Warriors, Giants sign head coaches . . . Two others on vacation!

D Ivan Baranka (Everett, 2003-05) has signed a one-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). Last season, with Avangard Omsk (Russia, KHL), he had 20 points, 19 of them assists, in 47 games. . . .



F Dylan Wruck (Edmonton, 2008-13) has signed a one-year contract with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL). Last season, Wruck had six points, including four goals, in three games with the Ontario Reign (ECHL). He missed most of the season due to injury. Wruck has dual Canadian-German citizenship. . . .

D Sam Klassen (Saskatoon, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL). He has dual Canadian-German citizenship. Last season, he had 10 points, one of them a goal, with the Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL), a goal and an assist in nine games with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), and one assist in 10 games with the Portland Pirates (AHL). . . .

F Jaroslav Obšut (Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Edmonton Ice, 1995-97) has signed a one-year contract with Corona Brasov (Romania, MOL Liga). Last season, with Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had 15 points, including six goals, in 24 games. . . .


F Tyler Beechey (Edmonton/Kootenay, Calgary, 1997-2002) has signed a two-year contract with the Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL). Last season, with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, DEL), he had 37 points, 12 of them goals, in 49 games.
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1. The Moose Jaw Warriors introduced Tim Hunter as their newest head coach on Thursday morning. Hunter, the 16th head coach in Warriors’ history, replaces Mike Stothers, who now is the head coach of the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs. . . . The 53-year-old Hunter, who has coaching experience as an NHL assistant with the Washington Capitals (1997-2002, 2012-13), San Jose Sharks (2002-08) and Toronto Maple Leafs (2008-11), has been living in Calgary, working for the Calgary Flames and the Flames Alumni. . . . The Calgary native played in the WHL with the Seattle Breakers (1977-80), before going to an 18-year pro career that included 815 NHL games. . . . Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald reports that general manager Alan Millar “spoke to Hunter on the phone on multiple occasions and then flew to Vancouver Sunday to meet with him in person. The pair talked for more than three hours and that meeting left little doubt in Millar's mind that Hunter was the right man to replace Mike Stothers behind the Warriors bench.” . . . Millar told Goulie: "I felt that there was a connection in terms of philosophically how we want to play the game and what is important to us in managing and coaching a WHL team. But more importantly how we were going to treat our players and how we were going to care for them on and off the ice." . . . Hunter takes over a team that has missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons. . . . Gourlie’s story is right here.

2. The Vancouver Giants introduced Troy Ward as the fourth head coach in franchise history on Thursday morning. Ward, 52, takes over from Don Hay, who left after 10 seasons as head coach and now is the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Ward, who is reported to have signed a three-year contract, spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Abbotsford Heat, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . Ward is a native of St. Paul, Minn. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province has more right here.

3. There now is just one WHL team without a head coach. The Regina Pats are looking for a head coach and two assistant coaches. The franchise’s new owners fired head coach Malcolm Cameron last month, while assistant coaches Josh Dixon and Billy McGuigan resigned earlier in the month. . . . Here’s a look at the nine teams with new head coaches, showing team, new coach and previous coach:
Calgary Hitmen: Mark French, Mike Williamson.
Edmonton Oil Kings: Steve Hamilton, Derek Laxdal.
Kamloops Blazers: Don Hay, Guy Charron.
Kelowna Rockets: Dan Lambert, Ryan Huska.
Moose Jaw Warriors: Tim Hunter, Mike Stothers.
Portland Winterhawks: Jamie Kompon, Mike Johnston.
Saskatoon Blades: Bob Woods, Dave Struch.
Tri-City Americans: Mike Williamson, Jim Hiller.
Vancouver Giants: Troy Ward, Don Hay.
I still find it interesting that by the time Regina hires a head coach, there will have been 10 changes and only two teams -- Edmonton and Kelowna -- will have promoted form within.

