THE MacBETH REPORT:
Brothers D Logan (Tri-City, 2001-06) and F Shay (Red Deer, 2000-04) Stephenson have signed contract extensions with Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway GET-Ligaen). Shay has one goal and one assist in two games, while Logan has two goals and nine assists in 13 games with Sparta this season. Both brothers started the season with Karlskrona (Sweden, Allsvenskan); Logan had one assist in 21 games and Shay was pointless in three games.
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The Tri-City Americans have sent F Ryan Chynoweth home to Cranbrook for a couple of weeks after he suffered a head injury in a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Wash., on Saturday night.
Chynoweth was knocked into the boards, hitting his head and suffered a cut to his forehead.
Chynoweth, 17, was playing in his second game after coming back from a shoulder injury. He had been out since Jan. 22.
Chynoweth, the son of Kootenay Ice president/general manager Jeff Chynoweth, was acquired by Tri-City from the Everett Silvertips early in the season. He has four points in 33 games with the Americans.
Earlier Sunday, Ryan Chynoweth tweeted: “Flying home to Cranbrook today, been an extremely frustrating year! Hope to get back on the ice soon! Wish the boys all the best!”
While he was on a plane to Cranbrook, his teammates were riding the bus to Prince George where they are to play the Cougars tonight and Tuesday.
With 38 victories, a doubleheader sweep would give the Americans 40 victories for a seventh straight season, tying a WHL record shared by the Kamloops Blazers (1989-96) and Regina Pats (1979-86).
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The U of Alberta has iced a men’s hockey team for 100 years. The school won its 50th league title Sunday when the Golden Bears beat the visiting U of Saskatchewan Huskies 5-2 in Game 3 of a best-of-three Canada West final.
Both teams will play in the six-team University Cup tournament in Saskatoon as the Huskies are the host team. That event runs March 14-17.
Evan Daum of the Edmonton Journal has the story right here.
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Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail has written a lengthy piece right here examining the results of a recent survey conducted on behalf of the Rick Hansen Institute.
Some of the numbers that came out of this survey are rather startling, including the fact that “7 per cent of those hockey parents surveyed believe their child as the potential to play professional hockey.”
You really should take the time to give this a read.
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The matchups, if the WHL playoffs opened today:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Swift Current (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Medicine Hat (6)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Seattle (8)
Kelowna (2) vs. Everett (7)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, F Tanner Eberle scored in OT as the Warriors erased a 4-0 deficit and beat the Saskatoon Blades, 5-4. . . . Eberle’s 15th goal came 45 seconds into OT. . . . The Blades went into the game having won 18 straight games. . . . They scored three goals in the game’s first 8:13, with F Matej Stransky getting two of them to equal his career high with 39 snipes. . . . Moose Jaw G Justin Paulic, making his 20th straight start, stopped 36 shots. . . . The Warriors trailed 4-0 until 3:28 of the third period when F Justin Kirsch scored his 22nd goal on a PP. . . F Brayden Point was in on the Warrior’ next three goals, drawing an assist on F Jordan Messier’s 10th and then scoring twice, giving him 18, at 8:48, on a PP, and again at 11:35. . . . Point finished with two goals and two assists. . . . The Blades had been 7-0 against the Warriors this season. . . . Warriors D Kendall McFaull, the team captain, went to hospital after being injured in a scrap with F Collin Valcourt in the second period. McFaull lost two teeth and two others pushed back, but he returned and was on the ice when OT began. “He’s the ultimate and true Warrior,” Moose Jaw head coach Mike Stothers told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “He didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to get fixed. He said ‘I can do that later’ and we told him he better go get it done. They don’t make them like that any more.” . . . Attendance was announced at 3,462 but only about 1,200 fans braved near-blizzard condtions to watch this one.

In Regina, F Chandler Stephenson scored in the circus to give the Pats a 4-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The Wheat Kings held a 3-1 lead halfway through the third period. The Pats tied it on goals by F Carson Samoridny, his 10th, at 11:14, and Stephenson, his 14th, at 15:12, on the PP. . . . The Pats, who won’t make the playoffs, won three games in as many nights. . . .

