Doing some scattershooting ... Hunchak a Hall of Famer ... Gulutzan keys up Coaches Conference

Prior to the first round of the NHL draft in Chicago on Friday, the NHL sequestered eight potential early selections and their families in a ‘green’ room, rather than have them in the stands with the commoners. It was a disaster. Russian F Klim Kostin and his family were left all alone for a long while before the St. Louis Blues took him with the last pick of the first round, 31st overall. . . . Here’s hoping the ‘green’ room was simply a one-and-done experiment.

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After LaVar Ball, the king of hype, said his son, Lonzo, would get the Los Angeles Lakers into the NBA playoffs in his first season with them, Janice Hough, aka The Left Coast Sports Babe, wondered: “So is he buying them tickets?” . . . Upon hearing reports than Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors won’t exercise a US$28-million option and take $24 million instead, all aimed at allowing the team to keep Andre Iguodola, Hough asked: “How will he feed his family?”

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It always amazes me how anyone thinks they can pick the winners and losers from the NHL draft less than 24 hours after it concludes. Let’s check back in four or five years. OK?

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Headline at TheKicker.com: Umps go to video replay to see if they’re slowing game down too much.

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Judging by the empty seats at home-openers in Vancouver and Toronto this weekend, at least a couple of CFL teams have some work ahead of them to get bums back in the pews.

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About 24 hours before F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings was taken second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL draft, Bauer Hockey announced that it had signed him as an “official partner.” That means that Patrick will use Bauer gear in 2017-18. It’s worth noting that Bauer also suppled WHL skaters with equipment, so there won’t be a conflict should Philly return Patrick for another season of major junior.

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BTW, F Nico Hischier of the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, who was taken first overall by the New Jersey Devils, has signed with CCM.

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After the U.S. Open golf tournament earlier this month, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando, Fla., Sentinel noted: “Erin Hills isn’t just playing easy, it’s more forgiving than the Tallahassee Police Department.”

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A tip of the cap to head coach Ryan McGill and his Owen Sound Attack for leading the CHL’s 60 teams by having six players selected in the weekend’s NHL draft. Yes, that’s a franchise record. . . . McGill, of course, is a former WHL player and coach. He also is the OHL’s reigning coach of the year.

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Donald Trump, the U.S. president, “has made travel more difficult to Americans,” notes Richmond, B.C., blogger TC Chong. “It will remain that way until a new Havana Trump Hotel and Golf Course opens.”

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The best response from a player to a question during the NHL draft came from Swedish D Erik Brannstrom, who was selected 15th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights. He admitted to never having been to Las Vegas, but added: “I’ve seen The Hangover. I’ve seen all three.”

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“Charles P. Thacker, a pioneer in early personal computing, died last week at age 74,” reports RJ Currie of SportsDeke.com. “Out of habit, doctors tried rebooting him.”

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An absolute pro! @Bladesvoice Les Lazaruk has been an excellent host this evening for the @KlippersHockey Banquet! pic.twitter.com/IU1BzZUFpI

— Brad Jennings (@BradHitt75) June 25, 2017

Dave Hunchak, a former WHL coach, was among the inductees when the SJHL held its 2017 Hall of Fame induction dinner in Kindersley on Saturday evening.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Hunchak, 43, who was an assistant coach with the Klippers (1997-

DAVE HUNCHAK

2000) and the general manager and head coach for four seasons (2000-04). Under Hunchak, who is from Warman, Sask., the Klippers won SJHL championships in 2002 and 2004. In his playing days, he spent time with the Saskatoon Titans, who later morphed into the Klippers.

In the WHL, Hunchak spent three seasons (2004-07) as an assistant coach with the Swift Current Broncos, four seasons (2007-11) as the head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors, and two-plus seasons on the Kamloops Blazers’ staff. He leaves next month for his first season as an assistant coach with HC Banska Bystrica of the Slovak Extraliga.

Hunchak was inducted in the coach category, joining builder Terry Shea, a long-time Klippers executive; players Troy Schwab, Derek Dorsett and Chris Winkler, all from the Klippers; Kindersley native Devin Edgerton (Humboldt Broncos) and Greg Paslawski, a Kindersley native who played for the SJHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.

The 2003-04 Klippers, who reached the RBC Cup final with Hunchak as head coach, also were inducted.

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The CHL import draft is scheduled for Wednesday, starting at 8 a.m. PT. It is held via telephone. . . . The Kootenay Ice is scheduled to be the first WHL team to make a selection. That will be the third-overall pick, behind the OHL’s Barrie Colts and the QMJHL’s Moncton Screaming Eagles. . . . The order of selection is right here.

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Glen Gulutzan, the head coach of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, is just one of the keynote speakers line up for The Coaches Conference that is scheduled to be held in Vancouver, July 14 and 15. . . . Gulutzan is preparing for his second season as the Flames’ head coach. . . . Also on tap as presenters are Mike Snee, the executive director at College Hockey Inc.; Jim Paek, the head coach of the South Korean national team; Craig Cunningham, who is heading into his first season as a pro scout with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes; and Ray Ferraro, the highly popular analyst with TSN. . . . Snee has been CHI’s executive director since Aug. 28, 2012; he also is on USA Hockey’s board of directors and USA Hockey’s junior council. . . . Paek also is the director of hockey for the Korea Ice Hockey Association. South Korea will play host to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. . . . Cunningham had his playing career cut short last season when he suffered an on-ice cardiac event prior to an AHL game. He was the captain of the Tucson Roadrunners. . . . For more info on the conference, click right here.

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Some NHL teams have developing camps starting today (Monday). I’m not tracking invitees but stumbled on three undrafted WHLers with invitations — G Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks) will skate with the Winnipeg Jets; F Tanner Jeannot (Moose Jaw Warriors) will join the Washington Capitals; and F Jayden Halbgewachs, a 50-goal scorer with the Warriors last season, will be with the Vegas Golden Knights. . . . If you know of more invitees, email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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F Brian King of the Everett Silvertips was the valedictorian recently as Everett High School held its graduation ceremony. Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald has a good piece right here on King, what he said and his off-ice accomplishments, including a 4.0 GPA, to this point.

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WHL comes down on Cougars . . . Changes to Team WHL . . . Pats' offence really on fire

The Prince George Cougars got hit with suspensions totalling 11 games and fines totalling $1,500 for silliness that occurred at the end of a 6-4 loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday night. . . . D Sam Ruopp, the team captain, drew an eight-game suspension for engaging in what was a one-man fight “with an unsuspecting opponent.” That opponent was F Steve Owre of the Tigers. Eight games is believed to be the longest suspension handed out by the WHL since April 11, 2014, when Victoria F Brandon Magee got 12 games after being hit with a match penalty — he twice cross-checked opponents in the head — during a playoff game with the Portland Winterhawks. . . . F Kody McDonald got three games for a slashing major and game misconduct that he took as the game ended. He viciously hacked at Medicine Hat F Chad Butcher at a faceoff. . . . The Cougars were fined $1,000 and head coach Richard Matvichuk got touched for $500 “for actions of players at end of game,” according to the WHL.

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The WHL has scratched F Dillon Dube of the Kelowna Rockets, F Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors and F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings from the team that will meet a touring Russian side next week in Prince George (Monday) and Edmonton (Tuesday). . . . All three veterans are out with injuries. . . . Added to Team WHL’s roster were F Brad Morrison (Prince George Cougars), F Lane Pederson (Swift Current Broncos) and F Mason Shaw (Medicine Hat Tigers). . . . For whatever reason, the pooh-bahs have chosen to snub Matt Phillips of the Victoria Royals, who may be the best forward in the WHL. . . . Patrick, the consensus No. 1 selection in the NHL’s 2017 NHL draft, hasn’t played since Oct. 11 and has skated in only six of Brandon’s 16 games. He has sports hernia surgery in July and missed most of training camp.

