Rockets first to reach conference final

Red Ice Martigny (Switzerland, NL B) exercised its option on F Kirill Starkov (Red Deer, 2006-07) for next season. Starkov began the season with Esbjerg (Denmark, Metal Ligaen), picking up 45 points, including 12 goals, in 31 games. He was released over issues involving betting on a game, and signed with Red Ice in January, although the transfer wasn’t approved until playoffs. In three games, he had one goal. He also is suspended for the Swiss federation for the first five games of 2014-15 because of his involvement in the betting scandal.
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Ten hockey thoughts . . .
1. We are living in 2014. How is it that a WHL team, the Moose Jaw Warriors, gets caught up in a debate over a retro logo that obviously is out of place in these times?
2. When TSN analyst Craig Button gets around to doing whatever it is he is going to do to help the Saskatoon Blades in their personnel hunt, will he recommend Mike Gillis as GM?
3. On March 10, the NHL had to prematurely halt a game in the first period after Dallas forward Rich Peverley collapsed at the bench. The host Stars were trailing the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 at the time. So what was the NHL’s thinking in replaying the entire game, but allowing Columbus to open with a 1-0 lead? Nathan Horton, the goal scorer, is injured and didn’t even make the trip to Dallas, meaning he scored a goal without being in the lineup.
4. Is it just me or have the WHL playoffs, unless you are a follower of the Kootenay Ice, been rather drab? Five of 12 series have ended in sweeps. Only two of eight first-round series went as deep as six games. It could be that only one four second-round series sees a Game 6. Right now, the won-lost record is 56-11. So much for parity.
5. If the Detroit Red Wings get F Henrik Zetterberg back, might they give the Pittsburgh Penguins a run for their money in the first round of the NHL playoffs?
6. Are the Portland Winterhawks headed for a fourth straight appearance in the WHL’s championship final? Only the Flin Flon Bombers (1967-71), Edmonton Oil Kings (1968-72) and New Westminster Bruins (1974-78) have appeared in four straight finals.
7. Is the WHL headed for a third consecutive final series between Portland and Edmonton?
8. If Vancouver fires head coach John Tortorella, might Trevor Linden, a former Medicine Hat Tigers star who now is the Canucks’ president of hockey operations, hire Willie Desjardins? Now the head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars, Desjardins had success as Medicine Hat’s GM/head coach.
9. Is this the offseason in which the rumours of the impending sale of the Regina Pats actually turn out to be true, and will it be Calgary oil money that ends up owning the franchise?
10. With the NHL’s Calgary Flames searching for a general manager, will Kelly Kisio, the president of hockey operations and alternate governor for the Calgary Hitmen, be on Brian Burke’s radar? If he isn’t, he should be.
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In the spirit of the opening of the MLB season, The Sports Curmudgeon, an old friend of the blog, takes a look at some of the food available at a few of the baseball parks across North American right here. You are advised not to read this on a full stomach. It also is suggested that you not try to duplicate any of these things at home.
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After three tours of duty as an assistant coach, Mark Osiecki is the head coach of the U.S. national junior team that will comp[ete in the 2015 world junior championship. . . . Osiecki, presently an assistant coach with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, was an assistant coach with the team in 2010, 2011 and 2013, winning two gold medals and a bronze. . . . Don Granato, the head coach of the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U-17 team, and Kevin Patrick, an assistant coach at the U of Vermont, will work as Osiecki’s assistant coaches. . . . Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s executive director of hockey operations, will be Team USA’s general manager for a sixth consecutive year. . . . The 2015 WJC is scheduled for Montreal and Toronto, Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. The U.S. will be in a group with Canada, Finland, Germany and Slovakia. . . . The U.S. will hold its summer evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 2-9.
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The USHL has approved an expansion franchise that will play out of Bloomington, Ill., as the Thunder. The franchise is owned by CSH International, which also owns, among many other things, the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and the NAHL’s Amarillo Bulls. Bill Yuill, a familiar face in WHL circles, is CEO of CSH International, while Gary Gelinas, the Silvertips’ president and governor, is the president of CSH.
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F Spencer Kryczka has committed to Princeton U. Kryczka, who turned 19 on March 13, was selected by the Red Deer Rebels in the third round of the 2010 WHL bantam drafat. A native of Calgary, he finished this season with the AJHL’s Camrose Kodiaks, after playing more than two seasons with the Okotoks Oilers. This season, he had 25 points, including 12 goals, in 48 games.
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If you are a follower of the junior B Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, you should know that there’s a new blog out there that will endeavour to keep you up to date on happenings. You will find it right here. There also is a link to it over there on the right.
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F Graham Black of the Swift Current Broncos has signed an ATO with the Albany Devils, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Black, who played out his junior eligibility this season, was a fifth-round selection by the Devils in the 2012 NHL draft. . . . From Regina, Black had 97 points, 34 of them goals, in 69 games with the Broncos this season.
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For today’s good read, we take you to grantland.com and a piece by Charles P. Pierce about the NFL’s Washington Redskins and their owner, Dan Snyder. It is the owner, of course, who refuses to do away with what Pierce refers to as being “racially vicious.” . . . That piece is right here.
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And here is a longer read for you, as Charlie Gillis of Maclean's magazine takes a look at the ugliness that seems to have entrenched itself into some areas of Canadian minor hockey. Gillis paints anything but a pretty picture; in fact, it’s likely worse than even you suspect. That piece is right here. A shower is suggested for after you have read it.
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G Eric Williams of the Spokane Chiefs has signed with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. Williams, 20, went 33-19-4, 2.67, .906 with the Chiefs this season, his fourth in the WHL. The Eagles, who have a playoff spot under wraps, began a three-game series with the visiting Alaska Aces last night. . . . The Eagles head coach is Chris Stewart, who did a turn as head coach of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders back in the day.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton leads, 3-1)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 3 (7,115)
Tuesday: Edmonton 5 at Brandon 2 (3,522)
Wednesday: Edmonton 2 at Brandon 5 (3,246)
Friday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, day-to-day; D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
Brandon: G Curtis Honey, day-to-day.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Kootenay leads, 2-1)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay 4 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,750)
Sunday: Kootenay 2 at Medicine Hat 5 (3,755)
Wednesday: Medicine Hat 1 at Kootenay 3 (2,461)
Thursday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna wins, 4-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle 3 at Kelowna 6 (5,675)
Tuesday: Kelowna 5 at Seattle 4 (5,029)
Wednesday: Kelowna 5 at Seattle 2 (2,219)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, week-to-week.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite; F Jaimen Yakubowski, day-to-day.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Portland leads, 3-1)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV in Canada;
Games 6 and 7, if necessary, on Comcast SportsNet in Portland area)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria 2 at Portland 8 (6,152)
Saturday: Victoria 3 at Portland 6 (10,947)
Monday: Portland 1 at Victoria 2 (6,505)
Tuesday: Portland 4 at Victoria 3 (6,745)
Thursday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