In Vancouver, D Blake Orban scored at 1:47 of OT to give the Giants a 1-0 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . Vancouver G Payton Lee stopped 13 shots for the shutout, his first in the WHL. . . . Everett G Austin Lotz turned aside 26 shots. . . . There was some discussion after the game over whether Orban’s shot went in off the stick of Vancouver F Alec Baer, the 15-year-old Minnesotan who was playing in his third WHL game. "I don't even know, to be honest," Baer told Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province. "I'm glad our team did. I was just in front battling. I hit something: might have been a stick, might have been a puck. The Giants scored. That's all that matters." . . . Baer is to return to Minnesota today but plans on returning to play in a home-and-home series against the Victoria Royals on Friday and Saturday. . . . The loser point moved Everett into a tie with Seattle for seventh in the Western Conference. However, Everett has more victories — 23-22 — so is shown in seventh place. . . .

In Kamloops, F JC Lipon scored three times and G Cole Cheveldave stopped 25 shots as the Blazers beat the Kelowna Rockets, 3-0. . . . Lipon has 34 goals this season. He has two career hat tricks, both of them this season. . . . Cheveldave earned his fifth shutout this season and the ninth of his career. . . . F Myles Bell, who leads the Rockets in goals, assists and points, didn’t play after 17:50 of the first period. He went to the bench after going knee-to-knee with Kamloops D Sam Grist in a collision that was more of an accident than anything. . . . The Blazers closed to within three points of the B.C. Division-leading Rockets, who hold a game in hand. . . .

In Medicine Hat, D Derek Ryckman got the Tigers rolling to a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen when he opened the scoring with his first goal of the season. . . . Ryckman, a 20-year-old form Red Deer, now has nine goals in 284 regular-season games. . . . F Curtis Valk scored his 42nd goal — it was shorthanded and gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead at 11:50 of the first — and added two assists. . . . Medicine Hat G Marek Langhamer stopped 39 shots. . . . The start of the game was delayed 40 minutes as poor weather conditions kept the Hitmen from arriving until 5:40 p.m. The game was to have started at 6 p.m.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Carter Popoff, Vancouver
F Ryan Olsen, Kelowna

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Josh Nicholls, Saskatoon
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From Calgary resident Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge): “So RCMP advising drivers not to travel highway 1 yet apparently the Hitmen are still bound for Medicine Hat. Stupidity.”
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Caldwell again: “As long as #WHL teams insist on driving in this weather its a matter of when, not if, theres a repeat of Broncos tragedy. Very disappointed.”
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From Pat Siedlecki (@radiopat258), the play-by-play voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, at 1:28 p.m. Pacific time: “RCMP now say ALL highways across southern Alberta are being shut down as of now! Zero visibility, blowing snow, heavy snow.”
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More from Siedlecki, this one at 4:12 p.m. Pacific: “A round of applause from the players as the bus moves for the first time in 1.5 hrs! EMS dealing with several crashes west of the city.”
The Hurricanes were on their way home from a West Coast road swing that ended Saturday in Kelowna. The Hurricanes arrived in Lethbridge some 18 hours after leaving the Little Apple.
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From Vancouver Sun sports reporter Brad Ziemer (@BradZiemer): “My day just got better. Michael Buble just dropped by Vera’s Burger Shack at YVR. Sang part of Fly Me To The Moon with staffer. Really.”
Ziemer was trying to get to Calgary to cover last night’s NHL game between the Canucks and Flames.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
Langnau (Switzerland, NL A) signed F Tyler Ennis (Medicine Hat, 2005-09) and D Jared Spurgeon (Spokane, 2005-10) to lockout contracts. Ennis had 15 goals and 19 assists in 48 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season, while Spurgeon had three goals and 20 assists in 70 games with the Minnesota Wild. They are childhood friends and were teammates in minor hockey in Edmonton. . . .
F Stepan Novotny (Kelowna, Swift Current, 2008-11) signed a one-year contract with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extrraliga). He had five goals and six assists in 34 games for Lev Poprad (Slovakia, KHL) last season. . . .
F Shay Stephenson (Red Deer, 2000-04) was released by Karlskrona (Sweden, Allsvenskan) by mutual agreement due to injury. He had no points in three games this season with Karlskrona. . . .
