The deals are starting to ramp up with a week to go until the WHL’s trade deadline. 

The Regina Pats have moved 18-year-old goaltender Matthew Kieper to the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for two draft picks. The Blazers are hosting this year’s Memorial Cup and are expected to be buyers at the deadline. 

Kieper has a 4-5-0-1 record with a 4.39 goals against average and .865 save percentage in 12 games with the Pats this season. 

The trade deadline is on Tuesday, January 10. 

Meanwhile, Grayden Siepmann scored 53 seconds into overtime to lift Calgary past Saskatoon 3-2 last night, and Jake Poole scored twice as Victoria doubled up Kelowna 4-2.

A light midweek schedule in the WHL tonight sees Regina visiting Brandon, Moose Jaw travelling to Lethbridge, Prince Albert hosting Calgary and Kamloops welcoming Everett. The Swift Current Broncos host the Blades in their next game on Friday.

Jets edge Flames for third straight win

Sam Gagner scored the winning goal with 5:40 left in the third period as the Winnipeg Jets picked up their third straight win, beating the Calgary Flames 3-2. 

In other NHL action, Anton Forsberg made 22 saves for his second career shutout as Ottawa blanked Columbus 4-0. Elsewhere, St. Louis beat Toronto 6-5 in the shootout, Nashville doubled up Montreal 6-3, Seattle beat Edmonton 5-2 and the Islanders beat the Canucks 6-2.

Just three games in the NHL tonight as Tampa Bay visits Minnesota, New Jersey heads to Detroit and Dallas travels to Anaheim.

Canada set for World Junior semi-final showdown with USA

One of the biggest rivalries in hockey will resume tonight as Canada faces the USA in the semi-final of the World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax.

It will be the first time these two teams have met at the World Juniors since the gold medal game in 2021, where the US beat Canada 2-0 in the COVID-19 pandemic bubble in Edmonton.

Canada edged Slovakia 4-3 in overtime on Monday to advance to the semi-final while the USA cruised past Germany 11-1 in their quarter-final game. Sweden takes on Czechia in the other semi-final this afternoon.

Hamlin remains in critical condition as sports world rallies around him

Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition at an intensive care unit in a Cincinnati hospital after suffering cardiac arrest in Monday night’s NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. 

The family of the Bills’ defensive back says they are grateful for the outpouring of love and support they’ve received from NFL fans and others in the sports world.

The NFL's Twitter account and those of all 32 teams changed their profile pictures to display Hamlin's number three as one of many tributes by sports teams and fans on social media.

A community toy drive organized by Hamlin, which had an initial goal of $2500, has seen almost $6 million in online donations since Monday night. 

The NFL announced that the game that was stopped on Monday will not be resumed this week, and there won’t be any changes to the week 18 "season finale" schedule this weekend.

Got a local sports score or story? Send it to us by emailing news@swiftcurrentonline.com or calling 306-773-6397!