DUB ROUND-UP

BYLINE: Chris Derrick
Spokane Spokesman-Review

Saskatoon Blades winger Collin Valcourt returns to Spokane tonight, eager to see his friends and treat them like enemies for a few hours.

The 20-year-old forward played 183 Western Hockey League games for the Spokane Chiefs before being traded to the Blades last January for their Memorial Cup run. He had 13 goals and 35 points this season heading into Tuesday’s game at Tri-City.  The Blades’ west coast road trip continues tonight at Spokane Arena.

“I had great experiences (in Spokane),” Valcourt told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Valcourt said Chiefs scoring leaders Mitch Holmberg and Mike Aviani are two of his best friends.

“You just can’t really think about it,” Valcourt said. “You just go out there and treat every guy like he’s your enemy. At the end of the game you can laugh about it.”

The Blades were 0-3 on their swing through the U.S. Division before Tuesday’s game. Saskatoon and other East Division teams have a combined record of 4-14 in U.S. arenas.

FOREVER YOUNG

The Chiefs announced that center Liam Stewart, 18, accepted an invitation to play for Great Britain at the U20 World Champion- ships in Scotland. Stewart, son of rock legend Rod Stewart was born in London and raised in the United States. Stewart, tied for sixth on the club with 13 points, is expected to play Friday and return to the Chiefs in three weeks.

LEAGUE HONOURS

Everett forward Josh Winquist was named WHL Player of the Month after totaling 12 goals and 16 assists while leading the Silvertips to a record of 10-2-2-0.

Also honored: Tristan Jarry, Edmonton, goaltender of the month, 7-1-0-0 record with two shutouts; and Leon Draisaitl, Prince Albert, player of the week, four goals and three assists in two wins.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Everett’s five-game winning streak ended Tuesday against visiting Portland. The Silvertips’ last five-game streak was during January 2010. … Henrik Nyberg, a 19-year-old left wing from Sweden, resigned last week from the Kelowna Rockets. … The Kootenay Ice traded 19-year-old defenseman Jeff Hubic to Tri-City last week for a seventh-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. … Regina Pats rookie goaltender Nick Schneider picked up his first WHL victory last Saturday by stopping 13 shots during a 6-1 decision over Moose Jaw. … Kennewick native Taylor Vickerman had an assist last Friday as he returned to Tri-City’s lineup after missing 25 games. Vickerman was hurt Sept. 24 at Portland on a hit by Brendan Leipsic, who was given a three-game suspension. … The Victoria Royals are 15-0 when they score first in a game. … Prince Albert defeated Brandon 5-4 last Saturday by scoring the tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation and the winner 18 seconds into overtime. … Vancouver forward Dalton Sward doubled his scoring total for the season with a hat trick last Friday against Prince George.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/dec/03/whl-notebook-valcourt-looks-forward-return-spokane/