Scooter on Memorial Cup format ... Warriors set hockey operations ... Ex-WHLer suffers two strokes

F Dominic Zwerger (Spokane, Everett, 2013-17) has signed a three-year contract with Ambri-Piotta (Switzerland, NL A). This season, he had 28 goals and 47 assists in 67 games with Everett. . . . Zwerger is Austrian but qualifies as a non-import because he played minor hockey in Switzerland. . . .

F Dane Byers (Prince Albert, 2001-06) has signed one-year contract with the Manchester Storm (England, UK Elite). This season, with Cologne (Germany, DEL), he had seven goals and five assists in 49 games. He plans on studying for his MBA at the University of Salford while playing for the Storm.

———

With the on-going debate about the Memorial Cup and its format, it’s only fitting that Taking Note should hear from Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, who was there in 1983 when the four-team tournament, featuring a host team, first was held.

Here’s Scooter:

“Since Portland was the first host team in 1983 and won it, I remember all the angst about how that would

DEAN VROOMAN

destroy the tournament, but it should be pointed out that only seven host teams have won the Cup in the 35 years of this format without also winning their league championship.

“And Windsor was the first team in 35 years of this format to win the Cup without winning at least one playoff series.

“The host team had lost its opening game six straight years from 2009-14 until Quebec beat Kelowna 4-3 in 2015. Red Deer also lost its first game in 2016.

“So, overall, one could argue the teams that ‘earn their way in’ have done very well in this format.

“Every time a host team wins, the format will come into question — but the very small crowds in Hull, Que., at the 1982 Cup (the last three-team tournament) was what really motivated Brian Shaw to champion the host team format, both from a financial standpoint and from the atmosphere standpoint.

“He felt that the event was worthy of bigger crowds and most of the time during this 35-year run that has happened. The atmosphere has been really good.”

Vrooman, now the Portland Winterhawks’ director, sponsorship sales and service, was a long-time radio voice of the team.

Shaw was the co-owner and general manager of the Winterhawks at the time and he really championed the move from a three-team tournament to a four-team affair that provides automatic entry to a host team.

One other thing that has to be remembered in discussing the Memorial Cup and its format is this: After the 2013 tournament was held in Saskatoon, each of the WHL’s teams received $148,913, a figure that was $118,477 following the 2016 event in Red Deer.

If you are thinking about a new format, you need to take that into consideration because that, as much as anything, is why it won’t change in the near future.

——

Warriors unveil new look jerseys for 2017-2018. pic.twitter.com/nYGO56Scff

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) June 2, 2017

The Moose Jaw Warriors have signed general manager Alan Millar and head coach Tim Hunter to what a news release says are “multi-year” contract extensions. . . . The Warriors didn’t release any information as to length of contracts or when they might expire. A source familiar with the situation told Taking Note late in the regular season that the board of directors of the community-owned team had agreed to terms with Millar on a five-year extension but had yet to announce it. . . . Millar is entering his eight season with the Warriors. . . . Hunter, 56, has been the Warriors’ head coach for three seasons. He has 14 years as an NHL assistant coach on his resume. He also was an assistant coach with Canada’s national junior team at the 2017 World Junior Championship and will be back in that role for the 2018 tournament. . . . The Warriors are 110-83-23 under Hunter, having made the playoffs each of the past two seasons. They lost in the second round of the playoffs last season and to the Swift Current Broncos in seven games in this season’s first round. Moose Jaw had gone 42-21-9 in the regular season, good for second in the East Division, five points ahead of the Broncos. . . . The Warriors also announced contract extensions to assistant coaches Mark O’Leary and Scott King, Doug Gasper, the director of scouting, and Brooke Kosolofski, the head athletic therapist. . . . The Warriors also have hired Tanner Arnold as equipment manager. He spent the past two seasons as the trainer/equipment manager with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers.

——

The Tri-City Americans have signed F Isaac Johnson, 18, to a WHL contract. Johnson, from Andover, Minn., played this season with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers, scoring 14 goals and adding 14 assists in 47 games. . . . NHL Central Scouting has the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Johnson ranked No. 97 among North American skaters for this month’s NHL draft.

——

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have signed F Noah Boyko, who was the 16th overall selection in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. Boyko, from St. Albert, Alta., had 25 goals and 27 assists in 36 regular-season games with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League this season. He added seven goals and 11 assists in 14 playoff games as the Rangers won the provincial title. He then recorded six goals and four assists in five games at the Western Canadian championship.

——

F Michael Spacek of the Red Deer Rebels has signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Winnipeg Jets, who selected him in the fourth round of the NHL’s 2015 draft. The contract has an annual average value of US$833,300. . . . Spacek, 20, had a team-high 85 points, including 30 goals, in 59 games with the Rebels this season. In two seasons with them, he had 139 points, 48 of them goals, in 120 games. . . . A native of Czech Republic, he finished this season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, earning one assist in four games. . . . He also played for Czech Republic in three straight World Junior Championships. . . . Because he was drafted out of Czech Republic, he is eligible to play in the Jets’ system in 2017-18, or he could return to the WHL as a two-spotter — a 20-year-old import.

——

A group that includes former Moose Jaw Warriors F Ryan Smyth has purchased the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints. The AJHL announced Thursday that its board of governors has unanimously approved the sale. . . . Darren Myshak had owned the Saints fo rthe past 14 seasons. . . . The new ownership group, known as Silent Ice, also includes Lindsey and Dan Leckelt, owners of Silent-Aire, an engineering and manufacturing company. Silent Ice also owns the senior AAA Stony Plain Eagles. Smyth, who played three seasons (1992-95) with the Warriors before going on to play 1,270 regular-season NHL games, is the Eagles’ captain. . . . Smyth will be the Saints’ president and is looking for a general manager and head coach after it was revealed that Mike Ringrose “has decided to leave the Saints to pursue other opportunities” after just one season. . . . Smyth also announced that Steven Goertzen (Seattle, 2001-04) is on board as hockey skills development coach. Goertzen is a native of Stony Plain.

Meanwhile, the AJHL’s board of governors also approved the sale of the Drayton Valley Thunder from a community group to a group that includes Cindy and Monte Waronek and Judy Sweet, all of whom, according to a news release, “are longtime residents and business owners in Drayton Valley.” . . . You have to wonder if Ringrose might surface with the Vancouver Giants, who have an opening for an assistant coach. Vancouver head coach Jason McKee spent 10 seasons with the Saints, and Ringrose was there for six of them.

