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WHL

Draft-year goalie Andrey Makarov is back in the Saskatoon Blades' lineup. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Edmonton Oil Kings coach Derek Laxdal would love another crack at the Tri-City Americans, since the only way it can happen is in the league final. (Edmonton Sun)

In honour of Colorado Avalanche second-rounder Calvin Pickard setting the league's career saves record, the Seattle Thunderbirds put together a compilation of his best work. (WHL)

Everett Silvertips defenceman Ryan Murray will captain Team Cherry, while Colton Sissons of the host Kelowna Rockets will so for Team Orr at next Wednesday's CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. (Sportsnet)

Sam Reinhart has set the Kootenay Ice rookie scoring record. (Cranbrook Daily Townsman)

Being a 16-year-old defenceman on a team aiming to contend usually means moving down the depth chart, but Regina's Kyle Burroughs refuses to wallow in self-pity. (Regina

Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald and NHL executive John Davidson, ca. 1971Call it a win-win — the Lethbridge Hurricanes found a way to bring some of their city's hockey history to life and slightly tweak their archrival team.

Most serious hockey fans probably know that Lanny McDonald came of age in major junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers and went on to score 500 goals in the NHL and rock a handlebar mustache like no one's business. Yet Friday night, it will be the Hurricanes honouring the Hockey Hall of Famer, almost as if to say, hey, Lethbridge had Lanny first. The 'Canes are honouring members of the old Lethbridge Sugar Kings junior team of the late 1960s and early '70s, whose alumni count McDonald and present-day St. Louis Blues president John Davidson. McDonald will be in attendance. Davidson is  occupied by NHL all-star festivities in Ottawa but sent a video message to fans.

"It definitely is a bit tongue-in-cheek that we're doing it in a game against Medicine Hat," says Hurricanes business manager Jim Bradley. "We're hoping that brings a few more Tigers fans down to the game [about a 90-minute drive from Medicine Hat] ...

"Anything we can do to heat up that rivalry with Medicine Hat, we're all over it. We respect them as competitors but from a marketing side it's great to fuel the rivalry."

Florida Panthers draft pick Vincent TrocheckNo. 1 star: Vincent Trocheck, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

The 18-year-old centre, who's bloomed into a dangerous scorer, helped start the Spirit on the road to a big comeback 5-4 shootout win over the rival Windsor Spitfires and he capped it off as well, scoring the shootout winner after chalking up three points in regulation. The Spirit, who are now .500 and tied with Windsor for sixth in the OHL's Western Conference, looked passive early on while spotting the Spitfires a three-goal lead. However, Trocheck (one goal, two assists), Michael Fine (1G-2A as well) and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Brandon Saad (1G-1A) helped them tilt the ice in the second and third periods and go to overtime. Trocheck, a third-rounder of the Florida Panthers, then pulled off the Gordan Bombay triple deke in the second round of the shootout, pulling goalie Jaroslav Pavelka out of position and scoring on his forehand.

No. 2 star: Roman Will, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Will was a wall, making 45 consecutive saves for the Wildcats against the vastly stronger Saint John Sea Dogs. The Sea Dogs finally dug out a 1-0 win when Detroit Red Wings second-rounder Tomas Jurco deflected in the game's only goal with 8.5 seconds on the clock. Had it been a playoff game, the Sea Dogs might have needed to send out for pillows and blankets in the event they might have been there all night.

Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Morgan RiellyFor prospect watchers, the NHL's summertime cattle call might as well be called the injury draft.

It is fair to wonder whether it's reality or perception, borne out of the NHL draft drawing more year-round interest, but this season has been exceptional for potential high picks going down with longer-term injuries. Several blue-chippers from the Canadian Hockey League are likely to miss the Feb. 1 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kelowna. Sarnia Sting right wing Nail Yakupov, NHL Central Scouting's top-ranked North American skater, is rushing back from a knee injury. Teammate Alex Galchenyuk is at least a month away from coming back from knee surgery. The top-ranked goalie, Belleville's Malcolm Subban, hasn't played since suffering a groin injury on Dec. 29. Two puck-moving defencemen, Moose Jaw's Morgan Rielly (knee) and Peterborough's Slater Koekkoek (shoulder), have needed season-ending surgeries. As if to make sure the QMJHL isn't left out, TVA Sports' Mikaël Lalancette tweeted today that Chicoutimi Saguenéens centre Charles Hudon might also miss the game with an injured wrist.

Bumps and bruises are part of the game, of course. Two questions, though: how much tougher does a scout's job get when the best players in the draft class are dropping like flies?

"The kids all compete all hard, I think the injuries this year, it's just bad luck, more than anything," says a NHL scout who spoke to Yahoo! Sports recently. "It's always hard for us, but it is harder but now you have to see the same guys more often and see if they're doing anything different with their games.