F Jakub Rumpel (Medicine Hat, 2006-07) signed a try-out contract with Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, Oberliga). He had one assist in one game with Trnava (Slovakia, 1.Liga) this season. Last season, Rumpel had three assists in two games with Trnava and seven goals and 12 assists in 30 games with Frederikshavn (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga).
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When the WHL gathered its head coaches for an information session in Calgary last week, there was a lot of talk about dangerous hits, about not hitting players who are in vulnerable positions, about not hitting another player in the numbers, about the respect factor.
Judging by the number of ugly hits in the Kamloops Blazers’ 6-5 victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets on Friday night, there is some work to be done.
Make no mistake about it – this was a nasty game. Not nasty in terms of ample stickwork and a number of fights (there was only one), but nasty because of some really dangerous hits.
It started four minutes into the first period when Kelowna F Colton Heffley hit Kamloops F Aspen Sterzer from behind.
Before the game was done, Kamloops D Tyler Hansen had twice been penalized for hits from behind, while Kelowna F Ryan Olsen also picked up one.
But two of the most egregious checks from behind weren’t called such; in fact, one of them didn’t even draw a penalty.
At 16:43 of the first period, Kelowna F Henrik Nyberg hit Kamloops D Tyler Bell in the back and wasn’t even penalized. Nyberg ended up falling on Bell, who went down awkwardly and appeared to injure his right knee. He returned to the bench for the last two periods but didn’t play again. Nyberg, a freshman from Sweden, ended up in a fight as Kamloops F Dylan Willick went straight to him. The only penalty assessed Nyberg was a fighting major.
At 10:11 of the second period, Kelowna D Myles Bell drilled Kamloops F Matt Needham from behind and was given a boarding minor.
Meanwhile, at 12:08 of the second period, Kelowna F Colton Sissons drove to the Kamloops net off the left wing. He made no attempt to pull up and barrelled into G Cole Cheveldave in the crease. Somehow, Sissons came out of this without a goaltender interference penalty; rather, he was penalized for roughing.
Cheveldave left the game after the second period with an undisclosed injury. Kamloops head coach Guy Charron said he couldn’t yet say whether Cheveldave was injured on that play. Charron wasn’t at all happy to be talking about Cheveldave being injured again. After all, Cheveldave’s last season ended late in Game 1 of a second-round series with Portland when he was run over by Winterhawks F Oliver Gabriel behind the net.
Last night, shortly after Sissons ran into Cheveldave, Kamloops F Jordan DePape had a chance to bury Kelowna G Jordon Cooke on a similar play, put pulled up short and skated past the side of the net.
The messages in all of this: The penalties for checking from behind have to be made stiffer. If that’s what it takes to make players think before they drill an opponent in the numbers, well, that’s what it’s going to take.
And the WHL officials need to work harder to protect the goaltenders. A few charging majors would be a good place to start.
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In seasons past, I have done game-by-game reviews. I’m not going to do that this season; it’s simply too time-consuming and most of the information I provided is available on the game sheets on the WHL website. . . . Instead, I will try to provide some highlights, injuries, tidbits, etc. . . . If you are at a game and see something of interest, email me at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca. . . .
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FRIDAY’S STUFF:
The Portland Winterhawks outshot the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 30-2 in the first period and went on to drop a 5-2 decision. Seattle G Brandon Glover pitched a first-period shutout and finished with 55 saves. . . . Seattle had a 20-11 edge in shots in the second period. . . . The Winterhawks were 11-1-0 against Portland last season. . . . Portland D Seth Jones, whose first name really isn’t Highly Touted, made his WHL debut. “I thought he was good,” Portland GM/head coach Mike Johnston told Paul Buker of The Oregonian. “I thought he controlled the play. He moved the puck well. He’s a big guy when he jumps up ice. It’s amazing how quick he is with his stick when he heads up ice. He’s got really good offensive skills.” . . . Jones’ father, Popeye, was in the stands. Popeye, an assistant coach with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, played for the Portland Trail Blazers in Memorial Coliseum. . . . “The fans are crazy, and they really support this hockey team,” Jones told Buker. “I’m an old guy. I started coming here in 1993 for basketball. I played in Memorial Coliseum. That’s how old I am.” . . .

