Laxdal leaves Oil Kings for Texas Stars: the coast-to-coast

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

WHL

When Steve Hamilton took his name out of consideration for the Vancouver Giants coaching job, this seemed inevitable. Memorial Cup-winning coach Derek Laxdal is moving up to the pros, going from one reigning champion to another, the Texas Stars. (Austin American-Statesman, Dallas Morning News, Edmonton Journal)

Regina Pats star Morgan Klimchuk will be under extra scrutiny during the Calgary Flames development camp, what with being a 2013 first-rounder and all. (Calgary Herald)

Prince Albert import pick Simon Stransky was a 20-goal scorer in the Czech junior loop last season; not a bad fallback if the Edmonton Oilers keep Leon Draisaitl. (Southwest Booster)

Saskatoon will have three imports in the kitty while it waits to see how Montreal Canadiens first-rounder Nikita Scherbak fares at training camp. Plus they need reinforcements everywhere. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

The Victoria Royals do not expect 20-year-old goalie Patrik Polivka to return as an overage. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

The Seattle Thunderbirds dug deep to spot import selection Florian Baltram, a native of Austria. (Kent Reporter)

"Sizy." That's a new adjective, Sun Media. (Calgary Sun)

OHL

Sarnia Sting GM Nick Sinclair, on the controversial first overall selection of Pavel Zacha: "We're optimistic that Sarnia can be a place that will really enhance his draft status."

Hey, joining Sarnia worked out well for Nikolay Goldobin. (Sarnia Observer)

The London Knights think they can get San Jose Sharks-drafted defender Julius Bergman into training camp. In a related story, there's a chance the Laval Rouge et Or might have a pretty good football team. (London Free Press)

Barrie has seen the last of Florida Panthers No. 1 overall pick Aaron Ekblad, writes Stephen Sweet. (Barrie Examiner)

Would it be something if the drug-free sport do-gooders pressured supplements manufacturers to properly label their products instead of making an example out of North Bay Battalion centre Jamie Lewis? Just a thought. Lewis, a potential overage, will have to sit out the season's first eight games after testing positive for a banned supplement. (The Canadian Press)

Did Erie using both of its import picks, including one on Arizona Coyotes second-rounder Anton Karlsson, signal that André Burakovsky might not return? The Washington Capitals can assign the 41-goal scorer to the AHL. (Erie Times-News)

A Swede with a "competitive edge" joining the Kitchener Rangers? Cue the super-superficial comparisons between Gustav Fransen and former Aud-star Gabriel Landeskog. (Waterloo Record)

Bryan Helmer's departure for the AHL Hershey Bears means the Peterborough Petes will have its third defensive coach in as many seasons. His replacement should have some new talent to work with. (Peterborough Examiner)

Selecting Gustav Bouramann helps Sault Ste. Marie replenish its stock of younger defenders. (Sault Star)

First-round pick William Bitten has committed to the Plymouth Whalers. (OHL)

The Niagara IceDogs will host the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

QMJHL

Jonathan Drouin is talking like he plans on being with the Tampa Bay Lightning and not the Halifax Mooseheads. (TBO.com)

The Quebec Remparts are not too chuffed about missing out on Zacha. (Le Soleil)

Dennis Yan will indeed report to Shawinigan, which had two fellow Russians on its 2012 Memorial Cup-winning team. (Le Nouvelliste)

Will Montreal Canadiens pick Daniel Audette be enriched by playing with Sherbrooke's new import, Kay Schweri? (Le Tribune)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.