More on minimum wage debate . . . Americans lose pair for season . . . Hitmen closer to Tigers

Davos (Switzerland, NL A) announced the signing of F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) to a contract for the rest of this season. This season, with Pelicans Lahti (Finland, Liiga), he had 29 points, including 23 assists, in 40 games. He was the team’s second-leading scorer when he was released for financial reasons on Friday.
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The debate involving CHL teams and amateurism continued Tuesday with a story written by Robert Cribb of the Toronto Star. . . . “Canadian Hockey League team officials in Washington gave incomplete — and what appears to be misleading — testimony before state lawmakers last week during debate over a proposed law exempting clubs from paying players minimum wage, a Star investigation has found,” Cribbs writes in a piece that can be found right here.
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The Tri-City Americans have lost F Parker Bowles and D Carter Cochrane for the remainder of this season. Bowles, who leads the Americans in assists (31) and points (44), suffered an injury to his left shoulder during a 3-0 loss in Kamloops on Feb. 9. Cochrane, who is from Kamloops, was acquired from the Everett Silvertips at the trade deadline in January. He also has a shoulder injury. . . . As well, G Evan Sarthou has an undisclosed injury that may end his season. “We need more analysis by the doctors before we know for sure (on Sarthou),” Tri-City general manager Bob Tory told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald. “It would be nice to have two healthy goalies going into the playoffs. (Cochrane) was just starting to feel comfortable here, then he got hurt in the Medicine Hat game. It wasn’t a hard hit, but he was in an awkward position. It’s one of those years. It’s part of hockey and you have to fight through it. Hopefully the guys get hungry. They need to stick together and compete as a group.”
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The 2015 Subway Super Series will open with games in Kelowna on Nov. 9 and in Kamloops on Nov. 10. . . . It’s a six-game series featuring the best major junior players against a Russian junior team. . . . The Kelowna Rockets will play host to Game 1, with the Kamloops Blazers doing the same for Game 2. . . . The series stopped in Kelowna in 2009 where the WHL won, 4-2. . . . It has twice been in Kamloops, with the WHL winning 8-1 in 2006 and Russia winning 7-6 in a shootout in 2010. . . . Games 3 and 4 are to be played in Owen Sound and Windsor on Nov. 12 and 16, with Games 5 and 6 in Rouyn-Noranda and Halifax on Nov. 17 and 19. . . . This will be the 13th straight season that the series has been played. . . . CHL teams lead the series 49-17-6, although the Russians have won three times since 2010, including in 2014. . . . All games of the series will be televised by Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
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The Regina Pats were to have visited the Prince Albert Raiders last Sunday but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. It now has been rescheduled for March 10. . . .
The Raiders have added F Luke Coleman, 16, to their roster for the remainder of the season. The Red Deer Optimist Chiefs, his midget AAA team, didn’t qualify for the playoffs so its season is over, freeing him up to join the Raiders. Coleman, a fifth-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft, had 20 points, including eight goals, in 27 games. . . .
The Red Deer Minor Hockey Association announced Tuesday via Twitter that Brandin Cote (Spokane 1996-2002) “will return as head coach of the Optimist Chiefs for the 2015-16 season.” . . .
The Spokane Chiefs, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season, have added five players to their list of the Top 25 Chiefs in 25 Years that was created five years ago. The program was started in 2010, so now it’s the Top 30 in 30. On Friday night, with the Calgary Hitmen in town, the Chiefs will salute Mick Vukota (1985-87), Steve Junker (1988-92), Barry Brust (2000-04), Michael Grabner (2004-07) and Brenden Kichton (2008-13). Vukota and Junker are expected to be in attendance. The other three have playing commitments. . . .
The BCHL has suspended F Latrell Charleson of the Surrey Eagles for the remainder of this season for abuse of an official in a game on Saturday. The Eagles, who won’t make the playoffs, have five games remaining in their regular season. . . . If you haven’t seen the incident in question, it’s right here. . . . Charleson, 19, was a seventh-round selection by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL’s 2010 bantam draft. He has yet to play in the WHL. . . .
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet checks in right here with the latest edition of the always readable 30 Thoughts.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES

B.C. DIVISION: Victoria was the only one of the division’s five teams to play. It lost at home, but that won’t impact what will be a second-place finish.
U.S. DIVISION: Portland won on the road and now is six points behind first-place Everett. . . . Portland is five points ahead of third-place Seattle. The teams will meet three more times. . . . Tri-City lost at home. It holds down the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, three points behind Spokane.
EAST DIVISION: Moose Jaw won on the road to close within eight points of Edmonton, which holds down the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. In the division, Moose Jaw is nine points behind third-place Swift Current. . . . Prince Albert lost at home but picked up a loser point. It is one point behind Moose Jaw.
CENTRAL DIVISION: Calgary won at home, beating Medicine Hat, and now is four points behind the first-place Tigers. Calgary has 15 games remaining; Medicine Hat has 13 to play. . . . Red Deer won a road game and is six points behind Calgary. . . . Kootenay won on the road and now is in sole possession of the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot, seven points behind third-place Red Deer and two ahead of Edmonton.
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In Victoria, the Moose Jaw Warriors scored the game’s first three goals and went on to a 4-3 victory over the Royals. . . . F Jack Rodewald got the Warriors rolling when he scored his 26th goal of the season 1:30 into the first period. . . . Former Victoria F Axel Blomqvist added his 22nd at 2:01, with Rodewald getting the lone assist, and F Tanner Eberle made it 3-0 with his 30th at 1:53 of the second. . . . The Royals twice got to within a goal but weren’t able to equalize. . . . Moose Jaw F Jiri Smejkal’s 10th goal, at 10:42 of the third, provided a 4-2 lead and stood as the winner. . . . Warriors F Brayden Point had two assists. . . . Victoria F Austin Carroll had one assist and set the Victoria franchise record for most points in a single season. He’s got 68. F Brandon Magee set the previous record (67) last season. . . . The Chilliwack/Victoria franchise record (101) is held by F Mark Santorelli (2007-08). He won the WHL scoring title that season. . . . Victoria was without D Ryan Gagnon. He served a one-game suspension for having incurred his third game misconduct of the season against host Seattle on Sunday. . . . The Royals were playing their fourth game in 90 hours. . . . The Royals, who are second in the B.C. Division, are at home to the first-place Kelowna Rockets on Friday and Saturday. . . .Moose Jaw improved to 23-30-4, while Victoria slipped to 32-22-4. . . .

In Prince Albert, F Riley Sheen scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Red Deer Rebels a 2-1 victory over the Raiders. . . . F Scott Feser scored his 11th goal of the season for Red Deer at 3:23 of the second period. . . . F Matteo Gennaro tied it with his 10th goal, on a PP, at 16:42 of the second. . . . The Raiders shot first but failed to scored in the shootout, so Sheen’s second-round goal stood as the winner. . . . Rebels G Rylan Toth stopped 29 shots, three more than Prince Albert’s Rylan Parenteau. . . . The Rebels had Trevor Martin on the bench in support of Toth. Martin, who came over from the Saskatoon Blades in a January deal, has been with the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires. The Red Deer Advocate reports that Martin is expected to start tonight in Saskatoon. Taz Burman, who didn’t dress last night, is scheduled to be on the bench tonight. . . . The Rebels remain without F Conner Bleackley, their captain, who is out with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Raiders continue to play without F Kris Schmidli, who is out with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Rebels (29-18-9) are 3-4-3 in their last 10. . . . The Raiders (23-32-3) have lost two straight (1-0-1). . . . Brett Smith of the Prince Albert Daily Herald has a game story right here. . . .

In Lethbridge, F Matt Alfaro scored two goals and set up another to help the Kootenay Ice to a 5-2 victory over the Hurricanes. . . . Alfaro, who equaled a single-game career high with three points, has nine goals. . . . The Hurricanes scored the game’s first two goals and took a 2-1 lead into the third period. The Ice put it away with three goals in the first 7:08 of the third. . . . F Tim Bozon tied a franchise record with a goal eight seconds into the third. D Steve McCarthy had set the record on Dec. 18, 1998, at Red Deer. . . . Bozon has 26 goals. . . . F Jaedon Descheneau had two assists for the Ice, with D Troy Murray scoring his third goal and adding an assist. . . . F Mike Winther had two goals for Lethbridge, giving him 11, and F Ryley Lindgren drew two assists. . . . Ice G Wyatt Hoflin stopped 17 shots, 16 fewer than Jayden Sittler of the Hurricanes. . . . The Ice (29-27-2) has points in its last two (1-0-1) . . . The Hurricanes (18-33-6) are 6-4-0 in their last 10. . . .

In Calgary, G Brendan Burke turned aside 29 shots to help the Hitmen to a 4-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . After a scoreless first period, the Hitmen got two second-period goals, from F Connor Rankin, his 27th, at 6:54, and F Radel Fazleev, his 17th, at 10:30. . . . F Steve Owre got his 15th goal, on a PP, at 18:56. . . . Calgary F Adam Tambellini added insurance with his 40th goal 23 seconds into the third. . . . F Chase Lang hit an empty net for his 23rd goal at 18:31. . . . With G Marek Langhamer fighting the flu, G Nick Schneider made his second straight start for the Tigers. He stopped 23 shots. . . . The Tigers were without F Trevor Cox, the WHL’s scoring leader, for a second straight game. He was hit with a ‘tbd’ suspension for a boarding incident against visiting Calgary on Saturday. Calgary F Kenton Helgesen, the victim of that hit, didn’t play last night. . . . The Hitmen will play their next 11 games on the road as the Canadian men’s curling championship takes over their home building. . . . Calgary will play five games in the U.S. Division and then go into B.C. for three. . . . While Calgary has won 11 of 12, the Tigers have lost eight of 10. As a result, the Hitmen (34-18-5) have closed to within four points of the Central Division-leading Tigers (37-19-3). . . . The Hitmen went 3-3-0 in the season series; the Tigers finished 3-2-1.