——

After a tough day following his initial stroke, hearing that ex Leaf  Bob McGill doing a little better in hospital.

— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) June 1, 2017

Bob McGill, a former WHL defenceman, revealed via Twitter on Thursday morning that he has suffered a stroke. . . . Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun later reported that McGill “is in a Peterborough-area hospital after suffering a blood clot-related stroke.” According to Hornby, “McGill, 55, fell ill Wednesday at his cottage, according to friends. He tweeted about his condition early Thursday, wryly noting he ‘survived 705 NHL games and 190 fights, but in for my toughest fight now,’ while confirming the clot and the stroke.” . . . Later Thursday, Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star reported that McGill suffered two strokes — one at his cottage and another while in hospital. . . . McGill, a native of Leduc, Alta., played two seasons (1979-81) with the Victoria Cougars, totalling eight goals, 54 assists and 525 penalty minutes in 136 games. . . . The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him in the second round of the NHL’s 1980 draft. He went on to play 705 NHL games, splitting them between Toronto, the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders and Hartford Whalers. He finished his NHL career with 17 goals, 55 assists and 1,766 penalty minutes in 705 games. . . . McGill spent a lot of this season on the broadcast crew for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
——

If you’re a regular here, and even you aren’t, feel free to contribute to the feeding of the Drinnan family by making a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

———

The Swift Current Broncos have signed Dave Rathjen as their goaltending coach. Rathjen actually joined the Broncos late this season on an interim basis through the end of the playoffs. Rathjen is a former WHL goaltender, having played 11 games with the Tri-City Americans in 1997-98. . . . From Penticton, B.C., he owns and operates Above the Crease Goaltending LTD.

——

DAVID WILKIE

Former WHL D David Wilkie has been named head coach of the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. Wilkie played for the Lancers and was part of their championship team in 1990-91. . . . Wilkie, 43, has spent the past seven seasons coach with the Omaha AAA Hockey Club. Most recently, he has been its director of hockey operations and the head coach of the U-18 and U-16 teams. . . . Wilkie also has coaching experience as an assistant with the U of Nebraska-Omaha in 2007-08 and as head coach of the ECHL’s Augusta Lynx in 2002-03. . . . He split four WHL seasons (1990-94) between the Seattle Thunderbirds, Kamloops Blazers and Regina Pats. He was part of the Blazers’ 1992 Memorial Cup-winning team.

——

Scott Atkinson is the new head coach of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks. He also will work as the assistant general manager, alongside Troy Mick, the organization’s president and GM. . . . Atkinson, from Calgary, had been coaching at the Edge School in Calgary since 2009. Prior to that, he was the head coach of the U of Calgary Dinos in U Sports’ Canada West conference. He also spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Mount Royal College in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. . . . In Salmon Arm, he takes over from Misko Antisin, who stepped down at season’s end. Antisin started the season as the head coach of the Steamboat, Colo., Wranglers of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League, but returned to Salmon Arm in November when head coach Brandon West was fired.

——
Former NHL D Moe Mantha has signed on as the new general manager and head coach of the NAHL’s Brookings Blizzard. He replaces Dan Daikawa, the head coach for the past three seasons whose contract wasn’t renewed. . . . Mantha played 12 seasons in the NHL. He has coached with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit. . . . This season, he coached the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League while scouting for Saginaw.

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.

Barzal's return sparks T-Birds ... Pats tie series ... Tigers, Rockets win, too

@ShelKenn did not disappoint! #celebritydanceoff pic.twitter.com/UZ0WaukeZe

— Respect Group (@RespectGroup) April 8, 2017

———

Continuing with the report from Finland that started here yesterday . . .

Well, Game 6 went to double OT. Vantaa won 2-1, scoring with three seconds left in the second OT. The TuTo goalie got a major for "abuse of officials" plus a double game misconduct, one for "throwing a stick or object" and the second for "abuse of officials" at the end of the game. The winning goal was a power-play goal, so that may account for the "abuse of officials,” etc. . . . Vantaa wins the series 4-2 and plays SaPKo Savonlinna in the final.

———

D Mark Rubinchik of the Saskatoon is on the roster of the team that will represent Russia at the IIHF U-18 World Championship in Poprad and Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia, next week. Rubinchik played for Russia at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial last summer. With the Blades, he had 23 assists in 63 games. . . . The Blades also will be represented as equipment manager Chad Scharff has been named to that role with Team Canada. . . . Russia opens the IIHF tournament against Sweden on April 13.

——

F Jansen Harkins of the Prince George Cougars has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets, who selected him in the second round of the 2015 NHL draft. Harkins has joined the Manitoba Moose, the Jets’ AHL affiliate, and will spend the remainder of the season there. Harkins put up 242 points, including 75 goals, in 275 regular-season games over four seasons with the Cougars. He is Prince George’s all-time leader in assists (167) and points.

——

F Reid Duke of the Brandon Wheat Kings has signed a PTO with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and will finish this season with them. Earlier, Duke, 21, signed an NHL contract with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, who apparently are working on a deal to purchase an AHL franchise but haven’t yet announced it. This season, Duke had 71 points, 37 of them goals, in 59 games with the Wheat Kings.

——

MORE ON THE MOVE: D Ondrej Vala of the Kamloops Blazers has joined the Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Vala just completed his second WHL season. Vala, who will turn 19 on April 13, signed a three-year entry-level deal with Dallas in September. From Slovakia, he wasn’t selected in the NHL draft. . . . F Matt Phillips of the Victoria Royals will finish the season with the AHL’s Stockton Heat, which is affiliated with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. The Flames selected him in the sixth round of the NHL’s 2016 draft. . . . F Michael Spacek of the Red Deer Rebels has signed an ATO with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. The parent Winnipeg Jets selected him in the fourth round of the NHL’s 2015 draft. He has yet to sign an NHL contract.

——

If you enjoy stopping off here and would care to make a donation to the cause, please feel free to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

If interested, you also are able to follow me on Twitter at @gdrinnan.

