Two first-round selections in last week’s WHL bantam draft have signed contracts. . . . D Josh Anderson has signed with the Prince George Cougars. He was the third overall selection. . . . F Parker Aucoin, who went 15th overall to the Tri-City Americans, also has signed. . . . Both players are represented by Turning Point Sports Management. . . . Anderson, 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, is from Duncan, B.C. . . . Aucoin, 6-foot-0 and 176 pounds, had 87 points, including 63 goals, in 33 games with the bantam AAA Calgary Northstar Sabres.
———
The Halifax Mooseheads won their first QMJHL championship last night, defeating the visiting Baie-Comeau Drakkar 5-1 and winning the best-of-seven final, 4-1. . . . The Metro Centre was sold out (10,595). . . . The Mooseheads took control early with three first-period goals, the first two via the PP. . . . Halifax F Jonathan Drouin was named the playoff MVP. He put up 35 points in 17 games.
———
In the OHL, F Bo Horvat scored twice to help the host London Knights to a 6-4 victory over the Barrie Colts. . . . Barrie leads the best-of-seven final 3-2 with Game 6 in its home arena tonight. . . . Horvat scored a PP goal in the second period for a 4-1 lead and added a shorthanded goal in the third to up the lead to 5-2. . . . Barrie F Anthony Camara, who took a charging major earlier in the series and escaped without a suspension, was ejected with a charging major at 14:17 of the third period.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Shawn Martin is the new general manager and head coach of the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves. He replaces Bob Beatty, who won two SJHL titles with La Ronge. He resigned following this season and now is with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. . . . Martin, 35, has been working with the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm, where he served as assistant GM, assistant coach and head scout. . . . He also worked with the AJHL’s St. Albert Steel and Sherwood Park Crusaders.
———
The WHL’s playoff situation:
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Portland vs. Edmonton
(Portland leads, 3-1)
(All times local)
Game 1: Friday, May 3 — Edmonton 4 at Portland 1 (10,097)
Game 2: Saturday, May 4 — Edmonton 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Game 3: Tuesday — Portland 3 at Edmonton 1 (8,513)
Game 4: Wednesday — Portland 2 at Edmonton 1 (8,400)
Game 5: Friday, Edmonton 3 at Portland 2 (OT) (10,947)
Game 6: Sunday, at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
x-Game 7: Monday, May 13, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x – if necessary.


All games are being televised by Shaw in Canada. They also will be televised in Portland, with Game 6 on Comcast SportsNet, and Game 7 on Root Sports.
Comcast and Roots will pick up the Shaw telecast that feature play-by-play man Dan Russell, along with Bill Wilms, Peter Loubardias and Andy Neal.
———
FRIDAY’S GAME:
In Portland, F Michael St. Croix scored three times and G Laurent Brossoit stopped 49 shots to lead the Edmonton Oil Kings to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Winterhawks. . . . St. Croix, who has 14 goals, got the winner at 7:24 of OT. . . . Edmonton F Dylan Wruck drew three assists. . . . F Joey Baker opened the scoring, giving Portland a 1-0 lead just 15 seconds into the game. . . . Edmonton tied it at 10:14 when a shot by F T.J. Foster went in off a skate. The goal was credited to St. Croix but very well might be changed at some point. . . . Edmonton took a 2-1 lead when St. Croix scored at 7:01 of the third period. . . . Portland forced OT when F Brendan Leipsic tied it at 14:05 of the third. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth turned aside 27 shots. . . . Portland was 0-for-2 on the PP; Edmonton never had an opportunity with the man advantage. . . . The Rose Garden was sold out (10,947). . . . They’ll play Game 6 in Edmonton on Sunday. . . . It was the first OT game of these playoffs for the Winterhawks; the Oil Kings are 1-3.
———
Here’s how Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune started his column after the game:
“It ended with the Rose Garden's sellout throng sitting in stunned silence, Michael St. Croix's goal in sudden-death overtime preventing what would have been a celebration for the ages.
“Moments later, Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison was busy texting on his cell phone outside the Harry Glickman Media Room.
“I looked over his shoulder and I'm pretty sure he was communicating this to his cronies:
“ ‘Whew. That was close. Almost had to take to the ice to present the championship trophy. Live for another day.’ ”
Eggers’ column is right here.
———
Paul Buker of The Oregonian has his game story right here.
———
Derek Van Diest of the Edmonton Sun was at the game and his game story is right here.
———
Columnist Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun didn’t travel to Portland, but still file a column. It’s right here.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (21):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (7):
None

