Wheat Kings skate without Patrick . . . Estephan expected back for Game 3 . . . Two BCHL series go 7

The defending-champion Brandon Wheat Kings are down 2-0 and on the road again as the WHL playoffs resume Tuesday after taking Monday off. . . . The Wheat Kings lost Games 1 and 2 to the Tigers in Medicine Hat on the weekend, and now are in Dauphin, Man., for two games in the hopes of prolonging things. . . . The Wheat Kings haven’t had F Nolan Patrick in their lineup yet this series after he was injured in the second-last game of the regular season. He didn’t skate on Monday in Dauphin, so isn’t likely to play in Game 3. . . . Brandon G Logan Thompson, who left Saturday’s second game after a goal-mouth collision, was on the ice yesterday. . . . The Tigers, meanwhile, skated in Dauphin yesterday and they did so without D Brad Forrest, who was scratched from Game 2 as D Ty Schultz returned from a broken leg. Schultz was back in the Tigers’ lineup earlier than expected after Forrest suffered an undisclosed injury.

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The Regina Pats won the first two games of their first-round series with visiting Calgary on the weekend, outscoring the Hitmen 10-3 in the process. However, John Paddock, the Pats’ general manager and head coach, says there is lots of room for improvement. . . . “We’re glad we’re up 2-0, that’s for sure,” Paddock told Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post on Monday. “They left us a lot of room for some teaching clips. It starts with intelligence and focus, (including) some of the penalties we took. We’re not playing near the kind of hockey you have to play.” . . . The Pats take a 10-game winning streak into Game 3 in Calgary tonight (Tuesday).

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The Lethbridge Hurricanes expect to have F Giorgio Estephan back in the lineup on Wednesday when they resume their series with the Red Deer Rebels. The teams split the first two games in Lethbridge. . . . Estephan left in the second period of Sunday’s Game 2, a 5-2 Hurricanes’ victory, after taking a high-stick to the face from Red Deer F Michael Spacek. . . . “He’s fine,” Lethbridge head coach Brent Kisio told Dale Woodard of the Lethbridge Herald. “He’s good to go.” . . . Of course, this being the playoffs, nothing will be official until the lineup sheet for Game 3 is posted.

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F Duncan Campbell, who began this season with the Brandon Wheat Kings, had a goal and an assist on Monday as his Penticton Vees beat the visiting Merritt Centennials, 6-2, in Game 7 of a BCHL semi-final series. The game drew 3,774 fans to the South Okanagan Events Centre. The Vees he'd led the series 3-1 before the Centennials won two straight games to force Game 7. . . . The Vees and Vernon Vipers will clash in the next round. . . . Meanwhile, at the Q Centre in Victoria, F Keyvan Mokhtari scored 57 seconds into the second OT to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 victory over the Powell River Kings in another Game 7. This one drew 1,705 fans. . . . Victoria advances to meet the Chilliwack Chiefs in the second semi-final.

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Three coaches with WHL experience have been chosen by BC Hockey to lead the team that will compete at the 2017 U-16 Western Canada Challenge Cup in Calgary and the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer. . . . Steve O’Rourke, an assistant coach with the Prince George Cougars, has been named head coach. He spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Red Deer Rebels before joining the Cougars. . . . Jason Becker and Brian Pellerin will serve as O’Rourke’s assistants. . . . Becker, a former WHL player, is an assistant with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. He spent five seasons as an assistant coach with Prince George and two as a head coach at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton. . . . Pellerin, also a former WHL player, is associate coach with the Tri-City Americans. He also has coaching experience in the AHL, the Central league and a sports school. . . . Kevin Pedersen, an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, will be the video coach, with Kim Penner (Merritt Centennials) as trainer and Craig Carter (major midget Okanagan Rockets) as equipment manager.

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MONDAY GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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TUESDAY GAMES (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Swift Current, 7 p.m. (Series tied, 1-1)

Medicine Hat vs. Brandon, at Dauphin, Man., 7:30 p.m. (Medicine Hat leads, 2-0)

Regina at Calgary, 7 p.m. (Regina leads, 2-0)

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m. (Kelowna leads, 2-0)

Everett at Victoria, 7:05 p.m. (Series tied, 1-1)

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Raiders, Warriors deal . . . Which WHL coach "is as funny as funny can be"?

