Friday late . . . or early Saturday

THE MacBETH REPORT: Garth MacBeth, the man who keeps both eyes on the European and Asian scene for us, continues his ‘Outta Work Tour’, but that doesn’t keep him from reporting to us. . . . F Kyle Bruce (Kamloops/Prince Albert/Vancouver) signed with the Manchester Phoenix (UK Elite Hockey League). He was with Wichita (Central Hockey League) last season. The Manchester press release calls the signing "the final piece in the Phoenix roster" and Phoenix head coach Tony Hand says "Kyle will bring us the power forward element I've been looking for." . . . F Ryan Menei (Moose Jaw/Saskatoon) signed with Asiago (Italy Serie A). He was with Mississippi (ECHL) last season. . . . F Lance Monych (Brandon) signed with Tilburg (Netherlands). He played with Stockton (ECHL), Mississippi (ECHL) and Norfolk (AHL) last season.
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The Cape Breton Post is reporting that one game in the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge will be played at Harbour Station in Saint John, N.B. That is the home arena of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. A formal announcement is to be made Monday afternoon in Saint John. This game will be the second of the two games played host to by the QMJHL. The OHL also will name two sites, while the WHL has announcements scheduled for Monday in Prince Albert and Swift Current. . . . CHL teams are 25-5 against the Russians in the five seasons this series has been alive.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings are the only team that has confirmed an interest in playing host to the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament. It is believed that two other teams have informed the WHL of their interest, but no one has stepped forward. The WHL has said it will reveal the identity of the interested teams on Tuesday. . . . One of the teams is believed to be the Kelowna Rockets, who played host to the 2003 championship tournament. In fact, the Rockets won the tournament that spring and what a show it was! . . . According to the Brandon Sun, “an unnamed American team . . . perhaps Seattle” is the other interested franchise. That makes sense because the Thunderbirds are moving into a new building – the Kent Events Center – early in 2008-09. . . . Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna’s governor and general manager, sounds as though he would step aside shoud the Wheat Kings get an improved facility out of their bid. “Our team likely will submit our name again, to make sure there’s enough competition,” Hamilton told The Sun. “But yes, I would support Brandon, as long as they are getting their building upgraded ... I have had conversations with (Brandon owner/GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon) and I really believe it would be a great thing for that community ... The only pressure he has is he better win!”
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A word of warning to hockey players in the Kelowna area. Regan Bartel, the radio voice of the Rockets and the proud owner of the blog Regan’s Rant, has spies throughout the area. As he reported Friday: “Ryan Getzlaf loves Walmart. The Anaheim Duck forward has been spotted twice in the Kelowna Walmart over the last two weeks. My brother-in-law saw Getzlaf there last Friday and my cousin, who was visiting from Williams Lake, saw the power forward there on Thursday. I assured both of them that the former Calgary Hitmen is not a greeter there.” . . . Please allow the spelling police to point out to Regan that it’s “Wal-Mart.” . . . Regan, y’er welkum.
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And now for an Olympic moment. . . . Chris Dilks, over at the westerncollegehockey blog, started an entry Friday by pointing out that the American team in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament had a tough go of it and can finish no higher than seventh.
And then he wandered off into a rant:
“Canada and Russia are playing in the final. A loaded Team Canada, with Harvard recruit Louis Leblanc and former Michigan State recruit Matt Duchene, should come out (on top) in the final, which should lead to the usual chest-thumping north of the border.
“Incidentally, if you ever wondered why Canadians act like they do when it comes to hockey, look no further than their absolutely pathetic showing so far in the Summer Olympics. Canada has a whopping zero medals, just behind international athletic powerhouse Mongolia, who took home their first ever Summer Olympic gold in Barbecue.
”That reminds me of last July. My dad and I were driving through Windsor while they were hosting the Canadian Olympic trials and this conversation took place:
”Me: They're hosting the Canadian Olympic Trials over there
”Dad: Oh, so that's a pretty big deal
”Me: Maybe for them...”
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Chris didn’t point out exactly what Canadian Olympic Trials were being held in Windsor. We do know, however, that it had nothing to do with one of those stuff-your-face-with-hot dogs (or oysters, hamburgers, wings, your favourite foodstuff) contests that have become oh, so popular in the Excited States. . . . What Chris doesn’t seem to remember is that it wasn’t that long ago when Canada wasn’t on top of the international hockey world. It has taken a plan and some hard work to get to where we now are on the international scene. USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program should work so well. . . . As for the chest-thumping, well, there's no need to go there, is there?