Adam Shaw and Rocky are reunited for the first time with the two young
sisters whose lives they saved on Sunday.
(Photo courtesy @EdmOilKings)

A rule of thumb around here is that The MacBeth Report leads off whenever there’s news from that source.
Today, however, The MacBeth Report is getting bumped down a notch and something tells me he won’t mind one bit.
The Edmonton Oil Kings had some special guests on hand prior to Friday’s second-round opener with the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers.
Adam Shaw and his dog, Rocky, took part in a ceremonial faceoff as they met up for the first time with two young sisters whom they rescued from the North Saskatchewan River on Sunday.
This is just a wonderful, wonderful story and you really should check out the story on the rescue. Brent Wittmeier of the Edmonton Journal has more right here.
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Tyler Redenbach Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) signed a one-year contract with the Pelicans Lahti (Finland, SM-Liiga). Redenbach started the season with HIFK Helsinki (Finland, SM-Liiga), where he had three goals and nine assists in 23 games before being loaned to the Pelicans in mid-January. Redenbach had four goals and 11 assists in 20 games for the Pelicans and his plus/minus of +12 led the team. . . .

G Brett Jaeger (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Saskatoon, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract extension with Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had a 2.55 GAA in 35 games with the Pinguins this season.
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Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail takes a look right here at hockey’s aversion to the ‘C’ word. Oh boy, does hockey need to get over this and figure out where it’s going. Because this really is getting embarrassing.
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True North Sports and Entertainment kicked the tires of the Kootenay Ice earlier this season.
And now the owners of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets are asking current and former MTS Centre and Winnipeg Jets customers for their thoughts on the value of bringing a WHL franchise for the Manitoba capital.
TNSE started conducting the survey on Friday and will continue through Tuesday. TNSE will be sending emails to the chosen few and asking them to participate.
Winnipeg has a spotty history, at best, with WHL franchises. The Winnipeg Warriors played out of the Winnipeg Arena from 1980-84 before relocating to Moose Jaw.
The Winnipeg Jr. Jets (1967-73) morphed into the Winnipeg Clubs/Monarchs, who became the Calgary Wranglers and now are the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
And if you’re wondering how much a relocation might cost TNSE, the buzz is that an established WHL franchise might carry a price tag as high as $9 million.
And, yes, Nanaimo remains in the picture. As has been mentioned many times before now, the minute Nanaimo has an arena that meets WHL requirements, the Vancouver Island city will have a WHL franchise.
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D Richard Nedomlel of the Swift Current Broncos has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. From the Czech Republic, Nedomlel was a sxith-round selection in the NHL’s 2011 draft. He has played the last three seasons with the Broncos.
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The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
SECOND ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
(Edmonton leads, 1-0; Game 2, Sunday, in Edmonton)
Calgary (3) vs. Red Deer (4)
(Calgary leads, 2-0; Game 3, Monday, in Red Deer)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
SECOND ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Spokane (4)
(Portland leads 1-0; Game 2, tonight, in Portland, Rose Garden)
Kelowna (2) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Game 1, tonight, in Kelowna)
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, F Edgars Kulda had a goal and two assists as the Oil Kings dumped the Medicine Hat Tigers, 4-1. . . . When Kulda opened the scoring at 15:53 of the first period it marked the first time in these playoffs that the Tigers had trailed. They never once were behind in sweeping the Saskatoon Blades from the first round. . . . Kulda, a 17-year-old from Riga, Latvia, had a goal and two assists in five playoff games going into this one. . . . Rogan Dean, the Oil Kings’ head equipment manager, suffered a fractured elbow during what Chris O’Leary of the Edmonton Journal refers to as a “pre-game ritual with head athletic therapist Brian Cheeseman.” . . . O’Leary’s story is right here.

In Calgary, F Victor Rask broke a 1-1 tie at 16:43 of the second period as the Hitmen beat the Red Deer Rebels, 2-1. . . . F Elliott Peterson got the Hitmen on the board 47 seconds into the game. . . . F Jordan DePape tied it for Red Deer at 17:30 of the first. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 29 shots, 11 fewer than Red Deer’s Patrik Bartosak. . . . Red Deer F Matt Bellerive was handed a kneeing major and game misconduct at 7:59 of the second for a neutral zone hit on F Pavlo Padakin, who left the game and didn’t return. . . . Red Deer GM/head coach Brent Sutter was livid over the Bellerive call and went so far as to slam a stick against the boards. “I’ll let the league deal with their own officials on that,” Sutter told Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald. “That’s not a five-minute major. He skates like three feet to him and it’s a bodycheck. It’s not a major penalty. This is playoffs and you get called on something like that. . . . I’ll let the league deal with their officials. You saw what I saw on the screen and that was no major penalty . . . it’s playoff time. You can’t make a suspect call like that.” . . . Odland’s story is right here.

