Wheat Kings, Rockets advance; Silvertips stay alive

F Jeff Smith (Red Deer, 1998-2002) has signed for season with the Melbourne Ice (Australia, AIHL). The AIHL season starts April 12. Smith also will coach in the Melbourne Ice Academy. This season, with the Hull Stingrays (England, UK Elite), he had 15 points, five of them goals, in 57 games. He was the team captain.
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George Johnson, the Calgary Herald’s sports columnist, is one of the best-kept secrets in Canadian writing circles. He’s good . . . really good. Johnson was at Thursday’s game between the host Calgary Hitmen and Kootenay Ice. His column is right here. Enjoy!
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It seems that Bruno Campese, the general manager of the Prince Albert Raiders, didn’t go quietly into the night as his club was swept from the first round with a Game 4 loss to the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday night. According to the WHL website, Campese has been fined $500 “for comments to WHL Supervisor.”
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A trust fund has been established to assist the Bozon family with medical- and rehabilitation-related costs with which they now are faced.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area and want to donate, 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 Kootenay Ice sold more than 500 tickets on Friday for their game tonight against the Calgary Hitmen in Cranbrook. The Ice, the Eastern Conference’s No. 6 seed, takes a 3-2 edge over the No. 3 Hitmen into tonight’s sixth game of the best-of-seven series. . . . The series is being televised by Shaw TV, and Games 3 and 4 in Cranbrook drew 1,992 and 2,102 fans, respectively. . . . “The people who are here are loud and passionate,” Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth said on Friday. “There’s no scoreboard that says ‘NOISE’ here.” . . . F Tim Bozon, who was released from hospital in Saskatoon on Friday after being there for a month with meningitis, is scheduled to be in the house and take part in a ceremonial faceoff. “With what our kids have gone through in the last month . . . it’s going to be a big lift to have Timmy here,” Chynoweth said. “It’ll be emotional.”
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According to a Friday night tweet from Darryl Wolski (@darrylwolski): “Vancouver Giants overage forward Cain Franson agrees to terms to finish the season with the Allen Americans.” . . . The Americans play in the Central league. Franson had 63 points, including 30 goals, in 66 with the Giants this season, his third in Vancouver. He improved his goal total in each of his seasons, going from 27 to 29 to 30.
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D Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders is expected to join the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps for the end of their regular season and the playoffs. Morrissey was selected 13th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL’s 2013 draft. Morrissey, a Calgarian who turns 19 on March 28, ha3 73 points, including 28 goals, in 59 games this season. . . . He improved his offensive numbers (goals and assists) in each of his three seasons, going from 10-28 to 15-32 to 28-45.
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The junior B 100 Mile House, B.C., Wranglers of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League have hired Dale Hladun as their new general manager and head coach. . . . Hladun, who replaces Doug Rogers, has ample KIJHL experience as he also has coached the Princeton Posse and Fernie Ghostriders. He spent this season in Fernie. . . . The Wranglers are coming off their first season in the KIJHL. They qualified for the playoffs at 23-21-0-8, then beat the Chase Heat in a first-round series before being eliminated by the Kamloops Storm.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings, the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed, completed a sweep of the Regina Pats, who finished atop the East Division, thus earning the No. 2 seed, on Friday night. . . . That sets up a second-round series between the No. 1 Edmonton Oil Kings and the Wheat Kings. The last time these teams met, in the spring of 2012, the Oil Kings swept a conference semifinal series en route to winning the WHL championship. . . . The Eastern Conference’s other semifinal will feature the winners of the other two series. The No. 4 Medicine Hat Tigers and No. 4 Swift Current Broncos are 2-2 going into tonight’s game in The Hat, while the No. 6 Kootenay Ice are at home tonight with a 3-2 lead on the No. 3 Calgary Hitmen.
In the Western Conference, the Kelowna Rockets, who finished atop the overall standings in the regular season, advanced to the second round with a ?? victory over the visiting No. 8 Tri-City Americans last night. The Rockets will meet the winner of a series between the No. 4 Seattle Thunderbirds and No. 5 Everett Silvertips in the second round. Seattle leads that series 3-1 after dropping a ?? decision in Everett last night. . . . The conference’s other second-round series will feature the No. 2 Portland Winterhawks against the No. 3 Victoria Royals, both of whom completed first-round sweeps on Thursday night. That series will open with games in Portland on Friday and April 5.
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THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE

EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)
(Edmonton wins, 4-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.
Saturday: Prince Albert 3 at Edmonton 5 (6,534)
Sunday: Prince Albert 1 at Edmonton 3 (6,584)
Tuesday: Edmonton 4 at Prince Albert 3 (2,881)
Wednesday: Edmonton 6 at Prince Albert 2 (2,727)
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite; F Reid Petryk, day-to-day.

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REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Brandon wins, 4-0)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.
Saturday: Brandon 6 at Regina 3 (6,200)
Sunday: Brandon 8 at Regina 4 (5,014)
Wednesday: Regina 4 at Brandon 5 (3,547)
Friday: Regina 1 at Brandon 5 (4,705)
INJURIES
Brandon: None.
Regina: D Tye Hand, indefinite.
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CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Kootenay leads, 3-2)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.
Thursday: Kootenay 5 at Calgary 2 (6,649)
Saturday: Kootenay 0 at Calgary 5 (9,019)
Monday: Calgary 7 at Kootenay 6 (OT) (1,992)
Tuesday: Calgary 4 at Kootenay 5 (2,102)
Thursday: Kootenay 6 at Calgary 5 (6,826)
Saturday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: 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 Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
(Series tied, 2-2)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.
Friday: Swift Current 1 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,512)
Saturday: Swift Current 2 at Medicine Hat 4 (3743)
Tuesday: Medicine Hat 1 at Swift Current 3 (2,840)
Wednesday: Medicine Hat 2 at Swift Current 3 (OT) (2,890)
Saturday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday: 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)
(Kelowna wins, 4-1)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Tri-City, 0-3-1.
Saturday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,827)
Sunday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,041)
Tuesday: Kelowna 3 at Tri-City 4 (2,010)
Wednesday: Kelowna 5 at Tri-City 3 (2,189)
Friday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 4 (4,875)
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, day-to-day; D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Tri-City: F Taylor Vickerman, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
(Portland wins, 4-0)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.
Friday: Vancouver 3 at Portland 4 (9,756)
Saturday: Vancouver 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Tuesday: Portland 6 at Vancouver 3 (5,680)
Wednesday: Portland 6 at Vancouver 1 (5,142)
INJURIES
Portland: None.
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VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
(Victoria wins, 4-0)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.
Saturday: Spokane 1 at Victoria 2 (OT) (6,615)
Sunday: Spokane 3 at Victoria 4 (OT) (4,629)
Wednesday: Victoria 6 at Spokane 1 (3,412)
Thursday: Victoria 4 at Spokane 2 (3,711)
INJURIES
Victoria: None.
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SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
(Seattle leads, 3-1)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett 1 at Seattle 2 (4,650)
Sunday: Seattle 3 at Everett 1 (4,150)
Tuesday: Everett 3 at Seattle 4 (OT) (5,176)
Friday: Seattle 1 at Everett 6 (4,908)
Saturday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday: 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; D Noah Juulsen, day-to-day; F Tyler Sandhu, day-to-day.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE

EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
Dates to be announced.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 5: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7 p.m.
Monday, April 7: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Thursday, April 10: 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.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Brandon, F Jayce Hawryluk, who spent Wednesday and Thursday nights in hospital, had a goal and an assist as the Wheat Kings dumped the Regina Pats 5-1 to sweep a first-round series. . . . The Wheat Kings will meet the Eastern Conference-winning Edmonton Oil Kings in the second round. . . . Hawryluk scored three times and added an assist in Wednesday’s 5-4 victory, after which he experienced light-headedness and respiratory problems. He was taken to Brandon Regional Health Centre by ambulance and spent Thursday undergoing tests, all of which were negative. . . . Hawryluk’s line enjoyed another solid night Friday, as John Quenneville had two goals and an assist, and Jesse Gabrielle had one of each. . . . Brandon took a 2-0 lead into the second period, on goals by Gabrielle, his third, and F Richard Nejezchleb, his second. . . . Regina got on the board when F Morgan Klimchuk got his third of the series, this one on a PP, with 1.6 seconds left in the second period. . . . The Wheaties put it away with third-period goals by Hawryluk, his fifth in four games, F Ryley Lindgren and Quenneville, the latter on a PP. . . . Brandon was 1-for-7 on the PP; Regina was 1-for-3. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 28 shots, while Regina G Daniel Wapple turned aside 37. . . . F Peter Quenneville was back in Brandon’s lineup after a one-game absence. He was held pointless. . . . “I was able to recover and get some fluids and whatnot into me,” Hawryluk told Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun. “I’m ready to play and I want to play. I want to be out here as much as anything . . . I want to be here and help the guys no matter what the situation. They’re my brothers and I just want to be here for them if I can.”

In Everett, F Jujhar Khaira scored three times as the Silvertips staved off elimination with a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Seattle holds a 3-1 lead in the series as it returns to Kent, Wash., for Game 5 tonight. . . . Khaira, who scored his first three playoff goals, is coming off a regular-season in which he scored 16 times in 59 games. . . . Khaira opened the scoring at 1:27 of the first period as Everett scored first for the third straight game. . . . It was 2-0 just 1:05 later as F Josh Winquist added his first goal of the series, shorthanded. . . . F Brayden Low got his first goal of the series at 7:57 and Everett took a 3-0 lead into the second period. . . . Everett scored three times on its first six shots. . . . D Jared Hauf scored for Seattle at 18:22 of the second period. . . . Khaira put it away with two PP goals early in the third. . . . Everett G Austin Lotz made 17 saves. . . . Seattle starter Taran Kozun was beaten six times on 29 shots. Danny Mumaugh came on after Everett’s sixth goal, at 6:48 of the third, and stopped five shots. . . . Everett D Cole MacDonald left in the second period with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return. . . . F Jaimen Yakubowski was among Seattle’s scratches, as he served a one-game WHL suspension for a hit from behind on Everett D Noah Juulsen in Game 3. . . . Juulsen left Game 3 and didn’t return. He was scratched last night. . . . Everett had lost its previous nine home playoff games. . . .

In Kelowna, F Marek Tvrdon scored twice to help the Rockets to a 4-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Rockets won the series, 4-1, and will meet the winner of the Seattle/Everett series in the second round. . . . The Americans, trailing 2-1, had a number of terrific scoring chances early in the third period but weren’t able to beat Kelowna G Jordon Cooke, who finished with 29 saves. . . . Tvrdon relieved the pressure with a PP goal, his fourth of the series, at 13:24. . . . Kelowna F Rourke Chartier iced it at 14:40 with his third goal in five games. . . . F Carter Rigby, at 6:56 of the first, and Tvrdon, at 13:05 of the second, had given Kelowna a 2-0 lead. . . . Americans F Parker Bowles got his first goal of the series, at 17:42 of the second, on a PP. . . . F Nick Merkley had two assists for Kelowna. . . . The Rockets were 1-for-2 on the PP; the Americans were 1-for-4. . . . Kelowna was without F Myles Bell, its leading regular-season scorer, with 77 points, including a team-high 42 goals. He was in the crowd, with crutches, after being injured in a Game 4 collision with Tri-City F Beau McCue. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie stopped 34 shots. He is expected to join the St. John’s IceCaps, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Comrie was a second-round pick by the Jets in the NHL’s 2013 draft. . . . “This was (Tvrdon’s) best game,” Rockets head coach Ryan Huska told Doyle Potenteau of the Okanagan Saturday. “He seemed like he was engaged all night. And when you look at your older players, you need that from him. Tonight, we saw that, if not our best player, then him and (goalie Jordon Cooke). Our two 20-year-olds were our best guys on the ice.”
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From Brandon Wheat Kings F Jayce Hawryluk (@JayceHawryluk): “Brandon regional hospital, first class service all the way. Thank you once again!”
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From Christian Laughland (@ChristianCKDM): “It will go down in history as the most anticipated game never to be played in Dauphin. Congrats @bdnwheatkings #WHL #Round2”
Had Brandon’s first-round series gone deep enough, Game 6 would have been played in Dauphin, Man., the home of radio station CKDM.