In Cranbrook, F Levi Cable scored three times to lead the Kootenay Ice to a 3-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . The Ice leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 in Cranbrook tonight. . . . Cable, who has six playoff goals, broke a 1-1 tie with a shorthanded goal at 16:38 of the third period, then added an empty-netter at 19:09. . . . Cable, a 19-year-old from Hudson Bay, Sask., had opened the scoring at 9:03 of the second period. . . . Medicine Hat F Curtis Valk tied the game, with his seventh goal, at 7:40 of the third. . . . Cable, in his third season with the Ice, scored 10 goals in 70 regular-season games. WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) tweeted that Cable scored three goals in 45 games between Nov. 30 and March 24. Since March 25, Cable has six goals in as many games. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart had two assists, his first points of the series, and now leads all playoff scorers in assists (14) and points (19). . . . Ice G Mackenzie Skapski turned aside 39 shots, 12 more than the Tigers’ Marek Langhamer. . . . Kootenay was 0-for-4 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 0-for-3.


 In Kent, Wash., the Kelowna Rockets erased a 1-0 first-period deficit with four straight goals and went on to beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 5-2. . . . The Rockets won the series, 4-0, giving them an 8-1 record in these playoffs. . . . The Rockets finished atop the overall standings so are the No. 1 seed through the playoffs. They now await the winner of the other Western Conference semifinal, between the No. 2 Portland Winterhawks and No. 3 Victoria Royals. The Winterhawks take a 3-1 lead into Game 5 tonight in Portland. . . . Seattle D Ethan Bear opened the scoring at 14:22 of the first period, on a PP. . . . Kelowna D Damon Severson, who had 11 points, including four goals, in the four games, tied it at 16:11 of the second period and F Cole Linaker gave Kelowna the lead at 18:14. . . . Severson and Linaker each have four goals in these playoffs. . . . Kelowna F Marek Tvrdon got his fifth at 12:46 and F Tyson Baillie added his third, on the PP, at 15:00. . . . Seattle F Sam McKechnie scored his first goal at 15:12, but Kelowna F Nick Merkley got an empty-netter at 19:33. . . . The Rockets were 2-for-5 on the PP; Seattle was 1-for-7. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 42 shots, as did Seattle’s Taran Kozun. . . . Seattle D Evan Wardley didn’t finish the game and was on crutches with a leg injury.


In Brandon, F Jens Meilleur broke a 2-2 tie with a third-period shorthanded goal and the Wheat Kings, getting 49 saves from G Jordan Papirny, went on to beat the Edmonton Oil Kings, 5-2. . . . The Oil Kings lead the series 3-1 with Game 5 scheduled for Friday in Edmonton. . . . Edmonton had won seven straight games in these playoffs. . . . Papirny has stopped 181 shots in the four games. He will celebrate his 18th birthday today; perhaps his teammates should buy him breakfast, lunch and dinner. . . . F Richard Nejezchleb scored his fourth goal of the playoffs, at 6:04 of the first period, to give Brandon its first lead of the series. . . . Edmonton D Cody Corbett tied it at 9:37, with Brandon F Tim McGauley restoring the lead at 11:35. . . . Edmonton F Luke Bertolucci, who had six goals in 63 regular-season games, tied it again, at 7:47 of the second period, with his third playoff goal. . . . Meilleur scored at 6:32 of the third, with F John Quenneville adding insurance at 11:28 and Nejezchleb, who also had an assist, getting an empty-netter during a PP. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots. . . . Brandon was 1-for-4 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-for-4.


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Calling all Terriers! . . . Three series one victory from ending

F John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) has signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, with Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had 34 points, including 14 goals, in 43 games. . . .
The Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier) announced via Twitter the retirement of D Robert Schnabel (Red Deer, 1997-99). This season, in 53 games, Schnabel had 43 points, 11 of them goals. He was the fifth-leading scorer among league defencemen and was named to the second all-star team. . . .
