Thursday News

Scholarship program by WHL a class act. Yup, the canned propaganda by the WHL continues to spread to gullible journalists lacking the insight to realize that $8.5 million given to 2,800 players is only about $3,000 each, which gets you a whole semester at most institutions. No league is too small for Pointstreak's real-time stats. I'll say this, sure beats the old days with Howe Sportsdata... It never fails that as soon as I finish compiling the articles and hit the send button, a new article lands in my inbox. Yesterday, it was about the pieces of St. Albert Steel puzzle finally coming together. Nevermind... Steel coach Norm Lacombe was fired yesterday (second article)... The axe fell in Kamloops, too. Say goodbye to Blazers' coach Dean Clark. Is it me, or do these events come in clusters??? Topeka hockey players read to school kids. Pssst, hey fence-sitting hockey fans in San Angelo, community engagement is ingrained in junior hockey culture, and means something other than getting free drinks at the local bar all evening... "Score One For Life" blood drive set in Sioux Falls... First week a learning opportunity for Erie's Ftorek. Speaking of the Otters, Lyon Messier landed with the Lincoln Stars (that's team #4 since this summer, in case you lost count). Too bad he's blow his NCAA eligibility... Knights' scout Jack Ferguson has seasoned eye for talent... Beausejour Blades not sharp in early going... Winnipeg Saints are marching (but not to Pretoria)... Eau Claire Memorial star joins Omaha Lancers (too bad the writer of this piece left off the Soley kid's first name)... U. of Denver recruit Joe Colborne tearing up AJHL... P.E.I. Rocket flaring out when ahead... London trainer Don Brankley penning memoirs... Prince Albert's Mike Small finding his WHL legs (I guess they were buried in the front hall closet or something)... Poor ice condition halts OHL game (gee, can't Canadians make ice, or are we blaming global warming?)... Foligno says the Wolves aren’t sellers yet (and squashes rumours on a Self deal)... Tyrell claws his way into leading role with Prince George Cougars... Guelph Storm leading scorer Tomas Marcinko may be gone a month... Kirill Tulupov traded from Chicoutimi to Victoriaville... Giants' Sexsmith leads WHL in minutes played to keep his game in shape...