Prendergast would like Team Canada to get physical: Tuesday’s coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Hockey Night in Canada's Kevin Weekes on the impact Seth Jones becoming the first African-American taken first overall in the NHL draft: "If Seth is able to go No. 1, or even No. 2, it would be such a huge turning point for so many people. Not only black people or visible minorities, but people in general. That's what North America is all about — having the opportunity." (FOX Sports)

Gare Joyce revisits how Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke might have placed undue expectations on Moose Jaw Warriors star Morgan Rielly back on draft day. (Sportsnet)

Saskatoon Blades coach Lorne Molleken will use Andrey Makarov like a six-shooter until the goalie leaves to join Russia at the world junior championship. Meaning he'll use him till he's empty and then throw him at the bad guys. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

The Edmonton Oil Kings anticipate that offensive defenceman Martin Gernat will return some time early in the new year. (Edmonton Journal)

What did the Everett Silvertips get from the Seth Jones trade? (Everett Herald)

The boomtown of Fort McMurray, Alta., whose population could hit 250,000 within the next decade, is planning to build an 8,000-seat downtown arena. Heads-up, WHL. (MyMcMurray.com)

OHL

Hockey Canada head scout Kevin Prendergast would like to see the national junior team be more physical than the 2012 edition. Tom Wilson's ears might be burning. (Calgary Herald)

Someone please come up with a nickname that mashes up the names of the London Knights goalie tandem of Kevin Bailie and Jake Patterson. (London Free Press)

Niagara IceDogs coach-GM Marty Williamson considers Dallas Stars prospect Brett Ritchie "a lock" to make Team Canada. (St. Catharines Standard)

It might be an urgent time for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds if a column begins with 17 consecutive one-sentence paragraphs. (Sault Star)

The Ottawa 67's got some reinforcement by trading for two-way winger Brendan Bell. (Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Sun)

QMJHL

Acadie-Bathurst Titan owner Léo-Guy Morrissette says he would have fired coach Eric Dubois earlier had Dubois not been a Titan alumnus. (Le Nouvelliste)

Former QMJHL coach Claude Bouchard will not be the new coach in Bathurst. (Le Quotidien)

Blainville-Boisbriand's Philippe Sanche is not only surviving but thriving all of 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds. (TVA Sports)

Gatineau Olympiques coach-GM Benoît Groulx will be operating with a short bench for a few games yet. (Le Droit)

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