G Kristofer Westblom (Kelowna, 2004-08) has been released by Gap (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, with the Brampton Beast (CHL), he was 3.22 and .903 in 41 games.
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THE DEAL: The Prince Albert Raiders get F Colton McCarthy, 18, from the Moose Jaw Warriors for a sixth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft.
THE SKINNY: McCarthy was born in Moose Jaw, but calls Salmon Arm, B.C., home. He has played two seasons in Moose Jaw. He had six goals and five assists in 63 games last season, after earning six points, two of them goals, in 39 goals as a freshman.
THE ANALYSIS: McCarthy, at 6-foot-0 and 190 pounds, brings some grit and some size to the right side of the Raiders’ forward ranks. He scored 22 goals in 32 junior B games with the Nelson Leafs and the Raiders would like to see a bit more of that scoring touch.
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It’s not that long ago when the issue of concussions in sport seemed to be a North American problem. Now, though, it is getting international attention. . . . Professor Willie Stewart, an expert who advises the International Rugby Board, has told the Daily Mail: “In just 12 months sports concussion has moved from an almost exclusively American sports issue to one that is now a major issue for global sport.” . . . Sports fans in Britain began to take notice when Ben Robinson, 14, died after sustaining a concussion after being allowed to continue playing with a concussion. “The most noticeable change since the start of the Mail on Sunday Concussion Campaign, has been the fact ‘The Elephant in the Room’ has escaped,” Robinson’s father, Peter, told the Mail on Sunday. “Concussion is now in the public domain and no longer controlled by sporting bodies. Phrases such as ‘Concussion can be fatal’ and ‘If in doubt sit them out’ can be mentioned without feeling we have to produce a death certificate to justify it.” . . . Sam Peters of the Daily Mail has more right here.
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“Another NFL season begins,” writes Gary Mihoces of USA TODAY, “and the concussion carousel already is spinning.” . . . According to Mihoces, “The NFL reports it has averaged 247 concussions per season (preseason and regular season) over the past three years. Last year's total of 228 was down 13 percent from 2012.” . . . His complete story is right here.
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Today is the first Sunday of the NFL’s 2014 season, and perhaps you are wondering: Is it wrong to watch football? . . . That is a question posed to Chuck Klosterman, The Ethicist, at The New York Times. . . . A letter writer asked The Ethicist: “Is it unethical to support a league that seems to know it is detrimental to the health of its participants?” . . . Read The Ethicist’s response right here, then ask yourself this: Is it unethical to watch a game in which teenagers are allowed to punch each other in the face?
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The Medicine Hat Tigers were without G Jared Rathjen when they beat the Calgary Hitmen 4-2 in High River, Alta., on Saturday night. Apparently, Rathjen, 20, isn’t injured. . . . “He’s not injured. He’s just not healthy,” Shaun Clouston, the Tigers’ general manager and head coach, told Ryan McCracken of the Medicine Hat News. “He’s got a further evaluation, he just hasn’t been cleared.” . . . Uhh, OK. Thanks for clearing that up. . . . G Marek Langhamer, the Czech 20-year-old, was to play last night. He will go to camp with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and could play in their organization. The Tigers, then, are likely to open the season with Rathjen, who was acquired from the Victoria Royals over the summer, and Nick Schneider, 17, as their goaltenders. . . . Assuming that Rathjen regains his health, that is.
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Steve O’Rourke used to play for the Tri-City Americans. These days, the 40-year-old is an assistant coach with the Red Deer Rebels. This weekend, he was back in Kennewick, Wash., with the Rebels, who are playing in the Red Lion Hotel tournament. Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald reminisces with O’Rourke right here. . . . WARNING: This story includes this potentially myth-busting quote from O’Rourke, in reference to Rebels owner/GM/head coach Brent Sutter: “Brent is as funny as funny can be. It’s always a good time around the office, the dressing room and the bus.”
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The Kamloops Blazers have named Peter Soberlak as their mental performance coach. Soberlak, 45, is a Kamloops native who had been working with the Kelowna Rockets. He played with the Blazers as a 16-year-old (1985-86), before being dealt to the Swift Current Broncos early the next season. He was on the Broncos’ bus that crashed on Dec. 30, 1986, and later was on the Swift Current team that won the 1989 Memorial Cup. These days, Soberlak is the chair of the physical education department at Thompson Rivers U in Kamloops. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UBC and a master’s degree in sport and exercise psychology at Queen’s U in Kingston, Ont. . . . I wrote this piece right here on Soberlak three years ago.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors have signed F Tanner Jeannot, a 17-year-old from Oxbow, Sask. Jeannot, a list player, had 36 points, including 15 goals, with the midget AAA Yorkton Harvest last season. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder was the Harvest’s rookie of the year, most dedicated player and scholastic player of the year. . . . Jeannot made his WHL debut on Saturday night, going pointless in Moose Jaw's 5-2 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos.
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The Seattle Thunderbirds and CBS Radio Seattle have signed a three-year agreement that covers all regular-season and playoff games, which will be heard on 1090 The Fan and streamed at 1090TheFan.com. The deal also includes a weekly 30-minute Coach’s Show that will feature Thunderbirds head coach Steve Konowalchuk. The plan is to run the show on Tuesdays, starting at 6 p.m. . . . F Stelio Mattheos of Winnipeg, who was the first pick in the 2014 bantam draft, made his WHL debut with the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday night. Mattheos recorded two assists as the Wheat Kings got past the visiting Regina Pats, 8-6. . . . Last night, Regina F Sam Steel scored twice as the host Pats beat the Wheaties, 4-1. Steel had two goals and an assist, giving him 10 points, including six goals, in three exhibition games. . . . F Jansen Harkins, who has nine points in three exhibition games, didn’t play last night as his Prince George Cougars beat the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings, 4-2. . . . F Ty Mappin was in Saskatoon’s lineup for the first time as the Blades beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 4-0, in Warman, Sask. Mappin, the seventh overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft by the Everett Silvertips, suffered a brain injury in the Blades’ intrasquad game on Aug. 24. The Blades acquired him from Everett over the off-season.
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Picture of the day. Check out the last names on the back of these jerseys pic.twitter.com/L5ABNJDuzR
— Matt Barber (@dixiefriedsport) September 6, 2014

