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Nicolas Roy rumblings intensify, bringing up Benson: the coast-to-coast

Neate Sager

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

WHL

Tanner Muth, due to post-concussion syndrome, will not attempt an overage season due to brain injuries. Gregg Drinnan has kept close tabs of the players who have withdrawn from the Dub due to brain injuries: "[Muth] joins D Reid Jackson of the Moose Jaw Warriors, and F Shea Howorko and F Brent Benson of Swift Current. As well, F Tyrel Seaman, who has had at least three concussions over the last two seasons, won’t be in camp with the Brandon Wheat Kings when it opens this week, and D Tanner Mort of the Spokane Chiefs has retired due to what the team says is a neck injury. Mort suffered a brain injury during a game in Kamloops last season." (Taking Note)

Eek, Stephane Legault is now an Ook! The 20-year-old has decided to enrol at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), depriving the Edmonton Oil Kings of a very useful overage.

The Victoria Royals expect to be a "mature team," in defenceman Keegan Kanzig's phrasing. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

Vancouver Canucks first-rounder Hunter Shinkaruk did the weather forecast on Medicine Hat's CHAT-TV. Hey, fewer than four months until Anchorman 2 opens! In sports, Shinaruk and his Tigers have 10 players bound for NHL camps. (Medicine Hat News)

Top bantam draft selection Tyler Benson is playing for a hockey academy, which essentially means he will likely be able to join the Vancouver Giants for the final weeks of the season. A 15-year-old can play five games until his minor hockey's team's season is completed.

Incidentally, if there's a good wing out there named Butler in the next couple Dub drafts, let him be paired with Benson. (Vancouver Province)

Young goalie Brody Willms has signed with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Commit that name to memory; it's not Williams. (Moose Jaw Times-Herald)

Tri-City Americans were unable to secure the older Playfair, Spokane forward Jackson Playfair, but 16-year-old forward Austyn Playfair has come aboard. (Island Sports News)

OHL

First federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau discloses that he has smoked marijuana, now the municipal government in Kitchener will let hockey fans drink beer in all seats at Rangers games. What's the world coming to? (CTV, Waterloo Record)

Montreal Canadiens pick Brady Vail is eyeing a bigger role for his 19-year-old season in Windsor. (Windsor Star)

Between Matt Mancina and Jason DaSilva, there's a "wide open" competition to be the Guelph Storm's No. 1 goalie. (Guelph Mercury)

Erie Otters No. 2 overall pick Dylan Strome, on playing with that other 16-year-old, Connor McDavid: "Maybe if there's more eyes on him, if I make a mistake it won't be as scrutinized as if he made a mistake." (Erie Times-News)

Is it too early to call young centre David Miller a 2015 NHL draft prospect? He might be the sleeper at the Soo Greyhounds' camp. (Sault Star)

Don Campbell essentially says the Ottawa 67's might reprise last season's performance of Lost in Kanata: "Development is far more important than wins for another season." (Ottawa Citizen)

QMJHL

Very interesting ... first overall pick Nicolas Roy has been removed from the roster of his Amos, Que., AAA midget team, which suggests something's up. (L'Echo Abitibien)

New Jersey Devils draft pick Anthony Brodeur's 36-save night in a Gatineau Olympiques exhibition came vs. Val-d'or on a night when the 'Piques played four 16-year-olds and rested several veterans. (Le Droit)

Poolies take note: 19-year-old Russian Denis Gorbunov has five goals in Baie-Comeau's past two exhibitions. (Le Soleil)

Quebec Remparts 18-year-old Hubert Lamarre has bounced back well from a knee injury that cost him the playoffs last season. (Le Soleil)

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.