Among the English Premier first team all-stars: F Michal Psurny (Medicine Hat, Kootenay, 2005-06) of the Manchester Phoenix, who led the league in scoring with 99 points, including 45 goals, in 54 games. . . . F Tomas Karpov (Moose Jaw, Calgary, 2007-09) of the Basingstoke Bison. . . . Among the second team all-stars: F Robin Kovar (Vancouver, 2001-03) and F Tony Hand (Victoria Cougars, 1986-87), both of the Manchester Phoenix. At 46, Hand led the league in assists (64) and was third with 82 points, in 53 games.
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Portage la Prairie, home of the MJHL’s Terriers, will play host to the Royal Bank Cup in 2015. With that in mind, the Terriers are working hard to reach as many former players, coaches, team officials, executives, etc., as possible in an attempt to bring everyone back for what will be a big week. So if you had anything at all to do with the Terriers, going back to Day 1, you should visit the Terriers’ alumni page right here and sign up.
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Moose Jaw’s city council has decided to write a letter to the Moose Jaw Warriors, expressing concern over the WHL team’s decision to bring back an old logo as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations set for 2014-15. . . . A Canadian Press story that originated with Moose Jaw radio station CHAB is right here. . . . Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports weighs in with more right here.
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The Ulmer brothers, Jeff and Jason, have signed contracts with teams in Austria’s Erste Bank Liga. . . . Jeff, 36, has signed a one-year deal with the Innsbruck Sharks. He had 43 points, including 22 goals, in 53 games with the Sharks this season. . . . Jason, 35, signed a two-year deal with the Linz Black Wings. This season, in 55 games, he had 58 points, including 16 goals. . . . The brothers are from Wilcox, Sask., the home of the Notre Dame Hounds.
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Mountain climbers, especially those whose lives belong to the Everests and K2s of the world, have never been able to explain why they do what they do. Perhaps it was Sir Edmund Hilary, the legendary climber, who came closest when he said: “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” . . . Whatever it is, Gabriel Filippi has spent a lot of his life chasing it. . . . If you enjoy great reads, this one right here is for you.
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The Tri-City Americans have signed F Zach Andrusiak of Armstrong, B.C., who was placed on their list in December. Andrusiak, 15, spent this season with the Kelowna-based Pursuit of Excellence’s U18 prep team. In 66 games, he put up 82 points, including 35 goals. On the team, he was second to F Tyler Benson in goals and points. Benson was selected by the Vancouver Giants with the first overall pick of the 2013 bantam draft.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton leads, 3-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 3 (7,115)
Tuesday: Edmonton 5 at Brandon 2 (3,522)
Wednesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, day-to-day; D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
Brandon: G Curtis Honey, day-to-day.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Series tied, 1-1)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay 4 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,750)
Sunday: Kootenay 2 at Medicine Hat 5 (3,755)
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna leads, 3-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle 3 at Kelowna 6 (5,675)
Tuesday: Kelowna 5 at Seattle 4 (5,029)
Wednesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, week-to-week.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite; F Jaimen Yakubowski, day-to-day.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Portland leads, 3-1)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV in Canada;
Games 6 and 7, if necessary, on Comcast SportsNet in Portland area)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria 2 at Portland 8 (6,152)
Saturday: Victoria 3 at Portland 6 (10,947)
Monday: Portland 1 at Victoria 2 (6,505)
Tuesday: Portland 4 at Victoria 3 (6,745)
Thursday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:

 In Brandon, F Mitch Moroz had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings dumped the Wheat Kings, 5-2. . . . The Oil Kings lead the series 3-0 and are able to wrap it up in Brandon tonight. . . . F Riley Kieser gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 16:13 of the first period. . . . Brandon F John Quenneville tied it on a PP at 4:38 of the second. He’s got four goals. . . . Moroz broke the tie at 5:40 of the third period and F Curtis Lazar added insurance at 8:38, via the PP. . . . Kieser, Moroz, Lazar, Edmonton D Ashton Sautner and Brandon F Richard Nejezchleb each scored his third goal of these playoffs. . . . F Luke Bertolucci added an empty-netter for Edmonton, his second goal. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry stopped 32 shots, six fewer than Brandon’s Jordan Papirny. . . . The Oil Kings were 2-for-8 on the PP, with both goals coming with 5-on-3 advantages; Brandon was 1-for-4. . . . The Wheat Kings took 53 of 65 penalty minutes. That included a fighting major and game misconduct to D Ryan Pilon at 19:26 of the third period. No one from Edmonton was penalized at the time, leaving one to wonder if Pilon might hear from the WHL office today. . . . Brandon had two 15-year-olds in its lineup as D Kale Clague, the sixth overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft, made his playoff debut, joining F Nolan Patrick, the fourth overall pick. . . .


In Kent, Wash., the Kelowna Rockets took a 4-1 lead into the third period and hung on for a 5-4 victory over the Thunderbirds. . . . With a 3-0 lead in the series, the Rockets can wrap it up tonight in Kent. . . . The Rockets opened a 2-0 first-period lead on late goals from F Ryan Olsen and F Tyrell Goulbourne, at 18:39 (PP) and 19:03, respectively. . . . Seattle F Ethan Bear cut the lead to 2-1 at 4:12 of the second, but the Rockets took control on goals from F Tyson Baillie at 7:23 and D Madison Bowey, at 9:54. . . . Seattle outscored the visitors 3-1 in the third period but wasn’t able to equalize. . . . F Alexander Delnov got the home side to within 5-4 at 18:43 of the third. . . . D Damon Severson and F Marek Tvrdeon each had two assists for Kelowna, while F Mathew Barzal did the same for Seattle. . . . Severson has nine points in the series’ three games. He has two assists in each game. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 28 shots, one more than Seattle’s Taran Kozun. . . . Kelowna, which took 11 of 17 minors, was 2-for-5 on the PP; Seattle was 1-for-10. . . .


 In Victoria, the Portland Winterhawks scored the game’s last two goals and beat the Rockets, 4-3. . . . The Winterhawks go home with a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday in the Moda Center. . . . F Steven Hodges scored a PP goal seven seconds into the third period to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic tied it with his second goal of the game just 1:26 later. . . . F Chase De Leo scored his third goal at 8:05 and it stood up as the winner. . . . Leipsic and teammate Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was held to one assist in this one, have a WHL-leading eight goals. . . . Leipsic also took over the playoff points lead, with 18, one more than Kootenay Ice forwards Jaedon Descheneau and Sam Reinhart. . . . Leipsic has at least one point in each of his club’s eight playoff games. Going back to the regular season, he is riding a 15-game point streak. . . . F Tyler Soy had given Victoria the lead at 6:39 of the first period. . . . Portland got goals from F Adam Rossignol, at 8:06 of the first, and Leipsic, on the PP at 12:18 of the second, to take the lead. . . . F Taylor Crunk, shorthanded, pulled Victoria into a 2-2 tie at 17:11 of the second. . . . D Mathew Dumba had two assists for the Winterhawks. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke turned aside 27 shots, while Victoria’s Patrik Polivka stopped 34. . . . Portland was 1-for-5 on the PP; Victoria was 1-for-4.
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From Helene Barbier Bozon (@HeleneBozon): “Good bye Canada,Time to go back home! 40 days @timbozon94 Terrify,tears,despair,believe,hope,Miracle Thank you everyone.”
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From Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon (@timbozon94): “Here we go finally flying back to europe in couple hours @HeleneBozon #seeyacanada #RehabTime”


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.

Jarry, Oil Kings put clamps on Wheat Kings

The Abbotsford Heat, the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, have signed F Coda Gordon of he Swift Current Broncos. He was a sixth-round selection by the Flames in the 2012 NHL draft. . . . Gordon, who will turn 20 on Aug. 4, had 71 points, including 26 goals, in 59 games with the Broncos this season.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton leads, 2-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 3 (7,115)
Tuesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, day-to-day; D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
Brandon: G Curtis Honey, day-to-day.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Kootenay leads, 1-0)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay 4 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,750)
Sunday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna leads, 2-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle 3 at Kelowna 6 (5,675)
Tuesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday, April 13: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 15: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, week-to-week.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite; F Jaimen Yakubowski, day-to-day.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Portland leads, 2-0)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV in Canada;
Games 4, 6 and 7 on Comcast SportsNet in Portland area)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria 2 at Portland 8 (6,152)
Saturday: Victoria 3 at Portland 6 (10,947)
Monday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Thursday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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SATURDAY’S GAMES:

In Edmonton, G Tristan Jarry earned his second shutout in as many games as the Oil Kings beat the Brandon Wheat Kings, 3-0. . . . Jarry stopped 29 shots for his second career playoff shutout. On Thursday, he turned aside 15 shots as Edmonton beat visiting Brandon, 5-0. . . . The Oil Kings take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series into Game 3 in Brandon on Tuesday. . . . Jarry hasn't allowed a goal in a playoff franchise-record 156:46, going back to the second period of Game 4 of a first-round sweep of the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Edmonton D Ashton Sautner got the winner, scoring on the PP at 5:49 of the first period. . . . F Edgars Kulda scored the game's other two goals, at 16:06 of the first and 16:25 of the third, and also had an assist. . . . F Brett Pollock had two assists. . . . Edmonton D Dysin Mayo had one assist to run his point streak to six games. He is the only Edmonton player with at least a point in each of its six playoffs games this spring. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny made 54 saves.


In Medicine Hat, D Rinat Valiev broke a 2-2 tie at 13:08 of the third period as the Kootenay Ice beat the Tigers 4-2 in Game 1 of a second-round series. . . . They'll play again tonight in Medicine Hat. . . . The Ice trailed 2-1 in the second period when F Jon Martin scored his first goal at 8:33. . . . The tie held up until Valiev got his first playoff goal. . . . Ice D Jagger Dirk added an empty-netter at 19:22 of the third. . . . F Jaedon Descheneau and F Sam Reinhart of the Ice, who lead the WHL with 17 points in these players, were held pointless. . . . F Trevor Cox scored his fourth goal for the Tigers, while F Cole Sanford got his third. . . . Ice G Mackenzie Skapski stopped 28 shots, 11 fewer than Medicine Hat's Marek Langhamer. . . . The Tigers were 1-for-3 on the PP; the Ice was 0-for-7. . . . There was a multi-fight situation at 19:49 of the third period that resulted in 64 of the game's 90 penalty minutes. . . . The Ice dressed 17 skaters, one under the maximum.


