Wheat Kings head home with 2-0 lead

A trust fund has been established to assist the Bozon family with medical- and rehabilitation-related costs with which they now are faced as Tim continues to be hospitalized in Saskatoon with Neisseria meningitis.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area and want to donate, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9
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G Patrik Bartosak, who finished up his WHL career with the Red Deer Rebels last week, has joined the Manchester Monarchs, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. Bartosak was a fifth-round selection by the Kings in the NHL’s 2013 draft and he has signed with Los Angeles. . . .
Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reports that “the Pats have been officially fined $500 for closing practices early last week. That's a violation of the WHL’s media policy.” . . . The WHL also has posted the fine on the discipline section of its website. . . .
When the Victoria Royals beat the visiting Spokane Chiefs 2-1 in OT on Friday night, it marked the first time in franchise history that the team had held the lead in a playoff series. . . . According to the Royals, the attendance of 6,615 for Game 1 marked the largest playoff hockey crowd in the city’s history. . . .
The WHL’s eight first-round series all are through two games, with only one series -- between the Calgary Hitmen and Kootenay Ice -- even at 1-1. That series will resume tonight in Cranbrook; that is the only game on the Monday schedule. . . . On Sunday, the team that scored first in each of the five games went on to lose.
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, D Dysin Mayo broke a 1-1 tie at 12:41 of the third period and the Oil Kings went on to beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 3-1. . . . The Oil Kings hold a 2-0 edge as the series heads for Prince Albert and games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. . . . After two scoreless periods, Prince Albert F Dakota Conroy got the game’s first goal 20 seconds into the third period. . . . Edmonton F Riley Kieser tied it on a PP at 8:06. . . . Edmonton F Luke Bertolucci added insurance at 15:32. . . . Kieser, who also had an assist, scored his first WHL PP goal. He and Bertolucci are on Edmonton’s third line, along with F Mads Eller. . . . For the first two games, the Oil Kings assigned F Curtis Lazar the task of checking Prince Albert F Leon Draisaitl. . . . Oil Kings G Tristan Jarry stopped 31 shots, two more than Prince Albert’s Cole Cheveldave. . . .

In Everett, Seattle F Branden Troock’s first WHL playoff goal, at 2:58 of the third period, broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Thunderbirds on their way to a 3-1 victory over the Silvertips. . . . This is the only first-round series that is alternating venues with each game. Seattle takes a 2-0 series lead back to its home arena in Kent for Tuesday night. . . . Troock has battled injury problems throughout his three-year career and is only now playing in his first playoff games. . . . Everett F Carson Stadnyk opened the scoring at 3:51 of the first period. . . . Seattle F Roberts Lipsbergs tied it on a PP at 5:01 of the second. . . . Seattle F Russ Maxwell added insurance with his second goal of the series at 8:45 of the third. . . . Seattle G Taran Kozun stopped 26 shots, while Everett’s Austin Lotz turned aside 13. . . . Seattle D Shea Theodore had two assists. . . . Seattle was 1-for-4 on the PP; Everett was 0-for-5. . . .

In Kelowna, F Ryan Olsen snapped a 1-1 tie at 17:18 of the first period and the Rockets went on to beat the Tri-City Americans, 3-1. . . . The Rockets lead the series 2-0 as it heads to Kennewick, Wash., for games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. . . . As in Edmonton and Everett, the visiting team scored first and then surrendered three straight goals. . . . F Phil Tot scored for the Americans at 10:37 of the first period, but the Rockets got that one back when F Myles Bell counted on the PP at 14:40. . . . Rockets D Joe Gatenby scored his first WHL goal at 3:01 of the second period to provide some breathing room. Gatenby, a 16-year-old from Kelowna, had six assists in 43 regular-season games. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 24 shots, 20 fewer than Tri-City’s Eric Comrie. . . . The Rockets were 1-for-5 on the PP; the Americans were 0-for-4. . . .