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F Ethan Leyh of Anmore, B.C., has committed to attend the U of Wisconsin where he will play for the Badgers. Leyh, 15, was an eighth-round selection by the Spokane Chiefs in the 2016 WHL bantam draft. He is playing for the major midget Vancouver-North East Chiefs. Leynh had 13 points, including eight goals, in six games going into the weekend.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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Friday morning rumour from a solid Saskatoon hockey and business source: The Blades are for sale.@Chasenpucks39

— Rod Pedersen (@rodpedersen) November 4, 2016

To clear this up I have no idea what's going on in Saskatoon. If you are trying to contact me, save a call. No interest in this rumor https://t.co/SB8IasNGUQ

— Kelly Chase (@Chasenpucks39) November 4, 2016

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FRIDAY’S GAMES:

With tonight's start @jordanpapirny has played 173 regular season games as a Wheat King surpassing Glen Hanlon! Congrats Paps! pic.twitter.com/Cckw4zI5C3

— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) November 5, 2016

At Brandon, D Kale Clague’s third goal of the season broke a 2-2 tie at 9:57 of the third period and the

KALE CLAGUE

Wheat Kings beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-2. . . . This was a rematch of last season’s championship final, which the Wheat Kings won in five games. . . . Last night, F Ty Lewis got Brandon on the board with his ninth goal, at 8:51 of the first period. . . . Seattle took the lead with two third-period goals, F Nolan Volcan scoring his sixth just 28 seconds in, and D Turner Ottenbreit getting his second, on a PP, at 1:51. . . . Brandon F Stelio Mattheos, with his seventh, forced OT at 3:48 of the third. Clague drew the primary assist on the goal. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 36 shots, nine more than Rylan Toth of Seattle. . . . Seattle was 1-10 on the PP; Brandon was 0-4. . . . The Wheat Kings (7-6-3) had lost their previous four games (0-4-1). . . . The Thunderbirds (6-7-1) had won two in a row. They are 3-2-0 on their East Division trip. . . . Seattle lost D Ethan Bear with a spearing major and game misconduct at 8:28 of the first period. Chances are that he will be suspended at least for tonight’s game against the Warriors in Moose Jaw. . . . Announced attendance: 3,640.

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At Kamloops, F Deven Sideroff scored once and drew three assists to lead the Blazers to a 5-2 victory

DEVEN SIDEROFF

over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Sideroff has 10 goals and seven assists in 17 games. . . . The Blazers took control of a 0-0 game with two second-period goals and one early in the third. Sideroff got the game’s first score, at 5:54 of the second, with F Collin Shirley making it 2-0 at 9:04. His eighth goal came via the PP. . . . Kamloops D Ondrej Vala’s fourth goal, at 7:03 of the third period, turned out to be the winner. . . . D Dylan MacPherson got his first goal, at 11:49, to get the Tigers to within two, but Kamloops F Rudolfs Balcers put it away with two goals, giving him nine. . . . F Mark Rassell later scored his 11th for the Tigers. . . . Balcers added an assist to his goals, while F Nick Chyzowski and F Garrett Pilon each had two helpers. . . . The line of Pilon between Sideroff and Balcers totalled nine points. . . . Kamloops G Connor Ingram, who went into the game first in the WHL in save percentage (.936) and second in GAA (2.01) stopped 36 shots. He really was sharp again, this time with Hockey Canada goaltending consultant Fred Brathwaite looking on. . . . The Tigers got 38 saves from G Duncan McGovern. . . . The Blazers (10-8-1) are 2-0-1 in their last three outings. . . . The Tigers (11-5-1) have won their previous three games, all on the road. . . . The Blazers had beaten the Tigers 5-1 in Medicine Hat on Oct. 8. . . . The Tigers were 1-2 on the PP; the Blazers were 1-4. . . . Kamloops was without three injured veteran defencemen — Dawson Davidson, Shaun Dosanjh and Dallas Valentine. . . . The Blazers added D Tylor Ludwar, 17, to their roster for this game — he acquitted himself quite well — and Saturday’s in Prince George. A native of Regina, he has eight points, including five goals, in six games with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. . . . Announced attendance: 3,749, the second-largest crowd this season.

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Another so-close scoring opportunity with many flailing hands in the crowd #mjwarriors vs #edmontonoilkings #thewhl #UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/u4rjmdSHTV

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) November 5, 2016

At Moose Jaw, F Tanner Jeannot broke a 1-1 tie at 4:12 of the third period as the Warriors beat the Edmonton Oil Kings, 3-1. . . . Jeannot has five goals. . . . F Noah Gregor gave the home side a 1-0 lead at 17:10 of the first period, with his sixth goal, on a PP. . . . Edmonton F Davis Koch got his fourth goal, on a PP, at 16:01 of the second period. . . . The Warriors got an insurance goal from F Ryan Bowen, his fifth, at 8:38 of the third. . . . F Nikita Popugaev had two assists for the Warriors. . . . G Zach Sawchenko had another strong game for the Warriors, with 36 saves. . . . The Oil Kings got 22 stops from Patrick Dea. . . . Edmonton was 1-3 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 1-4. . . . The Warriors (11-3-2) have won four straight. . . . Edmonton now is 5-9-2. . . . F Tate Popple, 16, made his WHL debut with the Warriors. From Brandon, Popple has 18 points, including 10 goals, in 11 games with the midget AAA Wheat Kings. . . . Announced attendance: 3,019.

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At Prince Albert, G Ian Scott stopped 22 shots to earn the shutout as the Raiders beat the Kootenay Ice,

IAN SCOTT

6-0. . . . It was Scott’s first shutout this season and the second of his career. . . . The game featured the two teams with the league’s poorest records. As a result of the outcome, the Raiders (5-11-1), who had lost their previous four games, moved a point ahead of the Ice (3-10-4), which has lost two straight. . . . F Tim Vanstone scored the game’s first goal, his fourth, at 9:35 of the first period. . . . F Sean Montgomery, scored twice, giving him five goals, with F Cavin Leth (2), F Cole Fonstad (2) and F Adam Kadlec (2) adding one each. . . . F Simon Stransky had two assists, with Vanstone adding one. . . . Ice G Payton Lee stopped 33 shots. . . . The Raiders were 2-4 on the PP; the Ice was 0-3. . . . The Raiders scratched F Luke Coleman with an undisclosed injury. He has been hot, too, having scored three of the team’s last six goals going into this game. . . . Announced attendance: 2,109.

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Friday night at the opera ... pic.twitter.com/rQZ2MXPA5J

— Rob Vanstone (@robvanstone) November 5, 2016

At Regina, the Pats scored six first-period goals, including two shorthanded scores on the same penalty kill, en route to a 9-6 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Regina (12-0-3) has won eight in a row, the franchise’s longest winning streak since it won nine straight in 2001-02. . . . The Pats, the WHL’s highest-scoring team, were coming off a 10-goal game, having beaten the visiting Kootenay Ice, 10-2, on Wednesday. . . . The Blades (7-9-1) have lost two in a row. . . . The Pats came out of the first period with a 6-2 lead, with F Sam Steel in on three of those goals. He had two goals, giving him 14, and a league-high 28 points. . . . The Blades got to within two, at 6-4, on second-period goals from F Michael Farren (3) and F Gage Ramsey (2). . . . Regina F Filip Ahl’s 10th goal, on a PP at 15:57, gave his guys a three-goal lead. . . . F Logan Christensen (4) scored for Saskatoon, on a PP, at 17:52. . . . Regina put it away with third-period goals from Ahl, on a PP, at 4:15, and F Adam Brooks (6) at 7:29. . . . Saskatoon F Caleb Fantillo closed out the scoring with his first goal at 16:22. . . . F Jake Leschyshyn scored his ninth goal and had three assists for Regina, with D Chase Harrison scoring his third goal and adding one assist and F Austin Wagner getting No. 3 and an assist. . . . Ahl ended up with the winner, his WHL-leading fifth, while Wagner now has a league-leading four shorthanded goals. . . . Brooks added three assists to his goal, with D Connor Hobbs also getting three assists. . . . Fantillo also had an assist, while D Nolan Reid had two of them. . . . G Tyler Brown turned aside 34 shots for Regina. . . . Saskatoon starter Brock Hamm gave up six goals on 17 shots in the first period. Logan Flodell played the last two periods, stopping 27 of 30 shots. . . . Regina was 4-8 on the PP; Saskatoon was 1-6. . . . Regina took 78 of the game’s 155 penalty minutes. Ch-ch-ching! There was a line brawl at 17:11 of the third period that resulted in 107 penalty minutes. . . . The teams don’t play each other again until Dec. 10 in Regina. . . . Announced attendance: 5,658.