In Portland, the Winterhawks scored the game's last four goals and beat the Victoria Royals, 6-3. . . . The Winterhawks take a 2-0 lead to Victoria where Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night. . . . Victoria F Steven Hodges gave his side a 3-2 lead with his second goal of the game, and second of the playoffs, at 7:36 of the second period. . . . Portland then struck for two PP goals, just 1:37 apart, with D Derrick Pouliot scoring at 10:08 and F Oliver Bjorkstrand counting at 11:45. . . . Bjorkstrand added his second goal of the game, and WHL-leading eighth of the playoffs, at 1:40 of the third and Pouliot iced it at 15:21 with his fourth goal. . . . Bjorkstrand and Pouliot added an assist each, as the Winterhawks ran their winning streak to 13 games. They have won an amazing 34 of their last 35 games. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic had three assists and F Taylor Leier and F Chase De Leo each had two. . . . Hodges added an assist to his two goals, with D Travis Brown getting to assists. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke stopped 22 shots, 16 fewer than Victoria's Patrick Polivka. . . . The Royals were 2-for-4 on the PP; the Winterhawks were 2-for-5. . . . The Royals were without D Keegan Kanzig, who drew a 'tbd' suspension for, according to the WHL office, "actions at Portland" during Friday night's opener.


In Kelowna, the Rockets broke a 2-2 tie with three second-period goals as they beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-3. . . . The Rockets lead the second-round series 2-0 with Game 3 scheduled for Kent, Wash., on Tuesday. . . . Kelowna D Damon Severson, who had four points in Game 1, broke the tie on the PP at 3:12 of the second and F Cole Linaker gave his guys a two-goal lead at 4:46. F Rourke Chartier got his fifth goal at 14:01. . . . Severson and F Nick Merkley each had a goal and two assists for Kelowna, which got two assists from D Madison Bowey and F Carter Rigby. . . . Seattle F Scott Eansor, who scored three times in 52 regular-season, got his fourth goal in his seventh game of these playoffs. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke turned aside 36 shots, while Seattle's Taran Kozun stopped 24. . . . Cooke was especially sharp in the first period when the visitors held an 18-7 edge in shots. "Without Jordan, we’re down not just by one or two goals, but probably three or four goals in the first,” Kelowna head coach Ryan Huska told Doyle Potenteau of The Okanagan Sunday. "(Seattle) came out very hard and they played very well in the first. Jordon was ready, and that’s why you rely on your goaltender; he was there for us. I found we got our legs (going) a little bit in the second and third periods, and we played a much smarter second half of the game than we did in the first.” . . . Kelowna was 1-for-3 on the PP; Seattle was 0-for-2. . . . The Rockets continued to play without F Myles Bell, their regular-season scoring leader, who has a leg injury. . . . Seattle was without F Jaimen Yakubowski, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 1 on Thursday.


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Oil Kings, Rockets draw first blood

