Hitmen trim two 20-year-olds ... Rasmussen joins Team Canada's camp ... Ex-Royals coach stays in NHL

The last rays of a setting sun bounce off a cloud over
the Monte Lake fire on Thursday night.

We woke up to a whole lot of smoke on Thursday, but it apparently was coming from the Elephant Hill fire, which is the one that has caused so much damage in the Ashcroft/Cache Creek area, and not the Monte Lake fire that started late Wednesday afternoon. However, by late afternoon on Thursday most of the smoke had moved away from our area, leaving behind a beautiful evening. . . . However, there was quite a bit of air traffic between Kamloops and Monte Lake at the same time, so they obviously aren't out of the woods there just yet. . . . With high winds and high temps forecast -- we've been around 35 and are headed for at least 37 in a day or two -- the summer of fire doesn't appear to be anywhere near its end.

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THE MacBETH REPORT . . .

F Taylor Stefishen (Prince George, 2010-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Edinburgh Capitals (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had 12 goals and 23 assists in 44 games with Dijon (France, Ligue Magnus). He led his team in assists and points.

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A LITTLE OF THIS . . .

Cody Porter and Jaydan Gordon have cleared 20-year-old waivers and are now free agents. We wish them all the best in their junior careers! pic.twitter.com/HW9TTFODoW

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) July 27, 2017

The Calgary Hitmen are left with four 20-year-olds on their roster after G Cody Porter and D Jaydan Gordon cleared waivers. . . . That leaves the Hitmen with G Nick Schneider, F Jakob Stukel, F Matteo Gennaro and D Brady Reagan as the four remaining 20s on their roster. Each WHL team will have to declare a maximum of three 20s shortly after the new season begins. . . . Porter, from North Vancouver, was 14-16-3, 3.46, .888 in 34 appearances with the Hitmen last season. In 117 regular-season appearances, 42 with the Vancouver Giants and 75 with Calgary — he is 52-42-9, 3.30, .887. . . . Gordon, from Cochrane, Alta., had two goals and six assists in 70 games last season. He played his first two seasons with the Swift Current Broncos. In 172 career games, he has three goals and 13 assists. . . . Porter’s departure leaves Schneider as Calgary’s undisputed No. 1 goaltender. At the moment, veteran Kyle Dumba, 19, would appear to be No. 2 on the depth chart. Chance are, however, that the Hitmen won’t want to go into the season with a 19-year-old in a backup role. . . . Schneider, who was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers this summer, has signed an entry-level contract as a free agent with the NHL’s Calgary Flames, whose parent company also owns the Hitmen.

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F Michael Rasmussen has been added to Team Canada’s roster for the World Junior Showcase that is scheduled to begin today (Friday) in Plymouth, Mich. . . . Rasmussen, from the Tri-City Americans, had last season cut short by a broken scaphoid in his left wrist. His addition to the roster would seem to indicate that he now is healthy. . . . Rasmussen was added after F Tyler Benson of the Vancouver Giants was forced to opt out. He apparently hasn’t yet fully recovered from sports hernia surgery in the spring. . . . F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who has had at least two surgical procedures due to sports hernias, also isn’t able to take part. . . . Also unable to take part are F Gabe Vilardi of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and F Adam Mascherin of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.

Meanwhile, G Carl Stankowski, who backstopped the Seattle Thunderbirds to their first WHL championship last season, was scratched from Hockey Canada’s U-18 selection camp in Calgary due to an undisclosed injury. His spot was filled by Kevin Mandolese of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. . . . Team Canada, under head coach Brent Kisio of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, will leave next week for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Bratislava, Slovakia. The tournament opens on Aug. 7.

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F Kolten Olynek, who played out his junior eligibility last season, has decided to attend the U of Western Ontario and play for the Mustangs in 2017-18. Olynek, who is from Saskatoon, was a second-round selection by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL’s 2011 bantam draft. . . . He split last season between the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades. During his career, he also played with the Hurricanes, Moose Jaw Warriors and Spokane Chiefs. . . . In 253 regular-season games, he had 32 goals and 45 assists.

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D Austin Adam, who played four seasons in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips and Moose Jaw Warriors, is transferring to Simon Fraser U after spending one season at the U of Western Ontario. . . . The 6-foot-6 Adam, 22, is from Surrey, B.C. He had a goal and two assists in 28 games with the Mustangs last season. . . . SFU plays in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League.

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Mike Fraser, a veteran WHL scout who now works for the Brandon Wheat Kings, also has been writing a column for the Brandon-based Westman Journal. Those columns have mostly revolved around the world of WHL scouts and there adventures. However, there has been a change at the Journal and Fraser has chosen to end his column-writing career, at least for now. His last column is right here.

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Really . . . I mean, really . . . how are we doing in Kamloops in this summer of flames? Well, it seems that old friend Jack Knox of the Victoria Times Colonist paid us a recent visit and he quite liked what he saw, except for the fact that his volunteer services weren’t needed, that is. . . . His last column is right here.

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THE CONCUSSION REPORT . . .

John Urschel sometimes was referred to as the smartest man in football. Urschel, 26, was in line to be the Baltimore Ravens’ starting centre in the upcoming season, that was before he surprised coaches, teammates and observers by announcing his retirement on Thursday. That decision came two days after researchers released the results of a study in which CTE was found in the brains of 110 of 111 deceased football players. . . . There’s more on Urschel’s decision right here.

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THE COACHING GAME . . .

Ben Cooper, a former WHL assistant coach, has signed on with the NHL’s Florida Panthers as their video coach. Cooper, 40, spent the past three seasons as the Vancouver Canucks’ video coach. Prior to that, he worked two seasons (2011-13) with the WHL’s Victoria Royals. . . . He also has experience with Hockey Canada, and was on the coaching staff of Canadian teams that won gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the 2009 World Junior Championship.

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TWEET OF THE DAY

What a night @theroadhammers @Country103CJKC @tjconnorstweets pic.twitter.com/s8xLOW0FLW

— Joe Hicketts (@Hicksy_2) July 27, 2017

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Improvements coming to Regina arena? ... Ice season tickets past 1,700 ... Benson skates with Oilers

F Liam Stewart (Spokane, 2011-15) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, he had nine goals and 11 assists in 49 games with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). . . .