In Kennewick, Wash., F Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal and three assists as the Portland Winterhawks dumped the Tri-City Americans, 5-1. . . . Bjorkstrand’s 40th goal, at 2:50 of the first period, gave Portland a 2-0 lead and stood up as the winner. . . . F Paul Bittner, who scored twice, had opened the scoring 27 seconds into the game. He’s got 24 goals. . . . F Nic Petan added his 11th goal and two assists for the Winterhawks. . . . F Tyler Sandhu scored his 13th goal for the Americans, getting it on the PP at 8:31 of the first. . . . Portland G Adin Hill made 24 saves in his 20th straight start. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie turned aside 45 shots. . . . The Americans, who revealed this week that F Parker Bowles and D Carter Cochrane won’t play again this season, lost D Brandon Carlo in the first period. He left after being struck in the head by a puck and didn’t return. . . . Also missing from Tri-City’s lineup was F Richard Nejezchleb (undisclosed injury). . . . Portland has won the first six games of the 10-game season series. . . . The Winterhawks (33-20-4) are 2-0-1 in their last three. . . . The Americans (26-29-3) have lost three in a row.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

(all times local)
Moose Jaw at Vancouver, noon
Red Deer at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
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Five parents of midget rep #Victoria area hockey team banned from attending their kids game this weekend after verbal abuse on refs/players
— Janet Brown (@JanetBrown980) February 17, 2015

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Russians take home the trophy

How many coaches would yank a goaltender less than four minutes into one game and start him again the very next night? That’s what Team Russia head coach Valery Bragin, the tie-less one, did with goaltender Dmitry Shikin in the two Subway Super Series games that were played in Kamloops and Prince George on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Shikin gave up two goals on three shots and left Wednesday’s game with his side down 2-0 just 3:36 into the game. Emil Garipov came on and was excellent in backstopping the Russians to a 7-6 shootout victory.
Last night, the Russians stoned Team WHL 5-2 in Prince George to win the Super Series for the first time in its eight years and perhaps save what, prior to this month, had been a mediocre series, at least out west.
Going into this year, the WHL had won 13 of the 14 games it had played against the Russians in this series.
The Russians had always, for whatever reason, brought over a markedly weaker team than was needed to compete with CHL teams. Four years ago, the last time the series stopped in Kamloops, the WHL posted an 8-1 victory in what was a simply awful hockey game.
This year, however, the Russians brought over an older team that was stronger and more mature than what we have seen in past years. Every player on the 22-man roster for the game in Kamloops was born in 1991. Of those 22 players, 16 had played for Bragin at the U-20 Fourth Nations tournament in Sweden in September.
This bunch of Russians took every bump and then some. They were quick on transition, strong on the puck and they gave the WHL’s defence fits, especially in deep on the forecheck. The WHL defencemen really had have a tough time dealing with that pressure.
The WHL, which actually held a 6-3 lead in the third period of the game in Kamloops, carried over only six players to the game in the Prince George. And it took until six or seven minutes into the third period before the WHL team looked comfortable. By then, the Russians held a 4-0 lead and were on their way to winning the series for the first time.
This reminded me a bit of 1972 when the Canadians (NHL) and the then-Soviet Union met in the first Super Series. The NHL stars that year were caught off guard by just how good the Soviet players were. I would suggest that the WHL players were expecting less than what they got in these two games.
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Through this series the Russian players are mostly nameless teenagers to most observers.
Which is why it was so wonderful to watch these players celebrate at the end of the game in Prince George. Watching them go to centre ice, shed gloves and sticks, and pose for one of those championship team photos with the trophy, well, it was just like watching a North American team celebrate a title.
If you don't think this thing meant something to them, you weren't paying attention.
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So . . . what’s next?
Well, Hockey Canada will release the list of players invited to its selection camp on Nov. 29. From there it’s on to the camp in Toronto, Dec. 11-15.
The 2011 World Junior Championship will be contested in Buffalo, Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.
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2010 SUPER SERIES:
Nov. 8, at Saint John, N.B.: Russia 5, QMJHL 4
Nov. 10, at Drummondville: Russia 4, QMJHL 3
Nov. 11, at London: OHL 4, Russia 0
Nov. 15, at Sudbury: OHL 2, Russia 1 (SO)
Nov. 17: at Kamloops: Russia 7, WHL 6 (SO)
Nov. 18: at Prince George: Russia 5, WHL 2
Russia 4-1-1-22-21-12
CHL 2-3-1-21-22-6
OHL 2-0-0-6-1-5
QMJHL 0-2-0-7-9-0
WHL 0-1-1-8-12-1