In Portland, F Ty Rattie scored the game’s last three goals as the Winterhawks dropped the Spokane Chiefs, 7-2. . . . Rattie now leads the WHL with nine postseason goals. . . . He also became the top point-getter in Portland in franchise history, his 72 points moving him past F Randy Heath. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 38 shots as he posted his 38th career playoff victory, tying him with Cam Ward (Red Deer, 2001-04) for the WHL record. . . . Portland D Derrick Pouliot had a goal and three assists, while F Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals, giving him five, and an assist. . . . Pouliot has four goals in these playoffs. . . . Rattie and Pouliot each has 13 points, one fewer than Kamloops F JC Lipon, who leads the league. . . . D Brenden Kichton had two assists for Spokane. . . . Paul Buker of The Oregonian was there and his story is right here.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (12):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (5):
D Cole Wedman, Spokane
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From Tri-City Americans F Malte Stromwall (@stroms15): “Så het nu . . . @VictorRask”
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From Kelowna Rockets D Mitch Wheaton (@Mwheats2): “To whoever covered my car in mustard marshmallows Saran Wrap and brown sugar good for you . . . #gerth #sweet #gutless”


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Looking for something good to ready today? Right here is Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada and his popular weekly column.
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PRO SIGNINGS: F Campbell Elynuik of the Prince George Cougars has signed an ATO with the Adirondack Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. Elynuik, 19, had 11 points and 132 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Cougars, after picking up a goal, two assists and 24 penalty minutes in eight games with the Regina Pats. . . . He was in the Flyers’ prospects camp last summer. . . . D Richard Nedomlel, 18, has signed an ATO with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate. The Red Wings selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL draft. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder had 46 points in 72 games with the Broncos this season.
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Veteran sports columnist Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun is in Cranbrook following the Edmonton Oil Kings and Kootenay Ice, who play Game 3 of their series tonight. He writes right here about the Ice and its history.
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JUST NOTES: The Saskatoon Blades expect to have F Michael Burns, 20, back in their lineup for Game 3 against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers tonight. He has been out with a concussion. . . . The Portland Winterhawks may have C Presten Kopeck, 17, in their lineup tonight when they play Game 3 against the Rockets in Kelowna. Kopeck, a third-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft, signed with Portland on Jan. 24. He had 30 points in 56 games with the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats this season. . . . D Nick Walters of the Everett Silvertips may miss Game 3 against the visiting Tri-City Americans tonight. He returned from an undisclosed injury and played in Game 1, but wasn’t available for Game 2.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post is reporting that the University of Regina Cougars have short-listed four candidates as they look to replace Blaine Sautner, who after the season resigned as head coach in order to return to the family farm. On the list to be interviewed are Todd Johnson, an assistant coach with the Kootenay Ice, and former WHL coaches Don MacGillivray (Prince Albert Raiders) and Mike Blaisdell (Regina Pats). Also on the list is Jamie Fiesel, the head coach of the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Ondrej Fiala (Everett, Saskatoon, 2005-08) was recalled from loan to Kadan (Czech Republic, 1.Liga) by Pirati Chomutov (Czech Republic, 1.Liga). He has two goals and two assists in 15 games for Chomutov this season. While on loan to Kadan, Fiala had 13 goals and 10 assists in 23 games. . . .
F Martin Stepan (Calgary, 2007-08) was recalled from loan by Skalica (Slovakia, Extraliga) from Povazska Bystrica (Slovakia, 1.Liga) and loaned to Hodonin (Czech Republic, 2.Liga). He had no points in nine games with Skalica and five goals and 10 assists in 16 games with Povazska Bystrica. . . .
F Adrian Foster (Saskatoon, Brandon, 1999-2002) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (Germany, DEL). Foster had three goals and one assist in eight games with the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) this season.
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ASK THE COMMISSIONER:
A couple of questions from readers of this blog . . .
1. Why does the league allow for the one-man reffing crew on nights when it is divisional rivals? Shouldn't those games be the closest watched by the officials?
2. Why don't the backup goaltenders wear helmets on the benches? Aren't we in a hockey world obsessed with head injuries? Didn't Tyler Bunz's injury at the Subway Super Series push this along?
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
In Prince Albert, the Raiders opened up a 3-0 lead early in the second period and went on to a 4-2 victory over the Regina Pats. . . . F Anthony Bardaro scored twice and added an assist for the Raiders. He’s got 24 goals. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal was held pointless as he was stopped on two breakaways. He had his point streak snapped at 13 games. . . . Prince Albert G Cole Holowenko turned aside 40 shots. . . . The Raiders have won three in a row gut are 14 points out of a playoff spot. . . . Regina has lost three straight and six of its last seven outings. The Pats are seventh in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the Kootenay Ice and five ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . .

In Swift Current, D Richard Nedomlel scored twice and added an assist to help the Broncos to a 6-4 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Nedomlel has six goals. He also has 30 points in 52 games; last season he finished with 10 points, all assists, in 66 games. . . . He broke a 3-3 tie at 7:31 of the third period with an unassisted PP goal. He then broke a 4-4 tie at 9:34 with another unassited goal. . . . Lethbridge F Juraj Bezuch had pulled his side into a 4-4 tie at 7:51 with his fifth of the season. . . . Swift Current G Jon Groenheyde, who stopped 34 shots, apparently attempted a shot at an empty Lethbridge net late in the third period but had it blocked. . . . The Hurricanes had D Ryan Pilon, a first-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft, in their lineup last night. . . . They also have G Jonny Hogue with them on this trip. Hogue, an eighth-round pick in the 2011 draft, is playing midget AAA in Lethbridge. He backed up Liam Liston last night. . . . The Broncos are eight points out of a playoff spot. . . .

In Victoria, F Ben Walker scored two goals and set up another as the Royals dumped the Prince George Cougars, 5-1. . . . The Cougars had beaten the Royals 4-2 on Tuesday. . . . F Chase Witala gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead at 3:45 of the first period last night. . . . Walker scored twice to give his side a 2-1 lead. . . . Witala has three goals; Walker has six. . . . F Brandon Magee drew an assist on each of Victoria’s first three goals. . . . The Royals moved into seventh in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The Cougars are four points behind Seattle, with the Everett Silvertips a point behind Prince George. . . .

In Kamloops, the Blazers scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Spokane Chiefs, 4-1. . . . Referees Steve Papp and Matt Thurston called the game at 19:53 of the third period after having dealt with three fights in the last minute of play. . . . The first started after Spokane F Darren Kramer skated through the Kamloops crease and made contact with G Cole Cheveldave. Kamloops D Tyler Hansen scrapped with Kramer for the second time this season. . . . Then, with seven seconds left, Spokane’s Dylan Walchuk and Dominik Uher fought with Kamloops’ Aspen Sterzer and Chase Schaber. . . . The Chiefs ended up with 59 of 109 penalty minutes. . . . Kamoops was 1-for-7 on the PP; the Chiefs were 0-for-1. . . . This game was 1-1 when Spokane D Corbin Baldwin was given a major and game misconduct for a headshot on Kamloops F Dylan Willick. Kamloops F Matt Needham picked up an instigator penalty for the ensuing scrap, so the teams played 4-on-4. The Blazers promptly scored twice, with F Brandon Herrod and F Brendan Ranford getting the goals. D Austin Madaisky then scored on a 5-on-3. . . . The victory allowed the Blazers to take a four-point lead atop the overall standings, over the idle Tri-City Americans and Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Herrod’s goal was his 250th career point.
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WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Troy Bourke, Prince George.
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TWEET OF THE NIGHT:
Ed Willes, a sports columnist with the Vancouver Province, tweeted this from the Top Prospects Game in Kelowna: “Love the music here. Let's see. They've played Black Betty, My Sharona, Raise a Little Hell. It's a time portal and this is 1983.”
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Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports was in Kelowna and filed a piece on F Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds, who has had more than his share of medical problems but still was able to score the winning goal in the Top Prospects Game. That story is right here.

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