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Ryan Rupert hitting his stride, Gaunce could be a goner for Bulls: the coast-to-coast

Neate Sager

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

WHL

Potential NHL first-rounder Leon Draisaitl plans to be a better finisher in his second season in Prince Albert. (Prince Albert Daily Herald)

With the Brodsky era ending in Saskatoon, former Blades GM Brent McEwen notes the family deserves credit for pioneering education packages for players. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix, The Pipeline Show)

The Regina Pats need to diversify their offensive portfolio, unless Calgary Flames first-rounder Morgan Klimchuk is planning on having an 85-goal season. Whose stock is going to rise? (Regina Leader-Post)

Gregg Drinnan's take on what the WHL is doing to reduce brain injury risks: "The elbow pads still are too big and too hard. Ditto for shoulder pads. There are too many hits from behind. There are too many checks in which the head is targeted. There are too many fights where there shouldn't be any." (Kamloops Daily News)

Stephane Legault elaborates on why he eschewed living the dream for one more season as an Edmonton Oil Kings overage: "I made up my mind that I thought I'd be happier moving on with new challenges. Education is important so I thought I'd tackle that one." (The Pipeline Show)

Duelling goalie features! Crease connoisseurs will be looking forward to first matchup between Calgary's Chris Driedger and Edmonton's Tristan Jarry. (WHL, NHL.com)

OHL

Toronto Maple Leafs pick Ryan Rupert and his shift-disturber sibling Matt Rupert prepped for their season in London by getting skating instruction from ex-pro Todd Warriner: "It was a lot of driving. Our car's on its last legs." (London Free Press)

The Belleville Bulls believe it's a 50/50 shot captain Brendan Gaunce sticks with the Vancouver Canucks as a 19-year-old. Isn't it always a 50/50 shot? Either he will or he won't. Pardon the Olberman-ing. (Belleville Intelligencer)

Barrie Colts first-rounder Matt Kreis (rhymes with price) dusted all of the veterans it in the fitness testing race. (Barrie Examiner)

Due to having 11 players headed to NHL camps, the Guelph Storm have called off an exhibition game next week vs. Mississauga. (Guelph Mercury)

London allocated an overage slot to a utility player last season; Paxton Leroux is hopeful of continuing that trend. (London Free Press)

What are the most magnificent and mediocre team nicknames in the league? Something canine-related, no doubt. (Belleville Intelligencer)

Another sign of change in Kingston: the Frontenacs have a big position battle brewing over who will be their No. 2 goalie alongside overage Matt Mahalak. (Kingston Whig-Standard, OHL Writers)

QMJHL

Sixteen-year-old Halifax Mooseheads rookie Connor Moynihan, on why he and his 17-year-old brother Daniel are skipping college hockey: "We know that there’s going to be tons of scouts here because this was a winning team last year." (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)

Apparently, the experts after the fact will believe the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles should have drafted the best player from Atlantic Canada, Nathan Noel, instead of no-show Nicolas Roy. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)

Quebec Remparts import Fabrice Herzog's straight-ahead style has meshed well with 18-year-old centre Kurt Etchegary. (Le Soleil, The Pipeline Show)

Buffalo Sabres farmhand Jerome Gauthier-Leduc is pleased to see his old coach, Philippe Boucher, in charge with the Remparts. (Le Soleil) —

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.