What is WHL franchise worth to Cranbook? ... Another injury for Giants ... Longest game set to resume

Tigers having to spend another nite in Cranbrook.  No. 3 hi way still closed fr. Cranbrook to Ab border in 3  places.

— Bob Ridley (@BobRidley_CHAT) February 6, 2017

Tiger good Samaritans, Kristians Rubins and John. Dalstrum helping push stranded motorists today In Cranbrook.

— Bob Ridley (@BobRidley_CHAT) February 7, 2017

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F Brett Bulmer (Kelowna, 2008-12) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Ingolstadt (Germany, DEL). He was released Friday by mutual agreement by Ilves Tampere (Finland, Liiga). He had two goals and three assists in 23 games. . . .

F Jordan Knackstedt (Red Deer, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Esbjerg (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). This season, he had 12 goals and 19 assists in 31 games with Herlev (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Herlev and Esbjerg reached an agreement (details unknown) allowing Knackstedt to change teams. . . .

D Kyle Cumiskey (Kelowna, 2003-06) has been released by Skellefteå (Sweden, SHL). He had a goal and two assists in 12 games. . . .

F Marcel Noebels (Seattle, Portland, 2010-12) has signed a five-year contract extension with Eisbären Berlin (Germany, DEL). He hasn’t played a league game this season after tearing his left ACL in September in the last group stage game of the Champions Hockey League.

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Keith Powell of Kootenay Business has taken a look at what the economic impact of the Kootenay Ice might be on its home city of Cranbrook.

Powell concluded that the Ice’s departure, presumably to Nanaimo, would mean an increase in his taxes and those of other residents and business owners simply because the Ice’s home arena, Western Financial Place, no longer would have a major tenant.

“That’s why I believe the No.1 economic development, retention or enhancement initiative that the City of Cranbrook, the chamber of commerce and the business community at large must undertake is keeping the WHL franchise in Cranbrook,” Powell writes. “It is, in my mind, such a high priority that it should be the sole focus of the City’s economic development department – 24/7.”

Powell’s complete piece is right here.

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The biggest WHL-related story over the next month won’t have anything to do with happenings on the ice.

Rather, it will have to do with the future of the Kootenay Ice and the immediate future of the WHL and Nanaimo, a city of more than 90,000 people on Vancouver Island.

(The Nanaimo Regional District has a population of more than 135,000. Cranbrook’s population is around 20,000, with about 73,000 people within 150 km.)

What is especially interesting is that if the WHL is to leave Cranbrook, the home of the Ice, it won’t be back. However, if the WHL doesn’t get into Nanaimo this time, there always will be another opportunity, assuming a new arena gets built at some point in time.

There has been, and continues to be, ample speculation that the Ice could be playing out of Nanaimo as soon as next season.

Voters in Nanaimo are scheduled to go to the polls for a referendum on March 11. As noted here earlier, the question is:

“Are you in favour of the City of Nanaimo Council adopting Loan Authorization Bylaw 2017 No. 7237 which will authorize Council to borrow a sum not exceeding $80,000,000, repayable over a period of no more than 20 years, for the development and construction of an event centre that will include an ice arena and other related entertainment, cultural and recreation facilities?"

While city officials obviously are in favour of borrowing and building, the No side has organized and is working to gather support.

Merv Unger, a longtime journalist, a one-time World Wrestling Federation referee (that’s a story for another time) and a former Nanaimo city councillor, has a blog where he often offers commentary on the referendum and the lead-up to it. That blog is right here.

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A tip of the hat to the Saskatoon Blades for the transparency they have shown when releasing information regarding injuries suffered by D Jake Kustra and F Braylon Shmyr during a 4-2 victory over the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Saturday.

Many people have seen the checks that resulted in the injuries, and it’s a good move by the Blades to update the conditions of the players, something that was done on Monday.

“Jake is fine and doing well,” according to the Blades. “He suffered a concussion and a laceration on his head. . . . He didn’t suffer neck or spinal injuries, and was not required to spend the night in the hospital.”

Kustra, who has a history with concussions, is in the protocol.

“Our main concern is his immediate and long term health,” the news release reads, “so obviously we aren’t prepared to make any statements on him returning to action just yet.”

As for Shmyr, he also is in concussion protocol.

“We aren’t prepared to make any statements or estimates on when he will play again as his health is the only concern right now,” the Blades said.

Saskatoon also lost F Lukus MacKenzie, a 17-year-old from Calgary, when he suffered a shoulder injury during fight with Red Deer F Evan Polei, who turns 21 on Feb. 19.

The Blades, who are one point out of a playoff spot, next play Friday when they entertain the Moose Jaw Warriors.

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The Vancouver Giants, having lost seven in a row (0-5-2), open a doubleheader in Prince George against the Cougars tonight (Tuesday). The Giants appear to have added another player — F Dawson Holt — to their injury list. Steve Ewen of Postmedia reports that Holt, who didn’t play in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the host Everett Silvertips, was to see a doctor on Monday. Holt missed 13 earlier games with a shoulder injury. . . . The Giants had seven players with injuries on last week’s WHL roster report, including F Tyler Benson (groin), D Darian Skeoch (ankle) and D Matt Barberis (undisclosed). . . . The Giants dressed only 17 skaters on Saturday, including D Bowen Byram, a 15-year-old who was the third-overall selection in the 2016 bantam draft. He now has played four games with Vancouver. . . . The Cougars, meanwhile, go into the two games still in first place in the B.C. Division, but they have lost two games and now lead the second-place Kamloops Blazers by six points, each team having 17 games remaining. The Cougars and Blazers will meet five times in those 17 games, with three of the games scheduled for Prince George.

