SASKATOON — The Western Hockey League showdown on Wednesday night is a big one for both the Saskatoon Blades and the Portland Winterhawks. A win by the Blades would put them straight through to Sunday's final, while a loss would have them play the London Knights in a tie-breaker on Thursday. Conversely, a Portland win would allow Halifax to move to the final, while the Winterhawks would get a berth in the semifinal and Saskatoon would play the heart-break game.

It might sound confusing, but at least there's no math involved.

Please join the Buzzing The Net crew of Cam Charron, Terry Doyle, Kelly Friesen, Steve McAllister Sunaya Sapurji, Neate Sager, Scott Sepich and a cast of many at 8 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Saskatchewan time when the action gets underway.

Read More »from Memorial Cup 2013: Portland Winterhawks vs. Saskatoon Blades Chatravaganza, Wednesday 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT!

SASKATOON — Sometimes, says Martin Frk, it’s hard to play alongside Jonathan Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon on the Halifax Mooseheads’ top line. They are supremely talented, but he admits they can also get a little petulant when he’s unable to finish off a nice passing play with a goal or hit the dynamic duo with a sweet set-up.

Halifax's Martin Frk scores on London goalie Anthony Stolarz to complete his hat trick. (Reuters)On Tuesday night at the 2013 Memorial Cup, however, Frk showed why he was placed on the same line with the two highly touted future NHLers. He sent a reminder that he, too, is a special player in his own right with a hat trick and an assist in a 9-2 rout over the OHL champion London Knights.

“I got great passes from them and I had to put it (in the net),” Frk said. “I hope the boys (Drouin and MacKinnon) are not too mad at me. They always get a little bit cranky, but I try to do my best. I guess I did today and they are happy.”

Very happy, actually. And as far as MacKinnon is concerned, it’s a mutual admiration society since he and Drouin are thankful to be

Read More »from Martin Frk plays third fiddle on Halifax Mooseheads' three-headed top line

The Saskatoon Blades celebrate their victory over the Halifax Mooseheads at the Memorial CupSASKATOON — In a game full of emotion, the Saskatoon Blades took a different approach in their game against the Halifax Mooseheads at the MasterCard Memorial Cup.

“One of our mottos in this tournament is to play like robots whistle to whistle,” said Blades forward Josh Nicholls.

The idea is to keep an even keel – regardless of the opponent -- and disregard the many momentum swings faced during a game.

The game plan worked as the Blades skated to a stunning 5-2 victory over the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions. For the first 50 minutes of the game, the Blades kept Halifax’s high-powered offence – led by the top line of Jonathan Drouin, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Frk -- in check. They were physical and made life in the crease difficult for Mooseheads goalie Zach Fucale.

“We were wearing them down,” said Nicholls, a New York Rangers prospect. “You could see their frustration. They were starting to come at us after the whistles and stuff like that. They have a highly skilled

Read More »from 2013 Memorial Cup: Saskatoon Blades ride robotic approach, rabid crowd to surprise win over Halifax Mooseheads

Nathan MacKinnon scores on Portland goaltender Mac Carruth at the 2013 Memorial Cup.SASKATOON — It was billed as one of the best junior hockey matchups at the Memorial Cup in almost a decade. The top-ranked Halifax Mooseheads, champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, pitted against the Portland Winterhawks, the second-ranked champions from the Western Hockey League.

It featured the upper echelon of talent for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft with Portland’s Seth Jones, Halifax’s Nathan MacKinnon and his Mooseheads teammate Jonathan Drouin, ranked 1-2-3 respectively by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service in their final rankings.

Not since Sidney Crosby’s appearance on opening night at the 2005 Memorial Cup against Corey Perry’s London Knights had a Canadian Hockey League game been so anticipated. And like Sid, it was another kid from the Halifax suburb of Cole Harbour, N.S., who put on a show.