4. As for the remainder of the teams, just in case you have forgotten, here’s a look at who their head coaches are:
Brandon Wheat Kings: Kelly McCrimmon (owner/GM/head coach).
Everett Silvertips: Kevin Constantine (preparing for second season in his reincarnation as head coach here).
Kootenay Ice: Ryan McGill (entering final year of three-year contract).
Lethbridge Hurricanes: Drake Berehowsky (entering second year of three-year contract).
Medicine Hat Tigers: Shaun Clouston (also GM).
Prince Albert Raiders: Cory Clouston (entering second year of two-year deal; club has option on a third year).
Prince George Cougars: Mark Holick (signed through 2017-18).
Red Deer Rebels: Brent Sutter (owner/GM/head coach).
Seattle Thunderbirds: Steve Konowalchuk (signed through 2017-18).
Spokane Chiefs: Don Nachbaur (signed through 2016-17).
Swift Current Broncos: Mark Lamb (also GM; entering last year of three-year contract).
Victoria Royals: Dave Lowry (preparing for third season).

5. The Vancouver Giants have extended their partnership with TEAM Radio through 2017-18. All regular-season and playoff games will be heard on TEAM 1040 and TEAM 1410. . . . TEAM Radio also is home to the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, the CFL’s BC Lions, the MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the NWL’s Vancouver Canadians. . . . The Giants also announced that Brendan Batchelor will return for a second season as the play-by-play voice, alongside analyst Bill Wilms. Batchelor also has been named the club’s director of media relations.

6. The Everett Silvertips have signed F Bryce Kindopp, who was selected in the third round of the 2014 WHL bantam draft. The Silvertips made 15 selections in that draft; Kindopp is the first player to sign. . . . From Lloydminster, Alta., Kindopp helped his hometown Heat win the 2014 Alberta Major Bantam League championship. . . . In 33 regular-season games, Kindopp had 63 points, including 26 goals. He led the league’s playoff scoring derby with 16 goals and finished second in points, with 25. . . . Everett selected Heat captain Jantzen Leslie in the first round of the 2014 bantam draft. . . .

7. There isn’t much doubt which team D Dalton Yorke of the Kelowna Rockets was cheering for in Sunday’s World Cup final. Yorke, an 18-year-old from Maple Ridge, B.C., would have been solidly in Germany’s corner. Why? Because his sister, Montana, 21, is an item with German forward André Schürrle, who assisted on the winning goal, an extra-time score that gave his side a 1-0 victory over Argentina. . . . Jennifer Saltman of the Vancouver Province has more on the happy couple right here.

8. They’ll be talking hockey tonight at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert as the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame holds its 2014 induction ceremony. Included in the class of 2014 are Bruce Clements, Emile (The Cat) Francis, Johnny Gottselig, Wayne Kartusch, Brad McCrimmon, Jim Neilson, Brian Propp, Terry Simpson and Wes Smith. Also going in are the 1982 Prince Albert Raiders and the 1972 Rosetown Redwings. . . . The Prince Albert Daily Herald has more right here.
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NOT the Spokane River! #italia #venice pic.twitter.com/XgpJfx3iDg
— Don Nachbaur (@HCChiefs42) July 17, 2014

Group Shot from Good Spirit Lake. #Blessed to spend the day with @deeds71 Brecks and Tayn in the sun and sand. pic.twitter.com/uSX0bh7i0L
— Shaun Clouston (@cluey15) July 18, 2014

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Another player forced to retire

THE MacBETH REPORT:

 D Ray Macias (Kamloops, 2002-07) signed a one-year contract with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite). He had nine goals and nine assists in 39 games with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) last season. . . .