LW Tim Bozon scored three goals, the last one in OT, to give the host Kamloops Blazers a 6-5 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . As noted earlier, this was a particularly nasty game. . . . Kamloops lost G Cole Cheveldave (undisclosed) and D Tyler Bell (knee) to injuries, both on aggressive plays by Kelowna players. Neither is expected to play tonight in Kelowna. . . . Rockets LW J.T. Barnett (knee) left during his first shift after throwing a hit deep in Kamloops territory. He won’t play tonight either. The Rockets claimed Barnett off waivers from Everett last week. Last season, Barnett suffered a knee injury while stretching prior to a game in Kamloops. He played that night, but the injury kept him out of action after that until playoffs. . . .

The host Moose Jaw Warriors overcame a 3-0 deficit and beat the Swift Current Broncos 4-3 in OT. The winning goal? F Andrew Johnson scored it on a penalty shot. . . . “I saw there was a gap there (between defenders) and I tried to split it. When the ref pointed for a penalty shot my heart almost stopped,” Johnson told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. . . . Swift Current D Reece Scarlett left the ice on a backboard after a hit from Moose Jaw F Justin Kirsch. Scarlett was on the ice for 10 minutes before being taken off. He gave the crowd the thumbs up as he left. . . . The Warriors successfully killed off two major penalties, the one to Kirsch for the hit on Scarlett and another to D Joel Edmundson who got tossed under the WHL’s new rule for instigating a fight off a faceoff. . . . Scarlett (@reecescarlett7) later tweeted: “Thanks for all the support. I am doing fine. Nothing seriously wrong. Just beyond stiff and sore. #bebacksoon.” . . .


Victoria F Stephen Hodges took a puck to the mouth in the warmup and then scored twice, both via the PP, and set up another as the Royals beat the Giants 6-4 in Vancouver. . . . Victoria D Joe Hicketts, the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft, had a goal and an assist for the Royals in his first regular-season game. . . . Victoria scored six times on 18 shots. . . . Victoria head coach Dave Lowry, in his first season with the Royals, picked up the victory in the rink where he played his first NHL game with the Vancouver Canucks. They selected him 110th overall in the NHL’s 1983 draft. . . .

In Red Deer, the Rebels dropped a 3-2 decision to the Calgary Hitmen and lost D Mathew Dumba in the first period when he was tossed for a head hit on F Joe Kornelson. . . . Here’s Red Deer Advocate sports editor Greg Meachem: “It was the classic open-ice hit that Dumba has made his calling card, but also one that is being frowned upon by referees and the WHL head office and earned the third-year Rebel a major and game misconduct.” . . .

In Brandon, head coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk picked up his first victory as the Wheat Kings edge the Regina Pats, 3-2. . . . Gylywoychuk, a veteran assistant coach in Brandon, was named head coach of the Wheat Kings over the summer. . . . Gylywoychuk also played with the Wheat Kings. . . .

The Saskatoon Blades began their march to the 2013 Memorial Cup by beating the host Prince Albert Raiders 2-1 in a shootout. . . . Last season, the Raiders lost 19 games by one goal, which contributed mightily to their missing the playoffs. . . . The Raiders got their goal on the PP after Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls was given a charging major and game misconduct for a hit on D Zach Hodder. The Vancouver Giants selected Hodder with the 20th overall pick in the 2008 bantam draft. He had a short stay in Saskatoon last season and was making has Prince Albert debut in this one.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
Madie Gylywoychuk (@Madietaylor99): “Congrats on the first win of the season @bdnwheatkings! Way to go Dad! @millchew.”
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IN OTHER NEWS:
The Regina Pats have acquired F Adam Rossignol, 19, from the Swift Current Broncos for a 2013 bantam draft pick. The Broncos announced that pick as being conditional; according to the Pats, it’s a 12-rounder. . . . Rossignol, who was acquired by the Broncos form Kootenay Ice in January, had 21 points in 71 games last season. He was released by the Broncos earlier this week. . . . Rossignol played for Regina last night. . . .
