus Place in St. Albert, Alta.
“This tournament,” he notes, “features the top 16 bantam AAA teams in Western Canada and will feature many of the top 14-year-old hockey players in the country.”
He also was kind enough to provide a few tidbits . . .
1. The 2012 WHL bantam draft featured 93 players who were participants in the JRMT. That is an amazing 31 per cent of all invitees from the 2012 edition of the event, who went on to be drafted in to the WHL. 2013 is expecting to be as prolific.
2. The current top three scorers in the WHL — Colin Smith, Nicolas Petan and Brendan Leipsic — all were participants in the JRMT, as were two members of Canada's 2013 U-20 WJHC team — Morgan Rielly and Mark McNeill.
3. Over 60 alumni from the JRMT have gone on to play in the NHL, including Jarome Iginla, Scott and Rob Niedermayer, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Eric Staal and Jonathan Toews.
4. This year's tournament features 23 of the top 30 scorers in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, including South Side Athletic Club's Tyler Benson, who is on pace to shatter the AMBHL scoring record, currently held by Ty Rattie.
5. The all-time single tournament scoring leader is Jonathan Toews, who had 36 points in seven games in 2003.
6. Michael St. Croix, currently with the Edmonton Oil Kings, scored a record 38 points (including 15 as an underage) over two tournaments (2007 and 2008).
7. Thunder Bay won the tournament a record four consecutive years (1997-2000). The 1997 Thunder Bay squad featured three current NHLers — Patrick Sharp, Taylor Pyatt and Alex Auld.
8. Current Oil Kings F Curtis Lazar was named MVP of the 2010 JRMT. His performance at the JRMT was his self-described, “coming out party” in terms of his meteoric rise up the scouts’ rankings. He eventually was selected second overall in the WHL draft and is a potential first-round selection in the upcoming NHL draft.
9. Several coaching staffs from teams attending this year's tournament feature ex-NHLers. Blake Wesley, Dixon Ward, Norm Lacombe, Joby Messier, Kevin Smyth and Mike Needham all will be in St. Albert providing leadership and mentorship to these talented athletes.
10. St. Albert has won its own tournament once — in 1983, led by future NHL sniper Rob Brown.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, the Calgary Hitmen ran their winning streak to five games with a 6-4 victory over the Warriors. . . . F Brady Brassart had two goals and was plus-5 for the Hitmen, while F Brooks Macek and F Cody Sylvester each had a goal and two assists. . . . Macek scored six seconds into the second period, which is two seconds off the franchise record for fastest goal to start a period. On Tuesday, Macek set a franchise record for fastest goal to open a game when he scored nine seconds into what became a 7-2 victory over the Wheat Kings in Brandon. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger came on in relief to stop 15 of 16 shots. . . . The Hitmen now are 15-2-1 on the road. . . . The Warriors have lost five in a row. . . .

In Swift Current, F Adam Lowry had a goal and an assist to lead the Broncos to a 5-2 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Lowry’s first-period goal, his 28th of the season, ran his point streak to 18 games. . . . That equals the longest point streak in the WHL this season. Portland B Brendan Leipsic had an 18-gamer earlier. . . . Broncos G Eetu Laurikainen, just back from an appearance with Finland at the World Junior Championship, stopped 34 shots. . . . With G Patrik Bartosak having returned from the Czech national junior team, the Rebels have returned G Grant Naherniak, 16, to the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals. . . .

In Prince Albert, the Raiders erased a 3-1 first-period deficit and beat the Regina Pats, 9-4. . . . F Colton Stephenson’s ninth goal of the season, at 9:05 of the first, gave Regina a 3-1 edge. . . . The Raiders then scored four straight goals. . . . Regina had won its previous five games. . . . D Dylan Busenius had three assists for the Raiders, who got goals from nine different players. . . . Prince Albert G Andy Desautels came on at 3-1 and stopped 19 of 20 shots. . . . D Luke Fenske (ill) was among Regina’s scratches. . . .