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Silvertips spoil Teddy Bear party

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
If ever a moment could describe a season, the Kamloops Blazers despondently picking teddy bears off the Interior Savings Centre ice following Saturday’s WHL game would be it.
The Blazers were hammered 7-0 by the Everett Silvertips on Teddy Bear Game night. Not only was it the team’s 12th straight loss, it also came on what should have been a fun night.
Instead, 4,119 disappointed fans had to throw their teddy bears at game’s end, when the Silvertips were celebrating, and the Blazers had to help clean up the building they had just been blown out of.
It was the second straight thumping for the Blazers, who lost 7-3 to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Friday.
“I’m at a loss for words right now,” said Blazers head coach Dave Hunchak. “We just basically fell apart. You can see the frustration on guys, but at the same time, there’s no excuse for that to happen in our building, ever.
“That should never happen in our building — it doesn’t matter who we play. To watch these last two nights, it’s sickening. It’s sickening to watch . . .”
The 12-game losing skid ties the franchise worst, which the Junior Oilers set in 1981-82.
The Blazers knew this was going to be a tough season — they lost most of the key players who carried the mail on the team that went to the Western Conference final last season. But what happened on Friday and Saturday had less to do with experience and more to do with performance.
“There’s guys in that room that just have to get better. They just have to get better,” Hunchak said. “Yeah, 13-14 new guys — that’s just an excuse. We have to be better as a hockey team.”
The Silvertips, coming off back-to-back losses, played a nearly perfect game Saturday, even if the Blazers never really pushed them. Everett got 26 saves from Austin Lotz, who now has four shutouts, as well as two goals apiece from Ben Betker and Ivan Nikolishin.
It’s not the first time the Blazers have been shut out on Teddy Bear Night — in 2008, Travis Yonkman stopped 28 shots as the Swift Current Broncos shut out the Blazers 2-0. Yonkman likely had to work harder for that shutout than Lotz did Saturday.
“Right now our group is so wishy-washy as far as the decisions they make with the puck,” Hunchak said. “We didn’t have the puck tonight. That’s the bottom line — (Everett) had the puck pretty much the final 40 minutes, and when you don’t have the puck, it’s hard to generate anything.”
Kamloops hit the road right after the contest for a six-game trip to the East Division, a trip that will take it into Christmas. The first game is scheduled for Tuesday against the Wheat Kings in Brandon.
“Believe me, we’re trying everything right now. We are trying absolutely everything we can to get this thing righted,” Hunchak said. “It’s everything from (defensive) zone coverage right on up to the offensive zone.
“We’ve tried different things to get a spark here and at some point, it has to fall on the players’ laps. I’m willing to take as much criticism as anybody, but at some point, it’s got to start falling on some players’ laps here as well.”
The Blazers, now 6-20-4, are last in the Western Conference. They have lost as many games in regulation (20) as they did in each of the past two regular seasons.
The Blazers also are facing a schedule that will get much more difficult from this point forward. Because the Tim Hortons Brier is forcing the team out of ISC for a month starting in mid-February, Kamloops has played 19 of its first 30 games at home.
Starting with the six games in the East Division, the Blazers will play 12 of 13 on the road. In total, 25 of the team’s last 42 games will be played away from home.
Kamloops has lost eight straight on the road, and is 1-9-1 away from ISC. Not that things are going so well at home either.
“We’ve been embarrassed in our building the last two nights (so) I would hope they’d be angry,” Hunchak said. “Just from a personal perspective, you should be angry with what’s going on.”
Carson Stadnyk, Mirco Mueller and Jujhar Khaira also scored for the Silvertips. For the second straight night, Taran Kozun was pulled out of the Blazers goal. On Saturday, he left after allowing five goals on 29 shots; Cole Kehler stopped nine of the other 11 Everett shots.
JUST NOTES: Kamloops D Sam Grist sat out a one-game WHL suspension for a match penalty he took in Friday’s loss. . . . Kamloops F Joe Kornelsen (head) sat out Saturday, while F Aspen Sterzer (lower body) returned after missing two games. . . . Referee Brett Iverson, who once again proved the one-man system to be superior, gave the Silvertips two power plays, on which they scored once, and the Blazers one man advantage. . . . The Daily News’ Three Stars: 1. Mueller: San Jose Sharks prospect was outstanding; 2. Lotz: Didn’t exactly steal Christmas, but was solid; 3. Betker: Made it tough for Kamloops forwards to do anything. . . . The Blazers’ next home game is scheduled for Dec. 29, when the Vancouver Giants visit.
mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca

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By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
The Everett Silvertips don’t get to have a Teddy Bear Game, so they decided to spoil the fun for the Kamloops Blazers.
The Silvertips shut out the Blazers 7-0 at Interior Savings Centre on Saturday night. It ruined the annual Teddy Bear Game for the 4,119 fans in attendance, who were forced to throw their bears on the ice at game’s end while the Silvertips were celebrating.
Everett doesn’t hold a Teddy Bear Game.
“Long before my time, not sure when — maybe 2004, 2005 or 2006 — they got shut out two years in a row on Teddy Bear Toss night,” explained 19-year-old defenceman Ben Betker, who scored twice Saturday in what was his 100th career WHL game. “So we don’t do one down there anymore. It’s kind of too bad, because I enjoy the Teddy Bear Toss nights.”
Betker certainly enjoyed Saturday’s, especially playing the part of the Grinch. His strong defensive play — it was a solid team effort, really — helped Austin Lotz record his fourth shutout of the season with a 26-save effort.
Everett had lost two straight games coming into Saturday’s contest, so wasn’t really focusing on teddy bears.
“I think it’s just a bonus,” Betker said. “We definitely knew it was Teddy Bear Night, but for the most part, we just wanted to come in here and execute our game plan.
“For them to not get to throw their bears is kind of a bonus.”
mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SHL) has chosen not to renew loan agreement with Chicago (NHL) for F Kyle Beach (Everett, Lethbridge, Spokane, 2005-10). Beach had two goals and an assist in seven games with HV71. The team said Beach would have a limited role now that HV71 has signed new players. . . .

D Jaroslav Obsut (Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Edmonton Ice, 1995-97) signed for the rest of season with Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga). This season, he was pointless in two games with Zvolen. Last season, he had a goal and an assist in seven games with Zvolen. He also played in the KHL, totalling 12 points, four of them goals, in 39 games with Donetsk (Ukraine) and Spartak Moscow (Russia).
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1. The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) has taken a giant step towards banning fighting.
On Thursday, the league, which governs junior A hockey, announced that it had "overwhelmingly voted to support an automatic game misconduct for fighting (the one-fight rule) . . ."
"The co-operation among our leagues and partners for standardized fighting rules and consistent discipline guidelines across all Junior A leagues is a significant step in the continuing development and evolution of the CJHL and Junior A hockey in Canada," CJHL President Kirk Lamb said in a news release. "We will work closely with our stakeholders and key partners, such as Hockey Canada and provincial branches, on bringing these endorsements forward for consideration."
Starting next season, a fighting major is likely to carry with it an automatic game misconduct. Five leagues that operate under the CJHL umbrella — the SIJHL, NOJHL, OJHL, CCHL and LHJAAAQ — already use the one-fight rule. Five other leagues — the BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL and MHL — are playing under a two-fight rule this season, but are expected to change in time for next season.
This definitely is the direction in which hockey below the professional level is moving. And people who are critical of decisions such as these need to understand that a big part of the decision rests on the issue of liability.