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Mike Wirll (Brandon, Prince Albert, Prince George, Lethbridge, 1997-2003) signed a one-year contract extension with the Dundee Stars (Scotland, UK Elite). He had 35 goals and 43 assists in 57 games for the Stars this season; that was good for fifth place in league scoring. . . .


F Radek Duda (Regina, Lethbridge, 1998-2000) signed a two-year contract with Plzen (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had two goals and 12 assists in 19 games with Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga) and 10 goals and 10 assists in 25 games with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season. . . .



D Tomas Voracek (Prince Albert, 2007-09) signed a three-year contract with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had one goal and three assists in 51 games with Vitkovice Ostrava (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season. . . .




D Brett Palin (Kelowna, 2000-05) has declined a contract extension offer for next season from Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Palin had seven goals and 13 assists in 50 games for Chomutov this season.
———



 Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail is following the NHL playoff series between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens. . . . MacGregor, as only he can do, breaks down the reaction to the hit by Ottawa defenceman Eric Gryba on Montreal forward Lars Eller. . . . That piece is right here.
———

D Jaynen Rissling of the Calgary Hitmen has signed an ATO with the Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals. . . . Rissling was selected by the Capitals in the seventh round of the NHL’s 2012 entry draft. . . . The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Rissling has played four seasons with the Hitmen. This season, he had 28 points in 61 games. . . . He is a nephew of F Gary Rissling, who played in the WHL (Edmonton, Calgary, 1974-77) and also for Hershey.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Shane Kuss and Roger Ross will serve as co-head coaches with the junior B Delta Ice Hawks of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League. . . . "You're going to see a scenario where Shane will be at 90-95 percent of our games," Peter Zerbinos, the Ice Hawks’ general manager and director of hockey operations, told Mark Booth of the Delta Optimist. "That's why we went with the co-coaching roles." . . . Booth’s story is right here.

Fran Gow, who resigned this week as general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Drayton Valley Thunder, has signed on as the AJHL’s vice-president of hockey operations. . . . Gow had spent more than 20 years and 1,000 games coaching in the AJHL, the last four of them with the Thunder.
———
Ron Robison, the commisioner of the 22-team WHL, met with the media in Portland prior to Game 1 of the championship final between the Winterhawks and Edmonton Oil Kings.
It was Robison’s first communication with the Portland press corps since before the WHL disciplined the Winterhawks for what the league calls “player benefit violations.”
So how did the tête-à-tête go?
Here’s Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune:
“Taking in WHL commissioner Ron Robison's response Friday night to reporters' questions about the ruthless sanctions imposed on the Winterhawks early this season brought to mind the famous line of distempered tennis legend John McEnroe: You can't be serious!"
At one point in his column, Eggers comes awfully close accusing Robison of not telling the truth.
Eggers apparently has seen the regulations that Robison says “are internal.”
“The regulations are absolutely not clear,” Eggers writes. “I looked through the WHL rulebook, which prohibits teams from paying for flights for family members during a team's annual ‘Parents Weekend.’ There is nothing, however, that specifically addresses any other time of year.
“The Hawks' contention was, ‘We didn't know flying in family members at other times wasn't legal.’ The league's contention was, ‘You should have known. It was understood by everyone in the league.’
“When asked a second time about the specific rules violations, Robison answered, ‘The regulations are internal. The information has been made very clear. There were violations. They're written down in the regulations, absolutely. The information was provided to the club, but for internal purposes only.’
“Wait a minute. They are written into the regulations, but kept secret from the general public? For what reason? It's like NBA Commissioner David Stern saying the Trail Blazers broke a rule for tampering with a player, and it's in the rulebook, but we're not going to let the public see it. You just have to take our word for it. Robison's stipulation is not only nonsensical, but untrue.”
Eggers’ complete column is right here.
Paul Buker of The Oregonian also was in attendance, and wrote:
"After arriving fashionably late — 10 minutes or so — for Friday’s scheduled WHL Finals series media availability, Robison was quickly inundated with questions about the sanctions levied against the hometown team on Nov. 28.
"'I’m hoping we don’t have to go into a lot of detail,' said Robison, who was true to his word on that one.
"No new ground was broken, and if anything, local media were left scratching their heads once again."
Buker's piece is right here.
———