(Note: Three points for regulation victory; two points for shootout victory; one point for shootout loss.)
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With the Subway Super Series having wrapped up, it’s time to start thinking about the various World Junior Championships that will be held over the next six weeks.
F Kristians Pelss of the Edmonton Oil Kings will play for Latvia in the 2011 World Junior Championship, Division 1A, that runs Dec. 13-19 in Bobruisk, Belarus. Pelss, 18, was the 19^th pick in the CHL’s 2010 import draft. He also was a seventh-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL’s 2010 draft. Pelss has a goal and three assists in 20 games with the Oil Kings. . . . Latvia will compete against Belarus, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, two WHL players are on Germany’s preliminary roster for the 2011 World Junior Championship that will be held in Buffalo, Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. F Marcel Noebels of the Seattle Thunderbirds and F Bernhard Keil of the Kamloops Blazers are on the German roster that right now features four goaltenders, 15 forwards and nine defencemen. Noebels has 14 points in 19 games with Seattle, while Keil, who has struggled to adapt to the grind of the WHL, has one goal in 15 games with the Blazers. He has been a healthy scratch four times in the last eight games.
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I was told late Thursday night that F Kyle St. Denis, 20, has been released off the injured list by the Kelowna Rockets. St. Denis has had multiple concussions and didn’t get medical clearance to start this season with the Rockets. From Trail, B.C., he had 22 points in 22 games in 2008-09 and 22 points in 26 games last season. Of course, the games played is the key statistic. Obviously, he has the skill to play in the WHL but the concussions just wouldn’t let him. . . . I also am told that his junior A rights belonged to the BCHL's Vernon Vipers, who have dealt them to the Victoria Grizzlies. St. Denis, however, wants to play with the Smoke Eaters, whose roster includes his brother Travis, who has 39 points in 22 games.
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The Kelowna Rockets dealt D Antoine Corbin, 18, to the Prince Albert Raiders on Thursday. The Rockets got back a 2012 third-round bantam draft pick. Corbin, who is in his second WHL season, was a fifth-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft. . . . He had four points and 25 penalty minutes in 11 games this season with the Rockets. . . . Corbin, who is from Kelowna, is expected to play for the Raiders tonight against the Hurricanes in Lethbridge.
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If you were wondering, it took the Pats 22 hours 30 minutes to get from Regina to Vancouver, where they open B.C. Division tour tonight against the Giants. . . . The Pats have three prospects with them for the next few days. D Kyle Burroughs, a third-round pick from Langley, B.C., D Nolan De Jong, a seventh-round selection from Saanich, B.C., and F Demico Hannoun, a product of North Delta., B.C., who was taken in the ninth round, have practised with the club the last couple of days. . . . The Prince Albert Raiders have added F Tyler Paslawski, 18, to their roster for their three-game weekend. Paslawski, was assigned to the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks almost a month ago and had two assists in eight games. . . . BC Hockey has selected Kamloops as the host site for the 2011 U-16 B.C. Cup. The tournament will be held April 27 through May 1 at Interior Savings Centre. . . . Marc Weber of the Vancouver Province reports on the Dub Hub that the Vancouver Giants are down to five defencemen Luke Fenske (shoulder) the latest of their players to be injured. The Giants are at home to the Regina Pats tonight but then don’t play for a week. F Brendan Rowisnki, who was acquired last week from the Moose Jaw Warriors, won’t play, either. He had major offseason knee surgery and played two games with the Warriors before being traded. But he hasn’t received medical clearance from the Giants’ staff. Fenske and Rowinski both may be back for that Nov. 26 game when the Giants meet the Oil Kings in Edmonton. . . .
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More than a handful of former WHL players have been shuffled around over the last couple of days. . . . F James Wright (Vancouver, 2005-10) went from the AHL’s Norfolk Road Admirals to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. . . . The NHL’s Vancouver Canucks returned F Mario Bliznak (Vancouver, 2005-08) to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. . . . The NHL’s Florida Panthers sent D Keaton Ellerby (Kamloops, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) to the AHL’s Rochester Americans and recalled F Michal Repik (Vancouver, 2005-08). . . . Repik was the Americans’ leading scorer, with 22 points, including 18 assists, in 17 games. . . . The NHL’s Minnesota Wild assigned D Justin Falk (Calgary, Spokane, 2004-08) to the AHL’s Houston Aeros. . . . The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes recalled D Brett Carson (Moose Jaw, Calgary 2001-06) from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday and returned him on Thursday.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter

No tie . . . time to go home?

Some notes from the Subway Super Series stop in Kamloops on Wednesday night . . .
A team winning a game in regulation time gets three points. A victory in a shootout is worth two points. A shootout loss is worth one point. . . . That means that going into Thursday’s season finale in Prince George, the Russians hold a 9-6 lead. . . . What that means is that the WHL has to win in regulation time tonight to pull into a tie, at 9-9.
And what happens then?
Cory Flett, the WHL’s director of communications, tells me that a shootout — five players aside — would be held to determine the series winner.
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I caught the second period and half of the third in person — spent the rest of the night laying out pages as our Mark Hunter covered the game — but could feel a buzz as soon as I walked in the building. Yes, it was a fun crowd that was announced at 5,456. . . .
One of the Russian coaches wasn’t wearing a tie. Does that mean it’s time to go home? . . .
F Curtis Hamilton of the Saskatoon Blades obviously isn’t superstitious. He was wearing No. 13 despite having suffered a broken collarbone in the Super Series game in Kelowna a year ago. . . .
F Brendan Ranford of the Kamloops Blazers showed enough in this one that it should warrant him an invitation to the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp next month. It’s time this guy got some well-deserved respect from hockey people. . . .
The referees were Steve Papp, who raced in from Kelowna, and Kris Hartley of Kamloops. They were pressed into service when Matt Kirk and Pat Smith weren’t able to get over the Coquihalla Highway which apparently was closed by an accident. . . . Sheesh, guys, you gotta remember that you’re Canadian and, when the flag is involved, you gotta give our guys a break once in a while. . . . Right?
Brandi Brodsky, the vice-president of the Prince George Cougars, has said that tonight’s game is sold out. Which is great news for the hockey fans of that city. Here’s hoping they get to watch a hockey game as entertaining as the one in Kamloops last night.
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The WHL’s 21 other teams should be worried, very worried, about the Portland Winterhawks.
Because no matter how you look at it, this is beginning to take on the aura of a juggernaut.
The Winterhawks were expected to arrive home at around 10 o’clock Wednedsay night after ransacking the East Division to the tune of 5-1-0. Their only loss, as they improved their WHL-leading record to 19-3-1, was by a 5-4 count to the Blades in Saskatoon on Friday.
The Winterhawks arrive home having scored a WHL-leading 96 goals. And their 58 goals-against — 2.52 goals per game — gives them the WHL’s second-best defensive record, behind only the Red Deer Rebels (2.18).
The Winterhawks also lead the WHL with a goal differential of plus—38, which is the best in the league. It is far and away the leading differential in the Western Conference, where the Chilliwack Bruins are second, at plus-7.
When last season ended, the Winterhawks were prolific on offence, scoring an average of 3.69 goals per game. But, at the same, they allowed 3.35.
That, general manager and head coach Mike Johnston knew, wasn’t good enough to win a championship.
The Winterhawks, then, have concentrated on cleaning up the goals-against. A stronger defensive game and strong work by goaltenders Keith Hamilton and Mac Carruth have allowed Portland’s defence to improve by almost a goal a game. And that is huge.
It helps, too, that the Winterhawks, one of the WHL’s biggest and most-penalized teams, has the league’s second-best penalty-killing record.
If you’re going to take penalties — and the Winterhawks have been shorthanded 142 times, more than any team in the league — you have to be able to kill them if you are going to have any success.
The Winterhawks, of course, had eight players selected in the NHL’s 2010 draft, including F Ryan Johansen, who went fourth overall, and F Nino Niederreiter, who was taken fifth overall. All told, they have 10 players on their roster who are either drafted or signed by NHL teams.
And they have four of the top nine NHL prospects according to the first rankings by NHL Central Scouting that were released earlier this week.
F Sven Bartschi shows up at No. 2, with linemate Ty Rattie at No. 3, D Joe Morrow at No. 5 and D Tyler Wotherspoon at No. 9.
And two players off their roster — F Brendan Leipsic and D Derrick Pouliot — will play for Team Western at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge that runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 4 in Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, Man.
Sheesh, it’s hard to remember that it was only in 2007-08 when this franchise was stumbling and bumbling its way to 11 victories in 72 games. One season later, it had improved to 19.
And now, two seasons later and after an ownership change, the Winterhawks are the best team in the WHL and one of the elite teams in the 60-team CHL.
This, folks, is a great, great story.
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The Pats announced Wednesday that D Mitch Spooner has left the club for what the team is calling “personal reasons.”
Spooner, 18, who is from Port Moody, B.C., wasn’t on the bus when it left Regina for Vancouver on Tuesday.
“It’s more than just hockey,” Chad Lang, the Pats’ GM, told Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post. “He was having some personal issues and just felt it was important that he go home to his family for a bit and kind of re-evaluate everything. We support his decision. He has to make sure he looks after what’s important.”
Spooner had five points in 15 games, but was a healthy scratch seven times. The Vancouver Giants selected Spooner wtih the 19th overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft. He was dealt to Regina on Dec. 10, along with F Cass Mappin and F Mikael Jung, for G Derek Tendler, the 13th overall pick in the 2010 CHL import draft and a 2011 fifth-round bantam pick.
Harder has more on Spooner right here.
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The Vancouver Giants have added F Richard Vanderhoek, 19, to their roster.
Vanderhoek, who had 43 points in 25 games with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles, was a sixth-round pick by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2006 bantam draft. He was pointless in four games with the Blazers in 2007-08 and was later dropped from their protected list.
Vanderhoek has joined the Giants and is expected to play Friday against the visiting Regina Pats. Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun reports that Vanderhoek may open on the Giants’ top line, alongside Brendan Gallagher and Craig Cunningham.
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The Tri-City Americans have assigned F Zach McPhee, 17, to the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers. McPhee, who had one goal in eight games with the Americans, is from Vernon. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft.
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F Matt Fraser, 20, of the Kootenay Ice has signed a three-year contract with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Fraser, who was an NHL free agent, has 19 points, including nine goals, and 35 penalty minutes in 20 games with the Ice this season. . . . Last season, he had 56 points, 32 of them goals, and 117 penalty minutes in 65 games. He later played two games for the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have assigned F RJ Reed, 18, to the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits. The had acquired him from the Vancouver Giants. He was pointless in five games with the Raiders, after going pointless in one game with Vancouver.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter

Russians shoot out lights at ISC

Linesman Ryan Dawson works to keep the peace
between Team Russia's Maxim Berezin and
Brandon Herrod of Team WHL.
(Photo by Murray Mitchell/Kamloops Daily News)