F Sergei Drozd (Tri-City, 2009-10) has signed a one-year extension with Dinamo Minsk (Belarus, KHL). Last season, he had a goal and six assists in 46 games.

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The Regina Pats will be the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup tournament, which is bound to be extra-special because it’ll be the 100th anniversary of the fabled trophy. When the Pats bid on the tournament, they knew that their home, the Brandt Centre, would need some improvements. With that in mind, the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. has asked the city for $1.3 million for renovations. . . . Craig Baird of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

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The Kootenay Ice’s Drive to 25 campaign ended on Friday with the team having sold 1,713 season tickets. The team made that announcement on Tuesday. . . . “We are off to a good start towards our goal of 2,500 season seats and we feel like there is some momentum gathering,” Matt Cockell, the franchise’s president and general manager, said in a news release. “Our entire staff is excited to do the work and continue to get out in the community and talk about the value of being a season-ticket holder; our goal of 2,500 season-seat holders continues to be the target.” . . . That news release is right here.

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F Tyler Benson has struggled through two injury-filled seasons with the Vancouver Giants. These days, he’s hoping they all are permanently in his rear-view mirror. Benson has been in Jasper, Alta., skating at the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp and he reports that things are going well. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia in April and in Jasper was almost up to full speed. . . . Postmedia’s Rob Tychkowski has more right here.

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There is a huge developing story ongoing in the KHL where 42 players whose rights belonged to Dynamo Moscow all have been declared “unlimited free agents.” That includes F Klim Kostin, who was selected by the Kootenay Ice with the first pick of the CHL’s 2016 import draft but chose not to report. He was selected by St. Louis with the 31st overall pick of the NHL’s 2017 draft and is expected to sign with the Blues, perhaps as soon as this week. . . . The Dynamo situation all has to do with a change in ownership, a power struggle and an organization that is in debt to the tune of somewhere near Cdn$43 million — that’s about two billion rubles. . . . Patrick Conway has a whole lot more on that story right here.

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If you’re a regular here, and even if you aren’t, feel free to make a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

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WHL says suit doesn't fit ... Pats get forward from Chiefs ... Benson recovered from surgery

F Justin Kelly (Prince Albert, Spokane, Saskatoon, 1997-2002) has signed a one-year extension with the Bietigheim Steelers (Germany, DEL2). Last season was an injury-plagued one for Kelly, who had five goals and 10 assists in 10 games. In the playoffs, he added four goals and 11 assists in 12 games. . . . 

F Radim Valchar (Portland, Lethbridge, 2007-10) has signed a two-year extension with Csíkszereda Miercurea-Ciuc (Romania, MOL Lisa). Last season, he had 14 goals and 13 assists in 24 games. He led his team in goals and was second in points.

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A Calgary judge has given the OK for a lawsuit against the WHL and its Canadian teams to go ahead as a class action.

At the same time, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Robert Hall exempted the WHL’s five U.S. teams.

The lawsuit is asking that teams be required to pay minimum wages and other items such as overtime, back pay and vacation pay for former and present-day players who qualify and choose not to opt out.

The WHL quickly responded on Thursday by issuing a statement.

“This was a procedural decision only and makes no determination regarding the merits of the claim and, in particular, the status of WHL players,” WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in that statement. “The claim fundamentally misunderstands the nature of amateur sport, including major junior hockey. We believe players are not employees but amateur athletes, and we believe our case is strong.”

On Thursday, while certifying the lawsuit as a class action, Justice Hall outlined the eligibility requirements, which are dependent on age and geography.

From Justice Hall’s decision:

The B.C. class is open to “all players who were or are members of a WHL team owned and/or operated by one or more of the defendants located in B.C. at some point, commencing Oct. 30, 2012, and all players who were members of a team who were under the age of 19 on Oct. 30, 2012, but excluding any players who commenced played for a team on or after Feb. 15, 2016.”

The Alberta and Manitoba class may be joined by “all players who were or are members of a team owned and/or operated by one or more of the defendants in Alberta or Manitoba at some point, commencing Oct. 30, 2012 and ending April 18, 2017, and all players who were members of a team who were under the age of 18 on Oct. 30, 2012.”

The Saskatchewan class may be joined by “all players who were or are members of any team owned and/or operated by one or more of the defendants in Saskatchewan, commencing Oct. 30, 2012, and all players who were members of a team who were under the age of 18 on Oct. 30, 2012, but excluding any players who commenced playing for a team on or after April 29, 2014.”

At the same time, Justice Hall exempted the five U.S. teams that play in the WHL.

“I believe it would be inappropriate,” Justice Hall wrote, “for an Alberta court to tell Washington and Oregon how their law should be interpreted and applied in these circumstances. There are actions available in those states, applying their rules of procedure, some of which differ considerably from Canada and Alberta procedures; such as the fact that in Canada a class member is a plaintiff unless he or she opts out, whereas in their jurisdictions a class member is not a plaintiff unless he or she opts in. It would be preferable that actions proceed in Washington and Oregon in respect to the” U.S. defendants.

TSN’s Rick Westhead, who has covered this situation extensively, tweeted yesterday that it’s “worth noting players, either current or former, can join class action lawsuit in secret . . . (without) teams or league knowing they have done so.”

A similar lawsuit brought against the OHL and its teams got the go-ahead from Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell on April 27. The OHL had a 20-day window in which it could appeal, something it chose not to do.

A court hearing involving a lawsuit against QMJHL teams is scheduled for next week in Montreal.

In his statement, Robison pointed out that “our position has been endorsed by governments in the majority of jurisdictions where WHL clubs are located. The provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia along with the State of Washington have adopted exemptions to their employment standards acts clarifying that WHL players are amateur athletes. The WHL expects all other provincial and state jurisdictions will also pass similar exemptions in the near future.”

The WHL lobbied heavily for such changes in those jurisdictions. In fact, on Oct. 26, columnist Ian Mulgrew of the Vancouver Sun reported right here:

“The Western Hockey League did not register as a lobbyist before leaning on B.C.’s cabinet to exempt major junior players from the minimum wage law, the provincial watchdog says.”

