McDavid put to test, Tolchinsky fine with Carolina, Brandon Shea rejoins Remparts: the coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Former Sarnia Sting defender David Nemecek will have ample opportunity on the Saskatoon Blades' overhauled blue line. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

With Kevin Constantine back as coach and a bevy of newcomers, perhaps the Everett Silvertips are ready to move out of what Nick Patterson calls "WHL irrelevance." (Everett Herald)

In no-brainer news, the Edmonton Oil Kings have rewarded coach Derek Laxdal with a two-year contract extension. (Edmonton Journal)

Malcolm Cameron never missed the playoffs as an ECHL coach, and his Regina Pats have missed the Eastern Conference playoffs in four of the past five seasons. Something has to give, eh? (Regina Leader-Post)

Top bantam selections Dante Hannoun and Matt Phillips might help the Victoria Royals corner the market in stumpy, skilled forwards. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

The legacy of Milan Doczy? Czech forward Robin Soudek, a Royals grad, is playing university hockey with the UPEI Panthers. (Charlottetown Guardian)

OHL

BTN favourite Sergey Tolchinsky has inked a NHL free-agent pact with the Carolina Hurricanes; how was he not drafted after a 51-point rookie year with the Soo Greyhounds? (NHL.com)

Connor McDavid's rookie-of-the-year campaign with the Erie Otters and winning turn with various national junior teams has whetted the appetite for big shiny things: "Now, it seems like there’s a lot of pressure. I’ve got to be better than last year." McDavid's training this week with NHL players. Yikes. (Globe & Mail)

Anyone betting on who puts up more points, No. 1 pick Travis Konecny with the Ottawas or No. 2 pick Dylan Strome with the Eries? Please keep in mind it's not about the points. (The Hockey News)

The Peterborough Petes are shoring up their coaching staff.

With third- and fourth-rounders Ryan Sarris and Johnny Corneil committing, the rebuilding Niagara IceDogs now have their first four priority selection picks from the spring under contract. (OurHometown.ca)

Patrick Watling, the Soo Greyhounds' overage newcomer, might as well add the middle initial V., for versatility. (Sault Star)

Fellow overage wing Steven Janes plans on being "the guy who goes in the corner and makes room" on the Windsor Spitfires. (Windsor Star)

QMJHL

Up in Val-d'Or, Foreurs skipper Mario Durocher is waiting to name his captain, although overages Guillaume Gélinas and Samuel Henley would seem like strong possibilities. (Abitibi Express)

Mike McMahon has a reminder that former first-rounder Brandon Shea is heading back to the Quebec Remparts. (Le Soleil)

Draft prospect Clark Bishop plays his first preseason game with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Saturday. (Cape Breton Post)

Defenceman Nathanael Halbert, on hopping over the provincial border to join the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada as 17-year-old rookie: "Missing out on the OHL draft, you forget about the OHL but you always have a dream of playing in front of large crowds every night." (Stouffville Sun-Tribune) —

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