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Brock Nixon (Kamloops, Calgary, 2003-08) signed a one-year contract with Kallinge/Ronneby (Sweden, Division 1). He had nine goals and 16 assists in 28 games as captain of University of Calgary (CIS) this season before joining the Colorado Eagles (ECHL), where he had two goals in five games. Nixon reports to Kallinge/Ronneby on Aug. 1. . . .
F Danis Zaripov (Swift Current, 1998-99) signed a two-year contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia, KHL). He had 19 goals and 17 assists in 46 games with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL) this season. . . .
F Marcel Hossa (Portland, 1998-2001) signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL). He had eight goals and 11 assists in 50 games with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL) this season. . . .
D Rory Rawlyk (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Prince Albert, Red Deer, 2000-03) was one of nine players who were not offered contracts for next season by Corona Brasov (Romania, MOL Liga). He had 11 goals and 31 assists in 37 games in MOL Liga play this season and four goals and 19 assists in seven games in the Romania National League; Corona participated in both competitions. Rawlyk was second in penalty minutes in MOL Liga with 211.
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Don’t hold your breath waiting for the City of Nanaimo to build a new arena that would be home to a WHL franchise.
“Some Nanaimo officials feel lukewarm about looking further into a multiplex facility in the city despite recent interest from the Western Hockey League, which hopes to relocate a franchise to the harbour city,” writes Spencer Anderson of the Nanaimo Daily News.
“A report from Nanaimo city staff members says a feasibility study would be the best way to determine the economic impact such a facility might have on the city.
“The cost of the study would be in the neighbourhood of $150,000, city staff estimate. Such a study could also include where the facility could be located, market potential and design and operation.”
Anderson’s complete story is right here, and it would seem, as Coun. Bill Bestwick said:
“There's not an appetite to pursue a sports and entertainment centre multiplex in the near future.”
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The Prince Albert Raiders will have a new look when a new season arrives. The Raiders unveiled what they are calling the ‘Green Movement’ on Thursday.
According to a news release, this is the third uniform change in the team’s 43-year history.
For a look at the new look, go right here.
Dave Leaderhouse of the Prince Albert Daily Herald has a story that explains the entire process. The newspaper’s website was down late last night, but when it’s up that story should be available right here.
There also are a number of photos from the unveiling right here.
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The Red Deer Rebels will have Brent Sutter back behind their bench in 2013-14. Sutter, the franchise’s president and general manager, took over as head coach on Nov. 12, replacing Jesse Wallin. Sutter said Thursday that he’ll be back as head coach. . . . At the same time, the Rebels announced that associate coach Jeff Truitt, who joined the team on Nov. 12, has signed a multi-year contract. . . . Steve O’Rourke (Tri-City, Moose Jaw, 1991-94) has been signed as an assistant coach. He was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat (2009-11). . . . Veteran equipment manager Dave (Radar) Horning, who has been with Red Deer since 1995 and in the WHL since 1991, also signed a multi-year deal. . . . The Rebels have added Jordan Aube to their staff as athletic therapist. He has worked with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. . . . Also returning are Al Parada (strength and conditioning), Brent BeleckI (goaltending consultant), Craig Kinney (video co-ordinator), Derek Robinson (mental performance consultant), Davis Claffey (assistant to the general manager) and Mikel McIver (dressing room attendant).
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F Cody Fowlie, who played out his junior eligibility this season with the Kelowna Rockets, will attend the U of Regina and play for the Cougars. Fowlie, from Airdrie, Alta., played three WHL seasons, splitting time between the Everett Silvertips and the Rockets. He had 40 points in 59 games this season.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Bryce Thoma is the new head coach of the SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings. Thoma had been an assistant coach with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels since 2008, but left the club following the end of its season. Thoma, a 31-year-old native of Saskatoon, played with the Rebels (1999-2003) and was on the team that won the 2001 Memorial Cup. . . . The Red Wings have been without a full-time head coach since December when long-time coach Dwight McMillan left the organization.