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The longest game in WHL history will conclude (hopefully) on Wednesday in Brandon. You may recall that the Wheat Kings and Moose Jaw Warriors opened the regular season in Brandon, but the game was stopped in the second period because of fog that simply wouldn't take the hint and leave. . . . The Warriors were leading 2-1 when play was suspended at 14:23 of the second period. . . . F Brayden Watts had scored to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead at 11:23 of the first period. . . . Brandon F Stelio Mattheos tied it 31 seconds into the second period. . . . F Nikita Popugaev, now with the Prince George Cougars, gave the visitors a 2-1 lead at 14:23 of the second period, which is when the game was halted. . . . On Wednesday, the suspended game will be completed, starting at 6 p.m. The regularly scheduled game is to start at 7:30 p.m.

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F Owen Sillinger of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees has committed to attend Bemidji State in Minnesota and play for the Beavers next season. Sillinger, the 19-year-old son of former WHL/NHL F Mike Sillinger, was a 10th-round selection by the Vancouver Giants in the 2012 bantam draft. Owen is in his second season with the Vees. . . . Earlier, he had committed to attending Arizona State and playing for the Sun Devils. . . . Owen’s younger brother, Cole, scored five goals and added three assists on Monday as his bantam AA Regina Aces scored a 13-1 victory over the Estevan TS&M Bruins. Cole, born in 2003, will turn 14 on May 16.

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If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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WHL League Meetings #memcup2017 pic.twitter.com/5tyyOkjVg7

— Donnie Harkins (@dharkins26) February 6, 2017

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MONDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Vancouver at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Seattle at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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Three trades for which to give thanks . . . Oil Kings snap losing skid

F Marcel Noebels (Seattle, Portland, 2010-12) signed a three-year contract with Eisbären Berlin (Germany, DEL) after his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) was dissolved. That deal had one year remaining on it. Last season, with the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL), he had three goals and eight assists in 52 games.
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The Victoria Royals have dealt D Jake Kohlhauser, 18, to the Edmonton Oil Kings for a conditional eighth-round selection in the 2016 WHL bantam draft. Kohlhauser, from St. Albert, Alta., had been acquired by the Royals from the Vancouver Giants prior to last season for an undisclosed conditional draft pick. Vancouver selected him in the second round of the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Kohlhauser had three assists in 47 games with the Royals over parts of two seasons. He was pointless in seven games this season. . . . The Royals, who meet the Rebels in Red Deer tonight, might see Kohlhauser on Wednesday when they play in Edmonton.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers have traded D Scott Allan to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a fifth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Allan, 18, is from Thornton, Colo. He was pointless in three games with the Tigers this season. Last season, he was pointless in 34 games. . . . “We are down to five defencemen heading into a very busy time in our schedule,” Seattle general manager Russ Farwell said in a news release in explaining the move. “We feel there is huge potential with Scott and look forward to adding him to our team.” . . . Shea Theodore (elbow), who was hurt while in camp with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, is injured. As well, Ethan Bear took a hard hit late in a weekend game and may also be out. As well, Evan Wardley would appear to be facing a WHL suspension for a weekend hit on Portland Winterhawks F Nic Petan. Wardley was given a charging major and game misconduct on the play in question.
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The Spokane Chiefs have acquired F Devon McAndrews, 19, from the Tri-City Americans for an undisclosed conditional pick in the 2015 bantam draft. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound McAndrews, from Edmonton, played 54 games over two seasons with the Americans, recording three goals and five assists. The Americans, who now are carrying 14 forwards, had acquired him from the Medicine Hat Tigers early in 2012-13 for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. . . . He was pointless in two games this season. . . . "With our current injury situation, we have an opportunity for Devon to come in and help us and our group of forwards," explained Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz in a news release. "Devon plays the left side and has good size which fills two needs for our team right now." . . . The Chiefs also released F Spencer Meyer, 18, who was pointless in three games this season. Last season, he was pointless in 26 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He also went pointless in three games with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2012-13. . . . Meyer, from Surrey, B.C., was a fourth-round pick by Prince Albert in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . F Jaret Anderson-Dolan, the 14th overall pick in the 2014 bantam draft, remains with the Chiefs and is likely to stay through Friday. He is pointless in three games.
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The host Edmonton Oil Kings snapped a three-game home-ice losing streak wit a 5-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings in Monday's lone WHL game. . . . (It was a holiday in Canada, so perhaps one might have thought there would be more than one afternoon game. No?) . . . F Mads Eller had a goal and two assists for Edmonton, with F Cole Benson scoring twice, the second multi-goal game of his career. Benson, 19, was playing in his 169th regular-season game. . . . Edmonton D Ashton Sautner played in his 200th career regular-season game, all with the Oil Kings.
Brandon D Eric Roy (shoulder) played his first game on Saturday and was in the lineup again on Monday. He picked up an assist in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Hitmen in Calgary. Roy returned to Brandon from the camp of the NHL’s Calgary Flames with the injury. . . . The Red Deer Rebels have lost F Brayden Burke for at least two months with an undisclosed injury. Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate reports that Burke, who is pointless in one game this season, was injured in a practice last week. Burke, a 17-year-old from Edmonton, was a seventh-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . Meachem also reports that freshman D Hugo Jansons, who has yet to play this season due to injury, is back at practice. However, there is no date set for his regular-season debut. Jansons, 17, is from Riga, Latvia.