———

So cool! Montreal legends Yvon Lambert, Guy Lafleur & Rejean Houle all in Pats jerseys.Thanks Shaun Semple for arranging. #JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/GwZ92LTnBs

— #JoinTheRegiment (@WHLPats) April 8, 2017

———

FRIDAY’S GAMES:

Barzal had "no comment" regarding the rumors circulating while he was out.

— Tim Pigulski (@tpigulski) April 8, 2017

When asked if it was in fact the mumps, Barzal said 'no comment'

— Andy Eide (@AndyEide) April 8, 2017

At Everett, F Mathew Barzal scored the game’s first goal and drew an assist on the winner in his first

MATHEW BARZAL

game in a month as the Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Silvertips, 3-2. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for tonight in Everett. . . . Barzal, the Western Conference’s most outstanding player, last played on March 7. Originally, he was thought to have been out with the mumps, but the Thunderbirds never did release the results of his tests and it all turned into speculation that he had mononucleosis. . . . Barzal opened the scoring on a PP, at 2:07 of the second period, getting his own rebound and beating G Carter Hart. . . . Everett tied it on F Eetu Tuulola’s third goal, at 17:53. . . . Seattle went ahead 2-1 when F Tyler Adams (1) scored at 5:31 of the third period. . . . That set the stage for something of a wild finish. . . . With G Carter Hart on the bench for an extra attacker, Everett D Aaron Irving scored on a point shot through traffic at 18:22. . . . The Thunderbirds broke the tie 39 seconds later as F Donovan Neuls (4) scored on the rebound of a Barzal shot. . . . Seattle got two assists from F Alexander True, with Neuls adding one to his goal. . . . G Carl Stankowski ran his playoff record to 5-0 with 21 saves, nine fewer than Hart. . . . Seattle was 1-2 on the PP; Everett was 0-2. . . . Barzal now has played in 34 WHL playoff games. He has put up 42 points, including 11 goals. . . . Seattle remained without F Ryan Gropp and G Rylan Toth. Gropp was injured in Game 2 of a first-round series with the Tri-City Americans. Toth hasn’t played since March 11. . . . Everett F Devon Skoleski played for the first time since March 19. . . . Announced attendance: 4,588.

——

At Kelowna, the Rockets scored three goals in 95 seconds en route to a 4-2 victory over the Portland

CALVIN THURKAUF

Winterhawks. . . . They’ll play Game 2 in Kelowna tonight. . . . Kelowna F Calvin Thurkauf (1) opened the scoring at 3:42 of the second period. . . . F Kole Lind (2) made it 2-0 at 4:32, and F Reid Gardiner’s sixth goal upped that to 3-0 at 5:17. . . . The Rockets completed a four-goal second-period as F Dillon Dube (5) scored on a PP, at 16:08. . . . Portland got on the scoreboard when F Brad Ginnell (2) scored at 10:50 of the third period. . . . F Cody Glass (3) scored Portland’s second goal, on a PP with G Cole Kehler on the bench for an extra attacker, at 17:34. . . . Portland received another PP after that one and came close to scoring, with F Skyler McKenzie being stoned by G Michael Herringer and F Joachim Blichfeld hitting a post. . . . Thurkauf also had two assists, for a three-point outing, with Gardiner and Lind adding an assist each. . . . Herringer finished with 27 saves, while Kehler blocked 50 shots. . . . The Rockets had a 43-12 edge in shots — and that 4-0 lead — after two periods. . . . Kelowna was 1-4 on the PP; Portland was 1-5. . . . The Rockets’ penalty killers have allowed two goals in 37 opportunities in seven playoff games. . . . Announced attendance: 5,002.

——

#Regina #Pats winger @wagner2797 checks his teeth after taking a high stick in the month after scoring an empty-net goal. #WHL. pic.twitter.com/ENmqHABc5p

— Darren Steinke (@StanksSports) April 8, 2017

At Regina, the Pats scored the game’s last five goals as they beat the Swift Current Broncos, 6-2. . . .

AUSTIN WAGNER

The series is tied, 1-1, with Game 3 set for Monday in Swift Current. It will be televised by Sportsnet. . . . The Broncos had won the opener, 1-0 in OT, on Thursday night in Regina. . . . In Game 1, the Pats received only one PP opportunity. In Game 2, Regina was 2-10 with the man advantage and the Broncos, who were 2-5, know they can’t win by taking that many trips to the penalty box. . . . D Jonathan Smart (1) gave Regina a 1-0 lead at 9:36 of the first period. . . . The Broncos went ahead 2-1 on first-period PP goals from D Max Lajoie (1), at 12:35, and F Tyler Steenbergen (7), at 16:18. . . . The Pats tied it 43 seconds into the second period as D Connor Hobbs (2) counted on a PP. . . . The home team went ahead at 6:08 as F Nick Henry (2) also scored on the PP. . . . F Austin Wagner (5) added insurance at 14:28. . . . Regina F Robbie Holmes (1) and Wagner (6), into an empty net, added third-period goals. . . . Regina got two assists from F Sam Steel, with Henry and Hobbs adding one each. . . . F Aleksi Heponiemi had two assists for the Broncos, with Steenbergen getting one. . . . G Tyler Brown stopped 15 shots for the Pats, while the Broncos’ Jordan Papirny turned aside 34. . . . Regina F Adam Brooks, who totalled 250 points in 139 regular-season games over the last two seasons, left in the first period with an apparent left knee injury. He got bumped a couple of times in the neutral zone, went down and was slow leaving the ice. He came on the ice a few minutes later, test it and left for the dressing room. . . . The Pats scratched F Filip Ahl, but it isn't known if he was ill or injured. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484.

Pats won't disclose the nature of Adam Brooks injury, or a timeline for his return. I did see him walking around, good sign.