The Broncos also announced Friday that they have released F Christian Magnus, 20. He came over from the Kootenay Ice on Jan. 9, 2011, as part of the  monster deal in which F Cody Eakin moved to the Ice. . . . Magnus, the ninth overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft, actually started with the Broncos, but was dealt to the Ice with D James Martin in exchange for F Michael Stickland and D John Negrin. There also were some draft picks in that deal. . . . Last season, Magnus had 24 points in 62 games with the Broncos. The announcement of his release came three days after Broncos F Graham Black (@GrahamBlack9) said farewell to Magnus via Twitter: “Going to miss my best friend on the swift current broncos @mr_mangus big beauty, unreal friend, and amazing line mate! We love you mags!!!” . . . The Broncos are left with F Chance Lund, F Ryon Moser and D Dalton Reum as their 20-year-olds. . . .
The Tri-City Americans have assigned F Brendan Persley, 19, to the MJHL’s Virden Oil Capitals, who acquired his rights last week from the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers. . . . The Americans now are carrying 26 players, including two goaltenders and 15 forwards. . . .
F Brock Balson, 19, who was released this week by his hometown Kamloops Blazers, is back with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Balson was released by the Prince Albert Raiders prior to the start of last season. He joined the SilverBacks and put up 19 points in 20 games. He then moved to the Blazers, for whom he had six points in 42 games. . . .
F Justin Maylan (Moose Jaw, Prince George, Prince Albert, 2007-12) has signed with the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. Maylan, 21, had 89 points, including 63 assists, with Prince Albert last season.
The Medicine Hat Tigers have assigned G Kenny Cameron, 19, to the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints. Last season, Cameron backed up Tyler Bunz with the Tigers. His departure leaves the Tigers with Dawson MacAuley, 18, and Marek Langhamer, an 18-year-old Czech freshman, as the goaltenders. . . . Langhamer stopped 18 shots in last night’s 4-2 loss to the host Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . .
Brian Wiebe, who covers the BCHL like a glove, reports that the Surrey Eagles have added D Tommy Stipancik, 18, who was released by the Saskatoon Blades. Stipancik had three points in 34 games with the Blades last season. . . . Wiebe also has F Brayden Low, 18, joining the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials after being dropped by the Seattle Thunderbirds. Low, who played four games with the Portland Winterhawks in 2010-11, had 16 points in 44 games with the Centennials last season.
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The OHL and the Windsor Spitfires have come to an agreement on disciplinary measures brought on by a violation of the league’s player recruitment policy. Originally, the Spitfires were fined $400,000 and had five draft picks taken from them. . . . The Spitfires appealed and recently met with OHL commissioner David Branch. . . . According to an OHL news release, “During the meeting . . . the Windsor Spitfires accepted that there were certain violations of the league’s recruitment policy.” . . . When all was said and done, the earlier decision was changed. The Spitfires have agreed to pay a fine of $250,000 and lose four draft picks – first-rounders in 2013 and 2016, and second-rounders in 2015 and 2017. . . . As a result of this agreement, the Spitfires won’t appeal the decision. . . . And here is the last line of the OHL news release: “Neither the League nor the Windsor Spitfires will be making any further comment in relation to this matter.” . . . So that takes care of that.
Bob Duff of the Windsor Star writes right here about how this means the Spitfires have “dropped their innocent act.”
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The QMJHL’s P.E.I. Rocket franchise will change its name to P.E.I. Islanders effective next season. The team held a rename-your-team contest and Islanders got 49 per cent of the votes. Also considered were Riptide and Confederation. . . . The change can’t take place yet because Reebok is just now working on changing logos and colours.

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If you haven’t seen The Flame in action, well, you’ve missed out on one of the great moments in Canadian sports.
But it’s not like you won’t have another opportunity to see him blow his stack.
That’s because The Flame will be in action in Regina on Saturday, May 12, as the Prairie Fire take on the Wolverines in the inaugural Ultra 7’s rugby game.
All the fun will be at the Regina Rugby Union Club House and Fields and the fun begins at 4:30 p.m.
The Flame first came to fame at Saskatchewan Roughriders games and later spent a number of years doing his thing at Rugby Canada Super League games involving the Prairie Fire RFC in Regina.
