Tigers, Ice going to Game 7

G Riku Helenius (Seattle, 2007-08) signed a two-year contract with Jokerit Helsinki (Finland, KHL). Helenius split this season between the AHL and ECHL. With the Syracuse Crunch (AHL), he was 3.43 and .875 in five games; with the Florida Everblades (ECHL), he was 6.08 and .797 in four games. . . . Helenius, a first-round selection (15th overall) by Tampa Bay in the 2006 NHL draft, had his NHL contract terminated by the Lightning in February. The NHLPA had filed a grievance over that release and the case seems headed to arbitration. Lindsay Kramer of syracuse.com has more right here.
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D Nick Holden of the Colorado Avalanche was in Vancouver recently, which gave Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province the opportunity to chat with him. And guess what? Holden says his junior team, the Chilliwack Bruins, would have survived just fine had the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat not arrived on the Lower Mainland hockey scene. . . . That piece is right here.
Interestingly, the city of Abbotsford has called a news conference for this morning at 10 a.m. PT, at which it is expected to address the future of the Heat. Again, there are rumours that the franchise is about to be sold and moved, this time to Glens Falls, N.Y.
Gord McIntyre of the Province reported last night that the Canucks aren’t interested in moving their AHL franchise, which is in its first season in Utica, N.Y., to Abbotsford at this time. That piece is right here.
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F Sean MacTavish, who once was drafted by the Kelowna Rockets, has committed to Boston University. MacTavish, the son of Edmonton Oilers GM Craig MacTavish, was taken in the ninth round of the 2009 WHL bantam draft. He played the last two seasons with the AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders. . . . MacTavish will turn 20 on Nov. 21.
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The Vancouver Canucks inducted former general manager Pat Quinn into their Ring of Honour on Sunday. Ed Willes, a sports columnist with the Vancouver Province, wrote a column on Quinn that appeared in Sunday’s paper. Buried deep in that piece was a quote from Ron Toigo, the majority owner of the Vancouver Giants, that is rather interesting. It seems that Quinn, a minority owner with the Giants, isn’t all that enamoured with the Giants’ style of play of late.
Quinn’s teams, Willes writes, “have always been characterized by an uptempo pace and an emphasis on puck movement.
‘He doesn't really like the way we've played the last couple of years," Toigo says of the Giants' defensive style. ‘He likes the offensive game and defencemen who can move the puck. He says winning is important, but we still have an obligation to entertain.’ ”
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Justin Crann of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald has been following the situation in that city involving the Warriors and their bringing back a 30-year-old logo as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations. Crann writes that the Warriors are too deep into this anniversary to turn back now, but adds that “it can be used as a positive learning opportunity.” . . . That piece is right here.
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Tom Gaglardi, the owner of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and majority owner of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, was back in a Kamloops courtroom on Monday. Gaglardi was on the stand as he faces two charges of harmful alteration of a fish habitat. . . . According to Tim Petruk of Kamloops This Week, Gaglardi spent part of his time in the courtroom apparently playing with line combinations as his Stars get ready to open the NHL playoffs this season. . . . Petruk’s story is right here.
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D Ryan Pulock of the Brandon Wheat Kings will finish his season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. Pulock was a first-round selection, 15th overall, by the Islanders in the 2013 NHL draft. . . . Pulock played his first game with the Sound Tigers on Monday night, going pointless in a 4-2 loss to the visiting Adirondack Phantoms.
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The 106th Allan Cup competition, for the championship of Canadian senior AAA hockey, is underway in Dundas, Ont. Steve Milton of the Hamilton Spectator takes a look at the field right here, explaining how each of the six teams qualified.
In Monday night’s opener, the Brantford, Ont., Blast edged the Kenora, Ont., Thistles, 5-4. F Sean McAslan (Calgary, 1996-2001) scored one of the Thistles’ goals.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton wins, 4-1)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 3 (7,115)
Tuesday: Edmonton 5 at Brandon 2 (3,522)
Wednesday: Edmonton 2 at Brandon 5 (3,246)
Friday: Brandon 1 at Edmonton 5 (6,356)
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Series tied, 3-3)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay 4 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,750)
Sunday: Kootenay 2 at Medicine Hat 5 (3,755)
Wednesday: Medicine Hat 1 at Kootenay 3 (2,461)
Thursday: Medicine Hat 4 at Kootenay 7 (2,578)
Saturday: Kootenay 2 at Medicine Hat 9 (3,624)
Monday: Medicine Hat 2 at Kootenay 1 (2,732)
Wednesday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Landon Cross, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna wins, 4-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle 3 at Kelowna 6 (5,675)
Tuesday: Kelowna 5 at Seattle 4 (5,029)
Wednesday: Kelowna 5 at Seattle 2 (2,219)
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Portland wins, 4-1)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria 2 at Portland 8 (6,152)
Saturday: Victoria 3 at Portland 6 (10,947)
Monday: Portland 1 at Victoria 2 (6,505)
Tuesday: Portland 4 at Victoria 3 (6,745)
Thursday: Victoria 1 at Portland 5 (8,083)
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THE THIRD ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
WESTERN CONFERENCE

