Thursday . . .

If y’all missed it, Cory, an old friend from Regina, passes along word that “Dan and Derek Hulak from Saskatoon, Sask., are indeed brothers.”
And if that isn’t enough, we have confirmation from Jamie Novakoski, who also lives in ‘Toontown.
“I am writing this to let you know that Derek and Dan Hulak are indeed related; they are brothers,” Jamie writes.
Also heard from someone via blackberry: “Yes they are brothers.”
So . . . just like that, the mystery is solved. We don’t need to call in Spenser after all.
What we don’t know, though, is whether Dan can grow a ‘stache like Derek.
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On the subject of Saskatoon, Cory Wolfe of the StarPhoenix, who is one of the more astute junior hockey writers around these days, spends time each week on an interview. This week, his subject is Blades goaltender Adam Morrison. Here’s one question and answer (check out this readable feature at the StarPhoenix website):
The SP: Describe coach Lorne Molleken’s pre-game speeches.
Morrison: Inspiring. He gets everybody going right away. It’s different every game. Some games he’ll tell us who’s there to watch us or he’ll tell us what everybody around the league is saying about us. He just says, “Go prove why we’re the beast of the East.”
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The Saskatoon Blades will try to win another road game Friday night when they meet the Bruins in Chilliwack. The Blades go into that one have won their last 11 road games. That is the third-longest such streak in WHL history. The 1999-2000 Calgary Hitmen hold the record (18), with the Portland Winter Hawks (1980-81) and Kelowna Rockets (2003-04) next in line at 12. . . . That Calgary streak also is the record for longest unbeaten streak on the road. The 1978-79 Brandon Wheat Kings put together a 17-game unbeaten streak. That, of course, was in the days before loser points. You do remember when games ended in ties, don’t you? . . . The Blades will meet the Giants in Vancouver on Saturday in what shapes up as a doozy of a game. Saskatoon has become a team to be reckoned with – Calgary has four regulation-time losses and two of those are to the Blades – so Saturday night at Pacific Coliseum could be a good one. It also will be Teddy Bear Toss Night. . . . Chilliwack and Vancouver should be forewarned, too, that the Saskatoon power play has found life in the mountain air. It has two goals in each of its three games in the B.C. Division. . . . An interesting sidebar to Saskatoon’s B.C. tour: Blades’ GM/head coach Lorne Molleken coached two of the Blazers’ assistant coaches, Scott Ferguson and Steve Passmore, in the pro ranks. . . . As well, Molleken and Giants head coach Don Hay were teammates with the Philadelphia Firebirds of the now-defunct North American league in 1976-77. And wouldn’t you like to share some time with them and hear the stories? . . .
Regina RW Brett Leffler (ankle) is doubtful for Friday night when the Pats meet the Rockets in Kelowna. Regina is 2-2-0-0 on its B.C. swing. The Pats actually wrap up a six-game road trip in Red Deer against the Rebels on Sunday. . . . Regina D Mike Scarborough, who suffered a concussion and a broken nose in Kamloops a week ago, likely won’t play again until the New Year. . . .
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The Slovakian Ice Hockey Federation has released its preliminary roster for the 2009 World Junior Championship that opens Dec. 26 in Ottawa. There are three WHL players on that roster – D Michal Siska of the Kamloops Blazers, F Milan Kytnar of the Saskatoon Blades and F Marek Viedensky of the Prince George Cougars. The roster includes four goaltenders, including Jaroslav Janus of the OHL’s Erie Otters, 10 defencemen (Siska is only one not playing in Slovakia) and 16 forwards, with Kytnar and Viedensky the only ones playing over here.
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I also found the Czech Republic’s preliminary roster. It includes three goaltenders, none of whom are playing over here. D Tomas Kundratek (Medicine Hat Tigers) is the only one of 16 blue-liners to be in the WHL. Others in North America are Jan Piskacek (Cape Breton, QMJHL), Martin Paryzek (Ottawa, OHL), Milan Doczy (Owen Sound, OHL), Michal Jordan (Plymouth, OHL), David Stich (Saint John, QMJHL) and Valdimir Roth (London, OHL). There are 22 forwards listed, including Stepan Novotny of the Kelowna Rockets, Zdenek Okal of Medicine Hat, Tomas Vincour of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Tomas Karpov of the Moose Jaw Warriors, Radim Valchar of the Portland Winter Hawks and Rudolf Cerveny of the Regina Pats. Also included are Ondrej Roman, who plays for Vitkovice but was with the Spokane Chiefs last season, and Jan Eberle, who played two season with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Others playing in North America who are listed are Andrej Nestrasil (Victoriaville, QMJHL), Roman Malinik (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL) and Tomas Knotek (Halifax, QMJHL). . . . Also listed among defencemen is Tomas Voracek. He began the season with the Prince Albert Raiders but went home to be with his ill mother. He now is playing with Roman for Vitkovice.
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The Portland Winter Hawks made it official Thursday. Garry Davidson is the team’s new director of player personnel. As well, GM/head coach Mike Johnston has announced that Grant Armsrong, from North Delta, B.C., is the head scout and Matt Bardsley, who had been director of player personnel under the previous regime, moves over to become the advance scout. Johnston also said that all regional scouts have been retained. According to a Winter Hawks press release: “Josh Dye, Trevor Hanas, Steve MacSwain and Brad Sholl scout WHL territory in the western U.S. Ty Davidson, Darryl Erickson and Chad McLeod cover British Columbia. Alberta is scouted by Yvon de Champlain, Deryk Lawrence, Brad Morgan and Jason Pashelka. Leo MacDonald and Sheldon Reinhart scout Saskatchewan, while Manitoba is covered by Brad Davis.”