2. And just in case you're not sure of the damage that punches to the head are capable of inflicting, you can find out be reading this piece right here.

3. The message from the Seattle Thunderbirds is rather simple: We aren't anyone's patsy any more.
The Thunderbirds, who have struggled to reach the WHL's upper reaches in recent seasons, announced Thursday evening that they have acquired disgruntled forwards Jaimen Yakubowski and Sam Mckechnie, both 19, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for forwards Riley Sheen, who turns 19 on Dec. 21, and Carter Folk, 17, and a third-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft.
Yakubowski and Mckechnie, the Hurricanes' two leading scorers last season, had both expressed a desire to be traded and were sent home last week to wait and see what might transpire.
The Thunderbirds, who are 9-3-1 and a point behind the Western Conference-leading Spokane Chiefs (10-3-0), have signalled to the WHL's 21 other teams that they are coming after them.
“So far this season we have shown potential to be a contender in the league but it is a very competitive division and we felt the experience and scoring these two bring will give us the depth to fully round out our lineup,” Seattle general manager Russ Farwell said in a news release. “We are a tougher team to play against today with this trade and we are excited about what these two players add to our team.”
Yakubowski, from Dalmeny, Sask., has but one goal in 11 games this season, after putting up 50 points, including 32 goals, in 66 games last season. He has 79 points, 49 of them goals, in 145 career games. He also has some fire and brimstone to his game. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft.
Mckechnie, from Airdrie, Alta., has a goal and two assists in nine games this season. Last season, he finished with 44 points, including 26 goals, in 72 games. He had 76 points, 40 of them goals, in 153 career games. The Hurricanes selected him in the third round of the 2009 bantam draft.
Sheen, from Edmonton, had 40 points in 71 games with the Seattle last season. He was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers in a deal that had F Jacob Doty head east. Sheen had three ponts in 46 games with the Tigers in 2011-12. This season, he has eight points, three of them goals, in 12 games.
Folk, from Regina, is a freshman and is pointless in seven games. Seattle selected him in the fourth round of the 2011 bantam draft.
The Thunderbirds visit the Tri-City Americans tonight, before returning home to Kent for a game against the Vancouver Giants on Saturday.
The Thunderbirds and Chiefs aren't scheduled to meet until Dec. 1 and 6 when they play twice in Spokane. (The Portland Winterhawks are to visit Kent on Nov. 1.)
If you were wondering, F Ryan Gropp, who left the BCHL's Penticton Vees and a commitment to the U of North Dakota to join the Thunderbirds earlier this month, has yet to play. A groin injury has kept him on the sideline. He has practised this week and may play at some point this weekend.
Tim Pigulski of ESPN Seattle has more on the Thunderbirds right here.

4. After announcing the deal, the Hurricanes entertained the Moose Jaw Warriors. Lethbridge took a 3-0 lead into the third period, only to give up the game's last four goals and drop a 4-3 overtime decision. . . . Russian F Alex Chirva, playing his ninth game, forced OT with his first WHL goal at 15:20 of the third period and D Travis Brown won it 3:40 into extra time. . . . The Hurricanes are 2-11-2, which is the WHL's poorest record. The Warriors (6-7-3) are tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference.

5. A tweet from the Vancouver Province's Steve Ewen (@SteveEwen): "#WHL Somewhere Calvin Pickard is recounting all the good T-Bird news this year and saying, 'Now? Seriously?' "

6. The Vancouver Giants, having parted company with goaltending coach Paul Fricker earlier in the month, have filled that vacancy by hiring veteran coach Eli Wilson. . . . "I've coached at every level, from minor hockey to the NHL, and I've developed goaltenders to move on and reach their goals," Wilson said in a news release. "I've had a lot of success in the WHL when I was in Medicine Hat and I know what it takes at this level for goalies to reach their full potential." . . . Included on his resume are stints with Hockey Canada as well as the NHL's Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators.