It was MacKinnon’s hat trick in a 7-4 victory over the Winterhawks that was a grand enough performance for people to question whether those draft rankings were right. Long beforeRead More »from Memorial Cup 2013: Nathan MacKinnon does much more than keep up with Seth Jones

Seth Jones and Nathan MacKinnon shake hands following the CHL Top Prospects Game (Andrew Vaughan, The Canadian Press)

SASKATOON — Halifax Mooseheads star Nathan MacKinnon has a message for Jay-Z: Holla at ya boy.

The rap impresario’s entertainment company, Roc Nation, has recently ventured in the sporting world and joined with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) – the agency that represents both MacKinnon and fellow top prospect Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks.

“There’s a partnership between them,” said Jones. “I’ve obviously talked to my agent Pat (Brisson) about that and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

Jay-Z and Roc Nation are reportedly very interested to work with Jones, who is ranked No. 1 by the NHL’s central scouting service. Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, could become the first African-American player selected with the NHL’s top pick. Popeye Jones is the assistant coach of the Brooklyn Nets, the team that until recently had Jay-Z as part owner.

The younger Jones could be the kind of cross-over star the NHL has been dreaming of, and who better to market him to the

Read More »from Memorial Cup 2013: Attention Jay-Z: Give Nathan MacKinnon a call

SASKATOON — Long before Seth Jones and Nathan MacKinnon were the top-ranked players for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, they were friends. And before they became good friends, they were roommates.

The two junior superstars first met in Los Angeles at an elite summer camp run by the agency – CAA - that represents both players. They were barely 15 and still relatively under the radar in the grand scheme of hockey’s star system.

They spent two weeks rooming together.

“We just started bonding and sharing each other’s similarities,” said Jones, a defenceman with the Portland Winterhawks. “It’ just took off from there.”

[2013 Memorial Cup: Do the host Saskatoon Blades have what it takes?]

In every summer camp since that initial meeting, they’ve continued to share a room.

“Seth is a neat guy for sure,” said MacKinnon, a forward with the Halifax Mooseheads. “He’s pretty easy going. We like to have some late night food runs in the room and it’s pretty simple... he’s pretty solid and we like to have a goodRead More »from 2013 Memorial Cup: Seth Jones and Nathan MacKinnon were friends before becoming foes

Craigslist ad from hockey mad mom-to-be

There are six teams in the Canadian Hockey League waiting for the opportunity to get their tickets punched to the 2013 Memorial Cup in Saskatoon. But for fans of the Portland Winterhawks and Halifax Mooseheads -- who have the opportunity to see their teams clinch league titles at home -- tickets to Game 5 might be tougher to get.

How far would you go to see your favourite team win a championship?

The Portland Winterhawks have been to two straight WHL finals, but twice they've come up short. On Friday night, however, they have the chance to win their first league title since 1997-98 on home ice when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Winterhawks, with a 3-1 series lead, have already sold the 10,947 tickets available at the Rose Garden. People are getting desperate.

One woman took to Craigslist to say she'll delay the birth of her child if she's able to get a ticket to Game 5. And, you never know, the excitement of a Winterhawks victory might send her into labour anyway.

Another Portland

Read More »from Babies, baked goods and best offers for coveted WHL, QMJHL tickets

Halifax star Nathan MacKinnon wearing the celebratory fur.HALIFAX — On this night, the smell of success for Nathan MacKinnon is more pungent than pure. A three-goal performance on this evening means the sweat-soaked MacKinnon is walking around the basement of the Halifax Metro Centre in black baseball cap, red undershirt, and a chocolate brown fur coat.

He might look ridiculous, but there's swagger in MacKinnon's walk.

The fur is a totem the Halifax Mooseheads have been giving their player of the game to wear this season. Its provenance is unknown, though it looks like something you might find in grandma’s attic.

And the coat reeks. Badly. It’s a gag-inducing mix of hockey sweat and wet fur.

“I’m sure you can smell it from here,” says MacKinnon, laughing and standing a foot away.

Yes, you can.

“It’s getting pretty gross,” he continues. “This is the ninth (playoff) game we’ve played and nobody showers before putting it on, so it’s definitely a little stinky. But it adds character, for sure.”

Character is something MacKinnon knows all too well.

Read More »from Playoff nirvana: Smells like team spirit for MacKinnon's Mooseheads