The Philadelphia Flyers have signed restricted free agent D Brandon Manning to a one-year, two-way contract. Manning, 23, a native of Prince George who began his junior career with the Spruce Kings before moving on to the WHL Chilliwack Bruins, played six games for the Flyers last season, picking up two assists. He was an AHL all-star last season with the Adirondack Phantoms. In two seasons in the AHL, the offensive-minded D-man picked up 12 goals and 28 assists.
n Fort St. James hockey fans have a reason to visit CN Centre on Dec. 6-7. That weekend, they might get to watch one of their own play against the Cougars for the Tri-City Americans. The Americans have signed 16-year-old F Austyn Playfair to a WHL contract. The six-foot-four, 200-pounder, who makes his winter home in Scottsdale, Ariz., is the son of Jim Playfair, an associate coach for the Phoenix Coyotes and is the brother of 19-year-old Spokane Chefs forward Jackson Playfair. Austyn totaled 11 points in 41 games last season for the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes of the Tier 1 Elite Midget League.
n Former Cougar D Ty Wishart is now playing in the German Elite League for the Schwenninger Wild Wings, who signed him to a one-year contract. In 62 games in the AHL last season for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Wishart collected seven goals and 17 assists.
n The WHL board of governors on Wednesday unanimously approved the sale of the Saskatoon Blades to Edmonton car dealer Mike Priestner, ending the Blades' Jack Brodsky era. The unconfirmed sale price -- at least $9 million. It is the WHL's oldest franchise, an original member of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League when it formed in 1967. Jack, the brother of Cougars owner Rick Brodsky, has owned the Blades since 1976. Priestner's son James was a Cougars goaltender for two seasons from 2009-11.
n The Kelowna Rockets are coming off a record-breaking season and this week rewarded head coach Ryan Huska with a three-year contract extension. With Huska behind the bench in 2012-13 the Rockets set a franchise record for wins (52) while finishing tied for second overall in the WHL with a 52-16-3-1 record. Huska, a 38-year old native of Cranbrook, won three Memorial Cups as a player with the Kamloops Blazers from 1992-95 and was an assistant coach for the Rockets in 2008-09 when they were the top team in the country. He's entering his 12th season with the Rockets, his seventh year as head coach.
n Kamloops Blazers forward J.C. Lipon has inked a deal with the Winnipeg Jets.
The 20-year-old from Regina finished 11th overall in the WHL scoring race in 2012-13 with 89 points, including 36 goals, and was drafted by the Jets in the third round in 2013, 91st overall.