The OHL final opened last night with the host London Knights dropping a 4-2 decision to the Barrie Colts. . . . London scored first, but the Colts got the next three. Still, it was 3-2 for 10 minutes in the third period, until Barrie F Mark Scheifele iced it with an empty-netter. . . . Attendance was 9,046. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for London on Sunday night.
———


The QMJHL final also opened last night. G Zach Fucale stopped 28 shots to lead the host Halifax Mooseheads to a 4-0 victory over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. . . . Attendance was 10,595. . . . Game 2 is to be played tonight in Halifax.
———



The WHL’s playoff situation:
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Portland vs. Edmonton
(Edmonton leads, 1-0)
(All times local)
Game 1: Friday — Edmonton 4 at Portland 1 (10,097)
Game 2: Today, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, May 7, at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, May 8, at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Game 5: Friday, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x-Game 6: Sunday, May 12, at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
x-Game 7: Monday, May 13, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x – if necessary.


All games are being televised by Shaw in Canada. They also will be televised in Portland, with Games 3, 4, 5 and 6 on Comcast SportsNet, and Games 2 and 7 on Root Sports.
Comcast and Roots will pick up the Shaw telecast that feature play-by-play man Dan Russell, along with Bill Wilms, Peter Loubardias and Andy Neal.
———
FRIDAY’S GAME:
In Portland, G Laurent Brossoit stopped 35 shots, 16 of them in the first period, and F Stephane Legault drew three assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings opened with a 4-1 victory over the Winterhawks. . . . The Winterhawks held a 16-6 edge in shots after one period but went into the second period trailing 1-0 on a goal by F Dylan Wruck at 2:03. That goal came on Edmonton’s first shot of the game. . . . F Henrik Samuelsson gave Edmonton a 2-0 lead at 11:17 of the second. . . . F Taylor Leier got Portland to within one at 3:00 of the third, but Samuelsson got his 11th of these playoffs just 47 seconds later. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar got his ninth at 10:03 to put this one away. . . . Portland was 0-for-4 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-for-1. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 25 shots. . . . Referees were Brett Iverson and Brett Montsion. . . . Legault, who turned 20 on March 3, has 22 points, including 16 assists, in 17 playoff games. In the last two seasons, he has 36 points in 37 playoff games. He is coming off a regular season in which he had 41 points in 57 games. . . . The Oil Kings continue to be without injured D Griffin Reinhart and F Trevor Cheek. Reinhart won’t play in the series; Cheek isn’t expected to play in Game 2.
———
“The Portland Winterhawks might want to file a police report,” writes Chris O’Leary of the Edmonton Journal. . . . His story is right here.
———
“Game 1 of the WHL Finals was a bucket of cold water in the faces of the Portland Winterhawks,” writes Paul Buker of The Oregonian right here.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (21):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (7):
None
———






From Lethbridge Herald sports writer Dylan Purcell (@dylpurcell), after the Portland Winterhawks had a goal disallowed last night: “Ron Robison waves off the Portland goal.”
———
From Calgary Sun sports writer Randy Sportak (@SUNRandySportak), after a late San Jose Sharks goal forced OT last night: “And writers on deadline swear. Sharks tie it 2-2 with 55.1 seconds remaining. Patrick Marleau with the tally.”
———
From Portland fan Larisa Strode (@Hawkiemom): “I haven't been this excited to wear white since my wedding day #1997 #WhlFinals #whiteout #adversity hawks#"

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Tyson Mulock (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Regina, 1999-2003) signed a one-year contract with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL). He had eight goals and 11 assists in 51 games with Eisbären Berlin (Germany, DEL) this season. . . .


