Kootenay cracks the Ice in Calgary

A number of the signed banners and photos that were sent to Tim Bozon at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon are adorning walls there. Helene Bozon, Tim’s mother, tweeted the above photos on Thursday. They are from the Edmonton Oil Kings (top), Kamloops Blazers (middle) and Moose Jaw Warriors.
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A trust fund has been established to assist the Bozon family with medical- and rehabilitation-related costs that they face because of Tim’s battle with meningitis.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9
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The WHL may be coming to Dauphin, Man. Should the first-round series between the Regina Pats and Brandon Wheat Kings get to a Game 6, it would be played in Dauphin’s Credit Union Place on March 31, 7:30 p.m. . . . Brandon’s usual home arena, Westman Communications Group Place, will be occupied by the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair from March 31 through April 5. . . . The arena in Dauphin, which opened on April 7, 2006, is home to the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings. It has 1,763 seats and room for 752 standees. . . . Three players on Brandon’s roster grew up in that area of Manitoba. D Ryan Pulock is from Grandview, while F Jayce Hawryluk and D Rene Hunter are from Roblin. . . .
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The WHL announced its all-star teams and some of its award winners. A complete list is available right here.
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The WHL has updated its bantam draft lottery coverage to include a look at the first two rounds that points out selections that have been traded. . . . You will find that right here.
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The Vancouver Giants may not have freshman F Ty Ronning available for Game 1 of their first-round series with the Portland Winterhawks. Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province tweeted Thursday morning that Ronning was ill and not at practice. “Doubtful for Game 1 in Portland,” Ewen reported. . . . Game 1 is scheduled for tonight in Portland.
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The Kelowna Rockets expect to have F Tyson Baillie in their lineup Saturday when the open a first-round series against the visiting Tri-City Americans. Baillie hasn’t played since Feb. 10 when he suffered a leg injury. Baillie, who put up 55 points in 56 games, returned to full-contact practice this week.
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The immediate future of the remaining members of the Saskatoon Blades’ coaching staff could be decided today as majority owner Mike Priestner is to meet with head coach Dave Struch. Struch just completed his first season as head coach, with the franchise undergoing an ownership change in mid-stream. . . . Goaltending coach Tim Cheveldae has told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that he will join the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers if the Blades don’t have him back. . . . There’s more on that story right here.
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WHL commissioner Ron Robison was in Kelowna on Thursday to attend a pre-playoff news conference. Later in the day, Regan Bartel, the radio voice of the Kelowna Rockets, tweeted: “Had good talk with WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. Biggest take away from interview was league seriously looking at reducing number of games.”
Each of the WHL’s 22 teams plays 72 regular-season games; in the 20-team OHL and 18-team QMJHL, they play 68-game schedules.
Bartel also tweeted: “Belief is owners will lose revenue, but attendance per game may actually go up. When Kelowna plays PG 3 straight times, fans lose interest.”
It seems that reducing the number of games in the regular-season schedule has been discussed but, as one owner put it last night, “not seriously this time yet.”
The owner also said reducing the schedule was “looked at a few years ago. There wasn’t the support (then), don’t think there is at this time, either.”
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THURSDAY’S GAME:
In Calgary, F Sam Reinhart scored two goals and set up another and F Zach Franko had two goals as the Kootenay Ice dumped the Hitmen, 5-2. . . . The Ice was 3-for-7 on the PP; the Hitmen were 0-for-1. . . . F Greg Chase of the Hitmen scored the game’s first goal, at 4:06 of the first period. . . . The Ice scored the game’s next four goals. . . . Reinhart tied it at 10:28 of the first, on the PP. . . . F Luke Philp, on another PP, gave the Ice its first lead at 4:52 of the second and Franko upped the lead to 3-1 at 17:01. . . . Reinhart gave his guys a 4-1 lead at 8:31 of the third and Franko added his second of the game, on a PP, at 16:17. . . . . F Brady Brassart had Calgary’s other goal, a shorthanded effort at 19:00 of the third. . . . Ice G Mackenzie Skapski stopped 27 shots, two fewer than Calgary G Chris Driedger. . . . In seven regular-season games against the Hitmen, Reinhart had 17 points, including 14 assists. . . . The Hitmen went into the game having won their last four games, while the Ice had lost four in a row. . . . Calgary F Radel Fazleev returned to the lineup after being out since Jan. 2. He missed 34 games. . . . Calgary F Linden Penner was ejected with a cross-checking major at 16:49 of the third period after his stick came into contact with the face of Ice F Zach McPhee. McPhee left and didn’t return. . . . The Ice played a lot of the game with only four defencemen. Already without the injured Tanner Faith and Landon Cross, the Ice lost Tyler King at 5:12 of the first period after he was checked by Calgary F Brady Brassart, who was given a boarding minor. . . . Ice D Landon Peel, who hasn’t played since March 8, was dressed but saw limited, if any, playing time. That left Kootenay with Troy Murray, Jordan Steenbergen, Jagger Dirk and Rinat Valiev to eat up the minutes. . . . Ice F Jaedon Descheneau was awarded a penalty shot at 15:06 of the second period with his side up 2-1. He went forehand, backhand, forehand and was beaten by Driedger’s left toe. . . . According to Jeff Hollick, the radio voice of the Ice, this was the first playoff penalty shot in franchise history. This was playoff game No. 152.
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THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.
Saturday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Tuesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite.
Prince Albert: D Graeme Craig, indefinite.
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REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.
Saturday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Sunday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Regina at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 28: Regina at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Regina vs. Brandon, site TBA, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Brandon: None.
Regina: D Kyle Burroughs, day-to-day; D Tye Hand, indefinite; G Daniel Wapple, indefinite; D Colby Williams, day-to-day; F Dyson Stevenson, day-to-day.
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CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Kootenay leads, 1-0)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.
Thursday: Kootenay 5 at Calgary 2 (6,649)
Saturday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Monday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Thursday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Calgary: F Cal Babych, day-to-day; F Connor Rankin, day-to-day.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Landon Cross, 1 week; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.
Friday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Swift Current: None.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

