Saskatoon shoots into first, Rickard Rakell returns to Plymouth: Wednesday’s 3 Stars

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

And just like that, Josh Nicholls and Michael Ferland, et al., have led the MasterCard Memorial Cup-host Saskatoon Blades to the top of the East Division. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Southwest Booster)

A playoff berth is likely not happening for the Regina Pats. (Regina Leader-Post)

The Spokane Chiefs' rough road of late will not get any easier tonight against surging Calgary, but they are catching the Hitmen at the end of a long road trip. (KREM, Spokane Spokesman-Review)

Are the Victoria Royals for real? Ask again after they play Kootenay. (Victoria Times-Colonist)

Get to know Kelowna Rockets defenceman Mitch Wheaton. (The Pipeline Show)

OHL

The Plymouth Whalers, now leading the West Division, will finally get three-time Swedish world junior forward Rickard Rakell back from the NHL's Anaheim Ducks. (TSN)

Dallas Stars first-rounder Radek Faksa is making progress in his return from a knee injury, reports Josh Brown. (Waterloo Record)

The Windsor Spitfires do not have a timetable for when Calgary Flames-drafted defenceman Pat Sieloff will return from his groin injury. (Windsor Star)

The London Knights have some bugs in the system to work out before relaunching for the final stretch of the regular season, now minus Seth Griffith and his point-and-a-half per game. (Metro London)

Speaking of the Spits and Knights, Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino is talking about the bids for the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup. (The Pipeline Show)

The loop's top two scorers, Sarnia's Charlie Sarault and Sault Ste. Marie's Nick Cousins, are one point apart going into a head-to-head matchup on Wednesday. Know who is also one point apart? Their teams. (Sarnia Observer, Sault Star)

Former first-rounder Luke Mercer's emergence as a steady defenceman has been a bright spot during the early stages of the Niagara IceDogs' rebuilding. (St. Catharines Standard)

Remember when everyone was down on the Peterborough Petes? The tune has changed. (Peterborough Examiner)

QMJHL

Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Trey Lewis noted star Jonathan Drouin "showed us what he’s made of" during his hat-trick effort on Tuesday. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)

Cosentino also makes notes of an intriguing rumour about what might have factored into the New Jersey Devils keeping 18-year-old Stefan Matteau with the big club instead of returning the big winger to Blainville-Boisbriand. (Sportsnet)

First overall pick Daniel Audette is quietly making progress during his rookie season with the expansion Sherbrooke Phoenix. (The Link)

Coach Marc-André Dumont is adapting to coaching in Cape Breton, where the Screaming Eagles' onerous travel schedule affects all of its planning. (Le Nouvelliste)

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.