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OHL, QMJHL, WHL playoffs begin in earnest: the coast-to-coast

Senators prospect Ben Harpur scored the winning goal for Barrie against Belleville (Terry Wilson, OHL Images)
Senators prospect Ben Harpur scored the winning goal for Barrie against Belleville (Terry Wilson, OHL Images)

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

WHL

Moose Jaw's Tim Hunter will helm Team Canada for the world under-18 championship, which is the hipsters' favourite age-group tournament. Interestingly, a university coach, the Alberta Golden Bears' Ian Herbers, is on staff. (Canadian Press)

Operative word for the Brandon Wheat Kings on Thursday? "Tentative." (Luber's Lounge)

Sean Rooney has previews for all series. So do Andy Eide and Tim Pigulski, as well as Lukas Punkari. And so does everyone and her/his aunt or uncle. (Medicine Hat News, MyNorthwestSort Of A Protest)

It's put-up time for the Kelowna Rockets after winning 50 games again, but having yet to win a league title during this cycle. (Kelowna Capital News)

The last time Victoria's Alex Forsberg appeared in a playoff game, the franchise was still in Chilliwack. And the forward was playing for the Prince George Cougars, whom he'll face on Friday. (Prince George Citizen)

Speaking of the Royals, overage forward Austin Carroll has signed with the Calgary Flames. (Kelowna Capital News)

Jumping back to Alberta, Red Deer and Medicine Hat have a rich rivalry. (Medicine Hat News)

Lethbridge Hurricanes GM Peter Anholt is handing the coach's hat to someone else, and is also seeking a new head scout. (Global TV)

Is Swift Current-Regina a toss-up series? Somewhat. (Regina Leader-Post)

Not only did the Saskatoon Blades trade Spokane what turned out to be the first overall pick, but the Chiefs also used a Blades pick to select 16-year-old standout Kailer Yamamoto. (Battlefolds News-Optimist)

OHL

Erie will have to adjust its lines with winger Nick Betz (brain injury protocol) sidelined for Game 2 against Sarnia. (Erie Times-News)

Should everyone revise that prediction that Sault Ste. Marie will sweep Saginaw? You all saw what happened to Erie. (Sault Star)

London Knights are an underdog against Jake Paterson and the Kitchener Rangers. Okay, headline writers. There's your mulligan. (London Free Press, Waterloo Region Record)

Guelph's 19-year-old goalie, Justin Nichols, might need to be tiptop-notch against Owen Sound. Among his Storm teammates, defenceman C.J. Garcia is not "100 per cent" entering the opener. (Guelph Mercury)

Stat of the day: overage Barrie centre Garrett Hooey sat out only seven regular-season games in five regular seasons. (Toronto Sun)

Coach Stan Butler, on the Kingston-North Bay saw-off: "The team we are playing is not the sixth seed." (Bay Today)

Hey, get your Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets. Or don't. That's an option, too. (AM900 CHML)

There was the usual gamesmanship in the Niagara-Ottawa opener; 67's coach Jeff Brown: "The lines they gave us weren't even close. Me and Easty [assistant coach Mike Eastwood], we're in the wrong business if we can't figure out some adjustments." (Ottawa 67's blog, Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Sun)

Hey-hey, some upstate New York love for the IceDogs. (Hamburg Sun)

Belleville's "structure" will give Barrie some fits in their Eastern quarter-final. No wonder there are three days off before Game 2! (Barrie Examiner)

QMJHL

Quebec paid a premium to get Zach Fucale as an insurance policy for Game 1 of the playoffs. Remember, nothing the Remparts do matters until May 21, anyway. (Le Soleil)

So Victoriaville and Rimouski is really 18 vs. 1, not 16 vs. 1, according to the power rankings. (Parlons Junior)

Publicly, both Halifax and Shawinigan are tight as a drum before their Friday night opener. (Le Nouvelliste)

Former Chicago Blackhawks draftee Brandon Whitney has signed with Wheeling in the ECHL. (Kings County Advertiser)

Sherbrooke is spotting Charlottetown a size advantage in the 8 vs. 9 series. (Le Tribune)

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