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As readers of this blog — and viewers of the WHL’s news conference out of Kamloops on Thursday — are aware, the Victoria Royals, or at least the odd member of their organization, are a little sensitive when it comes to the team’s nickname.
Well, I now am wondering if someone at Shaw TV is going to be feeling the wrath over something that took place on Friday.
A reader of the blog informs via email that Victoria’s WHL team was referred to as the “Victoria Rebel’s” — yes, with the apostrophe — in the Shaw digital listings on Friday.
The Victoria Rebels were a junior football team that now is the Westshore Rebels.
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G Tyler Bunz of the Medicine Hat Tigers no longer is facing two impaired driving charges. Both charges – one of impaired driving, one of driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08 – were stayed by the Crown on Friday. . . . The Edmonton Journal quoted Alberta Justice spokesman Josh Stewart as saying: “The charges were stayed after a thorough review of the file, the Crown having concluded that there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction for either of the charges .  . .”
As the Journal noted: “When charges are stayed, the Crown still has the option of prosecuting them for one year.”
Bunz, who turned 20 on Feb. 11, was charged in St. Albert, Alta., on May 28. He is from St. Albert.
He was a fifth-round selection of the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL’s 2010 draft. He signed a three-year contract with the Oilers earlier this month.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Steve O’Rourke has resigned as the general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Langley Rivermen. O’Rourke cited personal reasons in leaving after one season on the job. . . . He had spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. The Rivermen were 19-35-1-5 this season. . . . Bobby Henderson, an assistant coach with Langley this season, has been named GM/head coach, while Jordan Emmerson has been named associate head coach.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:
In Calgary, F Trevor Cheek scored three times to lead the Hitmen to a 4-0 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The series is 1-1 as it heads to Winnipeg for the next three games on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. . . . Cheek, who had 23 goals in the regular season, scored the game’s last three goals. . . . Calgary G Brandon Glover, in his first playoff start, stopped 20 shots for the shutout. The Hitmen had gone with G Chris Driedger in their 6-2 opening game loss. . . . D Alex Roach, who has been seeing time up front for Calgary, scored the game’s first goal and also added an assist. . . . Brandon G Corbin Boes stopped 37 shots. . . . The Hitmen again were without F Cody Sylvester and F Victor Rask, two of their top three regular-season scorers. . . . As well, F Brooks Macek, who has had back woes, is seeing limited ice time. . . . Brandon took 54 of 80 penalty minutes. . . .