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At Spokane, F Michael Spacek’s 10th goal, on a PP at 4:31 of OT, gave the Red Deer Rebels a 4-3 victory over the Chiefs. . . . Red Deer held 2-0 and 3-2 leads before Spokane F Kailer Yamamoto forced extra time with his 11th goal at 16:32 of the third period. . . . Two Rebels — F Jordan Roy and D Ethan Sakowich — scored their first goals to give the visitors a 2-0 lead after one period. . . . Spokane tied it on goals from F Hudson Elynuik (5) and F Keanu Yamamoto (4), the former at 4:32 of the second and the latter 57 seconds into the third period. . . . D Austin Pratt gave Red Deer a 3-2 lead, with his sixth goal, at 7:59. . . . Spacek also had two assists. . . . The Chiefs got two assists from F Curtis Miske. . . . G Riley Lamb stopped 29 shots for the Rebels, with Jayden Sittler stopping 26 for the Chiefs. . . . The Rebels were 1-3 on the PP; the Chiefs were 0-5. . . . Red Deer (9-7-2) had lost four in a row. . . . The Chiefs (6-6-4) are 3-0-2 in their last five games. . . . Announced attendance: 4,603.

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At Swift Current, F Tyler Steenbergen scored at 3:53 of OT to give the Broncos a 3-2 victory over the

TYLER STEENBERGEN

Calgary Hitmen. . . . Steenbergen, who has 13 goals, including three in OT, also scored in OT on Saturday as the Broncos beat the visiting Spokane Chiefs, 3-2. . . . Steenbergen has four goals and two assists over his last three games. . . . F Carsen Twarynski, who has six goals, scored twice for Calgary, giving it a 1-0 lead 50 seconds into the game tying the game 2-2 at 19:33 of the third period. The second one came with G Cody Porter on the bench for the extra attacker. . . . Broncos F Aleksi Heponiemi’s fifth goal pulled the Broncos into a 1-1 tie at 1:15 of the first period. . . . Broncos D Max Lajoie got his second goal, on a PP, at 15:44 of the second period. . . . F Matteo Gennaro and F Jordy Stallard each had two assists for Calgary. . . . G Travis Child earned the victory with 25 saves, three more than Porter. . . . The Broncos were 1-4 on the PP; the Hitmen were 0-3. . . . Swift Current (10-5-3) has points in three straight (2-0-1). . . . The Hitmen (5-5-2) had won their previous two games. . . . Announced attendance: 1,858.

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At Kennewick, Wash., F Michael Rasmussen scored twice and added an assist to help the Tri-City

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN

Americans to a 5-3 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Rasmussen, who has 14 goals, opened the scoring at 1:11 of the first period. . . . Portland F Ryan Hughes got his fifth goal at 4:15. . . . The Americans took control with the next three goals in a span of 5:04. F Morgan Geekie (7) scored on a PP at 11:21, Rasmussen counted at 13:34 — he’s got eight goals in four games against Portland — and F Parker AuCoin (6) got a shorthanded score at 16:25. . . . The Winterhawks got to within a goal when D Carter Czaikowski got his first goal at 12:39 of the second period and F Keegan Iverson (7) scored at 17:36. . . . Geekie got the empty-netter at 19:49. . . . G Rylan Parenteau blocked 31 shots for the Americans. . . . Tri-City D Juuso Valimaki had two assists. . . . Portland starter Cole Kehler was beaten three times on five shots in 13:34. Michael Bullion finished up with 25 saves on 26 shots in 44:51. . . . Tri-City was 1-7 on the PP; Portland was 0-5. . . . The Americans (10-6-1) have won two straight. . . . The Winterhawks (8-9-0) have lost six in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 3,909.

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At Langley, B.C., F Nick Merkley had two goals and an assist to help the Kelowna Rockets to a 6-4

NICK MERKLEY

victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . The Rockets enjoyed 2-1 and 4-2 leads but it was a goal by F Kole Lind, his seventh, that broke a 4-4 tie at 16:50 of the third period. . . . F Alec Baer, who had two goals and an assist, gave the Giants a 1-0 lead at 6:56 of the first period. . . . Kelowna took a 2-1 lead on goals from F Calvin Thurkauf (7) and Merkley, at 10:09 and 12:46 of the first. . . . Vancouver D Darian Skeoch tied it with his first goal, at 17:15. . . . The Rockets took a 4-2 lead when F Tomas Soustal (7) and D Braydyn Chizen (1) struck for shorthanded goals just three seconds apart — yes, three seconds — at 14:15 and 14:18 of the second period. . . . Baer’s second goal, and second of the season, at 15:49 of the second cut the deficit to one, and F Johnny Wesley’s fourth goal, at 8:42 of the third period, tied it. . . . Merkley got the empty-netter at 18:44. . . . The WHL record for quickest two goals is two seconds. F Pavel Brendl and F Brad Moran set that record with the Calgary Hitmen on Oct. 3, 1998. Brendl’s goal came into an empty net as the Hitmen beat the Red Deer Rebels, 6-4. . . . Soustal and Thurkauf each had two assists. . . . F James Malm had two assists for Vancouver. . . . G Michael Herringer stopped 30 shots for the victory. . . . The Giants got 31 stops from Ryan Kubic. . . . Kelowna was 2-4 on the PP; Vancouver was 0-5. . . . The Rockets improved to 10-8-0, while the Giants are 7-11-0. . . . Announced attendance: 4,286. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Curtis Hunt, the Prince Albert Raiders’ general manager, was in the building.

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Round 11:

VIC: @KaidOliver roofs a backhand! ✔
LET: Lindgren is stopped by @outhouse40! ✖

— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) November 5, 2016

At Victoria, F Kaid Oliver’s goal ended an 11-round shootout and gave the Royals a 3-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Victoria F Jack Walker scored two goals, at 1:39 and 18:46 of the first period. He’s got 10 goals. . . . Lethbridge got two goals from F Jesse Zaharichuk, who has eight, at 13:55 of the second period and 16:27 of the third. . . . The Royals scored four times in the shootout, with the Hurricanes getting three. . . . Kaid, a 16-year-old from White Rock, B.C., has one goal and one assist in 19 games. . . . Victoria G Griffen Outhouse stopped 36 shots. . . . Lethbridge G Stuart Skinner turned aside 25 shots. That included stopping Victoria F Matt Phillips on a penalty shot at 1:23 of OT. . . . The Royals were 1-3 on the PP; the Hurricanes were 0-1. . . . Victoria (10-7-2) is 2-0-2 in its last four games. . . . Lethbridge (7-7-3) had won its previous two games. . . . Announced attendance: 4,494.

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LEADERS

POINTS: F Sam Steel, Regina, 28; F Mason Shaw, Medicine Hat, 27; F Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane, F Nikita Popugaev, Moose Jaw, F Cody Glass, Portland, each 24.

GOALS: Steel, F Michael Rasmussen, Tri-City, each 14; F Tyler Steenbergen, Swift Current, 13; F Zak Zborosky, Kootenay, 12; Yamamoto, 11.

ASSISTS: Shaw, 22; F Brayden Burke, Lethbridge, 18; F Chad Butcher, Medicine Hat, Glass, each 17; D Chase Harrison, Regina, 16.