In Victoria, F Logan Nelson’s OT goal gave the Royals a 4-3 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . The Royals have won 2-1 in OT on Saturday night, so take a 2-0 series lead to Spokane for games on Wednesday and Thursday nights. . . . Nelson scored his first goal of the series, banging home the rebound of a point shot from D Ryan Gagnon, at 2:18 of extra time. . . . The Chiefs had erased a 3-1 deficit on goals by F Liam Stewart at 4:33 of the second period and D Reid Gow, on the PP, at 9:07 of the third. . . . Spokane F Dominic Zwerger opened the scoring 47 seconds into the game. . . . The Royals scored the next three goals, with F Logan Fisher counting at 1:27 and F Brandon Magee at 9:31 of the first, and F Tyler Soy getting his first WHL playoff goal at 3:47 of the second. . . . I don’t know if it means anything, but Victoria’s scorers wear Nos. 17, 18, 19 and 20. . . . D Jason Fram had two assists for Spokane. . . . Victoria G Patrik Polivka kicked out 28 shots, while Spokane’s Eric Williams turned aside 41. . . . Polivka set a franchise record for career playoff victories (4) by a goaltender, passing the mark that had been held by Lucas Gore. . . . The Chiefs were 1-for-5 on the PP; the Royals were 0-for-5. . . .

In Regina, F Tim McGauley scored twice and added an assist as the Brandon Wheat Kings dropped the Pats, 8-4, to take a 2-0 lead in their series. . . . They’ll now head for Brandon and games on Wednesday and Friday nights. . . . The Wheat Kings went into Regina and outscored the Pats 14-7 in winning the first two games. . . . As in Sunday’s other four games, the home side scored first as F Connor Gay got his second goal of the series at 1:37 of the first period. . . . Brandon scored twice before the first period ended and added two more goals early in the second to take control. . . . Brandon F Richard Nejezchleb had a goal and two assists, while F Tyler Coulter drew two assists. . . . Brandon D Ryan Pulock had a goal and an assist, giving him 12 points, including eight assists, in his last five games. . . . The Wheat Kings also got a goal from F Nolan Patrick, the fourth overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . D Jesse Zgraggen had two assists for Regina. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 27 shots, while Regina’s Dawson MacAuley kicked out 36. . . . Brandon was 2-for-8 on the PP; the Pats were 0-for-3. . . . Regina F Dyson Stevenson, who sat out Game 1 with a broken hand, was back for this one but was held off the scoresheet. . . . F Peter Quenneville and veteran D Eric Roy were among Brandon’s scratches. Quenneville, who was in Game 1, played the last two regular-season games, and scored five times, after being out since Feb. 17. Roy left Game 1 with an undisclosed injury.
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THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.
Saturday: Prince Albert 3 at Edmonton 5 (6,534)
Sunday: Prince Albert 1 at Edmonton 3 (6,584)
Tuesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite.
Prince Albert: D Graeme Craig, indefinite.
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REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.
Saturday: Brandon 6 at Regina 3 (6,200)
Sunday: Brandon 8 at Regina 4 (5,014)
Wednesday: Regina at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Friday: Regina at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
x-Saturday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Regina vs. Brandon, at Dauphin, Man., 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Brandon: F Peter Quenneville, day-to-day; D Eric Roy, day-to-day.
Regina: D Tye Hand, indefinite; G Daniel Wapple, day-to-day.
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CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.
Thursday: Kootenay 5 at Calgary 2 (6,649)
Saturday: Kootenay 0 at Calgary 5 (9,019)
Monday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Thursday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Calgary: F Cal Babych, day-to-day; F Connor Rankin, day-to-day.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Landon Cross, day-to-day; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.
Friday: Swift Current 1 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,512)
Saturday: Swift Current 2 at Medicine Hat 4 (3743)
Tuesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Sunday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Steve Owre, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Swift Current: None.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

KELOWNA (1) vs. TRI-CITY (8)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Tri-City, 0-3-1.
Saturday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,827)
Sunday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,041)
Tuesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Tri-City: F Taylor Vickerman, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.
Friday: Vancouver 3 at Portland 4 (9,756)
Saturday: Vancouver 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Tuesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Portland at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Vancouver: F Tyler Benson, indefinite; F Jakob Stukel, indefinite; D Dalton Thrower, indefinite; F Ty Ronning, day-to-day.
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VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.
Saturday: Spokane 1 at Victoria 2 (OT) (6,615)
Sunday: Spokane 3 at Victoria 4 (OT) (4,629)
Wednesday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 30: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
INJURIES
Victoria: None.
Spokane: D Colton Bobyk, week-to-week; F Adam Hascic, day-to-day; F Blair Oneschuk, week-to-week.
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SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett 1 at Seattle 2 (4,650)
Sunday: Seattle 3 at Everett 1 (4,150)
Tuesday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Friday: Seattle at Everett, 7:35 p.m.
x-Saturday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
Everett: F Kohl Baum, indefinite; F Tyler Sandhu, day-to-day.
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From Lee-Gaye Hicketts (@lhicketts), the mother of Victoria Royals D Joe Hicketts: “Ot win and now needing to make the 9pm ferry omg.”
They live in Kamloops.
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A short time later, she tweeted: “Driving onto the ferry. pray for good weather on the coq in the next three to four hours.”
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From Thom Beuning (@ThomBeuning), the radio voice of the Seattle Thunderbirds: “@SeattleTbirds 0-for-27 on PP in playoffs last year vs. @Kelowna_Rockets. 3-fo-7 so far this series vs. @WHLsilvertips.”

