Freaked Out Over Losing Schenn/WHL Coming to Penticton?

• Am I the only one freaked out about the future of Luke Schenn? It appears he is going to get every chance of making the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. Let's face it, the Leafs have done very little this summer to bolster their blue-line, which opens the door for Schenn to make the team at the tender age of 18. The only move the Leafs have made in the off season ispicking up defenseman Jeff Finger. Don't get me wrong, I want to see Schenn play at the NHL level, but is his long term interests not better served with another year of junior hockey? Rockets fans, enjoy Luke Schenn at training camp this fall because it may be the last time you see him skating on Prospera Place ice.
• After spending some time in Penticton Saturday, one has to wonder how long it will be before the WHL looks seriously at putting a team there. After driving by the construction of the new 9.7 million dollar South Okanagan Events Centre, you would think Penticton would be a prime location for a WHL team. All the talk has been on Victoria or Naniamo eventually getting a team, but when the new 4 thousand seat arena in Penticton is complete, don't be surprised if a group isn't formed in the 'Peach City' showing their interest in either getting an expansion franchise, or gobbling up an existing one who's on life support.
• The Chilliwack Bruins apparently have found their new radio play-by-play voice. The radio station that calls the Bruins games have hired Randy Merkley. I am not sure if an official announcement has been made, but Merkley is not stranger to the WHL, having called games at one time for the Moose Jaw Warriors. After calling games at the Moose Jaw Civic Centre, Merkley will think he's died and gone to heaven now that he's calling games at Prospera Centre. Plus that windshield scraper in his car will no longer be required.
  
• The U.S World Junior team wrapped up an evaluation camp Saturday in Lake Placid New York with a pair of exhibition wins over Finland and Sweden. In the game against Finland, Kelowna Rockets forward Colin Long picked up three assists in a 5-2 win. By all accounts (points wise) Long had an extremely strong camp, and should be considered for a roster spot on the U.S team at this years World Juniors in Ottawa. Potentially four Rockets could play at this years World Juniors. Long, Schenn, Myers and Benn all have a chance at representing their countries. Throw Athletic Therapist Jeff Thorburn into the mix, who is a member of the Team Canada training staff, and that makes five.