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

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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.
———
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”
———
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.

Portland goaltender Mac Carruth had the answers as he blanked the Blazers
3-0 in Kamloops on Wednesday night.
(Murray Mitchell /Kamloops Daily News)

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Patrick Baum (Swift Current, 1997-98) signed a one-year contract extension with Heilbronner Falken (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had one goal and seven assists in 30 games for the Falken this season. Heilbronn also announced that it won’t offer contracts for next season to 13 players, including G Kevin Nastiuk (Medicine Hat, 2001-05). Nastiuk had a 2.21 GAA in 26 games this season. . . .

F Wacey Rabbit (Saskatoon, Vancouver, 2001-07) signed a two-year contract extension with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen). He had 19 goals and 34 assists in 44 games this season. . . .

G Justin Pogge (Prince George, Calgary, 2003-06) signed a one-year contract with Karlskoga (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had a 2.37 GAA and .925 save percentage in 44 games with Ritten/Renon (Italy, Serie A) this season. . . .

F Zdenek Okal (Medicine Hat, 2008-10) and F Ondrej Vesely (Portland, Tri-City, 1996-98) signed one-year contract extensions with Zlin (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Okal had seven goals and four assists in 46 games with Zlin, one goal in a one-game loan to Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), and was named Extraliga rookie of the year. . . . Vesely had 10 goals and 31 assists in 52 games with Zlin.
———

If you haven’t seen it by now, right here is what the hockey world will be talking about today. The QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar had quite a brawl following a game last night. . . . They are to meet again on Friday, so the QMJHL is going to have to make some disciplinary decisions in a hurry.
———

“Hockey parents are in shock after learning their kids are not covered for brain injury in a concussion-plagued sport.” . . . So begins a rather interesting piece written by Elaine O’Connor and Frank Luba of the Vancouver Province. . . . The complete story is right here.
———

Former Kamloops Blazers F Chase Schaber played this season with the U of Lethbridge Pronghorns, but has since turned pro and is with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. Chris Langrill of the Idaho Statesman has Schaber’s story right here, including the injury in last season’s playoffs that almost cost him one leg.
———

D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, who played out his junior eligibility with the Vancouver Giants this season, has decided to attend UBC and play for the Thunderbirds next season. Vannieuwenhuizen, the Giants’ captain this season, played four seasons with Vancouver. . . . F Greg Fraser, who played four seasons with the Prince George Cougars (2008-12) before playing this season with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, also has committed to the Thunderbirds.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Steve Rohlik is the new head coach at Ohio State. He spent three years as the associate coach under Mark Osiecki, who was fired earlier this month. When Osiecki was dropped, Rohlik was named interim head coach. . . . Rohlik, who is a head coach for the first time, also spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Minnesota-Duluth and three at Nebraska-Omaha.
———

 The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Calgary (3)
(Series tied 2-2; Game 5 on Friday night in Edmonton; all games on Shaw TV, with Dan Russell calling the play.)
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Portland leads series, 3-1; Game 5 on Friday night at the Rose Garden in Portland.)
———
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
In Calgary, the Edmonton Oil Kings scored four times in the first 10:15 of the opening period and went on to beat the Hitmen, 7-3. . . . Edmonton F T.J. Foster scored the game’s first two goals, in the opening 2:10, giving him three in the playoffs. . . . Oil Kings F Michael St. Croix finished with a goal and three assists. . . . Edmonton D Martin Gernat had a goal and an assist, and was plus-5. . . . The Oil Kings, who took a 5-1 lead into the second period, have twice enjoyed five-goal periods in this series, while Calgary has done it once. . . . Calgary F Brooks Macek scored on a second-period penalty shot. . . . Calgary F Elliott Peterson, who had four goals in 38 regular-season games, got his fifth in his 14th playoff game. . . . The Oil Kings were without D Griffin Reinhart, who left in the third period of Game 3 with an undisclosed injury, and F Luke Bertolucci, who departed in the second period after absorbing a stiff check by Calgary D Jaynen Rissling. . . . Edmonton inserted F Cole Benson and D Stephen Shmoorkoff into the lineup. . . . Reinhart actually returned to Edmonton in order to be re-evaluated. . . .