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Winterhawks roll dice on Dumba

With the WHL’s Christmas trade moratorium arriving this weekend, the Portland Winterhawks and Red Deer Rebels gone one done on Tuesday morning.
And what a deal it was, with the Winterhawks acquiring the rights to D Mathew Dumba.
Portland also gets an undisclosed conditional 2014 bantam draft pick in the deal, while the Rebels acquired F Presten Kopeck and undisclosed conditional draft picks in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
It was just over a year ago when the Winterhawks got whacked by the WHL — they were barred from the first five rounds of the 2013 bantam draft and forfeited first-round selections in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 drafts. So those picks are out of play when it comes to trades.
Dumba, 19, has spent this season with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, and has two points in 13 games. But he last played on Nov. 23. In fact, he played just four games in November.
Dumba, a native of Regina, was the seventh overall pick in the NHL’s 2012 draft.
Last season, he had 42 points, 16 of them goals, in 62 games with Red Deer. In 199 career WHL games, he has 127 points, including 51 goals. He was the fourth overall selection in the 2009 bantam draft.
Dumba will leave the Wild this week and join the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp that opens Thursday. Considering his idleness in Minnesota, one has to believe the chances are good that he will join the Winterhawks following the World Junior Championship that opens Dec. 26 in Malmo, Sweden.
“We feel acquiring the rights to Mathew Dumba is a risk worth taking,” Mike Johnston, the Winterhawks’ general manager and head coach, said in a news release. “He’s an impact player who can dominate both ends of the ice. He would also bring terrific character and leadership, as he’s a very highly regarded player around the league.”
Kopeck, 18, is in his second season with the Winterhawks. He has 10 points, including four goals, in 24 games. Last season, he had 19 points, 10 of them goals, in 64 games. The Medicine Hat native was a third-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft.
Kopeck, who hasn’t played since Nov. 22, is recovering from hernia surgery. He is expected to be game-ready sometime in January.
Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate has more right here.
Alan Caldwell, over at Small Thoughts At Large, takes a look at the deal right here.
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The WHL’s Christmas trade moratorium runs from Dec. 15 through Dec. 27.
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The BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies fired general manager and head coach Bill Bestwick on Tuesday. According to a release from the team: “The new ownership group, which took over operations (Monday) has decided it was important to move in a different direction immediately.” . . . Craig Didmon, who had been Bestwick’s assistant, ran the bench during last night’s 4-2 victory over the visiting Nanaimo Clippers. . . . Under Bestwick this season, the Grizzlies were 19-8-3-2, which left them second in the Island Division, five points behind the first-place Powell River Kings. . . . In his time with the Grizzlies, Bestwick was 52-21-3-12. . . . Mario Annicchiarico of the Victoria Times Colonist has more right here.
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Austin Rediron, a goaltender with the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs, stopped 19 shots, and had a goal and an assist on Tuesday night. You can see the goal right here. . . . It was Melfort’s fifth goal in a 5-2 victory over the Kindersley Klippers.
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TUESDAY:
When the night ended, the Edmonton Oil Kings (20-9-1), Swift Current Broncos (19-12-3), Calgary Hitmen (18-7-5) and Medicine Hat Tigers (19-9-3) were tied atop the Eastern Conference, each with 41 points. . . . By winning percentage, it’s Edmonton and Calgary, .683; Medicine Hat, .681; and Swift Current, .603. . . .
Not only that, but the Prince Albert Raiders (17-12-2), Brandon Wheat Kings (17-14-2) and Kootenay Ice (17-15-2) are tied for fifth, each with 36 points. . . .
This all could get pretty messy for the playoffs get here.