A look back at the series that was . . .

With the Kamloops Blazers and Portland Winterhawks set to meet in the WHL’s Western Conference final, here’s a look back at the seven-game second-round series between these teams that so captivated hockey fans last spring.
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Game 1: Kamloops 3 at Portland 5 — The Blazers led 2-0 after a period and 3-1 with 11 minutes to play in the third period. . . . Portland tied it with goals by F Sven Baertschi and F Ty Rattie just 1:07 apart. . . . F Brad Ross got the winner on a power play at 14:47. . . . The play everyone was talking about occurred at 18:36 of the third period when Kamloops G Cole Cheveldave ventured behind his net to play a puck and was hit by Portland F Oliver Gabriel, who was given a minor for goaltender interference. He later was suspended for four games. . . . Rattie had two goals and two assists; Baertschi finished one and three. . . . F Brendan Ranford had two assists for Kamloops.
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Game 2: Kamloops 1 at Portland 4 — Baertschi scored twice and G Mac Carruth stopped 39 shots for the Winterhawks. . . . Cheveldave had finished Game 1, but wasn’t feeling well by the morning of Game 2, so Cam Lanigan started and made 30 saves. . . . The Blazers had Taran Kozun on the bench in support of Lanigan. . . . Baertschi scored at 19:14 of the second period, F Taylor Leier made it 2-0 just 56 seconds into the third and F Cam Reid upped it to 3-0 just 19 seconds later. . . . Among the 22 penalties was a double minor to Kamloops F JC Lipon for butt-ending Rattie.
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Game 3: Portland 5 at Kamloops 2 — The Winterhawks scored three shorthanded goals, two of them by Ross. . . . Portland F Taylor Peters drew three shorthanded assists. . . . Leier broke a 1-1 tie with a shorthanded goal at 5:16 of the second, with Ross scoring 33 seconds later. . . . Kamloops was 1-for-9 on the PP; Portland was 1-for-4.
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Game 4: Portland 4 at Kamloops 5 — The Winterhawks, with a 3-0 lead in the series, led this game 4-0 at 10:58 of the first period and 4-1 going into the second. . . . Portland maintained that momentum shifted 12 minutes into the first period after an unpenalized Lipon hit that knocked Rattie out of the game and sent him to hospital with what turned out to be a neck injury. Lipon scored immediately after the hit to get Kamloops on the board. . . . Ranford tied the scored at 6:03 of the third period and F Dylan Willick got the winner at 7:37 on the power play. . . . Ranford also had two assists. . . . Portland also was unhappy about a third-period check to the head by Kamloops D Austin Madaisky on Leier. . . . Things definitely were beginning to heat up.
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Game 5: Kamloops 7 at Portland 2 — F Jordan DePape had two goals and two assists and Madaisky had three assists as the Blazers won going away. . . . The Blazers were without Lipon, who drew a one-game suspension under supplemental discipline for his Game 4 hit on Rattie, who played. . . . The visitors led 2-0 and 4-1 at the period breaks. . . . Kamloops F Tim Bozon beat Carruth on a penalty shot at 6:30 of the third and when F Chase Souto scored at 7:35, the Winterhawks changed goaltenders with Brendan Burke cleaning up. . . . Lanigan stopped 34 shots.
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Game 6: Portland 6 at Kamloops 7 — Portland F Brendan Leipsic’s power-play goal at 11:24 of the second period gave the Winter hawks a 5-2 lead. . . . It was still 5-2 with 15 minutes left in the third period. . . . And then the comeback began. . . . Kamloops D Marek Hrbas got it started at 5:55, on the PP. . . . DePape scored at 8:49 and F Aspen Sterzer beat Carruth 11 seconds later. . . . When F Colin Smith scored a PP goal at 15:21 the Blazers amazingly had the lead. . . . The joy was short-lived, however, as Reid pulled Portland into a 6-6 tie at 15:47. . . . Kamloops D Bronson Maschmeyer won it with his second goal of the game at 19:39. . . . Lanigan stopped 24 shots, while Carruth turned aside 36. . . . In something of a surreal moment, the Kamloops fans stood and cheered until the Blazers returned to the ice surface from their dressing room and took a curtain call.
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Game 7: Kamloops 0 at Portland 2 — F Marcel Noebels scored at 1:01 of the first period and Carruth made it stand up with 32 saves. . . . Leipsic added an insurance marker at 9:49 of the third. . . . According to The Oregonian’s Paul Buker, when it was all over Portland radio analyst Andy Kemper said: “This was a war, folks, an absolute war.”
— GREGG DRINNAN