Erin Beatty, communications director for the B.C. Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists, told Mulgrew that the regulator now is “acting on the potential incident of non-compliance in this case.”

Rob Shaw of Postmedia had reported that, according to Mulgrew, “internal government records, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, indicated aggressive lobbying by the WHL with Premier Christy Clark and Labour Minister Shirley Bond.” Bond is the MLA for Prince George-Valemount.

According to Mulgrew, “It started with a meeting in March 2015. . . . Robison appealed for protection from a class-action lawsuit launched by current and former players seeking minimum wage, holiday pay and other damages from the for-profit league for violating labour standards.”

Mulgrew added: “The direct lobbying effort worked — cabinet quietly passed an order-in-council on Feb. 15, 2016 granting the league the exemption.”

On Thursday, Robison again made the claim that if teams are ordered to pay more to their players, franchises will be in jeopardy of folding.

“Any change to the status of our players as amateur athletes would have major implications to not only the WHL but amateur sport as a whole,” Robison said in the statement. “If WHL clubs were required to provide minimum wage, in addition to the benefits the players currently receive, the majority of our teams would not be in a position to continue operating.”

Robison’s claim means at least 12 of the WHL’s 22 teams would be in danger of collapsing.

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The Regina Pats have acquired F Koby Morrisseau, 17, from the Spokane Chiefs for a fourth-round WHL

KOBY MORRISSEAU

bantam draft pick in 2019 or 2020. The deal also includes two conditional bantam draft picks.

The Pats also get a conditional fifth-round selection in the 2020 draft, while giving up a conditional third-rounder in 2020.

Morrisseau, who is from Grandview, Man., was the ninth-overall election in the 2015 bantam draft.

Last season, he had a goal and an assist in 22 games with Spokane. In his draft season, he had 39 goals and 22 assists in 30 games with the midget AAA Parkland Rangers of the Manitoba Midget Hockey League.

Morrisseau’s 2016-17 season was cut short by concussions.

He was injured on a check-from-behind during a game against the Portland Winterhawks on Sept. 3 in a preseason tournament in Everett and spent a night in hospital.

Morrisseau returned in time to start the regular season on Sept. 24, but left a Dec. 13 game against the Seattle Thunderbirds following a hard check from D Turner Ottenbreit.

On Jan. 9, the Chiefs announced that Morrisseau’s season was over and that he had been placed on the long-term injured reserve list.

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The injury-related trials and tribulations of Vancouver Giants F Tyler Benson have been detailed at length

TYLER BENSON

over the past couple of seasons. However, not until seeing an Edmonton Sun on Wednesday while in Jasper, Alta., was I aware that Benson had undergone surgery for a sports hernia last season. Postmedia’s Jim Matheson, a Hockey Hall of Famer who covers the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, reported that Benson “had surgery to repair (a sports hernia) late this past season.” As Matty added, Benson has “had a cyst on his spine and osteitis pubis, along with the sports hernia, and had a shoulder injury he brought to camp last fall, which ended his chances to play exhibition games.” . . . Benson, who is from Edmonton, was a second-round pick by the Oilers in the NHL’s 2016 draft. He apparently has finished his rehab from surgery and is expected to attend the Oilers’ prospects came in Jasper sometime after next weekend’s 2017 draft. . . . Benson, 19, has played only 63 games with Vancouver over the past two seasons, but has put up 70 points, including 20 goals. The Giants selected him with the first overall pick of the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft.

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The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed D Luke Bateman, who was a fourth-round pick in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. From Kamloops, Bateman won’t turn 15 until Sept. 9. Last season, he had three goals and 23 assists with the bantam AAA Kamloops Jr. Blazers.

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The arena in which the Seattle Thunderbirds, the reigning WHL champions, play their home games is soon to undergo a bit of a name change. The facility that has been the ShoWare Center since it opened in 2009 will become the access ShoWare Center in the fall. . . . Steve Hunter of the Kent Reporter writes: “England-based access (which used the small letter for its name, which is Italian for access or admission) bought in 2014 California-based VisionOne, Inc., which owned ShoWare.” . . . Hunter reported that “the owners of access agreed to pay $3 million to get the naming rights for 10 years.” . . . The Thunderbirds, as the main tenant, get $50,000 per year under the terms of the naming rights deal. . . . Hunter’s story is right here.

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If you’re a regular here, and even you aren’t, feel free to contribute to the feeding of the Drinnan family by making a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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Trevor Letowski is the new head coach of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, the reigning Memorial Cup champions. Letowski takes over from Rocky Thompson, now the head coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. . . . Letowski, 40, has been Windsor’s associate coach for the past six seasons. Prior to that, he spent six seasons on the coaching staff of the Sarnia Sting.

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Mike Vellucci is the new head coach of the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. Vellucci has been an assistant GM with the Hurricanes through four seasons and will continue in that role, too. . . . With the Checkers, he replaces Ulf Samuelsson, who left after one season to join the Chicago Blackhawks as an assistant coach. . . . Vellucci hasn’t coached since 2012-13 when he was the OHL’s coach of the year while with the Plymouth Whalers. He spent 14 seasons with the Whalers. 

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Nanaimo on one WHL schedule ... Blazers turn to business community ... Giants still hurting

F Jaroslav Vlach (Prince George, 2009-11) has signed a two-year contract extension with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season, he has two goals and five assists in 29 games with Liberec. He also had one assist in five games while on loan to Benátky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). . . .

F Robin Kovář (Vancouver, Regina, 2001-04) has signed for the rest of this season with the Swindon Wildcats (England, Premier). This season, he had 18 goals and 29 assists in 34 games with the Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier) before being released on Jan. 9 for financial reasons.

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The WHL is in the process of preparing two schedules for the 2017-18 regular season, one that would include the Kootenay Ice and one that would have that franchise in Nanaimo.

Taking Note learned Thursday that the schedule that includes Nanaimo would feature two 11-team

conferences, whereas the Eastern Conference now has 12 teams and the Western Conference has 10.

Voters in Nanaimo are scheduled to go to the polls, likely on March 11, for a referendum. The question on the ballot will be:

“Are you in favour of the City of Nanaimo Council adopting Loan Authorization Bylaw 2017 No. 7237 which will authorize Council to borrow a sum not exceeding $80,000,000, repayable over a period of no more than 20 years, for the development and construction of an event centre that will include an ice arena and other related entertainment, cultural and recreation facilities?”

While preparations for that have been ongoing, the city also has been talking to the WHL about acquiring a franchise for the new facility, should it get the go-ahead from voters.

It seems obvious that Kootenay is the franchise in question as the Chynoweth family has had a ‘for sale’ sticker on it since 2011.

Should the ‘Yes’ side win the Nanaimo referendum, it is anticipated that a WHL team would play out of the Frank Crane Arena for at least two seasons while a new facility is being built. The Frank Crane Arena, which is the home of the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, seats around 2,400.

What isn’t clear is who would own the Ice were the franchise to relocate. However, the WHL has been thirsting to get a team into Nanaimo, something that would allow teams to travel to Vancouver Island and make stops there and in Victoria. That alone should increase interest in the franchise.

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As they try to find their place in the community, the Kamloops Blazers have announced via a news release the formation of a nine-person advisory board comprising eight men and one woman from the local business community.

The chairman is Norm Daley of the accounting firm Daley & Company. Also on the board are Garth Buchko of NL Broadcasting, the Blazers’ long-time broadcast rights holder; Monica Dickinson of Tourism Kamloops; Steve Earl of Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott; Rob James of RJames Western Star Freightliner; Yves Lacasse of KGHM-Ajax; Jim Lightbody of the B.C. Lottery Corporation; Byron McCorkell of the city’s parks, recreation and culture department; and Rob Zimmer of the Zimmer AutoGroup.

According to a news release, “The advisory board will work with the hockey club to build new business relationships, enhance the game night experience and expand the hockey club’s fan base.”

While the Blazers are in second place in the B.C. Division, with a 29-17-3 record, their attendance continues to sputter. In fact, it has done a lot of that since the franchise went from being community-owned to private ownership during the summer of 2007. Tom Gaglardi, who also owns the NHL’s Dallas Stars, owns 51 per cent of the Blazers, while former Kamloops players Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor own the rest.

This season, through 26 home games, the Blazers are averaging an announced attendance of 3,626. Last season, their final average attendance was 3,769. 

In 2007-08, the first season under this ownership group, the average was 4,562. That figure topped out at 4,825 for 2012-13.

Of the 30 smallest announced crowds in the history of the Blazers’ home arena — what now is the Sandman Centre opened for 1992-93 — 26 have occurred since Jan. 28, 2014.

The Stars, under Gaglardi’s ownership, have an ownership advisory board.

“The advice and guidance the Stars have received from business leaders in Dallas has been immeasurable,” Gaglardi said in the news release. “We think we can create a similar model in Kamloops.”

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The Vancouver Giants remain without F Tyler Benson and D Darian Skeoch as they prepare for a weekend tripleheader with the Victoria Royals. Benson has missed 10 games with what originally was referred to as a minor injury, while Skeoch has sat out 18 straight with an ankle issue. . . . Vancouver D Matt Barberis remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury, but F Ty Ronning and F Tyler Popowich, both of whom have been bothered by the flu, are set to return. . . . The Giants and Royals will meet tonight (Friday) in Langley, B.C., before playing Saturday and Sunday in Victoria. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province has more right here.

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The Regina Pats should have their top two goaltenders available at the same time tonight for the first time since Nov. 20. . . . Starter Tyler Brown has missed five games with an undisclosed injury. . . . Jordan Hollett missed 22 games after suffering a high ankle sprain. He returned for a 6-5 victory over the host Swift Current Broncos on Saturday, but was rested the following day. . . . The Pats are scheduled to play two games this weekend — in Calgary against the Hitmen tonight and in Red Deer against the Rebels on Saturday.

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With F Brett Clayton having returned from an undisclosed injury, the Portland Winterhawks have dropped F Ty Westgard, 19, from their roster. Westgard, who was acquired from the Victoria Royals early in the season, is pointless in five games with the Winterhawks. From White Rock, B.C., he has nine points, three of them goals, in 22 games with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles. . . . Clayton, 18, has a goal and an assist in 19 games with the Winterhawks. Last season, he had a goal and two assists in 57 games. . . . Clayton returned to Portland’s lineup on Tuesday after not playing since Dec. 31.

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If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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JUST NOTES:

The Prince George Cougars have signed F Max Kryski, 16, to a WHL contract. He is the younger brother of F Jake Kryski, 18, who has played with the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets, and now is with the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Max, from Kelowna, was added to the Cougars’ protected list in December. This season, he has 18 goals and 23 assists in 27 games with the Kelowna-based Okanagan Rockets of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. . . .

The Everett Silvertips have signed G Dustin Wolf, 15, to a WHL contract. Wolf, who is from Tustin, Calif., was a fifth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. He is playing for the U-16 Los Angeles Jr. Kings. In 18 games, he is 10-5-3, 1.63, .941. . . . 

The Portland Winterhawks have moved a March 3 game against the Vancouver Giants from the Moda Center to Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It will start at 7 p.m. . . . The Giants also are to play in Vancouver on March 4. That game also will be played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, but will start at 6 p.m. Originally, it was to begin at 2 p.m. . . .

F Noah Prokop, a 17-year-old from Highlands Ranch, Colo., has committed to attend the U of Nebraska-Omaha for 2019-20. Prokop was a seventh-round selection by the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft. . . . He is in his second season at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. This season, with the midget prep team, he has 34 points, including 14 goals, in 39 games.

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Today Coach Reg would have been 92 #SlapShot40 pic.twitter.com/dFRTzpWbZG

— The Hanson Brothers (@Hanson_Brothers) January 26, 2017

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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Regina at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Portland at Everett, 7:35 p.m.

Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

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

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

Saskatoon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Lethbridge at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

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

Victoria vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 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.

It's official! Hay's at 704 ... Benson still sidelined ... Silvertips power past Rockets

The official figure is 704.