In Moose Jaw, G Matt Hewitt stopped 31 shots as his Regina Pats edged the Warriors, 3-2. . . . Moose Jaw went in having won its last 16 home games. The Warriors were 30-3-3 at home. . . . Regina F Dyson Stevenson, who had two goals, broke a 2-2 tie with a PP goal at 6:52 of the third period. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal had two assists. . . . Regina was 2-4 on the PP and also scored while shorthanded; Moose Jaw was 1-6. . . . Regina F Tanner Olstad scored the SH goal, on a breakaway. . . . Moose Jaw G Luke Siemens stopped 12 shots. . . . They’ll play Game 2 tonight in Moose Jaw. . . . Moose Jaw D Morgan Rielly, who had major knee surgery and hasn’t played since Nov. 6, is back practising but didn’t play. . . . Regina had F Andrew Rieder back after he missed 16 games with a shoulder injury. . . .

In Medicine Hat, the Tigers scored four second-period goals and went on to a 5-2 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Medicine Hat F Curtis Valk broke a 1-1 tie at 11:33 of the second, with D Spenser Jensen striking at 14:44 and D James Bettauer scoring on the PP at 15:56. . . . Medicine Hat G Tyler Bunz stopped 29 shots. . . . Saskatoon D Darren Dietz took a slashing major and game misconduct following Medicine Hat F Emerson Etem’s empty-net goal at 18:17 of the third. . . . F Michael Burns (concussion) didn’t make the trip to Medicine Hat with the Blades. . . . Attendance was 3,879. The Tigers had sold out (4,006) all 36 of their regular-season home games. . . . They’ll play Game 2 tonight in The Hat. . . .

In Edmonton, G Laurent Brossoit stopped 29 shots to lead the Oil Kings to a 3-0 victory over the defending-champion Kootenay Ice. . . . Brossoit picked up his first playoff shutout and his first victory in his third playoff start. . . . Ice G Nathan Lieuwen stopped 25 shots. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar had a goal and an assist. . . . Edmonton F Mitch Moroz got the game’s first goal at 19:54 of the first period. . . . The Ice welcomed back F Drew Czerwonka, its captain, and F Max Reinhart, both of whom missed the end of the regular season with injuries. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday in Edmonton. . . .

In Kamloops, F Tim Bozon scored twice as the Blazers ended a 19-game playoff losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . Bozon broke a 1-1 tie at 4:13 of the second period. . . . F Chase Schaber upped the lead to 3-1 at 17:03 of the second and Bozon made it 4-1 just 47 seconds later. . . . Schaber, who missed the last six regular-season games with a leg injury, also had an assist. . . . Kamloops D Austin Madaisky had two assists and was plus-3. . . . F Robin Soudek, who missed Victoria’s last three games, scored on the PP at 11:36 of the thirst. . . . They Royals were without F Brandon Magee, who has a foot injury and isn’t expected to play in this series. . . . Victoria D Zach Habscheid (ankle) hasn’t played since Feb. 3 but is back practising. . . . They’ll play Game 2 tonight in Kamloops. . . .

In Portland, the Winterhawks held a 55-29 edge in shots as the beat the Kelowna Rockets, 6-3. . . . F Ty Rattie led the Winterhawks with three goals, his first multi-goal playoff game. Rattie had four hat tricks during a 57-goal regular season. . . . Portland D Joe Morrow broke a 2-2 tie with 1.8 seconds to play in the second period. . . . F Sven Baertschi and F Marcel Noebels each had two assists for Portland. . . . F Brett Bulmer drew two assists for the Rockets, who got 49 saves from G Adam Brown. . . . Portland F Brandon Leipsic (undisclosed) didn’t play. He had missed the Winterhawks’ last game of the regular season. . . . Kelowna F Colton Sissons scored in his third game back from a concussion. The Rockets captain played the last two regular-season games after sitting out since Feb. 11. . . . Game 2 is to be played tonight in Portland. . . . After the game, Scott Sepich, a Portland-based writer, tweeted: “After the whistle, Adam Brown skated to the corner and picked up the puck and skated off with it, while the ref followed him off.” . . . Sepich followed that up with: “The official was grabbing Brown physically to try and get the puck but Brown wasn’t having it. He just took off with it. Not sure why.” . . . Ahh, the games within the game. . . .

