– The Brandon Wheat Kings dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Red Deer Rebels. Peter Quenneville scored the game-tying goal for Brandon with 1:42 left in the third period while Rihards Bukarts and Ryan Pulock also scored for the Wheat Kings. Brandon did earn a single point, which moved them into a tie with Swift Current for first-place in the WHL’s East Division. For more on the Wheat Kings, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/.
– Brandon product Darren Granger is setting his sights on Sochi. The former Wheat Kings’ trainer will be serving as one of the equipment managers with the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team. Granger has worked with at multiple world championships along with the 1996 World Cup and the 1992 world juniors. He’s currently in his eighth season as head equipment manager with the L.A. Kings. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has more on this story here.
– Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that France St-Louis, Clare Drake and Steve Yzerman have been named to the 2014 Order of Hockey in Canada.
– Ben Scrivens got the shutout with a 59 save performace as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-0. Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists for the oilers, who extended their winning streak to three in a row. In other action, Brandon Saad had a pair of goals and a helper as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 and Dan Carcillo netted the winner as the New York Rangers edged the New York Islanders 2-1 to win both their games at Yankee Stadium.
– The Waywayseeecappo Wolverines snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 win against the Neepawa Natives behind a goal and assist from Cole McCaig. Justin Holder made 38 saves for Waywayseecappo, who moved four points ahead of Neepawa for the final playoff spot in the MJHL’s Sher-Wood Division. Drake Lindsay and Luke Karakas had the goals for the Natives, who have lost 10 in a row.
– The Southwest Cougars got a two goals and an assist from Tanner Lewis in a 5-4 win over the Parkland Rangers in the Manitoba ‘AAA’ Midget Hockey League. Carter Cowlthorp added three helpers for the Cougars, who have won back-to-back games and share fifth-place in the overall standings.
– Brandon Bobcats’ sophomore Turell Scott is shooting for the sky. Scott, the team’s rookie of the year last season, is averaging 4.7 points and 2.5 rebounds and 14.8 minutes of playing time per-game this season. The Port Coquitlam product will be back in his neck of the woods this weekend as the BU men’s basketball team heads to B.C. for games against Trinity Westen and and Fraser Valley. More on this story here.
– The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have traded the rights to receiver Giovanni Aprile to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for defensive back Matt Bucknor. In nine games last season, Bucknor had two tackles, five special-teams tackles and a forced fumble. Aprile was the Bombers’ second round pick in 2012.
– Quarterback Zach Collaros will be testing the free agent waters after being released by the Toronto Argonauts. He was 5-2 as a starter last season when Ricky Ray was sidelined due to injury.
– The Ultimate Fighting Championship is holding five cards in Canada this year, including a return to Vancouver and new stops in Halifax and Quebec City. The five shows are up from three in recent years when Toronto and Montreal were constants on the schedule. The UFC made its debut in Winnipeg this past summer, but won’t be coming to town in 2014.
– Kyle Lowry had 33 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Orlando Magic 98-83. The Raptors have won back-to-back games of four their last five. The victory moved Toronto three games above the .500 mark at 24-21 for the first time this season.
