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Connor McDavid lottery set for Saturday, Hitmen's Tambellini hurting: the coast-to-coast

Neate Sager
Team Orr captain Connor McDavid, of the Erie Otters, looks on during the third period of the CHL Top Prospects Game in St. Catharines, Ontario on Thursday, January 22, 2015. As expected, McDavid will be the top-ranked North American prospect at this year's NHL draft.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power
Team Orr captain Connor McDavid, of the Erie Otters, looks on during the third period of the CHL Top Prospects Game in St. Catharines, Ontario on Thursday, January 22, 2015. As expected, McDavid will be the top-ranked North American prospect at this year's NHL draft.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power

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

WHL

With so much top talent injured or still in playoffs, Canada is a long shot for a medal at the world under-18 championship. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

New York Rangers signing Adam Tambellini has the dreaded 'something on his body' injury ahead of the Calgary Hitmen's potential Central Division clincher. (Calgary Sun)

Medicine Hat overcoming a 3-1 series deficit? Well, they pulled it off the last time. (Medicine Hat News)

There's a lot to like about the game of Calgary rookie Jordy Stallard, and not just the fact his name is similar to the pitcher who coughed up Roger Maris' 61st home run in 1961. (Calgary Sun)

Victoria and Regina also face must-wins in a pair of Game 5s on Friday night. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

Portland's firepower was a little much for Everett on Thursday night. (Portland Tribune, Seattle Times)

Vancouver Canucks draft pick Anton Cederholm, a Swede, chipped in  goal during Portland's win while his father was in the stands after making a 5,000-mile trip. (The Oregonian)

Touted 15-year-old Jaxon Nelson has committed to the Minnesota Golden Gophers ahead of next week's bantam draft. Which WHL team is prepared to play the long game and wait three years for him? (SB Nation College Hockey)

OHL

The Connor McDavid lottery takes place on Saturday. (Buffalo News, Edmonton Journal)

The Kingston Frontenacs' Sam Bennett stepped right into the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Calgary Flames. (Calgary Sun)

Sault Ste. Mare's Sheldon Keefe, whom one would expect to be named league coach of the year, on managing competitive people: "Ego comes with the territory when talking about elite athletes. It's hard to get to the head of the class without a little bit of an ego and a competitive attitude." (Sault Star),

North Bay winning in double overtime on home ice is a perfect excuse to go into the wayback machine to remember the last time that an OHL team from the city won a playoff game in sudden death. (Bay Today, North Bay Nugget)

Stephen Sweet has a should-read about boorish spectator behaviour during the Battalion-Colts series. (Barrie Examiner)

Why pending Ottawa 67's grad Alex Lintuniemi could be a better pro than he was as a junior. (LA Kings Insider)

The Windsor Spitfires will hope to find an impactful import at the world under-18s. (Windsor Star)

QMJHL

The Halifax-Moncton game in Frederiction, N.B., sold out quickly. (CTV Atlantic)

The coaching job that Dominique Ducharme has done with an undermanned Halifax team is a proof he's ticketed for bigger and brighter things. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Metro Halifax)

Coach Guy Boucher, on the Quebec Remparts becoming the first Memorial Cup host team since 2011 to reach their league's final four: "There are not many people who wanted us there."  (Le Soleil)

Charlottetown's exit was a valedictory for two Prince Edward Island natives, captain Ryan MacKinnon and New York Islanders free-agent signing Ross Johnston. (Charlottetown Guardian)

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