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Shaun Heshka (Everett, 2003-06) signed a one-year contract with Ässät Pori (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had one assist in 10 games with the Binghamton Senators (AHL) and four goals and 14 assists in 59 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) this season. Ässät GM Mika Toivola: “Heshka is a puck-handling defender and he has good leadership characteristics. He brings to our power play more power and flexibility.” . . .
F Blake Evans (Spokane, Tri-City, Regina, 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway, GET-Ligaen). He had 15 goals and 37 assists in 45 games for Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, GET-Ligaen) this season.
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If you are in Regina today and are able to make it to the Regina Inn, you should know that Ken Dryden and others will be there taking part in Brain Blitz, a round-table discussion on preventing brain injuries in sports. It runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.
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The Seattle Thunderbirds hold the No. 1 selection in the WHL’s bantam draft and are expected to use it on F Matthew Barzal of the Burnaby Winter Club Bruins. In fact, I am told that Barzal is expected to visit Seattle this weekend. . . . F Ryan Gropp of Kamloops, who was taken sixth overall by the Thunderbirds in the 2011 bantam draft, has yet to sign with Seattle. He visited the University of Denver last weekend and also has visited Colorado College. His father, Brent, played at Colorado College. Ryan is believed close to a decision but his father has said they are looking at this process as a marathon as opposed to a sprint.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The junior B Richmond Sockeyes, who play in the Pacific International junior league, have signed Aaron Wilbur as their head coach. He spent this season as the head coach of a peewee A in Seafair on the Lower Mainland of B.C. His resume includes two seasons as GM/head coach of the junior B Castlegar Rebels of the Kootenay International junior league. He replaces Judd Lambert, who went 181-37-16 in regular-season games and 42-17 in the playoffs during five seasons with Richmond.
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It’s official. The MJHL’s Winnipeg Saints have been sold and will relocate to Virden, a community about 45 miles west of Brandon on the Trans-Canada Highway.
There is more right here.
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By now you no doubt are aware of the vile stuff that showed up on Twitter after G Joel Ward scored the OT Game 7 winner for the Washington Capitals that eliminated the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
There’s a piece right here from The New York Times that is worth a read.
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Tweet of the day:
From Joel Ward, a former UPEI Panthers player: “Thanks everyone for all your support.. #42 is in my thoughts more than ever!! #rockthered #jackierobinson”
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Harrison Mooney of Puck Daddy sums up the whole Ward story, and then some, right here.
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The Portland Winterhawks are into the WHL’s championship final for a second straight season. Last season, the Winterhawks lost in five games to the Kootenay ice. . . . The Edmonton Oil Kings will try to wrap up the Eastern Conference final tonight at home. They hold a 3-1 lead over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . If Edmonton wins that series, the WHL final will open May 4 in the Alberta capital. Should the Warriors come back and win, the final will begin in Portland on May 4. . . . Moose Jaw D Kendall McFaull, who missed Game 4 after having his appendix removed Wednesday morning, is out of hospital but didn’t make the trip to Edmonton for Game 5. . . . The Oil Kings remain without F Dylan Wruck (shoulder), but there is speculation that F Kristians Pelss (leg) could return tonight.

THURSDAY’S GAME:
In Portland, the Winterhawks advanced to the WHL championship series for a second straight season as they scored four third-period goals and beat the Tri-City Americans, 4-1. . . . Portland swept the best-of-seven Western Conference final. . . . F Marcel Noebels scored the winner for Portland, coming onto the ice on a line change and beating G Ty Rimmer at 7:38 of the third period. . . . Portland F Cam Reid had tied the score just 56 seconds earlier. . . . Portland F Sven Baertschi got his seventh playoff goal at 16:57 of the third and F Brad Ross added his 12th goal of the spring just 26 seconds later. . . . F Brandon Leipsic had two assists for Portland. . . . Tri-City F Adam Hughesman opened the scoring for the second straight game, this time on the PP at 17:40 of the first period as he deposited a Brendan Shinnimin rebound that glanced off G Mac Carruth’s mask. . . . Shinnimin’s assist ran his point streak to 38 games. . . . One night earlier, Hughesman scored 1:16 into the first period, only to have Portland come back for a 3-1 victory, scoring once in the second and twice in the third. . . . Last night, Rimmer finished with 57 saves, the most by any goaltender in one game in these playoffs. He stopped 40 shots through two periods. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 39 shots. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie, who had one assist last night, was named the series MVP. He had four goals and two assists in the four games. . . . Rattie leads all playoff scorers in goals (17) and points (29).
Some notes from Dan Mulhausen of the Americans, all of them involving the club’s 20-year-olds: “Team captain Mason Wilgosh, a former list player who went on to play in a combined 331 WHL games with Tri-City, finishes his career with 132 points and a playoff-best 4 goals and 10 points in 15 games. . . . Shinnimin, another list player from Winnipeg, finished his overage season by becoming just the second Tri-City player to win a WHL scoring title and signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes.  Shinnimin, who finished on a 38-game point streak, combined for 401 points in 325 total games with Tri-City and leaves as the franchise’s all-time leading playoff scorer (64 pts). . . . Hughesman, who has played in a combined 410 games in an Americans jersey, departs with his name etched in the Tri-City record books. In 338 regular-season games (third all-time), Hughesman amassed 140 goals (third all-time), 210 assists (fourth all-time) and 350 points (fourth all-time). Additionally, Hughesman appeared in more playoff games (72) than any other Tri-City player. 
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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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Winterhawks end Blazers' dream

