Medicine Hat Tigers coach and GM Willie Desjardins, who led Canada to a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship, has joined the Dallas Stars as an associate coach.

"We are very excited to name Willie Desjardins to our coaching staff," said Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk. "He has run an exceptional program in Medicine Hat for almost a decade now. Willie's winning pedigree and positive attitude brings a lot to our organization. He will help the Dallas Stars in our efforts take the next step in getting back to the playoffs."

Coach Marc Crawford's staff already includes assistant coaches Charlie Huddy, Andy Moog and Stu Barnes, who signed a contract extension Tuesday.

DETROIT - Following Friday's development, Red Wings prospect Brooks Macek felt the repercussions of two long days.

"I was a little sore from the first day, but I guess you've got to battle through that," he said. "That's the difference between juniors and pros, just the everyday, everyday."

He may have been sore physically, but Macek has the mental part under control, having personal experience as a hockey instructor. He knows what to expect.

The Wings' sixth-round draft pick from last month is a graduate of the Notre Dame Athol Murray College in Saskatchewan, which is widely renowned for their male and female hockey programs. Alumni include current and former NHL stars such as Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, and Rod Brind'Amour.

The Vancouver Canucks, parent club of the AHL's Manitoba Moose, today announced they have signed goaltender Tyler Weiman to a two-way contract. Additionally, the Moose announced the signing of goaltender David Shantz to an AHL deal.

Weiman, 26, appeared in 43 games last season with the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters, earning a record of 21-18-3 with a goals against average of 2.48 and a save percentage of .912. The Saskatoon, SK native finished among the top 20 goalies in the AHL in most major categories in 2009-10, including goals against average, saves, save percentage, and minutes played.

Originally drafted by Colorado in 2002, Weiman has appeared in 186 AHL games in his six-year pro career, suiting up for Lowell, Albany, and Lake Erie.

KENNEWICK, WA - Tri-City Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the club has selected two 17-year-old defensemen, Nikita Nesterov (16th overall) and Nikita Kardashev (55th overall) in today's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.

Originally slated to have their first pick at #55, Tory traded the club's 4th round Bantam Draft pick in 2011 to the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for their 16th overall pick. With the newly acquired position, the Americans were able to select Nesterov out of Chelyabinsk, Russia. The 6'0 185-pound left defenseman played for Belle Medvedi Chelyabinsk and appeared in nine games, totaling five goals, seven points and a plus-2 rating. Nesterov also played in two tournaments for Russia, collecting two goals, two points and 29 penalty minutes in a fourth-place finish at the U-18 World Junior Championships.

KENNEWICK, WA - Today, Tri-City Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory, along with the Western Hockey League, unveiled the team's 2010-11 pre-season schedule. For Tri-City, the 2010 exhibition season is highlighted by two separate tournament appearances, as well as two additional pre-season contests for a total of eight exhibition games leading into the franchise's 23rd season in the Mid-Columbia.

The Americans will start the pre-season portion of their schedule by participating in the 7th annual Everett Silvertips Pre-Season Tournament, scheduled from Sept. 3-Sept. 5 at the Everett Events Center. It will be the franchise's fourth consecutive visit to the Silvertips' tournament. In addition to their traditional match-ups vs. division rivals Spokane and Everett, the Americans will also participate in a rare exhibition game against the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Sunday, Sept. 5.

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 43 WHL players were selected in the 2010 NHL Draft, with seven being selected in the first round, marking the WHL's best showing at the NHL Draft since 2005. Portland Winterhawks' centerman Ryan Johansen became the first of 43 WHL players selected when the Columbus Blue Jackets used the 4th overall selection to pick the 17-year-old Port Moody, B.C. product yesterday in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. Portland led all WHL Clubs with an unprecedented eight Winterhawks being selected throughout the draft.

Full list of the 43 WHL players selected at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft...

KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans are proud to announce that 18-year-old forwards Brooks Macek and Patrick Holland were selected in Day 2 of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, held today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Macek and Holland represent the 54th and 55th NHL Draft picks in the franchise's history and are the first Tri-City players selected since Chet Pickard and Eric Mestery were drafted in 2008.

In the 6th Round, the Americans saw Macek go to the Detroit Red Wings with the 171st overall pick. After a solid freshman season, Macek exploded for 21 goals and 73 points in 72 games for Tri-City this season, finishing tied for second on the roster in scoring. Macek then followed that up with six goals, 17 points and a plus-10 rating through 21 post-season games. Detroit made Macek just the second Americans player ever taken by the storied franchise, joining former Americans' captain Craig Stahl (8th, 215th) in 1996.

KENNEWICK - The Tri-City Americans haven't gotten much interest from the National Hockey League lately, but with their deep run in the playoffs and the emergence of several of their younger players, there should be a few phones ringing this weekend during the NHL Entry Draft.

"Based on the way our team played and how they played as individuals, I'd be surprised if we didn't have players taken," said Tri-City general manager Bob Tory, who has had only two players drafted since 2005.

The draft is today and Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Most prospects have someone helping them in the days leading up to the Entry Draft. There are family advisers, agents, friends -- sometimes even a father or uncle who's been through it before.

But 18-year-old goaltender Calvin Pickard has a bit of an edge over the other 2010 draftees -- one that grew up just down the hall in a neighboring bedroom.

Two year's ago, Calvin's older brother Chet was selected 18th by the Nashville Predators -- the first goaltender selected in the 2008 Draft. Chet went through the whole process of being scouted and ranked, being drilled at the Scouting Combine, and then finally being selected -- and he's been happy to share all of his experience with his younger brother.