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
The Subway Super Series certainly lived up to its billing Wednesday night.
The Russian Selects beat Team WHL 7-6 in a shootout in front of 5,456 boisterous fans at Interior Savings Centre. The game was the fifth in the six-game Super Series, which will conclude tonight in Prince George.
The Russians lead the series 3-2, and hold a 9-6 lead in points. The series gives three points for a regulation victory, two for a shootout victory and one for a shootout loss.
This game had pretty much everything — talented teams, a spirited comeback and playoff intensity. The last time the Super Series stopped in Kamloops, on Nov. 30, 2006, it was anything but super, with the WHL winning 8-1.
Last night’s game was a beauty.
“It was a strange game . . .” said Team WHL head coach Ryan Huska, “There were lots of ups and downs, and at the end of the night, we would have hoped to come out on the winning side.”
Team WHL appeared to have this game in control two different times — it held a three-goal lead 6:31 into the first period, and again midway through the third period.
But the visitors, playing their fifth game in five cities since coming to Canada on Nov. 8, wouldn’t give up, and finally tied the game 6-6 with 7:52 remaining in the third period.
Once the game got into a shootout, the Russians dominated, scoring on three of their four chances. Jordan Weal had the lone shootout goal for the WHL.
“They never gave up,” said Blazers defenceman Austin Madaisky. “It seemed like when we got up, we took our foot off the gas pedal. It came back to bite us.”
Team WHL couldn’t have drawn up a better start . . . or a worse finish.
Carter Ashton of the Regina Pats fired a bullet into the top corner 2:16 into the game, and Moose Jaw Warriors forward Quinton Howden made it 2-0 1:20 later.
Stefan Elliott of the Saskatoon Blades made it 3-0 on a power play at 6:31 of the first period, and the local fans must have been thinking back to that 8-1 shellacking in 2006.
But Russia had other plans, with Daniil Sobchenko and Artemiy Panarin cutting the lead to 3-2 before the end of the period,
Prince Albert Raiders forward Brandon Herrod made it 4-2 midway through the second period, but Russia’s Anton Burdasov cut the lead 41 seconds into the third period.
Regina’s Weal and Saskatoon’s Curtis Hamilton scored power-play goals 54 seconds apart to make it 6-3, and the WHL appeared poised to cruise to an easy victory. But the Russians scored three times in a span of 2:42 — the goals came from Sergey Kalinin, Maxim Kitsyn and Artem Voronin — to stun the capacity crowd.
“We got that three-goal lead and maybe we let back a little,” said Tri-City Americans forward Brendan Shinnimin, who had two assists in the loss. “We knew we had to skate with them because we knew they were going to push.
“They didn’t stop. It’s disappointing. You don’t want to represent your team and your league like that.”
Madaisky was one of three Blazers to participate in the game — forwards Brendan Ranford and Chase Schaber also took part, although none registered a point. Ranford was WHL’s final shooter in the shootout, but his deke was stopped by Russia goaltender Emil Garipov.
Madaisky, who was solid in the loss, was impressed by the fans, if not the game’sfinal result. The Blazers have yet to draw 5,000 fans to a home game this season.
“This was the most exciting crowd I’ve ever played in front of at the ISC,” said the 18-year-old Surrey native. “It would be great if we could get that every night, but it was nice to get it while it lasted.”
JUST NOTES: Blazers head coach Guy Charron served as an assistant under Huska. Charron won’t make the trip to Prince George, and Cougars head coach Dean Clark will serve under Huska. . . . Calgary head coach Mike Williamson also served as an assistant coach on Wednesday, and will do so again tonight. . . . Both teams were 3-for-6 on the power play. . . . Everett Silvertips goaltender Kent Simpson made 27 saves in the loss. . . . Russia started with Dmitry Shikin in goal, but he was pulled after allowing two goals on three shots. Garipov came in and stopped 40 shots. . . . Seattle Thunderbirds G Calvin Pickard will start in goal for Team WHL tonight. . . . Tk’emlups Indian Band Chief Shane Gottfriedson and former Blazers captain Ajay Baines were honourary captains for the game. . . . The Russians’ victory improves their record to 2-13 against the WHL and 9-38 against the CHL.
mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca

Vey really happy to be in Kamloops

Brendan Ranford (17) of Team WHL drives past
Team Russia's Yuri Urychev.
(Photo by Murray Mitchell/Kamloops Daily News)