F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) has signed a one-year extension with Pelicans Lahti (Finland, Liiga). This season, Redenbach had three goals and 33 assists in 47 games. He was fourth in the Liiga in assists. Next season will be his sixth in Liiga. Redenbach is a former WHL scoring champion (Swift Current, 2003-04, 105 points). . . .
HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, Liiga) has exercised an option on D Craig Schira (Regina, Vancouver, 2003-09) for next season. This season with HPK, Schira had 25 points, including six goals, in 54 games. He wasn’t able to finish the season after suffering a shoulder injury in March. . . .
D Alex Plante (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year deal with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen), joining his brother Tyler. This season with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), Alex had 13 points, including three goals, in 54 games. . . .
G Tyler Plante (Brandon, 2003-07) has signed a one-year extension with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen). This season, in 17 games, he was 2.28 and .917, leaving him fifth in the league in both categories. His season was ended early by a knee injury.
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Spiros Anastas, an assistant coach with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, is the new head coach of the U of Lethbridge Pronghorns. Anastas, 28, will remain with the Griffins through the end of their season. From Mississauga, Ont., he is in his second season in Grand Rapids. . . . Anastas, who worked as the general manager of the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs for part of 2012-13, replaces Greg Gatto, who was fired after the season. . . . The Griffins are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. Detroit head coach Mike Babcock was the head coach at the U of Lethbridge for one season (1993-94) and Detroit assistant coach Bill Peters filled the position from 2002-05).
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F Patrick Khodorenko, a second-round pick by the Everett Silvertips in the 2013 WHL bantam draft, has committed to the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U-17 team. A native of Walnut Creek, Calif., Khodorenko, who won’t turn 16 until Oct. 13, has played the last two seasons in the Detroit Honeybaked program.
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The QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts will be the host team for the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament. . . . The Chicoutimi Sagueneens were the only other team to bid on the event that is held each year in May. . . . The 2015 Memorial Cup is scheduled to be the last major event held in the Pepsi Colisee, which seats 15,000. A new arena is being built in Quebec City. . . . This year’s tournament is to be held in London, Ont.
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The BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs have hired Jason Tatarnic as general manager and head coach. He replaces Harvey Smyl, who has stepped aside after 21 years with the Chiefs. . . . Tararnic, 41, spent eight seasons with the Maritime junior league’s Woodstock Slammers, who reached the Royal Bank Cup final in the spring of 2012. He didn’t coach this season after the Slammers underwent an ownership change.
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The Calgary Hitmen will celebrate their 20th anniversary season in 2014-15 and, with that in mind, they have unveiled a special sweater, one that harkens back to that first season and also salutes nameskake Bret (Hitman) Hart, one of the franchise’s original owners. . . . According to a news release: “The limited edition retro jersey includes two shoulder patches; one that features Hart’s famous words, ‘The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be’, while the opposite shoulder is dressed with the historic Hitmen starburst logo.’
The photo at the top, from Hart's Instagram account, shows him wearing one of the limited edition sweaters while backstage at Wrestlemania in New Orleans.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton leads, 1-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon at Edmonton, noon
Tuesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, day-to-day; D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
Brandon: G Curtis Honey, day-to-day.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, April 12: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna leads, 1-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday, April 13: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 15: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, day-to-day.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
Saturday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7 p.m.
Monday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Thursday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday, April 12: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

In Edmonton, G Tristan Jarry stopped 15 shots as the Oil Kings dumped the Brandon Wheat Kings, 5-0. . . . Edmonton leads the second-round series 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Edmonton. . . . The shutout was Jarry’s first career playoff blank job. . . . Edmonton F Brett Pollock scored his fourth goal of these playoffs at 1:50 of the first period and the Oil Kings were off and running. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 40 shots. With Curtis Honey, their other goaltender scratched with an undisclosed injury, the Wheat Kings had Logan Thompson backing up Papirny. A sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, Thompson turned 17 on Feb. 25. From Calgary, he played for the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes. . . . Pollock also had an assist, while F Edgars Kulda had a goal and an assist, and D Griffin Reinhart had two helpers. . . . Kulda has two goals in the playoffs. . . . F Mads Eller, D Ashton Sautner and F Henrik Samuelsson each scored his first goal. . . . Edmonton was 2-for-7 on the PP; Brandon was 0-for-2. . . .


In Kelowna, D Damon Severson scored twice and added two assists as the Rockets beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-2. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday in Kelowna. . . . The Rockets scored in the final minute of each of the first two periods, giving them leads of 3-1 and 5-2. . . . F Cole Linaker and F Ryan Olsen each had a goal and an assist for Kelowna, while F Nick Merkley had two assists. . . . Seattle F Mathew Barzal scored at 7:44 of the first period to cut Kelowna’s lead to 2-1. . . . Severson scored on a PP at 19:42 for a 3-1 edge. . . . Seattle F Alexander Delnov made it 3-2 at 3:07 of the second, but Olsen upped that to 4-2 at 13:04, on a PP, and D Madison Bowey added another at 19:49. . . . Kelowna was 3-for-6 on the PP; Seattle was 0-for-3. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke turned aside 23 shots, seven fewer than Seattle’s Taran Kozun.
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From Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey): “We’re happy to report @Mcally15 underwent successful surgery to repair a jaw fracture & are hopeful he'll be back sometime during the playoffs.”
That would be F Mitchell Callahan of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, whose selfie was posted here yesterday.


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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.
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To the person who sent a note about the troll: “I have had the exact same thought, and on more than one occasion.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Calgary (3)
Series opens Thursday in Edmonton.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Kamloops (3)
Series opens Friday in Portland.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
No games scheduled.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (16):
None

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


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