The WHL office has done the research and announced on Monday that Don Hay, the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, has 704 career regular-season WHL coaching victories.

DON HAY

Taylor Rocca, the WHL’s co-ordinator, communications, did the work, going over game sheets from 1987-88 and 1991-92, and found that Hay posted nine victories as a head coach during those two seasons.

Hay, then a Kamloops assistant, took over as the Blazers’ head coach for the first time in December 1987 when Ken Hitchcock left to join the staff of Canada’s national junior team at the World Junior Championship.

The same thing happened in December 1991 when Hay stepped up as head coach Tom Renney joined Team Canada.

Rocca discovered that the Blazers under Hay were 4-3-0 in Hitchock’s absence, and 5-4-0 when Renney was gone.

Those nine victories are one more than my records had given to Hay, but going off the actual game sheets makes it all official.

So . . . what this all means is that Hay is at 704.

That 3-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets on Jan. 6 that we all thought was No. 700 actually was No. 703.

Hay, then, will go into the Blazers game tonight (Tuesday) against the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors with 704 victories, the latest one by a 6-3 count over the Vancouver Giants in Kamloops on Saturday.

The game between the Warriors and Blazers will be televised by Shaw, so chances are there’ll be some chatter there about Hay’s pursuit of the WHL record for career coaching victories.

That record (742) is held by Ken Hodge, who coached the original Edmonton Oil Kings and made the move to Portland as the franchise became the Winterhawks for the 1976-77 season

——

A Vancouver radio station reported Monday morning that F Tyler Benson, the captain of the Vancouver Giants, “has a pubic-pelvis bone injury that results in groin pain.”

According to News 1130 Sports, the Giants “say Benson’s pubic-pelvis bone injury is not serious or season-ending but sounds similar to the injury he suffered last (season).”

Benson, 18, has missed the Giants’ past six games.

Last season, he underwent surgery for a cyst near his tailbone and then was done in by inflammation near the pubic bone. He was limited to 30 games and finished with 28 points, including nine goals.

This season, he has 42 points, 11 of them goals, in 33 games.

Benson, who is from Edmonton, was selected by the Oilers in the second round of the NHL’s 2016 draft. The Oilers signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract on Dec. 31.

D Darian Skeoch also is expected to be missing again tonight when the Giants and Victoria Royals meet at the Langley Events Centre. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Skeoch, who has an ankle injury, last played on Dec. 3.

The Giants (16-25-3) have lost five in a row and are 10 points away from a playoff spot.

——

The Kootenay Ice, with three defenceman injured, have brought in D Loeden Schaufler, 16, from the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. This season, he has 11 points, including four goals, in 22 games, with the Hounds. From Dewinton, Alta., he was a third-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . The Ice has lost D Sam Huston (2-3 weeks), D Nikita Radzivilyuk (two weeks) and D Ryan Pouliot (1-2 weeks), all with undisclosed injuries. . . . The Ice next plays on Wednesday when it entertains the Prince Albert Raiders.

———

Our next home games are this Tuesday and Wednesday night at the @CNCentre. We look forward to welcoming the @pdxwinterhawks Booster Club! pic.twitter.com/iKtbIgudHk

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 16, 2017

——

MONDAY’S GAME:

Mitch Love had some words over the glass with one of the kelowna coaches

— Jesse Geleynse (@JesseGeleynse) January 17, 2017

At Everett, the Silvertips scored three times on the power play and beat the Kelowna Rockets, 5-4. . . . It was Martin Luther King Day in the U.S., and these teams played an afternoon affair. . . . The Silvertips

RILEY SUTTER

finished 3-7 on the PP; the Rockets were 0-3. . . . “(The Rockets) are big, they’re physical, they’re old school, and by old school I mean war,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine told Jesse Geleynse of the Everett Herald. “Tonight was war. I respect them for how they play. They play extremely hard and I admire that. I thought it was a playoff type of hockey (game) where it was very emotional and physical, and I’m proud of our guys for hanging in that kind of environment.” . . . D Kevin Davis (4), on a PP, gave Everett a 1-0 lead at 2:55 of the first period. . . . The teams then exchanged goals until the middle of the second period. . . . Kelowna D Lucas Johansen (2) tied it at 4:05 of the first period, with Everett F Bryce Kindopp (6) restoring the lead, at 5:50. . . . F Jack Cowell (4) pulled the Rockets into a 2-2 tie at 12:21, only to have F Connor Dewar (8) put the home boys out front again, at 18:22. . . . F Calvin Thurkauf’s 19th goal, at 19:38, tied it again. . . . In the end, the difference was two second-period PP goals scored by Everett. F Dominic Zwerger scored his 19th at 9:27 and F Riley Sutter got his 14th at 19:17. . . . Kelowna F Conner Bruggen-Cate’s third goal got Kelowna to within one at 13:26. . . . Sutter added two assists to his goal, for his first career three-point outing, while Davis and Zwerger each had one. . . . F Reid Gardiner had two assists for Kelowna but wasn’t able to finish the game after absorbing a hard hit in a second-period collision with Thurkauf. . . . Everett G Carter Hart recorded the victory with 25 stops. It was his 71st career victory, tying him for third with Kent Simpson on the Silvertips’ all-time list. Austin Lotz is next, at 72. Leland Irving is No. 1, with 107. . . . Kelowna starter Michael Herringer gave up four goals on 11 shots in 29:27. Brodan Salmond came on in relief and was beaten once on 15 shots in 29:01. . . . Everett lost F Devon Skoleski in the second period after he took a check from Kelowna F Dillon Dube. . . . The Silvertips (28-5-8) have points in five straight (3-0-2). They are tied for second in the overall standings with the Prince George Cougars, one point behind the Regina Pats. Everett and Regina hold four games in hand on Prince George. . . . The Rockets (26-16-3) had won their previous three games. They are tied for second in the B.C. Division, with the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Announced attendance: 3,712.

——

TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Portland at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Everett vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Victoria at Vancouver, 7 p.m.

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Cougars add Russian sniper . . . Tigers get d-man . . . Benson off the table?

WHL trades since Dec. 27:

Trades: 14.