VICTORIES: Nick Schneider, Medicine Hat, Griffen Outhouse, Victoria, each 10; Carter Hart, Everett, Ty Edmonds, Prince George, Michael Herringer, Kelowna, each 9.

GAA: Hart, 1.89; Connor Ingram, Kamloops, 2.01; Ty Edmonds, Prince George, 2.31; Logan Flodell, Saskatoon, 2.38; Cody Porter, Calgary, 2.46.

SAVE %: Ingram, .937; Flodell, .931; Hart, .926; Logan Thompson, Brandon, .922; Outhouse, .920.

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SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Edmonton at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Swift Current at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Portland at Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Seattle at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Kamloops at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Kootenay at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

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

Lethbridge vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7 p.m.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Chiefs, Rockets swing deal . . . Four suspensions finalized . . . Jeannot ruins Edmonton comeback

Brandon Carlo's First NHL Goal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/GyDoPAgp30

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 18, 2016

The Spokane Chiefs got a bit older on Monday; the Kelowna Rockets got younger.

In a one-for-one exchange, the Chiefs got F Tanner Wishnowski, 19, for F Colum McGauley, 16.

Wishnowski, a list player from Oakbank, Man., has a goal and an assist in 10 games in his sophomore season. As a freshman, he put up seven goals and six assists in 54 games.

He is expected to join his new team in time for a game against the visiting Everett Silvertips tonight (Tuesday).

McGauley was a fourth-round pick by Spokane in the 2015 WHL bantam draft. He is from Nelson, B.C., and is playing for the junior B Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay Junior International Hockey League. Last season, he had three goals and 15 assists in 39 games with the midget AAA Notre Dame Hounds, who play out of Wilcox, Sask.

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The Vancouver Giants have added D Jeff Rayman, 20, to their roster after claiming him off waivers from the Tri-City Americans. They placed him on waivers last week after acquiring G Rylan Parenteau, 20, from the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Rayman, from Fernie, B.C., had a goal and seven assists in 86 games over two seasons (2013-15) with the Spokane Chiefs. He had three goals and two assists in 54 games with the Americans last season, and was pointless in seven games this season. . . . With the Giants, he joins F Thomas Foster and Russian D Dmitry Osipov as the 20-year-olds. . . . The Giants, who have won four in a row, all on the road, next play Wednesday when the Saskatoon Blades come calling to Langley, B.C.

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The Spokane Chiefs will be without F Hudson Elynuik when they play host to the Everett Silvertips tonight. He drew a three-game suspension after taking a charging major and game misconduct for a hit on Silvertips F Devon Skoleski in Everett on Friday night. Elynuik has missed one game. He also will miss a game on Friday when the Chiefs open an East Division swing against the Regina Pats. Elynuik will be eligible to return on Saturday in Brandon against the Wheat Kings.

The WHL also firmed up suspensions to a pair of Vancouver Giants. F Johnny Wesley was given a one-game suspension for a charging major and game misconduct in a game against the host Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday, while D Darian Skeoch was given one game after he took a charging major and game misconduct in a game against the host Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday. . . . Wesley has served his suspension. Skeoch won’t play tonight against the visiting Saskatoon Blades.

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F Chad Butcher of the Medicine Hat Tigers has been suspended for three games. He was hit under supplemental discipline after an unpenalized incident during a 7-2 victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Friday. Butcher has missed one game and won’t play in a home-and-home Wednesday-Friday series with the Kootenay Ice.

The Hitmen asked for supplemental discipline, claiming that Butcher had slashed D Jake Bean, who apparently was left with a broken finger. The Hitmen are saying that he is out week-to-week.

“I watched the play and I’ve been slashed a lot harder than that,” Tigers F Steve Owre told Ryan McCracken of the Medicine Hat News.“It’s the league’s decision and we’re pretty biased on this side but, I think if you watch it, it was just a hockey play.”

Shaun Clouston, the Tigers’ GM/head coach, told McCracken: “It wasn’t called a penalty. It was kind of a one-handed slash . . . I believe it’s going to be very short because there was no intent. The ref on the ice was in real good position and didn’t call it, so we’re very optimistic it will just be the one game.”

So much for optimism . . . . three games it is.

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Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated convened a media panel and discussed a number of goings-on involving the NHL. One of the questions he asked: What rule — in game or of the greater league — would you get rid of and why.

Sean McIndoe, a writer with Vice Sports, Sportsnet and The Hockey News replied:

“The loser point. It’s completely ridiculous that this league still rewards teams for losing. The rule made a small amount of success when it was introduced in 1999, because the league felt they needed to discourage teams from playing for the tie in overtime. But since ties were eliminated with the introduction of the shootout, that reason doesn’t exist anymore. Yet we’re still stuck with this thing. The league tries to justify it by claiming that the loser point makes playoff races closer, but that’s simply not true. All it really accomplishes is artificially inflating the standings and making everyone’s record look better. Which, of course, is the whole point of the rule. GMs love it, because every year roughly 80% of the league gets to be over .500 in terms of points percentage. That’s completely absurd and makes a mockery of the integrity of the standings, but if you can tell your owner that you had a winning record even though you lost 45 games then you might get to keep your job. It’s a confidence scam, nothing more, and it’s embarrassing that we still have it.

“Even worse, the practical effect of the rule is that teams are encouraged to play for a tie in regulation. Which they do, especially as the season goes on. In every other sport, the end of a deadlocked game is edge-of-your-seat time, but in the NHL it’s when everyone shuts down and tries to run out of the clock so that the magic bonus point fairy will arrive. At some point, years down the road, we’re going to get rid of this thing. And then future generations will look back at the record books and wonder why the standings were all screwed up for decades and everyone was just OK with it.”

The complete roundtable is right here and it’s an interesting read.

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JUST NOTES:

The Prince Albert Raiders are down to two goaltenders after dropping Curtis Meger, 18, from their roster. He is expected to join the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins. Meger, from Regina, didn’t get into any games with the Raiders, who now will go with Ian Scott, 17, and Nick Sanders, 18, as their goaltenders. . . . 

The MJHL’s Winkler Flyers have acquired the junior A rights to G Cole Kehler, who will be 19 on Dec. 17, and future considerations from the Swan Valley Stampeders for G Connor Slip, 20, and F Jason Cohan, 20. . . . Kehler, who is 6-1-0, 2.57, .913 with the Portland Winterhawks, is from Altona, Man., which is about a 30-minute drive from Winkler. It could be that Ken Pearson, the Flyers’ GM/head coach, is looking ahead to next season and thinking that maybe, just maybe, Kehler will be available as a 20-year-old. . . .

Portland D Caleb Jones has a shootout winner and an OT winner in the Winterhawks’ last two games. The OT goal was the third of his career, leaving him one away from the franchise record that is shared by Nino Niederreiter, Todd Robinson and Ken Yaremchuk.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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MONDAY’S GAME:

At Edmonton, F Tanner Jeannot scored off a rebound at 3:10 of OT to give the Moose Jaw Warriors a 5-4 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . Moose Jaw led this one 4-2 with less than four minutes to play in

TANNER JEANNOT

the third period. . . . Edmonton F Davis Koch scored, shorthanded, at 16:43 to get the Oil Kings to within one. . . . Freshman F Trey Fix-Wolansky’s third goal of the season, at 19:29, with G Liam Hughes on the bench for the extra attacker, tied it. . . . Moose Jaw F Ryan Bowen had given his side a 1-0 lead at 1:04 of the first period. . . . F Lane Bauer, playing in his 200th regular-season game, pulled Edmonton even at 2:59. . . . The Warriors then took a 3-1 lead on goals from F Noah Gregor, at 5:51 of the first, and F Brett Howden, on a PP, at 7:04 of the second period. . . . F Kobe Mohr got the home side back to within one at 7:34 of the third period, only to have Howden get his second of the game, and eighth of the season, at 9:57. . . . F Jayden Halbgewachs had two assists for the winners, while Gregor added an assist to his goal. . . . D Aaron Irving drew two assists for Edmonton (3-5-2), which has lost three in a row, all at home. . . . The Warriors improved to 6-2-2. . . . G Zach Sawchenko stopped 34 shots for Moose Jaw, while Hughes turned aside 25 for Edmonton. . . . Moose Jaw was 1-6 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-4. . . . Announced attendance: 4,729.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Tri-City at Portland, 7 p.m.

