Monday . . .

A report from our European correspondent involving some ex-WHLers. . . . F Zdenek Blatny was released from his temporary contract by Swiss NL A club Ambri-Piotta. Blatny was signed as an injury replacement for F Hnat Domenichelli., who is scheduled to return to action in Ambri-Piotta’s game Tuesday night. . . . F Chris Bright has been released by Acroni Jesenice (Slovenia). . . . D Burke Henry has been released by Linköping (Sweden Elitserien) at the end of his tryout contract. . . .

Roy McBride, whom the Spokane Spokesman-Review described as “the architect of Spokane's hockey success,” has died. McBride, who was 87, passed away Sunday in Saskatoon after a short illness. McBride led the Spokane Flyers in scoring for two seasons before a broken arm -- he was injured on a slash in a 1950-51 game against the Nanaimo Clippers -- pretty much ended his playing days. He then got into the management end of the business. He coached the Flyers to four Western International Hockey League divisional titles, and into the Allan Cup in 1956-57. He then led the push to pro as the Flyers and Comets played in the original Western Hockey League. McBride coached the Comets who lost the 1962 final to Edmonton. According to the Spokesman-Review, McBride “sold the team to Conn Smythe Jr., who moved the club to Denver for the 1963-64 season.” . . .

The Prince Albert Raiders have dealt D Justin Palazzo, 18, to the Vancouver Giants for a sixth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft. Palazzo, from Kamloops, was the 17th overall pick in the 2004 bantam draft. Palazzo, 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, had 26 penalty minutes in seven games with the Raiders this season. . . . “I think he is one of the guys that all of the new rule changes effect,” Prince Albert GM Donn Clark said. “He’s a good kid and he works hard.” . . . Clark added that Palazzo ended up behind four 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old on the Raiders’ depth chart and “he was in a situation here where he was going to be in and out of the lineup. I don’t think that’s fair for an 18-year-old who is a third-year guy.” . . . Clark did talk with Dean Clark, the GM/head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, about Palazzo. But the Blazers' Clark didn't feel there was room on his defence for Palazzo, at least not right now.