D Nick Ross (Regina, Kamloops, Vancouver, 2004-09) has signed a one-year extension with Innsbruck (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, he has eight goals and 26 assists in 54 games. . . .
F Mark Santorelli (Chilliwack, 2006-08) has signed a one-year extension with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). In 40 games this season, he has eight goals and 24 assists.
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The WHL was featured in a story on the front page of Thursday’s Seattle Times. That would be the front page of the newspaper, not the front sports page.
The story, by Walker Orenstein of the Times, details the WHL’s dealings with Washington state politicians as it attempts to get an exemption from some labor laws, such as having to pay minimum wage to its players.
“In Olympia, discourse has been one-sided,” Orenstein writes. “House Bill 1930 and Senate Bill 5893 — backed by a bipartisan coalition that includes pro-labor Democrats — passed the House Labor Committee unanimously and the Senate’s Commerce and Labor Committee without any ‘no’ votes. No opponents testified at either committee hearing. SB 5893 won Senate approval Tuesday by a 47-0 vote.”
It would seem, then, that the WHL will end up getting the exemption it wants.
In an interview with Orenstein, WHL commissioner Ron Robison said: “The new bill will provide the clarity that will remove the uncertainty for our clubs moving forward.”
Orenstein added: “Robison had no estimate of how much paying minimum wage would cost the league. He said at a Senate hearing that before factoring in the cost of paying players, WHL teams are already ‘very challenged to be in a position to continue to operate.’ ”
Orenstein’s complete story is right here.
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WHL commissioner Ron Robison has told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that there isn’t much, if anything, wrong with the game the way it’s played in his league.
“We like our game the way it is,” Robison said in an interview. “It's very entertaining and great for the players' development. The quality of our on-ice product is outstanding and continues to get better each season.”
When asked by Nugent-Bowman about attendance being “down in most markets,” Robison replied: “There are markets where attendance is down. But we're pleased overall. All leagues, regardless of the sport, are challenged with attracting fans in-venue. Our teams have done an exceptional job under the circumstances.”
The interview, as it appeared on the newspaper’s website, is right here.
If you’re a stats geek, be forewarned. The WHL is in the dark ages in terms of feeding the modern fan even individual shots on goal and it seems unlikely to change in the near future.
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F Tim Traber, who played five full seasons in the WHL (Chilliwack, Victoria, Vancouver, 2009-14), played last season in Switzerland, even though he could have returned to the WHL as a 20-year-old. At the time, Traber says someone from the WHL told him that playing in Switzerland wouldn’t jeopardize his education package. Now, however, Traber has told Rick Westhead that something has changed because he has been told that he no longer is eligible for that education package. . . . Westhead’s story is right here.
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Not that long ago, the Vancouver Giants were third in the B.C. Division and it appeared as though they just might there, putting them into a first-round series with the second-place Victoria Royals. However, the Giants now have lost four straight games and have been blanked in three of those. . . . Vancouver has been shutout 12 times in 64 games. . . . Tonight, the Giants are at home to the Western Conference’s top team, the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The game is available via Shaw TV at 7:30 p.m.
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F Justin Hickman of the Seattle Thunderbirds has signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. Hickman, 20, played more than four seasons with the Thunderbirds and was their captain this season and last. Hickman, from Kelowna, played only 31 games this season before shoulder problems resulted in his needing surgery. He had 28 points, including nine goals, this season. In 285 games, he had 132 points, 55 of them goals. . . . A free agent, his signing with the Bruins wasn’t a surprise as it was heavily rumoured to have happened in January. . . .
The buzz in the junior B Kootenay International Junior League has Ty Davidson as the next head coach of the Sicamous Eagles. Davidson announced in February that he would be leaving the KIJHL’s Golden Rockets after five seasons as general manager and head coach. At the time, Davidson said he wanted to work closer to his family in Salmon Arm. . . . The Eagles dropped long-time head coach Blair Davidson four games into what turned out to be a five-game first-round playoff loss to the Kamloops Storm. . . .
If the Kootenay Ice is to finish third in the Central Division, it will have to get past the Red Deer Rebels, who visit Cranbrook tonight. The Ice goes into the game seven points in arrears and time is running out. . . . Taylor Rocca of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman has more right here. . . .
F Tim McGauley of the Brandon Wheat Kings takes a 20-game point streak into tonight’s game against the Raiders in Prince Albert. It’s the longest such streak in the WHL this season and the second-longest active streak in the CHL. F Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters is on a 25-game run. . . .
The U of Alberta Golden Bears opened the CIS Canada West’s best-of-three final with a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Dinos on Thursday night. It was Alberta’s 27th straight playoff victory over Calgary. . . . The game included 156 penalty minutes, 110 of those emanating from 11 misconducts. . . . According to the online game sheet, the Dinos had only nine shots on goal, with Golden Bears G Kurtis Mucha stopping seven of those. . . . Calgary starter Kris Lazaruk stopped 22 of 26 shots, with reliever Jacob DeSerres turning aside 12 of 13. . . . The rosters of both teams are full of ex-WHLers. . . . They’ll play again tonight in Edmonton.
