Early Wednesday. . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Michal Grosek (Tacoma) has been released by Zug (Swiss NL A) and has signed with Leksand (Sweden Allsvenskan). Leksand has G Ed Belfour and F Roman Vopat in its lineup. . . . D Rory Rawlyk (Medicine Hat/Vancouver/Prince Albert/Red Deer) has been released by Regensburg (Germany 2.Bundesliga). . . . Garth MacBeth, our man with his eyes on the European scene adds: Here’s one from the “they play hockey where?” file. . . . G Rick Nichol, who played at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton from 1994 to 1996, has signed with Anka SK in Ankara, Turkey after starting the season with HCG Vielha-Val d’Aran in Spain. This is his third season in Europe; he played with Partizan Belgrad (Serbia & Montenegro) two years ago and HC Slavia Sofia (Bulgaria) last season. . . .

WEDNESDAY NOTES: G David Aime has joined the Red Deer Rebels from the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Aime, 18, is with the Rebels due to an injury to veteran James Reimer. The Rebels acquired Aime from the Prince Albert Raiders in November. Reimer isn’t listed on the WHL’s weekly injury report, but it seems he has re-aggravated an ankle injury. . . . F Jaden Schwartz, whom the Tri-City Americans selected with the 173^rd pick of the 2007 bantam draft, has made a commitment to Colorado College for 2010. Schwartz is at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Sask., where last season he broke bantam records – for starters, he put up 124 points in 24 league games – that had been held by NHLers Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards. Schwartz now is playing for the midget AAA Hounds and leads the Saskatchewan midget AAA league with 71 points, including 29 goals, in 28 games. His older brother, Rylan, also has committed to Colorado College. Rylan, 17, plays for the Hounds of the Saskatchewan junior league. He has 48 points, including 21 goals, in 44 games. He is ticketed for Colorado College to start one of the next two seasons. Rylan was selected by the Spokane Chiefs with the 69th pick in the 2005 bantam draft, and his rights have since been swapped to the Brandon Wheat Kings.