The dream died at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night.
The Kamloops Blazers gave up a goal at 1:01 of the first period and went on to drop a 2-0 decision to the Portland Winterhawks in Game 7 of the WHL’s Western Conference final.
The Blazers had lost the first three games of this series, then roared back to win three in a row to take the best-of-seven series to the limit. In the process, they caught the imagination of hockey fans across North America, with even personalities on TSN and Hockey Night in Canada providing updates on last night’s game during NHL playoff telecasts.
The Blazers had the game’s first real scoring chance when right-winger J.C. Lipon fired a shot that beat Portland goaltender Mac Carruth but glanced harmlessly away off the crossbar.
Seconds later, the Winterhawks opened the scoring when centre Marcel Noebels found himself alone in the slot and was able to put the puck through goaltender Cam Lanigan’s legs.
Portland nursed that 1-0 lead into the third period — the Blazers had outscored the Winterhawks 10-2 in the third periods of the previous three games — when Kamloops was given an early opportunity as forward Oliver Gabriel went off for tripping Jordan DePape. But the Blazers’ power play came up empty.
And the Winterhawks stretched their lead to 2-0 at 9:49 when Cam Reid and Brendan Leipsic burned the Blazers on a 2-on-1 break. Reid threw a perfect pass to Leipsic, who scored his third goal of the playoffs.
Shortly after that goal, Lanigan made two huge saves off Portland sniper Ty Rattie to keeps the Blazers’ hopes alive.
But the visitors weren’t able to beat Carruth, who stopped 32 shots in earning his second shutout of these playoffs and the third of his career. Carruth, a native of Shorewood, Minn., who turned 20 on March 25, had given up 18 goals over his last three games. Prior to that, he had been beaten just 15 times in seven games.
Lanigan, who took over the starting role when Cole Cheveldave suffered a concussion in Game 1 of the series, made 37 saves.
The Blazers were attempting to become only the second team in WHL history to lose the first three games of a best-of-seven series and come back to win Game 7. In 1996, the Spokane Chiefs lost the first three games and rebounded to beat the Winterhawks in a first-round series.
The Winterhawks will meet the Tri-City Americans in the Western Conference final. The Americans beat the visiting Chiefs 3-2 in Game 7 of that semifinal last night.
The final will begin Friday in Kennewick, Wash., with Game 2 there on Saturday.
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 7,823. . . . The Blazers were 0-for-4 on the power play; the Winterhawks were 0-for-1. . . . Kamloops F Colin Smith, a 35-goal scorer in the regular season, was hampered by a shoulder injury. . . . Cheveldave was back in uniform — he backed up Lanigan — for the first time since Game 1 on April 6. Cheveldave has been out with a concussion since being run over by Portland F Oliver Gabriel late in that game. . . . The Blazers scratched F Chase Schaber (leg), G Taran Kozun, F Brock Balson, D Landon Cross, D Jordan Thomson and F Brayden Gelsinger. . . . Schaber, the Blazers’ captain, had his season end when he suffered a skate cut to his left leg on March 27 in Game 3 against the Victoria Royals. He is on crutches and that kept him from making the trip to Portland. . . . Kamloops D Bronson Maschmeyer, who scored twice including that dramatic winner in Game 6, and F Brandon Herrod, who came over from the Prince Albert Raiders on Dec. 31, played their final WHL games as they have used up their major junior eligibility.

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Blazers concerned with Portland defenders

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
As the Kamloops Blazers prepare to face the Portland Winterhawks in Round 2 of the WHL playoffs, there is one over-riding question:
How will the Blazers deal with the Portland line that has Marcel Noebels between Sven Baertschi and Ty Rattie?
That threesome ransacked Kelowna to the tune of 32 points in a four-game first-round sweep of the Rockets. Rattie, the pride of Airdrie, Alta., leads the WHL playoffs in goals (10) and points (13); sheesh, he outscored the Rockets 10-9 in that series.
Baertschi has 11 points, while Noebels, a Jan. 10 pickup from the Seattle Thunderbirds, ‘only’ has eight points, all of them assists.
As much as the hockey world has focused its attention on that trio, the Blazers are more concerned about Portland’s defencemen. That, the Blazers feel, is where Portland’s success starts.
Four Portland defencemen combined for 196 regular-season points — Joe Morrow (64), Derrick Pouliot (59), Troy Rutkowski (45) and Tyler Wotherspoon (28).
The Blazers’ strength has been their ability to get pucks in behind the opposing defence, then use the skating ability of the forwards to get in deep and create havoc, turnovers and scoring chances.
Which is what the Winterhawks can expect when this best-of-series opens Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. With video scouting being what it is today, you can bet the Winterhawks know exactly what’s coming.
“We don’t need to change,” Kamloops head coach Guy Charron said after Wednesday’s practice at Interior Savings Centre. “Obviously, they are a good hockey team and there are things that we respect. A lot of their offence comes from their defence.
“Yes, they do have a potent line. . . but as far as how we need to play . . . we have to play Blazers hockey.”
The Blazers have worked hard this season at creating an identity as an attacking team that is heavy on the forecheck. Having already played 76 games this season, Kamloops isn’t about to change that.
At the same time, though, the Blazers are aware of the roll that the Rattie bunch is on.
“With the success they had against Kelowna,” Charron stated, “I would hope that we can minimize the success of that line. It’s going to be difficult to just focus on them because of the power plays and all the other aspects of the game.
“But if 5-on-5 we can keep them from creating momentum and get them a little bit frustrated, then that would be what we would try to do as much as possible . . . if we can do that.”
Forget about the Blazers doing that by matching lines. With three solid forward lines and not a designated checking line, that hasn’t been in Kamloops’ game plan to this point. Instead, like a lot of teams, the Blazers will try to do it with a shutdown defensive pairing, in this case Austin Madaisky and Tyler Hansen.
“On the road, it’s tough without last change,” Charron said. “But we can certainly try to have the right defence out there and I think that’s what we are going to try to do.”
The other question mark hovering over the Blazers has to do with the absence of forward Chase Schaber, who had his season come to an end when he suffered a skate cut to his left leg on March 27 in Game 3 against the host Victoria Royals. Schaber had been playing on a line with Matt Needham and Dylan Willick, a slot that Charron said will be filled by Brock Balson, an 18-year-old native of Kamloops who joined the Blazers 20 games into the season from the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks.
Balson, who has been a healthy scratch in eight of the club’s last 10 games including the four playoff games, put up six points in 42 games, but Charron said he is “very conscious defensively.”
“He’s big and strong enough to play well down low in our zone,” Charron said. “He’s going to have a challenge this series and if he rises to the challenge he’ll get more ice time and more of an opportunity to play. If not, changes will have to be made.
“But because of his size and his ability to skate . . . now we’ve got three lines and all three lines should be able to play.”
JUST NOTES: The Blazers’ bus was scheduled to leave last night at 11 o’clock; they are to practise in Portland this morning at 11. . . . Rattie took just four games to set a franchise record for most goals in a seven-game series, breaking a standard that was set by F Brian (Bunny) Shaw in 1982 when he scored nine times in six games against the Seattle Breakers. . . . F Dan Woodley holds the Portland single-season record for playoff goals, having scored 19 in 19 games in the spring of 1987. . . . Baertschi, Rattie and Noebels finished a combined plus-31 against Kelowna. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth holds franchise playoff records for victories (22), games played (36) and minutes played (2,105).