F Levi Nelson (Swift Current, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with Ritten/Renon (Italy, Serie A). He had 10 goals and 14 assists in 32 games with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), three goals and three assists in 10 games with the Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL), and one goal and one assist in 11 games with Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (Germany, DEL) last season. . . .
F Tyler Beechey (Edmonton/Kootenay, Calgary, 1997-2002) signed a one-year contract with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, DEL). He had 14 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL) last season., This will be Beechey’s seventh season in the DEL.
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The WHL has had another player retire due to post-concussion syndrome.
F Brent Benson, who was the sixth overall selection in the 2008 bantam draft, won’t play in his 20-year-old season.
Benson suffered at least two brain injuries last season and is believed to have had at least five during his career.
From Weyburn, Sask., Benson had 18 points in 64 games with the Saskatoon Blades as a 16-year-old. He added 44 points in 65 games as a sophomore, and 37 in 62 games in his third season.
Last season, he was dealt to the Swift Current Broncos for D Graeme Craig on Oct. 18. He had three assists in 11 games with the Blades and a pair of helpers in 10 games with the Broncos before being shut down.
Benson put up 105 points, including 35 goals, in 216 regular-season games.
Earlier this summer, Swift Current F Shea Howorko, 19, revealed that he has had to quit playing due to post-concussion syndrome.
The Broncos selected Howorko, who is from Swift Current, in the second round of the 2009 bantam draft.
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In a deal involving two 17-year-old defencemen, the Prince George Cougars have dealt Jordan Harris to the Swift Current Broncos for Zack Gonek.
Harris, who is from Prince Albert, had told the Cougars he would prefer to play closer to home. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder was the 10th overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. He started last season with the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos and put up 12 assists in 21 games. However, he suffered a concussion and missed significant playing time. He joined the Cougars early in January and finally played on Feb. 6. In 17 games with Prince George, he had five assists.
Gonek, who is from St. Albert, Alta., was taken by the Broncos with the 13th pick of the 2011 bantam draft. Last season, with the midget AAA St. Albert Raiders, he had four points in 24 games.
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Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Swift Current Broncos, tweeted Wednesday afternoon that F Dakota Odgers “is going to be out until Nov/Dec after shoulder surgery.” Odgers, the 17-year-old son of former WHL and NHL F Jeff Odgers, was pointless in eight games with the Broncos last season. He was a second-round pick by the Broncos in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Mullin also noted that F Ty McLean, 18, has been invited to the Broncos’ training camp. McLean, from Redvers, Sask., had one assist in 24 games with the Regina Pats last season. He was a fifth-round selection by the Pats in the 2010 bantam draft.
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The Saskatoon arena that is home to the Blades may soon be getting a new name. Kevin Menz of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that the credit unions involved purchasing the naming rights to Credit Union Centre won’t be renewing the deal when it expires on Oct. 31, 2014. . . . There’s more right here.
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F Jordan Wyton, 20, has signed with the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits. Wyton, from Lethbridge, played the last three seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Last season, in 35 games, he had 10 points. He spent some time on the shelf with a brain injury. In fact, he played on three games between Nov. 11 and Feb. 22 with what is believed to have been a brain injury. . . . In 173 regular-season games, he had 40 points, including 12 goals.
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Billy Moores, one of the really good guys in the game of hockey, is back with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, this time as the director of coaching development and special projects. . . . Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal has more right here.
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Brian Cobb has been hired by the Spokane Chiefs as director of public/media relations. Cobb worked as an intern in public relations and marketing with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2011-12. With the Chiefs, he takes over from Jay Stewart, who had held that position since 2000 and now is vice-president of sponsorships.
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One of these days, perhaps Friday, Major League Baseball will hand out some more suspensions in the Biogenesis doping scandal. But what about other sports? Should they be concerned? . . . Allen Barra of The Atlantic points out right here that there is a whole lot more to this story than baseball, but some other sports don’t seem to care.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The junior B Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League have hired James Eccles as their new general manager and head coach. For the past two seasons, Eccles has been head coach of the major midget Okanagan Rockets, who play out of Kelowna. He replaces Kevin Kraus, who now is an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks.
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From Lukas Walter (@Lukaswalter9): “Well off to @pdxwinterhawks camp in August couldn’t be more excited and would like to thank the @TCAmericans and hope to see everyone in exys”
Walter, a 20-year-old forward, had three points in 68 games with the Americans last season. The Winterhawkshave two other 20-year-olds on their roster — F Shane McColgan and D Garrett Haar.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
The Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL) announced that they won’t offer contracts for next season to seven players, including F Tyler Beechey (Kootenay, Calgary, 1997-2002). He had 14 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with the Tigers this season. . . .


The Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL) announced that they won’t offer contracts for next season to five players, including G Scott Langkow (Portland, 1991-95. Langkow had a 2.60 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 48 games this season. . . .


F Dustin Johner (Seattle, 1999-2004) signed a one-year contract extension with Djurgården Stockholm (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had 19 goals and 16 assists in 45 games this season. Johner led the team in goals and was third in points. . . .


Brothers F Brad (Red Deer, 1994-99) and Greg (Spokane, 1994-98) Leeb announced their retirement per the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite) website. Brad had 24 goals and 26 assists in 57 games, while older brother Greg had 17 goals and 39 assists in 59 games this season. Blaze head coach Paul Thompson, after Coventry had beaten the Cardiff Devils 11-5 on April 8 in the UK Elite bronze medal game to end the season: “They told me before the game they were going to retire – what careers they have had. They came here and never once took a day off, they have been the hardest workers in practice and they are a credit to themselves, their families and our club. They didn’t come just to finish their careers in Coventry, they wanted it more than anybody. Full respect to them both and they are quite proud to have finished in a Coventry Blaze jersey." . . . Brad Leeb tweeted after the game: “Huge thanks to @thommoblaze for putting Greg & I on ice for last shift of our last game. Then presenting us with official game sheet. #Class”
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If you are a regular visitor here and if you peruse the messages that are sometimes left here, you will be aware that there is an anonymous fool out there who loves to troll in these parts.
Sometime Thursday, the troll left this message:
“How mad were you last nite when Kessy deflected that home? Blazers win again.”
The day is coming when this blog will fade to darkness and one of the reasons will be the idiots among us who hide behind the cloak of anonymity that is provided by the Internet. But I feel this latest comment warrants a response, simply because it provides me with an opportunity to provide some insight into how good journalists operate.
First, allow me to say that I was thrilled when Kale Kessy scored in overtime on Wednesday night. Just like I was really upset when the Kelowna Rockets scored two third-period goals to force overtime.
And I have a feeling that if you ask Earl Seitz of CFJC-TV in Kamloops how he felt, he will echo my reactions.
You see, in my business, it’s all about deadlines.
The newspaper at which I work publishes six days a week. The deadline on five of those nights is 11 o’clock. On Wednesday nights, that deadline is 10 o’clock. The deadline doesn’t mean my story has to be in by that time; it means the last page has to be out of the editorial department and to the prepress department by that particular time. Miss a deadline and you mess with a whole lot of schedules, from the prepress department to the pressroom to the distribution people. Miss a deadline often enough and you will be working somewhere that doesn’t have them.
On Wednesday nights, I want my story in by 9:40 p.m. . . . 9:45 at the very latest.
On Wednesday night, then, the Blazers finished the second period with a 3-1 lead. Things were looking good. (By the way, I would have felt the same way had the Rockets been leading 3-1.)
So after the second period I put together the foundation of a game story that had the Blazers winning in regulation time. Things looked even better when two of Kelowna’s top forwards, Tyson Baillie and Myles Bell, took penalties early in the third period. Baillie drew a minor; Bell ended up with a misconduct. I continued to tap away at that ‘Kamloops wins’ lead while those two took seats in the penalty box.
Of course, the Rockets then got goals from J.T. Barnett and Cole Linaker.
Linaker’s goal, at 9:24 of the third period, forged a 3-3 tie and brought an identical reaction from the media types in the press box: “We do not want overtime.”
But overtime it would be.
In the playoffs, there is a 15-minute break between the third period and the start of overtime. I used the time to quickly bang out a second game story, this one written as though Kelowna had won the game.
So . . . as the overtime started, I had two game stories on the go on my laptop.
The key now was to have the game end early in the extra period.
Because had the game not ended until 10 or later, not even the final score would have gotten into our paper.