In Brandon, F Rihards Bukarts broke a 2-2 tie with his first of two goals at 6:58 of the second period and the Wheat Kings went on to a 5-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . It was the Latvian’s first two-goal game. . . . Brandon has won its last two games and is 8-3-2 in its last 13 outings. . . . It was the 13th straight loss for Kamloops, and that’s a franchise record. The 1981-82 Kamloops Junior Oilers had a stretch of 12 consecutive losses. . . . Bukarts’ first goal, his 10th of the season, came just 49 seconds after Kamloops F Eric Krienke pulled his side into a 2-2 tie. . . . F Chad Robinson and F Jens Meilleur each had two assists for Brandon. . . . F Jesse Shynkaruk, a freshman from Saskatoon, had the Blazers’ other goal, the first of his career. . . . Kamloops gave G Cole Kehler, who turns 16 on Dec. 17, his first career start; he stopped 26 shots. . . . The Blazers lost C Matt Needham, their captain, when he took a puck to one ear in the first period. It’s not known whether he will be in the lineup tonight against the Pats in Regina. . . .

In Swift Current, the Kelowna Rockets won for the 16th time in 17 games as they doubled the Broncos, 4-2. . . . Kelowna F Ryan Olsen broke a 2-2 tie with his 12th goal, on the PP, at 18:52 of the third period. . . . The Rockets have won seven in a row. . . . D Damon Severson had two assists for Kelowna, which trailed 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 late in the third. . . . F Zach Franko, with his seventh, pulled the Rockets even at 16:42 of the third. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 24 shots as he ran his record to 17-1-2. . . . His other numbers are 2.11 and .927. . . . Broncos G Eetu Laurikainen stopped 40 shots. . . . Kelowna (23-3-2) is tied with Portland (22-6-4) for top spot in the overall standings. The Rockets have four games in hand. . . .

In Saskatoon, the Edmonton Oil Kings held a 49-20 edge in shots as they beat the Blades, 3-1. . . . F Cole Benson’s second goal of the season, shorthanded at 9:57 of the second, broke a 1-1 tie. . . . F Henrik Samuelsson added insurance with another shortie, at 19:31 of the second. . . . Saskatoon’s PP is 0-for-16 over four games. . . . The Blades have lost seven in a row and 12 of 13. . . . Saskatoon G Troy Trombley turned aside 46 shots. . . . Edmonton D Aaron Irving had two assists. A freshman from Edmonton who was pointless in five games last season, Irving has 22 points, including 16 assists, in 30 games this season. . . . The Oil Kings have won six in a row and 15 of 18. . . .

In Lethbridge, F Tyler Wong continued his stellar season with two goals as the Hurricanes romped past the Red Deer Rebels, 6-0. . . . Wong, a 17-year-old sophomore from Cochrane, Alta., has 25 points, including 14 goals, in 33 games. Last season, he finished with 13 points, five of them goals, in 54 games. . . . According to post-game chatter, one of Wong's goals may end up going to F Josh Derko. . . . Lethbridge G Teagan Sacher stopped 35 shots for his first shutout this season and second of his career. . . . Red Deer starter Patrik Bartosak stayed home with the flu, so the start went to Taz Burman, who gave up six goals on 27 shots. Grant Naherniak, up from the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals, played 12:29, stopping all six shots he faced. . . . Lethbridge F Reid Nemeth scored his first goal in his 23rd game this season. . . . The Hurricanes took 101 of the game’s 196 penalty minutes. Most of those penalties were handed out in the last half of the third period. . . . Lethbridge (5-24-4) has won two of three games. . . . Things got heated, too. Here’s Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Herald: “The game looked like a real rivalry game, complete with Rebels’ head coach Brent Sutter and Hurricanes’ assistant Brad Lukowich yelling at each other as time wound down. Lukowich could be seen point ing at the scoreboard while Sutter could only glare and share some opinions.” . . .

In Medicine Hat, F Logan McVeigh scored 27 seconds into OT to give the Tigers a 1-0 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . It was McVeigh’s sixth goal of the season. . . . Medicine Hat G Daniel Wapple stopped 39 shots, while Calgary’s Chris Driedger turned aside 33. . . . Wapple has one shutout this season and two in his career. . . . Calgary has points in six straight games and is 8-1-1 in its last 10. . . . The Tigers had F Blake Penner back in their lineup. He hadn’t played since Oct. 30. . . . Medicine Hat didn’t dress three players who are preparing to play in the World Junior Championship — F Markus Eisenschmid (Germany), G Marek Langhamer (Czech Republic) and F Hunter Shinkaruk (Canada). . . .