"Anything to do with knee ligaments could obviously put a question mark next to someone's name," the scout adds. "A bad shoulder surgery, some guys come back from it and carry on have a great NHL career. Some guys don't heal the way they're supposed to. But when it comes down to actual draft day, we'll have medical reports and we'll have had our own doctors check them out."

The Buzzing The Net CHL Chatravaganza returns on Thursday at noon ET/1 p.m. AT/9 a.m. PT.

Please join Sunaya Sapurji, Neate Sager and a cast of many for the blogetariat's most-attended, widest-ranging approximately one-hour long livechat dedicated to major junior hockey. The stretch drive in all three leagues is drawing near, the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is one week away and there is chatter about the Ontario Hockey League hosting its first outdoor game. Does there still need to be a reminder this is BYOP — bring your own peanuts? See you Thursday.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.

Raiders' Mike WintherPrince Albert Raiders centre Mike Winther has been on fire over the past two months. The 18-year-old has notched an outstanding 16 goals and 27 points over his last 18 games, including a and five-point night against the Regina Pats in early December.

Most would gloat over this hot scoring streak, but instead, Winther chooses to be modest and humble by crediting his teammates for his success.

"A lot of my success has to go to my linemates," says Winther. "[Justin] Maylan has really helped me and [Brandon] Herrod as well before he got traded [to Western Conference-leading Kamloops]. Also being my draft year there's a bit pressure knowing I have to prove I have what it takes to get to the next level."

Winther's recent scoring surge has undoubtedly boosted his draft rankings. NHL's Central Scouting Service's midterm draft rankings placed the Trochu, Alta., native 26th among North American skaters.

"There are a lot of reasons for Winther climbing the rankings," says Rick Jackson, Western based scouted for Central Scouting. "His all-around game is improving as the year moves along. I really like how he is a very smart player in the offensive zone and is always on the right side of the puck around the net. He also has a very quick release, his skating is very good, and he is hard to knock off the puck when he gains control."

Even though his draft rankings are on a bright note, Winther chooses to stay away from independent scouting service's draft rankings.

"I don't really take any stock in those rankings," says Winther. "I just tend to not look into that stuff too much. At the end of the day those aren't the guys who draft you anyways. There are a lot of games to be played and I just want to continue to get better."

Since Winther only scored 10 points last year, his impressive sophomore season has been one of the Dub's pleasant surprises — to the majority of people who watch the league closely, if not himself.

"I'm not surprised by how the season has gone for me," says Winther, who has 24 goals and 42 points in 47 games. "Being my draft year, I knew this would be a big year for me. Before the year I set goals to improve all areas of my game. Consistency was the major thing I wanted to improve this year. I also knew I'd have to show I can score. I set a goal for 30 goals this year."

Playing in a small-market organization like Prince Albert makes it more of a challenge for Winther to get on the radar. Nevertheless, the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder will get some exposure soon enough. Winther will play in next week's CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kelowna, B.C., after being added as an injury replacement.

Combing all corners of the country and the blogosphere for your junior hockey headlines ... please stop by for the Chatravaganza at 12 noon ET/1 p.m. AT/9 a.m. PT.

WHL

Edmonton Oil Kings games are becoming a place to be and hey, they still picked up a valuable point in that barnburner vs. Tri-City on Wednesday. (Edmonton Journal)

Brandon Wheat Kings coach Cory Clouston enjoyed his Kootenay homecoming earlier this week. The former NHL bench boss was part of the Ice's first two WHL champion teams and the 2002 Memorial Cup champs. (Cranbrook Daily Townsman)

One streak, the Kamloops Blazers' nine-game skein of wins, ended, but another continued: Kelowna's Zach Franko converted his seventh consecutive shootout attempt. (Dub Nation)

Wednesday's loss in Calgary means the Brandon Wheat Kings only have a four-point advantage for the East's last playoff berth. (Brandon Sun, Calgary Herald)

Veteran forward Charles Inglis had his best game since joining the Red Deer Rebels, much to the Vancouver

Medicine Hat Tigers left wing Hunter ShinkarukNo. 1 star: Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

How often do you see two natural hat tricks in one game? It happened in The Hat, as Shinkaruk's hat trick cancelled out a four-goal, one-assist game by Mark McNeill in the Tigers' 6-5 win over the Prince Albert Raiders. The 17-year-old Shinkaruk, who reached the 35-goal checkpoint by the time the wild night was over, and Chicago Blackhawks first-rounder McNeill traded tallies back and forth over the game's final 34 minutes.

Shinkaruk, who clicked well with new a line combo that included Dylan Bredo and Boston Leier, opened a 4-2 second-period lead with his first goal of the night. McNeill tallied before the period was out; Shinkaruk replied just 26 seconds later. It happened again in the third, with Shinkaruk scoring a shortie that held up as the game-winning goal after McNeill tallied late. The talented left wing also had an assist for a four-point night.

The four goals were McNeill's first of the new year, although he'd had seven assists in as many January games coming into the contest.