In Lethbridge, the Hurricanes scored five first-period goals on 12 shots and went on to beat the Vancouver Giants, 7-4. . . . The Giants got back to within one, at 5-4, late in the second period. . . . Lethbridge got two third-period goals from F Jaimen Yakubowski, his 24th and 25th, the latter into an empty net. . . . Four players scored their first goals of the season — F Michael Sofillas and D Adam Henry of the Hurricanes and F Luca Leone and F Travis McEvoy of the Giants. . . . Lethbridge F Reid Duke, who played his first 29 games without a goal, enjoyed his second straight two-goal outing. He also had an assist in this one. . . . The Hurricanes lost F Brady Ramsay at 9:43 of the first period when he was given a match penalty for attempt to injure. . . . The Giants dressed 16 skaters, two under the maximum. . . . Vancouver F Scott Cooke, who suffered an arm injury in Tuesday’s 4-0 loss in Medicine Hat, will be out for at least four weeks. . . . Vancouver went 1-4-0 on a Central Division swing on which it played five games in six nights. . . .

In Portland, G Mac Carruth stopped 23 shots as the Winterhawks beat the Prince George Cougars, 3-0. . . . The Winterhawks have won 12 in a row. . . . Carruth posted his 106th regular-season victory, a career franchise record. The previous record had been held by Darrell May Sr., who was there to congratulate Carruth. May’s WHL career ended in 1982. . . . Carruth has four shutouts this season and eight in his career. He now shares the Portland career shutout record with Lanny Ramage and Kurtis Mucha. . . . While Carruth has four shutouts this season, he has only two losses. He is 19-2-0. His career record is 106-41-4. . . . Portland F Nic Petan picked up one assist and moved into the lead in the WHL scoring race. He has 69 points, one more than Kamloops F Colin Smith. . . . Portland scratched F Paul Bittner, who was on a six-game point streak, and F Chase De Leo (ill), who had played all 40 previous games this season. . . . The Cougars, who got 46 saves from G Mac Engel, dressed 16 skaters for the second night in a row. They lost 6-4 in Portland on Tuesday. . . .

In Kamloops, F Beau McCue broke a 1-1 tie 30 seconds into the third period as the Tri-City Americans beat the Blazers, 3-1. . . . F Tim Bozon gave the Blazers a 1-0 lead on the PP at 2:53 of the first period. . . . Tri-City D Michal Plutnar tied it on the PP at 11:14 of the second. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie stopped 34 shots. . . . The Blazers were 1-for-7 on the PP. . . . The Americans had lost their last four games in Kamloops. . . . The Blazers scratched F JC Lipon and D Marek Hrbas. Lipon, who played for Canada at the World Junior Championship, is at home in Regina catching up on some rest. He will join the Blazers in Prince George for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader with the Cougars. Hrbas, who played for the Czech Republic at the WJC, returned to Kamloops on Tuesday night, but was given the night off. . . .

In Kelowna, the Rockets scored five times in the second period en route to a 6-1 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . The victory, Kelowna’s 16th straight on home ice, lifted the Rockets into first place in the B.C. Division, two points ahead of Kamloops. . . . D Damon Severson and F Ryan Olsen each had a goal and two assists for the Rockets. . . . D MacKenzie Johnston scored his first goal of the season, in 22 games. He has 10 points this season, one more than he scored in 70 games last season. . . . D Madison Bowey (ill) was among Kelowna’s scratches. . . .

In Spokane, G Eric Williams stoppd 30 shots as the Chiefs dropped the Seattle Thunderbirds, 4-1. . . . F Liam Stewart got the winner for the second straight night. His 10th goal broke a 1-1 tie at 3:16 of the second period. . . . F Mitch Holmberg scored his 25th goal of the season for the Chiefs, while F Mike Aviani got his 21st. . . . Spokane F Carter Proft scored the Chiefs’ fourth goal on a third-period penalty shot. . . . The Thunderbirds played three straight games against Spokane and lost each one — 5-2, 4-3 and 4-1. . . . Seattle now has lost 12 straight games.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Richard Nedomlel, Swift Current
F Joey Baker, Portland

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
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From Calgary Hitmen F Calder Brooks (@CalderBrooks): “Just a casual skate with Mike Cammalleri at the Dome today, helping him with his shot and stuff #whatatreat”


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The WHL’s trade deadline arrives today (2 p.m. in B.C., 3 p.m. in Alberta, 4 p.m. in Saskatchewan and Manitoba). Here is a look at trades since the end of the WHL’s Christmas trade moratorium:

Jan. 1: Medicine Hat trades D Dylan Busenius, 19, F Jayden Hart, 18, and a 2014 sixth-round bantam draft pick to Prince Albert for F Logan McVeigh, 18, D Zach Hodder, 19, F Connor Hobbs, 15, and a 2013 second-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 2: Vancouver trades F Kale Kessy, 20, to Kamloops for F Rob Trzonkowski, 18, and a 2015 fifth-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 3: Everett trades F Trent Lofthouse, 18, to Victoria for a 2014 sixth-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 3: Victoria trades G Jared Rathjen, 18, to Vancouver for a 2013 eighth-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 7: Victoria trades D Jesse Zgraggen, 19, to Calgary for a 2013 fourth-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 7: Lethbridge trades F Jay Merkley, 17, to Swift Current for F Josh Derko, 19, and a 2014 third-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 9: Vancouver trades F Trevor Cheek, 20, to Calgary for a 2013 second-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 9: Kootenay trades D Mike Simpson, 18, to Lethbridge for a 2013 fifth-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 9: Vancouver trades D Stewart Coyle, 17, to Spokane for a 2016 sixth-round bantam draft pick.

Jan. 9: Edmonton trades F Klarc Wilson, 19, to Prince George for a 2014 third-round bantam draft pick.

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Here’s Jim Matheson, in the Edmonton Journal:
“Derek Laxdal loves working with the Oil Kings and has done a fantastic job with the kids but with every win in the playoffs you wonder whether pro people outside of Edmonton are noticing. The Dallas Stars are looking for an AHL farm coach in Austin and the New York Islanders just let two assistants go, including former Swift Current Broncos coach-GM Dean Chynoweth. Laxdal used to coach the Stars’ ECHL club in Idaho. He was drafted by the Leafs the same year (1984) as Isles’ head coach Jack Capuano and they played together in Newmarket (Ont.) and Springfield.”
Matty’s Hockey World is right here.
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Jerry Toppazzini, who played in the six-team NHL with the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroi Red Wings, died Saturday at the age of 81.
The Sudbury Star has more right here.
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F Brett Bulmer, who played this season with the Kelowna Rockets, had the game’s only goal as the visiting Houston Aeros beat the Oklahoma City Barons 1-0 in an AHL playoff game on Sunday. The Barons lead the best-of-five series 2-1 with Game 4 set for Tuesday in Oklahoma City. . . . The Aeros are affiliated with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild; the Barons are with the Edmonton Oilers. . . . Former Moose Jaw Warriors G Mike Brodeur put up the shutout.
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According to the Winnipeg Sun, the MJHL has called an emergency board meeting for tonight at which the much-rumoured sale of the Winnipeg Saints to interests in Virden, Man., will be discussed. There has been speculation that the franchise already has been sold to a Virden group.
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SUNDAY’S GAME:
There was one Eastern Conference game on Sunday night, with the Edmonton Oil Kings putting up a second straight 6-1 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . This is the seventh Eastern Conference series this spring; the tally is 26-2. There have been four sweeps and two series decided in five games. . . . The Western Conference final resumes Wednesday with the host Portland Winterhawks holding a 2-0 edge over the Tri-City Americans. . . .

In Edmonton, G Laurent Brossoit stopped 48 shots to lead the Oil Kings to a 6-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Oil Kings, who now have won 21 straight games, including 10 in a row in these playoffs, lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final, 2-0. . . . Edmonton had won the opener, also 6-1, on Friday. . . . The series now heads for Moose Jaw and games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. . . . Brossoit was especially busy in the second period when he stopped 23 of 24 shots. . . . The CHL’s reigning goaltender of the week, Brossoit has won 19 straight starts. . . . F Jordan Peddle scored twice for Edmonton, giving him three goals in these playoffs. He got the game’s first goal and later made it 5-1 with an empty-netter as Moose Jaw lifted G Luke Siemens for the extra attacker with 3:30 to play. . . . Edmonton F Klarc Wilson had two assists, giving him five points in the two games. . . . Siemens finished with 26 saves. . . . Brossoit lost his shutout when F Kenton Miller scored on the PP at 11:37 of the second period. That cut the Edmonton lead to 2-1, but D Martin Gernat restored the two-goal lead on a PP just three minutes later. . . . According to Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald: “The 49 shots (Brossoit) was the most he had faced since his first WHL start. Brossoit made 49 saves in a 2-1 loss to Kootenay in his second career appearance on March 13, 2010 when he was 16.”. . . The Oil Kings continue to play without injured forwards Dylan Wruck (shoulder) and Kristians Pelss (undisclosed). As well, F Travis Ewanyk suffered an apparent arm injury last night. Ewanyk, who turned 20 on March 29, played only 11 regular-season games after undergoing shoulder surgery in September. He returned to Edmonton's lineup on Feb. 24.