Swift Current at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Lethbridge at Regina, 7 p.m.

Everett at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Saskatoon at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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WHL suspends four players . . . Silvertips win fourth in five nights . . . Broncos open B.C. trek with win

The WHL’s department of justice slapped four players following Friday night games.

F Tanner Jeannot of the Moose Jaw Warriors drew a one-game suspension for a boarding major and game misconduct he took in a 6-4 loss to the Rebels in Red Deer. . . . D Alexander Alexeyev, who was hit on the play, wasn’t injured.

F Hudson Elynuik of the Spokane Chiefs, F Johnny Wesley of the Vancouver Giants and F Chad Butcher of the Medicine Hat Tigers all drew TBD suspensions.

Elynuik was hit with a charging major and game misconduct during a 4-3 OT loss to the visiting Everett Silvertips. That was for a hit on Everett F Devon Skoleski in the third period. Skoleski didn’t play last night against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds.

Wesley was given a headshot major and game misconduct during Vancouver’s 4-3 OT victory over the Hurricanes in Lethbridge.

The WHL chose to suspend Butcher for something that happened in a 7-2 victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen. That suspension comes under supplemental decision, meaning that the Hitmen must have filed video and asked the WHL to take a look at whatever happened.

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D Connor Clouston, 20, has joined the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers. He made his debut on Saturday night in a 7-2 loss to the host Chilliwack Chiefs. . . . Clouston was waived last week by the Medicine Hat Tigers as they got down to three 20-year-olds. . . . A native of Medicine Hat, he was a third-round pick by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2011 bantam draft. He split 158 regular-season WHL games between the Blazers, Moose Jaw Warriors and the Tigers. He had three goals and eight assists. 

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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3 members of the Jr A Edmonton Oil Kings donned masks to emphasize the CMJHL’s “outlaw” status: Galen Head, Ron Walters and Ace Bailey. pic.twitter.com/pl7SJvewem

— 1966 Hockey Tweets (@1966NHLtweets) October 15, 2016

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SATURDAY’S GAMES:

Look who we found outside Verizon Center... It's the Barzal's! #IslesFamily pic.twitter.com/vEt5ovSGJt

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 15, 2016

At Everett, the Silvertips scored the game’s first three goals and hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Everett (8-1-1) has won four in a row. The Silvertips played four games in

five nights, winning them all and outscoring the opposition, 16-9. . . . Seattle (2-4-1) has lost three straight (0-2-1). . . . F Bryce Kindopp opened the scoring at 4:14 of the first period as Everett scored first for the ninth time in 10 games. . . . F Riley Sutter scored Everett’s other two goals, both via the PP, at 10:00 and 11:55 of the first period. . . . Sutter, who had one goal and three assists in 31 games last season, has four goals and three assists in 10 games this season. . . . F Sami Moilanen, at 14:09 of the first, and D Turner Ottenbreit, at 18:26 of the third, scored for Seattle. . . . Ottenbreit also had an assist. . . . G Carter Hart blocked 23 shots for the winners, while Rylan Toth turned aside 20 for Seattle. . . . Everett was 2-5 on the PP; Seattle was 1-8. . . . With Seattle having four 20-year-olds on its roster, one must be scratched every game. This time, it was F Cavin Leth. The Thunderbirds have two weeks from the return of F Ryan Gropp to get down to three 20s. . . . The Silvertips were without F Matt Fonteyne and D Lucas Skrumeda for a third straight game. . . . F Mathew Barzal, 19, who is eligible to return to Seattle, made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders last night. He played 10 minutes 10 seconds (16 shifts), including 1:02 on the PP. He was pointless, but took three minor penalties and won two of four faceoffs in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. One of the minors was for playing the puck while in the penalty box. It came as his first minor penalty was expiring. . . . Announced attendance: 7,678.

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@shawnmullin All the Kelowna Rittingers will be in attendance! Can you say hello to Grandpa John Rittinger back home during the broadcast?

— J.W.R. (@81JWR) October 16, 2016

At Kelowna, the Swift Current Broncos scored three PP goals en route to a 5-1 victory over the Rockets. . . . This was the opener of a B.C. Division swing for the Broncos (7-2-1). They are 5-0-1 in

their last six games. . . . The Rockets slid to 3-7-0, including three straight losses. The visiting Saskatoon Blades beat them 4-2 on Friday nigiht. . . . The Broncos took over this game with three goals in the first 12:17 of the second period. . . . F Aleksi Heponiemi got his third goal 13 seconds into the period, with D Colby Sissons scoring on a PP at 7:44 and F Tyler Steenbergen getting his sixth goal, on another PP, at 12:17. . . . Steenbergen later added an empty-netter. . . . F Lane Pederson had two assists for the visitors, with Sissons, F Glenn Gawdin and Heponiemi each getting a goal and an assist. . . . Broncos G Taz Burman stopped 25 shots, losing his shutout bid to F Tomas Soustal at 18:57 of the second period. . . . Kelowna got 25 saves from G Michael Herringer. . . . Swift Current was 3-4 on the PP; Kelowna was 0-3. . . . The Rockets were without F Jake Kryski (ill) for a second game, while F Dillon Dube (knee) has yet to play this season. . . . Announced attendance: 4,768.

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COLTON BOBYK

At Cranbrook, B.C., D Colton Bobyk’s third goal of the season, at 4:43 of OT, gave the Red Deer Rebels a 2-1 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Rebels (5-3-2) have won three in a row. . . . The Ice (1-5-4) has lost four in a row (0-2-2). . . . F Evan Polei’s sixth goal, on a PP, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 5:50 of the second period. . . . F Keenan Taphorn pulled the Ice even at 9:58 of the second. . . . Polei also had an assist on the winner. . . . G Riley Lamb blocked 20 shots for the Rebels, 15 fewer than the Ice’s Payton Lee. . . . Red Deer was 1-4 on the PP; Kootenay was 0-6. . . . G Lasse Petersen, acquired Thursday by the Rebels from the Everett Silvertips, wasn’t in uniform for the Rebels. . . . Announced attendance: 1,768.

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At Lethbridge, F Adam Brooks had a goal and three assists to lead the Regina Pats to a 7-2 victory

ADAM BROOKS

over the Hurricanes. . . . The Pats (6-0-3) remain the only one of the CHL’s 60 teams not to have suffered a regulation-time loss. . . . The Hurricanes (5-3-2) had been 2-0-2 in their previous four games. . . . Brooks, the WHL’s reigning scoring champion, has three goals and four assists in three games since returning from the camp of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. . . . The Hurricanes actually led this one 2-0 in the second period, with the Pats then scoring seven straight goals. . . . Regina got a goal and two assists from each of F Filip Ahl and D Chase Harrison, while F Jake Leschyshyn and F Sam Steel each had a goal and an assist. . . . Steel moved into the WHL scoring lead with 17 points, including seven goals, for a brief period. Portland F Cody Glass later scored a goal that moved  him into a tie with Steel. . . . F Ryley Lindgren had a goal, his seventh, and an assist for the Hurricanes. . . . G Tyler Brown stopped 33 shots for Regina. . . . Lethbridge G Stuart Skinner gave up six goals on 43 shots in 50:46, with reliever Ryan Gilchrist stopping five of six shots. . . . Regina was 1-3 on the PP; Lethbridge was 1-8. . . . Regina has won 7-2 in two straight visits to Lethbridge. It won 7-2 in Game 5 of a first-round playoff series last spring. . . . Announced attendance: 3,463.