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SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, F Justin Kirsch had a goal and three assists as the Warriors scored a 5-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Moose Jaw F Cam Braes broke a 1-1 tie with his 29th goal 41 seconds into the second period. . . . Kirsch then drew assists on three straight goals and scored a fourth before the period ended. . . . Freshman F Coda Gordon got his 20th goal of the season for the Broncos. . . . The Warriors were 3-6 on the PP; the Broncos were 2-4. . . . Moose Jaw has points in seven straight games (6-0-1). . . .

In Saskatoon, the Blades scored the game’s last seven goals and beat the Regina Pats, 8-1. . . . F Josh Nicholls had two goals and an assist for the Blades, who also got two goals from each of F Brett Stovin and D Darren Dietz. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal picked up an assist to run his point streak to 13 games. . . . Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken won his 549th game, moving him past Ernie (Punch) McLean and into second place on the WHL’s all-time list. Only Ken Hodge (742) has more WHL coaching victories than Molleken. . . . Molleken also has coached in 972 games. He is one shy of tying Peter Anholt for third spot on the WHL’s all-time list. . . .

In Edmonton, G Adam Morrison turned back 28 shots as the Vancouver Giants scored a 3-2 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . The Giants opened up a 3-0 lead early in the third period and hung on after the Oil Kings closed the gap. . . . Vancouver F Brendan Gallagher scored his first goal for the Giants since missing almost two weeks with a shoulder injury. He’s got 29. . . . Vancouver F Cain Franson scored his 20th goal. . . . F Thomas Foster, the Giants’ first pick in the 2011 bantam draft, made his WHL debut. He played against his brother T.J., who plays for the Oil Kings. . . . Oil Kings D Griffin Reinhart, in his third game since missing a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury, left in the second period and didn’t return. . . .

In Lethbridge, D Josh Morrissey scored twice to help the Prince Albert Raiders to a 6-3 victory over the Hurricanes. . . . Morrissey, 1 16-year-old from Calgary, has 29 points, including seven goals, in 46 games. He also is plus-11 on a team that has struggled defensively. . . . F Anthony Bardaro had four assists for the Raiders, while F Mike Winther and F Shane Danyluk each had a goal and two assists. . . . Raiders G Cole Holowenko stopped 34 shots. . . .

In Medicine Hat, the Calgary Hitmen scored the game’s last three goals, all in the third period, and beat the Tigers, 5-2. . . . F Alex Gogolev broke a 2-2 tie at 1:28 of the third on a PP. It was his 20th goal of the season. . . . The Hitmen led 2-0 after one period; the teams were tied 2-2 after two. . . . Medicine Hat F Emerson Etem had two assists, but had his goal-scoring streak end at 11 games. . . . The Hitmen have won five in a row and 13 of 14. They are at home to the Tri-City Americans today. . . . The Tigers had won six in a row. . . . Calgary G Brandon Glover stopped 28 shots. . . . Medicine Hat G Tyler Bunz missed in his first opportunity to set the franchise record for career victories. He has tied Matt Keetley’s record of 105. . . . The Hitmen were 3-3 on the PP; the Tigers went 2-5. . . . The games’ first five goals were scored on the PP. . . . Calgary D Alex Roach was back after serving a three-game suspension. He had a first-period PP goal. . . .

In Red Deer, G Corbin Boes stopped 39 shots to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Rebels. . . . F Turner Elson scored twice for Red Deer, including the game’s first goal at 9:01 of the first period. . . . D Ryan Pulock pulled Brandon even at 11:31 of the first and F Mark Stone put the visitors out front at 19:58. Stone has 32 goals. . . . Referees Matt Kirk and Matt Thurston handed out three minor penalties, all to Brandon. . . . Red Deer F Adam Kambeitz, who left Friday’s game with an ankle injury, will be out at least six weeks. The Rebels captain joins D Justin Weller and G Patrik Bartosak on the long-term injury list. . . .

In Prince George, F Josh Winquist scored twice to help the Everett Silvertips to a 4-3 victory over the Cougars. . . . The Silvertips swept the doubleheader, having won 5-2 on Friday night. . . . This is Everett’s first winning streak of the season. . . . The victory lifted Everett past the Cougars and into ninth place in the 10-team Western Conference. . . . Everett now is four points out of a playoff spot. . . . Winquist, who has 12 goals, scored twice in the second period to stretch Everett’s lead to 4-1. . . . F Spencer Asuchak scored for the Cougars in his 200th WHL game. . . . Prince George D Daniel Gibb, who left Friday night’s game, didn’t play last night. . . . The Cougars, who have lost five straight, will play in Victoria on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the first time the team has played in the B.C. capital since it left for Prince George after the 1993-94 season. . . .

