– The Brandon Wheat Kings are getting some big offensive contributions from their back-end, especially Ryan Pulock. The Brandon captain has 13 points in ten games so far this month and has 44 points in 44 games, one of only six WHL defencemen averaging a point per game or better this season. For more on this story, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/. Brandon continues their trip in Calgary on Friday, but won’t have Rihards Bukarts will be in the lineup. The import forward has been suspended one game by the WHL after being assessed a kneeing major in Wednesday’s game in Red Deer.
– Four teams will punch their ticket for the playoffs on Friday morning at the Safeway Championship in Winnipeg. The top three seeds, Jeff Stoughton, Mike McEwen and Rob Fowler will play A-Side qualifiers along with Brandon’s Steve Irwin on the 8:30 a.m. draw. More on the provincial men’s curling championship here.
– The Virden Oil Capitals’ continue their chase for top spot in the MJHL’s Sher-Wood Division this weekend. The Caps are hosting the OCN Blizzard Friday night and visit the Dauphin Kings Saturday night, who they trail by two points for first-place in the standings. Virden forward Jake Dudar talked about the weekend during Thursday’s Oil Caps’ Report, which you can listen by clicking here.
– Virden’s Brandi Pollock is making a positive impact on and off the ice with the Robert Morris University Colonials in Pittsburgh. The fourth-year defenceman is in the running for the prestigious NCAA humanitarian award and has her team sitting in top spot in their conference while serving as an alternate captain. More on this story here.
– Daniel Briere had goal and an assist and Peter Budaj made 34 saves as the Montreal Canadiens beat Boston 4-1; Nazem Kadri had three assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs doubled Florida 6-3; the Ottawa Senators downed Tampa Bay 5-3 behind a goal and an assist each from Bobby Ryan and Kyle Turris and the Calgary Flames extended their winning streak to four in row with a 4-1 victory over San Jose. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets return to action on Friday night as they entertain the Vancouver Canucks. The Jets are eight points back of the Canucks for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
– The Crocus Plainsmen won the battle of Brandon Friday night in the Westman High School Hockey League. Norman Brightnose, Walker Rowan, Bryce Webber and Shane McKay all scored in the final frame for the Plainsmen, who beat the Vincent Massey Vikings 4-1.
– The Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders have released slotback Weston Dressler, who’s agreed to join the Kansas City Chiefs, pending a physical. The two-time all-star spent six seasons in Regina, making 442 catches for 6,531 yards and 43 touchdowns.
– The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released quarterback Henry Burris after signing former Toronto Argonauts’ backup Zach Collaros to a three-year contract.
– The Edmonton Eskimos have cut ties with QB Kerry Joseph so he can sign and retire with the Riders.
