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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

WHL notes: Well-traveled Alex Moodie on the move again

If nothing else, Alex Moodie has learned how to efficiently pack a suitcase.

The 19-year-old goaltender was traded from the Saskatoon Blades to the Brandon Wheat Kings last week for a conditional eighth-round pick in the 2015 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Moodie has changed teams three times since May, including a stint with the Spokane Chiefs that didn’t include a regular-season game.

Saskatoon traded Moodie to Spokane in May, but the Chiefs returned him to the Blades on Oct. 1 as part of a stipulation in the deal.

Moodie, 3-7 with the Blades with a 4.86 goals-against average, will serve as a backup to Jordan Papirny for one of the top teams in the WHL.

“There’s a lot of things that happened over there (in Saskatoon) that I can’t really talk about,” Moodie told Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun. “But even when I was with Spokane for a short stint there, the fresh start was just exactly the thing I needed, and I’m so excited to be here.”

Giants hire Noel

Former Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Claude Noel was hired Sunday as the fifth head coach in Vancouver Giants history.

“… With Claude coming from the NHL, we know he’s one of the top coaches in the world,” Giants general manager Scott Bonner said in a release. “We’re confident that he can get us back on track.”

Noel has coached professional hockey for more than 25 years.

The Giants fired first-year coach Troy Ward when the team was 9-16.

Awards galore

Kelowna Rockets forward Rourke Chartier was named WHL Player of the Month after compiling 28 points in 14 games.

Regina’s Daniel Wapple was selected WHL Goaltender of the Month after posting an 8-1-0-0 record and .931 save percentage.

Portland forward Oliver Bjorkstrand was named Player of the Week after totaling six points in three victories. Edmonton’s Tristan Jarry was named WHL (and Canadian Hockey League) Goaltender of the Week after stopping 84 shots in two games, including a shutout over Vancouver.

Around the league

Kootenay Ice forward Kyle O’Connor, 18, retired last week to pursue educational opportunities. O’Connor, of Calgary, Alberta, had 10 goals and 12 assists in 132 games over three injury-filled seasons with the Ice. … The Ice will host the Spokane Chiefs on Friday and travel to Spokane on Saturday. Kootenay just completed its long road swing to Portland, Seattle and Everett with a 2-1 record. … Saskatoon lost leading scorer Alex Forsberg halfway through Saturday’s 4-2 loss because a Moose Jaw staff member failed to copy the center’s name onto the game sheet. Forsberg was removed with the score tied at 1. … Regina completed its most successful West Coast road trip in 13 years (4-1-0) with a 3-1 win at CHL second-ranked Kelowna (22-3-3) on Saturday. … Moose Jaw released right winger Linden Penner on Sunday, two months after acquiring him from Calgary. Penner had four points in 24 games with the Warriors. … Lethbridge traded leading scorer Riley Sheen (22 points) to Red Deer on Monday for Devan Fafard and Brayden Burke.