Players: 25.

Bantam draft picks: 18.

Conditional bantam draft picks: 1.

(WHL trade deadline is Jan. 10).

——

That Popugaev trade is unexpected. Not too often you see likely NHL first round picks traded in their draft year.

— Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge) January 5, 2017

The Prince George Cougars made it clear on Thursday that they see themselves as serious challengers

NIKITA POPUGAEV

for the Ed Chynoweth Cup by acquiring Russian F Nikita Popugaev from the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The 18-year-old Popugaev is seen as a potential first-round selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft.

In exchange for Popugaev, who is from Moscow, the Cougars surrendered two forwards — Yan Khomenko, 18, who is from St. Petersburg, Russia, and Justin Almeida, 17 — along with two WHL bantam draft picks — a fifth-rounder in 2017 and a second-rounder in 2018.

No doubt this deal was in the works before today, but it came on the heels of a move by the Kamloops Blazers in which they acquired F Lane Bauer, 20, a point-a-game skater, from the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Going into this weekend, the Cougars (27-10-2) are leading the B.C. Division by six points over the Blazers (24-15-2) and seven over the Kelowna Rockets (23-14-3). The Cougars are tied with the Everett Silvertips (25-5-6) for first in the Western Conference standings and second in the overall standings, three points in arrears of the Regina

JUSTIN ALMEIDA

Pats (26-3-7).

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Popugaev is a late-1998, with a Nov. 20 birthday. He has 51 points, including 22 goals, in 40 games this season. He is tied for seventh in the WHL points derby. Last season, as a freshman, he finished with 16 goals and 31 assists in 70 games.

Popugaev played for Team Russia in the 2016 CHL Canada-Russia series and will play on Team Orr in the Top Prospects Game in Quebec City on Jan. 30.

According to Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen, the two general managers, Todd Harkins of the Cougars and Alan Millar of the Warriors, first started talking trade during the Mac’s midget tournament in Calgary just after Christmas.

"We coveted a right-hand shot because (Kody) McDonald and (Josh) Curtis are the only two in our forward group," Harkins told Clarke. “Not having that right-hand shot hurt our power play at times, so he brings instant credibility to our power play.”

Popugaev is expected to be in Prince George in time to play tonight (Friday) against the Victoria Royals.

This is the second time this season that the Cougars have made what can justly be referred to as a

YAN KHOMENKO

blockbuster. On Nov. 17, they acquired D Brendan Guhle, 19, from the Prince Albert Raiders for F Kolby Johnson, 18, D Max Martin, 17, a first-round pick in the 2018 bantam draft and a third-round selection in 2019.

Khomenko, 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, played last season with Everett, recording five goals and three assists in 46 games. This season, he has 10 goals and 10 assists in 36 games with the Cougars.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Almeida, from Kitimat, B.C., was taken by the Cougars with the fifth overall selection of the 2014 WHL bantam draft after putting up 147 points, including 80 goals, in 70 games with the North Shore Winter Club’s A1 Tier 1 bantam team.

This season, Almeida has four goals and nine assists in 37 games, after putting up two goals and four assists in 48 games as a freshman last season.

“From our end,” Millar told reporters, “in terms of where our team is at, where we believe we can be now and in the future, the return . . . just fit with what we’re building, how we want to play the game and (it’s) a new opportunity for Popugaev that I think will benefit him.

“It gives a different look to our hockey team. I think we got deeper, I think we got a little bit more responsible, a little bit more validity in terms of our two-way game, and we felt that was important moving forward.”

Millar said that the Warriors feel Khomenko is an import player who is getting his feet under him in his second season and will only get better.

“We think he’s a little bit of an under-the-radar guy and we think he complements our group real well,” Millar said.

As for Almeida, Millar noted his point total in his draft season, saying: “He’s a big part of the deal and a big part of our future. His hockey IQ is high. He’s a smart player and very skilled.”

The Warriors (23-9-7) are second in the East Division, six points behind the Regina Pats, who hold three games in hand, and two ahead of the Swift Current Broncos.

“We’re  still a very young team,” Millar said. “We only have four 19-year-old players on our roster. . . . We banked some picks, which we think is going to be really valuable this year and next.”

The Warriors are expected to have Almeida and Khomenko in their lineup tonight when they play host to the Saskatoon Blades.

——

The Medicine Hat Tigers, wanting to add some experience to their back end, have added Jordan

JORDAN HENDERSON

Henderson, 19, from the Saskatoon Blades for a fifth-round selection in the 2017 WHL bantam draft.

The Tigers will be without D David Quenneville, the WHL’s highest-scoring defenceman, for the foreseeable future after he suffered a broken tibia while blocking a shot in the first period of a 6-2 loss to the visiting Regina Pats on Tuesday night. Quenneville has 48 points, including 20 goals, in 38 games.

The 6-foot-0, 180-pound Henderson is going to his third WHL team this season. The Blades had acquired him from the Spokane Chiefs on Nov. 11 for a sixth-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft. 

Henderson had a goal and three assists in 20 games with the Blades, after recording four assists in 15 games with the Chiefs. In 132 career games, he has two goals and 15 assists.

The Chiefs had selected Henderson, who is from Surrey, B.C., in the fourth round of the 2012 bantam draft.

Henderson is expected to make his Medicine Hat debut against the visiting Vancouver Giants on Saturday.

——

If you are wondering what the future holds for F Tyler Benson of the Vancouver Giants, here’s Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal:
“The Vancouver Giants have listened to offers on Oilers second-round draft Tyler Benson before the Jan. 10 Western Hockey League deadline. One Western Conference team made a heckuva offer for the 18-year-old winger (a good 2000-born player and draft picks), then was told he was off the table when it ran up to the owner Ron Toigo.”

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Hurricanes get d-man from Pats . . . Patrick back with teammates . . . Tigers lose Quenneville

Thanks to Russia for letting us win something before they officially assume control of our country. #WJC2017

— Scott Sepich (@SSepich) January 4, 2017

———

WHL trades since Dec. 27:

Trades: 10.

Players: 18.

Bantam draft picks: 10.

Conditional bantam draft picks: 1.