F Jakub Klepis (Portland, 2001-02) and F Jaroslav Svoboda (Kootenay, 1998-2000) were informed that they won’t be offered contracts for next season by Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL). Klepis had 20 goals and 18 assists in 45 games to lead Lev in scoring and goals, while Svoboda had two goals in 25 games with Lev and three goals in four games on loan to Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga) in an injury-plagued season. Lev’s website states that Klepis has an agreement with an unnamed NHL team for next season. . . .


F Björn Svensson (Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, 2003-06) was informed by MoDo Örnsköldsvik (Sweden, Elitserien) that he won’t be offered a contract for next season. Svensson had three goals and three assists in 40 games with MoDo this season. . . .


 Frederikshavn (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga) announced that it won’t offer a contract for next season to F Cam Paddock (Kelowna, 1999-2004). He had 17 goals and 16 assists in 40 games this season.
———
From Rachel Brady of The Globe and Mail:
“The GTHL, the largest amateur hockey league in the world with over 40,000 participants, will propose to its members that the age at which players start body checking be raised from 11 to 13 in all of its competitive divisions and gradually eliminated from its Single ‘A’ division over time. The proposed changes are in response to a survey of its parents, players and team and club officials on various topics, which showed that 58 percent of its participants would favour raising the age.”
Brady’s complete story is right here.
———
And now there are three . . . WHL teams without head coaches, that is.
The Prince Albert Raiders’ board of directors met Tuesday and decided not to renew head coach Steve Young’s contract. General manager Bruno Campese made the announcement later in the day.
At the same time, Campese, who left the bench and turned over the coaching duties to Young on Oct. 28, 2011, also is on an expiring contract. But it’s believed that the board wants to keep him and has, in fact, begun negotiations.
Young had been with the Raiders since 2008, first as an assistant coach and then as head coach.
Perry Bergson of the Prince Albert Daily Herald has more right here.
The Raiders join the Everett Silvertips and Lethbridge Hurricanes as WHL teams that are in the market for head coaches.
———
Rick Brodsky, the owner of the Prince George Cougars, says “We’re not going anywhere.” . . . Brodsky has told Sheri Lamb of the Prince George Citizen: “I love the Cougars. I want to succeed with the Cougars, they're my team and I want to make Prince George proud of us." . . . He also says that doesn’t have any plans to sell the team. "I've heard more times (than I can count) that I've sold the team," he said. "I've never gotten anybody asking about selling the team. Not ever. Every time I've heard that I've sold the team my first question is 'How much did I get?' . . . Nobody's coming to us with a great offer." . . . Brodsky also told Lamb that he is guilty of neglecting his franchise a bit in recent seasons, but that he now is taking a much more active role, starting with Thursday’s bantam draft. . . . Lamb’s story is right here.
———
The Lethbridge Hurricanes have made a few moves aimed at firming up their player personnel department. Brad Robson, the club’s new GM, had been its director of player personnel. Those duties now belong to Todd Hassen, a veteran scout out of Saskatoon who has worked in the WHL for 26 years. He’s into his fifth year with Lethbridge. . . . Blake Robson now is the Hurricanes’ head scout. Robson – yes, he is Brad’s son – played five seasons in the WHL, with the Portland Winterhawks and Prince George Cougars. He has been on the Hurricanes’ scouting staff since 2008. . . . Gerry Klinkhammer, who works out of Lethbridge, is the club’s new travelling scout. He has been with the Hurricanes since 2002.
———
If you have any interest in the lawsuit filed by Brian Burke last week against anonymous Internet commenters, Jennifer Pagliaro of the Toronto Star has an interesting piece right here. She has spoken to one of the bloggers.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Former NHLer Bob Corkum has been named head coach of the U.S. team that will play at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August. . . . Corkum, from Salisbury, Mass., is the interim head coach at the U of Maine. He has been Maine‘s associate head coach. . . . Corkum has been an assistant coach with the 2012 U-18 team and was head coach of the 2011 U-17 team that won a Five Nations tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich. . . .
Jesse Dorrans is the new head coach of the junior B Castlegar Rebels, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. . . . Dorrans takes over from Steve Junker, who resigned Tuesday and is expected to pursue work away from the game. . . . Dorrans spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Rebels. He also has worked as head coach of the KIJHL’s Grand Forks Border Bruins.
———
The WHL was the last of the three major junior leagues to have its finalists set. In the QMJHL, it’s the Baie-Comeau Drakkar against the Halifax Mooseheads, with the OHL final featuring the Barrie Colts and London Knights.
The QMJHL final opens Friday in Halifax, with Game 2 there on Saturday. The Mooseheads are 12-0 in the playoffs; the Drakkar has lost twice in 14 games. . . . These were the top two teams in the regular season, the Mooseheads going 58-6-4, while the Drakkar was 44-19-5. . . . Yes, the Mooseheads finished 27 points clear of everyone else. . . . The OHL final begins with games in London on Friday and Sunday nights. In the regular season, the Knights, coached by Dale Hunter, finished atop the Western Conference, at 50-13-5. The Colts, under Dale Hawerchuk, were second in the Eastern Conference, at 44-20-4. In these playoffs, the Knights are 12-2; the Colts are 12-3.
———

