NOTEBOOK

Fresno right winger Kris Porter, who was last year’s West Coast League playoff MVP, is having another strong season. This year, Porter, a known sniper, has become more of a playmaker. He eclipsed his career high for assists in early February and is on pace to end this season with more assists than goals for the first time in his Falcons career. Porter, 28, has had both a four-goal game and a six-assist game this season. “That’s the one thing he developed,” said coach Blaine Moore, “the ability to make plays.” Porter had 22 goals and 51 points through 46 games.…

RETRO REPLAY

Rodney eases stress by lighting up lamp

This season is just what the doctor ordered for Kingston Frontenacs’ Bryan Rodney. When he was diagnosed 13 months ago with ulcerative colitis, Rodney was told to avoid stress. He is doing just that as he is third among Ontario League defensemen with seven goals and 53 points through 54 games. Rodney, 18, was dealt to Kingston by the Ottawa 67’s at last year’s trade deadline. He played two games with the Frontenacs, then went home to London and into hospital. “I was so fed up with how I was feeling,” he said. “I was run down. I hadn’t eaten in 10 days. I was just overwhelmed with what was going on (health-wise).” It was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis, a painful inflammatory disease of the colon. Doctors can’t explain why it develops, but it’s…

NOTEBOOK

After Orlando’s team bus ran out of fuel on 1-95 in Georgia Feb. 8, the Seals hitched a ride on the Barracudas’ bus to complete their journey to Jacksonville. Orlando showed its appreciation by beating Jacksonville 2-1, for its eighth consecutive win, tying the Atlantic Coast League record…Knoxville’s Kevin Swider is a FireAntz killer. His hat trick led the Ice Bears to a 7-1 victory over Cape Fear Feb. 8. The ACHL’s first 30-goal scorer has torched the FireAntz, the team that didn’t want him at the start of the season, for 13 goals in 10 games.…