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The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed Danny Mumaugh, a 1996-born goaltender from Centennial, Colo. He was 26-3-3, 1.12, .939 with the Colorado Thunderbirds in the Tier 1 Elite Minor Midget League. He recorded 12 shutouts. . . . Mumaugh was in Seattle’s 2011 rookie camp as a free agent and was added to the team’s protected list at that time.
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Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune offers up his take on the NHL playoffs to this point and he does it right here.
“The league should be ashamed,” he writes. “But the NHL, like MMA and our old, punch-drunk friend boxing, seems to be beyond shame.”
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, the Oil Kings won their 20th straight game as they beat the Moose Jaw Warriors, 6-1. . . . It was Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final. Game 2 will be played in Edmonton on Sunday. . . . The Warriors went in having won eight straight playoff games. . . . F Stephane Legault had two goals, giving him three in these playoffs, and an assist for Edmonton, while F Henrik Samuelsson had three assists. . . . F Klarc Wilson opened the scoring for Edmonton;  he also drew two assists. He hadn’t played since March 25 — he got into Edmonton’s first two playoff games with Samuelsson suspended — and was a healthy scratch through the second round victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Wilson was in the lineup because F Dylan Wruck (shoulder) was not. . . . Edmonton G Laurent Brossoit stopped 29 shots, losing his shutut bid at 14:30 of the second when F Jordan Wyton scored. . . . Moose Jaw G Luke Siemens stopped 19 of 24 shots through two periods. Spencer Tremblay came on to stop five of six shots in the third period. . . . The Warriors were 0-6 on the PP; the Oil Kings were 1-2. . . . The Oil Kings went into this playoff season with an 0-8 all-time record. They now are 9-8. . . . Edmonton F Kristians Pelss left in the second period with an apparent leg injury and didn’t return, while D Keegan Lowe didn’t play again after blocking a shot late in the third period. . . . The Warriors had Wyton and D Morgan Rielly back from injuries, and scratched D Shayne Gwinner, F Carter Hansen and F Torrin White. . . . Rielly, who will be an early first-round selection in the NHL’s 2012 draft, hadn’t played since Nov. 6 when he suffered a knee injury that later required surgery. He played about 15 minutes. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Marcel Noebels scored at 7:52 of OT to give the Portland Winterhawks a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . Portland leads the best-of-seven Western Conference final 1-0 with Game 2 in Kennewick tonight. . . . Noebels scored his third goal of these playoffs on the Winterhawks’ only shot of the free period. . . . Tri-City had seven shots in OT. . . . Noebels scored the winning goal 61 seconds into the game on Wednesday when the Winterhawks beat the visiting Kamloops Blazers 2-0 in Game 7 of a conference semifinal series. . . . Portland had just finished killing off a Tri-City PP opportunity when Noebels scored. Portland G Mac Carruth was penalized for playing the puck outside the trapezoid. Yes, it’s the worst rule in hockey. . . . Tri-City D Mitch Topping forced OT with a goal at 15:09 of the third. . . . The Winterhawks took a 3-1 lead on F Cam Reid’s goal at 15:48 of the second. . . . Tri-City tied the game on two PP goals by F Patrick Holland, at 18:39 of the second and 9:07 of the third. . . . D Joe Morrow’s PP goal at 10:56 of the third put Portland back out front. . . . The Americans came close to winning it early in OT when Morrow took away a gaping net from Tri-City F Connor Rankin. As Tri-City radio voice Craig West put it: “Connor Rankin had about a four-foot putt right there and Joe Morrow saved the day.” . . . Later, West sent me a note to let me know that it wasn't Morrow; it was Cam Reid. As West noted, he doesn't have the benefit of replays in his spot in the rafters. . . . Portland F Sven Baertschi had a goal and two assists, while linemate Ty Rattie had one assist. They now are tied for the WHL playoff scoring lead, each with 24 points. . . . Portland D Troy Rutkowski had two assists and was plus-4. . . . Tri-City F Brendan Shinnimin scored his side’s first goal, running his point streak to 35 games. . . . That goal gave him a franchise-record 60 playoff points, one more than former Americans F Daymond Langkow. . . . Shinnimin also ended up minus-3. . . . Earlier in the day, Shinnimin was named the Western Conference’s nominee for the player-of-the-year award. He’s up against F Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Tri-City F Adam Hughesman had two assists, giving him 400 WHL points, including regular season and playoffs. He has 50 career playoff points. . . . The Americans were 3-5 on the PP; Portland was 1-4.