KELOWNA (1) vs. PORTLAND (2)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-0-0; Portland, 0-4-0.
Friday: Portland at Kelowna, 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet)
Saturday: Portland at Kelowna, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 22: Kelowna at Portland (Moda Center), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23: Kelowna at Portland (Moda Center), 7 p.m.
x-Friday, April 25: Portland at Kelowna, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday, April 27: Kelowna at Portland, 5 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 29: Portland at Kelowna, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, week-to-week.
Portland: None.
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. MEDICINE HAT (4)/KOOTENAY    (6)
Season series: Edmonton, 5-0-1; Medicine Hat, 1-5-0.
Season series: Edmonton, 4-2-0; Kootenay, 2-2-2.
Friday: Medicine Hat/Kootenay at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 20: Medicine Hat/Kootenay at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Other dates TBA.
INJURIES
Edmonton: D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
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MONDAY’S GAME:
In Cranbrook, F Curtis Valk broke a 1-1 tie with 35.6 seconds left in the third period as the Medicine Hat Tigers beat the Kootenay Ice, 2-1. . . . The second-round series is tied 3-3 with Game 7 scheduled for Medicine Hat on Wednesday night. . . . The winner of the series will open the Eastern Conference final in Edmonton against the Oil Kings on Friday night. . . . F Miles Koules gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead at 8:10 of the first period with his fourth goal of these playoffs. . . . The Ice tied it at 15:46 of the third period when F Jon Martin got his second goal off a rebound. . . . Valk, known as The Incredible Valk around the Tigers, won it with his 10th goal of the playoffs. It was his sixth goal of this series, all of them coming in the last five games. . . . It also was Valk’s 20th playoff goal in 43 games. He has scored 19 times in his last 28 post-season games. . . . Valk and F Jaedon Descheneau of the Ice lead the WHL, each with 10 goals. . . . Ice G Mackenzie Skapski turned aside 28 shots, two more than Marek Langhamer of the Tigers.
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From Darren Steinke (@MHND_Steinke) of the Medicine Hat News: “(Monday) night will mark the 392nd post-season contest Bob Ridley calls as the play-by-play voice of the #MHTigers.”
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From F Anthony As (@AAST18) of the Medicine Hat Tigers: “Curtis Valk is my man crush Monday right now. Someone sign this guy to a NHL contract. That is all #CaptainClutch #TheIncredibleValk #Game7”
Ast was scratched from Monday’s game.


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Americans clinch West's last playoff spot with loser point