— Bianca Millions (@BiancaCTV) April 8, 2017

——

What @PeterAnholt was really thinking during the 1st intermission. @WHLHurricanes #CaneTrain #AllAboard #YQL pic.twitter.com/XWRJa5iOa3

— Canes This Week (@CanesThisWeek) April 8, 2017

At Medicine Hat, G Michael Bullion stopped 16 shots in recording his first playoff shutout as the Tigers

MICHAEL BULLION

beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 4-0. . . . They’ll play Game 2 in Medicine Hat tonight. . . . Shaw TV is covering this series in its entirety. . . . The Tigers have played five games in these playoffs, and won all of them. Bullion is 5-0, 1.80, .926. . . . F Steve Owre scored a goal, his second of the playoffs, and added two assists. . . . The Tigers went up 1-0 when F John Dahlstrom scored at 15:23 of the first period. . . . Medicine Hat took control with second-period goals from F Chad Butcher (2), at 5:42, and Owre, at 17:25. . . . F Zach Fischer (4) got the game’s last goal, at 15:01 of the third period. . . . Fischer and Butcher each had one assist, too. . . . Lethbridge took the game’s only four minor penalties. . . . Medicine Hat was 0-0 on the PP. . . . The Hurricanes got 33 saves from G Stuart Skinner. . . . D Brad Forrest remains out of the Tigers’ lineup with an undisclosed injury. . . . Announced attendance: 4,580.

——

SATURDAY GAMES (all times local):

Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m. (Seattle leads, 1-0)

Portland at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m. (Kelowna leads, 1-0)

Lethbridge at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m. (Medicine Hat leads, 1-0)

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.

Rebels shock Hurricanes . . . Warriors, Royals even series . . . Barzal sighting, but not on ice

The defending-champion Brandon Wheat Kings were without F Nolan Patrick for a second straight game against the host Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday. The Wheat Kings, 7-2 losers in the opener, also added a pair of 15-year-olds — D Braden Schneider and F Ben McCartney — while taking out F Baron Thompson and F Cole Reinhardt. Schneider was the 11th overall selection in the 2016 WHL bantam draft, while McCartney was taken in the second round.

——

The Tigers, meanwhile, added veteran D Ty Schultz, while scratching D Brad Forrest. Schultz hadn’t played since Jan. 13 when he suffered a broken leg while blocking a shot.

——

The Red Deer Rebels and the Hurricanes got their series started last night in Lethbridge. The Hurricanes had F Matt Alfaro and F Zak Zborosky back after both had played just one game since March 4. Both were acquired from the Kootenay Ice near the trade deadline in the hopes they could provide some offence.

——

The Tri-City Americans added F Vladislav Lukin to their scratches prior to Game 2 against the host Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday. He joined F Nolan Yaremko and F Michael Rasmussen. With Rasmussen’s season likely over thanks to a broken scaphoid, losing Lukin is a blow. Lukin finished the regular season with 58 points, including 26 goals, in 63 games. He missed some time late in the regular season, too.

——

The Thunderbirds, 4-2 winners in Game 1, scratched F Mathew Barzal and G Rylan Toth for a second straight playoff game. Barzal (mumps) last played on March 7, while Toth (undisclosed injury) last saw action on March 11. Barzal, the Western Conference’s outstanding player, put up 79 points, 69 of them assists, in 41 games. Toth led all goaltenders with 36 regular-season victories. He made 58 appearances. . . . Barzal was seen exiting the dressing room after last night’s game. As Tim Pigulski of 710 ESPN Seattle tweeted: “That is the first we’ve seen of Barzal since he left the blue line during the anthem two weeks ago. No longer in isolation.”

——

After losing Game 1, 4-0, to the Rockets in Kelowna, the Kamloops Blazers inserted D Devan Harrison and F Brodi Stuart, while taking out D Dan Gatenby and F Jackson Shepard.

——

The Regina Pats, who beat the visiting Calgary Hitmen, 5-2, in Friday’s opener, got F Nick Henry back from a one-game WHL suspension. Henry was one of the Pats’ five 80-point men, finishing his first regular season with 81 points, including 35 goals. . . . In order to get Henry in, the Pats took out F Kjell Kjemhus, a 15-year-old from Grande Prairie, Alta., who was a fourth-round selection in the 2016 WHL bantam draft.

——

In Everett, the Victoria Royals, 4-2 losers to the Silvertips on Friday, scratched D Scott Walford and F Blake Bargar, adding D Mitchell Prowse and D Jeremy Masella.

——

It’s a big hockey day in Prince George today (Sunday). The Cougars are at home to the Portland Winterhawks for Game 2 of their series at 5 p.m. Earlier in the day, at 9:45 a.m., the Cariboo Cougars and Greater Vancouver Canadians will decide the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League championship. The Canadians won Game 1, 3-2, in double OT on Friday, with the Cougars. behind 19 saves from G Marcus Allen, tying the best-of-three final with a 2-0 victory on Saturday afternoon.

——

When the Winterhawks and Cougars met Friday, it was a Mega Jackpot for the 50/50 draw and Jenny Plouffe, who is from Prince George, went home with more than $42,000. Proceeds from the draw went to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Prince George.

——

F Ty Ronning of the Vancouver Giants is with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers, on an ATO. He picked up is first professional point on Friday, in a 3-1 loss to the visiting Providence Bruins, then got his first goal Saturday in a 4-3 victory over the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

———

If you enjoy stopping off here and would care to make a donation to the cause, please feel free to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

If interested, you also are able to follow me on Twitter at @gdrinnan.

———

A moment to remember. #CunnyDid pic.twitter.com/vzTuyHjPpM

— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) March 26, 2017

———

SATURDAY GAMES (all series best-of-seven):

@Rebelshockey
Go Rebels! Will be cheering and listening to Mooner  from Ko Olina Beach, Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/U1T2jBMgcg

— Robert Korbyl (@RobertKorbyl) March 26, 2017

At Lethbridge, the Red Deer Rebels erased a 2-0 deficit en route to a 4-2 victory over the Hurricanes. . . .

MICHAEL SPACEK

This was Game 1, with Game 2 scheduled for today, 6 p.m., in Lethbridge. . . . The Hurricanes finished second in the Central Division, 14 victories and 22 points ahead of the Rebels. . . . The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead when F Tyler Wong struck at 13:51 of the first period. . . . F Ryan Vandervlis made it 2-0 at 3:14 of the second period. . . . F Michael Spacek got Red Deer on the scoreboard at 18:42, the late-period goal maybe the most important of the game. . . . F Cameron Hausinger tied the score at 1:55 of the third period. . . . Red Deer F Brandon Hagel snapped the tie, on a PP, at 18:03. . . . F Lane Zablocki added an empty-netter, on a PP, at 19:56. . . . The Rebels to two assists from F Evan Polei and one from Spacek. . . . Red Deer G Riley Lamb stopped 25 shots. . . . Lethbridge got 29 saves from G Stuart Skinner. . . . Red Deer was 2-5 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-6. . . . Announced attendance: 4,118.