In Vancouver, F Cain Franson scored three times and added an assist as the Giants beat the Spokane Chiefs, 7-5. . . . Franson, the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs D Cody Franson, was playing his second WHL playoff game. . . . Vancouver F Jordan Martinook had two goals and two assists. . . . Vancouver F Austin Fyten, playing his first game of the season after coming back from major knee surgery, got the game’s first goal, with 2.6 seconds left in the first period. . . . Vancouver led 3-0, 4-1 and 5-2 before the Chiefs closed to 5-4 on goals from D Jason Fram and F Dominik Uher. . . . Franson got his second goal at 16:12 of the third and his third at 19:58 into an empty net. . . . F Blake Gal had a goal and two assists for the Chiefs. . . . Vancouver F Brendan Gallagher had three assists. . . . The victory was the 102nd of Vancouver head coach Don Hay’s playoff career, moving him to No. 1 on the alltime list, one ahead of Ken Hodge, who did it with the Portland Winterhawks. . . . They’ll play the second game of the series in Vancouver tonight. . . . Spokane D Brendan Kichton didn’t play again after taking a puck in the face in the third period. Head coach Don Nachbaur said he expects Kichton to play tonight. But, hey, it’s the playoffs so that’s what a coach will say. . . . The Giants, who scratched D Blake Orban, had D Reid Zalitach, a second-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft, in the lineup. Zalitach, who got into three games with the Giants during the season, played with the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers. . . . Vancouver also used F Carter Popoff, 16, who spent most of the season with the junior B Richmond, B.C., Sockeyes. He got in because F Scott Cooke (ill) was scratched. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Matt Strömwall had two goals and an assist as the Tri-City Americans dumped the Everett Silvertips, 7-2. . . . The Americans got a PP goal from F Jesse Mychan at 3:11 of the first period and led 3-0 at 9:07. . . . The Americans were 1-7 on the PP; the Silvertips were 0-4. . . . Everett G Kent Simpson stopped 18 of 23 shots before being lifted at 8:04 of the second. Austin Lotz came on to finish with 17 saves on 19 shots. . . . Tri-City G Ty Rimmer turned aside 14 shots. . . . Tri-City F Brendan Shinnimin, the regular-season scoring champ, had two assists. . . . Everett got a goal from F J.T. Barnett, who returned after a knee injury kept him out since Jan. 14. . . . Game 2 is set for tonight in Kennewick. . . . A post-game tweet from Tri-City D Zach Yuen: “What a way to start the playoffs! Sorry @WHLsilvertips it's not going to get any easier.”
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FRIDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Mark Pysyk, Edmonton.
D Keegan Kanzig, Victoria (twice).
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FRIDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Lukas Sutter, Saskatoon.

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Thursday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Craig Weller (Kootenay, 2000-02) signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 16 goals and 36 assists in 41 games for the Cardiff Devils (Wales, UK Elite) last season and was named UK Elite Ice Hockey League Player of the Year, Defenceman of the Year, and a first team all-star.
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CRAIG HARTSBURG