 KELOWNA (1) vs. TRI-CITY (8)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Regina, 0-3-1.
Saturday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 5:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday, March 28: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Tyson Baillie, day-to-day; D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Tri-City: F Phil Tot, day-to-day; F Taylor Vickerman, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.
Friday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, March 28: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Portland at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: F Adam de Champlain, day-to-day.
Vancouver: F Tyler Benson, indefinite; G Jared Rathjen, day-to-day; F Jakob Stukel, indefinite; D Dalton Thrower, indefinite; F Cain Franson, day-to-day; F Ty Ronning, day-to-day.
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VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.
Saturday: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: Spokane at Victoria, 5:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 30: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
INJURIES
Victoria: None.
Spokane: F Jacob Cardiff, day-to-day; D Colton Bobyk, week-to-week; F Adam Hascic, day-to-day; F Blair Oneschuk, week-to-week.
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SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: Seattle at Everett, 4:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 28: Seattle at Everett, 7:35 p.m.
x-Saturday, March 29: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
Everett: F Kohl Baum, indefinite.
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From Helene Barbier Bozon (@HeleneBozon), Tim Bozon’s mother: “Thank you all the @TheWHL @WHLFacts teams for sending amazing banners to decorate @timbozon94 bedroom. Big support,thankful hockey family.”
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From F Jake Doty (@dotes_28) of the Medicine Hat Tigers: “Great news hearing @timbozon94 is awake, moving and out of the icu. #keepfighting”
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From Regan Bartel (@Reganrant), the radio voice of the Kelowna Rockets: “Liked @TCAmericans GM Bob Tory's comment. ‘Make no mistakes this is David vs. Goliath. We are looking for 20 sling shots.’ ”
The Americans are in Kelowna to open a first-round series on Saturday.


