Auston Matthews' decision moves closer; WHL semifinals start: the coast-to-coast

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

WHL

Nick Patterson catches people up on where things stand regarding the Everett Silvertips' chance of landing Auston Matthews, who's expected to decide between the WHL and NCAA after the world under-18 championship. (The reason Matthews hasn't made an official campus visit to any NCAA school is that he's not allowed since he's still in Grade 11.) (Everett Herald)

Kelowna's Leon Draisaitl, on the possibility the Edmonton Oilers could trade him for defensive help now that Connor McDavid is coming: "In this business you never know what is going to happen. One day there could be a blockbuster trade, so that could be in the back of anyone's head." (Regan's Rant)

Portland is unused to being the underdog in a conference final, yet here we are. (The Oregonian)

Which team in the Eastern Conference final is the stingy defensive team again? While Calgary's back end is graced by Philadelphia Flyers first-rounder Travis Sanheim, Brandon allowed just more than two goals per game during the first two rounds. (Calgary Herald, Luber's Lounge)

OHL

McDavid has an aunt and uncle who reside in Sault Ste. Marie, meaning he has a rooting section for the first leg of the Western final. (Sault Star)

Either McDavid is "extraordinarily humble" or does deadpan extraordinarily well. (Edmonton Journal)

Everything you wished to know about both conference finals, but were afraid to ask. (Bay Today, North Bay  Nugget)

Jeff Giffen marvels at the who-needs-fiction David Levin story. (Sudbury Star)

Well, one Michigan team has its first-rounder signed. Brady Gilmour is committed to the Saginaw Spirit. (Saginaw News)

QMJHL

Remember how Jacob Sweeney was rumoured to be headed to Quebec during the trade period? And now he's playing for Moncton against them in the semifinal. (Le Soleil)

Arizona Coyotes prospect Anthony Duclair found synergy in the Quebec-Moncton series opener while lining up with Dmytro Timashov and Vladimir Tkachev. (Parlons Junior)

Jamie Tozer's predictions for Round 3: pain. (Station Nation)

Charlottetown's Filip Chlapik was fascinated with goaltending as a child in the Czech Republic, but by parental edict, became a forward. (NHL.com)

Just a reminder that Gatineau begins the transition out of the Benoît Groulx era with only two picks in the first three rounds of the entry draft. (Le Droit)

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