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At Medicine Hat, F Radovan Bondra’s goal at 1:49 of OT gave the Vancouver Giants a 2-1 victory

RADOVAN BONDRA

over the Tigers. . . . Bondra has seven goals this season. . . . The Giants (5-7-0) went 4-2-0 on a six-game road swing. They have won four in a row. Keeping in mind that they opened the season with a 1-7-0 stretch. . . . The Tigers are 6-3-1. . . . D Dave Quenneville gave the home side a 1-0 lead, on a PP, at 4:48 of the first period. . . . F Ty Ronning tied it for Vancouver at 4:52 of the second period. . . . Vancouver G Ryan Kubic was terrific, with 36 saves. . . . The Tigers got 19 saves from G Nick Schneider. . . . The Tigers were 1-6 on the PP; the Giants were 0-5. . . . The Giants lost D Darian Skeoch with a headshot major and game misconduct at 16:05 of the second period. Medicine Hat D Cameron MacPhee took a cross-checking major and game misconduct at the same time. . . . Announced attendance: 4,003.

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At Prince Albert, F Ty Lewis scored at 2:00 of OT to give the Brandon Wheat Kings a 4-3 victory over the Raiders. . . . It was the second night in a row that the two teams needed extra time to settle

TY LEWIS

things. The Raiders posted a 3-2 OT victory in Brandon on Friday night. . . . The Wheat Kings (3-3-2) had lost three in a row (0-2-1). . . . The Raiders, who led 2-1 and 3-2, are 3-5-1. . . . F Reid Duke gave Brandon a 1-0 lead at 18:03 of the first period. . . . The Raiders took the lead on goals from F Nic Holowko, at 19:23 of the first, and F Simon Stransky, shorthanded, at 6:12 of the second. . . . D Garrett Sambrook, who also had an assist, pulled Brandon even at 7:48. . . . Stransky’s second goal of the game, and sixth of the season, put the Raiders back oiut front at 10:44 of the third period. . . . The Wheat Kings forced OT when F Tanner Kaspick scored his seventh goal, on a PP, at 18:51. . . . Holowko and Stansky each had an assist, too. . . . G Jordan Papirny stopped 35 shots as he became the first goaltender in Brandon franchise history with 100 regular-season victories. . . . G Ian Scott of the Raiders blocked 25 shots. . . . The Wheat Kings were 1-5 on the PP; the Raiders were 0-5. . . . The Wheat Kings were without F Nolan Patrick for a second straight game, while D Kale Clague has yet to play after returning from the camp of the Los Angeles Kings with an injury. . . . Brandon is carrying four 20-year-olds and F Duncan Campbell sat for the third straight game. The Wheat Kings have two from when Duke returned from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack to get down to three 20s. . . . Announced attendance: 2,212.

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Scooter makes the #WHL better #PORvsSPO pic.twitter.com/koIxRJh3BQ

— Chad Balcom (@hawkeyblog) October 16, 2016

At Spokane, D Caleb Jones scored the only goal of a three-round shootout to give the Portland

CALEB JONES

Winterhawks a 3-2 victory over the Chiefs. . . . The Winterhawks (8-3-0) have won three in a row. Portland was playing the last game of an eight-game road trip, its longest of this season. It finished 6-2-0. . . . The Chiefs (2-4-2) have lost three in a row (0-1-2). . . . F Koby Morrisseau’s first goal gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead at 17:44 of the first period. . . . F Ryan Hughes pulled Portland even at 5:21 of the second period. . . . F Curtis Miske put Spokane back in front at 7:25 of the third period. . . . Portland F Cody Glass notched his sixth goal, at 16:55 of the third period, to force OT. . . . The Winterhawks got 29 saves from G Cole Kehler. . . . G Dawson Weatherill turned aside 28 for the Chiefs. . . . Portland was 0-3 on the PP; Spokane was 0-4. . . . Chiefs trainer Todd Daniels was struck in the face by an errant puck late in the first period. Apparently, he got stitched up in the intermission and was back for the start of the second period. Of course, he was. He’s a hockey guy. . . . Announced attendance: 7,008.

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At Kennewick, Wash., D Sam Ruopp drew three assists to help the Prince George Cougars to a 5-2

SAM RUOPP

victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Cougars (10-2-0) opened the season with eight straight victories, then lost two in a row, and now have won two straight. . . . The Americans (5-4-0) had their three-game winning streak end. They also had been 4-0-0 at home. . . . F Bartek Bison got the Cougars’ first goal, at 7:45 of the first period. . . . Tri-City F Vladislav Lukin tied the score at 11:59. . . . The Cougars took control with the game’s next two goals, from F Yan Khomenko, at 12:18, and F Brogan O’Brien at 18:52. . . . F Jesse Gabrielle and O’Brien each had a goal and an assist. . . . It was a battle of 20-year-old goaltenders. Ty Edmonds stopped 21 shots for the Cougars, while the Americans’ Rylan Parenteau turned aside 32. Parenteau made his second straight start since being acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders on Thursday. . . . Each team was 0-3 on the PP. . . . Announced attendance: 3,705.

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SUNDAY’S GAME (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Calgary, 2 p.m.

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Gatenby burns ex-mates . . . Giants, Rebels cut deal . . . New deal for Nachbaur . . . Warriors stun Wheat Kings

D Joe Gatenby went into opening night with five goals in 174 career regular-season games with the Kelowna Rockets.

In his first game with the Kamloops Blazers on Friday night, he scored twice and added an assist in a 9-2 victory over the visiting Rockets. (Originally, he was credited with two assists, but one was taken

JOE GATENBY

away at some point after the game.)

It was his first career two-goal game and his second three-point outing.

“Joe Gatenby was probably our best player,” Kamloops head coach Don Hay said after his side had torched the short-staffed Rockets — they dressed 15 skaters — for six power-play goals on 10 opportunities.

(You’re right . . . it’s not a good idea to give up 10 PP chances when you’ve only got 15 skaters dressed.)

Anyway . . . 

“We were fortunate that we were able to capitalize on our power play early,” said Gatenby, a Kelowna native whose first goal came with the man advantage. 

Gatenby’s second goal was credited to freshman F Scott Mahovlich, but was switched during the second intermission.

“I felt kind of bad about that,” said Gatenby, knowing that it would have been Mahovlich’s first WHL goal. “I’m not sure about really what happened there.”

What happened is that the Rockets were having one of those nights. In this case, G Brodan Salmon, while being pressured, reached out with his stick to pull the puck underneath him. However, the puck went right underneath him and into the net. The goal was given to Mahovlich, who was the closest Kamloops player to the puck at the time. However, the official scorekeeper reviewed the play and the goal was given to Gatenby, because he had been the last of the Blazers to touch the puck.

“I didn’t know what happened,” Gatenby said with a chuckle.

Gatenby was acquired by the Blazers in the hopes that he would give them a strong defensive game and eat up a lot of the minutes that came available with the graduation of Ryan Rehill, who played a regular shift and also was a stalwart on the power-play and penalty-killing units. So far, so good.

“I’m really enjoying my time,” Gatenby said. “I really like my teammates and the coaching staff has been really good and really easy to work with.”

And don’t look now but he’s tied for the WHL lead in goals and points, as the Blazers go into Kelowna for a Saturday night rematch.

“I’m really good friends with pretty much the whole team,” Gatenby said as he looked ahead to tonight. “I’m focused on the Blazers right now but I know how tough it is (to lose like that). We also had a lot of fortunate power plays. They’re going to bring more to the rink tomorrow.”

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The Vancouver Giants announced late Friday night that they have acquired F Taden Rattie, 18, from the Red Deer Rebels for a sixth-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft. . . . Rattie, from Airdrie, Alta., is the younger brother of former Portland Winterhawks sniper Ty Rattie. . . . Taden, 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, had one goal in 25 games with the Rebels last season. He is expected to join the Giants in time to play tonight against the host Everett Silvertips. . . . Everett beat the Giants, 7-3, in Langley on Friday night. . . . The Rebels had acquired the younger Rattie from Portland on Dec. 28 for a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft. He never did play for the Winterhawks; in fact, he had committed to Western Michigan before he chose to join the Rebels.

