Ryan Murray skates with Silvertips; Thursday’s coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Ryan Murray is skating with the Everett Silvertips for however long the NHL lockout lasts. Of course, there could be a deal in the next 60 or so hours, brokered by Jimmy Hoffa. (Everett Herald)

That's what you pay money to see, more blocked shots... the MasterCard Memorial Cup-host Saskatoon Blades are equipping all of their defencemen with special ankle guards. Hey, it's a probably a wise step for the only team guaranteed to play in May. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

The Regina Pats spent a day helping build a Habitat for Humanity home and wouldn't you know it, they made a game of it. Forward Dyson Stevenson, who grew up on a farm: "I got to go there and work and show the city slickers what to do." Sounds like the time in the Ottawa Sun newsroom a few years ago when two managers struggled to remove a round table from the corner office. Then a copy editor wordlessly walked over, flipped it on its side and rolled it through the doorway. (Regina Leader-Post)

The Saskatoon Blades will surely need load up for the Memorial Cup; Guy Flaming wonders if a certain Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder named Morgan Rielly might be available in January. (Coming Down The Pipe!)

Annie Fowler memorializes two Tri-City Americans fans who left us over the off-season. (Red Light District)

Get to know new Canadian Junior Hockey League president Kirk Lamb. (Edmonton Journal)

OHL

Owen Sound Attack coach Greg Ireland notes his team-building activities such be much more productive with NHL camps closed due to the likely lockout: "This should be one of the best years for it because there aren't any NHL camps. We'll have our whole group. Last year we had eight guys gone." (Owen Sound Sun Times)

Carolina Hurricanes first-rounder Ryan Murphy has not officially been named captain of the Kitchener Rangers, but you know, there's probably less chance of losing him to the NHL in the next few weeks. (Waterloo Record)

Kurtis MacDermid only played nine games for the Owen Sound Attack last season, but he already has a NHL contract. (NHL)

With the London Knights' Olli Maatta and Portland Winterhawks' Derrick Pouliot signing NHL entry-level deals, that's 20 first-rounders from June who are already under contract. (Metro London, NHL)

Sarnia Sting coach-GM Jacques Beaulieu has two exhibition games left to finalize his defensive corps. (Sarnia Observer)

Will Windsor Spitfires forward Jordan Maletta break out in his sophomore season? (Windsor Star)

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenceman Darnell Nurse wants to show more of an offensive facet during his draft year. (Sault Star)

Could the Sudbury Wolves' Michael Kantor be one of the league's most prolific overage scorers? (Sudbury Star)

Czech rookies Ondrej Kopta and David Sysala have a steep learning curve with the Niagara IceDogs, where each is a 17-year-old rookie. (St. Catharines Standard)

QMJHL

Signed San Jose Sharks prospect Konrad Abeltshauser, of the Halifax Mooseheads, might be the Q's best defenceman. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)

The proposed CHLPA claims more than 50 per cent of Quebec League players have signed union cards. That would mean it could get recognized under provincial law in Quebec, but no, they're not filing yet. (La Presse)

The Chicoutimi Sagueneens have the remainder of preseason to work on developing some identity without injured forwards Jeremy Gregoire and Charles Hudon. (Le Quotidien)

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