Friday: the coast-to-coast rush
A few, a glorious few of your junior hockey headlines on that rare fifth Friday in April.
WHL
The Tri-City Americans have been better on the road (6-2) than at home (6-3) during the playoffs. There's a whole lot of mutual admiration between those teams ahead of Game 1 tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome. (Calgary Sun, Tri-City Herald)
Playing in a final against Calgary is a homecoming for Tri-City 'tender Drew Owsley, who hails from southern Alberta. (Calgary Sun)
Both coaches in the Dub final are in their first year on the job, or as Tri-City's Jim Hiller put it to Calgary counterpart Mike Williamson: "This time last year both you and I were unemployed." (Calgary Herald)
Vancouver Giants winger Brett Breitkreuz gutted it out during the post-season with a broken rib. (The Dub Hub)
OHL
Veterans Mark Cundari (short-handed goal among his three points) and Scott Timmins were the Windsor Spitfires' game-changers in a second one-goal win (5-4) over the Barrie Colts in the league final. Game 3 is Sunday. (Barrie Examiner)
In coach Marty Williamson's words, "A couple big mistakes" proved Barrie's undoing in Game 2. The series might be far from over, even with Windsor coming home for two games ahead 2-0. (Loose Pucks)
It's believed the Belleville Bulls will select defenceman Marcus McIvor with the No. 2 overall selection in Saturday's OHL priority selection. (Belleville Intelligencer)
QMJHL
One reason Moncton and Saint John are the final two teams standing? Both made drafting and developing defencemen a high priority. The Wildcats' depth on D might be a tipping point. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Moncton Times & Transcript)
More than 5,000 tickets have already been sold for Game 6 in Moncton. (Moncton Times & Transcript)
The Wildcats are keeping their "fingers crossed" that QMJHL scoring champ Nicolas Deschamps can suit up for Game 1 tonight. If not, veteran Kelsey Tessier, among others, would have to step up. (Fredericton Daily Gleaner)
Sea Dogs defenceman Nathan Beaulieu has had a breakout season despite the fact the team dismissed his dad, Jacques Beaulieu, as coach-GM last spring. (New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal)
A treasure-trove of presidents on the Moncton-Saint John final, which opens tonight at the Sea Dogs' den. (Station Nation)
Much like the NHL's Battle of Quebec in the 1980s, beer courses through the veins of the Battle of New Brunswick. (New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal)
Moncton has not closed the door to Russian enigma Kirill Kabanov returning, but it won't be this season. (Coming Down The Pipe!)
Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Sports Canada. You may contact him at neatesager[at]yahoo[dot].ca.
