Edmonton goalie forensics; 13 year-old commits to Maine; Pond hockey in the polar vortex (Puck Headlines)

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Not good times to be a Flames fan.

• You Tube sensation Oliver Wahlstrom is going to college at the University of Maine ... in five years. The 13 year-old has committed to the school and now holds the honor of being the youngest NCAA hockey recruit. It's a verbal commitment (non-binding) by a kid whose voice hasn't changed yet. [Buzzing the Net]

• Some jerk rummaged through NHL photographer Dave Sanford's storage locker and stole irreplaceable NHL items. Some of the items taken: 20 NHL or international jerseys, two decades worth of playoff pucks, two Nikon camera bodies, autographed photos of many players, including Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, and more. [London Free Press]

• Blackhawks CEO John McDonough brought the Stanley Cup to 4-year-old Cameron Babiarz over the summer. Babiarz suffers from Rett syndrome, and now her dad, Bill, is running 150 miles across Illinois to raise awareness and money to fight the illness. [DNAinfo Chicago]

• Analyzing all the current streaks, both positive and negative, across the NHL. [On Goal Analysis]

• Diving into the Russian Olympic roster and choices made by management. [From Russia With Glove]

• In 1981, former Boston Bruin Bobby Carpenter was called by Sports Illustrated the 'best U.S. prospect they've seen. Ever.' Now that his playing days are done, he is focusing on his daughter Alex's dream come true as a member of the U.S. women's hockey team headed to Sochi. [CBS Boston]

• It's the 'most depressing time of year' as everyone heads back to school and work after the holidays. In the spirit of the season, Dallas Guzzwell takes a forensic look at the Oilers goaltending situation Ilya Bryzgalov and Devin Dubnyk [Dobber Hockey]

• 15 spectacular photos of pond hockey in freezing weather. They really are spectacular. [Business Insider]

• The NHL hasn't decided if they will allow players to go to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the 2018 winter games. If NHL'ers aren't allowed to go, which countries would be impacted the most? [Stanley Cup of Chowder]

• Can you believe the Stars have been in Dallas for 20 years?! Stars President and CEO Jim Lites talks about the the impact the team has made in Cowboy country [KERA News]

• The US women's hockey team scrimmages boys high school hockey team with mixed results. [LaCrosse Tribune]

• Kevin Allen creates Canada's B-Team of the guys left off the team. Spoiler alert: they would be really good, too. [USA Today]

• It's a "WU! WU! WU! Kenny WU! situation." Max Aaron was compared to Nathan Gerbe, mostly because of his size (5'8"). He was good at hockey and good at figure skating, too. He could have played Division 1 hockey if he wanted to, but fate intervened. After breaking two vertebrae in his back and spending four months in a body cast, Aaron decided to devote his time to fully to figure skating. He attempts to earn his way to Sochi tonight in Boston. [The Boston Globe]

• Finally, heres Nikita Filatov with a sweet penalty shot:

Follow Jen Neale on Twitter @MsJenNeale_PD