B-B Armada cut Stefan Matteau: Monday’s coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Saskatoon Blades performance coach Gregg Cochlan, on the Memorial Cup host picking up the pieces during its 51-day layoff before the tournament: "Everyone thinks that in sports you put in all the ingredients and it just works out. I wish media and the public would understand that there are variables in sports that are just not controllable." (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

The Portland Winterhawks are really getting into the 'Evil Empire' thing, like someone predicted after they were sanctioned by the WHL in November. As long as it doesn't extend to cheering for the New York Yankees, it's cool. (The Oregonian)

Are the Edmonton Oil Kings underachieving so far in the Eastern final? (The Pipeline Show)

How many of his 194 Western League goals has Ty Rattie scored from his sweet spot on the left goal line? (Examiner, Oregon Live)

Overage goalie Mac Carruth has been the truth while helping Portland take a 2-0 Western final lead over Kamloops. (Kamloops Daily News, Oregon Live)

Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Martin Gernat has signed with the Edmonton Oilers, which likely means the defenceman will make his pro debut in Oklahoma City next season. (Edmonton Journal)

The Spokane Chiefs' overage candidates includes No. 1 goalie Eric Williams and three of their top four scorers — Mitch Holmberg, Todd Fiddler and Mike Aviani. Tough calls. (Spokane Spokesman-Review)

The Seattle Thunderbirds will miss graduating captain Luke Lockhart, but pushing Kelowna to seven games in the first round constituted progress for the junior team in the Emerald City. (MyNorthwest.com)

OHL

The Belleville Bulls will have the "big body presence" of left wing Carter Sandlak back for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final in Barrie. Centre Tyler Graovac's status is unclear. (Belleville Intelligencer)

The Plymouth-London series has been dominated by the goalies, the Whalers' Alex Nedeljkovic and Knights' Anthony Stolarz. (London Free Press)

Cliche o' the day: London is treating the Western final, now even at 1-1, like "it’s 0-0." (London Free Press)

Likely NHL first-rounder Darnell Nurse is the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb? Thanks for informing us Canadians, American media. We had no idea. Please excuse the snark. Someone is just a little cranky after finding out his childhood football hero, fellow Eagles quarterbacking great Randall Cunningham, has a son who will debut in college football next season. Getting old sucks. (Cherry Hill Courier-Post, Pro Football Talk)

Not OHL, but a good read on why league alumnus Joel Ward wears Jackie Robinson's No. 42 for the Washington Capitals. (D.C. Sports Bog)

QMJHL

Further to Sunday's revelations, New Jersey Devils first-rounder Stefan Matteau has been cut by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. (The Canadian Press, La Presse, TVA Sports)

It is all too tempting to contrast the petulance Matteau projects with the attitude of former Victoriaville Tigres and Gatineau Olympiques wing Yannick Dubé, whose junior road ended when he suffered a pulmonary embolism in early December. The upbeat Dubé is off the medication he was prescribed after the near-death experience and is hopeful of playing again next season. (Le Droit)

Major chill bumps at seeing the crowd reaction to Martin Frk's Game 2 overtime winner for the Halifax Mooseheads. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald, sportstream.ca)

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.