THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Sergei Klimentyev (Medicine Hat, 1993-95) announced his retirement in an interview session with local journalists. He had one goal and three assists in 25 games with Berkut Kyiv (Ukraine, PHL) this season. In the interview, Klimentyev noted that the Berkut players have not been paid their salaries for the last four months. . . .

F Robin Figren (Calgary, Edmonton, 2006-08) signed a two-year contract with Frölunda Gothenburg (Sweden, Elitserien). Figren had nine goals and four assists in 55 games with Linköping (Sweden, Elitserien) this season but stepped up the pace with four goals and three assists in 10 playoff games. Linköping announced earlier this week that they would not offer a contract for next season to Figren. . . .

Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL) announced they would not offer contracts for next season to five players, including F Yannic Seidenberg (Medicine Hat, 2003-04). He had seven goals and 18 assists in 50 games with Adler this season.
———

To the person who sent a note about the troll: “I have had the exact same thought, and on more than one occasion.”
———
This has nothing to do with hockey, but is an amazing story.
Let’s say that you have been in something of a coma for five years. When you wake up, what are your first words? In the case of Evie Branan, it was: “I want to go to a Bob Seger concert.” . . . Branan, now 79, is going to see that concert next month. . . . Sarah Schuch of the Flint Journal has that story right here.
———



Apologies to F Victor Rask of the Calgary Hitmen. I have been writing that F JC Lipon of the Kamloops Blazes is the only WHL player with at least a point in each of his team’s playoff games this spring. (It is spring, isn’t it?) . . . It turns out that Rask, a 19-year-old from Sweden, has at least a point in each of the Calgary’s 10 games. Rask has put up 13 points, four of them goals, in 10 games. . . .
The Kelowna Rockets announced yesterday that Jeff Thorburn, their veteran athletic therapist, is leaving the organization. He is moving over to UBC-Okanagan, which also in Kelowna. . . .
D Damon Severson of the Kelowna Rockets will finish up his season with the Albany River Rats, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Severson was a second-round selection by the Devils in the NHL’s 2012 draft.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Former NHLer Bob Corkum has been named the interim head coach of the U of Maine Black Bears. He takes over, at least for now, from Tim Whitehead, who was fired this week. . . . Corkum has been the Black Bears’ associate head coach since 2008. . . .

John Olver, a veteran of the coaching game, has been named the general manager of the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors. . . . For the last three seasons, Olver, 54, has worked as the GM/head coach of the Idaho Jr. Steelheads, a junior A team that plays in the Western States Hockey League. . . . Olver, 54, will have to hire a head coach to replace Matt O’Dette, who won’t be back. . . . Olver spent one season (1988-89) as head coach of the Tri-City Americans. They went 33-34-5 in what was their first season playing out of Kennewick, Wash.
———

When the WHL’s conference finals begin next week, Shaw TV will be showing the series between the Edmonton Oil Kings and Calgary Hitmen. That series begins with games in Edmonton on Thursday and Friday. . . . The other final features the Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers. The first two games are in Portland on Friday and Saturday, April 20.
———

The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Calgary (3)
Series opens Thursday in Edmonton.
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Kamloops (3)
Series opens Friday in Portland.
———
FRIDAY’S GAMES:
No games scheduled.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (16):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (5):
None


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.

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

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

G Brett Jaeger (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Saskatoon, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract extension with Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had a 2.55 GAA in 35 games with the Pinguins this season.
———
Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail takes a look right here at hockey’s aversion to the ‘C’ word. Oh boy, does hockey need to get over this and figure out where it’s going. Because this really is getting embarrassing.
———
True North Sports and Entertainment kicked the tires of the Kootenay Ice earlier this season.
And now the owners of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets are asking current and former MTS Centre and Winnipeg Jets customers for their thoughts on the value of bringing a WHL franchise for the Manitoba capital.
TNSE started conducting the survey on Friday and will continue through Tuesday. TNSE will be sending emails to the chosen few and asking them to participate.
Winnipeg has a spotty history, at best, with WHL franchises. The Winnipeg Warriors played out of the Winnipeg Arena from 1980-84 before relocating to Moose Jaw.
The Winnipeg Jr. Jets (1967-73) morphed into the Winnipeg Clubs/Monarchs, who became the Calgary Wranglers and now are the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
And if you’re wondering how much a relocation might cost TNSE, the buzz is that an established WHL franchise might carry a price tag as high as $9 million.
And, yes, Nanaimo remains in the picture. As has been mentioned many times before now, the minute Nanaimo has an arena that meets WHL requirements, the Vancouver Island city will have a WHL franchise.
———





D Richard Nedomlel of the Swift Current Broncos has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. From the Czech Republic, Nedomlel was a sxith-round selection in the NHL’s 2011 draft. He has played the last three seasons with the Broncos.
———

