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Hunter Shinkaruk strengthens case with Canucks, Gaunce bound for Belleville: the coast-to-coast

Neate Sager

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

WHL

How does a 2018 world junior championship in Pittsburgh sound? (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Erstwhile Medicine Hat Tigers captain Hunter Shinkaruk potted his second NHL preseason goal on Thursday, which augurs well for his chances to stick around with the Vancouver Canucks for the real thing.

What about the two teenaged OHLers, London's Bo Horvat and the Belleville Bulls' Brendan Gaunce? Gaunce is headed back to junior. (NHL.com)

The Portland Winterhawks' Keegan Iverson was player of the game during Thursday's All-American Prospects Game in Pittsburgh. Does that mean the Penguins will have to draft him? They tend to only take 'Hawks defencemen. (NHL.com)

Suspension alert! It's not every day one can use a "Crunk out" pun headline without forcing it. Okay, perhaps that was a little forced.

OHL

Sean Monahan remains up with the Calgary Flames, who have to pare two more forwards off their roster by NHL opening night. Flames GM Jay Feaster on Monahan, via Kristen Odland: "He’s trained to be a professional. He continues to be in the mix." (Calgary Herald)

The longer Horvat stays in Vancouver, the more prominent 19-year-old San Jose Sharks picks Chris Tierney becomes for the London Knights. (London Free Press)

Sudbury Community Arena showed its age when the Wolves had a game fogged out last week. The OHL is a little concerned about the aging of what will soon be its oldest venue. (CBC)

Bill Walker explains how new Owen Sound Attack goalie Jack Flinn, thanks to his adviser Darren Ferris, didn't have to be exposed to QMJHL waivers before switching leagues. (Owen Sound Sun Times)

Washington Capitals first-rounder Andre Burakovsky will make his Erie Otters debut on Friday. (Erie Times-News)

Injuries are helping Eric Locke's chances of staying with the Buffalo Sabres' AHL farm club instead of being an overage with the Saginaw Spirit. (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)

Windsor Spitfires goalie Jordan DeKort was called out just a little after giving up three goals on six shots in a loss to Sarnia. Coach Bob Boughner: "Your goalie has to be one of your best players and ours was not." (Windsor Star)

Former Boston College recruit Conor McGlynn is adapting well to being a space-opening power winger with the Kingston Frontenacs, (Kingston Whig-Standard)

Not OHL, but centre Nik Coric, who was considered a contemporary of Connor McDavid's two seasons ago, is getting a foothold a Junior A. (Newmarket Era)

The Peterborough Petes didn't bank a home win until after Thanksgiving last season, so one can imagine the good vibes from Thursday's 8-5 win over Plymouth. (Peterborough Examiner)

QMJHL

Tampa Bay Lightning beat writer Erik Erlendsson suggests NHL No. 3 overall pick Jonathan Drouin will get a NHL trial during the regular season.

Are the Quebec Remparts going to face another bidder for the 2015 Memorial Cup tournament? The deadline to apply is on Tuesday. (Le Soleil)

Beating a contender, Baie-Comeau, is a watershed moment for the young Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. (Cape Breton Post)

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.