Wednesday tidbits

Good afternoon. The Bruins are preparing for a neutral-site home game tonight against the Notre Dame Hounds in Carlyle. Game time is 7:30 at Carlyle Sports Arena.

I'm heading up for the game, so check my twitter feed for updates and come back to the blog for a post-game recap.

It's the Bruins' first game since last Wednesday's 9-0 loss to the Terriers. That game is in the distant past now for the players, especially after their weekend trip to Grand Forks to check out the Fighting Sioux playing St. Cloud State.

Keith Cassidy called the trip "an eye-opener" for the players. Apparently there's nothing like watching a game at the Ralph, something I haven't experienced but hope to this winter.

Moving on to tonight's game, one of the focuses will obviously be on Ben Johnstone, who's from Carlyle. The rookie forward had a slow start to the year offensively but he's been heating up the last couple of weeks. It would be great to see him score one in his hometown.

In terms of roster notes, Dom Perrault will be back in the lineup and I believe Michael Hengen will be as well. Derek Tendler hasn't started since Oct. 21 in La Ronge and my guess is we'll see him tonight. That said, I don't have any info as to who will start.

If the Bruins' schedule wasn't already a little quirky, after two games this weekend they'll have ANOTHER full week off. Seriously?

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If you haven't yet read Mike Stackhouse's blog post with comments from two former Neepawa Natives, please do. It contains a lot of disturbing information about the way Bryant Perrier treats his players.

The failure of the Natives' executive to dismiss Perrier is unacceptable and smacks of incredible arrogance. This is more fuel for the fire.

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You've no doubt heard about Raffi Torres and the uproar over his Jay-Z Halloween costume. I think the backlash is ridiculous. Here's why.

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The Canada West and Canada East rosters were named this week for the World Junior A Challenge. Canada West has 14 players from the BCHL, with Humboldt's Riley Kieser being the only SJHL player picked. Canada East has 17 players from the OJHL.

These two teams are supposed to represent 10 leagues. Five of those leagues don't have a single player on the roster. Another league, the SJ, only has one player. What a joke.

How about we send Team BCHL and Team OJHL next year?