(WHL trade deadline is Jan. 10).

——

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have acquired D Brady Pouteau, 18, from the Regina Pats for a seventh-

BRADY POUTEAU

round selection in the 2018 WHL bantam draft.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Pouteau, from Oak Bluff, Man., was a fourth-round selection by Regina in the 2013 bantam draft. This season, he had two assists in 18 games with the Pats. Last season, as a freshman, he had two goals and five assists in 43 games.

Before joining the Pats, Pouteau played two seasons with the midget AAA Pembina Valley Hawks, helping them to the 2014-15 league championship.

Pouteau, who turns 19 on Jan. 9, was in the lineup on Wednesday night when the Hurricanes met the host Moose Jaw Warriors. He brings more size to a Lethbridge back end that already included the likes of Brennan Riddle (6-foot-2), Ethan King (6-foot-6) and Igor Merezhko (6-foot-5).

The Hurricanes now have eight defencemen on their roster.

——

The Vancouver Giants set off alarm bells Wednesday afternoon when they issued a news release stating

TYLER BENSON

that F Tyler Benson wouldn’t play in a game that night against the host Edmonton Oil Kings.

Benson, the first overall pick in the 2013 WHL bantam draft, was limited to 30 games last season by surgery to remove a cyst near his tailbone and then an inflamed pubic bone. This season, however, looked to be different as he put up 42 points, including 31 assists, in 33 games with a team that is struggling in the basement of the B.C. Division.

Benson, who is from Edmonton, was a second-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL draft and he signed an NHL contract late last month.

From the Giants’ news release quoted general manager Glen Hanlon: “In consultation with the Edmonton Oilers, we’ve decided that it would be best for Tyler to miss (Wednesday’s) game due to a minor injury. Tyler has been assessed by both our staff and the Oilers’ medical team, and we’ll take his status day-by-day. Tyler is very disappointed that he won’t be able to play in his home town and help our team continue its winning road trip.”

According to Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province, Benson didn’t get on the ice in overtime on Monday when the Giants beat the Hitmen 5-4 in a shootout in Calgary. However, Benson did take part in the shootout. He didn’t score, but he did have a goal and an assist in regulation time.

After playing in Edmonton, the Giants’ next game is scheduled for Friday in Langley, B.C., against the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.

——

DAVID QUENNEVILLE

The Medicine Hat Tigers are likely to be without D David Quenneville for up to six weeks after he suffered a broken tibia during a 6-2 loss to the visiting Regina Pats on Tuesday night.

Quenneville was injured while blocking a shot in the first period. He tried to keep playing, but was forced to leave the game.

Quenneville, an 18-year-old from Edmonton, is having a career season, with 20 goals and 28 assists in 38 games. He is one of three Tigers with at least 20 goals and also is their third-leading scorer. Quenneville also leads all WHL defencemen in goals and points.

As a freshman, in 2014-15, Quenneville finished with six goals and 14 assists in 66 games. Last season, he had 14 goals and 41 assists in 64 games.

The Tigers next are scheduled to play on Saturday night when they are at home to the Vancouver Giants.

——

Can we finally put this ridiculous rumour to rest? Is this definitive enough? #BWK #bdnmb #whl pic.twitter.com/l7T9KNzc2i

— Perry Bergson (@PerryBergson) January 4, 2017

F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who has played only six games this season, none since Oct. 11, has told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun that he will play in January.

NOLAN PATRICK

Patrick, 18, is back skating with the Wheat Kings. He skated by himself on Monday and then took the morning skate on Tuesday before the Wheat Kings played the visiting Saskatoon Blades that evening. Patrick, wearing a no-contact jersey, practised with his teammates on Wednesday.

“I’m getting close to returning so it’s exciting,” Patrick told Bergson, who wrote: “He said he will play in January for sure, although the date of his
return is pending.”

Patrick has said that he was injured during last spring’s Eastern Conference final against the Red Deer Rebels. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia in July and missed most of training camp. While neither Patrick nor the Wheat Kings has explained the reason, or reasons, behind his absence, speculation has involved his recovery from that surgery.

Despite having missed 33 games, Patrick remains the consensus No. 1 selection for the NHL’s 2017 draft. That is built on a 2015-16 season in which he put up 102 regular-season points and added 30 more in 21 playoff games. He was named the WHL’s playoff MVP as he led the Wheat Kings to the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

For now, Patrick will work on getting back into game shape.
“It’s really nice to be back here and out there skating,” Patrick told Branden Crowe, the radio voice of the Wheat Kings. “I felt pretty good (Wednesday), but I still have a ways to go to get my cardio back up and get into shape.”

According to Crowe, Patrick has travelled “all over Canada since October, seeing different doctors (and) specialists and trying out a variety of physiotherapy and chiropractic options.”

Still, Patrick told Crowe, “I still have a little bit of healing to do.”

Patrick continued: “These last couple of days have been the best I’ve felt in five months so it’s feeling good and I’m just trying to get my timing back and get myself back into shape.”

——

The Victoria Royals will be without D Chaz Reddekopp for two games against the host Prince George Cougars this week. Reddekopp has been suspended for two games under supplemental discipline for something that happened during the Royals’ 6-1 victory over the Blazers in Kamloops on Saturday night. . . . Reddekopp had an assist in that game to run his point streak to 11 games, tied with D Kevin Davis of the Everett Silvertips for the longest active streak at the moment. . . . The Royals are scheduled to play in Prince George on Friday and Saturday nights. Victoria goes into the two games in fourth place in the B.C. Division, four points behind second-place Kamloops and two behind the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Cougars are in first place, six points ahead of Kamloops.

———

It certainly seems that the medical community is on the verge of a blood test that will determine whether someone has suffered a concussion. As Alan Maki of The Globe and Mail reports: “After two years of blood profiling, researchers associated with Western University have been fine-tuning a test that can determine if a person has suffered a concussion. The test comes with a 90-per-cent accuracy rate, a previously unheard count in the medical community working to unlock the mysteries of the brain.” . . . Maki’s complete story is right here.