Before leaving for the arena, Mark Hunter, my partner in the sports department here, and I chatted about Plan B. That would be implemented if the game ran past 10 p.m. Had that happened, readers of Thursday’s Daily News would have found one photo from the Blazers game, indicating that it still was in progress at press time. Instead of a game story, readers would have been treated to a Canadian Press story about the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As you are aware, Kessy ended the game at 2:24 of OT.
The important time, however, was 9:47 p.m. That was the time the game ended. That meant I had time to get a story into the office.
I quickly wrote a lead for The Canadian Press and filed it and the game summary, which also was sent to members of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers Association.
I then deleted the game story I had started that had Kelowna winning.
I fine-tuned the ‘Kamloops wins’ story and emailed it to The Daily News.
Of course, the story didn’t contain any quotes or reaction of any kind. That simply isn’t possible with deadlines that tight. So after filing I journeyed to the dressing room areas and got enough reaction to write two stories for Friday’s newspaper, stories that you are able to find on this blog today. (If you want to be a journalist, it might be worth knowing that those stories were written at home on a day off. In this business, at least when you work for a smaller newspaper, a day off often means only that you won’t be in the office.)
So, to answer the troll’s question, I wasn’t mad when Kessy scored; rather, I was ecstatic. As I would have been had Madison Bowey scored for the Rockets in OT.
You have to understand that real journalists aren’t cheerleaders. It doesn’t matter to us who wins or who loses. Rather, it’s all about the story. All we want to do is report the story. And if an overtime goal allows us to do that and beat a deadline, hey, we’re happy.
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The Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care is well into some brain-related research that involves a number of men, including about 25 retired NHL players. The first results should be made available in a few months, but the research is going to continue for years. . . . Rachel Brady of The Globe and Mail has the story right here.
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Well, folks, that’s it! The WHL is done for a week.
The Calgary Hitmen eliminated the Red Deer Rebels last night in a series that took five games. The second round of WHL playoffs featured four series — three ended in sweeps and the other in five games. And, sheesh, but it was ugly, as the winning teams held a 70-16 edge in goals scored.
So all will be quiet for a few days.
The Hitmen will open the Eastern Conference final in Edmonton with games against the Oil Kings on Thursday and April 19.
The Western Conference final begins with games April 19 and 20 in Portland with the Winterhawks meeting the Kamloops Blazers.
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The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
SECOND ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
(Edmonton wins, 4-0)
Calgary (3) vs. Red Deer (4)
(Calgary wins, 4-1)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
SECOND ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Spokane (4)
(Portland wins, 4-0)
Kelowna (2) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Kamloops wins, 4-0)
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THURSDAY’S GAME:
In Calgary, the Hitmen limited the Red Deer Rebels to 17 shots and posted a 5-1 victory. . . . Calgary F Zane Jones broke a 1-1 tie at 10:37 of the first period. . . . The Hitmen nursed a 3-1 lead into the third period when they scored two shorthanded empty-netters, at 17:58 and 18:40. . . . Red Deer G Patrik Bartosak stopped 29 shots, 13 more than Calgary’s Chris Driedger.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (16):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (5):
None
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From Spokane Chiefs D Brenden Kichton (@B_Kichton8): “Can't believe my junior career is over....it feels like yesterday I was headed to Spokane as a 16 year old...ready for the next chapter tho!”
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From Regan Bartel (@Reganrant), the radio voice of the Kelowna Rockets: “Officiating so good in 1st rd and so bad in 2nd. Like Seinfeld episode where Jerry dates good looking girl only to realize she has man hands”
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From Spokane Chiefs F Liam Stewart (@LiamStewart11): “That awkward moment when your in 5guys burgers n fries with @rachelhunterx and @rodstewart comes on… #HeyDad”
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From Rachel Hunter (@rachelhunterx): “@LiamStewart11 @rodstewart ‘Stay With Me’ was my #favourite song of your dads”