It’s your lucky day because if you click right here you will find the best essay you will read this week . . . this month . . . maybe this year. Written by Bryan Curtis at grantland.com, it’s all about the legendary Dan Jenkins. . . . At one point, Jenkins, referring to Tiger Woods, tells Curtis: “He is a hell of a talent. He just happens to be an asshole.”
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F Tyler Benson, the first overall selection in the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft, joined the Vancouver Giants last week and was to play with them for the remainder of the season. However, it appears his season is over. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Benson was on crutches Tuesday and had a brace on his left leg. He won’t need surgery, but Benson’s season is over. . . . Ewen’s report is right here.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Red Deer/Prince Albert (8)
Regina (2) vs. Brandon (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
(NOTE: Prince Albert and Red Deer are tied for eighth, each with 71 points. Each has three games left. A tie for a conference‘s final playoff spot will result in a tiebreaker game.)
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Western Conference
Kelowna (1) vs. Tri-City (8)
Portland (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
Victoria (3) vs. Everett (6)
Seattle (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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WEDNESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Edmonton at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Kootenay at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Prince Albert at Regina, 7 p.m.
Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Everett at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Brandon, the Wheat Kings got goals from eight players as they dumped the Saskatoon Blades, 8-5. . . . Brandon D Ryan Pulock scored his 22nd goal and added two assists, while F Richard Nejezchleb got his 31st goal and also had two helpers. . . . The Wheat Kings broke open a 1-1 game with four straight goals. . . . F Nikita Scherbak and D MacKenzie Johnston each had two assists for the Blades, while F Chase Clayton scored his 10th goal and added an assist. . . . The Wheat Kings were without F Jayce Hawryluk, their leading scorer, who is serving a WHL suspension and won’t play again in the regular season. . . . Also missing was F Peter Quenneville. . . . F Nolan Patrick, the fourth overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft, played for Brandon. He was pointless but finished plus-2. . . . The Wheat Kings (32-29-9) moved into seventh in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the Red Deer Rebels and Prince Albert Raiders. . . . The Blades (16-48-5) have lost nine in a row. . . .

In Calgary, F Brady Brassart drew three assists as the Hitmen dumped the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 5-3. . . . Calgary F Adam Tambellini scored his 17th goal and added an assist, while F Jake Virtanen notched his 43rd goal. . . . F Riley Sheen scored twice for Lethbridge, giving him 18 goals. . . . Virtanen broke a 2-2 tie 7:56 of the second period, with D Kenton Helgeson scoring his 10th goal at 17:55. . . . Lethbridge G Stuart Skinner, the 17th overall pick in the 2013 WHL bantam draft, stopped 39 shots in his first WHL start. . . . Calgary (46-17-7) is tied with the Edmonton Oil Kings for first place in the Eastern Conference. . . . Lethbridge (12-53-5) has lost 12 straight. . . .

In Edmonton, G Tristan Jarry stopped 20 shots to help the Oil Kings to a 1-0 victory over the short-staffed Kootenay Ice. . . . The Ice dressed 16 skaters, two under the maximum. . . . Among the Kootenay scratches were D Landon Cross and D Landon Peel. . . . Jarry, who leads the WHL with 42 victories, has eight shutouts this season and 14 in his career. . . . Ice G Mackenzie Skapski turned aside 29 shots. . . . Edmonton F Henrik Samuelsson scored the game’s lone goal, his 33rd, just 15 seconds into the second period. . . . Edmonton D Cody Corbett picked up his 125th career assist, tying him with Mark Pysyk (2007-12) for the franchise record. . . . The Oil Kings (48-18-3) are tied with Calgary atop the Eastern Conference. Edmonton has the edge in victories (48-46), which is the first tiebreaker, and a game in hand. That game will be played tonight in Medicine Hat. . . . The Ice (39-26-4) is fifth in the conference, six points behind Medicine Hat and three in front of the Swift Current Broncos. . . .

In Moose Jaw, D Jesse Forsberg, F Jack Rodewald and F Tanner Eberle each scored twice to carry the Warriors to a 6-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Forsberg’s second goal, his 10th this season, came on a PP and broke a 3-3 tie at 2:05 of the third period. . . . Eberle then scored twice, the second one shorthanded and into an empty net. He’s got 22 goals. . . . Rodewald has 27 goals. . . . Raiders F Leon Draisaitl scored his 36th goal and also had an assist. . . . Warriors F Brayden Point drew three assists. . . . The Warriors (21-40-9) have won four in a row. . . . The Raiders (33-31-5) had a four-game winning streak snapped. They are tied with Red Deer for the Eastern Conference’s last playoff berth. . . .

