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Blades kick back on couch, Cataractes kick tires on coach: Thursday’s coast-to-coast

Neate Sager

Combing all corners of the country and the blogosphere for your junior hockey headlines ...

WHL

Kevin Mitchell and Patrick King have the definitive reads on the Saskatoon Blades having a 51-day wait before the Memorial Cup opener. Mitchell: "In the final tally, the Blades' organization should be at the Memorial Cup, and they will be ... On the other hand, and this is equally true, the current collection of Blades' players and coaches don't deserve to play at the 2013 Memorial Cup." (Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Sportsnet)

The WHL admits the refs failed to call a glove pass on the Calgary Hitmen's Game 4 overtime goal in Swift Current on Tuesday. Then again, you could have seen it from the Uecker seats. (Broncos Blog, Swift Current Online)

Can Laurent Brossoit get a third shutout when the Edmonton Oil Kings host their first series clincher against Kootenay on Friday? (Edmonton Journal)

The Portland Winterhawks expected big things from little Nic Petan when they used a first-round bantam draft pick to take him three years ago, but a scoring title at age 17? Never. (Portland Tribune)

In the Western Conference, Victoria's Patrik Polivka might need further heroics to help the underdog Royals stymie Kamloops in Game 4 on Thursday. (Kamloops This Week)

OHL

Graduating overage defenceman Brandon Archibald said what everyone was thinking about Barrie Colts captain Ryan O'Connor's suspension.

Today's should-read: Gene Pereira on the bond between Barrie Colts stars Anthony Camara and Mark Scheifele. (Barrie Examiner)

Meantime, the Colts know when they expect to open their Eastern semifinal vs. the lowest seed remaining among Brampton, Niagara, Oshawa and Sudbury.

Soo Greyhounds coach Sheldon Keefe's team will have to win at least one game Owen Sound to oust the Attack. Quoth Keefe: "Maybe that [home-ice] advantage is countered by the fact they now have a lot of pressure on them." Meantime, is 'Hounds forward Michael Schumacher showing enough to convince the Los Angeles Kings to sign him to a contract? (Sault Star)

Top overage player Charlie Sarault will join the AHL's Norfolk Admirals now that the bees in Sarnia have gone into spring hibernation. The junior days of goalie JP Anderson and defenceman Alex Basso also ended with the loss. (Sarnia Observer)

The top-seeded Belleville Bulls have led in every game against pesky Mississauga. So there is that. (Belleville Intelligencer)

Sean Lafortune has made your attempt at a mock priority selection draft look bad. Well-done. Now is Lawson Crouse the name of a prospect or of a law firm looking to purchase rink board advertising next to the Chico's Bail Bonds sign? No under age 35 will get the joke. (The Scout)

The Kingston Frontenacs will look to draft a forward with their No. 5 selection, since they need to make room for another young defenceman, 17-year-old Matt Watson. (Kingston Whig-Standard)

QMJHL

Could sacked Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher, the one-time Brain That Saved Tampa Bay, find his way back to junior? The Shawinigan Cataractes do need a coach. (Le Nouvelliste)

The 13th-seeded Gatineau Olympiques have fourth-seeded Rimouski on the ropes. It's March Madness. (Le Droit)

Ottawa Senators-drafted goalie Francois Brassard has helped Quebec push Chicoutimi to the edge of elimination. (Le Soleil)

Just how much did the Saint John Sea Dogs swoon after Jonathan Huberdeau left for the Florida Panthers and their veterans were off-loaded to begin the rebuilding? (Station Nation)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.