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Jason Hills of the Edmonton Sun has spoken with Dr. Michael Czarnota, the consulting neurophysiologist for the WHL and OHL.
Here is part of what Hills wrote:
Czarnota worries about what the future may hold for some players down the road.
"I haven't worked with these guys long enough to see the true impact yet, but I have to be honest, it's something I worry about," said Czarnota.
"I'm almost obsessed to do everything I can to make it least likely to occur as possible. But I would be deluding myself in feeling I can keep that from happening completely, but we're going to do everything we can to try and eliminate these terrible head injuries."
Hill’s complete story is right here.
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The WHL released the second injury report of the new season on Tuesday and, as in the first, injuries are categorized as lower body or upper body.
Why?
“One of the reasons we’re doing that is just the competitiveness of the game, nobody wants other players targeting areas of injuries,” Spokane Chiefs GM Tim Speltz told Dave Trimmer of the Spokane Spokesman-Review. “Nobody is trying to hide anything, we’re just trying to protect the players. It’s not something the opposition needs to know.”
That being the case, it sounds as though a league that has outlawed headshots — and so far as issued seven- and 10-game suspensions for same — is concerned about players targeting other players’ heads.
Perhaps the headshot problem runs deeper than we thought.
Besides, with the manner in which hockey players at all levels use social media these days, you can bet there no longer are any secrets involving injuries.
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Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s disciplinarian, dropped the sledge hammer on Tuesday, suspending F Charles Inglis of the Prince George Cougars for 10 games.
Inglis picked up a major and game misconduct for delivering a check to the head of Victoria Royals D Tyler Stahl, who left the Saturday game and is out indefinitely with a concussion.
“These are the types of hits all leagues are trying to get out of the game,” Prince George general manager Dallas Thompson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we had an incident. Now the suspension has come down. We move on.”
Inglis, who had 32 goals last season and has three in as many games this season, will be eligible to return Oct. 26 when the Cougars meet the Rockets in Kelowna.
The Cougars, in their first game without Inglis, opened an East Division swing Tuesday night with a 6-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders.
Inglis now holds the dubious distinction of owning the longest suspension handed out by Doerksen this season. F Cody Beach of the Moose Jaw Warriors is serving a seven-game suspension for an opening night hit on F Bruno Mraz of the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Meanwhile, Doerksen also doled out four other suspensions on Tuesday.
F Brendan Leipsic of the Portland Winterhawks got five games under supplemental discipline for an incident against the visiting Tri-City Americans on Sept. 30. (Already this season, the Americans have plucked a player off the Winterhawks’ roster via waivers and the Winterhawks asked for, and received, supplemental discipline against Tri-City’s Jordan Messier – he was suspended for two games – after an earlier game. Some rivalry!)
F Marcus Messier of the Tri-City Americans will sit out four games for a checking from behind incident in a game at Spokane on Saturday. Tri-City D Justin Hamonic was given a double minor at the time, but it turns out the culprit was Messier.
D Cason Machacek of the Seattle Thunderbirds got a two-game sentence for “one man fight and repeat offender” in a game at Portland on Saturday.
F Klarc Wilson of the Edmonton Oilers will miss one game for a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct in a game at Medicine Hat on Saturday.
(The OHL handed out three suspensions Tuesday, each of them for a check to an opponent’s head. Those suspensions were for 15, 10 and eight games. For details, and video, check out the OHL’s website. The OHL already has dished out four suspensions of at least 10 games.)
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It would seem the goaltending shuffle is in high gear in the WHL.
On Monday, the Moose Jaw Warriors acquired G Luke Siemens, who turns 19 in November, from the Everett Silvertips. That move prompted the Warriors to waive G Deven Dubyk, 20, and release G Brandon Stone, 19.
On Tuesday, two more veteran goaltenders were on the move, Jon Groenheyde  shifting from the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Swift Current Broncos and Adam Morrison going from the Saskatoon Blades to the Vancouver Giants.
Groenheyde and Morrison both are 20 years of age.
Groenheyde was acquired by Edmonton last season, with G Cam Lanigan going to the Kamloops Blazers in exchange. This season, Groenheyde has gotten into just one game with Edmonton, which is going with Laurent Brossoit, 18, as its starter. Tristan Jarry, 16, now backs up Brossoit.