In Portland, the Tri-City Americans lost 3-2 in OT to the Winterhawks, but the visitors were celebrating as the loser point allowed them to clinch the Western Conference’s final playoff spot. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic won it with his 38th goal just 30 seconds into OT. . . . Portland D Mathew Dumba forced OT with his sixth goal at 11:07 of the third period. . . . F Parker Bowles scored twice for the Americans, giving him 13. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie stopped 46 shots as he set the franchise‘s single-season record for most saves. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke turned side 18 shots in his first appearance since Feb. 10. He had been out with mononucleosis. . . . F Beau McCue had two assists for Tri-City. . . . Portland has won four in a row, while the Americans have lost four straight. . . . The loser point that went to the Americans was enough to eliminate the idle Prince George Cougars, who now are five points behind with just two games remaining. . . . Portland (51-13-5) will be the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed and will meet the No. 7 Vancouver Giants in the first round. . . . The No. 8 Americans (28-32-9) will open against the No. 1 Kelowna Rockets. . . .

In Kelowna, the Victoria Royals scored two third-period goals and beat the Rockets, 3-2. . . . D Ryan Gagnon tied the game 2-2 with his second goal of the season at 5:04. . . . Victoria F Axel Blomqvist -- was there a better addition via trade this season than this guy? -- scored his 24th goal at 16:40 to win it. . . . Victoria G Patrick Polivka kicked out 34 shots, one more than Kelowna’s Jordon Cooke. . . . Kelowna F Tanner Wishnowski scored his first goal at 2:18 of the first period. Wishnowski, who is from Oakbank, Man., turned 17 on Jan. 28 and was playing his first WHL game. He played this season with the major midget Kelowna-based Okanagan Rockets. . . . Victoria F Brandon Magee tied it with his 25th at 16:23 of the first period. . . . Kelowna F Cole Linaker scored his 11th goal, shorthanded, at 16:45 of the second. . . . The Royals have won six in a row. . . . The Rockets have lost just four home games this season, but three of those have come against the Royals. . . . Victoria penalty-killers were 35-for-35 as the Royals won the season series, 5-2-1. . . . The Royals (48-17-4) have 100 points for the first time in franchise history. They will finish third in the Western Conference. . . . The Rockets (54-11-4) lead the Western Conference by five points over Portland. Each team has three games left. . . .

In Kent, Wash., the Spokane Chiefs scored the game’s last three goals and beat the host Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-4. . . . F Hudson Elynuik tied the game 4-4 with his third goal of the season, via the PP, at 15:51 of the second period. . . . F Mike Aviani got his 37th at 14:34 of the third and F Connor Chartier added an empty-netter, his 13th goal of the season, at 18:37. . . . The Chiefs have won three in a row. . . . Aviani scored twice. . . . Spokane F Mitch Holmberg, the WHL scoring leader, had one assist. . . . Seattle won the season series, 7-1-0. . . . The Chiefs (39-24-6) are fifth in the Western Conference, two points behind Seattle (40-23-6).
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From Roger Shannon (@rogershannon): “Moncton Wildcats send well wishes and prayers to Kootenay Ice Forward Tim Bozon who is fighting for his life in his battle with Meningitis.”
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From Helene Barbier Bozon (@Helene Bozon), Tim Bozon’s mother: “RIP Terry Trafford. Sad.”


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Pulock into Wheaties' record book