As of early, early this morning, Craig Hartsburg still was the head coach of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. That was according to the WHL team’s website.
However, at least one media outlet was reporting that he had quit.
“Craig Hartsburg, who has stepped down as head coach of the WHL's Everett Silvertips,” read a report at sportsnet.ca, “is a top candidate to become right-hand man to head coach Brent Sutter, according to a member of the (Calgary) Flames staff. The spokesperson said there is work to be done but Hartsburg is of interest.”
Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun wrote it this way:
The Calgary Flames have nothing to announce just yet.
But a reunion for Craig Hartsburg and Flames head coach Brent Sutter doesn’t sound far off.
“Craig Hartsburg is a top candidate for a coaching job with the Calgary Flames,” Flames vice-president of communications Peter Hanlon said Thursday after TSN’s Bob McKenzie told the Twitterverse earlier in the day he expected Hartsburg to be named associate coach in Calgary sooner than later.
“However, there is work to be done before any official announcement.”
That complete story is right here.
As for Hartsburg leaving Everett, well, you know what they say about where there’s smoke. . . .
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For all the Kyle Beach fans out there, Cody Pugh, a contributor to bleacherreport.com, takes a look back to see what the enigmatic former WHLer has accomplished to date and where he’s at in terms of making the roster of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
That piece is right here.
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The Portland Winterhawks have dealt G Keith Hamilton, 19, to the Victoria ???? for third-, fourth- and eighth-round selections in the 2012 WHL bantam draft.
Hamilton, a second-round selection by Portland in the 2007 bantam draft, was 17-6-2, 2.91, .914 in backing up Mac Carruth last season.
It would seem that the Winterhawks got decent return for a goaltender who would have been in tough at training camp with Carruth, also 19, the No. 1 guy at this time.
The Winterhawks also have signed G Brendan Burke, the son of former NHLer Sean Burke, and G Jarrod Schamerhorn, and needed to make room for one of them as the backup for next season.
Burke was a third-round selection in the 2010 draft; Schamerhorn, who played for the major midget Kootenay Ice last season, was added to Portland’s list after the 2010 training camp.
Coincidentally, Hamilton and Schamerhorn both are from Kelowna.
Victoria, which finished the season as the Chilliwack Bruins, had Lucas Gore and Braden Gamble on its roster at season’s end. Gore was 20, so played out his eligibility. Gamble, now 20, was 2-8-1 in 19 games during the regular season.
Hamilton “will push for the starting job this year, and has solidified our goaltending corps as we now have three quality goaltenders at different age ranges in Hamilton, Braden Gamble and Jared Rathjen,” Marc Habscheid, Victoria’s GM/head coach, said in a press release.
Rathjen is a list player who is from Prince George. He played last season for the major midget Cariboo Cougars, who play out of P.G.
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Before you start thinking that the ???? paid a steep price for a 19-year-old goaltender with minimal experience at the WHL level, here’s a note from Alan Caldwell at Small Thoughts At Large, which is linked over there on the right:
“An eagle-eyed reader has just pointed out to me that Portland traded their own 2012 3rd, 4th, and 8th round picks to Victoria back at the draft in return for Victoria's 2nd round pick, which the Hawks used on Zach Patterson. So it looks like this deal was just to get the picks back, essentially making the deal Hamilton for the 2nd rounder. Since Portland was still playing at the time of the draft, they couldn't actually trade Hamilton at that time.”
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If you missed Game 2 of the NBA final on Wednesday night, well, you cheated yourself. A game like this is why we watch. And here’s hoping you didn’t change channels when the Miami Heat held a 15-point lead.
Dwyane Wade made a three from in front of the Dallas bench for an 88-73 lead with 7:14 to play, and he posed for three or four seconds.
Whoops!
(The pose came after some big-time strutting by LeBron and Chris Bosh after put-back dunks. Yes, the Heat makes it awfully easy to dislike it.)
Because the Dallas Mavericks went on a 20-2 run and eventually won when, with the score tied at 93, Dirk Nowitzki romped past defender Chris Bosh and laid in the winning points. With the Heat out of timeouts, it had to inbound from under its basket and Wade missed a desperation three at the buzzer.
Bruce Arthur of the National Post went back and looked at the game’s last seven minutes a second time. He came up with this:
“Heat misses last 7:15: Chalmers 3; LBJ layup; CB J; LBJ fade J; CB TO; UH J; LBJ pullup shot-clock 3 (twice); Wade pullup 3; Wade running 3.”
So it’s 1-1 heading to Dallas for three games, with the first on Sunday. You won’t want to miss it.
I have turned into something of an NBA watcher after being unable to watch NHL playoffs in a hotel in Mt. Vernon, Wash., a few weeks ago. Instead of watching Game 7 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks — the hotel didn’t provide access to Versus (or CBC) — I watched NBA playoff action. And I haven’t stopped.