The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Calgary (3)
(Edmonton wins series, 4-3)
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Portland wins series, 4-1)
———
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Portland vs. Edmonton
(All times local)
Game 1: Friday, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, May 7, at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, May 8, at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Game 5: Friday, May 10, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x-Game 6: Sunday, May 12, at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
x-Game 7: Monday, May 13, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x – if necessary
———
TUESDAY’S GAME:
In Edmonton, F Michael St. Croix scored twice and G Laurent Brossoit stopped 26 shots as the Oil Kings beat the Calgary Hitmen, 2-0. . . . The Oil Kings will attempt to win their second straight WHL title against the same team they beat in seven games in the final a year ago. . . . It’s the first time since 1976 that the same teams have met in back-to-back finals. Back then, the New Westminster Bruins and Saskatoon Blades met in consecutive finals. The Bruins won both series in seven games — 4-3 in 1975 and 4-2 with a tie in 1976. . . . Brossoit has five shutouts in these playoffs. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger, who had a terrific series, stopped 36 shots. . . . St. Croix was named the series MVP. . . . He opened the scoring, finishing off a 2-on-1 with F Stephane Legault, at 14:05 of the first period. St. Croix added his 10th goal of these playoffs at 4:33 of the second. . . . D Cody Corbett had two assists. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar spent part of the day in a dentist’s chair after taking a puck to the mouth during the morning skate. That resulted in Edmonton head coach Derek Laxdal taking his frustrations out on a stick. “One of our kids took a puck off the chicklets and knocked ’em out,” Laxdal told Evan Daum of the Edmonton Journal, “but I had a little bit of intensity there. I wanted to get rid of that stick and get a new one anyways for the next series.” . . . Edmonton F Trevor Cheek, who was injured in Game 5 and played but one shift in Game 6, was scratched. He has 16 points in 15 playoff games. . . . That meant F Luke Bertolucci got back into the Edmonton lineup. . . . Last season, the Oil Kings won the WHL title with a 4-1 Game 7 victory over the visiting Portland Winterhawks.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (21):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (7):
F Mitch Moroz, Edmonton
———






