Friday coast-to-coast: Chicoutimi’s Alexandre Beauregard set to return after treatment for thyroid cancer

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

WHL

Portland Winterhawks star Sven Bärtschi is set for his big NHL debut tonight for the Calgary Flames. (Calgary Herald)

Tri-City Americans winger Patrick Holland is, obviously, pretty happy to have signed his NHL entry-level deal with the Montreal Canadiens. Meantime, his team needs a win tonight to stay ahead in the chase for first overall. (Something that sets apart the WHL is people actually know the name of the trophy for winning the regular season.) (Tri-City Herald)

As if the Saskatoon Blades' back end is not already decimated: draft-year defenceman Dalton Thrower is out indefinitely with an injury. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

A Moose Jaw-Regina tilt in March that has playoff implications for both teams? That's something new. (Regina Leader-Post)

Goalie mask designs are getting way too elaborate. (Calgary Herald)

Victoria Royals draft-year centre Steven Hodges admits to having Party In The USA on his iPod. Now that's someone who's secure in who he is. (Dan Sallows)

A 20-goal rookie season is getting Kelowna Rockets rookie Carter Rigby some notice. (Dub Nation)

Chicago Blackhawks-drafted goalie Kent Simpson has cut his average by nearly a goal and a half per game over the past month and a half, which is why Everett's in a playoff spot. (Everett Herald)

Brandon Wheat Kings forward Darian Dziurzynski is playing his 300th game in the Dub tonight. (Brandon Sun)

OHL

New York Rangers first-rounder J.T. Miller has had a solid post-draft season in Plymouth; Whalers coach-GM Mike Vellucci says he might only be a year or two away from going to The Show. (Beaver County Times)

On Thursday, Jack Campbell was the reason the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds got closer to a playoff berth, whereas the Windsor Spitfires' prospects were slightly dimmed. (Windsor Star, Sault Star)

Peterborough Petes rookie Nick Ritchie has a 10-game suspension coming for touching an official. That will carry into next season since the Petes are all but ousted from playoff contention. (Peterborough Examiner)

The league is reviewing a hit by Plymouth's Tom Wilson that resulted in Erie defenceman Travis Wood spending a night in the hospital. Meantime, Niagara's Alex Friesen will not get anything for a charging major last weekend. (Erie Times-News)

Friday's Niagara-Ottawa game might well decide the Eastern Conference. The IceDogs have a one-point lead with five games left. (Ottawa Citizen)

London Knights defenceman Colin Martin, a converted forward, has made the switch thanks to assistant coach Rob Ramage's tutelage. (London Free Press)

The Belleville Bulls' Adam Payerl overcame long odds to land a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now he can look forward to the harder work ahead. (Belleville Intelligencer)

On paper, they're dangerous, but who knows what to expect from the Oshawa Generals in the playoffs. (durhamregion.com)

Tony Saxon follows up on some of the Guelph Storm's priority selection picks. (Guelph Mercury)

Sudbury Wolves coach Trent Cull, on losing 7-0 in Barrie: "It's good to get your ass kicked once in a while ... It's almost better, you know, when you're not playing the right way, than getting beat 2-1." (Sudbury Star)

QMJHL

You might remember that in January, Chicoutimi Saguenéens forward Alexandre Beauregard was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid gland. Now he's healthy and hoping to play tonight vs. his old buddies from Saint John. (QMJHL)

Today's should-read, even if it requires Google Translate: how Quebec Remparts rookie goalie François Brassard grew up being overshadowed by another good young goalie in his hometown, Domenic Graham. Meantime, a groin injury to veteran Louis Domingue means Brassard might start vs. his hometown Gatineau Olympiques this weekend. (Le Soleil)

For anyone wondering, the Saint John Sea Dogs' regular-season record is 158-33-2-6 since the Gerard Gallant-Mike Kelly team took over behind the bench. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)

The Shawinigan Cataractes had a long team meeting Thursday to address their recent funk. (Le Nouvelliste)

It's been a Jekyll-and-Hyde week for the Halifax Mooseheads: win by seven, lose by six. (Metro Halifax)

The P.E.I. Rocket have a prime opportunity to get in a playoff spot with a home-and-home vs. Cape Breton. (Charlottetown Guardian)

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