The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
SECOND ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
(Edmonton leads, 1-0; Game 2, Sunday, in Edmonton)
Calgary (3) vs. Red Deer (4)
(Calgary leads, 2-0; Game 3, Monday, in Red Deer)
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
SECOND ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Spokane (4)
(Portland leads 1-0; Game 2, tonight, in Portland, Rose Garden)
Kelowna (2) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Game 1, tonight, in Kelowna)
———
FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, F Edgars Kulda had a goal and two assists as the Oil Kings dumped the Medicine Hat Tigers, 4-1. . . . When Kulda opened the scoring at 15:53 of the first period it marked the first time in these playoffs that the Tigers had trailed. They never once were behind in sweeping the Saskatoon Blades from the first round. . . . Kulda, a 17-year-old from Riga, Latvia, had a goal and two assists in five playoff games going into this one. . . . Rogan Dean, the Oil Kings’ head equipment manager, suffered a fractured elbow during what Chris O’Leary of the Edmonton Journal refers to as a “pre-game ritual with head athletic therapist Brian Cheeseman.” . . . O’Leary’s story is right here.

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

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

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (5):
D Cole Wedman, Spokane
———






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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

———






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

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.

Ahh, let the speculation begin.
Jim Toth of Winnipeg radio station CJOB reported Sunday via Twitter that True North Sports and Entertainment, the owners of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, “recently met with a #WHL franchise about purchasing the team & bringing it to #Winnipeg.”
The second half of Toth’s tweet read: “#TNSE deal for #WHL franchise did not work out, they are not currently searching for a team. Door is left open for the future.”
Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press reported: “True North spokesman Scott Brown would not discuss the matter, saying only the organization would not be addressing the report.”
Lawless also quoted Kelly McCrimmon, the owner and general manager of the Brandon Wheat Kings: “Certainly Winnipeg could be on the radar at some point given that the model has worked well in Calgary and Edmonton. It did not however come up at our recent board of governor meetings."
The WHL’s board of governors met in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 and 12.
———
The Tri-City Herald’s Best of the West poll results are right here. The most interesting part of it? A quarter of the participants left blank the part asking for the name of the WHL’s top referee.
———
The matchups, if the WHL playoffs opened today:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton vs. Lethbridge
Saskatoon vs. Swift Current
Calgary vs. Medicine Hat
Prince Albert vs Red Deer

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland vs. Everett
Kelowna vs. Seattle
Kamloops vs. Victoria
Spokane vs. Tri-City
———
SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, F Michael St. Croix scored twice and added an assist as the Oil Kings dropped the Victoria Royals, 5-2. . . . The Oil Kings surrendered the game’s first two goals. . . . The Royals now have lost four in a row. . . . St. Croix, who has 30 goals, now has 299 career regular-season points in 267 games. . . . F Curtis Lazar also got his 30th goal for the Oil Kings. . . . F Brandon Magee, who is from Edmonton, drew two assists for Victoria, while F Steven Hodges had a goal, his 25th, and an assist. . . . G Michael Herringer made his WHL debut with the Royals, replacing Coleman Vollrath after Edmonton’s fifth goal. Herringer was brought in from the junior B Victoria Cougars to back up Vollrath after starter Patrick Polivka was injured in Red Deer on Friday. . . . Herringer faced just one shot in 13 minutes. . . .

In Calgary, F Victor Rask drew three assists as the Hitmen dumped the Regina Pats, 5-2. . . . Calgary F Zane Jones scoerd twice, giving him 20. He hadn’t scored in his previous nine games. . . . Calgary F Brady Brassart scored his 25th goal in his 53rd game. The 19-year-old from Vernon, B.C., had 25 goals in 70 games last season. . . . Calgary F Colten Mayor, who hadn’t scored in 14 games since being acquired from Regina on Jan. 10, finally broke the ice with his 13th goal of the season. . . . The Hitmen have won seven in a row on home ice. . . . F Morgan Klimchuk and F Lane Scheidl each scored his 30th goal for Regina. . . .

In Kent, Wash., F Luke Lockhart scored a shorthanded goal at 1:56 of OT to give the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent) a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . Lockhart has 17 goals. . . . F Alex Delnov, with his 19th, gave Seattle a 1-0 lead on the PP at 4:32 of the second period. . . . F Brendan Rouse tied it at 19:11, with his 11th. Rouse, 20, was waived by Seattle on Jan. 10 and picked up by Vancouver. . . . The Giants needed extra time for a third straight game — they won one of those, beating host Seattle 3-2 on Friday. . . . Seattle now has sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Everett Silvertips.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From former Tri-City Americans F Patrick Holland (@PattyShwayz): “Every so often you get a fortunate combination of bread and cheese to create the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Today I have been blessed.”
Holland, 20, has 14 points in 47 games as a freshman professional with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.


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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Pavel Kubina (Moose Jaw, 1996-97) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Genève-Servette (Switzerland, NL A). He had three goals and 12 assists in 69 games with Tampa Bay and Philadelphia last season. Switzerland has a transfer deadline of Feb. 15. Kubina is represented by former Tri-City F Vladimir Vujtek Jr. . . .

F Garrett Festerling (Portland, Regina, 2003-07) signed a one-year contract extension with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL). He has 12 goals and 21 assists in 43 games for the Freezers this season. Festerling also has made five appearances with the German National Team this season, getting one goal and one assist. Festerling was under contract with Hamburg through the 2013-14 season, so this extension keeps him under contract through the 2014-15 season.
———
From the Brandon Sun: “Brandon native and WHL official Matt Kirk has been chosen as a referee for the IIHF men’s world championship, May 3-19 in Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland.”
———
For an interesting and, I would suggest, accurate look at a ranking of CHL teams, check out this right here. It’s done by Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports.
———
The B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2013 on Tuesday. It includes the 1993-94 and 1994-95 Kamloops Blazers, both of which won the Memorial Cup, and former Blazers F Mark Recchi.
Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun has more right here.
———
A couple of interesting items from the Kootenay Ice’s weekly news update. . . . Ryan McGill became the second head coach in franchise history to win 200 regular-season games. He got there with a 4-0 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday. . . . The other Ice head coach with 200 victories? Cory Clouston, with 209. . . . Ice G Mackenzie Skapski has stopped 24 out of 25 shootout attempts this season.
———
The matchups if the WHL playoffs opened today:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton vs. Lethbridge
Saskatoon vs. Medicine Hat
Calgary vs. Swift Current
Prince Albert vs Red Deer

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland vs. Seattle
Kelowna vs. Everett
Kamloops vs. Tri-City
Victoria vs. Spokane
———
TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, D Morgan Rielly and F Justin Kirsch each scored twice as the Warriors dumped the Prince Albert Raiders, 4-1. . . . Moose Jaw G Justin Paulic stopped 29 shots. . . . Rielly has nine goals. . . . Kirsch got his 20th of the season into an empty net. . . . Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald reports: “The Warriors were without defenceman Kirk Johnson who has returned home to tend to a personal matter. Fellow defenceman Spencer Morse was out of the lineup due to a coach’s decision.” . . . The Warriors continue to be without G Daniel Wapple (concussion) and have Zachary Sawchenko, who turned 15 on Dec. 30, backing up Paulic. . . . The Warriors are 12 points out of a playoff spot with 15 games to play. . . . The Raiders have lost two straight. East Division leaders for most of this season — that’s worth the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference — the Raiders now are fourth in the conference, and they’re just three points ahead of the fifth-place Red Deer Rebels. . . .

In Regina, F Jacob Doty broke a 3-3 tie at 7:50 of the third period and the Medicine Hat Tigers beat the Pats, 4-3. . . . Tigers F Hunter Shinkaruk, in his first game after missing three with a knee injury, had a goal and an assist. . . . Doty’s goal was his 11th; Shinkaruk has 31. . . . The Pats erased a 3-1 third-period deficit on goals by F Marc McCoy at 4:16 and F Morgan Klimchuk, his 28th, just 40 seconds later. . . . Regina, with 15 games remaining, now trails the Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes by 13 points. The Tigers and Hurricanes hold down the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot. . . .

In Saskatoon, the Blades ran their winning streak to nine games with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Blazers F Josh Nicholls forced OT with a goal, his 36th, with 28.8 seconds left in the third period and then got the winner in the circus. . . . The victory lifted the once-struggling Blades into a tie with Prince Albert atop the East Division standings. The Blades hold a game in hand. . . . One supposes there is no more Internet ramblings about yanking the Blades out as the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup. . . . F Graham Black had two goals and two assists for the Broncos. . . . Swift Current F Colby Cave gave his guys a 4-3 lead with his 15th goal, shorthanded, at 11:49 of the third. . . . The Broncos erased a 3-1 deficit on goals by F Chance Lund, Black and Cave. . . . Saskatoon F Matej Stransky got his 30th goal and ran his point streak to nine games. . . . Saskatoon F Michael Ferland also has a nine-game streak going. He had an asist last night. . . . Nicholls was the only one of six shooters to score in the shootout. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Victor Rask scored three times as the Calgary Hitmen dumped the Tri-City Americans, 6-2. . . . Rask has 10 goals. . . . The Hitmen scored the game’s first four goals. . . . F Brooks Macek had a goal, his 27th, and two assists for Calgary. . . . Calgary scored four goals on eight shots in the second period. . . . Tri-City starter Luke Lee-Knight gave way to Troy Trombley in the second period. Trombley made his second appearance since joining the team after Eric Comrie (hip) was shut down in mid-January. . . . Tri-City has lost three in a row. . . . The Hitmen are 4-0 on a five-game U.S. Division swing that ends tonight in Spokane. . . . Calgary has played its last eight games on the road, going 5-3-0. It returns home Saturday against Victoria.
———
CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Evan Morden, Prince Albert
F Braden Christoffer, Regina
F Elgin Pearce, Medicine Hat

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
———






From former Red Deer Rebels G Darcy Kuemper (@dkuemps35): “Thank you so much everyone for all the support! What an experience that was tonight, wish we could have pulled out the win tho. #whatarush”
The Minnesota Wild recalled Kuemper, 22, from the AHL’s Houston Aeros and he made his NHL debut last night, going the distance with 28 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Canucks in Vancouver.

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.