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Sunday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Tyler Beechey (Kootenay, Calgary, 1997-2002) and D Jason Holland (Kamloops, 1992-96) signed one-year contract extensions with DEG Metro Stars Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL). Beechey had 20 goals and 26 assists in 51 games and Holland had eight goals and 19 assists in 51 games this season for the Metro Stars.
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G Deven Dubyk of the Medicine Hat Tigers and G Mark Segal of the Vancouver Giants posted shutouts on Sunday, the final day of the WHL’s regular season.
That brought to 88 the number of blank jobs in the league this season, which equals last season’s total.
The WHL single-season record is 141 (2004-05), followed by 120 (2006-07). The last two seasons are the sixth-highest totals in WHL history.
Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels led the WHL (and the CHL) with 13 shutouts, tying the WHL single-season record. He now shares it with Bryan Bridges (Seattle, 2004-05) and Kelly Guard (Kelowna (2003-04).
The Spokane Chiefs put up eight shutouts, second to Red Deer, with James Reid and Mac Engel each earning four.
The Swift Current Broncos, Prince George Cougars and Vancouver each put up six.
On the other side of the coin, the Everett Silvertips were blanked 10 times, while the Calgary Hitmen and Swift Current each was shut out nine times.
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JUST NOTES: F Garrett Mitchell of the Regina Pats will finish the season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, as he did a year ago. Mitchell signed a contract with the parent Washington Capitals on Saturday. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2009 NHL draft. . . . Two OHL general managers lost their jobs Sunday, the final day of the season. The Sarnia Sting fired Dave MacQueen, while the Soo Greyhounds did the same with Dave Torrie. Neither team qualified for the playoffs.
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THE MATCHUPS:
Eastern Conference:
Saskatoon (1) vs. Prince Albert (8)
Red Deer (2) vs. Edmonton (7)
Medicine Hat (3) vs. Brandon (6)
Kootenay (4) vs. Moose Jaw (5)
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Western Conference:
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kelowna (2) vs. Prince George (7)
Spokane (3) vs. Chilliwack (6)
Tri-City (4) vs. Vancouver (5)
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In Calgary, G Deven Dubyk stopped 40 shots for his second straight shutout as the Medicine Hat Tigers dumped the Hitmen, 2-0. . . . Dubyk earned his first career shutout Saturday in a 1-0 victory over the visiting Hitmen. . . . The victory allowed the Tigers to finish with 100 points. . . . F Emerson Etem scored both goals in Sunday’s game, giving him 45. . . . F Linden Vey had one assist, giving him 116 points. That assist made all the difference because he won the WHL scoring title by one point over Spokane F Tyler Johnson. . . . The Tigers haven’t had a scoring champion since Tom Lysiak (154 points, 1972-73). . . . Johnson had a goal, his WHL-leading 53^rd, and an assist in a 6-3 victory in Portland. . . .
In Vancouver, G Mark Segal stopped 28 shots as the Giants beat the Everett Silvertips, 5-0. . . . Segal put up six shutouts this season. . . . F Spencer Bennett scored twice, giving him 37 goals, and added an assist. . . . Everett was blanked 3-0 by G Lucas Gore and the host Chilliwack Bruins on Saturday night. . . . The Silvertips haven’t scored in more than 142 minutes. They have been shut out a WHL-high 10 times this season. . . . The victory allowed the Giants to move past the idle Chilliwack Bruins and into fifth place in the Western Conference. That puts Vancouver up against the Tri-City Americans in the first round. The Bruins will meet the Spokane Chiefs. . . .
In Kent, Wash., F Kruise Reddick scored his 20^th goal of the season at 2:39 of OT to give the Tri-City Americans a 4-3 victory over the host Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The loser point lifted the Thunderbirds into a ninth-place tie with the Kamloops Blazers. . . . The Americans, who have won three in a row, went 9-0-0 against Seattle this season. . . .
In Portland, the Spokane Chiefs scored the game’s last five goals and beat the Winterhawks, 6-3. . . . The Chiefs rested D Jared Cowen, their captain, and had the C on the chest of F Darren Kramer. . . . F Connor Chartier, a second-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft, scored his first goal for the Chiefs. . . . F Ryan Johansen scored the game’s first two goals for Portland, giving him 40 on the season. . . . The Chiefs draw the Chilliwack Bruins in the first round. The Chiefs have home-ice advantage by virtue of being the No. 3 seed, but their building isn’t available so the series will open in Chilliwack on Friday.
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SUNDAY’S CFB COUNT:
One minor:
Everett D Rasmus Rissanen