In Kamloops, G Mac Carruth stopped 29 shots and F Nic Petan scored twice as the Portland Winterhawks dumped the Blazers, 3-0. . . . Carruth has two shutouts in this series, four in these playoffs and seven in his career. . . . Portland F Nic Petan scored twice, giving him eight this spring, and had an assist. . . . For the second straight game, the Winterhawks got an early 1-0 lead with a 5-on-3 PP goal. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie had three assists, upping his career playoff total to 88 points. He passed former Kamloops F Rob Brown (1983-87) and moved into third on the WHL’s all-time list. Former Kamloops D Greg Hawgood (1983-88) is next on the list, with 100 points. . . . Rattie leads the WHL playoff scoring derby, with 29 points in 14 games. . . . Portland F Keegan Iverson drew a charging major and game misconduct for a third-period hit that knocked Kamloops F Brendan Ranford out of the game. . . . Blazers head coach Guy Charron wasn’t able to provide an update on Ranford’s condition after the game. . . . There’s a video featuring that Iverson hit on Ranford right here.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (20):
D Joel Edmundson, Kamloops

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (6):
None
———






From Cody Nickolet (@WHLFromAbove): “Shaw TV replay shows Griffin Reinhart's skate getting sliced in a collision last night. Ouch. He's not playing tonight in Game 4.”
———
From Jesse Spector (@jessespector): “You hate to see a guy hurt his undisclosed at this time of year.”
———
From Paul Buker (@Pnbuker) of The Oregonian: “Thanks to WHL Live for the video feed. Can my $7.95 go towards the 'FREE MIKE' fund? Is that OK? No?”

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.

First baseman Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins is all to familiar with post-concussion syndrome, and the former hockey player tells Tom Maloney of The Globe and Mail all about it right here.
———
How quickly things change in the coaching game.
Less than 10 months ago, on July 12, the Lethbridge Hurricanes announced that they were picking up the 2013-14 option on the contract belonging to general manager/head coach Rich Preston.
On Tuesday morning, they fired him and promoted Brad Robson, who had been the assistant general manager and director of player personnel, to general manager.
The Hurricanes have missed the playoffs each of the last four seasons, going 100-156-32 during that time.
Robson, a familiar face around the WHL, has been with the Hurricanes since 2007. While Robson has been working out of Calgary, he said his plan now is to relocate his family to Lethbridge.
In conversation with Pat Siedlecki, who calls the play on 94.1 CJOC, and his partner, Fred Jack, Hurricanes president Brian McNaughton said:
“This is not a business that’s about potential; this is a business that’s about performance. We are on a five-year plan; we’re still on that plan. But I think the performance in the last half of the season had to be better. There’s really no way that I think I could justify in my own mind that we were going to be better next (season), so that forced a decision like this, which is unfortunate.”
Asked by Siedlecki if the franchise’s financial situation played any role at all in the decision, McNaughton replied:
“Absolutely not at all. Quite honestly, everyone keeps focusing on how bad our financial situation is. We had an outstanding year . . . we’re way ahead of where we projected. Our attendance is up 11 per cent and as a result of that there’s a lot of revenues that are up in that area and in other areas. We’ve made a major turn here financially this season. We’ll present that to our shareholders in September . . . and we have a business plan in place that is going to mitigate this expense. We have an obligation, we are prepared to live up to our obligation, but we have a plan to deal with it.”
McNaughton pointed to the Hurricanes’ final 30 games as the harbinger.
The Hurricanes came back from the Christmas break with 34 games remaining, 21 of those on the road. They went 10-19-5 in those 34 games. Six times they went to extra time – they lost twice in OT and three times in shootouts. The only victory in extra time came on Jan. 18 when they went into Portland and beat the Winterhawks 5-4 in a shootout.
As for promoting Robson to the GM’s post, McNaughton said the directors came up with a short list, went through the process and “came to the conclusion very quickly that this is the right decision for us.”
In conversation with Siedlecki, Robson said all of this came together in the previous 12 hours. He added that he will take the organization through the bantam draft and then look after hiring a coach.
“After a coach is selected,” Robson said, “whoever that person may be and myself will select an assistant coach that will help our hockey club, help our young players. I’m looking for two coaches that are young, have experience . . . the main thing is I want guys who can teach . . .”
Assistant coaches Matt Kabayama and Chris Chisamore are under contract through May 31. Robson told Siedlecki he will take with both men over the next while.
There’s more on Siedlecki’s blog right here, or you can find it over there on the right.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
In the OHL, the Guelph Storm has signed vice-president and general manager Mike Kelly to a deal that takes him through next season. The club has an option on the 2014-15 season.
———

The WHL’s first-round situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
(Edmonton leads 2-1; Game 4 tonight in Cranbrook)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
(Medicine Hat leads 3-0; Game 4 tonight in Medicine Hat)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
(Calgary leads 3-1; Game 5 on Thursday in Calgary)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)
(Red Deer leads 3-0; Game 4 tonight in Prince Albert)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
(Series tied 1-1; Game 3 tonight in Everett)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
(Seattle leads 3-0; Game 4 tonight in Kent, Wash.)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
(Kamloops leads 2-1; Game 4 on Thursday in Victoria, Bear Mountain Arena)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
(Spokane leads 2-1; Game 3 on Thursday in Kennewick, Wash.)
———
TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Medicine Hat, the Tigers scored the game’s first five goals and went on to beat the Saskatoon Blades, 5-2. . . . The Blades, the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup, trail the series, 3-0, with Game 4 in Medicine Hat tonight. . . . In 2001, the Regina Pats were the host team for the Memorial Cup and lost a first-round series to the Calgary Hitmen in six games. . . . Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken was the head coach of the Pats in 2000-01. . . . The Tigers swept the Blades from a first-round series last spring. . . . Saskatoon now has lost 11 straight playoff games. . . . The Blades have been outscored 12-3 in this series. . . . F Curtis Valk and D Kyle Becker had the Tigers up 2-0 by 5:01 of the first period. . . . Valk also had two assists. . . . Saskatoon G Andrey Makarov surrendered four goals on 14 shots and was gone when the second period started. Alex Moodie came on to stop 19 of 20. . . . Medicine Hat G Cam Lanigan continued his strong playing with 42 saves, the third straight game in which he has done that. . . . “They took full advantage and came at us hard and we didn’t get a save,” Molleken told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “(It’s) mental. We’re mental midgets right now.” . . . When F Lukas Sutter scored for the Blades in the second period, it ended Medicine Hat G Cam Lanigan’s shutout streak at 110:03. . . . Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls was hit with a slashing major for a hack on Medicine Hat F Hunter Shinkaruk at game’s end. Chances are Nicholls won’t be allowed to play in Game 4. . . . Saskatoon F Jessey Astles served the second game of his two-game suspension that resulted from a Game 1 hit on Medicine Hat F Matt Staples, who is concussed. . . . With Astles out, Saskatoon F Logan Harland played for the first time since Feb. 12. . . . Nugent-Bowman’s full report is right here.

In Cranbrook, F Michael St. Croix had two goals and an assist as the Edmonton Oil Kings dropped the Kootenay Ice, 7-1. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar broke a 1-1 tie at 4:13 of the first period and the Oil Kings went from there. . . . Edmonton scored on each of its first three shots. . . . Edmonton F Trevor Cheek had a goal and two assists. . . . Edmonton D Martin Gernat was pointless and plus-4. . . . The Oil Kings have outscored the Ice 17-3 in three games. . . . The Oil Kings inserted D Dysin Mayo into their lineup, replacing D Ashton Sautner, who has an undisclosed injury. . . . The Ice averaged 2,411 fans during the regular season, the lowest average in the team’s 15 seasons in Cranbrook. Attendance last night was 2,204. . . .

In Prince Albert, the Red Deer Rebels broke a scoreless tie with two second-period goals and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Raiders. . . . F Brooks Maxwell and F Turner Elson, on the PP, scored 3:24 apart in the first half of the second. . . . Elson added a second goal into an empty net at 19:16 of the third. . . . Red Deer G Patrik Bartosak stopped 29 shots. . . . Red Deer D Mathew Dumba had two assists, as did F Rhyse Dieno. . . .

In Swift Current, F Victor Rask scored the game’s only goal, banging home a rebound just 37 seconds into OT to give the Calgary Hitmen a 1-0 victory over the Broncos. . . . It was the third time in four games that these teams have gone to OT. . . . The Broncos felt the goal should have been disallowed because of a gloved pass between two Hitmen. . . . A tweet from Broncos radio voice Shawn Mullin (@shawnmullin): “Upon review of the replay... Macek clearly scooped the puck in his glove and tossed it into the crease…” . . . More from Mullin: “There is some question as to if it hit Laurikainen's stick before Rask's but it was _clearly_ gloved into the crease.” . . . A tweet from the Calgary Herald’s Kristen Odland (@KristenOdlandCH): “A seething Mark Lamb on Calgary's OT goal (which had been apparently gloved down by Brooks Macek): ‘(The referees) totally missed the call.’ ” . . . Lamb is the Broncos’ GM/head coach. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 28 shots, while Swift Current’s Eetu Laurikainen turned aside 26. . . .

In Kent, Wash., D Evan Wardley scored at 4:55 of OT was the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent) got past the Kelowna Rockets, 3-2. . . . It was the third time in as many games that OT was needed to decide the issue. The Thunderbirds had won 5-4 and 2-1 in Kelowna to begin the series. . . . Wardley has two goals in 90 career regular-season games, both of them scored this season when he played in 60 games. . . . Seattle D Jesse Forsberg tied the game at 2 at 19:35 of the second period. . . . The Rockets led 2-0 at 6:10 of the first period on goals by F Zach Franko and F Cody Fowlie. . . . F Roberts Lipsbergs of the Thunderbirds scored at 15:25 of the first period. . . . Seattle G Brandon Glover stopped 33 shots, six more than Kelowna’s Jordon Cooke. . . . Kelowna had a glorious opportunity in OT when Seattle was penalized for having too many men on the ice at 0:34. . . .

In Victoria, F Tim Traber broke a 1-1 tie 50 seconds into the third period and the Royals beat the Kamloops Blazers, 2-1. . . . F Ben Walker gave Victoria a 1-0 lead at 18:23 of the first. . . . Kamloops F JC Lipon tied it with his third goal of the series, at 12:52 of the second, on a PP. . . . Victoria G Patrik Polivka stopped 39 shots. . . . Attendance in Bear Mountain Arena was 2,395. The Royals are having to play first-round games there because Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre is home to the world men’s curling championship. . . . Bear Mountain will be home tonight to the deciding game in a best-of-five BCHL series between the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Victoria Grizzlies. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Parker Bowles scored his second goal of the game at 10:46 of OT to give the host Tri-City Americans a 5-4 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . The Americans forced OT by coming back from a 4-1 second-period deficit. . . . F Mitch Messier scored at 10:38 of the second and F Justin Feser added a goal at 12:00. . . . D Drydn Dow tied it at 18:06 of the second, via a PP. . . . Americans F Connor Rankin had three assists. . . . Tri-City G Luke Lee-Knight made 34 saves, while Eric Williams of the Chiefs stopped 38. . . . This was the 15th time in the last 28 playoff meetings between these teams that OT was needed.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (5):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (3):
F Carson Perreaux, Prince Albert

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From Swift Current Broncos D Reece Scarlett (@reecescarlett): “What a travesty... That's all that can be said about that #movingonnow”
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From Swift Current G Eetu Laurikainen (@eetu41): “It's ice hockey. Not basketball.. #alleyoop”

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Well, it’s almost over.
There are two games on the schedule today, neither of which means anything when it comes to the final standings and playoff matchups.
The Tri-City Americans are to play the Silvertips in Everett, while the Spokane Chiefs meet the Winterhawks in Portland. All four teams will be playing their third games in 48 hours.
———






The WHL’s first-round playoff matchups have been finalized:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
———
SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Calgary, F Sam Reinhart broke a 4-4 tie at 15:55 of the third period as the Kootenay Ice beat the Hitmen, 5-4. . . . Reinhart finished with 35 goals. . . . F Jaedon Descheneau scored twice, giving him 30, and added an assist for the Ice. . . . The Ice also got two goals from F Jordyn Boyd, giving him eight. . . . F Brady Brassart scored twice for Calgary, giving him 35. . . . The Hitmen scratched F Cody Sylvester, F Brooks Macek, F Victor Rask, D Jaynen Rissling and D Alex Roach. . . . The Ice was again without F Brock Montgomery. . . .

In Edmonton, F Michael St. Croix drew two assists as the Oil Kings dumped the Red Deer Rebels, 5-1. . . . F Trevor Cheek got his 32nd goal for the Oil Kings, while F Curtis Lazar scored No. 38. . . . The Oil Kings set a modern day franchise record with their 51st victory, one more than last season. . . . The Rebels went without D Mathew Dumba, F Rhyse Dieno and F Turner Elson. . . . Edmonton scratches included D Keegan Lowe, F T.J. Foster and F Henrik Samuelsson. . . .

In Prince Albert, the Raiders got two goals in the circus and beat the Saskatoon Blades, 4-3. . . . F Leon Draisaitl and F Anthony Bardaro scored in the shootout to win it. F Matej Stransky was the only one of the three Blades to score. . . . Saskatoon F Brenden Walker gave his guys a 3-2 lead with his 33rd goal, on the PP, at 11:55 of the third. . . . Raiders D Evan Morden tied it, with his second goal of the season, at 14:20. . . . Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls scored the game’s first two goals, giving him 47. . . . Blades D Darren Dietz drew three assists. . . .

In Brandon, F Nick Buonassisi, playing the final game of his junior career, scored the only goal of the circus as the Wheat Kings beat the Moose Jaw Warriors, 2-1. . . . Neither of these teams qualified for the playoffs. . . . F Brayden Point scored for the Warriors, getting his 24th at 7:28 of the third period. . . . Brandon D Rene Hunter tied it with his second at 17:18. . . . Buonassisi, who has used up his eligibility, was the shootout’s third participant. . . . Brandon G Corbin Boes stopped 40 shots, 14 more than Moose Jaw’s Justin Paulic. . . .

In Swift Current, the Broncos scored the game’s first two goals, both in the first period, and went on to a 6-2 victory over the Regina Pats. . . . D Reece Scarlett had a goal, his ninth, and an assist for the Broncos. . . . Regina F Lane Scheidl scored his 41st goal. . . .


In Prince George, G Taran Kozun stopped 31 shots as the Kamloops Blazers beat the Cougars, 7-0. . . . Kozun has two shutouts this season. . . . F Cole Ully scored twice for Kamloops, giving him 22. . . . The Blazers had two players score their first WHL goals. F Deven Sideroff, who is from Summerland, B.C., scored in his second WHL game, while D Connor Clouston scored in his fourth game. He is the son of Shaun Clouston, the GM/head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Sideroff also picked up an assist and was plus-4. . . . Kamloops F Brendan Ranford drew three assists, allowing him to finish his five-year career with 357 points in 348 regular-season games. Only five players in franchise history have more points. . . . The Cougars didn’t dress G Mac Engel, who suffered a neck injury in Kamloops on Friday night. Engel, however, was released from Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops in time to ride the bus back to Prince George with his teammates. . . .

In Medicine Hat, the Tigers beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 7-2 in a game in which they scrapped until the final buzzer. . . . F Curtis Valk scored twice for the Tigers, giving him 46, and also had an assist. . . . Tigers F Hunter Shinkaruk got his 37th and added two assists, and F Dylan Bredo had three helpers. . . . Lethbridge took 75 of the 122 penalty minutes that were dished out. . . . There were two scraps with 51 seconds left in the third period. . . . The Tigers were 4-for-8 on the PP; the Hurricanes were 0-for-5. . . .