——

JUST NOTES:

With two defenceman — Tyler Jette and Brendan O’Reilly — on the injured list, the Tri-City Americans have recalled four defencemen. Mitchell Brown, 15, joins the Americans from the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C.; Landon Fuller, 17, has been with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks; Colten Gerlib, 17, plays for the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles; and, Samuel Stewart plays for the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives. . . . Brown was a second-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Fuller was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 bantam draft. . . . The Americans, who lost 5-2 to the Blazers in Kamloops on Tuesday, open an East Division swing on Friday against the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . 

The Everett Silvertips have returned D Gianni Fairbrother, 16, to the Vancouver Northwest Giants of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. He is pointless in two games with Everett. Fairbrother was a fourth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . 

The Kamloops Blazers have returned F Brodi Stuart, 16, to the Fraser Valley Hawks of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. Stuart, a fourth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft, was pointless in two games with the Blazers. . . .

The Prince Albert Raiders have returned D Rhett Rhinehart to the Yale Hockey Academy prep team that plays in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. Rhinehart, who turned 15 on Nov. 27, was a first-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. He was pointless in two games with the Raiders. . . . 

The Prince George Cougars have returned F Tyler Ho, 16, to the Valley West Hawks of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. He was a third-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. . . .

The Seattle Thunderbirds have dropped F Ian Briscoe, 17, from their roster. He will be joining the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings. Briscoe, a fifth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft, had two goals in 17 games with Seattle.

———

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

At Edmonton, F Brendan Semchuk broke a 2-2 tie at 16:27 of the third period as the Vancouver Giants

BRENDAN SEMCHUK

got past the Oil Kings, 3-2. . . . F Ty Ronning had given Vancouver a 1-0 lead with his 15th goal, at 16:52 of the first period. . . . F Adam Berg, playing his first game since Dec. 5, pulled Edmonton even with his third goal, at 11:55 of the second period. . . . The Giants went in front again, at 2:25 of the third period, as F James Malm scored No. 11 on a PP. . . . The Oil Kings tied it at 3:13 with F Trey Fix-Wolansky getting his 10th goal. . . . Semchuk, a sophomore from Kamloops, won it with his sixth goal. A first-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft, injuries limited Semchuk to 28 games last season when he finished with one goal and one assist. This season, he’s got 14 points in 37 games. . . . D Matt Barberis had two assists for the Giants, while Ronning had one. . . . Vancouver G Ryan Kubic was sharp, making 40 stops. . . . Edmonton G Patrick Dea, making his 100th regular-season appearance, turned aside 25 shots. . . . Vancouver was 1-2 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-0. . . . The Giants (16-20-3) are 2-0-0 on an Alberta trek that continues Friday against the Red Deer Rebels. . . . The Oil Kings slipped to 18-18-4. . . . F Graham Millar and F Brett Kemp, acquired earlier in the day for D Aaron Irving, weren’t in Edmonton’s lineup. . . . Announced attendance: 7,355.

——

At Kelowna, F Riley Woods scored at 3:19 of OT to give the Spokane Chiefs a 3-2 victory over the

RILEY WOODS

Rockets. . . . Woods, who has seven goals, was making his Spokane debut after being part of a trade with the Regina Pats for F Wyatt Sloboshan. F Rykr Cole, who also went to Spokane in that exchange, made his Chiefs debut, too. . . . The visitors scored the game’s first two goals, with F Kailer Yamamoto getting his 23rd, on a PP, at 10:36 of the second period, and D Tyson Helgesen (6), Spokane’s captain, counting just 35 seconds later. . . . F Rod Southam, Kelowna’s captain, got his guys to within one when he scored his ninth at 18:01. . . . D Riley Stadel (5) pulled Kelowna into a 2-2 tie at 16:17 of the third period. . . . D Ty Smith had two assists for Spokane. . . . D Lucas Johansen had two assists for Kelowna. . . . The Chiefs got 33 saves from G Jayden Sittler. . . . At the other end, Michael Herringer stopped 19 shots. . . . Spokane was 1-4 on the PP; Kelowna was 0-3. . . . The Chiefs (16-16-6) had lost their previous two games. . . . The Rockets (23-14-3) have lost three in a row (0-2-1). . . . Announced attendance: 4,821.

——

Sorry @MJWARRIORS have to cheer for @WHLHurricanes tonite! #no.4 #hometowndebut #proudparents pic.twitter.com/sDPeD1mRV0

— Donna Jones (@DonnaJ1517) January 5, 2017

At Moose Jaw, F Jayden Halbgewachs, the WHL’s top gun, scored three times and G Zach Sawchenko

ZACH SAWCHENKO

blocked 41 shots as the Warriors dumped the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 4-1. . . . Sawchenko, who stopped 23 shots in the third period, improved his record to 16-4-5 with the victory. . . . Halbgewachs scored 15 goals in 69 games last season; this season, he’s got 34 goals in 39 games. He also has 27 assists, one more than he recorded last season. . . . This was his first career hat trick; he also has nine two-goal games this season. . . . The Warriors took a 2-0 lead on goals by F Luka Burzan (10), at 6:05 of the first period, and Halbgewachs, at 11:51 of the second. . . . D Brennan Riddle’s second goal got Lethbridge to within one at 16:15. . . . Halbgewachs put it away with goals 4:49 and 18:43 of the third period, the latter into an empty net. . . . F Brayden Burke and F Brett Howden each had two assists for Moose Jaw. . . . The Hurricanes got 20 stops from G Stuart Skinner. . . . Moose Jaw was 0-3 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-5. . . . The Hurricanes had D Nolan Jones, 15, in their lineup as they played in his hometown. Jones, a second-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, plays for the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals. He was pointless in two earlier games with the Hurricanes. . . . The Hurricanes scratched three defencemen — Calen Addison, Ty Prefontaine and Ethan King — but had Brady Pouteau in the lineup. He was acquired earlier in the day from the Regina Pats. . . . The Warriors (23-9-7) have points in five straight (2-0-2). . . . The Hurricanes (20-15-5) have lost two in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 2,979.

——

THURSDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

——

FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

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

Edmonton at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Tri-City at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Victoria at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Regina, 7 p.m.

Everett vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:35 p.m.

Brandon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

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