In Prince George, D Jagger Dirk’s fourth goal of the season broke a 1-1 tie at 4:12 of the third period and the Kootenay Ice went on to a 3-1 victory over the Cougars. . . . Ice G MacKenzie Skapski finished with a career-high 51 saves, 22 more than Prince George’s Ty Edmonds. . . . F Jordan Tkatch, with his seventh, gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead at 13:22 of the second. . . . Ice F Jaedon Descheneau tied it, with his 22nd, at 17:34 of the second. . . . Ice F Tim Bozon added insurance with his 10th at 15:59 of the third. . . . Attendance was 1,410 and, according to Jeff Hollick, the radio voice of the Ice, it was the smallest road crowd ever for a Kootenay game. . . . The Ice dressed 16 skaters, two under the maximum. F Sam Reinhardt, who will attend the Canadian national junior team camp later this week, was one of Kootenay’s scratches. . . . Kootenay did get back F Kyle O’Connor, who hadn’t played since Nov. 11. . . .

In Vancouver, the Giants scored the game’s first two goals, both in the first period, and went on to a 3-2 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . It was the third straight meeting between the teams, with the Giants winning the last two. . . . The Giants are tied for seventh in the Western Conference with the Tri-City Americans, one point behind the Spokane Chiefs. . . .  Vancouver held a 2-0 first-period lead after outshooting the Royals, 22-1. Through two periods, shots were 31-7. . . . Victoria held a 9-2 edge in the third period. . . . Vancouver F Travis McEvoy gave his side a 3-1 lead with his sixth goal at 4:47 of the second. . . . Victoria got both of its goals from F Ben Walker, who has 12 goals. He scored once on the PP and once while shorthanded. . . . The Royals are fifth in the conference, a point behind the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Among Victoria’s scratches were F Logan Nelson (undisclosed injury) and F Steven Hodges (personal). . . . Vancouver D Mason Geertsen was hit with a headshot major for a game-ending hit on Victoria F Austin Carroll. In the resulting gathering, Victoria F Brandon Magee was given a match penalty for spearing. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Mathew Barzal broke a 1-1 tie at 2:50 of the third period as the Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Tri-City Americans, 3-1. . . . Seattle has won seven in a row and now is fourth in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Victoria Royals. . . . The Americans slipped to eighth in the conference. . . . Barzal, who also had an assist, has six goals. . . . Seattle F Roberts Lipsbergs opened the scoring with his 20th goal at 5:12 of the second. He later added an empty-netter. . . . Tri-City F Lucas Nickles tied it with his eighth at 17:24 of the second. . . . Seattle G Danny Mumaugh stopped 22 shots, while Tri-City’s Eric Comrie turned aside 29.

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Seattle pick visiting Wisconsin

THE MacBETH REPORT:


F Stepan Novotny (Kelowna, Swift Current, 2008-11) has been loaned by Plzen to Brno (both Czech Republic, Extraliga) for the rest of this season. He had three goals and an assist in 17 games. . . .

F Ivan Dornic (Portland, 2003-05) and F Roman Tvrdon (Spokane, 1999-2001) have signed for the rest of this season with Unia Oswiecim (Poland, Ekstraliga). . . . This season, Dornic, with Zilina (Slovakia, Extraliga), had one assist in 12 games, while Tvrdon, with Povazska Bystrica (Slovakia, 1.Liga), had a goal and four assists in nine games. . . .
F Tomas Fojtik (Portland, 2003-04) signed a short-term contract with the Swindon Wildcats (England, Premier). Swindon is short players due to injury and the Division 1 Group B World Junior Championship. Fojtik lives and works in Swindon. This season with Slouth (England, Premier), he had five assists in 11 games before being released on Oct. 21. . . .