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
Brothers Shay and Logan Stephenson each signed a one-year contract with Karlskrona (Sweden, Allsvenskan). F Shay (Red Deer, 2000-04) had 28 goals and 42 assists in 44 games, good enough for third place in league scoring, and D Logan (Tri-City, 2001-06) had eight goals and 15 assists in 28 games with Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, GET-Ligaen) this season.
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THE PHARMACEUTICAL GAME:
Hockey players have long looked for a buzz prior to games and for a way to get rid of the buzz after games.
I can remember one player with the Regina Pats who would drink at least five cups of coffee before games.
Another time, about 20 years ago, a player with the Pats came back from an NHL camp expressing amazement at the availability of Sudafed in the pro team’s dressing room. I remember him telling me it was in glass bowls “just like candy.”
Sean Gordon of The Globe and Mail takes a look right here at how modern pharmaceuticals are part of the culture in the NHL.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Central league’s Allen Americans announced Friday that the contracts of GM/head coach Dwight Mullins and associate coach Bill McDonald won’t be renewed. . . . The Americans also announced that former NHLers Mike Modano, Ed Belfour, Richard Matvichuk and Craig Ludwig all have joined the organization. According to a news release, “Modano, Belfour and Ludwig have partnered as minority owners with current majority owner Doug Miller, owner Steve Duchesne, and minority partner and team president Matt Canavan. Richard Matvichuk will join the Americans in a hockey operations role.”
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 THE WHL FINAL:
Game 2 . . .
In Edmonton, G Mac Carruth stopped 38 shots to lead the Portland Winterhawks to a 5-1 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . The championship final now is tied 1-1 with Games 3 and 4 in Portland’s Rose Garden on Sunday and Tuesday. . . . Game 5 is scheduled for Edmonton on Thursday. . . . The Winterhawks were without F Ty Rattie, who leads the playoff scoring race. He suffered an undisclosed injury – the Winterhawks are saying it isn’t a concussion – when he landed awkwardly after a collision with Edmonton F Mitch Moroz in Game 1. . . . F Brendan Leipsic scored the game’s first two goals, at 2:37 of the first period and 9:30 of the second, to give him six in these playoffs. . . . Portland F Sven Baertschi also scored twice, the second into an empty net at 18:34 of the third. He’s got 10 goals and now has 28 points, two fewer than Rattie. . . . F Taylor Peters also scored for Portland. His first playoff goal, at 18:38 of the second, gave Portland a 4-0 lead. . . . Carruth lost his shutout at 4:44 of the third when F Kristians Pelss got his fifth playoff goal. . . . Portland D Troy Rutkowski, who is from Edmonton, continued his stellar playoff season. He had two assists and was plus-3. He has eight points in 17 playoff games and is plus-14. He also is a shot-blocker supreme. . . . Edmonton G Laurent Brossoit stopped 22 shots. . . . Portland was 1-3 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-4. . . . This was Edmonton’s first loss at home in these playoffs. . . . Attendance was 10,720.
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Here is the schedule for the WHL’s championship final for the Ed Chynoweth Cup (all times local):
Thursday, May 3: Portland 2 at Edmonton 3 (7,466)
Friday, May 4: Portland 5 at Edmonton 1 (10,720)
Sunday, May 6: at Portland (Rose Garden), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8: at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 10: at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, May 12: at Portland (Rose Garden), 6 p.m.
x-Sunday, May 13: at Edmonton, 6 p.m.
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Chris O’Leary of the Edmonton Journal checks out the Ty Rattie situation right here.
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O’Leary has a blog item right here on a play in Game 2 that involved video review of a potential Oil Kings goal. Portland was leading 3-0 at the time so it was an important review and it seems the reviewers got it wrong.
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John MacKinnon of the Edmonton Journal takes a look at the attendance situation involving the Oil Kings and their playoff games. That piece is right here.
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After Friday’s game, the Oil Kings issued this news release:
The Edmonton Oil Kings and partner ATB Financial announced a special ticket offer for the remainder of the 2012 WHL Championship Series presented by Kal Tire and Husky.
As a thank you to fans for their continued support throughout the entire season, ATB Financial and the Oil Kings will offer 10,000 tickets for both Games 5 and Game 7 of this series versus the Portland Winterhawks for just $20. Tickets for both future games will go on sale Monday, May 7, 2012 at 10 a.m.