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Ice has line for Blades

F Cameron Hughes of Edmonton, who was selected by the Swift Current Broncos in the ninth round of the 2011 bantam draft, has made a verbal commitment to attend the U of Wisconsin and play for the Badgers. It hasn’t yet been decided whether he will make the jump next season or in 2015-16. . . . Andy Johnson of buckys5thquarter.com writes: “Hughes was widely regarded as the top uncommitted forward in Western Canada. Early reports consider the elite-skating center a potential top-two round draft pick for the 2015 NHL draft.” . . . Hughes has 44 points, 17 of them goals, in 44 games with the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints.
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“Using advanced imaging techniques,” writes Sheryl Ubelacker of The Canadian Press, “researchers have detected microstructural brain damage in male and female varsity hockey players who sustained a concussion — changes that aren't apparent with standard hospital-based MRI scans.” . . . It’s one more step in the process as doctors move towards a better understanding of brain injuries. . . . Her complete story is right here.
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The Kamloops Blazers apparently have decided to shut down F Tyson Ness and allow him to go home to Grande Prairie, Alta., to recover from a broken jaw suffered last month. . . . Jon Keen, the radio voice of the Blazers, tweeted this on Tuesday: “Despite a report injured Blazer F Tyson Ness would try and come back to play final wknd of the season, the decision has been made for Tyson to return home to Grande Prairie to recover from a broken jaw, ending his WHL career.” . . . The day after Ness was hurt, I reported that he had told people within the Blazers organization that he badly wanted to return to play one last game in order to end his career on his terms. That apparently won’t happen.
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The SPHL’s Fayetteville FireAntz have named Emery Olauson as their head coach. Olauson, 32, is from Canmore, Alta., and played two seasons with the FireAntz. He replaces Greg McAuley, who resigned late last month in order to spend more time with his ailing mother. . . . Assistant coach Sean Edwards ran the bench for the last three games and will stay on under Olauson, who had been working as an assistant coach with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers.
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WEDNESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Medicine Hat at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Saskatoon at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Seattle at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
F Curtis Valk had a goal and two assists to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 4-1 victory over the host Regina Pats. . . . Valk, who has 29 goals, ran his point streak to 11 games. . . . Medicine Hat G Marek Langhamer stopped 41 shots. . . . Regina’s lone goal came from F Chandler Stephenson, his 25th, on a second-period penalty shot. . . . The Tigers (30-19-3) are fourth in the Eastern Conference and visit the Eastern Division-leading Brandon Wheat Kings (27-19-6) tonight. . . . The Pats (27-22-5) are seventh. . . .

In Prince Albert, the Raiders scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Swift Current Broncos, 5-2. . . . Raiders F Leon Draisaitl scored three times and added an assist, completing his first WHL hat trick into an empty net at 19:52 of the third period. He’s got 22 goals. . . . Draisaitl, a sophomore from Cologne, Germany, has 64 points in 44 games. Last season, he finished with 58 points, including 21 goals, in 64 games. . . . F Coda Gordon scored his 20th goal for the Broncos. . . . Prince Albert D Josh Morrissey drew three assists, giving him 48 points in 39 games. Last season, as a sophomore, he finished with 47 points in 70 games. Morrissey has a career-high 17 goals and his 31 assists are one shy of last season‘s career high. . . . F Collin Valcourt added a goal, his 17th, and two assists for the Raiders. . . . The start of the game was delayed after the Broncos encountered some minor bus problems en route. . . . Referees Jon Stephenson and Colin Watt called only two minor penalties, both to the Broncos. . . . Raiders G Cole Cheveldave stopped 34 shots. . . . The Raiders (24-25-3) are seven points out of a playoff spot. . . . The Broncos (26-20-8) are tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference but have lost two in a row and are 3-5-2 in their last 10. . . .

In Cranbrook, the Saskatoon Blades couldn’t handle Kootenay’s big line as the Ice skated to a 6-3 victory. . . . Jaedon Descheneau, Sam Reinhart and Zach Franko combined for 16 points as they scored all five Ice goals. . . . Descheneau had his third WHL three-goal game -- he’s got 34 goals -- and added three assists. . . . Franko scored twice, giving him 17 goals, and added three assists. . . . Reinhart picked up his 25th goal and drew four assists as he ran his point streak to 11 games. . . . Descheneau has 71 points in 51 games; Reinhart has 70 points in 41 games; Franko has 12 points in nine games since joining the Ice from the Kelowna Rockets at the trade deadline. On the season, he’s got 30 points in 48 games. . . . Reinhart has 20 points, nine of them goals, in eight games since rejoining the Ice from Canada’s national junior team. . . . D Tyler King was the only other Kootenay player with a point as he drew an assist on Franko’s empty-netter at 19:25 of the third period. . . . The Ice led this one 3-0 before the first period was half over. . . . Blades D Dylan Busenius, who played in his 299th regular-season game, had two assists. . . . The Ice (28-21-4) has won three in a row and seven of 10, and has moved into a fifth-place tie with Swift Current. . . . The Blades (14-37-4) have lost four in a row. . . .

In Vancouver, F Cain Franson scored his 21st goal of the season at 4:20 of OT as the Giants beat the Red Deer Rebels, 3-2. . . . Red Deer F Conner Bleackley forced OT with his 24th goal at 15:47 of the third period, via the PP. . . . The Giants led 2-0 in the second period. . . . Vancouver started a four-game homestand with the victory; Red Deer, which has lost three in a row, opened a four-game road trip. . . . F Aspen Sterzer had a goal, his 22nd, and an assist for the Rebels. . . . Russian D Dmitry Osipov, the first selection in the 2013 CHL import draft, got his second goal of the season for Vancouver. Osipov, 17, has two points, both goals, in 38 games. . . . Vancouver head coach Don Hay posted his 604th WHL coaching victory, moving him past Lorne Molleken and into second place on the all-time list. He trails only Ken Hodge (742). . . . Vancouver (27-19-9) is sixth in the Western Conference, four points behind the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Red Deer (27-22-4) holds down the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, seven points ahead of Prince Albert. . . .

In Victoria, the Royals erased a 2-1 deficit with two goals 51 seconds apart late in the second period and went on to beat the Calgary Hitmen, 7-2. . . . Victoria F Austin Carroll, who scored three times for his second hat trick this season, tied it 2-2 at 18:46 and F Logan Nelson made it 3-2 at 19:37. . . . Carroll, who had scored just twice in his previous 13 games, now has 25 goals this season; Nelson has 17. . . . Carroll, a 19-year-old from Scottsdale, Ariz., scored 15 goals last season and seven as a rookie. He has 41 points in 52 games this season; last season, he finished with 42 in 67. . . . Victoria got two assists from each of D Jordan Fransoo, F Steven Hodges and F Tyler Soy. . . . Royals F Braden Oleksyn, a 17-year-old from Saskatoon who came to Victoria in a swap with Calgary, scored his first WHL goal. It came in his 11th game, four of which have been with the Royals. . . . Calgary F Brady Brassart reached the 100-goal mark in his 304th regular-season game. . . . Victoria G Coleman Vollrath stopped 24 shots. . . . The teams meet again tonight in Victoria. . . . The Royals (35-16-3) tied the franchise record set last season for victories in one season. They are 3-0-1 in their last four games and are third in the Western Conference, two points ahead of Seattle. . . . The Hitmen (32-15-6) have lost their last two and are 3-6-1 in their last 10. They are a comfortable third in the Eastern Conference. . . .

In Kent, Wash., the host Seattle Thunderbirds scored the game’s last two goals and beat the Everett Silvertips, 5-3. . . . Seattle F Alexander Delnov broke a 3-3 tie with his 21st goal at 9:31 of the third period, with F Justin Hickman getting his second of the game and 15th this season at 14:55. . . . Hickman also had an assist. . . . F Mathew Barzal had a goal, his ninth, and two assists for Seattle, with F Ryan Gropp and B Branden Troock each getting two assists. . . . Seattle G Danny Mumaugh turned aside 34 shots. . . . Seattle (33-16-5) is 8-2-0 in its last 10. . . . Everett (26-20-8) is seventh, three points ahead of the Tri-City Americans. But while the Americans are 7-2-1 in their last 10, the Silvertips, who are battling injuries and a flu bug, are 2-7-1.
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From the Lethbridge Herald’s Dylan Purcell (@dylpurcell): “I sure hope he's OK, Hurricanes assistant coach Brad Lukowich misses a sixth day of team activities, team says he sick.”

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Rockets post up on Blazers

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
It took 57 minutes Friday, but the Kelowna Rockets finally found a way to use a goalpost to their advantage.
Tyson Baillie banked in the winning goal with 2:40 remaining in the third period as the Rockets defeated the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 in a WHL game at Interior Savings Centre. The Rockets (18-3-2), still sitting second in the Western Conference, will play host to the last-place Blazers (6-18-3) tonight.
It was Kamloops’ ninth straight loss, and the one it deserved to lose the least. The Blazers outshot the Rockets 39-36 and clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the third period.
But Baillie ended any thoughts of a Kamloops upset when he bounced a shot off the goalpost to the right of goaltender Taran Kozun, off Blazers defenceman Sam Grist, and into the Kamloops goal.
Dave Hunchak, the head coach of the Blazers, could only shake his head.
“When you’re going through this, that tends to happen,” he said. “They hit the post and it goes off of Sam’s back and into the net. It’s unfortunate, because at that stage we were feeling like we were going to push.”
It certainly wasn’t the first post the Rockets had hit — Colton Heffley hit the cross-bar in the first minute and Kelowna players struck iron four other times before Baillie’s bouncer.
“I think we maybe hit six (posts),” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska. “I think you make your breaks a lot of the time. . . .
“When you’re working and playing your way, the shots maybe go post and in. When you’re shortcutting things a little like tonight, that’s kind of the way the game’s going to end up.”
The Blazers haven’t won a game since Nov. 5, and looked hungry last night. They played a solid first period, but came out of it down 1-0. They followed with an even better second period, but still trailed 2-1.
“I thought we did a lot of good things here tonight,” Hunchak said. “That’s a hell of a hockey team on the other side and at times we had them on the ropes.
“I know where we’re at as far as our wins or losses are concerned, but it’s about the process right now and I thought for the better part of the game our process was pretty good.”
The Blazers simply couldn’t put the puck in the net. Matt Needham and Josh Connolly did, the latter on a power play, but Kamloops players couldn’t beat Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke or simply shot wide.
“(The puck) has got to start going in at some point here,” Hunchak said. “Scoring chances, I know we outchanced them tonight. We missed some glorious scoring chances — at some point, it has to start going in.”
Zach Franko opened the scoring for the Rockets on a first-period power play, before Ryan Olsen made it 2-0 halfway through the second period. Needham banged in a rebound later in the second, before Connolly tied it on a power play around the midway point of the third period.
Cooke brought it home for the Rockets, stopping 37 shots.
“I thought Kamloops played a very good game,” Huska said. “When you look at our group, our goaltender was good for us, but you stretch to find too many other guys that I could include in that category.”
Kozun also was solid for the Blazers, stopping 33 shots. He stands to get more starts as Bolton Pouliot injured his right hand in practice on Thursday and is out until after Christmas.
The Blazers have called up Cole Kehler from the Okanagan Hockey Academy.
Whoever starts in goal, the Blazers are feeling a little more confident after last night.
“We aren’t too worried about the results right now, more the process,” said Blazers forward Cole Ully, who had two assists. “Hopefully the results will come, hopefully (tonight).”
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 4,227. . . . Kamloops scratched F Carson Bolduc, whom it acquired from the Prince George Cougars on Tuesday. Bolduc is out due to illness. . . . The Daily News’ Three Stars: 1. Franko: Kept buzzing all game; 2. Ully: Had two assists, two big hits and should have had two goals; 3. Cooke: There’s a reason he’s 14-1-2 this season. . . . The Blazers’ next home game is Friday, 7 p.m., against the Kootenay Ice. . . . G Liam McLeod, who is from Kamloops, is no longer with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers. The 17-year-old posted on his Twitter feed: “Thanks a lot to the @ClippersHockey for the time I spent with the team, best of luck the rest of the season.” McLeod, whom the Blazers selected in the 2011 bantam draft and who attended main camp this summer, no longer is on Kamloops’ list. 

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DAN RUSSELL

Dan Russell, the voice of many WHL games on Shaw TV, is into the stretch run as the host of Sportstalk on Vancouver radio station CKNW.
Tom Plasteras, the station’s program director, informed staff via email on Thursday that “we are reviewing CKNW’s programming in the 9-Midnight time-slot with the intention of the taking the station in a new direction.
“As a result, we will not be renewing our contract with Dan Russell for his Sportstalk program when it expires on August 31, 2013.
“We will announce our plans at a later date.”
Sportstalk is into its 29th year and bills itself as “Canada’s longest running talk show.”
Russell recently returned to the show after a vacation. However, he hasn’t appeared on the show the last two nights after experiencing voice-related problems. Dave Sheldon, the regular weekend host, has handled Russell’s duties.
Russell is expected to be back in the host’s chair tonight or Monday.
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province weighs in right here on which players he feels should win five of the Western Conference’s individual awards.
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D Kendall McFaull, 20, of the Moose Jaw Warriors will join the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons after the weekend. He has signed with the Barons, who are affiliated with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, for the remainder of this season. McFaull was selected By the Atlanta Thrashers in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL draft, but never signed with them.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed Edmonton Oil Kings D Keegan Lowe to a three-year, entry-level NHL contract. Lowe was a third-round selection in the 2011 entry draft. He is the son of former NHL D Kevin Lowe, who now is the Edmonton Oilers’ president of hockey operations. . . . Keegan’s contract will pay him $610,000, $660,000 and $710,000 in the NHL. It carries an AHL salary of $67,500. There is a $235,000 signing bonus. . . . The contract figures were released by the Hurricanes, which is a pleasant change seeing as the numbers all become public anyway. . . . Lowe, 19, has 30 points, including 15 goals, in 63 games with the Oil Kings this season.
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The matchups, if the WHL playoffs opened today:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
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THURSDAY’S GAME:
In Kelowna, the Rockets won for the 50th time this season, beating the Prince George Cougars, 5-2. . . . Kelowna (50-16-4) and the Portland Winterhawks (54-12-3) are the only WHL teams with 50 victories, although the Edmonton Oil Kings (49-15-6) still may get there. . . . The Kelowna franchise record is 51 (2002-03) and the Rockets have two games remaining, both against the Vancouver Giants. . . . The Cougars scored the game’s first two goals, but F Colton Sissons got the home side on the board with his career-high 27th at 19:11 of the first period. . . . D Damon Severson tied the score at 12:22 of the second. . . . F Zach Franko broke a 17-game drought with his 22nd at 19:53 to break the tie. . . . According to Gord McGarva, the analyst on the Rockets' radio crew, Kelowna F Tyrell Goulbourne didn’t return after a second-period scrap with Prince George F Klarc Wilson. . . . The Rockets had F J.T. Barnett back after he missed a couple of weeks due to illness. . . . With Barnett in, F Tyson Baillie, who has 24 goals, didn’t dress. . . . Kelowna also went without D MacKenzie Johnston, who apparently lost four teeth when he was hit by puck at practice on Wednesday. . . . The Cougars are four points out of a playoff spot with two games remaining, both against Kamloops. The best the Cougars can hope for is a sudden-death play-in game with the Everett Silvertips, who have a four-point lead with three games remaining.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
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From WHL Facts (@WHLFacts): “If you’re wondering about my lack of tweets over the last 24 hrs, I’ve been kinda busy . . . (well, mostly my wife)”
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More from @WHLFacts: “Meet Penelope, future gold medallist in women’s hockey . . . #ProudPapa #DaddysLittleGirl #ZeroSleep”
For a peek at the really young Ms. @WHLFacts, click right here.

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F Alex Forsberg, the first overall selection in the 2010 bantam draft, didn’t return to the Prince George Cougars following the Christmas break. He has asked for a trade.
Sheri Lamb of the Prince George Citizen has the Cougars’ side of the story right here.
Unfortunately, as Lamb writes, “Repeated attempts by The Citizen to contact Forsberg over the telephone and through social media for his comments were ignored, while his Twitter account was shut down last weekend.”
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The Portland Winterhawks have added D Shaun MacPherson, 18, to their roster. MacPherson, who was in their training camp prior to this season and has been on their protected list, had 18 points in 32 games with the SJHL’s Kindersley Klippers. From Edmonton, he played for the midget AAA Knights of Columbus Pats last season, putting up 15 points in 33 games.
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JUST NOTES:
D Rene Hunter, 19, was back skating with the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday. Hunter, from Ebb and Flow, Man., left the club for personal reasons on Nov. 28. . . . F Mike Ferland, 20, was on the ice with the Wheat Kings yesterday but was wearing a no-contact jersey. He was injured Monday in Edmonton and didn’t play Wednesday in Calgary. . . .
D Martin Gernat of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who hasn’t played all season due to shoulder surgery, is expected to get medical clearance on Monday and could play a couple of weeks after that. Having Gernat, 19, in the lineup will be liking getting a freebie at the trade deadline. The Slovakian had 55 points in 60 games as a freshman last season. . . . Edmonton GM Bob Green has told Evan Daum of the Edmonton Journal that he has spoken with Brandon GM Kelly McCrimmon about Wheat Kings F Mike Ferland, 20. The Oil Kings have room to add a 20-year-old player. . . .
Congrats to former WHL coach Walt Kyle (Seattle, 1992-94) picked up his 200th victory as head coach of the Nortern Michigan Wildcats last night. NMU posted a 6-2 victory over the host St. Cloud State Huskies. Kyle is in his 11th season with the Wildcats.
G Mac Carruth of the Portland Winterhawks will tie a franchise record for career victories should he get the start and beat the Silvertips in Everett tonight. He and Darrell May Sr. share the record, at 105. . . . Carruth is a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick; May scouts for Chicago. . . . Paul Buker of The Oregonian has more right here.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Saskatoon, F Josh Nicholls scored twice to help the Blades to a 6-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Nicholls, who was playing in his 300th regular-season game with the Blades, leads the WHL with 29 goals. . . . Nicholls also drew an assist, giving him 50 points in 39 games. . . . With 29 goals, Nicholls is five shy of his career high from 2010-11. . . . In his 300 career games, Nicholls has 278 points. . . . Saskatoon F Adam Kambeitz, who also was playing in game No. 300, scored his ninth goal of the season, into an empty net. . . . Saskatoon G Patrick Johnson stopped 36 shots for his second straight victory. . . . The victory lifted the Blades to within eight points of the East Division-leading Raiders. . . . F Anthony Bardaro scored his 16th goal, and his sixth in four games, for the Raiders. . . . You have to live on the Prairies, or to have lived there, to appreciate the promotion the Blades ran last night — it was Ukrainian Night and the Saskatoon goal song apparently was Beer Barrel Polka. . . . The only thing missing was the Schmenge Brothers. . . .

In Regina, F Morgan Klimchuk scored in the circus to give the Pats a 3-2 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Klimchuk was the only one of six shooters to score in the shootout. . . . Regina F Jack Rodewald forced OT with his fifth goal at 17:42 of the second period. . . . The Pats have won three in a row and four of five. . . .

In Calgary, the Hitmen scored the game’s last five goals and beat the Moose Jaw Warriors, 6-1. . . . Calgary F Brooks Macek had a goal, his 20th, and two assists, while D Colby Harmsworth had three assists. A 17-year-old freshman from Saskatoon, Harmsworth went into the game with one assist in 22 games. . . .

In Cranbrook, the Kootenay Ice ran its winning streak to four games by beating the Swift Current Broncos, 4-1. . . . The Ice has won four in a row for the first time this season. . . . The Broncos have lost three in a row. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart got his 15th goal, shorthanded, and added an assist. . . . Broncos F Adam Lowry drew an assist on his club’s goal, running his point streak to 16 games. . . .

In Red Deer, the Vancouver Giants scored three times in the circus and beat the Rebels, 5-4. . . . F Cain Franson, F Trevor Cheek and D Brett Kulak scored for Vancouver in the shootout; Red Deer got circus goals from F Rhyse Dieno and F Dominik Volek. . . . Volek scored his first two goals of the season in regulation time. . . . Vancouver F Jackson Houck forced OT with his ninth goal at 9:13 of the third. . . . This was the start of a Vancouver road trip in which the Giants will play five games in six nights. . . . G Jared Rathjen, who was acquired from the Victoria Royals on Thursday, backed up Tyler Fuhr for Vancouver. . . . Giants F Lucas Leone, who signed Thursday after playing for the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express, had one assist. . . .

In Kamloops, F Kale Kessy scored twice in his first game with the Blazers, as they dumped the Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-1. . . . Kessy, who was acquired from the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday night, has 11 goals. . . . He played on a line with Brendan Ranford, who had four assists, and Cole Ully, who scored once and added two assists. . . . Kamloops D Josh Connolly, the younger brother of Tampa Bay Lightning F Brett Connolly, scored his first WHL goal. . . . The Blazers have won three in a row, while the Thunderbirds have lost nine straight. . . .

In Prince George, the Kelowna Rockets scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Cougars, 4-2. . . . F Zach Franko had a goal, his 16th, and two assists for the Rockets, while F Myles Bell got his 25th goal and added an assist. . . . The victory kept the Rockets within two points of the B.C. Division-leading Kamloops Blazers. . . . The Rockets, who have won five in a row, play in Prince George again tonight, while the Blazers are idle. . . .  The Cougars hae lost four straight. . . . Prince George had G Nathan Warren of the major midget Cariboo Cougars backing up starter Mac Engel. That’s because Brett Zarowny was ill. The Cougars were missing seven other regulars, as well. . . .

In Victoria, D Michal Plutnar’s OT goal gave the Tri-City Americans a 3-2 victory over the Royals. . . . Plutnar’s second goal of the season came at 4:59 of OT— there was 0.3 left on the clock. . . . Tri-City D Zach Yuen forced extra time with his fourth goal, on the PP, at 10:38 of the second. . . . The Royals had F Alex Gogolev back from an undisclosed injury, but F Logan Nelson, F Luke Harrison and F Ben Walker all were out. . . .

In Everett, F Reid Petryk broke a 2-2 tie at 17:16 of the third period as the Silvertips beat the Spokane Chiefs, 3-2. . . . Petryk’s 11th goal of the season came on a penalty shot. . . . Petryk also scored in the second period. . . .  Everett F Josh Winquist also had a penalty shot. He came up short against G Garrret Hughson at 11:33 of the third. . . . Winquist took the penalty shot in place of F Manraj Hayer who was shaken up when he was hauled down on a breakaway. . . . The Chiefs overcame a 2-0 deficit, with F Blake Gal forcing OT with his sixth goal at 12:13 of the third period on the PP. . . . F Todd Fiddler drew assists on both Spokane goals. . . . D Kevin Davis, the 11th overall selection in the 2012 bantam draft, made his WHL debut with the Silvertips. . . . Spokane D Brenden Kichton had an assist as he played his 300th regular-season game. . . . Everett is 3-1 since the Christmas break, including three victories within the U.S. Division.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Tanner Eberle, Moose Jaw
D Brett Lernout, Swift Current

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Bryson Gore, Moose Jaw
F Chase Clayton, Calgary
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From Tampa Bay Lightning F Brett Connolly (@bconnolly8): “@jconnolly02 congrats on your first of many goals. Don’t stop at 1. #stayhot”

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