In exchange for Groenheyde, the Broncos gave up F Jordan Peddle, 20, who has spent three seasons in Swift Current. Peddle has 64 points in 198 regular-season games.
Groenheyde is expected to play Saturday when the Lethbridge Hurricanes visit Swift Current.
The Giants, meanwhile, acquired G Adam Morrison, 20, and F Levi Bews, 17, from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for F Michael Burns, 20, D Zach Hodder, 18, and a fourth-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft.
The Giants are trying to plug what has been a leaky defence – they have given up 22 goals over their last four games – and are hoping Morrison, who is from White Rock, B.C., will be at least part of the answer.
Morrison, a third-round pick by the Blades in the 2006 bantam draft, was in his fourth season in Saskatoon and has a career record of 44-22-6. His acquisition leaves the Giants with three goaltenders, the others being Brendan Jensen, 18, who has been starting, and freshman Jackson Whistle, 16. The Giants now are expected to move Jensen and keep Whistle to back up Morrison.
Bews, 17, had seven points in 52 games with the Blades last season.
The Giants are at home to the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday night and expect to have Morrison and Bews available. Morrison, in fact, is expected to get the start.
The Giants remain with three 20-year-olds on their roster, the others being F James Henry and D Neil Manning.
The Blades, meanwhile, also are carrying three 20-year-olds, with Burns joining F Jesse Paradis and F Jake Trask. Saskatoon also shows F Darian Dziurzynski on its roster but he is with the AHL’s Portland Pirates, at least for now.
The Giants had acquired Burns from the Edmonton Oil Kings last season, while Hodder, the 20th overall selection in the 2008 bantam draft, had been at home in Delta., B.C., awaiting a trade.
The departure of Morrison left the Blades with Russian freshman Andrey Makarov, 18, as the only goaltender on their roster. However, they later recalled G Adam Todd from the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Todd was a fourth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft.
Burns, Hodder and Todd all are expected to be in uniform Wednesday night against the visiting Prince George Cougars.
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D Matt MacKenzie, 20, has signed a three-year contract with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. MacKenzie, who was acquired by the Tri-City Americans from the Calgary Hitmen, remains with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, at least for now. He was a third-round selection by Buffalo in the 2010 NHL draft. He has 98 points and 180 penalty minutes in 225 regular-season WHL games.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings, already without veteran D Brodie Melnychuk (broken wrist), have lost F Dominick Favreau and D Rene Hunter to injuries.
Favreau has a lower-body injury and the team says he could miss three weeks.
Here’s Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun on Hunter’s situation:
Meanwhile, the club’s injury report lists Hunter, 18, as out one week after he took a hit to the head from Saskatoon Blades forward Nick Zajac on Saturday.
When asked whether Hunter sustained a concussion, Wheat Kings head coach Cory Clouston would only tell the Sun that it was an “upper body” injury.
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JUST NOTES: The WHL website now includes the transaction involving D Braeden (Bunny) Laroque, 19. It turns out he was dealt by the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a fourth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . The Portland Winterhawks have assigned D Matthew Franczyk, 18, to the MJHL’s Winnipeg South Blues. He was pointless in one game with Portland this season. Last season, he played one game with the Swift Current Broncos and 12 with the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . .
F Brett Connolly, 19, has made the season-opening roster of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. Connolly played the last three seasons with his hometown Prince George Cougars, although injuries limited him to 16 games in 2009-10. In order to keep Connolly, the sixth overall pick in the NHL’s 2010 draft, on its roster, the Lightning sent F Dana Tyrell to the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. Tyrell and Connolly once were linemates with the Cougars. . . . F Mark Stone of the Brandon Wheat Kings is the CHL’s player of the week. He had nine points, including four goals, in three games last week. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels have lost freshman F Brooks Maxwell, 17, for up to six weeks with a broken wrist. He was injured Saturday in a 7-2 loss to the Raiders in Prince Albert.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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