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THE WHL PLAYOFF PICTURE:
EAST DIVISION: Brandon (8 games remaining) has clinched first place in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 1995-96. The Wheat Kings are tied with Kelowna (8) in the race for first place overall. . . . Regina (9) will finish second in the division. . . . Swift Current (8) is third, six points ahead of Moose Jaw (8). . . . The Warriors also are eight points behind Edmonton (7), which holds down the conference’s second wild-card berth. . . . Prince Albert (9) is six points behind Moose Jaw and 12 points out of a playoff spot.CENTRAL DIVISION: Calgary (7) is atop the division, two points ahead of Medicine Hat (7). . . . Red Deer (8) is third, seven points behind Medicine Hat and seven ahead of Kootenay (8), which holds the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot. . . . Edmonton (7) is two points behind Kootenay.
B.C. DIVISION: Kelowna (8) has clinched first place in the Western Conference. . . . Victoria (8) will finish second. . . . Prince George (8) is third, three points ahead of Vancouver (8) and Kamloops (8). . . . Vancouver and Kamloops are four points behind Tri-City (8), which holds down the conference’s second wild-card berth.
U.S. DIVISION: Everett (8) sits atop the division, four points ahead of Portland (10). . . . Seattle (8) is third, six points behind Portland and seven ahead of Spokane (10). . . . Spokane holds the conference’s first wild-card spot. . . . Spokane is seven points ahead of Tri-City (8), which holds down the conference’s second wild-card spot.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern ConferenceBrandon vs. Edmonton
Calgary vs. Kootenay
Regina vs. Swift Current
Medicine Hat vs. Red Deer
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Western Conference
Kelowna vs. Tri-City
Everett vs. Spokane
Victoria vs. Prince George
Portland vs. Seattle
(NOTE: Team with home-ice advantage shown first.)
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THURSDAY’S GAMES
(all times local)No Games Scheduled.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES
(all times local)Brandon at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Swift Current at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Lethbridge at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Red Deer vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, 7 p.m.
Regina at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Portland, 7 p.m.
Spokane at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Everett vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.
Kelowna at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.
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tiebreaker with more victories. However, the Hitmen weren't able to get out of the first round of the playoffs, losing in six games to the Kootenay Ice. 
D Nick Ross (Regina, Kamloops, Vancouver, 2004-09) has signed for the rest of this season with Asiago (Italy, Serie A). This season, he put up 28 points, including eight goals, in 39 games with Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). . . . 
In Moose Jaw, the Victoria Royals scored the only two goals of the shootout and beat the Warriors, 4-3. . . . F Logan Nelson and F Jack Walker both scored in the skills competition as the Royals improved to 2-0-0 on this five-game swing into the East Division. Overall, they have won eight straight road games. . . . The Warriors led 2-1 after the first period and took that lead into the third. . . . F Austin Carroll, with his 30th, at 3:03, and F Axel Blomqvist, with his 21st, via the PP, at 8:23, gave the visitors the lead. . . . Moose Jaw F Jack Rodewald forced OT at 15:58. He’s got 20 goals this season. . . . D Travis Brown, dealt from Moose Jaw to Victoria in January, had two assists and was named the game’s first star. . . . Among the Warriors’ scratches was Sam Fioretti (undisclosed injury). They also had F Scott Cooke back after having served a two-game WHL suspension. . . . The Royals (41-16-4) are third in the Western Conference, three points behind the Portland Winterhawks, who have two games in hand. . . . The Warriors (15-34-9) are 10th in the Eastern Conference. . . .
In Regina, G Daniel Wapple turned aside 23 shots to lead the Pats to a 4-0 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . This was Wapple’s first shutout this season and the fourth of his career. The 18-year-old from Saskatoon now has posted shutouts with three different team; he had one with the Medicine Hat Tigers earlier this season and one with the Moose Jaw Warriors last season. . . . F Dyson Stevenson’s 27th goal of the season, a PP effort at 6:55of the second period, stood up as the winner. . . . Stevenson later scored No. 28 and also added an assist. . . . F Morgan Klimchuk got his 20th goal and had an assist. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 35 shots. . . . Regina F Dryden Hunt was helped from the ice in the first period after taking a hit from Brandon D Colton Waltz. Hunt, who has a history of brain injuries, didn’t return. . . . The Wheat Kings had F Richard Nejezchleb back in their lineup, but still are missing F Rihards Bukarts, D Rene Hunter, F Jayce Hawryluk and F John Quenneville. . . . The Wheat Kings are winless in six straight games (0-4-2). . . . The Pats (31-22-6) are back in sole possession of first place in the East Division, two points ahed of the Swift Current Broncos. . . . The Wheat Kings (28-24-8) are seventh in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Swift Current. . . . 