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The Spokane Chiefs have signed head coach Don Nachbaur to a contract extension that runs through 2017-18. That would be his 20th season as a WHL head coach. Nachbaur, who is into his seventh season as the Chiefs’ head coach, was beginning the final season of his contract. . . . Nachbaur also has been head coach with the Seattle Thunderbirds and Tri-City Americans. In fact, he is atop the all-time coaching victories list with the Chiefs (234) and Americans (235). . . . The Chiefs open the regular season against the host Americans on Saturday night. That will move Nachbair into a tie with Mike Babcock for most Chiefs games coached (424). . . . Nachbaur also is one of only four men to have recorded more than 600 WHL regular-season coaching victories. He is third on the all-time list, at 665, behind Ken Hodge (742) and Don Hay (675). Lorne Molleken (626) is the fourth member of the 600 Club.

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The Calgary Hitmen have placed G Nik Amundrud on the injured list with an undisclosed injury suffered during the exhibition season. Brad Curle, the radio voice of the Hitmen, reports that Amundrud, who will turn 19 on Oct. 20, is “expected to be sidelined until December.” . . . With Amundrud out of the picture, at least for now, the Hitmen go into the season with two goaltenders — Cody Porter, 19, and Kyle Dumba, 18. . . . Amundrud was 10-7-0, 2.53, .899 in 21 appearances with the Hitmen last season after coming over from the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Porter, who turned 19 on Friday, was 24-11-2, 2.98, .885 in 41 games after being acquired from the Vancouver Giants. . . . Dumba, a fourth-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft, got into 10 games, going 2-3-2, 4.30, .857.

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The Medicine Hat Tigers have added G Jake Morrissey, 19, to their roster after he was released by the Vancouver Giants. . . . Morrissey was 1-6-0, 5.07, .853 in 10 appearances with the Giants last season. He also played with the Saskatoon Blades and two AJHL’s teams — the Drayton Valley Thunder and Sherwood Park Crusaders. . . . In 2014-15, Morrissey was 8-1-1, 1.98, .932 in 11 games with the Kelowna Rockets. . . . With starter Nick Schneider in camp with the NHL’s Calgary Flames, the Tigers needed someone to partner with Duncan McGovern, 16, on their roster. . . . McGovern, from Winnipeg, was a fifth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. He got into six exhibition games, going 3-0-0, 2.00, .925 in 240 minutes. He also recorded two shutouts. . . . In 25 career appearances, split among Kelowna, Vancouver and Saskatoon, Morrissey is 9-9-1, 3.60, .885. Kelowna selected him in the fifth round of the 2012 bantam draft.

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The Prince Albert Raiders have signed F Zack Andrusiak, an 18-year-old list player from Yorkton, Sask. He had 51 points, including 32 goals, in 32 games with the junior B Kamloops Storm last season. He also played in 15 games with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, recording two assists. In 2014-15, he was pointless in seven games with the Tri-City Americans, while putting up 38 points, 14 of them goals, in 37 games with the junior B North Okanagan Knights. . . . He is a nephew of former Seattle Thunderbirds assistant coach Perry Andrusiak, who also did a stint as the Regina Pats’ assistant GM.

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JUST NOTES:

D Ryely McKinstry no longer is shown on the roster of the Vancouver Giants. Concussion-related issues limited him to 11 games last season. The 18-year-old Calgarian was a second-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . 

The Calgary Hitmen have released F Justyn Gurney, 16, from their roster. Gurney, from Delta, B.C., was a sixth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. He is expected to join the major midget West Valley Hawks. . . . 

D Jacob Cardiff, 20, has joined the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds, who play out of his hometown of Wilcox, Sask. Cardiff spent the previous three seasons with the Spokane Chiefs, but was released and cleared 20-year-old waivers.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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I think he cut in line @SieraBearchell #missuniversecanada #mjwarriors #mosaicplace @bdnwheatkings @TheWHL #CityMJ #UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/7ASkb0YiAU

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) September 24, 2016

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FRIDAY GAMES:

At Calgary, F Taylor Sanheim scored in the fifth round of a shootout as the Hitmen beat the Kootenay Ice, 3-2. . . . The Hitmen thought they had won with 29.3 seconds left in OT but a potential goal was waved off after video review. Both teams had gone to their dressing rooms, so had to return to the ice. . . . F Zak Zborosky gave the Ice a 1-0 lead at 19:23 of the first period. . . . Calgary tied it on F Murphy Stratton’s PP goal at 3:58 of the second. . . . Kootenay went back in front when F Tanner Sidaway scored at 19:31. . . . The Hitmen forced OT on F Tyler Mrkonjic’s goal at 1:18 of the third. . . . Calgary G Cody Porter turned aside 28 shots, one more than the Ice’s Payton Lee. . . . Kootenay was 1-3 on the PP; Calgary was 1-5. . . . Announced attendance: 7,524.

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At Kamloops, D Joe Gatenby scored two goals, set up another and was named the game’s first star as the Blazers powered their way to a 9-2 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Kelowna, with six players at NHL camps, dressed only 15 skaters, three under the maximum. . . . Kamloops was 6-10 on the PP; Kelowna was 1-8. . . . Gatenby was acquired from the Rockets in a summer deal that sent F Jake Kryski the other way. Gatenby’s brother, Dan, who was scratched last night, also moved to Kamloops in the exchange. Joe went into the game with five goals in 174 regular-season games with the Rockets. . . . Kelowna F Kole Lind forged a 1-1 tie 34 seconds into the second period. . . . Kamloops scored the next four goals, with the last three of them coming on the PP. . . . Kamloops F Jackson Shepard scored twice, while F Collin Shirley had a goal and two assists. D Dawson Davidson, F Scott Mahovlich and Conner McDonald, a defenceman who played right wing in this one, each had two assists and F Rudolfs Balcers scored once and added an assist, as did D Luke Zazula and F Spencer Bast. . . . Lind and F Jake Kryski each had a goal and an assist for Kelowna. . . . Kamloops fans chanted ‘Warm Up the Bus’ and ‘We Want 10’ as time wound down on the third period. . . . Kamloops G Dylan Ferguson stopped 29 shots. Kelowna starter Michael Herringer gave up four goals on 18 shots, with Brodan Salmond coming on at 4:56 of the second period. He was beaten five times on 16 shots. . . . The game marked the head-coaching debut of Kelowna’s Jason Smith, a former WHL defenceman (Regina, 1991-93) who went on to play 1,008 regular-season and 68 playoff games in the NHL. His only coaching experience prior to signing with the Rockets was two seasons (2014-16) as an assistant with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Smith is the Rockets’ fourth head coach in four seasons after Ryan Huska had been in charge for seven seasons. . . . The Blazers now head out for seven straight road games, starting tonight in Kelowna. . . . Announced attendance: 4,063. That was the second-smallest home-opener crowd since the Blazers’ home arena opened in time for the 1992-93 season. Last season, attendance at the opener was 3,937 as Kelowna posted a 7-3 victory.

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Tonight marks the start of broadcasting 47 years of Tigers hockey.  Still a rush.

— Bob Ridley (@BobRidley_CHAT) September 23, 2016

At Lethbridge, the Hurricanes doubled the Medicine Hat Tigers, 4-2, with four of the game’s goals coming via the PP. . . . The Hurricanes took a 2-0 first-period lead and never trailed. . . . D Calen Addison scored the game’s first goal, his first in the WHL. Lethbridge selected him second overall in the 2015 bantam draft. He also drew an assist on the game’s second goal. Early last season, with the midget AAA Brandon Wheat Kings, he suffered a broken leg that required surgery. . . . Both goals came on the PP. . . . Lethbridge was 2-5 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 2-6. . . . Hurricanes F Ryley Lindgren had a goal and two assists. . . . G Stuart Skinner stopped 41 shots for the winners, while Duncan McGovern stopped 16 for the visitors. . . . Announced attendance: 5,009.