——

Brayden Burke was benched for nearly 30 mins. He roofed the game-winning goal with 4:11 left. 3-2 MJ. Series tied 1-1.

— Matthew Gourlie (@MattGourlie) March 26, 2017

At Moose Jaw, F Brayden Burke broke a 2-2 tie at 15:49 of the third period as the Warriors beat the Swift

LUKA BURZAN

Current Broncos, 3-2. . . . The series is tied 1-1. . . . The Broncos had won Game 1, 2-0, on Friday night. . . . They’ll play Games 3 and 4 in Swift Current on Tuesday and Wednesday. . . . F MacKenzie Wight had given the visitors a 1-0 lead at 8:36 of the first period. . . . The Warriors tied it on F Branden Klatt’s goal at 13:52 of the second period. . . . Broncos F Tyler Steenbergen scored his second goal of the series at 16:53 for a 2-1 lead. . . . The Warriors pulled even at 5:07 of the third period as F Thomas Foster scored on a wrap-around. . . . The Warriors got two assists from F Luka Burzan. He had the primary assist on Moose Jaw’s first and last goals. . . . G Zach Sawchenko earned the victory with 34 saves. . . . G Jordan Papirny stopped 31 shots for the Broncos. . . . Moose Jaw was 0-3 on the PP; Swift Current was 0-5. . . . Announced attendance: 3,610.

——

At Medicine Hat, the Tigers built a 3-0 lead and hung on for a 5-3 lead over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . .

ZACH FISCHER

. The Tigers won Game 1, 7-2, on Friday. . . . The scene now shifts to Dauphin, Man., for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday. With the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair having taken over Brandon’s Keystone Centre complex, the Wheat Kings will play their opening-round games in Dauphin. . . . F Zach Fischer gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with 11.1 seconds left in the first period. . . . F Max Gerlach made it 2-0 at 12:22 of the second period. . . . Fischer increased that to 3-0 with his third goal in two games, at 4:27 of the third period. . . . The Wheat Kings got on the scoreboard when F Connor Gutenberg scored at 7:45. . . . Medicine Hat got that one back just nine seconds later as F John Dahlstrom scored. . . . The Wheat Kings cut the deficit to one on goals from F Reid Duke, at 11:08, and F Tyler Coulter, at 18:09. . . . Dahlstrom iced it with an empty-netter at 19:44. . . . F Mason Shaw had two assists for the Tigers. . . . The Wheat Kings got two assists from F Ty Lewis, with Coulter adding one. . . . Medicine Hat G Michael Bullion made 20 saves. . . . Brandon starter Logan Thompson allowed four goals on 42 shots in 53:12. He left in the third period, favouring a leg, after Tigers F Max Gerlach was pushed on top of him. Travis Child finished up, stopping the only shot he faced in 5:42. That was Child’s WHL playoff debut. . . . Medicine Hat was 1-5 on the PP; Brandon was 0-4. . . . Announced attendance: 3,791.

——

Adam Brooks is cross-checked. No call. Evidently, cross-checking AND slashing are now legal. Why have two referees if they are bystanders?

— Rob Vanstone (@robvanstone) March 26, 2017

At Regina, F Sam Steel scored one goal and drew four assists to lead the Pats to a 5-1 victory over the

SAM STEEL

Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Pats had posted a 5-2 victory in Game 1 on Friday. . . . They’ll resume the series in Calgary with games scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. . . . Last night, Steel, who won the WHL’s regular-season scoring title, drew the primary assist on each of Regina’s first four goals. . . . F Dawson Leedahl gave Regina a 1-0 lead at 11:44 of the first period. . . . Calgary tied it on F Andrew Fyten’s goal at 2:16 of the second period. . . . F Adam Brooks scored his third goal in two games, this one via a 5-on-3 PP, to put the Pats back out front, at 4:17. . . . Leedahl scored again, at 9:38, and F Nick Henry counted at 7:26 of the third period. Henry had sat out Game 1 with a WHL suspension. . . . Steel got the empty-netter at 17:00. . . . Leedahl also had an assist, for a three-point night, while D Connor Hobbs had two assists. . . . Regina G Tyler Brown stopped 26 shots, eight fewer than Calgary’s Cody Porter. . . . Regina was 1-3 on the PP; Calgary was 0-4. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484.

——

.@Kelowna_Rockets game stats:
59% possession time
56% faceoffs
52% total shot attempts
31 hits, Twarynski led w/ 5
9 blocked shots#KELvsKAM

— Mark Francis (@Markenjoysmath) March 26, 2017

DILLON DUBE

At Kelowna, F Dillon Dube scored two third-period goals for the Rockets as they skated to a 3-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . The Rockets blanked the Blazers, 4-0, in Game 1 on Friday. . . . The series resumes with games in Kamloops on Tuesday and Wednesday. . . . Dube, who signed an NHL contract on Friday, scored shorthanded at 11:55 for a 2-0 lead, then made it 3-0, on a PP, at 13:24. . . . D Cal Foote, who also had an assist, had given Kelowna a 1-0 edge at 2:53 of the first period. . . . F Quinn Benjafield scored the Blazers’ first goal of the series at 13:59, and D Ondrej Vala added a PP goal at 16:30 to make for an interesting finish. . . . The Rockets got 33 saves from G Michael Herringer, while Connor Ingram of Kamloops stopped 34. . . . The Blazers had 15 shots in all of Game 1. In Game 2, they held a 16-13 edge after one period. . . . Announced attendance: 5,647.