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Sami Sandell (Brandon, 2004-06) signed a one-year-plus-option extension with Ilves Tampere (Finland, Liiga). This season, he is second on the team in scoring, with 30 points, including 10 goals, in 43 games.
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JUST NOTES:
D Ryan Pulock of the Brandon Wheat Kings scored his 61st career goal on Saturday, tying him with the late Brad McCrimmon for the franchise record for most career goals by a defenceman. . . . Pulock also became the fifth defenceman in Wheat Kings history to reach 200 points, joining McCrimmon, Cam Plante, Justin Kurtz and Burke Henry. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades have brought in G Brandon Kegler from the Edmonton-based midget AAA Knights of Columbus Pats. Kegler, from Leduc, Alta., was the Blades’ second pick in the 2012 bantam draft, going to them in the fourth round. . . . Kegler’s services are needed to back up Troy Trombley after Alex Moodie was injured on Saturday night during a 6-3 loss to the visiting Victoria Royals. Moodie was returning to action after sitting out 12 games with a groin injury, when he went down with an undisclosed injury and didn’t come out for the third period. . . .
The Seattle Thunderbirds have added F Lane Pederson to their roster. Pederson, a fifth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, played this season with the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers, for whom he had 41 points, including 21 gaols, in 37 games. With the Blazers’ season having ended, Pederson has joined the Thunderbirds. . . .
F Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice goes into this week riding a 20-game point streak, the longest in the WHL this season. The franchise record of 21 is held by F Mike Comrie (Sept. 23 to Nov. 10, 2000). . . . Reinhart also has at least one assist in each of his last 13 games. He has broken the previous franchise record of eight games. . . . F Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks has the longest assist streak this season. At 14 games, it is still alive. . . . The Ice visits the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday; the Winterhawks, who were given Monday and Tuesday off, meet the Chiefs in Spokane on Friday.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Calgary (1) vs. Prince Albert (8)
Regina (2) vs. Brandon (7)
Edmonton (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
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Western Conference
Kelowna (1) vs. Tri-City (8)
Portland (2) vs. Everett (7)
Victoria (3) vs. Vancouver (6)
Seattle (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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TUESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Lethbridge at Regina, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Edmonton at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Prince George at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Prince Albert at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
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MONDAY’S GAMES:
None scheduled.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Kevin Paul DuPont (@GlobeKPD) of the Boston Globe: “Robocall just now tells me FBI says there is a home break-in every 15 seconds in USA. In Canada, Carey Price stops 'em all.”

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Broncos streak now at eight wins

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Alex Leavitt (Swift Current, Everett, 2003-05) signed for the rest of the season with Aalborg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga) after a successful tryout. During the three-game tryout, he put up six points, including four goals. Earlier this season, he had three points, one of them a goal, in 10 games with Oskarshamn (Sweden, Allsvenskan).
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At 19 years of age, F Jesse Miller should be enjoying his second season with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. But that's not how things have turned out. Miller had two assists in 26 games last season when it all came crashing down thanks to a brain injury. . . . There's more right here.
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MONDAY:
In Swift Current, the Broncos ran their winning streak to eight games with a 7-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Broncos won three weekend games by a combined score of 19-6. . . . F Colby Cave and F Coda Gordon each had two goals and two assists for the Broncos, with D Brycen Martin adding a goal and three helpers. . . . Broncos F Connor Sanvido ran his goal-scoring streak to six games with his 12th score of the season. . . . The Broncos were 4-for-7 on the PP. . . . F Josh Uhrich scored for Moose Jaw, giving him three goals this season and a three-game goal-scoring streak. . . . Moose Jaw G Zachary Sawchenko started a second straight game for the first time this season. He gave up three goals on 18 shots and was replaced by Justin Paulic to start the third period. . . .

In Brandon, F Richard Nejezchleb scored three goals to help the Wheat Kings to a 5-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . The Hurricanes now have lost 10 in a row to slip to 2-17-1-2. . . . Nejezchleb, who scored 11 goals in 35 games last season, has 16 goals in 20 games this season, including eight in his last five games. . . . With only three assists, Nejezchleb is 16-3 and in the running for a Cy Young Award. . . . Nejezchleb broke a 3-3 tie at 15:15 of the third period. . . . Brandon D Ryan Pulock had three assists. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 26 shots in his fifth straight start. . . . Lethbridge captain Josh Derko was scratched with an undisclosed injury just prior to the game. . . . The Wheat Kings had lost their previous two games, both at home. . . .

In Everett, F Ivan Nikolishin scored at 1:07 of OT to give the Silvertips a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . F Jujhar Khaira, who had been out since Oct. 12 with an undisclosed injury, set up the winner. . . . Vancouver F Carter Popoff forced extra time with a goal at 15:48 of the third period. . . . The Giants continue to play without D Dalton Thrower, their captain, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Thrower was injured on hit by Edmonton F Mitch Moroz on Nov. 5. . . . Everett F Josh Winquist had a goal, his 16th, and an assist. He has 35 points in 20 games this season, including 23 over his last nine outings. He had two or more points in eight of those games. . . .