From Portland D Troy Rutkowski (@Trutter2): “Wouldn't want it any other way. #rematch #redemption”
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From Edmonton Oil Kings G Laurent Brossoit (@LBrossoit): “Bring it on baby @TSPOON77 #rematch”
———
From Edmonton Oil Kings F Curtis Lazar (@CurtisLazar95): “Tough way to prepare for game 7, good ole puck to the face. I will not stop smiling though! #always fun #jibs”
———
From Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice), the radio voice of the Saskatoon Blades: “I feared ‘Snow Golf’ for the May 23rd Mem Cup tournament...but Moon Lake is opening Thursday!!”
The media has its priorities in order as the Memorial Cup approaches.


There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Adam Courchaine (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, 2001-05) signed a one-year contract extension with Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL). He had no points in three games with the Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), eight goals and 16 assists in nine games with Duisburg (Germany, Oberliga), and 17 goals and 18 assists in 33 games after joining Krefeld at the end of October.
———

Focus Features has taken out an option on a series of stories about the late Derek Boogaard that appeared in The New York Times. That series, written by John Branch, was titled Punched Out: The Life and Death of a Hockey Enforcer. . . . There’s more right here.
———
Dave Dotan, a former WHL defenceman (Prince Albert, 2007-10), and a few other Simon Fraser University business students have hooked up with some hockey players and are in the process of launching Potential Apparel. Proceeds from the project will be used to help disadvantaged youths get into sports. Philip Raphael has the story in the Richmond News and it’s right here.
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F Marek Tvrdon has been assigned by the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings to their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Tvrdon’s season with the Vancouver Giants was halted by a blood clot in one shoulder. He had 22 points in 18 games at the time. In 90 career games, the native of Nitra, Slovakia, had 107 points in 90 career games. Tvrdon was a fourth-round selection in the 2011 NHL draft. . . . Tvrdon didn't play last night as the Griffins opened the AHL playoffs with a 3-0 loss to the host Houston Aeros.
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The host Baie-Comeau Drakkar scored in OT to beat the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in a QMJHL playoff game last night. The Armada leads the best-of-seven semifinal 3-2 with Game 6 in Blainville-Boisbriand on Sunday.  The winner will meet the Halifax Mooseheads, who are 12-0 in the playoffs, in the championship final. . . . The teams were without 12 players, including all four of their regular goaltenders, following a donnybrook after Game 4 on Wednesday. . . . Drakkar G Simon Lemieux stopped 29 shots to earn the victory. . . . The Armada was down to its fourth goaltender, Marc-Antoine Turcotte, by the time the game ended. Storm Phaneuf made 20 saves before leaving with an injury. Turcotte finished with six saves. . . . Penalties? Only four minors were handed out.
———
A couple of quick notes . . . The OHL’s London Knights have advanced to the OHL final. The let a 4-0 lead get away last night before beating the Plymouth Whalers 5-4 in OT. . . . London F Max Domi had five points, including the winner 22 seconds into OT. . . . London won the series, 4-1. . . . The Knights will meet either the Barrie Colts or Belleville Bulls in the final. The Bulls beat the visiting Colts 3-1 last night. The Colts hold a 3-2 lead with Game 6 in Barrie tonight. . . . In the QMJHL, the P.E.I. Rocket isn’t going anywhere. A local group has reached a tentative agreement to purchase the franchise from the Savard family. Jason Malloy of The Guardian has more right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Mike Madill is the new general manager and head coach of the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers. Madill is a former Las Vegas defenceman and team captain. Madill, who turns 31 next month, played five of the last six seasons with the Wranglers, but has retired to take on these roles. He replaces Ryan Mougenel, whose contract wasn’t renewed after four seasons (151-111-26).

