And . . . they’re off.

The Red Deer Rebels, Swift Current Broncos and Brandon Wheat Kings bolted out of the WHL starting gate with 2-0 records during the weekend.

Rebels centre Justin Mapletoft moved to the front of the scoring parade, racking up three goals and seven assists, good for a two-point lead over Swift Current’s Layne Ulmer (4-4).

Brandon rookie Geoff McIntosh is the front-running netminder with a 1.00 goals-against average and .976 saves percentage in his lone start.

Cam Ondrik of Saskatoon is next with respective 1.45 and .942 marks in two outings.

The penalty leader? Dean Serdachny of the Broncos has racked up 19 minutes, three more than Medicine Hat rearguard Brett Scheffelmaier and four up on Red Deer defenceman Ross Lupaschuk.
 

• The defending champion Kootenay Ice have eight first-year players in their lineup this fall, but none more dynamic and valuable as Mike Comrie. The 20-year-old centre, who was runner-up for the Hobey Baker Award last winter as the U.S. college player of the year, decided to join the Ice during the off-season. Comrie was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1999, but due to a recent court ruling regarding another player who came out of college to play at the major junior level, the talented pivot will be a free agent without compensation in 2001. Unless, of course, the Oilers make him an offer he can’t refuse prior to next June. Several members of the Oilers front office attended Sunday’s contest between the Ice and the Red Deer Rebels at the Centrium. Clearly, Comrie was the object of their attention. Comrie, who notched a brilliant, end-to-end goal in the 4-3 loss to Red Deer, also comes complete with leadership skills. He’s replaced Mike Green as the Kootenay captain. "Our organization had talks with him this summer. It’s something where he wants to be a free agent next year," said Kootenay coach Ryan McGill. "Mike's been a great addition for us. He’s a very dynamic player. He's great one-on-one, he looks people off the puck and his vision on the power play and five-on-five is tremendous. He's a great asset."
• The Seattle Thunderbirds and their fans will have to warm up to a player that’s been on their most-wanted list. The T-Birds acquired defenceman Shon Jones-Parry from the Prince George Cougars Friday. To Seattle supporters, the overage defenceman was a proverbial pain in the butt while skating with Portland for two years, and continued to ruffle their feathers after being traded to Prince George in 1998. The feelings were mutual. In fact, Jones-Parry told the Prince George Citizen last year that he’d likely walk away from the game if he was ever traded to Seattle. Upon learning he’d been dealt to the T-Birds, Jones-Parry was back-peddling. "I don't think '’m going to quit," he said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity and hopefully things work out. Of all the teams to go to, Seattle's the one I wouldn't expect. They're my least favourite group of guys to play against, but that says a lot about their competitiveness. I don’t think I have too many friends on that team, and hopefully when I get in the room that will change."
• The Carolina Hurricanes decided Brett Lysak could wait another year before turning pro. The Regina Pats couldn’t be happier. Lysak was returned to the Pats late last week after attending the training camp of the Hurricanes, who selected him in the second round of the last year’s NHL draft. The ‘Canes have until next June to sign the 20-year-old forward, who could certainly boost his market value this season. The Pats are counting heavily on Lysak to lead them into the Memorial Cup tournament not merely as hosts, but contenders. Lysak welcomes the challenge. “Everything is good. I’m obviously disappointed (to be demoted by Carolina) but I’m not going to sit around and pout about it. I have a job to do here and I’m going to try and do it as good as I can." The Pats got another piece of their puzzle back during the weekend when ace defenceman Barret Jackman was returned by the St. Louis Blues.