In Calgary, F Jaedon Descheneau, who sat out the previous game in a coach's decision, had two goals and an assist as the Kootenay Ice dumped the Hitmen, 5-1. . . . Descheneau has a team-high 16 goals. . . . It was the first of four straight on the road for the Ice. . . . Kootenay F Tim Bozon scored his first goal in his eighth game since being acquired from the Kamloops Blazers. He also had two assists, giving him six helpers with Kootenay. . . . D Rinat Valiev, a Russian freshman, scored his first WHL goal in his 10th game since reporting to Kootenay. He also has five assists. . . . Ice G Wyatt Hoflin stopped 29 shots. With starter Mackenzie Skapski injured, G Jayden Sittler, who plays for the midget AAA Red Deer Optimist Chiefs, is with the Ice through Nov. 20. . . . The Hitmen have lost four straight.

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1. Dr. Ann McKee doesn't particularly like it, but she has become the pubic face of the ongoing research into brain injuries in sports.
Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News takes an intriguing look right here at Dr. McKee, who admits that, through it all, she remains a fan of the Green Bay Packers.
"You live in conflict," McKee said. "I have a little easier time watching the NFL than college or high school. I used to go to the high school games and now I have trouble with it. The NFL players get big rewards from it. I feel at least the NFL has made big changes to help their safety. And they're adults -- they can make good decisions."
McKee also points out that her work has nothing to do with trying to destroy football or any other sport.
"This isn't about football, this is about people," McKee told Solomon. "This is a story about people who played sports and had a really bad outcome. I don't ever think in my head 'bad football.' It's more, 'Listen to what's happening and let's try to change this.' "
She also told Solomon: "I love sports, OK? But I think we really need to take it on ourselves to not be so crazy about sports, not to risk someone's future just because we think they might be the next star."
She is correct.

2. The fallout from Jumbogate continued Friday.
Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province, who posted a lewd comment made by Thornton following a game-day skate on Thursday, doesn’t seem to be getting much support, unless it's from friends and co-workers.
Kevin Allen of USA Today said on Sportsnet that he had spoken with "many" sports reporters and there wasn't much, if any, support for Botchford's decision. "It's almost universal that no one would have reported it," Allen said.
Allen, a highly respected hockey writer who will be presented with the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States on Dec. 2, admitted that he was "just  stunned" by Botchford's decision.
"That happens all the time . . . guys make comments, they interject their thoughts in the middle of interviews, it's usually humour-based," Allen said. "We all hear it. We all ignore it. It's kind of an implied off the record."
Allen said he wouldn't even have considered using the comment, adding that had he chosen to he would have been fired within 20 minutes.
"To me," Allen added, "the reporter, I would say, went rogue. He went outside of what I would say is acceptable practice."
A number of years ago I was the president of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers Association and we were working to get the WHL to allow us access to dressing rooms. 0ne day, I met  with media relations, public relations and marketing officials in a Vancouver hotel, and attempted to state our case as to why newspaper reporters needed that access.
At the end of the day, the team reps were fearful of exactly what happened with Botchford and Thornton, and the teams were even more concerned because reporters who cover major junior hockey are dealing mostly with teenagers. Those teenagers, the school of thought was, might easily say something without realizing the consequences.
In the end, the issue of dressing room access was left up to individual teams, although the WHL does have rules about player availability. In Kamloops, for example, I haven't set foot in the Blazers dressing room in a number of years.
And now there are rumblings that NHL players may ask for time limits when reporters are on their turf.
Aaron Ward, a former NHLer who now is a studio analyst with TSN, posted three tweets on Friday morning. Here they are, having been combined:
"Bottom line on SJ lockeroom quote. Having been on both sides, this is a media/player relationship-killer. Sets it back now bc players could believe they have lost established comfort level with media on what is in fact NEWS. Told by players they may ask to put reporters back on the clock and when availability is up, they will be asked to leave. Not good for a game we are all still trying to grow."
And then there is Jack Todd, a columnist whose work appears in the Montreal Gazette. Todd tweeted: "Thanks to the moron who made Joe Thornton’s comments public, we may never get a good quote out of a hockey locker room again."

3. Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail writes that fighting in hockey has to go. As he points out, the designated fighters aren't needed to police a game that already has police, as in on-ice officials, to do just that. That column is right here.

4. Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen has an interesting story right here that explores the link between Major League Baseball's playoffs and the 2009 World Baseball Challenge, the terrific baseball tournament whose home is in Prince George. This is neat stuff.

5. Sheldon Kennedy, who continues to do such terrific work, took his message about child abuse and how to deal with it to Penn State this week. There is more right here.

6. Donald E. Miller Jr. is a dead man. How does he know that? A judge told him so. Yes, Miller was in front of a judge this week. That judge told Miller that, as far as the law is concerned, he is deceased. Check out the story right here.




F Devin Oakes, who was released by the Kamloops Blazers earlier this week, has joined the BCHL's Merritt Centennials. Oakes, 18, is from Prince Rupert, B.C. He was pointless in two games with the Blazers this season. . . .
D Jesse Forsberg, who was dealt by the Seattle Thunderbirds to Moose Jaw this week, didn't play for the Warriors in Brandon on Friday night. According to James Gallo of the Warriors, Forsberg has a hip-pointer. . . . Prior to that game in Brandon, Andy Neal of Shaw TV tweeted: "Last Friday's W for Brandon was Kelly McCrimmon's 334th career victory behind the bench, moves past Willie Desjardins for 18th most all-time." . . . The Wheat Kings won 3-2 in a shootout last night. . . . Brandon D Ryan Pulock was back after a one-game injury-related absence. . . . Moose Jaw F Todd Fiddler was a healthy scratch. . . . The host Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds went to OT for the seventh time in the last 12 meetings between the teams last night. Seattle won this one, 4-3. . . .
F Boston Leier is loving life in Regina. He scored three times last night — it was the 20-year-old's first WHL hat trick — as the Pats dropped the Vancouver Giants 5-4 in OT. Leier, who was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers on Oct. 2, has five goals and an assist in his last two games. . . . The Giants have lost seven in a row. According to Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post, the Giants are without five injured forwards. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels may have lost F Vukie Mpofu to injury in the third period of a 4-3 OT victory over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders last night. According to Red Deer Advocate sports editor Greg Meachem, Mpofu left "after being taken into the boards by the Raiders’ Mackenze Stewart, and didn’t return." Stewart was hit with a boarding major and game misconduct and may be looking at a suspension.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Marek Svatos (Kootenay, 2000-02) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL) after an unsuccessful tryout with the Florida Panthers. Svatos last played in 2010-11, when he had three goals and five assists in 19 games with Avangard Omsk (Russia, KHL) and four goals and four assists in 28 games split between the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators. . . .


D Steve McCarthy (Edmonton/Kootenay, 1996-2000) signed a contract for the rest of this season with ZSC Zurich (Switzerland, NL A) after an unsuccessful tryout with the Calgary Flames. He had two goals and eight assists in 30 games with the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) this season. . . .

 F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) signed a tryout contract with Aalborg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He started the season with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2. Bundesliga), where he was pointless in a two-game tryout. Lukacevic then signed with Banska Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga), getting three goals and eight assists in 15 games before being released by mutual agreement on Monday. . . .

F Duncan Milroy (Swift Current, Kootenay, 1998-2003) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, GET-Ligaen). He had six goals and 22 assists in 45 games with the Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL) last season.
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The Prince George Cougars have signed Mark Holick as their head coach, replacing Dean Clark who was relieved of his duties on Tuesday morning.
Assistant coach Jason Becker ran the bench Wednesday, as the Cougars dropped a 3-2 decision to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.
Holick was to speak with the players following the game and will run practice today and take over the bench Friday when the Everett Silvertips are in Prince George.
Sheri Lamb of the Prince George Citizen has more on the coaching change right here.
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Sheri Lamb of the Prince George Citizen also has spoken with a couple of Cougars players who are dealing with post-concussion syndrome.
This is an interesting story, another one that gives you some idea of what players go through while dealing with brain injuries.
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F Dryden Hunt of the Regina Pats is working to come back from a second concussion this season. Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post writes right here about what Hunt has gone through.
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Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun reports that D Ryan Pulock (wrist) was back practising with the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday. He has missed five games with a chipped bone in a wrist. The Wheat Kings will meet the Rebels in Red Deer on Friday, but Pulock wasn’t ready to commit himself to playing just yet. . . . Brandon D Rene Hunter didn’t skate after blocking a shot in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the visiting Saskatoon Blades. Also missing was F Nick Buonassisi (ill), who didn’t play Tuesday.
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Michael Newman Wright, who was selected by the Tri-City Americans in the sixth round of the 1995 bantam draft, has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison on an armed robbery charge.
Hannah Spray of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has that story right here.
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WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Saskatoon, the Edmonton Oil Kings scored the game’s first three goals and went on to a 4-2 victory over the Blades. . . . D Griffin Reinhart, who turns 19 today, scored twice for Edmonton, giving him six. . . . Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls scored his 32nd goal at 2:21 of the third to get the Blades to within 3-2. . . . Reinhart got his second goal at 15:02. . . .