In Victoria, linemates Tim Bozon, Colin Smith and J.C. Lipon each scored once as the Kamloops Blazers dumped the Royals, 5-1. . . . The Royals had beaten the Blazers 4-2 on Friday. . . . The Blazers, who haven’t lost three straight all season, had lost their previous two games. . . . F Brendan Ranford’s shorthanded goal broke a 1-1 tie at 14:38 of the second. He’s got 26 goals. . . . The Blazers lead the WHL with 15 shorthanded goals. . . . D Landon Cross had two assists for Kamloops. . . . F Tim Traber scored his second goal of the season for the Royals, opening the scoring at 11:01 of the first period. . . . Kamloops G Cam Lanigan stopped 26 shots. . . . It was Pink in the Rink Night and the Royals wore pink uniforms to support cancer research. The promotion-filled evening drew 7,006 fans. . . . The victory lifted the Blazers back into first place overall. They went into the night tied with the Tri-City Americans and Edmonton Oil Kings. The Americans were idle; the Oil Kings lost at home. . . . The Americans are in Calgary today. . . .

In Kent, Wash., F Marcel Noebels earned three assists as the Portland Winterhawks beat the host Seattle Thunderbirds, 8-3. . . . The Winterhawks acquired Noebels from Seattle on Jan. 10. . . . He now has seven points in nine games with Portland. . . . F Sven Baertschi and F Brendan Leipsic each had two goals and an assist for Portland. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 51 shots in earning his 30th victory of the season. . . . The Winterhawks have won three in a row. . . . The Thunderbirds held their Teddy Bear and collected 4,832 stuffed toys. . . .

In Spokane, the Chiefs came back from a three-goal deficit to beat the Kootenay Ice 5-4 in OT on D Brenden Kichton’s goal at 3:10. . . . Chiefs F Darren Kramer forced OT with his 18th goal at 17:16 of the third. . . . D Corbin Baldwin had gotten the Chiefs to within one with his fourth goal at 14:31 of the third, via the PP. . . . The Ice scored three first-period goals on six shots. . . . The Chiefs then outshot the Ice 18-4 in the second and cut the deficit to 3-2. . . . Spokane G Eric Williams came on to start the second period and stopped 18 of 19 shots. . . . F Joe Antilla had two goals for the Ice. . . . The Chiefs are 5-0-1 in their last six and are in a fourth-place tie with Vancouver in the Western Conference. Spokane holds three games in hand. . . .
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SATURDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Ryan Olsen, Saskatoon.
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in the BCHL, the Penticton Vees ran their winning streak to 28 games with an 8-1 victory over the SilverBacks in Salmon Arm. . . . That is one shy of the BCHL record that is held by the 1989-90 New Westminster Royals. . . . The Vees are next scheduled to play Friday against the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs. As Fraser Rodgers, the radio voice of the Vees, mentioned on his blog, Harvey Smyl, the Chiefs' head coach, was an assistant with the Royals in 1989-90.
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Today’s good read comes from Jim Matheson at the Edmonton Journal. Matty’s Hockey World is right here and, as usual, it’s full of all kinds of good stuff, including an update on former WHLer Brantt Myhres, who seems to have found some peace.
 
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jakub Sindel (Brandon, 2004-05) was released from his tryout contract with Kärpät Oulu (Finland, SM-Liiga) after Kärpät signed ex-NHL F Jozef Stumpel. Sindel had three assists in 11 games with Kärpät during his tryout. Sindel had agreed to extend his tryout contract one more week earlier Tuesday but, when Kärpät signed Stumpel Tuesday evening, Sindel was released.
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Mac Engel, meet Mac Engel. Yes, the Spokane Chiefs’ goaltender has a big, big fan named, uhh, Mac Engel. Same name, same spelling. Check it out right here.
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Kevin Allen of USA TODAY takes a look at the NHL and the state of concussions. This is a thorough overview of what is going on in the NHL, including the number of concussions this season, the number of games players have missed because of concussions, and the cost. That story is right here, and it’s a good one.
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A Tuesday afternoon tweet from TSN hockey analyst Bob McKenzie: “No decision req'd until trade deadline but my sense is TBL more inclined to keep Brett Connoly in NHL than return him to Tri City (WHL).”
McKenzie, Part 2: “If Connolly finishes NHL season with TBL, and Bolts miss playoffs (as expected), he can be assigned to Norfolk for AHL playoffs.”
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In the last while, the weather in various parts of B.C. has been dicey, at best. As a result, we have heard stories of teams, including the Kootenay Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes, having faced lengthy delays as they attempted to bus from one place to another.
And now we can add the Victoria Royals to the list.
The Royals completed their East Division swing on Saturday night with a 9-6 loss to the Saskatoon Blades. Naturally, the Royals left for home right after the game, which would have been around 10:30 p.m. CT, or 8:30 p.m. PT.
The Royals arrived home Monday afternoon, two weeks after the trek to the eastern hinterlands had begun. You may recall that as the Royals were about to start the trip, F Kevin Sundher was informed that he had been traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Anyway, it seems the Royals arrived at Tsawwassen to catch the ferry to Schwartz Bay near Sydney By The Sea only to discover that high winds had cancelled a number of sailings. So the team spent Sunday night at Tsawwassen, waiting and hoping for the winds to decrease.
The Royals, who went 2-4 on their swing, are back in action Friday and Saturday against the visiting Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers, who take a nine-game winning streak into Kelowna tonight, are 5-0-0 against Victoria this season.
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Don’t look now, but there is an interesting race going on for the last couple of playoff spots in the WHL’s Western Conference.
And it could be that loser points will play a rather large role in settling the issue.
The Everett Silvertips, who lost 7-4 last night in Portland, are last in the 10-team conference in which eight teams will qualify for the postseason.
But the Silvertips have picked up seven points over their last seven games and are just six points behind the eighth-place Victoria Royals (15-28-5), who are one point behind the Seattle Thunderbirds (17-26-2). The Prince George Cougars (15-29-2) are ninth, three points behind Victoria and three in front of Everett.
Keep in mind, too, that Victoria is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games, although six of those (2-4-0) came in the East Division. Prince George is 2-8-0 in its last 10. Seattle, meanwhile, is 1-8-1.
That has allowed Everett, which is in its ninth season and has never missed the playoffs, to sneak back into the picture.
Everett (10-28-9) may end up holding something of an edge, too, because of its nine loser points to this point in the season.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Presten Kopeck, a 16-year-old third-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. Kopeck, who is from Medicine Hat, has 19 points, including seven goals, in 45 games with the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. Last season, with the midget AAA Medicine Hat Tigers, he had 19 points in 34 games. Kopeck, who was in training camp with the Winterhawks prior to this season, will finish this season with the Bobcats.
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There is a neat story in Tuesday’s Edmonton Sun about the Edmonton Oil Kings, who have become involved in a snow-shovelling program that benefits needy homeowners. That story is right here.