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
It has been said many times by many people, but the phrase “just happy to be here” couldn’t have fit any better than it did coming out of Linden Vey’s mouth Wednesday.
Vey, a 19-year-old right winger with the Medicine Hat Tigers, suited up for Team WHL in a Subway Super Series game Wednesday at Interior Savings Centre.
Team WHL, featuring a lineup comprised of different players from last night, will play the Russians tonight in Prince George as the series draws to a conclusion.
Vey almost didn’t make it to Kamloops. A storm in Medicine Hat forced him to remain in The Gas City an extra day, before he finally landed in Kamloops on Wednesday around 1:30 p.m., a mere 5-1/2 hours before game time.
“It wasn’t the best trip, but that’s the way it goes,” said Vey, who is from Wakaw, Sask. “You can’t control the weather and you’ve just got to roll with it.”
The original schedule had Vey driving from Medicine Hat to Calgary on Tuesday, then flying to Vancouver and then on to Kamloops. But poor conditions made the Trans-Canada Highway west of Medicine Hat almost impassable, and Vey and Tigers assistant coach Joey Frazer were forced to leave Wednesday.
Even then, the roads were barely navigable — it took Frazer and Vey four hours to make the 270-kilometre journey.
“The roads weren’t the best, but we made it here and that’s the main thing,” Vey said. “There were portions of the road that were very good, and portions that were pure ice and almost undriveable.”
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Speaking of bad weather . . . it gave Kamloops official Kris Hartley an opportunity to serve as a referee in last night’s game.
Hartley had been penciled in to work as a linesman, the same role he has filled in the WHL for at least four seasons. Matt Kirk and Pat Smith were supposed to serve as referees and were en route to Kamloops from the Lower Mainland when they were turned back due to the closure of the Coquihalla Highway after an accident.
Hartley was called upon to fill in, as was Steve Papp, who hurried to Kamloops from Kelowna. Ryan Dawson and Mike Boisvert, who also got a last-minute call to replace Hartley, worked as linesmen.
There was a worry that Papp wouldn’t make on time and Hartley would have to start alone. However, Papp arrived in time for the player introductions and the national anthems.
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The teams are hoping there won’t be any delays in flying from Kamloops to Prince George this morning.
The roster for tonight’s game, which included six players who suited up last night, was to fly north today. The entire Team WHL roster was at Wednesday’s game, even those who didn’t play.
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Tyler Boldt made an appearance in Kamloops as part of the festivities.
Boldt, a former Blazers defenceman, now is the WHL’s manager of player development and recruitment. Part of his job involves talking to potential players about the league and its scholarship policy.
He is based out of the league’s office in Calgary, but came west Tuesday to discuss the league’s virtues with the Bantam Tier 1 Jardine’s Blazers, who left Wednesday to take part in a Medicine Hat tournament. Boldt also will attend that tournament.
Boldt, 26, played for the Blazers from 1999-2004, and also suited up for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades. He was working as general manager and head coach of the KIJHL’s Chase Chiefs before being hired by the WHL in December.
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Brendan Shinnimin had a solid game, picking up two assists in WHL’s 7-6 shootout loss.
It was only the second game for Shinnimin since Oct. 6, but he hardly looked out of place. Shinnimin was suspended 12 games after he received a checking-from-behind major in a game against the host Saskatoon Blades on Oct. 6.
Prior to the suspension, he had 13 points in seven games. He returned Saturday in a 5-0 loss to the host Spokane Chiefs.
“I got to play a game Saturday and got back into game shape,” said Shinnimin, a 19-year-old from Winnipeg. “I played in this game last year, so I knew what it was about. I was nervous last year . . . but I felt a little more comfortable this year.”

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca

WHL ready to defend CHL's honour

Team Russia players get a close-up look at Team WHL
goaltender Calvin Pickard during a Tuesday practice
at Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops.
(Photo by Keith Anderson/Kamloops Daily News)

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
There were plenty of laughs and good times on the Interior Savings Centre ice Tuesday as Team WHL practised together for the first time.
Head coach Ryan Huska is expecting that to change tonight.
Huska, the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets, will lead Team WHL into a Subway Super Series game against a touring Russian side at 7 o'clock. This is the fifth of six games in the Subway Super Series, which is in its eighth year, and the Russians carry a 2-2 record into tonight.
Over the previous seven years, the Russians had been barely better than terrible, winning just six times in 42 games against their CHL opposition. Five of those victories came against QMJHL teams, with the WHL's lone loss coming in Cranbrook on Nov. 28, 2007, when Russia won 5-1.
The Russians have looked good this year, beating the QMJHL twice - 5-4 in Saint John on Nov. 8 and 4-3 in Drummondville on Nov. 10 - before losing twice to the OHL, 4-0 in London on Thursday and 2-1 in a shootout in Sudbury on Monday.
“You find out in a hurry that this isn't just a skate-around game - we're here to win,” said Huska, who was an assistant coach last year. “I think the players, they understand that now. There's a lot of pride on the line, especially this year since the series actually means something.”
In 14 games against the Russians, the WHL has won 13 of them and has outscored its opposition 65-21.
The first four games of this Super Series have been televised (as will tonight's, on Rogers Sportsnet), so the WHL players have had a chance to see what they will be up against.
“They're definitely faster, stronger and more skilled this year,” said Kamloops Blazers forward Chase Schaber. “We're going to be ready to go too, and it's going to be a fun game.”
The Super Series was created in 2003 and has replaced the WHL's all-star game.
But only a few of the first 14 WHL-Russia games have lived up to expectations and, more often than not, the WHL has run away with them. Of those 14 games, Team WHL has won eight by three or more goals.
The games were close in 2009 - the WHL won 2-1 in Victoria on Nov. 25 and 4-2 in Kelowna the next night.
Now, with the series tied 2-2, the WHL isn't planning to let its visitors win the series for the first time.
“Every year, we want to try to show that the WHL is the best league,” said Spokane Chiefs defenceman Jared Cowen, who will wear the captain's C for Team WHL tonight. “When they come, they expect the WHL to be the toughest league and I think we'll do our best to show that (tonight).”
But there's more than pride at stake for the Team WHL players - the series also serves as an opportunity for Hockey Canada's scouts to take a long look at potential players for the World Junior Championship, scheduled for Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Buffalo, N.Y.
The last time a Super Series game was played in Kamloops, on Nov. 30, 2006, three key members of Canada's gold-medal winning junior team contributed to the WHL's 8-1 victory.
Carey Price, who would be named tournament MVP at the 2007 world junior tournament in Sweden, turned aside 22 shots in Team WHL's victory, while Cody Franson and Darren Helm each scored a goal.
“No one's really talked about (world juniors) so far, but I think some guys are thinking about it,” said Cowen, who played on the Canadian team that finished second at the WJC in Saskatoon and Regina in January. “Obviously, this is the first stepping stone towards that - if you play well, you have a good chance of getting asked to camp.”

