Team USA full of fresh faces, Erne-Drouin controversy lingers: the coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Should Nic Petan win the scoring title, he should thank you note to Seattle's Scott Eansor, who contained Spokane's prolific Mitch Holmberg rather admirably in the Thunderbirds' three wins over the Chiefs last week. (CBS Seattle)

With 11 losses in 12 games, these are not the best of times for the Saskatoon Blades. Oh, look, they get contending Edmonton on Tuesday night. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Regina overage Boston Leier's seasonal benchmark was scoring 20 goals, which he's already done in the first half. Meantime, Pats teammate Chandler Stephenson is doing his best to earn a contract with the Washington Capitals. (Regina Leader-Post)

Zenon Herasymiuk takes a survey of some of the Dub's outstanding NHL draft prospects. (The Pipeline Show)

OHL

Since Team USA returns only three players, including Plymouth's Ryan Hartman, it's never too early to read up on its prospective lineup. (The Pipeline Show)

A stretch of four road games over seven days for Sault Ste. Marie? That's almost half as tough as a roadie in the Western league. So of course fatigue cannot be an excuse. (Sault Star, Sault This Week)

While Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci has earned a reputation for refusing to hold a fire sale in leaner seasons, what about Owen Sound's upset-minded attitude? Attack coach Greg Ireland: "We come in every night and we're playing either teams that are hosting the Memorial Cup or are favoured to be in the finals. It's a great opportunity to prove yourself as a player, not only for coaches and general manager, but for scouts. It's why we play the game." (Owen Sound Sun Times)

North Bay Battalion sophomore Blake Clarke, one of the loop's top 16-year-old scorers last season, is due to break out soon. (North Bay Nugget)

Vince Dunn, the youngest of the four 17-year-olds on Niagara's blueline, might bear the closest watching. Dunn is two seasons out from being eligible for the NHL draft. (St. Catharines Standard)

QMJHL

The controversy over Adam Erne not being suspended for his hit from behind on Jonathan Drouin is still simmering. (CTV Atlantic, The Pipeline Show, Yahoo! Sports)

Team Canada equipment manager Chris MacDonald might have talismanic powers; not only was he was with the Memorial Cup-winning Halifax Mooseheads, but he was also on staff with the Saint Mary's Huskies when they won the 2010 University Cup. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)

Game of the week? Blainville-Boisbriand draws Val-d'Or on Wednesday in Anthony Mantha's last game the world junior. (Parlons Junior)

It is like Rimouski is on a losing skid or something. That might explain why Oceanic coach Serge Beausoleil took a swipe at Rouyn-Noranda veteran Liam O'Brien in the media. (Parlons Junior)

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.