F Ryan Hollweg (Medicine Hat, 1999-2004) signed a two-year extension with Plzen (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He has three goals in 18 games this season.
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F Dante Fabbro is spending the weekend in Madison, Wisc., checking out the University of Wisconsin campus and the men’s hockey program. The Seattle Thunderbirds selected Fabbro, who is from Coquitlam, B.C., with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . There’s more on Fabbro and his visit right here.
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The SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs have fired general manager/head coach Gavin Holcomb. . . . Trevor Blevins has stepped in as interim head coach. Blevins is a former Melfort player and assistant coach. . . . Dwight Kulchysky will remain on as assistant coach and also will serve as the interim general manager. . . . The Mustangs are 10-12-0-4 after beating the visiting Estevan Bruins 4-2 on Friday night. Melfort is fourth in the four-team Sherwood Division, four points behind the division-leading Nipawin Hawks.
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Over at greatesthockeylegends.com, Joe Pelletier has named his 2013 Hockey Book of the Year. . . . The honour goes to Keon and Me, by Dave Bidini. . . . If you haven’t already, you really should visit Pelletier’s website. If you are a reader of hockey books, this is a great site as Pelletier keeps tabs on what’s on the shelves and what’s on the way.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings have traded G Christopher Tai, 18, to the Medicine Hat Tigers for an undisclosed 2015 bantam draft pick. With the move, Brandon made room for G Curtis Honey, who missed 14 games with an undisclosed injury. He played the third period of Brandon’s 4-3 loss to the visiting Swift Current Broncos Friday night. . . . Tai played in one game with Brandon, after coming over from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He gave up one goal in 30 minutes with the Wheat Kings. Tai is expected to arrive in Medicine Hat on Monday. . . . The Tigers need a goaltender with G Marek Langhamer soon to leave for the selection camp of the Czech Republic national junior team.
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FRIDAY NIGHT:
In Brandon, the Swift Current Broncos erased a 2-1 first-period deficit with three second-period goals in a 7:16 span and beat the Wheat Kings, 4-3. . . . The Broncos (19-11-3) have won three in a row and lead the Eastern Conference by four points. . . . F Dakota Odgers opened the game’s scoring for the Broncos with his first WHL goal. It came in his 13th game, four of which have come this season. . . . F Andrew Johnson’s fourth goal, at 13:36 of the second, stood up as the winner. . . . Broncos G Eetu Laurikainen stopped 38 shots. . . . The Wheat Kings were without F Jayce Hawrulyk, their scoring leader, who served the first game of a two-game suspension. He drew the punishment under supplemental discipline for a hit on Regina D Kyle Burroughs on Wednesday night. Burroughs, who is going through the WHL’s concussion protocol, didn’t play Friday night. . . . Regina F Max Kammerer also is concussed. . . .

In Moose Jaw, the Regina Pats scored two shootout goals to beat the Warriors, 5-4. . . . The Warriors actually took a 4-2 lead into the third period. . . . F Dyson Stevenson got the Pats to within one with his 16th goal at 12:26 of the third, with F Chandler Stephenson forcing extra time with his second goal of the game, and his 13th this season, at 16:26. . . . Stephenson also had an assist. . . . F Brayden Point scored twice, giving him 11, and added an assist for Moose Jaw, which got three assists from D Jesse Forsberg. . . . F Boston Leier and Stevenson scored for the Pats in the shootout, while the Warriors got a goal from F Torrin White. . . .

In Edmonton, F Mitchell Moroz and F Reid Petryk scored shootout goals to give the Oil Kings a 5-4 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. . . . The Winterhawks erased a late 4-2 third-period deficit to force OT. F Taylor Leier scored twice, giving him 22, at 17:13 and 19:04. . . . F Edgars Kulda had his ninth goal and an assist for Edmonton, which has won four straight. . . . F Nic Petan had a goal and two assists for Portland, giving him 64 points and moving him to within two points of the WHL points lead. He also had Portland’s lone goal in the shootout. . . . Portland (21-5-4) has points in seven straight (5-0-2) and leads the overall standings by two points over the Kelowna Rockets and Everett Silvertips. . . . This was a meeting of the two teams that appeared in the last two WHL finals, Edmonton winning the first title and the Winterhawks now the defending champions. . . . Edmonton D Dyson Mayo scored the game’s second goal at 15:20 of the first period; it was the Teddy Bear goal. . . . Portland D Derrick Pouliot had a goal and two assists. . . .