Game 5 of the series is scheduled for Thursday, May 10, 7 p.m. Game 7, if necessary, will be played Sunday, May 13, 7 p.m., at Rexall Place.
Tickets will be available at oilkings.ca, at the Oil Kings ticket office at TELUS Field (10233-96 Avenue) during regular business hours Monday through Friday, by calling (780) 414-GOAL (4625) or at the door.


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Petr Kalus (Regina, 2005-06) was released by Jokerit Helsinki (Finland, SM-Liiga) at the end of his tryout contract. He had one
goal in three exhibition games for Jokerit this month. . . .
F Shay (Red Deer, 2000-04) and D Logan (Tri-City, 2001-06)
Stephenson each signed one-year contracts with Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, GET-Ligaen). Logan had two goals and three assists in 43 games for the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL) last season, while older brother Shay didn’t play. Two seasons ago, Shay had six goals and 13 assists in 36 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) and four goals and two assists in seven games with Vålerenga. . . .
F Josh Bonar (Kamloops, Vancouver, Regina, 2000-03) signed a one-year contract extension with Miskolci Jegesmedve JSE (Hungary, Interliga). He had 29 goals and 30 assists in 31 games for Miskolc during MOL Liga play last season, leading the league in goals and scoring. In Hungarian league play (OB I. Bajnoksag), Bonar had 10 goals and 10 assists in 14 games. The MOL Liga, comprising teams from Hungary and Romania, was renamed Interliga this summer.
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JUST NOTES: The Regina Pats and Evraz Place announced Tuesday that they have agreed on a five-year lease for the Brandt Centre. If you have followed this story, you know that this is like The Rock and Stone Cold reaching a truce back in the day. . . . "We are pleased that we are able to announce a longer term lease agreement with Evraz Place. The process has been long and at times frustrating for both parties but with the help of our legal counsel Neil Tulloch and the co-operation of Neil Donnelly from Evraz we were able to find some common ground," Pats president Brent Parker said in a news release. . . . The previous deal expired on May 31. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here. . . .
The staff at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton includes some names that will be familiar to WHL fans. Blake Wesley, a former Portland Winterhawks defenceman is the director of hockey operations. . . . Robert Dirk, a former Regina Pats defenceman, is the GM and head coach of the junior B team, the Penticton Lakers. . . . Brian Pellerin, who played with the Prince Albert Raiders and has worked as an assistant coach with Portland, is the prep team head coach. . . . Tim Hunter, who played in the WHL with the Seattle Breakers, is the head coach of the varsity Red team. . . . Mike Needham, who was a sniper with the Kamloops Blazers and is on their staff as skills coach, is head coach of the OHA’s bantam Tier 1 team. . . . Former Blazers head coach Barry Smith is head coach of the bantam Tier 2 team. . . .
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The Saskatoon Blades will travel to Prince Albert for an exhibition game against the Raiders tonight. Drew Wilson has all the action on CKBI and you can find it on the Internet.
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A tip of the hat to general manager/head coach Jesse Wallin and the Red Deer Rebels.
D Matt Dumba has yet to skate in the Rebels’ training camp, which is exactly what happened a year ago with F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
“Like Ryan, Mathew played hockey all of August,” Wallin told Greg Meachem, the Red Deer Advocate’s sports editor. “After returning from overseas (with the Canadian national under-18 team), he flew to Toronto (for an NHL developmental/orientation camp). We’ll give him a week off to catch his breath and get him skating Friday.”
With the amount of time young players are spending in the gym and on skates during the summer months, more teams should be providing some of these players with more time off.
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Curtis Lazar, the second overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft, is working to make a name for himself with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal has more right here on the player they call The Czar.
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For today's good read, we send you to the Sporting News, where Craig Custance has written an entertaining read that carries the headline: NHL watches as colleges wage war with Canadian junior hockey. . . . This is as entertaining a look at the 'war' as I have read. It's right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
Brothers D Logan (Tri-City, 2001-06) and F Shay (Red Deer, 2000-04) Stephenson have been released from their tryout contracts by Jesenice (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga).