In Everett, D Joe Hicketts scored in OT to give the Victoria Royals a 4-3 victory over the Silvertips. . . . Hicketts got the sixth goal of his freshman season at 1:57 of extra time. . . . Everett led 3-1 before F Jack Walker got his ninth at 8:13 of the second period and F Logan Nelson notched his 14th at 17:37 of the third. . . . F Ben Walker, Jack’s older brother, had two assists for the Royals. . . . Victoria G Michaell Herringer stopped 36 shots in his first WHL start. A ninth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft, he played for the junior B Victoria Cougars and joined the Royals after start Patrik Polivka went down with an undisclosed injury 10 days ago. . . . F Brayden Low had a goal, his second, and an assist for Everett. . . . Everett F Matt Fonteyne, 15, earned an assist in his first WHL game. If you missed it earlier, he is the grandson of former NHL/WHL F Val Fonteyne. . . . Marlon Martens, the radio voice of the Royals, reports: “Victoria learned that leading scorer Alex Gogolev needs surgery to help repair a skate cut to his leg, and will likely miss the remainder of the season.  Gogolev has already missed 20 games.” . . .  

In Kelowna, the Rockets set a single-season franchise record for victories as they dropped the Vancouver Giants, 5-2. . . . The Rockets finished with 52 victories, one more than the 2002-03 team that went on to win the WHL championship. . . . Neither F Colton Sissons nor F J.T. Barnett, both of whom left a Friday game in Vancouver with undisclosed injuries, played in this game. . . . F Dylen McKinlay had two assists for Kelowna. . . .

In Kent, Wash., the Portland Winterhawks scored twice in the circus and beat the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent), 6-5. . . . The Winterhawks set a WHL single-season record with their 29th road victory and established a single-season franchise record for points (113). The 1980-81 team put up 111 points. . . . D Derrick Pouliot and F Chase De Leo scored in the six-round shootout for Portland, with F Roberts Lipsbergs the only Seattle shooter to score. . . . F Nic Petan had a goal, his 46th, and four assists for Portland, while F Brendan Leipsic got his 49th goal and added an assist. . . . Leipsic and Petan are tied for the WHL scoring lead, each with 120 points. Only once before has the WHL scoring race ended in a tie. That was in 1987-88, when Joe Sakic of the Swift Current Broncos and Theo Fleury of the Moose Jaw Warriors tied, with 160 points. Sakic was declared the champion on the basis of more goals, 78-68. Leipsic goes into today’s final game with a WHL-leading 49 goals, two more than Petan. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie didn’t play last night. . . . Pouliot had a goal and three assists. . . . Lipsbergs scored four times, giving him 30 in his freshman season. His last two goals, at 16:46 of the second and 18:58 of the third, forced OT. . . . Seattle F Luke Lockhart had three assists. . . . G Mac Carruth wasn’t in uniform for Portland. . . . With the loser point, the Thunderbirds clinched seventh place in the Western Conference, meaning they will play the Kelowna Rockets in the first round. . . . The Winterhawks will go against the Everett Silvertips. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Blake Gal scored 34 seconds into OT to give the Spokane Chiefs a 3-2 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . Gal, who has played a lot on defence of late because of injuries, finished with 17 goals. . . . Tri-City F Justin Feser forced OT when he got his 44th goal at 7:54 of the third. . . . Spokane D Jeremy McIntosh scored his first WHL goal. It came in his 64th game. . . . Chiefs D Brenden Kichton drew two assists. He finished with 85 points, 20 more than any other defenceman. He ha 63 assists, which was 18 more than any other blue-liner and left him tied for fifth among all skaters. . . . Kichton’s 22 goals were behind only the 24 scored by Saskatoon D Darren Dietz. . . . The Chiefs won the season series, 7-5. . . . These teams will meet again in the first round of the playoffs. . . . The Chiefs have won five in a row; the Americans have lost four straight.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Tim Traber, Victoria

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
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From Rich Campbell (@StrengthPDX), the Portland Winterhawks’ athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach: “@SeattleTbirds thank you for the ‘Evil Empire’ introduction. You inspired us! #adversityhawks #welikewinninghockeygames”


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