Nikita Kucherov nears return to Remparts: Friday’s coast-to-coast

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

WHL

So, uh, yeah: University of Alberta player Brennan Yadlowski confirms the fledgling Canadian Hockey League Players' Association is applying to be certified in Alberta. (Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald)

Sports Illustrated has a primer for the junior hockey newbie and we are so gosh-darn flattered they took the time that we won't even be snarky about it. (SI.com)

Edmonton Oilers second-rounder Mitch Moroz is adapting to the expectations that come with his high draft status. (Edmonton Journal)

Too bad this was not the game for Friday Night Hockey's premiere on Sportsnet: Portland vs. Prince Albert and Seth Jones vs. Josh Morrissey. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)

The 2-6-0-0 Saskatoon Blades are out to stanch the bleeding with a 3-in-3 road trip. Or they could sink even deeper. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Can Spokane's Mitch Holmberg maintain his torrid scoring pace? It'd be easier to answer if the WHL released individual shots on goal totals, just saying. (Spokane Spokesman-Review)

Who thought Kelowna's Myles Bell and Kamloops' JC Lipon would be tied for the league lead in points after three weeks? (Victoria Times-Colonist, Kamloops This Week)

Moose Jaw overager Jordan Messier will see his old Tri-City friends this weekend. (Moose Jaw Times-Herald)

The Everett Silvertips' addition of Connor Cox on overage cutdown day gives them nine defencemen. Only six dress for a game, eh. (Everett Herald)

For those who follow CIS hockey, it's a historic Canada West season opener: the newcomer Mount Royal Cougars vs. traditional power Alberta. (Sportsnet)

OHL

London-Oshawa on Sunday night. Shut the phone off and make sure the pets are taped and corked. (Metro London, London Free Press)

That Sunday matchup is also a reunion of a former netminding tandem, with the Knights' Kevin Bailie facing the Generals' Daniel Altshuller. (durhamregion.com)

Windsor Spitfires first-rounder Josh Ho-Sang netted his first major junior goal on Thursday. (Windsor Star)

Plans are afoot to build a 5,700-seat arena in Thunder Bay, Ont., but who would be the anchor tenant? The nearest major junior team is a good eight-hour drive away, whether that's Brandon or Sudbury. (CBC, Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal)

Is Owen Sound's Zach Nastasiuk a worthy heir to Austin Watson's throne as the league's best shot-blocker? (Owen Sound Sun Times)

Detroit Red Wings fourth-rounder Andreas Athanasiou has five goals in his last three games. (Barrie Examiner)

Erstwhile Plymouth Whalers forward Mitchell Heard is starting the season with Lake Erie in the AHL, but they are still carrying 28 players. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Nashville Predators prospect Mikko Vainonen was a big reason why Kingston survived a long 5-on-3 disadvantage that bridged the third period and overtime in its win on Thursday. (Kingston Whig-Standard)

A flu bug might limit several Sudbury Wolves this weekend, including draft-year right wing Nick Baptiste. (Sudbury Star)

Peterborough Petes left wing Nick Ritchie had two assists in his return from a shoulder injury, but it came in an overtime loss. (Peterborough Examiner)

QMJHL

Tampa Bay Lightning second-rounder Nikita Kucherov should join the Quebec Remparts' lineup by the end of the month, where he'll complement fellow Russian Mikhail Grigorenko. So where will Danish import Nick Sorensen be traded? (Journal de Quebec, Le Droit, RDS)

Halifax Mooseheads star Jonathan Drouin is still day-to-day with an injury as his team heads off on a Quebec road swing. (Metro Halifax)

Ottawa Senators-drafted goalie François Brassard has adapted rather well to being the Quebec Remparts' No. 1 'tender. (Ottawa Citizen)

The Q used to trail the other two leagues for NHL alumni in coaching and front-office positions, but Patrick Roy's influence has helped close the gap. (TVA Sports)

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