In Swift Current, the Prince Albert Raiders opened a 3-0lead and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Broncos. . . . F Collin Valcourt, with his 21st, got the Raiders rolling at 5:09 of the first period. . . . Former Broncos D Graeme Craig added his fifth goal of the season at 7:52 of the second, via the PP, and F Leon Draisaitl added more insurance, with his 26th, also on the PP, at 7:30 of the third. . . . Broncos D Julius Honka scored his 14th, on the PP, at 10:37 of the third. . . . Raiders G Nick McBride stopped 31 shots. . . . The Raiders were 2-for-3 on the PP; the Broncos were 1-for-3. . . . The Broncos were without F Nathan Burns (undisclosed injury). . . . The Raiders (27-28-4) are two points behind the Red Deer Rebels, who hold down the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot. . . . The Broncos (29-23-8) are sixth. . . .
In Edmonton, the Oil Kings got two goals from each of four players as they whipped the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 12-0. . . . F Henrik Samuelsson, F Curtis Lazar, F Mitch Moroz and F Brett Pollock each scored twice. Samuelsson now has 28 goals, while Lazar has 32, Moroz has 31 and Pollock 23. . . . Moroz, playing in his 200th WHL regular-season game, also had three helpers, as did D Dysin Mayo. F Reid Petryk scored his 15th goal -- a PP effort at 2:17 of the first, it was the winner -- and set up four others. . . . D Cody Corbertt, Samuelsson and F Edgars Kulda, who also had a goal, each had two assists. . . . Edmonton outshot the visitors, 53-25. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry put up his WHL-leading seventh shutout this season and the 13th of his career. Jarry also set the Edmonton franchise record for shutouts in one season, breaking his record from last season. . . . Jarry also leads the WHL with 36 victories. . . . Lethbridge F Carter Amson left at 13:34 of the second period with a checking-from-behind major and a game misconduct. . . . Edmonton was 6-for-11 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-for-3. . . . The Oil Kings set franchise single-game records for goals in one game and PP goals in one game. . . . In their last three meetings, the Oil Kings have outscored the Hurricanes, 27-3. . . . Edmonton won the season series, 5-1, with a 35-11 edge in goals. Lethbridge actually won the opener, 5-3, then lost 2-1 and 3-2. After that, it was 7-3, 8-0 and 12-0. . . . Edmonton (41-14-2) is tied with the Calgary Hitmen atop the Central Division and the Eastern Conference. Edmonton has more victories (41-39) and three games in hand. . . . Lethbridge (12-44-5) has the WHL’s poorest record, its .238 winning percentage slightly worse than that of the Kamloops Blazers (.242). . . .
The Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL) announced that they won’t re-sign six players to contracts for next season, including D Nick Ross (Regina, Kamloops, Vancouver, 2004-09). Ross started the season with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), getting one goal and three assists in nine games, before signing with Augsburg, where he had two goals and seven assists in 24 games.
The Portland Winterhawks set a franchise playoff record when they allowed just 11 shots in beating the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-1 in Game 2 on Saturday. In the 2005 playoffs, the Winterhawks limited Everett to 14 shots in a game, although the Silvertips won that one, 3-0. . . . Portland D Troy Rutkowski now has played in a franchise record 58 playoff games, one more than F Ty Rattie. Going into these playoffs, Rutkowski had been tied with former Winterhawks D Joe Morrow. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth has played in 56 postseason games. . . . If you missed it, Morrow was traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, going to the Dallas Stars in a deal that had former Winterhawks F Brendan Morrow go the other way. No, the two aren’t related. . . .
The WHL has suspended Saskatoon Blades F Jessey Astles for two games for his hit on Medicine Hat Tigers F Matt Staples in Game 1 of that series. Astles sat out Game 2 and will miss Game 3 tonight in Medicine Hat. . . . Staples is believed to have suffered a concussion. . . .
Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald reports that the Americans will have D Mitch Topping and F Tyson Dallman available tonight as they resume their series with the Spokane Chiefs. The Americans, down 2-0, will play host to the next two games — and three, if necessary — in the series. . . . Topping hasn’t played since March 8 and has missed nine games. Dallman has been out since Feb. 22. . . . The Americans have lost their last seven games, four of them to the Chiefs. . . .
The Edmonton Oil Kings will again be without F T.J. Foster, who missed the first two games of their series with the Kootenay Ice, with an undisclosed injury. He didn’t make the trip to Cranbrook for Games 3 and 4. . . .
In Swift Current, F Colby Cave’s second goal of the game, at 10:14 of OT, gave the Broncos a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Calgary leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Swift Current tonight. . . . Calgary F Cody Sylvester, who scored twice, forced OT with a goal with 33.2 seconds left in the third period. Sylvester scored with the goaltender on the bench for the extra attacker. The Broncos had two chances to clear the zone before Sylvester scored. Swift Current D Reece Scarlett, who drew an assist on each of his side’s first two goals, was off for delay of game — yes, it was for clearing the puck over the glass — at the time. . . . F Adam Lowry had Swift Current’s other goal and also had two assists. . . . Sylvester and Lowry have three goals each in the three games. . . . Broncos G Eetu Laurikainen stopped 43 shots, 17 of them in the first period. . . . G Chris Driedger of the Hitmen turned aside 39 shots. . . . This was the Broncos’ first home playoff game since the spring of 2009. The Broncos didn’t qualify in either of the last two seasons and in 2010 were bumped from their home arena by the world women’s curling championship.
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