F Jaedon Descheneau drew three assists as the host Kootenay Ice got past the Medicine Hat Tigers, 3-2. . . . F Luke Philp broke a 2-2 tie at 13:52 of the third. . . . In 11 January games, Descheneau has 18 points, including 14 in the last seven. . . . Last season, Deschenau, a 17-year-old from Edmonton, had 14 points in 54 games. Now he has 45, including 32 assists, in 45 games. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart, who was day-to-day on the injury list, had two assists. . . . Kootenay, which has won five straight and 12 of 13, has closed to within four points of an Eastern Conference playoff spot. . . .

In Kamloops, G Austin Lotz stopped 65 shots — yes, 65! — but the last one he faced got past him and gave the Blazers a 4-3 OT victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . By period, Lotz stopped 29, 18 and 18 shots. His 65 saves were a single-game franchise record. The previous record (55) had been set by Kent Simpson in a game against Portland last season. . . . Kamloops won it when F Cole Ully scored on a penalty shot at 1:17 of extra time. It was Ully’s second goal of the game and 16th of the season. Ully, who had 20 goals, including nine goals, in 55 games last season, has 33 points in 40 games this season. . . . Everett somehow took 43 of the game’s 58 penalty minutes, including 14 of 19 minors. . . . Kamloops ended up going 0-for-12 on the PP; the Silvertips were 1-for-3. . . . Lotz was chosen as Wednesday’s first star by Neate Sager of the Buzzing The Net blog and was given all three stars by the Kamloops Daily News. In the building, he was the third star, although the fans did give him a standing ovation. . . .

In Prince George, the Prince Albert Raiders overcame a 2-0 deficit and beat the Cougars, 3-2. . . . F Mike Winther broke a 2-2 tie at 12:57 of the third period with his 17th goal. . . . It was the Cougars’ first game since head coach Dean Clark was fired on Tuesday. Assistant coach Jason Becker ran the bench, with Mark Holick, the new head coach, planning to take over with the Everett Silvertips in town for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader. . . .

In Spokane, D Brenden Kichton scored in the circus to give the Chiefs a 5-4 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Kichton, who scored his 16th goal in the first period, was the only one of six shooters to score in the circus. . . . Spokane G Eric Williams stopped 41 shots. . . . Spokane led 3-1 after the second. The Winterhawks forced OT with goals by D Troy Rutkowsk, his 16th, at 15:13 of the third and F Ty Rattie’s 23rd at 16:31. Rutkowski’s goal was a shorthanded effort. . . . Rattie’s goal was his 300th career point. It came in his 245th game. . . . The Chiefs had beaten the host Winterhawks 5-2 on Monday. The teams play again Friday in Spokane.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Austin Vetterl, Kootenay
F Manraj Hayer, Everett
F Carson Perreaux, Prince Albert

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
D Joel Edmundson, Kamloops
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From Everett Silvertips D Ben Betker (@Betker5): “S/O to my roomy on the road @lotzy30. Kid had a night to remember in the loops #65Saves”
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From former Kootenay Ice F Drew Czerwonka (@cwonks19): “Attempted to wax my chest tonight, did about 6 strips and quit. Mad props to all the ladies out there who do that regularly #sopainful”
Czerwonka now is at the U of Regina.

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