Former WHL defenceman and coach Terry Virtue has been named the varsity head coach of the Canon-McMillan Hockey Association in Pennsylvania. Virtue was an assistant coach with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack (2010-12) after working for three seasons with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans.
———

 The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Calgary (3)
(Edmonton leads series, 3-2; Game 6 in Calgary on Sunday; all games on Shaw TV, with Dan Russell calling the play.)
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Portland wins series, 4-1)
———






CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Portland vs. Edmonton/Calgary winner
(Series opens May 3 and 4 in Portland)
———
FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, the Oil Kings struck three times in the first period and went on to a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . D Martin Gernat opened the scoring at 7:38, then F Henrik Samuelsson and F Travis Ewanyk scored 44 seconds apart late in the period. . . . Edmonton G Laurent Brossoit stopped 28 shots. He lost his shutout bid when F Brooks Macek scored a PP goal at 15:04 of the third. . . . Going into the game, the Hitmen were 4-1 at Rexall Place this season. . . . Edmonton had D Cody Corbett (knee) back after he was injured in Game 2. . . . Calgary F Jake Virtanen returned after serving a two-game suspension for the hit that injured Corbett. . . . Edmonton F Trevor Cheek didn’t return after a first-period collision with Calgary D Spencer Humphries. . . . Edmonton is without injured D Griffin Reinhart and F Luke Bertolucci. . . . Attendance was 11,074, the largest crowd in these WHL playoffs. . . . The Hitmen, who held a players only meeting after last night’s loss, are 7-1 at home in these playoffs. . . .

In Portland, F Ty Rattie had a goal and an assist to help the Winterhawks to a 4-1 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Rattie’s 15th goal, off a shorthanded breakaway, gave Portland a 3-1 lead at 10:05 of the third period. . . . Portland F Taylor Leier broke a 1-1 tie at 4:23 of the second. . . . Rattie leads playoff scores in goals (15) and points (30). . . . Rattie had 12 points in the five games with Kamloops and was named the series’ MVP. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth allowed seven goals in the five games, with five of those coming in a 5-1 loss in Game 3. . . . He is 12-3, 1.62, .935 in these playoffs. In his playoff career, he is 45-22, 2.78, .917.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (21):
D Joel Edmundson, Kamloops

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (6):
None
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From Paul Buker (@Pnbuker) of The Oregonian, about 90 minutes before game time: “Hawks' media mogul Graham Kendrick says no word yet from WHL on the status of Keegan ‘killer’ Iverson. Might be OK, I suppose it's ...”
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More from Buker: “..also possible Iverson is fined $200,000, his cell phone is confiscated, and he is forced to take a 60 minute timeout #Judgedredd”
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From Portland freelancer Scott Sepich (@SSepich): “I gotta say, the WHL final series kickoff press conference in Portland w/ commish Ron Robison could be must-see Internet streaming.”
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One more from Sepich: “I just want to mention that over the last 2 years, Guy Charron has been as classy, humble and honest as anyone in sports I've interviewed.”
Allow me to echo that statement. Hockey needs more coaches like Guy Charron.


