Martin ready to ride against Broncos, Knights goalie goes down and a busy Bittner: The coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Buffalo Sabres-drafted defenceman Brycen Martin, now of Saskatoon, faces his old Swift Current Broncos team for the first time. Martin, on his time with Swift Current: "I didn’t even really have a shot at the first power play. That was definitely an adjustment for me. Everything kind of fell apart and that’s when the trade happened. I’m thankful for that. It’s helped me elevate my game and move along in my hockey career." 

Draft prospect Paul Bittner played four nights in a row last week for Portland, with a cross-continent plane flight thrown in. (The Columbian)

When will Mathew Barzal get his first point for Seattle since returning from a broken kneecap? (Prince George Citizen)

The Calgary Hitmen are high on the bean, as in defenceman Jake Bean. (Calgary Sun)

Joe Hicketts and the Victoria Royals have a critical U.S. Division road trip this weekend. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

Calgary Flames selection Eric Roy is about to play his 300th game for Brandon. (Brandon Sun, paywall; Winnipeg  Sun)

Kootenay could stand to collect some points during a seven-game homestand. Otherwise Sam Reinhart's Dub days could end sooner than anticipated. (Cranbrook Daily Townsman)

Moose Jaw and Prince Albert are both at the desperation point as they look to make playoff pushes. The Warriors, of course, shook up their scouting department recently. (Moose Jaw Times-Herald, Prince Albert Daily Herald)

OHL

Connor McDavid, on the crowds the Erie Otters are attracting on the road: "It's a nice compliment, obviously, but I'm not too sure it's just me. We have a good team with a lot of names people want to come out and see." (Peterborough Examiner, Kingston Whig-Standard)

London's fine rookie goalie, Tyler Parsons, was injured on Thursday against Windsor. (London Free Press)

West Division-leading Sault Ste. Marie has been in some high-scoring games, but probably shouldn't expect that against North Bay. Now watch them play a 10-8 game. (Sault Star)

Sophomore forward Nikita Korostelev is back in the Sarnia Sting's lineup for their eastern swing. (Sarnia Observer)

Kudos to the Ottawa 67's, Saginaw Spirit and other OHL teams for realizing mental health issues need more than a hashtag. (580 CFRA, Midland Daily News)

Sign of the times: the Eastern Ontario Junior B circuit could downsize from 22 teams to 16. (Brockville Recorder & Times)

QMJHL

Shane Bowers is the favourite to be the first overall pick in this spring's Quebec League draft. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Hockey Prospect)

Quebec Remparts coach-GM Philippe Boucher is giving the slumping Memorial Cup host team some tough love. (Le Soleil)

Fiscal conservatives might get a giggle out of the Remparts' new home being called "a $400-million family skating rink." (National Post)

Drummondville goalie Anthony Brodeur has taken some hard knocks over his two seasons in the Q. (Parlons Junior)

The third team is the charm for Loïk Léveillé, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles' emerging offensive defenceman. (Le Quotidien)

Well, that wasn't very nice of Shawinigan, beating Saint John 7-1. (Le Nouvelliste)

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