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 JUST NOTES: The U of Alberta Golden Bears have added eight WHL products for the 2011-12 season. According to a U of A news release: “Forwards Levko Koper (Spokane 2006-11), Kruise Reddick (Tri-City 2006-11), Brett Ferguson (Red Deer 2008-11), Jordan Hickmott (Medicine Hat/Prince Albert/Edmonton 2005-11), James Dobrowolski (Prince Albert/Prince George 2007-11) and Travis Toomey (Saskatoon/Seattle 2005-11) will bolster the Golden Bears attack, while defencemen Jordan Rowley (Kamloops/Prince Albert 2005-11), Thomas Carr (Medicine Hat 2008-11), and Barron Smith (London/Peterborough 2008-2011) bulk up the blue-line.” . . . The Golden Bears, the defending Canada West champions, open camp on Sept. 1 under interim head coach Stan Marple. . . . The U of Regina Cougars have added three more former WHLers to their roster. G Lucas Gore (Chilliwack, 2008-11), D Joel Kot (Red Deer, 2007-09) and D Blaine Tendler (Prince Albert, 2006-09). . . . C C.J. Stretch, who holds the Kamloops Blazers’ career games played record (341), has signed on for a second season with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign. Stretch, who is from Irvine, Calif., had 21 points in 46 games last season.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Machacek to Thunderbirds; Royer to Americans

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had six goals and 11 assists in 21 games for Val Puisteria (Italy, Serie A) last season. . . .
F Shay Stephenson (Red Deer, 2000-04) and younger brother D Logan Stephenson (Tri-City, 2001-06) signed tryout contracts with Jesenice (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). Shay did not play last
season while Logan had two goals and three assists in 43 games for the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL). In 2009-10, Shay had six goals and 13 assists in 36 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) and four goals and two assists in seven games for Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, Get Ligaen).
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Travel with Katy Perry or do play-by-play of the Victoria Royals’ games? Dave Sawchuk chose the former and now Marlon Martens will be doing the latter. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has that story right here.
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John Scott of the Chicago Blackhawks has had a tough time coming to grips with the death of close friend Derek Boogaard. Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at their relationship right here.
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Meanwhile, the Minneapolis StarTribune reported Thursday afternoon that Aaron Boogaard (Calgary, Tri-City, 2002-07) has been arrested “on suspicion of prescription fraud/possession of prescription pills, police said.” Aaron is Derek’s younger brother. The newspaper reported that police have until today at noon to charge him and that charges are expected to be laid this morning. The StarTribune story is right here.
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The Tri-City Americans picked up the rights to F MacKenzie Royer, 19, after he was dropped by the Moose Jaw Warriors. Royer, a second-round bantam draft selection by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2007 bantam draft, put up 11 points in 35 games last season — 16 with the Hitmen and 19 with the Warriors.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have traded D Cason Machacek, 20, to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. Machacek, from Lethbridge, had six assists and 183 penalty minutes in 65 games last season. He is preparing for his fourth WHL season, having started with the Kootenay Ice. He was dealt to Lethbridge 20 games into the 2009-10 season. . . . In 205 regular-season games, he has 24 points, four of them goals, and 401 penalty minutes. . . . Lethbridge is left with three 20-year-olds on its roster — F Cam Braes, F Austin Fyten and F Brody Sutter. . . . The Thunderbirds now show Machacek, F Burke Gallimore, D Ryan Button and D Erik Bonsor as their 20s.
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THE COACHING GAME: The ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays are in the market for a head coach after Cail MacLean left to work as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. MacLean, 34, spent two seasons as South Carolina’s head coach, going 88-48-18. Troy Ward, now the Heat’s head coach, was the head coach of the ECHL’s Trenton Titans, MacLean was his captain.
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Congrats to John Greenough for his victory in the CPGA of Saskatchewan Zone Championship at Swift Current-Elmwood on Wednesday. Greenough won the three-round affair by six shots, finishing at 8-under thanks in no small part to a course-record 10-under 61 in the first round. . . . Greenough, an old acquaintance from the days when he kicked around a ball a bit bigger than a golf ball on the east side of Regina, is the golf operations manager at Deer Valley Golf Club, which is located a couple of drives northwest of Regina. . . . His late father, Mark, was one of Saskatchewan’s best amateur golfers, which means the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. . . . Well done, John!
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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