——

yeeeeeeeeeaaaaah, 4-3 royals #EVTvsVIC

— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) March 26, 2017

At Everett, F Vladimir Bobylev broke a tie at 15:01 of the third period to give the Victoria Royals a 4-3

TYLER SOY

victory over the Silvertips. . . . Bobylev scored from behind the Everett net, banking the winning goal off G Carter Hart. . . . The Silvertips won, 4-2, on Friday. . . . The teams will resume hostilities in Victoria with games on Tuesday and Wednesday. . . . Last night, Everett took a 1-0 lead on a PP goal from F Matt Fonteyne at 7:53 of the first period. . . . Victoria F Matt Phillips tied it, on a PP, at 12:45. . . . Everett went back out front 49 seconds into the second period as F Patrick Bajkov scored his second goal of the series, on a PP. . . . F Tyler Soy shot the Royals out front with two goals, the first one at 1:40, the second, on a PP, at 7:30. . . . F Brandson Hein pulled Everett even at 7:49 of the third period. . . . F Jack Walker and D Chaz Reddekopp each had two assists for the Royals. . . . Everett got two assists from F Dominic Zwerger and one from Bajkov. . . . Walker set franchise records for career playoff assists (18) and points (31). He had tied F Brandon Magee for both marks on Friday. . . . Soy set a franchise career record for playoff goals (14) with his second goal. The first one tied Walker and Magee. . . . G Griffen Outhouse earned the victory with 18 saves. . . . Hart finished up with 26 saves. . . . Each team was 2-3 on the PP. . . . Announced attendance: 4,196.

——

2#WinTheCup #SEAvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/DhCWipLNIa

— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 26, 2017

At Kent, Wash., the Seattle Thunderbirds scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Tri-City

SCOTT EANSOR

Americans, 5-2. . . . The Thunderbirds had posted a 4-2 victory on Friday. . . . The series will resume with games in Kennewick, Wash., on Wednesday and Friday. . . . Last night, Seattle took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals from F Nolan Volcan, on a PP, at 8:55, and F Scott Eansor, at 17:14. . . . Eansor scored his first goal since Dec. 31 after missing most of the second half with injuries. . . . The Americans pulled even on goals from F Parker AuCoin, at 16:21 of the second period, and F Max James, on a PP, at 6:52 of the third. . . . Seattle F Matthew Wedman snapped the 2-2 tie at 15:03 of the third period. . . . F Donovan Neuls added insurance, on a PP, at 15:29, and D Aaron Hyman scored another PP goal at 19:42. . . . Seattle got two assists each from D Austin Strand and D Jarret Tyszka, with Hyman adding one. . . . Seattle G Carl Stankowski, making his second straight start in the absence of the injured Rylan Toth, stopped 28 shots. . . . The Americans got 36 stops from G rylan Parenteau. . . . Seattle was 3-4 on the PP; Tri-City was 1-5. . . . Announced attendance: 4,502.

——

SUNDAY GAMES (all times local):

Red Deer at Lethbridge, 6 p.m. (Red Deer leads, 1-0)

Portland at Prince George, 5 p.m. (Portland leads, 1-0)

——

MONDAY GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

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.

Pats back on top rung . . . Warriors end Blades' run . . . Hurricanes have points in nine straight

42 days after receiving a new heart and kidney, Hall of Famer Rod Carew was discharged from Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. today.

— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) January 28, 2017

———

FRIDAY’S GAMES:

244 - the 2016-17 @WHLPats have more goals thru 45 games than they did ALL of last season (243). At this point last year they had 142.

— Kevin Shaw (@theblueliner) January 28, 2017

At Calgary, F Austin Wagner’s goal at 2:05 of OT gave the Regina Pats a 6-5 victory over the Hitmen. . . .

AUSTIN WAGNER

Regina held a 5-3 lead with 11:30 to play in the third period, but the Hitmen came back with two PP goals to force extra time. . . . F Jakob Stukel’s 15th goal, at 8:36, got Calgary to within a goal and D Jake Bean’s third goal of the game, and sixth of the season, tied it at 15:29. . . . Wagner won it with his 21st goal. . . . F Sam Steel, the WHL’s leading scorer, got Regina out to a 1-0 lead at 4:24 of the first period. . . . Bean gave the Hitmen the lead with goals at 14:08 and 14:59, the latter on a PP. . . . Regina took a 4-2 lead on second-period goals from F Jeff de Witt (7), on a PP, at 5:09; F Adam Brooks (26), on another PP, at 6:11, and F Dawson Leedahl (25), at 14:14. . . . Leedahl has goals in seven straight games. . . . F Luke Coleman (9) got the Hitmen to within a goal at 14:52, but Steel’s 36th goal restored the two-goal lead at 5:58 of the third period. . . . Steel, who also had two assists, leads the WHL with 87 points, five more than Brooks. . . . Regina got two assists from F Nick Henry and one each from Leedahl and Brooks. . . . F Matteo Gennaro drew three assists for Calgary, while F Andrei Grishakov and F Mark Kastelic had two. Bean added one to his first career hat trick. . . . G Jordan Hollett stopped 31 shots for Regina, one fewer than Calgary’s Trevor Martin. . . . Calgary was 3-9 on the PP; Regina was 2-6. . . . The Pats (32-6-7) have won three in a row. They have moved into a tie with the Prince George Cougars atop the overall standings. . . . The Hitmen (17-21-9) had points in each of their three previous games (0-1-2). They are three points out of a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 9,316.

——

At Everett, the Portland Winterhawks, with G Cole Kehler stopping 46 shots, scored the game’s first two

COLE KEHLER

goals and its last two as they beat the Silvertips, 4-1. . . . F Alex Overhardt got the visitors started with his ninth goal, shorthanded, at 10:44 of the opening period. . . . F Evan Weinger’s 14th goal, at 1:33 of the second, proved to be the winner. . . . F Dominic Zwerger scored his 20th goal for Everett, at 7:01. . . . Portland got insurance from F Brad Ginnell, who got his fourth goal at 11:12 of the third period. . . . F Ryan Hughes wrapped it up with his 21st, a shorthanded empty-netter, at 19:43. . . . Kehler won for the 17th time this season. He went into the season with four victories in 32 appearances with the Kamloops Blazers. With Portland, he’s played in 37 games. . . . Everett got 26 saves from G Carter Hart. . . . The Silvertips again were without D Noah Juulsen (undisclosed injury). . . . F Dawson Butt, who is from Buckley, Wash., made his WHL debut with the Silvertips. Butt, 16, plays for the U-16 Everett Jr. Silvertips. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . The Winterhawks (24-21-3) have won two in a row and hold down the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. . . . The Silvertips (30-7-9) have been 2-0-1 in their previous three outings. They are third in the overall standings, two points behind the leaders. . . . Announced attendance: 5,114.