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If you haven’t already, head on over to the Boston Globe’s site and check out is coverage of all that has happened in that city since Monday. . . . Make sure you read columnist Kevin Cullen, whose latest offering is right here.
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How many former WHLers have community service awards named in their honour? Well, former Tri-City Americans F Adam Hughesman, who spent five years with the team, now has his name on just such an award. . . . This is a wonderful story and Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald has it all right here.
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The Allan Cup final in Red Deer will feature Newfoundland’s Clarenville Caribous against the host Bentley Generals. . . . The final starts at 5:30 p.m. MT and will be televised by TSN. . . . The Generals beat the Kenora Thistles 3-2 in their semifinal. . . . “If it’s easy, it’s not worth it. Give them all kinds of credit,” Generals captain Sean Robertson told Greg Meachem, the sports editor of the Red Deer Advocate. .“That was their fourth (game) in four nights and it came right down to the end. We had to dig in a little bit and adapt to what they were doing. We need a little credit there, too, we held on and persevered against a pretty good hockey team in a pretty tough hockey game.” . . . Generals head coach Brandin Cote added: “After they scored their first goal, we panicked a bit, which is uncharacteristic for us. Maybe it was just the pressure of the situation, but at the end of the day we stuck with it anyone who has won a championship has to win those types of games. I’m proud of the guys.” . . . The Caribous beat the Generals 5-3 in the 2011 Allan Cup final in Kenora, Ont. . . . Earlier Friday, the Caribous beat the Rosetown, Sask., Redwings, 6-2.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Brad Rihela is the new head coach of the junior B Aldergrove Kodiaks of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League. Rihela had been an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings. Rihela announced his signing via Twitter on Friday.
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The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Calgary (3)
(Series tied 1-1; Game 3 on Tuesday night in Calgary; all games on Shaw TV, with Dan Russell calling the play.)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Portland leads series, 1-0; Game 2 tonight in Portland.)
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, G Laurent Brossoit stopped 23 shots to lead the Oil Kings to a 6-0 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Brossoit has four shutouts in these playoffs. . . . D D Martin Gernat scored two goals and added two assists for Edmonton. . . . The Oil Kings took a 1-0 lead into the third period when they scored five times, three of them coming via the PP. . . . Edmonton went 4-for-14 on the PP after starting 0-for-9. . . . Calgary, which took 101 of the 147 penalty minutes handed out, was 0-for-4. . . . Edmonton F Henrik Samuelsson, again with his father, Ulf, in the stands, opened the scoring with his eighth goal of these playoffs. He’s got eight snipes now. . . . Edmonton F Mitch Moroz thought perhaps he had scored at 17:52 of the first period to give his side a 2-0 lead. But the goal was disallowed, the ruling being that he had kicked it in. . . . The Hitmen lost F Jake Virtanen to a second-period kneeing major and game misconduct. . . . Edmonton D Cody Corbett, who was hit by Virtanen, left the game and didn’t return. . . . Edmonton F Trevor Cheek scored his seventh playoff goal. He’s scored in four straight games. . . . Calgary F Victor Rask didn’t get a point for the first time in 12 playoff games. . . . The Oil Kings added D Ashton Sautner to their lineup, while taking out D Dysin Mayo. . . . The Hitmen had F Pavlo Padakin back from a knee injury. . . . Calgary F Balder Brooks is playing with a full cage after losing five teeth during practice on Tuesday. He also took 15 stitches to a lip. . . . Attendance was 9,447, the largest playoff crowd in Edmonton this spring (or is it still winter in Edmonton?). . . . The NHL's Calgary Flames played their final home game of the season on Friday night. Immediately after the game, the ice men took out the Flames' logo from centre ice and were replacing it with a Hitmen logo. . . .

In Portland, F Ty Rattie had a goal and two assists and was ejected in the third period as the Winterhawks beat the Kamloops Blazers, 4-1. . . . Rattie broke a 1-1 tie when he scored on a second-period penalty shot. He was awarded the penalty shot after being slashed by D Joel Edmundson while on a breakaway. . . . That was Rattie’s 42nd career playoff goal, leaving him second on the WHL’s all-time list, one ahead of former Flin Flon Bombers star Reg Leach and five in arrears of former Medicine Hat Tigers sniper Mark Pederson. . . . Rattie, who now leads the playoff scoring race with 22 points, was tossed at 18:02 of the third period. He was given a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct for a hit on F Chase Souto. Rattie maintains that Souto speared him to precipitate the hit. Souto was given a spearing minor. . . . Kamloops welcomed back F Colin Smith, who missed three games with a suspected concussion, and F Tim Bozon (hand), who hadn’t played since being injured in a melee at the end of Game 3 in a first-round series on March 26.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (19):
F Brendan Leipsic, Portland
F Pavlo Padakin, Calgary
F Ty Rattie, Portland (major)

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (6):
F Travis Ewanyk, Edmonton
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From the Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks): “Rattie and Bozon with words en route to the penalty box. Bozon suggested Season 3 was The Wire’s best, Rattie said Season 4.”
(But we all know that it was Season 5, don’t we?)

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