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Welcome to the WHL @branden_crowe. Calling his first WHL regular season game from his cell phone thanks to Internet issues in Moose Jaw.

— Mike Fraser (@MikeFraser29) September 24, 2016

At Moose Jaw, F Tanner Jeannot scored 29 seconds into OT to give the Warriors a 3-2 victory over the defending-champion Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The Warriors scored the game’s last three goals, with F Jayden Halbgewachs forcing OT when he scored with 4.7 seconds left in the third period. . . . Brandon F Nolan Patrick, who missed all of the exhibition season after undergoing sports hernia surgery in July, was in the Wheat Kings’ lineup and scored the game’s first goal at 8:57 of the first period. . . . F Stelio Mattheos gave Brandon a 2-0 lead at 18:22. . . . Moose Jaw cut into the lead at 18:09 of the third period when F Ryan Bowen scored. . . . D Matt Sozanski had two assists for the Warriors. . . . Halbgewachs, Patrick and Mattheos each had one assist. . . . Moose Jaw G Brody Willms stopped 32 shots, one more than Brandon’s Jordan Papirny. . . . The Warriors were 0-2 on the PP; the Wheaties were 0-5. . . . Darryl Anning, 30, the youngest head coach in the WHL, made his debut with the Wheat Kings, although he had served as the team’s interim head coach for a bit last season while Kelly McCrimmon was with Canada’s national junior team. . . . McCrimmon, who also had been the team’s GM, now is assistant GM with the NHL’s Las Vegas franchise. Grant Armstrong moved over from the Victoria Royals to take over as Brandon’s GM. . . . Announced attendance: 3,744.

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At Red Deer, D Aaron Irving, named team captain earlier in the day, scored 26 seconds into OT to give the Edmonton Oil Kings a 3-2 victory over the Rebels. . . . F Akash Bains gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead at 3:31 of the first period, with F Tyler Robertson tying it at 5:50. . . . Red Deer went back out front when F Evan Polei, who was injured in the preseason, scored at 19:30. . . . Edmonton D Kyle Yewchuk forced OT with a goal at 17:27 of the third period. . . . One of the assists on Irving’s winner went to F Lane Bauer. Irving and Bauer were returned by the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers in time to play in the opener. . . . Edmonton G Patrick Dea stopped 24 shots. . . . Red Deer G Riley Lamb, who was 1.98, .940 in three exhibition games, blocked 30 shots. . . . The Oil Kings were 0-5 on the PP; the Rebels were 0-1. . . . Announced attendance: 5,274.

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At Regina, F Simon Stransky’s second goal, at 2:57 of OT, gave the Prince Albert Raiders a 4-3 victory over the Pats. . . . Stransky, who returned from the Boston Bruins’ rookie camp on Thursday, also had an assist. . . . Raiders F Kolten Olynek added a goal and an assist. . . . Regina got a goal and an assist from D Chase Harrison. . . . Regina F Riley Woods scored the first goal of this regular season, sniping at 1:22 of the first period. . . . Stransky’s first goal, at 4:24 of the third, pulled the visitors into a 2-2 tie. . . . Olynek put the Raiders out front at 5:32. . . . Regina F Braydon Buziak forced OT at 15:12. . . . Prince Albert G Ian Scott was outstanding, with 42 saves, 12 more than Regina’s Tyler Brown. . . . The Raiders were 1-4 on the PP; Regina was 1-3. . . . The Raiders were without F Drew Warkentine as he completed a three-game suspension he picked up during the exhibition season. . . . Each team still has five players at NHL camps. . . . Announced attendance: 4,830.

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At Swift Current, F Jesse Shynkaruk, who came to camp hoping to land a 20-year-old spot, scored twice and added an assist as the Saskatoon Blades beat the Broncos, 5-1. . . . It was the first game of the Broncos’ 50th season. . . . D Mark Rubinchik added three assists for the Blades, with F Mason McCarty getting a goal and an assist, and F Braylon Shmyr chipping in two assists. . . . The game’s starting goaltenders, Logan Flodell of the Blades and Taz Burman of the Broncos, both are former Seattle Thunderbirds stoppers. . . . Flodell made 21 saves, losing his shutout when D Artyom Minulin scored on a PP at 19:28 of the third period. . . . Burman turned aside 28 shots. . . . Saskatoon was 1-7 on the PP; Swift Current was 1-4. . . . F Cole Johnson, who was limited by injury to 10 games over the past two seasons, was in Swift Current’s lineup. Johnson, 18, was a second-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . Les Lazaruk, the veteran radio voice of the Blades, points out that Saskatoon opened against the Broncos for only the second time. The first time was on Oct. 8, 1967, which was the Broncos’ first home game. . . . Yes, they opened seasons in October back in the day. . . . This marked Dean Brockman’s first game as the Blades’ head coach. He moved up from assistant coach when Bob Woods left for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. . . . Former WHL D Emanuel Viveiros was behind the Broncos’ bench for the first time as their head coach. He replaced Mark Lamb, who now is head coach of the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. . . . Announced attendance: 2,316.

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Great Tribute to Charlie Hodge. Kudos to the Vancouver Giants pic.twitter.com/To7lIIagXo

— Shane Malloy (@ShaneMalloy) September 24, 2016

At Langley, B.C., F Graham Millar and F Devon Skoleski each scored twice to help the Everett Silvertips to a 7-3 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . Everett, which according to the prognosticators will have trouble scoring goals, struck four times in the game’s first 11:27. . . . F Matt Fonteyne had three assists for Everett, while D Jake Christiansen had a goal and an assist. D Lucas Skrumeda and F Patrick Bajkov helped out with two assists. . . . The Giants got two goals from F Dawson Holt and two assists from F Johnny Wesley. . . . Everett G Mario Petit stopped 20 shots, while Vancouver’s Ryan Kubic turned aside 26. . . . The Silvertips were 2-4 on the PP; the Giants were 0-3. . . . Vancouver D Matt Barberis left in the second period and didn’t return. . . . This was the first regular-season game for the Vancouver tandem of general manager Glen Hanlon and head coach Jason McKee. Hanlon replaced Scott Bonner, who had been the only GM in franchise history before moving to The Sports Corporation as a player agent. McKee takes over from Lorne Molleken, who was fired with a couple of games left in the 2015-16 season. McKee, 37, had been with the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints for 10 seasons, the past seven as GM/head coach. . . . It was the Giants’ first regular-season game of this season in their new home, the Langley Events Centre. They had called Pacific Coliseum home since arriving for the 2001-02 season. . . . Announced attendance: 4,875.

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At Victoria, F Colby McAuley scored twice to lead the Prince George Cougars to a 3-1 victory over the Royals. . . . The Cougars also got a big game from their penalty killers, who were 9-for-9. . . . D Max Martin gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead at 6:53 and McAuley upped it to 2-0 at 9:49. . . . F Ty Westgard cut into the lead at 15:03 of the second, but the Cougars were able to hang on until McAuley got an empty-netter at 19:03 of the third. . . . F Kody McDonald had two assists for the visitors. . . . The Cougars got 30 saves from G Ty Edmonds, while Victoria’s Griffen Outhouse stopped 17 shots. . . . Prince George was 0-4 on the PP. . . . The Royals were without F Carter Folk, 20, as he served Game 3 of a five-game suspension he incurred during the exhibition season. . . . Cougars head coach Richard Matvichuk picked up his first victory in his first regular-season game. He replaced Mark Holick, who parted company with the Cougars with a year left on his contract and now is coaching in Italy. . . . Announced attendance: 6,539.
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SATURDAY GAMES (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Red Deer at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

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

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

Seattle at Portland, 7 p.m.

Regina at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

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

Prince George at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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SUNDAY GAMES (all times local):

Swift Current at Saskatoon, 2:05 p.m.

Tri-City at Portland, 5 p.m.

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