——

At Kelowna, the Blazers got two goals from F Rudolfs Balcers and never trailed as they beat the Rockets,

RUDOLFS BALCERS

3-2. . . . F Lane Bauer gave the Blazers a 1-0 lead with his 27th goal — his second goal and 11th point in nine games since coming over from the Edmonton Oil Kings — at 1:26 of the first period. . . . D Lucas Johansen’s third goal, 28 seconds into the second period, got the Rockets even. . . . Balcers, who has 29 goals, gave Kamloops the lead at 5:02. . . . Kelowna F Calvin Thurkauf (22) tied it, on a PP, at 14:29. . . . Balcers got the winner on a PP at 12:23 of the third period. . . . F Deven Sideroff had two assists for Kamloops. . . . F Nick Merkley drew two helpers for Kelowna, while Thurkauf got one. . . . Kamloops G Connor Ingram stopped 30 shots as he bounced back after getting pulled in the first period of a 6-4 loss to the Winterhawks in Portland on Tuesday. . . . Kelowna got 20 saves from G Michael Herringer. . . . Kelowna was 1-5 on the PP; Kamloops was 1-9. . . . The Rockets had F Reid Gardiner (undisclosed injury), F Dillon Dube (strep throat) and F Nolan Foote (ill) back in the lineup. . . . The Blazers (30-17-3) are second in the B.C. Division, five points ahead of the Rockets (27-18-4). . . . Announced attendance: 5,620.

——

At Cranbrook, B.C., F Colton Kroeker had a goal and two assists to lead the Kootenay Ice to a 3-2 victory

COLTON KROEKER

over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . The Chiefs led 1-0 on F Jaret Anderson-Dolan’s 23rd goal, at 4:48 of the first period. . . . F Brett Davis tied it with his 11th goal, on a PP, at 5:17 of the second period. . . . F Vince Loschiavo’s 16th goal gave the Ice its first lead at 1:42 of the third period. . . . F Eli Zummack pulled the Chiefs into a 2-2 with his sixth goal at 4:04. . . . Kroeker broke the tie, on a PP, with his ninth goal, at 8:28. . . . D Cale Fleury had two assists for the Ice, while Davis and Lischiavo added one each. . . . Kootenay got a big night from G Jakob Walter, who made 38 saves. . . . Spokane got 33 stops from G Jayden Sittler. . . . The Ice was 2-4 on the PP; the Chiefs were 0-3. . . . The Ice (12-30-8) had lost its previous three games. . . . The Chiefs (20-21-8) had been 2-0-1 in their previous three games. They are three points out of a playoff spot. . . . The Chiefs lost D Jeff Faith to a boarding major and game misconduct at 11:39 of the third period. . . . Announced attendance: 1,817.

——

At Medicine Hat, the Tigers scored three times in each of the first two periods as they beat the Edmonton

MATT BRADLEY

Oil Kings, 7-2. . . . F Nicholas Bowman gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead with his sixth goal, on a PP, at 1:39 of the opening period. . . . The Tigers responded with three goals before the period ended, with F Mason Shaw getting No. 17, D Dalton Gally scoring his first, and F Matt Bradley getting his 20th. . . . Gally, who turned 19 on Thursday, is a freshman from New Braunfels, Texas. His first goal came in his 37th game. . . . Bradley became the seventh 20-goal man on Medicine Hat’s roster. . . . F Adam Berg got Edmonton’s other goal, his fifth, at 6:51 of the second period. . . . The Tigers scored the game’s last three goals, with D Clayton Kirichenko (7), D Jordan Henderson (3) and F Steve Owre (18) finding the range. . . . Bradley, F Zach Fischer, Owre and F Chad Butcher had two assists apiece, with Henderson adding one. . . . F Riley Stadel had two assists for Edmonton. . . . G Nick Schneider stopped 24 shots for the Tigers. He has 27 victories, which ties him for the WHL lead with Griffen Outhouse of the Victoria Royals. . . . The Oil Kings got 36 saves from G Josh Dechaine. . . . Edmonton was 1-2 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 1-3. . . . The Tigers (33-15-1) have won two in a row. They lead the Central Division by six points over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . The Oil Kings (18-26-4) have lost nine straight and are six points out of the playoffs. . . . Announced attendance: 3,323.

——

At Moose Jaw, D Josh Brook broke a 2-2 tie in the third period as the Warriors skated to a 4-2 victory

JOSH BROOK

over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Brook’s fifth goal, coming at 4:48, proved to be the winner. . . . F Spencer Bast (8) added insurance at 14:26. . . . Moose Jaw took a 1-0 lead when F Brett Howden scored No. 25, on a PP, at 11:57 of the first period. . . . Saskatoon F Jesse Shynkaruk’s 22nd goal tied it at 5:04 of the second period. . . . The Warriors went ahead on F Yan Khomenko’s 12th goal, at 11:56. . . . The Blades tied it again when D Bryton Sayers got his fourth goal, on a PP, at 14:44. . . . F Jayden Halbgewachs, F Branden Klatt and F Justin Almeida each had two assists for the Warriors, while Howden had one. . . . F Braylon Shmyr had two assists for Saskatoon, with Sayers and Shynkaruk adding one each. . . . The Warriors got 21 saves from Zach Sawchenko, who won his 20th game of the season. He is the first goaltender in franchise to win at least 20 games in three straight seasons. . . . G Logan Flodell stopped 22 shots for Saskatoon. . . .  Each team was 1-3 on the PP. . . . With G Brock Hamm out with an undisclosed injury, the Blades had G Joel Gryzbowski of the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars backing up Flodell. . . . Saskatoon, with four players injured and F Cole Johnson and F Dryden Michaud both ill, also brought in F Brandon Machado from the midget AAA CFR Bisons of the Alberta Midget Hockey League. . . . Moose Jaw (30-12-7) has won four in a row. It is second in the East Division, four points behind Regina. The Pats hold four games in hand. . . . Saskatoon (20-23-6) had won its previous five games. The Blades, who are in possession of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, are scheduled to play their next seven games at home. . . . Announced attendance: 3,717.

