Slater Koekkoek injured in exhibition opener; Friday’s coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Today's should-reads: Brandon Wheat Kings owner/GM Kelly McCrimmon talks with Eric Duhatschek on the one-year anniversary of the Yaroslavl plane crash that took his brother, Brad McCrimmon. Scott Burnside also profiles the McCrimmon family. (Globe & Mail, QMI Agency)

The Canadian Junior Hockey League has its first full-time president, Calgary lawyer Kirk Lamb, who played for the Bonnyville (Alta.) Pontiacs. (Vancouver Province)

Victoria Royals sophomore defenceman Keegan Kanzig is now listed at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

Draft-year goalie Eric Comrie had a clean sheet during his half of the game for Tri-City on Thursday. (Cranbrook Daily Townsman)

The MasterCard Memorial Cup-host Saskatoon Blades have plenty of young defenceman trying to earn a roster spot. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Rookie goalie Teagan Sacher is in tough to win a spot with the Regina Pats; stopping 32-of-33 shots on Thursday didn't hurt his chances. (Regina Leader-Post)

OHL

Tampa Bay Lightning first-rounder Slater Koekkoek left the Peterborough Petes game in the second period with an "upper body injury." That is scary since Koekkoek needed shoulder surgery last season. (Peterborough Examiner)

Former league MVP Michael Houser has endorsed Kevin Bailie as his replacement in the London Knights' net. Now who does the Florida Panthers prospect like in the NFL this weekend? (Some of us have a pool sheet to fill out.) (London Free Press, Metro London)

Niagara IceDogs 17-year-old rookie Anthony DiFruscia netted two goals on Thursday. His line, helmed by the on-the-NHL-bubble Ryan Strome, kind of had an easy time in the exhibition vs. the Erie Otters. (St. Catharines Standard)

Wait, the Belleville Bulls' Malcolm Subban has a contract with the Boston Bruins and established-NHLer brother P.K. Subban does not have one with the Montreal Canadiens? (Belleville Intelligencer, Boston Herald)

Why did Ottawa Senators prospect Matt Puempel chose to wear No. 73 for the Kitchener Rangers? (Waterloo Record)

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds GM Kyle Dubas on Russian import Sergei Tolchinsky: "One thing we don't want to do is trot him out as the saviour. He's only 17 and he's got a lot to adjust to." (Sault Star)

New name to learn: Barrie Colts rookie centre Justin Scott. (Barrie Examiner)

Does this ever come up during discussions about competitive balance or is it more isolated to one team? Owen Sound beat writer Bill Walker noted the Attack cut an American player "because of his age (18 this year) and the fact that his education package was more expensive because it would be to a U.S. university." (Owen Sound Sun Times)

QMJHL

Nathan MacKinnon will make his preseason debut for the Halifax Mooseheads this weekend. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Metro Halifax)

Vancouver Canucks-drafted goalie David Honzik is still day-to-day for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles as he recovers from shoulder surgery. (Cape Breton Post)

CHL education packages should not have an expiration date, for sure. (Station Nation)

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