7. Would you give up one of your kidneys for $10,000? . . . According to a story that is right here: "Paying living kidney donors $10,000 could boost donations and cost effectively improve quality of life for people who would otherwise be on dialysis, say Canadian doctors who modelled the idea.

8. The Vancouver Giants are without one of their two goaltenders as Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Jared Rathjen suffered an undisclosed injury in practice this week and wasn't able to even back up Payton Lee in Wednesday's 4-3 OT victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Giants are using Jake Morrissey, 16, who Ewen reports is on loan to them until Monday. Morrissey, the brother of Prince Albert Raiders D Josh Morrissey, was a fifth-round selection by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2012 bantam draft and now is at the South Delta, B.C., Hockey Academy. . . . Payton Lee will be back in goal on Friday as Vancouver begins a stretch of five games in six nights — at home to Everett tonight, in Kent, Wash., against Seattle on Saturday, in Kamloops on Sunday, and in Prince George on Tuesday and Wednesday.

9. Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that F Jujha Khaira of the Everett Silvertips has an undisclosed injury and won't play this weekend. The Silvertips are scheduled to be in Vancouver tonight and in Kamloops on Saturday. . . . Everett F Patrick Bajkov, who has missed two games with a concussion, isn't expected to play tonight but could return Saturday.

10. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Red Sox 4-2 in Boston last night to even the World Series, 1-1. This means there will be a Game 5 and some interesting times in St. Louis on Monday. While the Red Sox and Cardinals are playing, the Monday Night Football game will feature the Seattle Seahawks at the Rams.

11. So . . . you've got a shrine to hockey wrapped around a bar in your basement. But you're missing that one thing . . . that one item that would really get the conversation rolling. How about a score clock, like this one right here?

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A happy Chiefs' head coach

With most WHL training camps rolling and more to start this week, Alan Caldwell over there at Small Thoughts at Large is endeavouring to keep rosters up to date. . . . Feel free to pay a visit to his site for roster info.
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The Victoria Royals open their main camp today without Czech F Jiri Fronk, 19, who was selected in the 2013 CHL import draft. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist reports that Fronk wants to play for the Royals, but there is a problem in gaining his release. That story is right here.
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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Everett Silvertips scrimmaged Sunday without three forwards – Manraj Hayer, Ty Mappin and Jujhar Khaira. “Hayer and Mappin are nursing minor injuries,” Patterson writes, “(while) Khaira is home preparing for camp with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.” . . . Patterson also reported that F Alec Mehr has left Everett’s camp. Mehr, a 16-year-old from Los Angeles, was a 12th-round selection by the Silvertips in the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft. “It looks like the Tips weren't able to sign the promising 16-year-old forward from California,” notes Patters, “at least not for now. I'm told it wasn't for a lack of trying.”
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I was told Sunday that F Rob Trzonkowski of the Vancouver Giants suffered a shoulder separation during camp on Saturday. Trzonkowski, is coming off a knee injury that ended his 2012-13 season in January. He moved to the Giants from the Kamloops Blazers in a deal last season that had F Kale Kessy move to the Blazers.
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G Andy Desautels, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders, is leaving the WHL for the BCHL. As he tweeted Sunday afternoon: “I am very excited to say that I will be joining the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL this season. Can't wait to get the season going!” The Warriors obtained his rights from the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers on Saturday.
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F Mitch Holmberg, 20, scored three times as Team Red doubled Team White 4-2 in the Spokane Chiefs’ annual Red-White game on Sunday. The game was played before 2,972 fans.
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F Mason Blacklock has committed to Michigan Tech. A 19-year-old from Surrey, B.C., Blacklock was an eighth-round selection by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL’s 2009 bantam draft. He split last season between the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, Surrey Eagles and Vernon Vipers.
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If you are wondering where the next WHL franchise may end up, you should stroke Yakima, Wash., off the list. Dave Thomas of the Yakima Herald-Republic has more right here.
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Robert Lipsyte, the ombudsman at ESPN, has weighed in with his first piece involving the network’s decision to separate itself from the PBS documentary Frontline. That piece is right here.
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From Spokane Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur (@HCChiefs42): “Nothing better than seeing @D_Nachbaur fire a rocket top shelf for the GWG in the PG Coliseum. #Sweet #inmyhouse #Cents”
F Daniel Nachbaur, Don’s son, scored the winner as the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials beat the host Spruce Kings 5-2 on Sunday night. Don Nachbaur is a member of the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame.