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca

Huska happy to be with 'home' team

RYAN HUSKA

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
It has been a long time since Ryan Huska wasn't wearing the enemy's colours at Interior Savings Centre.
Huska, the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets, is to serve as head coach of Team WHL for tonight's Game 5 of the Subway Super Series. The WHL will play a touring Russian side at 7 o'clock.
Before he came to running things in Kelowna, Huska was on three Memorial Cup-winning teams in Kamloops. From 1991-95, he played 247 games with the Blazers, picking up 162 points.
These days, when Huska walks into the building that was known as Rivershore Coliseum when he played, he's usually an enemy. He's glad to be on the other side of that, if only for a night.
“It's fun,” Huska said. “I think these opportunities are terrific - you get an opportunity to work with some terrific coaches who normally we don't get to spend a lot of time with.”
Huska scouted for the Blazers from 2000-02, before being named an assistant with the Rockets before the 2002-03 season. He served under Marc Habscheid and Jeff Truitt before being given the head-coaching duties prior to 2007-08.
His Rockets won the WHL championship in his first season, and Huska has been named an assistant coach for Canada's entry at the World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., after Christmas.
“My playing years, I learned the game of hockey from (former head coach) Tom Renney, and Don (Hay) and (former general manager) Bob Brown and everyone else in this organization,” said Huska, who has won four Memorial Cups - the latest with the Rockets in 2004. “I feel like I got a lot of opportunities because of my time here.
“Since I've been working in the coaching side of things, I feel the same way about my time in Kelowna with (president/GM) Bruce Hamilton and the rest of the staff . . .”
Assisting Huska tonight will be Kamloops Blazers head coach Guy Charron and Calgary Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson. Charron won't make the trip to Prince George for Thursday's final game of the series, and former Blazers GM/head coach Dean Clark, now the head coach of the Cougars, will take his spot.
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Huska apparently knows a good thing when he sees it - Brendan Ranford and Chase Schaber will remain linemates for tonight's game.
The Blazers forwards, who will be joined by defenceman Austin Madaisky in representing Kamloops on Team WHL, will start the game on a line with Saskatoon Blades' winger Darian Dziurzynski.
“I love it, actually - from what I hear, Darian's a hard-working guy, just like me and Brendan,” said Schaber, who is the Blazers' captain. “I think we'll be a top contender for the hardest-working line in this series and probably the greasiest.”
Schaber, a centre, has made a living out of feeding the puck to Ranford, who leads the WHL with 20 goals, and also would do well to pass to Dziurzynski, who is tied for the Blades' lead with 12 goals.
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Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender Calvin Pickard was nothing short of brilliant the last time he played at ISC, but he won't get the chance for a repeat performance tonight.
Pickard stopped 49 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Blazers on Oct. 30, and was the main reason his Thunderbirds even managed a point in the game.
He is scheduled to suit up for both of Team WHL's Super Series games against the Russians, but will back up Everett Silvertips goaltender Kent Simpson tonight and start Thursday.
“It's not disappointing . . . whatever game they need me in is going to be the game I perform in,” said Pickard, an 18-year-old from Winnipeg who leads the WHL with 627 saves. “I'm excited.”
This isn't Pickard's first Super Series - he made 19 saves as Team WHL beat Russia 2-1 in Victoria on Nov. 25, 2009.
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Jared Cowen also is a veteran of the Super Series, having played against the Russians each of the last two years.
Cowen, the captain of the Spokane Chiefs, had an assist in last year's 2-1 victory in Victoria. He also helped Team WHL beat the Russians 5-0 in Swift Current on Nov. 26, 2008, and 2-1 in Prince Albert the next night.
“First year, I was the young guy and didn't know what to expect with the Russians or playing with these guys,” said Cowen, who will play tonight, but not in Prince George. “Last year was better . . . but it will be interesting to see what the Russians have.”
Cowen also was a member of the Canadian team that finished second at the World Junior Championship in Saskatoon and Regina.
It was a long Tuesday for Cowen, a 19-year-old defenceman from Allan, Sask., who flew from Spokane to Seattle to Vancouver to Kamloops.
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Speaking of long days, the Russians spent most of Tuesday on airplanes and in airports.
Russia lost 2-1 in a shootout to Team OHL in Sudbury on Monday, then hopped a plane from Sudbury to Toronto. From Toronto, the Russians flew into Vancouver, then backtracked to Kamloops on a charter.
The charter also had WHL players on it, and landed in Kamloops around 4:30 p.m. The teams were situated on opposite ends of the plane, with the Sportsnet television crew in between.

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca