Papirny, Gawdin, Kaspick off to AHL ... Three schools get coaches ... Broncos sign prospect

F Taylor Vause (Swift Current, 2007-12) has signed a one-year extension with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, he had 13 goals and 15 assists in 49 games. . . . 

F Jens Meilleur (Brandon, 2010-14) has signed a one-year extension with the Kassel Huskies (Germany, DEL2). This season, he had eight goals and 10 assists in 36 games. He started the season with the Nuremberg Ice Tigers (Germany, DEL), going pointless in four games. He was loaned to Bayreuth (Germany, DEL2), where he had two assists in seven games. On to Blue Devils Weiden (Germany, Oberliga), he was pointless in one game. He signed with Kassel on Nov. 18. Meilleur had played for Kassel each of the previous two seasons.
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The Swift Current Broncos have signed D Connor Horning to a WHL contract. From Kelowna, Horning was a third-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Horning, who will turn 16 on May 11, had a goal and six assists in 22 games with the Pursuit of Excellent 18U prep team. He also was pointless in four games with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors.

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G Jordan Papirny of the Swift Current Broncos has signed an ATO with the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. . . . Papirny, who moved to the Broncos from the Brandon Wheat Kings in a January deal, completed his junior eligibility this season. Last season, he backstopped the Wheat Kings to a WHL title. . . . Here’s a note from pensionplanpuppets.com: “There’s no better place to start than the Toronto Marlies, and they may have some practice time opening up for (Papirny). With the Orlando Solar Bears losing their starting goalie Ryan Massa to a head injury after a line brawl, the Marlies could send Kasimir Kaskisuo back to Orlando to help out the Bears as they try to advance through the ECHL playoffs.”

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F Glenn Gawdin, the captain of the Swift Current Broncos, and F Tanner Kaspick of the Brandon Wheat Kings have signed ATOs with the Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. . . . Gawdin, who turned 20 on March 25, has played four seasons with the Broncos. This season, he had 26 goals and 33 assists in 52 games. He was a fourth-round selection by the Blues in the NHL’s 2015 draft. If they don’t sign him by June 1, he will be available in the 2017 NHL draft. . . . Kaspick, 19, was selected by the Blues in the fourth round in 2016 draft. This season, Kaspick had 19 goals and 26 assists in 49 games. . . . The Wolves are involved in the first round of the AHL playoffs. They trail the Charlotte Checkers 2-1 in a best-of-five series that continues tonight (Tuesday) in Rosemont, Ill.

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Team USA won the IIHF U-18 World Championship on Sunday, beating Finland, last year’s winner, 4-2 in the final at Poprad, Slovakia. It was Team USA’s third championship in four years and its seven in the past nine years. . . . At this point in 2017, the IIHF has had four world titles decided and the U.S. has won them all -- the World Junior, the World Women’s, the Women’s U-18 and now the Men’s U-18. . . . There’s more right here. . . . Russia won the bronze medal with a 3-0 victory over Sweden in Poprad. Russia’s roster included D Mark Rubinchik of the Saskatoon Blades. It was Russia’s first medal in the competition since it won bronzie in 2011. Rubinchik had two goals and four assists in six games. . . . In Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia, Belarus won the best-of-three relegation series, 2-1, with a 3-1 victory over Latvia. D Vladislav Yeryomenko of the Calgary Hitmen had two goals and two assists in seven games with Belarus.

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Sven Butenschon, a former Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman (1993-96), is expected to be named the fulltime head coach of the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver today. . . . Howard Tsumura of varsity letters.ca reported the story on Monday afternoon. . . . Butenschon, 41, moved up from assistant coach after UBC dropped head coach Adam Shell just prior to the start of last season. Under Butenschon, who was the program’s fourth head coach in as many seasons, the Thunderbirds went 12-13-3 and made the Canada West playoffs, where it was swept by the Calgary Dinos in a best-of-three first-round series. Game 1 went to triple OT.

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Mel Pearson has left Houghton-based Michigan Tech to take over as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, who play out of Ann Arbor. At Michigan, he will replace the legendary Red Berenson, 77, who stepped aside following the season. . . . Pearson had spent 23 seasons (1983-2011) with the Wolverines as an assistant/associate coach before leaving to take over the Michigan Tech program. . . . Pearson was 118-92-29 at Michigan Tech, including a 75-34-14 run over the past three seasons. He has twice been named WCHA coach of the year. . . . Pearson’s father, Mel, played with the Flin Flon Bombers (1955-57) when they were in the SJHL — he played for them when they won the 1957 Memorial Cup — and later coached the Bombers for one season (1974-75). The people of Flin Flon haven’t forgotten him, either, as they annually hold the Mel Pearson Memorial Tournament for novice players.

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Jason Lammers is the new head coach of the Niagara U Purple Eagles. He replaces Dave Burkholder, who was dropped on March 13. Lammers is the third head coach in the program’s 21 years. Burkholder had been the head coach since 2001. Lammers will step into his job following the completion of the USHL playoffs. He is the head coach of the Dubuque, Iowa, Fighting Saints, who are involved in the second round of playoffs.

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Had to tell this reader that the story he hated ran online only. Bird will have to poop directly on the laptop. pic.twitter.com/JwaUNZWHac

— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) April 24, 2017

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MONDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m. (Series tied, 1-1)

Regina at Lethbridge, 7 p.m. (Series tied, 1-1)

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Merry Christmas from the Broncos . . . Big victory for Pats . . . Bizarre night in Kelowna

There are so many third, fourth, fifth, etc., sweaters and uniforms being used in the hockey work now that the novelty has long been lost.
But every once in a while a team is able to come up with something that is kind of neat.
Which brings us to the Swift Current Broncos and the sweaters that will be used on Saturday night, one of which is pictured above.
When the Broncos take to the ice against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings, Swift Current will be wearing what perhaps can best be described as Christmas green and red uniforms with a nifty logo -- a bronco with antlers.
Ryan Switzer, the team’s director of communications and digital media, advises that “they will be auctioned off via silent auction during the game with proceeds helping out the inaugural Innovation Credit Union Salvation Army kids Christmas party later this month. The team will be having a get-together with under-privileged families in the area.”
Switzer also points out that for fans unable to attend Saturday’s game, “There is a Dillon Heatherington jersey up for auction online right now on our website.” That website is right here.
And, as you might have guessed if you are familiar with this kind of stuff, the sweaters were designed by former Broncos F Taylor Vause, who has a gift for this sort of thing.
You are able to follow Vause on Twitter (@wizardofvause) or check out some of his NHL-related work right here.
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F Pavel Brendl (Calgary, 1998-2001) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Skalica (Slovakia, Extraliga). Last season, with Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had four assists in six games, and in 14 games with Lausitzer Füchse Weisswasser(Germany, DEL2), he had three goals and 12 assists. . . .
D Justin Kirsch (Calgary, Moose Jaw, 2009-13) has signed a contract for the rest of the season with Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, DEL2). This season, with the Missouri Mavericks (ECHL), he had one assist in four games; he also was pointless in one game with the Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL). Kirsch has dual Canadian-German citizenship. . . .
F Kamil Vávra (Regina, 2003-04) has been released by Šumperk (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). In 29 games, he had five goals and two assist.
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Red Fisher, who covered the Montreal Canadiens for more than 55 years for the Montreal Star and Montreal Gazette, put retirement aside for a while as he remembered the late Jean Beliveau. Fisher’s piece is right here.
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D Tamas Laday of the Spokane Chiefs will play for Hungary in the IIHF U20 World Championship (Division I Group B) later this month. The tournamet is scheduled for Dunaujvaros, Hungary, Dec. 14-20. . . . This will be quite a thrill for Laday as it will take place 50 km from his hometown of Szekesfehervar. . . . Laday, a WHL freshman, has one assist in 21 games with the Chiefs. A year ago, he played for Hungary in the IIHF U20 Division II Group A tournament, scoring twice and adding five assists in five games. . . . Laday is scheduled to leave the Chiefs on Dec. 8 and return for a Dec. 27 game against the visiting Tri-City Americans.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers open a road trip on Friday night against the Silvertips in Everett. Sean Rooney of the Medicine Hat News reports that the Tigers are hopeful that F Markus Eisenschmid will return to their lineup at some point during that trip. Eisenschmid, a 19-year-old German, suffered a broken kneecap when he blocked a shot on Oct. 25 against the visiting Calgary Hitmen. He finished that game and played again on Oct. 28 against the Red Deer Rebels. But he hasn’t played since then. . . . He wants to get back in the lineup, too, because he wants to get some games in before leaving Dec. 17 to join the German team that will play in the World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Austin Gray, a 17-year-old from Prince George. Gray is playing for the Prince George-based Cariboo Cougars of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. The Cougars' captain, he has a league-leading 37 points, including 20 goals, in 19 games with the first-place club. It is anticipated that he will finish the season with the Cougars. . . .
Following a 5-2 loss to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders last night, the Prince George Cougars announced two roster moves. . . . They have signed D Kirk Bear, 19, and added him to their 50-player protected list. . . . They also released Slovakian D Martin Bobos, 19. . . . Bear is pointless in four games; Bobos had one assist in 15 games, after earning seven assists in 67 games last season. . . . The Cougars are carrying 25 players, including 16 forwards and seven defencemen. . . . They are scheduled to meet the Rockets in Kelowna on Friday.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

In Regina, F Pavel Padakin scored a Teddy Bear goal for the third straight season and the Pats went on to a 4-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Each of the previous two seasons, Padakin scored the Teddy Bear goal in a Calgary Hitmen uniform. He was acquired by the Pats on Sept. 23 and got the goal at 11:21 of the second period. It was his eighth goal this season. . . . F Sam Steel scored twice for the Pats, including an empty-netter. He’s got seven goals. . . . F Peter Quenneville scored both Brandon goals, giving him seven. . . . F Rykr Cole, the pride of Moosomin, Sask., scored his second goal, giving the Pats a 3-1 lead at 6:46 of the third. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny, in his eighth straight start, stopped 37 shots. . . . Regina G Daniel Wapple turned aside 26 shots in posting his eighth straight victory. . . . Brandon F Tim McGauley had a five-game goal streak end. . . . The Wheat Kings were without F Rihards Bukarts for a third straight game, while D Kale Clague remains out with an injury incurred at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. . . . Brandon D Mark Matsuba left in the first period after taking a hit from Regina F Dryden Hunt. . . . The Pats (17-10-1) have won four in a row; they are 9-2-0 in their last 11. . . . The Wheat Kings (21-6-2) had been 4-0-1 in their previous five. . . . Brandon is 7-3-1 over its last 11. . . . In the East Division, Brandon leads second-place Regina by nine points. . . . The Pats and Wheat Kings meet again Friday, this time in Brandon. . . .

In Prince George, D Josh Morrissey scored a goal and added two assists to help the Prince Albert Raiders to a 5-2 victory over the Cougars. . . . It was the opening game of the Raiders’ B.C. Division tour that continues Friday in Kamloops. . . . Former Cougars F Jordan Tkatch broke a 1-1 tie with his sixth goal at 10:44 of the second period and F Gage Quinney, with his fifth, made it 3-1 at 19:06. . . . Raiders F Reid Gardiner added insurance with his 15th at 9:30, before Morrissey scored his seventh into an empty net at 18:50. . . . That was Morrissey’s 60th regular-season goal, tying the franchise record that was held by Emanuel Viveiros (1982-86). . . . F David Soltes had a goal, his ninth, and an assist for the Cougars. He has six PP goals. . . . Prince George had F Chase Witala (leg) and D Marc McNulty (undisclosed) back in the lineup. McNulty had missed nine games, while Witala watched for two. . . . The Raiders, who are 7-5-0 under head coach Marc Habscheid, improved to 14-14-0, while the Cougars slipped to 13-15-0. . . .

In Kelowna, F Rourke Chartier, the WHL’s leading sniper, scored twice as the Rockets dumped the Saskatoon Blades, 5-1. . . . The Rockets scored the game’s last five goals. . . . Chartier, who is from Saskatoon, has 31 goals. . . . F Nick Merkley had a goal, his ninth, and two assists for Kelowna, while D Madison Bowey drew three assists and D Riley Stadel had two. . . . Chartier also leads the WHL in points (50), one more than Merkley, who is No. 1 in assists (49). . . . In one of the more bizarre moments of this season, the starting goaltenders -- Nik Amundrud of the Blades and Jake Morrissey of the Rockets -- got into a third-period fight at centre ice. They received the only fighting majors during that stoppage in play. The fight happened despite the fact that Amundrud’s backup, Trevor Martin, is fighting a flu bug, while the Rockets had two goaltenders, Jackson Whistle (ill) and Michael Hollinger (injured), unable to play. . . . In fact, the Rockets had an AP on the bench whose name wasn’t on the on-line scoresheet. . . . It turns out it was Sam Bobyn, who, according to Rockets play-by-play man Regan Bartel, became the first Kelowna-born goaltender to play for the Rockets. . . . Morrissey, in his first start on home ice, stopped 20 shots. Bobyn came on at 8:40 of the third, but didn’t face a shot. The Blades were outshot 9-0 in the third period, if the scoresheet is to be believed. . . . The Rockets improved to 23-3-3. . . . The Blades (7-20-2) have lost five in a row (0-4-1), including the first two games on their B.C. Division tour. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix is on the road with the Blades and has a game story right here. . . .

In Everett, F Nikita Scherbak scored twice and added an assist to lead the Silvertips to a 4-2 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Scherbak broke a 1-1 tie at 13:16 of the second period and added insurance with a PP goal at 17:00 of the third. He’s got 14 goals. . . . Everett D Kevin Davis had two assists. . . . F Adam Helewka scored his 14th goal for the Chiefs. . . . Everett F Ivan Nikolishin scored his eighth goal and added an assist. . . . Everett G Austin Lotz stopped 31 shots, 10 more than Spokane’s Tyson Verhelst. . . . Everett took two of the game’s three minor penalties. . . . Everett improved to 17-5-4, while the Chiefs, who have lost two straight, are 14-9-3.
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Beyond excited for my partnership with @DonnellyFord1 huge thanks for setting me up with this beauty! #customtrucks pic.twitter.com/WyFPRRy2CC
— Curtis Lazar (@CurtisLazar95) December 3, 2014

How a beer fridge got to Indonesia . . . Corbett in Oil Kings' record book

The City of Swift Current is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and the Broncos are helping out with the party. The WHL team will join in the celebrations on March 12 when the Saskatoon Blades visit. You can look for the Broncos in these nifty-looking sweaters that were designed by the talented Taylor Vause, a former Broncos player. . . . The above images were tweeted by Vause. The top illustration shows front and back views of the sweaters; the bottom illustration includes Vause's explanations.
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What is happening in Ukraine is the biggest story in our world today. David Remnick of The New Yorker has a look at the situation right here.
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No doubt you have seen the TV commercial in which two buddies deliver a fridge full of Molson Canadian to a friend in Indonesia. Well, Stu Cowan, the sports editor of the Montreal Gazette, has the story, meaning you should click right here and meet Morgan Girouard, who had no idea that two pals from Ottawa were on their way for a visit and that they were bringing gifts.
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Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong, written by Juliet Macur, a sports columnist with The New York Times, is due from HarperCollins this week. If you’re wondering about it, give this excerpt right here a read. It’s devastating.
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Dean Holden, who has coached in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Tri-City Americans, is the new head coach of the Korean women’s national team. Holden, 48, the first foreigner to hold that position, signed with the Korean Ice Hockey Association to guide the women’s team through the 2014 Division II Group A world championship in Italy and to review its programs in advance of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games for which it is the host country. . . . According to an IIHF news release, “Holden arrived in Korea on Wednesday and already started to lay out his road map for Korean women’s hockey development towards the 2018 Olympics on home ice in PyeongChang.” . . . Holden has extensive coaching experience at various levels, including three years as the women’s coach at the U of Calgary. . . . The 2014 IIHF women’s world championship Division II Group A is scheduled for Asiago, Italy, April 6-12.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Red Deer/Prince Albert (8)
Regina (2) vs. Brandon (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
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Western Conference
Kelowna (1) vs. Tri-City (8)
Portland (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
Victoria (3) vs. Everett (6)
Seattle (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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MONDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
No games scheduled.
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TUESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Calgary at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, D Cody Corbett set a pair of franchise records as the Oil Kings beat the Saskatoon Blades, 3-0. . . . Corbett, who had gone 17 games without a goal, scored the game’s first goal, a PP snipe at 0:56. It was his 16th goal and his 56th point, both single-season franchise records for a defenceman. Martin Gernat recorded 55 points in 2011-12, while Keegan Lowe had 15 goals last season. . . . G Tyler Santos stopped 20 shots for the third shutout of his freshman season. That’s not bad considering that he’s been in 11 games. . . . Edmonton F Mitch Moroz scored his 33rd goal but couldn’t beat Saskatoon G Troy Trombley on a second-period penalty shot. . . . Trombley finished with 38 saves. . . . The Oil Kings had lost their previous two home games. . . . Ch-ch-ching! There was a multi-fight situation at 19:35 of the third period. . . . Prior to the game, the Blades announced that D Jordan Thomson will stay with them through the end of the season. Thomson, the fourth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft, was acquired from the Kamloops Blazers in January and had been with the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings. It is likely that Thomson will return to Dauphin when the Blades’ season ends. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix tweeted that Blades GM Lorne Molleken “said no commitment from Thomson for next season, but added that all signs are positive.” . . . The Blades have shut down G Alex Moodie for the rest of the season with an undisclosed injury. Moodie, a Winnipegger who will turn 19 on March 16, played two games in January. He returned on Feb. 22, only to be injured again, this time ending his season. . . . The Oil Kings (45-16-3) and Calgary Hitmen (43-15-7) remain tied atop the Eastern Conference. However, Edmonton has more victories and one game in hand. . . . The Blades (16-45-5) have lost six in a row. . . .

In Swift Current, F Colby Cave and F Glenn Gawdin scored in the shootout as the Broncos beat the Brandon Wheat Kings, 4-3. . . . Neither Cave nor Gawdin scored in regulation time, but each took one minor penalty in a game in which only two were handed out. . . . F Andrew Johnson scored twice for the Broncos, giving him 10 this season. His second goal, at 19:18 of the second period, gave his guys a 3-2 lead. . . . Brandon F Jayce Hawryluk tied it with his second goal of the game -- he’s got 24 -- at 17:21 of the third. . . . F Tim McGauley scored his 20th goal giving Brandon a 2-1 lead at 13:32 of the second. The Wheat Kings now have six 20-goal scorers, tying with the Portland Winterhawks for the most in the WHL. . . . Broncos F Jay Merkley, with his 27th, tied it at 14:58 of the second. . . . Hawryluk has put together five straight multi-point games. In that stretch, he has 14 points, seven of them goals. . . . Bruce Luebke, the radio voice of the Wheat Kings, notes that Brandon has won only four of 13 games that have gone to OT or a shootout this season. . . . The Wheat Kings had won their pevious three games. . . . Among Brandon’s scratches was F Jens Meilleur, who didn’t finish Saturday’s 8-5 victory in Saskatoon. . . . The Broncos (33-24-9) are sixth in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Kootenay Ice and fouir ahead of Brandon (31-26-9). . . .

In Kent, Wash., F Matt Fonteyne broke a 1-1 tie at 18:35 of the second period and the Everett Silvertips went on to beat the host Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-1. . . . F Ivan Nikolishin scored his 16th goal, via the PP, at 15:03 of the first period for Everett. . . . Seattle F Jaimen Yakubowski tied it with his 10th at 5:43 of the second. . . . Everett F Carson Stadnyk iced it with his 19th goal, an empty-netter on a PP, at 19:21 of the third. . . . D Mirco Mueller had three assists for Everett. . . . G Austin Lotz stopped 24 shots for the Silvertips, while Taran Kozun turned aside 27 for Seattle. . . . Seattle had ended the Portland Winterhawks’ franchise-record 21-game winning streak the previous night. . . . With Seattle’s loss, the Winterhawks clinched their second straight U.S. Division title and their third in four seasons. Was it only 2009 when this franchise won 19 games? Was it only 2008 when this franchise won 11 games? . . . Everett F Zane Jones returned to the lineup after missing 18 games with an undisclosed injury. . . . Everett (33-23-9) is 5-0-1 in its last six and 7-2-1 in its last 10. That has it in sixth spot in the Western Conference, three points behind the Spokane Chiefs. Each team has seven games remaining. . . . Seattle (39-20-6) is fourth in the conference, 10 points behind Victoria and six ahead of Spokane.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Medicine Hat Tigers GM/head coach Shaun Clouston (@cluey15): “All the best to @clouston25 and @blazerhockey the rest of the way. Keep playing hard. It always pays back eventually. ALWAYS!!! #prouddad”
Kamloops D Connor Clouston (@clouston25) is Shaun’s son.
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From WHL Facts (@WHLFacts): “2x - On Jan. 31st, @WHLpats Colby Williams (@ColbyWilliams22) had 15 pts in his first 50 games... Since then, he has 15 pts in his last 14.”

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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
Kladno (Czech Republic, Extraliga) announced the signings of F Jan Dalecky (Swift Current, 2007-09) and F Jan Eberle (Seattle, 2006-08) to one-year contract extensions. . . . Dalecky had 18 goals and eight assists in 25 games for Kladno U20 (Czech Republic, U20 Extraliga), was pointless in five games on loan to Berounsti Medvedi (Czech Republic, 1.Liga), and had two assists in nine games on loan to Pisek (Czech Republic, 1.Liga). . . . Eberle had four goals and four assists in 35 games with Kladno and eight goals and nine assists in 20 games on loan to Pisek this season. . . .
D Kenton Smith (Calgary, 1995-2000) signed a one-year contract extension with the Cardiff Devils (Wales, UK Elite). He had 12 goals and 32 assists in 62 games for the Devils this season. Smith was named the winner of the Devils' Coaches' Player of the Year award this season. . . .
D Doug Lynch (Red Deer, Spokane, 1998-2003) signed a one-year contract with Frölunda Gothenburg (Sweden, Elitserien). He had 16 goals and 18 assists in 48 games for Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) this season.
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Taylor Vause, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Swift Current Broncos this season, is a talented young man. Highly skilled with graphics and a computer, he designs hockey-themed movie posters as a hobby. On Friday night, he posted one in tribute to the late Derek Boogaard.
It is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Ryan Parent is the new director of hockey operations and head coach of the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. He had been coaching the major midget prep team at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. In 2010-11, he was an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks. . . . In Lloydminster, he replaces Brian Curran, who left for a five-year contract as GM and head coach with the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons. . . .
Clarke Singer, the head coach of the U of Western Mustangs, who play out of London, Ont., will take a one-year sabbatical so will miss next season. Pat Powers, an assistant coach with the Mustangs, will serve as the interim head coach in Singer’s absence. . . .
There is ample speculation out there involving who will be the next head coach of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, who announced Thursday that they weren’t renewing the contract of Brent Sutter. . . . Mike Brophy of Sportsnet has said a “Calgary source” told him that Dallas Eakins, the head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, will get a serious look. Brophy also wrote that “other candidates being mentioned for the Flames' job include Troy Ward, head coach with Calgary's farm team, former Bruins coach Mike Sullivan, ex-Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, Bob Boughner and Bob Hartley.” . . . Roger Millions, who covers the Flames for Sportstnet, tossed out the name of Mike Johnston, the GM/head coach of the Portland Winterhawks. Johnston has NHL experience as an assistant coach under head coach Marc Crawford with the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings.
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In the AHL, the Norfolk Admirals ran their amazing winning streak to 26 games with a 5-1 victory over the host Albany Devils. D Keith Aulie, who played in Brandon, had two assists and was plus-3, while F Tyler Johnson (Spokane) had an assist and was plus-2. . . . G Dustin Tokarski (Spokane) was on the bench in a backup role.
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The Humboldt Broncos won their fourth SJHL title in six years on Friday, beating the Red Wings 6-0 in Weyburn to take the best-of-seven final in six games. . . . Dean Brockman, the Broncos’ general manager and head coach, has been there for all four titles; the others came in 2007, 2008 and 2009. . . . The Broncos will meet the MJHL-champion Portage Terriers in the Anavet Cup series. But the Broncos are the host team for the RBC Cup — the national junior A championship tournament — so the Terriers are automatically in, too.
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Followers of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting have this little-known tradition of throwing walleye — some may know them as pickerel — on the ice after their favourite team’s first goal of a game. . . . No more. . . . The OHL has lowered the boom, as Neate Sager of Buzzing The Net relates right here. . . . I will say that a dead walleye belongs in a frying pan, not on a sheet of ice in an arena. . . . Hey, do fans of the Flin Flon Bombers still toss moose hooves onto the ice?
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Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald reports that the Moose Jaw Warriors may get all three of their injured players back for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. That series opens in Edmonton against the Oil Kings on Friday. . . . The Warriors have said that D Morgan Rielly (knee) is expected to play in the opener. . . . Gourlie writes that F Jordan Wyton and F Torrin White also might be ready. . . . Wyton suffered a broken hand during a March 13 practice. . . . White has been out since going knee-to-knee with Medicine Hat Tigers F Emerson Etem in Game 1 of their conference semifinal series. Etem drew a one-game suspension for the hit.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Kamloops Blazers F Jordan DePape (@papskos17): “Well, its already been 7 years today living strong and healthy with type 1 diabetes, almost 15,000 needles later! Time sure flys! #strength)
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FRIDAY’S GAME:
In Spokane, F Dominik Uher scored at 6:28 of OT to give the Chiefs a 3-2 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 in Kennewick, Wash., tonight. . . . They’ll play Game 6 in Spokane on Monday. . . . Uher beat Tri-City G Ty Rimmer on the shortside with a backhand shot from the right circle. . . . This was the fourth one-goal game of the series and the second decided in OT. . . . It was the 10th time in the last 17 playoff meetings between these teams that they needed OT to settle the issue. So if you’re going to tonight’s game, you should tell the babysitter that you’ll be late. . . . Spokane F Dylan Walchuk took off on a breakaway — Tri-City D Zach Yuen fell in the neutral zone — and hit a post with 1:40 left in the third period. . . . The Chiefs got first-period goals from F Colin Valcourt and F Mitch Holmberg. . . . Holmberg got his ninth of these playoffs on the PP. . . . The Americans tied it in the second, on goals by D Derek Ryckman and F Adam Hughesman, the latter scoring on the PP. . . . Spokane G Eric Williams stopped 33 shots, one fewer than Rimmer. . . . Tri-City F Brendan Shinnimin was held off the scoresheet, ending his point streak at 30 games. The last time he went without a point was in a Jan. 29 game in Calgary. He put up 72 points, including 34 goals, in those 30 games.

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THE PRO GAME:
F Matej Stransky of the Saskatoon Blades has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. He was a sixth-round selection in the NHL’s 2011 draft. Stransky, who is from Ostraa, Czech Republic, had 81 points, including 39 goals, this season, his second in the WHL.
F Marek Tvrdon of the Vancouver Giants is joining the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Tvrdon, from Nitra, Slovakia, was a fourth-round pick by the Red Wings in the 2011 NHL draft. He led all WHL freshmen in points (74) this season.
F Jordan Weal of the Regina Pats is off to the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs, while D Colton Jobke will finish up with the AHL’s Houston Aeros and D Martin Marincin with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Blazers. . . . Weal was a third-round selection by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2010 NHL draft. . . . Jobke has signed a free-agent deal with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. . . . The Edmonton Oilers took Marincin in the second round of the 2010 NHL draft.
F Taylor Vause, who had such a wonderful season with the Swift Current Broncos, has had his season ended by a broken foot. Vause, 20, signed an ATO with the AHL’s Texas Stars and was playing with them when he broke a foot. He finished with one goal in four games with the Stars.
F Max Reinhart and D Joey Leach of the Kootenay Ice have joined the Abbotsford Heat, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . Both were third-round selections by the Flames in the 2010 NHL draft.
D Matthew Konan of the Medicine Hat Tigers has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. Konan, 20, is from Tustin, Calif., and is finishing up his fifth season with the Tigers. This season, he had 54 points, 45 of them assists, and 73 penalty minutes in 72 games. He was an NHL free agent.
G Brandon Glover of the Calgary Hitmen has joined the Abbotsford Heat, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. Glover, 19, is an undrafted free agent.
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The Kamloops Blazers have added D Jordan Thomson, 15, and F Brayden Gelsinger, 16, to their roster through the end of the playoffs. . . . Thomson, the fourth overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft, had 29 points in 35 games with the midget AAA Southwest Cougars, who are based in Souris, Man. . . . Gelsinger, a list player, had 42 points, 22 of them goals, in 41 games with the midget AAA Tisdale, Sask., Trojans.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Will Verner has resigned as general manager and head coach of the junior B Fernie Ghostriders of the Kootenay International junior league. Verner spent the last five seasons in the position.
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More than a year has gone by since the NHL mandated that a player suspected of having a concussion be taken from the bench area and spend at least 15 minutes being evaluated away from the noise of the game. So, Mark Spector of Sportsnet wonders: What happened to The Quiet Room? That piece is right here.
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The Canadian women’ water polo team would appear to have an excellent opportunity to win a medal at the Olympic Games in London this summer. Except for one problem – concussions. Randy Starkman of the Toronto Star has that story right here.
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Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail writes right here about a discussion that took place in Peterborough, Ont., last week. It had to do with concussions in hockey and there are some interesting stories here, most of which involve overzealous parents.
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Anne McIlroy of The Globe and Mail has a story right here on the impact of concussions on one particular minor hockey team. There are 17 players on the roster. Guess how many ended up concussed?
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If you’re looking for a good read, check out Elliotte Friedman’s weekly column. It’s right here.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Gerad Adams (Regina, Kelowna, 1995-99) signed a two-year contract extension as player and head coach for the Cardiff Devils (Wales, UK Elite). He had eight goals and nine assists in 56 games this season, his seventh in Cardiff.
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If you scoot on over to DubNation — there’s a link over there on the right — you will find the latest production from the computer of Doyle Potenteau. It’s the March edition and it’s full of WHL-related news, feature stories and photographs. . . . D Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips is profiled. There’s a look back at Ray Ferraro . . . and a whole lot more. . . . Enjoy!
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SOME PRO NEWS: F Garett Bembridge (Saskatoon, 1997-2001) has signed with the Central league’s Wichita Thunder. He had been playing for Valpellice in Italy, totalling 28 points in 36 games. . . . F Taylor Vause, who signed with the AHL’s Texas Stars after completing his junior eligibility this season with the Swift Current Broncos, scored his first pro goal on Sunday in a 4-2 victory over the host Toronto Marlies. Vause was playing his third AHL game. . . . Also on Sunday, G Jon Groenheyde, who also finished his junior career with Swift Current, picked up his first pro victory. Groenheyde stopped 23 shots as the host Allen Americans downed the Wichita Thunder 3-1 in a Central league game. That was Groenheyde’s second start; he gave up two goals on 27 shots the first time out. He is one of three goaltenders on the roster, including Rejean Beauchemin (Prince Albert, 2002-05).
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Prior to the start of the just-completed regular season, the WHL announced it was implementing a social media policy.
After its annual general meeting in June, the league announced: “The WHL has adopted a Social Media and Networking Policy designed to educate players and all members of the WHL community on the risks associated with this new medium. The policy contains guidelines for using social media in a responsible manner and areas which would constitute a League violation.”
Now I haven’t seen a copy of that policy but I’m thinking it was violated at some point after Saturday’s playoff action.
I didn’t see it but I am told that a player who shall go unnamed tweeted this:
“Never seen such bullshit refing in my life. #conspiracy #anythingfortricity what a f'en joke”
Except that he didn’t write ‘f’en’, preferring to spell it out in case there was any doubt.
Apparently, the tweet was deleted about an hour after it first showed up.
Could be an interesting test for the WHL’s social media policy, whatever it is.
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On behalf of my media brethren, a reminder to all WHL teams . . .
According to the WHL’s Media Services Policy, “Players coaches and other team personnel will be available upon request for media interviews up to 90 minutes before game time.”
That rule stands for regular-season games and for playoff games.
I offer this reminder after being informed Saturday by a veteran coach that he wasn’t aware of that rule.
It is on Page 26 of the WHL’s 2011-12 Guide.
---
DEPT. OF DISCIPLINE: D Darren Dietz of the Saskatoon Blades is under a ‘tbd’ suspension for a slashing major and game misconduct in Game 1 against the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Friday. The victim was Tigers F Emerson Etem. Dietz didn’t play in Game 2 on Saturday. . . . The Regina Pats requested supplemental discipline for a hit by Moose Jaw F Cody Beach in Game 1 against the host Warriors. The WHL office didn’t grant the request, so the Pats are $500 lighter. . . . There are a few other players awaiting word on discipline. . . . Kelowna F Brett Bulmer took a kneeing major and game misconduct in Game 2 of the Rockets series with the Winterhawks in Portland on Saturday. . . . Everett had two players ejected from a 3-1 loss to the host Tri-City Americans in Game 2. F Ryan Harrison drew an interference major and game misconduct, while F Cody Fowlie got tossed with a checking-from-behind major. . . . As well, Portland F Oliver Gabriel drew a game misconduct in Game 2 after taking a minor penalty. I don’t know that whatever he did was a suspendable offence, however.
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To date, there have been 17 playoff games played. During those games, WHL referees have handed out 36 misconduct penalties, along with six game misconducts and 10 majors, six of which were for fighting.
Yes, sirree! In 17 games there have been three fights. In total. That’s all.
During the 792-game regular season, there were 790 fights, or an average of one scrap before game. (Thanks to hockeyfights.com for compiling those numbers.)
A few weeks ago, WHL commissioner Ron Robison was talking about how fighting was down in the league. Well, he was right. The number of fights per game fell by .08.
Last season, there were 857 fights, an average of 1.08 per game.
In last season’s playoffs, teams combined to play 70 games. There were 24 fights, an average of 0.34 per game.
Please tell me again why fighting is such an integral part of the game?
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, D Keegan Lowe’s goal at 16:48 of the third period broke a 3-3 tie and gave the Oil Kings a 4-3 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Oil Kings, who had the WHL’s best record in the regular season, take a 2-0 lead into Cranbrook for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday. . . . Edmonton has won its last 13 games. . . . Edmonton G Laurent Brossoit, who stopped 22 shots, preserved the tie with a big save off F Sam Reinhart with 38 seconds left in the third. . . . Lowe’s goal was his first of the series and his second in six career playoff games. He had three goals in 72 games during the regular season and has seven in 212 career regular-season games. . . . Ice G Nathan Lieuwen turned aside 41 shots. . . . The Ice got the game’s first goal, with F Drew Czerwonka scoring a minute into the first period. . . . The teams alternated goals after that, with the Ice leading 2-1 after one period and 3-2 after two. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar, the second overall selection in the 2010 bantam draft, tied the game with his second goal in two games at 15:05 of the third. . . . Lowe won it 1:43 later. . . . Edmonton was 2-7 on the PP; the Ice was 0-4. . . . The Oil Kings were without F Henrik Samuelsson, who completed a two-game suspension for a clipping major he incurred in the regular season’s final game. . . .
Columnist John MacKinnon the Edmonton Journal took in Game 2 and filed this piece.

In Winnipeg, Brandon F Michael Ferland broke a 1-1 tie at 8:01 of the second period and the Wheat Kings went on to a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Wheat Kings hold a 2-1 lead in the series with Games 4 and 5 in Winnipeg on Tuesday and Thursday nights. . . . The Wheat Kings are 11-4-0 in games played at the MTS Centre, including 4-3 in playoff games. . . . The Wheat Kings are playing their home games at the MTS Centre because the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is in Westman Place in Brandon. . . . Brandon D Eric Roy scored perhaps the game’s biggest goal, giving his side a 3-1 lead at 19:41 of the third period. . . . Brandon F Kevin Sundher made it 4-1 at 4:56 of the third. That was Sundher’s first goal of the playoffs and his first goal since Feb. 10. Two games later, he suffered a concussion, then tried to come back on March 2, wasn’t able to continue and didn’t play again until Game 1 of this series. Sundher also had an assist and was named the game’s first star. . . . If he’s healthy, Sundher, who turned 20 on Jan. 18, can be a difference-maker. . . . Brandon G Corbin Boes stopped 26 shots, 12 fewer than Calgary’s Brandon Glover, who started his second straight game after Chris Driedger played in the opener. . . . Brandon was 1-5 on the PP; Calgary was 0-1. . . . Attendance in the home of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets was announced as 3,578. . . . F Cody Sylvester, Calgary’s captain, missed the first two games with an undisclosed injury. He travelled to Winnipeg but didn’t play in Game 3. . . . Calgary F Victor Rask (leg) didn’t make the bus trip to Winnipeg but still could join the team there this week.
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SUNDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Max Reinhart, Kootenay.
F Brock Montgomery, Kootenay.
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SUNDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None.
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There aren’t any WHL games scheduled for tonight. Seven series will resume on Tuesday.
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Lem Barney is in the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and yet if he had it to do all over again he wouldn’t play football. Why? Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes about Barney and his concussion history right here.
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In the Boston Globe’s weekly hockey notebook, Fluto Shinzawa looks at the NHL and the impact of new statistics and data. Give it a read and you will realize that hockey is unlikely to ever go the way of baseball when it comes to that area of the game.


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It was open season on the WHL’s referees on two separate occasions not that long ago on a radio station that is headquartered in a city that is home to a WHL franchise.
It all began when the team’s general manager appeared on a postgame show and was, shall we say, a wee bit critical of the officiating.
This GM mostly was concerned about what he repeatedly referred to as “inconsistencies.”
“It gets to a point where enough is enough,” he said following the game. “We certainly will call the league, if they don’t call me first. . . . Enough is enough. When is it going to stop?”
The GM was adamant that team officials want the referees to “call it for both teams . . . up straight and honest.”
“We haven’t bitched and complained all year long,” he continued, “but . . . the noncalls . . . a call (was made) on (one of our players) and seconds earlier the same call could have been made on (one of the other team’s players). All we want to see is consistency. Start from the very first whistle and make sure it happens for 60 minutes.”
Referring to that particular game, the GM said, the referees did a “fantastic job” for the first two periods. “They let us play. All of a sudden . . . (one of our guys) takes a penalty that wasn’t called for 40 minutes.
“It’s frustrating for players and coaches. . . . It certainly has to be messaged out.”
The radio station’s postgame show originates in a lounge with fans in attendance. The GM’s observations were greeted by a rousing ovation.
Three nights later, the GM’s complaints were aired again on the same radio station.
The GM mustn’t have heard from the WHL office because his name has yet to appear on the discipline page on the WHL website.
Which only can mean that the WHL doesn’t have ears everywhere.
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THE MATCHUPS
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Moose Jaw (2) vs. Regina (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Brandon (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Saskatoon (5)
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Western Conference
Tri-City (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kamloops (2) vs. Victoria (7)
Portland (3) vs. Kelowna (6)
Vancouver (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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So . . . you’re wondering which first-round series Shaw TV is going to show. . . . I haven’t been able to find a release or anything making that announcement but have been told the first two games of the series between the Kamloops Blazers and Victoria Royals will be shown. . . . Games 1 and 2 are scheduled for Kamloops on Friday and Saturday nights. Game time both nights from the Interior Savings Centre will be 7 o’clock.
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F Taylor Vause, the captain of the Swift Current Broncos, joined the AHL’s Texas Stars in time to play in their game against the visiting Abbotsford Heat last night. Wearing No. 19, he was pointless with one shot on goal as the Stars dropped a 5-2 decision. . . . The Stars are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars. . . . Vause, 20, had 83 points in 72 games in his final season with the Broncos.
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DEPT. OF JUSTICE: F Henrik Samuelsson will sit out the Edmonton Oil Kings’ first two playoff games. He drew a two-game suspension for a clipping major and game misconduct he incurred on Saturday in Red Deer. . . . F Campbell Elynuik of the Prince George Cougars was hit with a three-game suspension after taking a cross-checking major and game misconduct in Kamloops on Friday. Elynuik sat out Saturday’s regular-season finale, so won’t be eligible to play again until the third game of next season.
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G Damien Ketlo of the Lethbridge Hurricanes completed his WHL eligibility with the end of the season and now is joining the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. . . . He went 20-24, 3.60, .902 this season.
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D Cody Carlson, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Prince George Cougars, will be joining the Central league’s Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. He had 39 points in 72 games this season.
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The Edmonton Oilers have signed G Tyler Bunz of the Medicine Hat Tigers to a three-year NHL contract. Bunz, who turned 20 on Feb. 11, was a fifth-round selection in the 2010 NHL draft.
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G Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds will be joining the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters this week. He was a second-round selection by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL’s 2010 draft. The Monsters are the Avs’ AHL affiliate.
Pickard has a lot of fans in U.S. Division cities and beyond. Here’s a note from a fan who was at Sunday’s game in Portland where the Thunderbirds, with Pickard in net, absorbed an 8-2 loss:
“With around five minutes to go in Portland (on Sunday), losing 8-2, (goaltender Brendan) Burke for Portland at the other end made a series of huge saves.
As play was stopped, Calvin slapped his stick on the ice a couple of times and held it up high towards the opposing goaltender.”
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Those rumours about the OHL’s Erie Otters moving to Hamilton? Forget them. The Otters have signed a two-year lease to stay at Tullio Arena.
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With the Brandon Wheat Kings having to play their first-round home games in Winnipeg, you’re wondering if the WHL would be a good fit there. Kelly McCrimmon, the owner of the Wheat Kings, thinks the answer is yes. Kirk Penton of the Winnipeg Sun has more right here.
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Erik Brady of USA TODAY has a story right here on some goofy parents. It is parents like these who give them all a bad name.
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Joe Fitzgerald of the Boston Herald has more on goofy parents. That column is right here.
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Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes right here about his friend Furman Bisher, a legendary sports columnist who died on the weekend. Bisher knew Ty Cobb and interviewed ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson.
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And if you’re looking for a chuckle, check out this piece right here from Matthew Hansen of the Omaha World-Herald. It’s about an 11-year-old who got in a spot of trouble when he organized an NCAA basketball pool at his school.


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The big news on Monday, of course, was the resignation of Paul Kelly as the executive director of College Hockey Inc.
Kelly’s resignation seems to have caught most everyone by surprise.
Todd Milewski, the executive editor of USCHO News (uscho.com), reported that “Kelly was given a choice Monday to resign or be fired as executive director of College Hockey Inc., sources said, and he chose the former.”
No one is talking, at least not yet, but in a text to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN and TSN, Kelly wrote: “Time to move on. I told them I’d give them 2-3 years to get the entity established and operational. It’s been 28 months and it’s time for a new challenge.”
I don’t pretend to have any idea what happened but have to wonder if Kelly perhaps came to the conclusion that without NCAA rule changes he was beating a dead horse.
The situation that is the recruiting battle between the NCAA and CHL will go on forever exactly as it is if the NCAA doesn’t loosen its eligibility regulations. And that isn’t going to happen any time soon. That’s because the NCAA makes rules that govern all of its sports, from football to basketball to hockey to golf to tennis et al. It isn’t about to begin designing special rules for a specific sport.
It was North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol who earlier this month told Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald that “we are going into a back-alley brawl. They are bringing guns. We’re coming with no weapon and one hand tied behind our back.”
Perhaps Kelly got tired of playing the role of a one-armed man wrestling with a bear.
Milewski’s complete story is right here.
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JUST NOTES:
Further to yesterday’s note about the epidemic of WHL injuries. . . . Last weekend, the Prince George Cougars played without an AP in their lineup for the first time in a month. At one point they were missing 10 regulars with injuries, a number that now is at six. . . .
D Austin Madaisky of the Kamloops Blazers will sit for two games after being suspended by the WHL for a cross-checking major he incurred in a 5-4 loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Saturday. Madaisky was penalized for a hit on F Alex Gogolev; the Hitmen scored twice on the resulting PP. . . . Madaisky will miss a Wednesday visit by the Victoria Royals and a game in Vancouver against the Giants on Friday.
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MONDAY’S GAMES:
In Swift Current, F Brad Hoban scored the only goal of the circus and the Broncos beat the Moose Jaw Warriors, 5-4. . . . The Broncos got the game’s first goal, with Hoban scoring his 15th goal on a PP at 7:13 of the first. They then exchanged goals until Moose Jaw F Quinton Howden tied it at 4 with his 28th goal at 7:52 of the third. . . . Swift Current freshman F Coda Gordon got his 28th goal and his seventh in four games. Gordon and Kamloops Blazers F Tim Bozon lead all WHL freshmen in goals. . . . Broncos captain Taylor Vause had a goal, his 34th, and two assists. . . . Howden also had two assists for the Warriors, while F Kenton Miller added two goals, giving him 28, and a helper. . . . The Broncos were 3-7 on the PP; the Warriors were 0-4. . . . The Broncos, with two straight victories, are 15 points out of a playoff spot with 11 games remaining. . . . The Warriors lead the East Division by 10 points over the Saskatoon Blades. . . .

In Edmonton, the Oil Kings erased a 3-0 first-period deficit and scored a 5-4 shootout victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . F Tyler Maxwell and F Martin Gernat scored in the circus for the Oil Kings to end it. . . . F Dylan Wruck’s 20th goal pulled Edmonton into a tie at 19:23 of the third. . . . F Emerson Etem had given the Tigers a 4-3 lead with his 52nd goal at 17:19. . . . Edmonton D Mark Pysyk had a goal, his fifth, and two assists. . . . Tigers D James Bettauer had a goal, his 19th, and two assists. . . . F Curtis Valk had a goal and an assist in his return from injury, but the Tigers were still without G Tyler Bunz, F Hunter Shinkaruk and D Kale Kessy. . . . Tigers G Kenny Cameron stopped 36 shots. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry came on in relief of Laurent Brossoit with his side down 3-0 and stopped 16 of 17. . . . The Oil Kings closed to within one point of the Kamloops Blazers, who lead the WHL’s overall standings and stretched their Central Division lead to eight points over the Tigers. . . . Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun was in attendance and, judging by this column, he liked what he saw. . . .

In Portland, F Ty Rattie got his 50th goal and 100th point on the same play as the Winterhawks beat the Prince George Cougars, 7-2. . . . Rattie finished with two goals and an assist, and now is one point off the WHL scoring lead that is held by F Mark Stone of the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Rattie is the first Portland skater with 50 goals since F Josef Balej had 51 in 2001-02 and the first with 100 points since F Todd Robinson finished with 109 in 1997-98. . . . Portland F Sven Baertschi scored twice, giving him 25. He also continued his pace of two points per game, as he now has 80 in 40. . . . Portland F Oliver Gabriel had two assists as he ran his point streak to 11 games. . . . Baertschi is on a 10-game tear. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth picked up his WHL-leading 37th victory. . . . The Cougars and Winterhawks meet again tonight in Portland. . . . The victory lifted Portland, which has won seven straight games, into first place in the U.S. Division, two points ahead of the Tri-City Americans, and to within a point of the Kamloops Blazers, who lead the Western Conference and the overall standings. . . . The Cougars remain 10th in the conference but are just two points out of a playoff spot.
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MONDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
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MONDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Jordan Wyton, Moose Jaw.
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Today’s good read is a good read every week. It’s from Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada and it’s right here.
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You absolutely don't want to miss this. . . . Preacher accuses Buzz Aldrin of being a liar and not having landed on the moon. Aldrin lands moonshot on preacher’s chin. It’s right here. . . . Had a WHL referee been present he would have given Aldrin two for instigating, five for fighting and a misconduct. Preacher gets two for roughing.
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AHH, TWITTER:
A tweet was sent out last night from @GMilIerTSN: “EDM F Ales Hemsky has been traded to NSH for D-man Ryan Ellis + 2012 1st (Conditional) more details to come.”
It turned out to be fake.
So be careful what you read/believe over the next six days.
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Meanwhile, Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail takes a look at the week ahead right here.


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Garry Davidson, the new general manager of the Everett Silvertips.
(Everett Silvertips photo)

ASK THE COMMISSIONER:
Right off the WHL’s Facebook page comes this question from Doug Schneider: “What really happened with the Chilliwack franchise?”
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Darryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract extension with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). He has six goals and 14 assists in 44 games for the Panther this season.
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There has been an interesting development in the WHL’s decision not to admit to players being sidelined with concussions or post-concussion syndrome.
The Kelowna Rockets are admitting that F Colton Sissons, their captain, has a concussion. In discussing his club’s injuries prior to last night’s game against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings, Kelowna head coach Ryan Huska told Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier:
“Potentially, we might have Cody Chikie back, but Colton is out with a concussion. The frustrating part of it is the league is fully aware of Colton having a concussion and yet the player in Kamloops is still playing, so there’s no suspension.
“They talk about head shots and wanting to clean it up, but there we go with another situation.”
Apparently, Sissons was injured in the third period of a 3-2 loss to the visiting Blazers on Saturday.
What is interesting about this is that Bruce Hamilton, the Rockets’ owner, president and governor, is the chairman of the WHL’s board of governors. He will have played a role in the WHL’s decision prior to this season to clam up about concussions.
Which makes one wonder why the Rockets now are admitting that their captain is out with a concussion?
Sissons didn’t play Tuesday in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Wash. Potenteau reports that Sissons will be out for “one month-plus.”
Sissons was one of seven regulars out of the lineup on Tuesday. He joined D Mitchell Chapman (undisclosed), Filip Vasko (knee), Chikie (undisclosed), F Spencer Main (concussion), F Jessey Astles (undisclosed) and Brett Lyon (WHL suspension). Astles also is believed to have a concussion. Chikie played last night against Edmonton.
Potenteau reported that “according to Kelowna, it leads the league in lost man-games, having hit 300 on Tuesday night.”
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As expected, the Everett Silvertips introduced Garry Davidson as the second general manager in the franchise’s history on Wednesday.
Davidson, 60, had been the Portland Winterhawks’ director of player personnel, having signed on there before the 2008-09 season following the purchase of the franchise by Bill Gallacher. Davidson and Mike Johnston, the GM and head coach of the Winterhawks, are products of Brandon University’s now-defunct hockey program.
It will be interesting to watch Davidson, who is an astute judge of young talent, operate as a general manager in WHL circles. After all, WHL folks don’t think very highly of him, thanks to his many seasons in the BCHL where he proved to be a consistent recruiter of talent against the WHL. In fact, there are a number of WHL people who shake their heads and wonder how it is that he is even working in their league.
Davidson’s philosophy? Here’s what he told a news conference in Everett yesterday: “We're going to put together a team with lots of speed and lots of skill and one that plays an uptempo game. I think it's fan appealing and I think it's a way you can win hockey games.”
A three-time, BCHL coach of the year, Davidson was the owner, GM and head coach of the Salmon Arm SilverBacks. He also worked as GM/head coach in Nanaimo, Penticton, Trail and Victoria.
Having known Davidson since the early 1970s when the likes of him and Andy Murray (the hockey coach, not the tennis player) were hockey/football players at Brandon University, I would recommend that other WHL general managers not under-estimate him. If they do, he will pick their bones clean.
The Silvertips didn’t announce the length of Davidson’s contract, only that it is “multi-year.” I would bet on five years, which seems to be the going thing these days.
The connection between the Silvertips and Davidson is Gary Gelinas, the franchise’s president and governor. They both were owners in the BCHL at the same time.
Davidson takes over from Doug Soetaert, who was in the last season of his contract when he was fired on Feb. 2. It is interesting that Gelinas told a news conference in Everett on Wednesday that he had targeted Davidson before having fired Soetaert.
Gelinas also implied that head coach Mark Ferner, who is in his first season with the Silvertips, won’t be going anywhere. Gelinas said one of the requirements in hiring Davidson was that he had to accept Ferner as the head coach.
The Garry Davidson era started yesterday but on the ice it gets underway on Friday when the Silvertips play host to — you guessed it! — the Winterhawks.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Dominic Turgeon, the son of former NHLer Pierre Turgeon.
Dominic was a third-round selection, 64th overall, in the 2011 bantam draft.
This season, Turgeon, who is said to be a superb skater, is with the U16 AAA Colorado Thunderbirds, who play in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. In 35 games, he has put up 37 points, including 23 goals.
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Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reports that the Regina Pats have had two bantam draft picks opt to go the NCAA route, both of them with Ivy League schools. . . . D Alec McCrea, a 10th-round pick in the 2010 draft, is playing with the NAHL’s Janesville Jets and has committed to Harvard. . . . D Nolan De Jong, who was taken in the seventh round in 2010, is with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. He has committed to Cornell.
As well, Harder reports, two of the Pats’ list players, both defencemen, also are planning on going to school.
Harder writes that those two skaters are “Brady Skjei, 17, a highly touted NHL prospect who’s planning to attend the University of Minnesota, and Rhett Holland, an 18-year-old with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers who has a scholarship offer from Michigan State.”
However, you can expect the Pats to be active in continuing to recruit those four players.
“Despite those commitments, it doesn’t necessarily mean the door to Regina is closed,” Harder writes. “The controversial exodus of NCAA players to the major-junior ranks has been well publicized, as is the NCAA’s desire to prevent CHL teams from raiding its talent.
“Right or wrong, the Pats would be foolish to not take advantage of the current system and step up their efforts to lure high-end American prospects, especially now that the team has more to offer as it builds momentum toward establishing a winning culture under the guidance of Lang and head coach Pat Conacher.
“In the past, those kind of players would elude Regina and fall in the laps of teams like the Vancouver Giants, Calgary Hitmen and Portland Winterhawks.
“Maybe now it’s the Pats’ turn.”
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It has been quite a couple of months for the Maschmeyer family of Bruderheim, Alta. . . . Bronson, 20, is a defenceman with the Kamloops Blazers. He is having the best season of his career as the team enjoys success the franchise hasn’t seen in more than 10 years. . . . Emerance, a 17-year-old goaltender with the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats, was the starter as Canada’s U-18 women’s team won the 2012 world championship in the Czech Republic early in January. . . . And now there is word that Brock, a 19-year-old defenceman with the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons, has committed to the Northern Michigan U Wildcats. This season, he has 42 points in 57 games with the Oil Barons. . . . Walt Kyle, who once did a turn as head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds, is the head coach at NMU.
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Catherine Litt of the Kamloops Daily News continues to search for the origin of the Go Vees Go cap that apparently was worn by waitresses at Warwick’s Commodore Café in Penticton back in the day.
Check right here for the latest on this story.
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Scott McDonald, the head coach of the women’s hockey team at the Rochester Institute of Technology, has pleaded not guilty to a third-degree assault charge after an incident in a rec hockey league game.
There is more on this situation right here.
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The Seattle Times is reporting that a news conference will be held in that city today to outline details of a potential new arena that could be home to NBA and NHL teams. It’s worth nothing that there isn’t a lot of NHL mention here, but you have to think it would be a natural. Anyway, that story is right here.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
Firstly, I don’t know what’s going on, but there were nine games played and in four of them a grand total of 11 minor penalties were called. . . . Red Deer at Prince George: Two referees handed out four minors. . . . Brandon at Lethbridge: Two referees called three minors. . . . Regina at Medicine Hat: One referee called three minors. . . . Calgary at Victoria: Two referees found only one infraction worthy of a minor penalty. . . . On Tuesday night, I watched two referees “let the boys play” as the Kamloops Blazers beat the Edmonton Oil Kings, 3-2. Edmonton head coach Derek Laxdal did a marvellous job of biting his tongue after his club didn’t get even one power-play opportunity. . . . Last night, the Oil Kings were 4-for-6 with the man advantage in beating the Rockets 6-3 in Kelowna. . . .

In Kelowna, the Edmonton Oil Kings fell behind 2-0 in the first period and then roared back to beat the Rockets, 6-3. . . . F Zach Franko gave Kelowna a 2-0 lead, scoring on a penalty shot at 18:02 and on the PP at 18:38. . . . The Oil Kings then scored six straight goals, five of them in the second period and three of those on the PP. . . . Leading 2-1, the Rockets had two goals disallowed. On the second one, Kelowna F Brett Bulmer was penalized for goaltender interference. The Oil Kings scored on the PP and they were off to the races. . . . F Tyler Maxwell tied it with two, giving him 34, before F Michael St. Croix, F Rhett Rachinski and D Keegan Lowe found the range. . . . Franko completed his hat trick on the PP at 7:46 of the third. . . . Six of the game’s goals came via the PP, as Edmonton, which was 0-0 in a 3-2 loss in Kamloops on Tuesday, went 4-5 and Kelowna was 2-6. . . . Edmonton D Martin Gernat drew three assists. . . . The Oil Kings now are back within three points of the Blazers, who lead the overall standings. . . . The Oil Kings lead the Eastern Confernce standings by five points over the Moose Jaw Warriors and hold a nine-point edge over the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Central Division. . . . The Rockets, who are winless in five, complete a stretch of four games in five nights when they are home to the Calgary Hitmen on Friday and the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday. . . .

In Moose Jaw, F Kenton Miller scored three times as the Warriors erased a 2-0 deficit and beat the Saskatoon Blades, 5-2. . . . Miller, 20, has 23 goals in 44 games with Moose Jaw after opening the season with three goals in 11 games with the Calgary Hitmen. His 26 goals are a career high. He had 32 points, including 12 goals, in 71 gams with the Spokane Chiefs in 2009-10. This season, in 55 games, he has 36 points. . . . F Cam Braes broke a 2-2 tie with his 33rd goal at 16:23 of the second. . . . Miller added insurance 47 seconds later and completed the hat trick at 14:18 of the third. . . . F Jesse Paradis, a former Warriors skater, opened the scoring with his 15th goal, and fourth shorthanded score, of the season for the Blades. . . . Saskatoon took 52 of 99 penalty minutes. There were five fighting majors handed out at 17:28 of the third period. . . . Might be ch-ch-ching time! . . . The Warriors now lead the East Division by nine points over the Blades. . . .

In Prince Albert, F Taylor Vause scored his 32nd goal of the season just 18 seconds into OT as the Swift Current Broncos beat the Raiders, 4-3. . . . The Broncos snapped a five-game losing streak. . . . Prince Albert forced OT with two third-period goals — F Mike Winther got his 28th goal at 7:11 and F Jesse Knowler got his first WHL score — it was his 45th game — at 16:18. . . . F Coda Gordon had two goals for the Broncos, giving the freshman sensation 23 scores. . . . Swift Current G Jon Groenheyde stopped 41 shots. . . . The Broncos are 15 points out of a playoff spot with 14 games to play. . . . The Raiders are 23 points out with 15 to play. . . .

In Lethbridge, F Brenden Walker scored the game’s first three goals and the Brandon Wheat Kings went on to a 4-2 victory over the Hurricanes. . . . Walker, who had three assists in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over the host Kootenay Ice, scored at 8:07 of the first and 0:21 and 11:21 of the second. . . . Brandon F Mark Stone had two assists. He leads the WHL scoring race with 94 points. . . . Brandon G Corbin Boes stopped 39 shots. . . . Due to injuries, Brandon was down to nine forwards and six defencemen for this one. F Jason Swyripa, who had played 136 consecutive games to begin his career, took the pregame warmup but then was scratched with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Wheat Kings now have won five of six and are eight points ahead of the ninth-place Red Deer Rebels in the Eastern Conference. . . . The Hurricanes are 18 points out of a playoff spot with 13 games left. . . .

At Medicine Hat, F Jordan Weal had a goal and an assist, leading the Regina Pats to a 3-1 victory over the Tigers. . . . Weal has 92 points, including 33 goals. He is two points off the WHL scoring lead. . . . Regina led 2-0 on goals from F Matt Marantz, his 11th, and D Martin Marincin, his eighth, midway through the second period. . . F Trevor Cox got the Tigers on the board at 14:31 of the second. . . . Weal wrapped it up with an empty-netter at 19:24 of the third. . . . Regina G Matt Hewitt stopped 31 shots. . . . The Tigers started Kenny Cameron in goal, giving Tyler Bunz a rest after 25 consecutive starts. Cameron made 25 saves. . . . Regina is seventh in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Calgary Hitmen and three ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Medicine Hat is third, four points ahead of the Kootenay Ice. . . .

In Prince George, D Cody Carlson broke a 1-1 tie at 9:50 of the third period as the Cougars beat the Red Deer Rebels, 3-1. . . . Carlson has eight goals. . . . F Troy Bourke scored his 10th goal, an empty-netter at 19:39 of the third. He also assisted on Carlson’s winner. . . . Prince George G Drew Owsley stopped 38 shots, 21 more than Red Deer’s Deven Dubyk. . . . With seven regulars out with injuries, the Rebels had F Scott Feser, D Kevin Pochuk and F Dexter Bricker, all recalls from midget AAA, in their lineup. . . . Feser player his eighth game of the season, Pochuk his fifth and Bricker his fourth. . . . Red Deer F Charles Inglis was pointless in his return to Prince George. The Cougars traded him to Red Deer after sending him home for being in violation of team rules. . . . The victory kept the Cougars in the playoff chase in the Western Conference. They are 10th, one point behind the Everett Silvertips and two behind the Victoria Royals, who hold down the last playoff spot. . . . The Cougars headed south right after the game. They have games in Victoria on Friday and Saturday. . . .

In Portland, G Mac Carruth won for the 35th time this season as the Winterhawks beat the Tri-City Americans, 5-3. . . . Carruth, who leads the WHL in W’s, now is tied with Brent Belecki (1997-98) for the franchise’s single-season record. . . . It also was Carruth’s 80th career win, one more than Belecki put up. Carruth now trails only Darrell May Sr., who earned 105 victories as a Portland goaltender. . . . At one point in the first period, the Winterhawks had a 15-1 edge in shots and were leading 2-0. . . . The period ended with the score tied 2-2 and the shots 25-7. . . . Portland F Marcel Noebels broke the 2-2 tie with his 14th goal at 5:06 of the second period and D Troy Rutkowski upped the lead to 4-2 at 14:28. . . . Portland F Brad Ross was credited with his 100th career goal when Tri-City D Zach Yuen scored an own goal, tipping a cross-ice Ross pass behind G Ty Rimmer. . . . Ross joins Perry Turnbull and Brendan Morrow in the Winterhawks’ 100-200-600 club. That would be 100 goals, 200 points and 600 penalty minutes. . . . Portland F Sven Bartschi had a goal and two assists. He has 73 points, including 52 assists, in just 37 games. He has one more assist this season than he picked up in 66 games last season. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie drew two assists, as did D Derrick Pouliot. . . . Rattie and Tri-City F Brendan Shinnimin, who scored his sixth shorthanded goal, each have 91 points, three off the scoring lead. . . . The victory lifted Portland, which has won four straight, into a tie with the Americans atop the U.S. Division standings. . . . Portland has won the last three meetings with Tri-City. . . . The Americans are 6-8-3 since having a 13-game winning streak snapped by Kamloops on Jan. 11. . . .

In Victoria, the Calgary Hitmen erased a 2-0 first-period deficit with four straight goals en route to beating the Royals, 5-3. . . . F Victor Rask pulled Calgary into a 2-2 tie at 13:40 of the first period, with his 24th goal, and F Trevor Cheek got his 20th, at 3:37 of the second, to give the visitors the lead. . . . F Danny Gayle’s 12th, at 5:17 of the second, stood up as the winner. . . . The Hitmen snapped a four-game skid. . . .

In Spokane, F Jackson Houck broke a 1-1 tie at 9:35 of the third period as the Vancouver Giants got past the Chiefs, 2-1. . . . Houck has five goals. . . . F Liam Stewart scored his ninth to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead at 5:38 of the second. . . . Vancouver F Cain Franson got his 23rd at 19:02 of the second. . . . Vancouver G Adam Morrison stopped 32 shots. . . . The home team had a 17-5 edge in shots in the third. . . . The victory lifted the Giants into fourth place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Chiefs. Might this have been a first-round preview? . . . The Giants lost F Marek Tvrdon at 20:00 of the first period when he was hit with a match penalty for spearing. He will be hearing from the WHL office. . . . The victim was D Brendan Kichton, who was back for the second period.
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WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Joey Baker, Portland.
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WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
D Riley Guenther, Prince Albert.

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