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Barzal, Benson back-to-back in B.C.: the coast-to-coast

Neate Sager

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

WHL

Nope, there is no pressure on Tyler Benson ahead of the first overall pick Vancouver Giants debut on Saturday. None whatsoever. (Vancouver Province)

A smart fan in B.C. could also see 16-year-old phenom Mathew Barzal in action on Friday before seeing the Benson roll-out, since Seattle has a two-game set at Victoria. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

Saskatoon Blades goalie Alex Moodie, on watching the NHL draft and not hearing his name: "You're pretty sad inside." Meantime, can the retooling Blades stay with the playoff pack? (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

BTN's own Kelly Friesen looks at the possibilities on the blueline for Team Canada now that its WJC opener is a mere six weeks away. (Yorkton This Week)

Former Tri-City Americans mainstay Shaun Vey was diagnosed with testicular cancer on Friday; the Ams are holding Shaun Vey Down There Night on Friday to raise awareness of vulnerability to that particular form of cancer. (Tri-City Herald)

TJ Dumonceaux, the Vernon Vipers forward who punched a linesman in the face last weekend, won't be suspended by the British Columbia Hockey League. The BCHL said it was a "a consensual hockey fight and there were no intent to hit the linesman." (Global BC)

OHL

While Jared McCann was notching a hat trick for Sault Ste. Marie, fellow 17-year-old standout Brendan Perlini's scoring drought continued on Thursday in Niagara. (St. Catharines Standard)

Quote of the week from Sean Day, who's taking Canadian history for the first time in his life after previously having attended U.S. schools: "The part about the War of 1812, where Canada burned down the White House — I know a little bit more about that now." (Toronto Star)

Vancouver Canucks prospect Evan McEneny will rejoin Kitchener's lineup this weekend after missing a week with a brain injury after being checked in the head by Guelph's Robby Fabbri. McEneny scored the game-winner in struggling Kitchener's last non-shootout victory back on Oct. 14. (Waterloo Record)

Shaun Bisson looks at how the Sarnia Sting might approach the trade deadline over the next two months. Got two roster players to ante up for defenceman Anthony DeAngelo? (Sarnia Observer)

A 6-1 loss to Owen Sound dropped Peterborough to 4-7 at home, compared to 4-3 away. As Petes assistant coach Paul Mattucci: "When we go on the road they play simple and play hard." (Peterborough Examiner)

While Barrie's Brendan Lemieux was potting a hat trick, the Sudbury Wolves hit their own trifecta — "outworked, outplayed and outscored." Not the best way to gear up for a rivalry game against North Bay. (Sudbury Star)

How is passing on playing for the NCAA's Canisius College paying off for the Belleville Bulls' Jake Marchment? (durhamregion.com)

Kingston newcomer Robert Polesello, late of the Vermont Catamounts, is unfazed by only being 5-foot-7: "Some guys [in Division I] were 24, 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds." (Kingston Whig-Standard)

Kitchener Rangers grad Tobias Rieder has overcome a foot injury to have an impressive start for the Phoenix Coyotes' AHL farm team. (Portland Press-Herald)

QMJHL

Halifax Mooseheads star Jonathan Drouin can bring some experience to bear on the Subway Super Series.

Who among the Q's best has an inside track on cracking Team Canada's lineup in December? (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)

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.