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D Daniel Gibb of the Prince George Cougars took part in a program called Breakfast Idol at P.G. radio station The River 101.3 on Tuesday. No, he didn't sing Stayin' Alive. . . . You can catch it all right here — he’s a wizard with the Cube. You also should go over there and vote for Gibb, who needs all the help we can provide.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Swift Current, G Luke Siemens stopped 32 shots to help the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 3-0 victory over the Broncos. . . . Siemens had sat out his club’s last three games due to what head coach Mike Stothers had said was a need to re-focus. . . .. F Kenton Miller scored the game’s opening goal, on the PP, at 18:37 of the first period. . . . Moose Jaw F Cam Braes, who missed Monday’s practice because he was ill, got his 28th goal of the season. . . . The Warriors had lost their first two games in Swift Current this season. . . . G Jon Groenheyde made his 20th straight start for the Broncos. He stopped 39 shots. . . . Moose Jaw D Joel Edmundson had two assists. . . . The Warriors have put up four shutouts this season, three by Siemens. . . . The Broncos have been shut out twice. . . .

In Cranbrook, G Curtis Honey stopped 34 shots for his first WHLshutout as the Brandon Wheat Kings beat the host Kootenay Ice, 1-0. . . . Brandon had G Corbin Boes in the lineup for the first time since he suffered a broken hand on Dec. 7. G Brandon Anderson was a healthy scratch. . . . This was Brandon’s second shutout of the season; Boes has the other one. . . . It was the first time this season the Ice has been blanked. . . . F Kevin Sundher scored the game’s only goal, his 23rd of the season and his first with the Wheat Kings since he was acquired from the Victoria Royals on Jan. 9. That came at 16:28 of the first period. . . . Brandon is 7-3-1 in its last 11 trips to Cranbrook. . . . Bruce Luebke, the radio voice of the Wheat Kings, reports that it’s Brandon’s first 1-0 victory since Feb. 20, 2008, when Joe Caligiuri stopped 30 shots and F Jay Fehr scored the lone goal in beating the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. . . .

In Portland, the Winterhawks ran their franchise-record home-ice winning streak to 18 games with a 7-4 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Winterhawks got two goals from each of D Joe Morrow and F Marcel Noebels. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke, the son of former NHL G Sean Burke, stopped 29 shots to earn his third victory of the season. . . . Everett, trailing 4-2, tied it with goals from F Ryan Harrison and F Reid Petryk 48 seconds apart midway in the second period. . . . Portland F Taylor Peters broke the 4-4 tie with his 10th goal at 14:51 of the seocnd. . . . Harrison had two goals for Everett, giving him 13, while D Ryan Murray had two assists. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie had two assists, giving him a WHL-leading 83 points, two more than Regina Pats F Jordan Weal. . . . The Winterhawks were without D William Wrenn, their captain, who was suspended by the WHL “for actions at Spokane on Jan. 22.” According to Jim Beseda of the Oregonian, Wrenn was suspended “for an altercation as he was leaving the ice after Sunday’s 6-1 loss at Spokane.” . . .
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TUESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Graeme Craig, Swift Current.
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After reading here about the sportsmanship shown by Seattle Thunderbirds G Calvin Pickard the other night, another WHL fan has sent me a note, this one involving Everett Silvertips D Ryan Murray:
“When Everett was last (in Kamloops) . . . when they were announcing the three stars, Ryan Murray came out for his star and took time to pose with kids who were giving out the (goods). Then, on his way off the ice, he went out of his way to tap the Blazers star on the shin pads.
“It’s nice to see something like that and then read the story about Pickard.”
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For today’s good ready, here is Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe with a terrific look at Tim Thomas and how he screwed up by not visiting the White House with his Boston Bruins teammates on Monday. That piece is right here.

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