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Nikolishin to report to Silvertips

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Darrell Hay (Tri-City, 1996-2000) and F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) each signed one-year contracts with Tohoku Free Blades Hachinohe (Japan, Asia Hockey League). . . . Last season, Hay had four goals and 16 assists in 40 games with Cortina (Italy, Serie A), while Lukacevic had no points in two games with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) and three goals and eight assists in 15 games with Banska Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga). . . .

F Aaron Gagnon (Seattle, 2001-07) signed a two-year contract with HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SEL). He had three goals in 10 games with the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and 11 goals and 13 assists in 43 games with the St. John’s Ice Caps (AHL) last season. Gagnon is due in Jönköping next week as HV71 opens its exhibition season on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at JYP Jyväskylä (Finland, SM-Liiga) — their training camp started July 29.
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F Jujhar Khaira, 19, has chosen to leave the Michigan Tech Huskies and sign with the Edmonton Oilers, who selected him in the third round of the NHL’s 2012 draft. His WHL rights are held by the Everett Silvertips, who acquired them from the Prince George Cougars. . . . Khaira, who is from Surrey, B.C., was drafted after playing for the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings. He then went to Michigan Tech. I can’t find a clause in the NHL-NHLPA CBA that covers a player drafted from junior who goes to college and then leaves early. But it is speculated that Khaira is eligible to play in the AHL this season. Should the Oilers decide he isn’t quite ready for that avenue, he could end up in Everett. . . . The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Khaira had 25 points, including six goals, in 37 games with Michigan Tech last season. In two seasons with the Spruce Kings, he had 121 points, 39 of them goals, in 112 games.
Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald has more on Khaira right here. Patterson also covers the Silvertips’ import situation, starting with the news that Russian F Ivan Nikolishin is expected to show up for training camp.
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The Portland Winterhawks are going to share their 2012-13 WHL championship with their season-ticket holders.
The team revealed Wednesday that every 2013-14 season-ticket holder will be presented with “a wearable championship ring that will be an exact replica of the ring that will be given to the players and coaches for winning last season's title.” . . . The presentations to fans will made at a game during the upcoming season.
"Championships require commitment, and no one is more committed to the Portland Winterhawks than our season ticket holders. We can't think of a better way to honor them than with championship rings of their own," Winterhawks president Doug Piper said in a statement. "This will be an exclusive gift for all of our full season ticket holders, something we hope they treasure for years to come."
Any season-ticket holders who might be flying in for the ceremony will have to foot the bill themselves. Or see if a QMJHL team will help them out.
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In the world of junior hockey, where new revenue streams are getting harder and harder to find, the SJHL just may have happened upon something.
The SJHL, under president Bill Chow, has sold the naming rights to one of its division. Yes, the Central Division, as it was called earlier this year when realignment was announced, now is the Kramer Division.
That’s because Kramer Ltd., a North Battleford-based outfit that specializes in selling farm equipment through auction, has cut a three-year deal for those naming rights.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Rick Emmett is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators. Emmett, an assistant coach with the Gladiators, was promoted after head coach John Wroblewski joined the AHL’s Rochester Americans as an assistant coach. . . . Emmett spent the past two seasons as an assistant under Wroblewski.
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Robbie Ftorek, who spent most of five seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Erie Otters, has been hired by the NHL’s Calgary Flames to work as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. . . . Ftorek will work alongside head coach Troy Ward with the Heat. . . . George Johnson of the Calgary Herald has more right here.
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From Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) of the Seattle Times: “Just saw an usher in the elevator lugging a bunch of brooms left behind by Jays fans hoping for a sweep.”

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