Thank you, Mr. Bettman.
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The afore-mentioned Bruce Arthur has today’s good read, too. It’s a farewell of sorts to Shaq.
And it’s right here.
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Condolences to the family of Tom Mangan, a member of the Kamloops Blazers’ board of directors (2003-06), who died Thursday afternoon after battling prostate cancer. He was 64. . . . Mangan was active in the Kamloops sporting world. . . . He also served on the board of the Kamloops Blazers Sports Foundation, which handed out more than $1 million in grants before the WHL franchise was sold over the summer of 2007. And he was on the committee that backed the 2010 World Masters athletics championship that was in Kamloops.
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There are a couple of comments posted on the blog after yesteday’s comment about Game 1 of the Stanley Cup not being televised by Seattle’s NBC outlet.
A couple of hockey fans — and friends — from the Seattle area also emailed me to point out that it really isn’t a big deal.
“KING5, the NBC affiliate, never shows prime-time NHL games,” noted one fan. “Because they would rather show the news.
“So they have a sister station, KONG, which they move the game to. KING is channel 5, KONG is channel 6.
“The problem used to be that Comcast didn’t carry KONG in HD. But they have added to it.
“But, as I always point out . . . Anyone with basic Comcast cable still gets CBUT on channel  99. And if they have Comcast HD, they get the HD feed. And who the heck would want to watch NBC when you can have CBC.”
The second fan wrote:
“No big deal here – Everyone watches HNIC anyway. Can’t miss Coaches Corner.”
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Chris Rumble, a defenceman with the NAHL’s Wenatchee, Wash., Wild, is working on a 90-minute documentary that should be worth a watch. He spent the 2010-11 season getting video and audio — he even had referees mic’d up in four gmes — for the doc that he is editing more than 80 hours of video right now. The hopes to have two shows — one PG, the other uncensored — ready in August.
Corey Voegele of the Wenatchee World has the story right here.
By the way, Rumble is the son of former NHL D Darren Rumble, who spent last season on the coaching staff of the QMJHL’s Lewiston Maineiacs. That franchise, of course, folded earlier this week, meaning Rumble is available. He was shortlisted for a couple of QMJHL head-coaching spots and has been in contact with at least one WHL team.
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The Saskatoon Blades and Credit Union Centre have agreed in principle on a three-year lease. Why just three years? Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has that story right here.
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THE COACHING GAME: The SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves have signed GM/head coach Bob Beatty to a five-year contract extension. Beatty has completed seven seasons as the Ice Wolves’ head coach. They have won the last two SJHL championships. . . . I mentioned here yesterday that Wes Werhun, a new assistant coach with the AJHL’s St. Albert Steel, had been with the midget AAA St. Albert Raiders. It turns out he was with the St. Albert Merchances of the Capital Junior B league. Thanks to the sharp-eyed reader for the note on that one. . . . The BCHL’s Langley Rivermen have hired Steve O’Rourke, 36, as their general manager and head coach. He had been an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat for two seasons. Assistant coaches will be Bobby Henderson, a son of co-owner Roy Henderson, and Jordan Emmerson. Bobby Henderson, who was on the coaching staff of the junior B Mission, B.C., Ice Breakes last season, played with the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chief before attending the U of Nebraska-Omaha. Emmerson, who is form Abbotsford, played for hte BCHL’s Penticton Panthers before going on to the U of Alaska-Fairbanks.
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Four of the 16 goaltenders invited to Hockey Canada’s sixth annual goaltending camp are from the WHL. Tyler Bunz (Medicine Hat), Calvin Pickard (Seattle) and Kent Simpson (Everett) are among the 10 who will attend the under-20 camp, while Chris Driedger (Tri-City) is on the under-18 list. . . . If you’re at the U-20 camp, you are at least on the radar of the Canadian national junior team’s scouting staff. . . . The camp is scheduled fro the Norma Bush Arena in Calgary, June 9-12. . . . F Taylor Stefishen, who had 67 points in 68 regular-season games with the Prince George Cougars last season, had his NHL rights traded on Thursday. Stefishen, who played two seasons at Ohio State before joining the Cougars for his 20-year-old season, was a fifth-round selection by the Nashville Predators in the 2008 NHL draft. On Thursday, the Preds dealt him to the Washington Capitals for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2013 draft. Nashville gets the pick if Stefishen appears on the Capitals’ reserve list during either of the next two seasons.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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