In Lethbridge, the Hurricanes beat the Prince Albert Raiders 3-1 for their third victory in their last 18 games. . . . The Hurricanes (4-23-4) had lost seven in a row. . . . Lethbridge F Russell Maxwell opened the scoring late in the second period with the Teddy Bear goal. . . . F Tyler Wong gave the home side a 2-0 lead with his 12th goal at 1:07 of the third period. . . . F Riley Sheen put it away with an empty-netter at 18:55. . . . Sheen has six goals. . . . Lethbridge G Teagan Sacher stopped 31 shots. . . . Only two minor penalties were called, both against Lethbridge. . . .

In Kamloops, F Tim Bozon burned his former team for two goals and two assists as the Kootenay Ice beat the Blazers, 7-3. . . . Bozon has 19 points, including six goals, since being acquired by the Ice from Kamloops. He has nine goals on the season. . . . F Jaedon Descheneau had two goals, giving him 21, and an assist for Kootenay, while F Sam Reinhart had two assists. . . . F Eric Krienke scored his first WHL goal for the Blazers. He’s a 17-year-old freshman from Calgary. . . . Kamloops D Sam Grist was hit with a match penalty for attempt to injure during a third-period scrap with Ice F Jon Martin. Grist apparently used Martin’s helmet to strike the Ice player. . . . The Blazers are at home to the Everett Silvertips tonight, so Grist may have to sit out depending on how the WHL office views the matter. . . . Ice F Ryan Chynoweth was among the scratches. He was injured when hit from behind during a game in Vancouver on Wednesday night. . . . Kamloops, which has lost 11 in a row, is without F Aspen Sterzer, who suffered an undisclosed injury on Nov. 29 against visiting Kelowna. Sterzer isn’t expect to play tonight, either. . . .

In Prince George, F Braden Purtil scored his third goal of the season at 4:21 of OT as the Tri-City Americans beat the Cougars, 4-3. . . . Cougars F Todd Fiddler forced OT with his 11th goal at 18:15 of the third period. . . . F Lucas Nickles had a goal, his seventh, and two assists for the Americans, who have won three in a row. . . . Americans G Eric Comrie turned aside 38 shots. . . . Prince George F Troy Bourke completed a three-game suspension. . . . The Cougars are hurting through sickness and injuries. Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen reports that the Cougars had just six forwards available for one practice this week. . . . Prince George F Zach Pochiro (concussion) was symptom free only to have headaches return. Also out with concussions are F Jari Erricson, D Tate Olson and F Brad Morrison. . . . Also out of the Cougars lineup are D Raymond Grewal (ankle), F David Soltes (knee) and G Brett Zarowny (groin). . . .

In Kelowna, the Rockets scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Everett Silvertips, 3-1. . . . Kelowna F Ryan Olsen got his fifth goal, on the PP, at 10:55 of the second and D Damon Severson, with his eighth on a PP just 57 seconds into the third, broke the 1-1 tie. . . . Olsen, whose first goal was the Teddy Bear score, later scored his second of the game. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 26 shots. . . . Everett F Josh Winquist had his point streak snapped at 18 games. He had 40 points, including 16 goals, over that stretch. That is the longest point steak in the league this season. . . . The Rockets, who have the WHL’s best winning percentage (.846), have won five straight. . . .

In Victoria, F Brandon Magee scored twice, the last one into an empty net, as the Royals doubled the Vancouver Giants, 4-2. . . . Magee has 10 goals. . . . Royals F Taylor Crunk snapped a 2-2 tie with his third goal at 9:50 of the third. . . . Vancouver lost F Tim Traber, who spent two seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins and two with the Royals, to a boarding major and game misconduct at 10:44 of the first period. . . . The Giants had earned at least a point in each of their previous 11 games. . . .

In Spokane, F Branden Troock struck for three goals and added an assist as the Seattle Thunderbirds dropped the Chiefs, 7-3. . . . Troock, who enjoyed his first WHL hat trick, has 13 goals. . . . Seattle, which won 5-1 in Spokane on Sunday, has won five in a row. . . . Seattle D Shea Theodore had four assists for the first time in his career, with D Jarret Smith scoring his first goal and adding two helpers for his first three-point outing. Smith has two goals in 101 regular-season games. . . . F Adam Helewka had two goals, giving him 14, and an assist for Spokane. . . . Chiefs F Mitch Holmberg, who leads the WHL in goals (32) and points (66), was held pointless and, in fact, was ejected after becoming involved in a multi-fight situation at 17:41 of the third period. . . . Seattle held a 25-15 edge in shots on goal.

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