——

I'm going to avoid reminding Dave Manson that he turns The Big 5-0 today just in case the fierce bodychecker places me in his crosshairs. pic.twitter.com/s9jDNsxHAz

— O-Pee-Chee Stars (@opeecheestars) January 28, 2017

At Prince Albert, the Lethbridge Hurricanes scored three first-period goals and went on to a 5-4 victory

BRENNAN MENELL

over the Raiders. . . . F Tyler Wong’s 35th goal gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 3:11. . . . D Brennan Menell, who has nine goals, struck twice, at 4:54 and 16:27, for a 3-0 lead. . . . F Kolten Olynek (11) got the home side to within two 58 seconds into the second period. . . . F Jadon Joseph (2) restored Lethbridge’s three-goal lead at 2:10. . . . The Raiders got to within a goal by scoring twice in 14 seconds. F Cavin Leth counted at 11:06 and D Nick Heid got his second at 11:20. . . . F Ryan Bowen’s 10th goal, at 1:46 of the third period, stood up as the winner, after Leth got his second of the game, and 14th of the season, at 8:39. . . . Lethbridge also got two assists from each of Wong and D Brady Pouteau, while Menell added one. . . . F Tim Vanstone had two assists for the Raiders, with Heid and Olynek adding one each. . . . Lethbridge G Stuart Skinner blocked 35 shots. . . . G Nic Sanders, making his fourth straight start for the Raiders, gave up three goals on 11 shots in 16:27. Ian Scott came on in relief and stopped 17 of 19 shots in 42:08. . . . With Scott headed for the Top Prospects Game, the Raiders have brought in Curtis Meger from the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins to support Sanders through the weekend. . . . Prince Albert was 1-2 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-1. . . . The Raiders are without F Jody Stallard, who had goals in four straight games when he took a stick in the face that has forced him out of the lineup. But they had F Siimon Stransky back after a six-game absence. . . The Hurricanes (27-15-7) have points in nine straight games (7-0-2). They are second in the Central Division, six points out of first and 10 points ahead of the Red Deer Rebels. . . . The Raiders (11-35-5) have a three-game winning streak snapped. They are into their third straight weekend of playing three games in as many nights. . . . Announced attendance: 2,209.

——

At Red Deer, F Michael Spacek had a goal and two assists to lead the Rebels to a 5-2 victory over the

CARSON SASS

Prince George Cougars. . . . Spacek opened the scoring with No 21, at 19:15 of the first period. . . . F Cameron Hausinger’s fifth goal increased the lead to 2-0 at 9:18 of the second period. . . . The Cougars tied it on goals from D Tate Olson (5), on a PP, at 17:19 of the second period, and F Jared Bethune (14), at 2:56 of the third period. . . . D Carson Sass snapped the tie with his fourth goal, on a PP, at 9:44. . . . The Rebels put it away on two goals from F Evan Polei, who has 22 goals. He scored at 13:14 and added an empty-netter at 19:13. . . . The Rebels got two assists from F Austin Glover. . . . Bethune also had an assist. . . . G Lasse Petersen stopped 30 shots in earning the victory. . . . The Cougars got 40 stops from G Ty Edmonds. . . . The Cougars were 1-3 on the PP; the Rebels were 1-6. . . . The Rebels (22-20-7) have won two straight. They are third in the Central Division, eight points ahead of the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Cougars (34-14-3) are 1-1-1 in their last three. They are tied with the Regina Pats atop the overall standings. . . . Announced attendance: 4,571.

——

.@TCAmericans mascot Winger in full support of the troops. pic.twitter.com/KxsAJjVWFi

— Annie Fowler (@TCHIceQueen) January 28, 2017

At Kennewick, Wash., F Donovan Neuls broke a 3-3 tie with a shorthanded goal at 8:47 of the third

DONOVAN NEULS

period to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . Neuls’ 10th goal was Seattle’s second shorthanded score of the game. . . . F Alexander True (15) had given the Thunderbirds a 3-1 lead at 10:29 of the second period. . . . The Americans tied the score on goals from F Jordan Topping (13), at 14:26 of the second period, and F Michael Rasmussen (32), on a PP, at 7:38 of the third period. . . . Seattle led this one 2-0 before the game was four minutes old. D Ethan Bear scored his 15th goal at 1:57 and D Turner Ottenbreit got his fifth goal, on a PP, at 3:19. . . . Rasmussen scored his first goal of the game at 17:48. . . . Ottenbreit and True each had an assist. . . . Rasmussen added an assist to his two goals. . . . It was the battle of the Rylans in goal, with Toth making 25 saves for Seattle and Parenteau stopping 26 shots for Tri-City. . . .  Seattle was 1-4 on the PP; Tri-City was 1-6. . . . The Thunderbirds continue to be without F Scott Eansor, while D Jarret Tyszka, who left Tuesday’s game in the first period, also was scratched. . . . The Thunderbirds (27-15-4) have won three in a row. They are third in the U.S. Division, three points behind Tri-City with five games in hand. . . . The Americans (29-19-3) have lost two straight. . . . Announced attendance: 4,996, on Military Appreciation Night.

——

Look who we found at the Langley Events Centre! #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/Z7nec3dEp1

— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) January 28, 2017

JACK WALKER

At Langley, B.C., the Victoria Royals scored the game’s first three goals and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . The Royals got on the scoreboard when F Jack Walker scored his 23rd goal at 8:56 of the first period. . . . D Scott Walford added his third, on a PP, at 18:40. . . . F Ethan Price’s fifth goal, at 10:18 of the second period, extended Victoria’s lead. . . . Vancouver got its goal from F Tyler Popowich, his sixth, 54 seconds into the third period. . . . The Royals got 21 saves from G Griffen Outhouse, while Ryan Kubic turned aside 28 at the other end. . . . Victoria was 1-3 on the PP; Vancouver was 0-3. . . . The Royals (27-19-4) are tied with the Kelowna Rockets for third in the B.C. Division. . . . The Giants (27-28-4) have lost three in a row (0-2-1). They are 13 points out of the playoffs. . . . These same two teams will play again tonight and Sunday in Victoria. . . . Announced attendance: 4.283.

——

SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Prince George at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Portland at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Calgary vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.

Brandon at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Regina at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Lethbridge at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Everett vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Spokane vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Vancouver at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

——

SUNDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Brandon at Calgary, 4 p.m.

Prince George at Edmonton, 4 p.m.

Kamloops at Everett, 4:05 p.m.

Tri-City vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 5:05 p.m.

Prince Albert at Swift Current, 4 p.m.

Vancouver at Victoria, 5:05 p.m.

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.