Thursday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Brad Voth (Medicne Hat) has signed a one-year contract extension with Cardiff Devils (UK Elite Ice Hockey League). Voth, who is in his fourth season in Cardiff, has 10 goals and 14 assists so far this season. The Devils are coached by former Regina and Kelowna D Gerad Adams. . . . F Alex Leavitt (Swift Current/Everett) has signed a one-year contract extension with Kassel (Germany DEL). Leavitt has 14 goals and 31 assists in 46 games this season with Kassel.
———
This just in . . .
The Tri-City Herald’s Best of the West poll is scheduled to be released sometime this weekend. On Wednesday, one of the Western Conference’s 10 teams had said it won’t take part. On Thursday, that team reversed its decision. . . . All 10 teams now will be represented.
———
On the subject of polls . . .
The first Taking Note WHL Popcorn Poll will appear right here sometime next month. Yes, you will learn right here just where the best popcorn can be found in all of the WHL.
———
It will be a grand night on Feb. 20 in Lethbridge when the Hurricanes and the Hurricanes/Broncos alumni committee inducts John Chapman and six Sutter brothers into their Hall of Fame.
Chapman was the Broncos‚ head coach from 1980-86, and that included a WHL championship in 1982-83.
Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Rich and Ron Sutter each played for the Broncos at some point from 1974-83.
Inducting Chapman at the same time as the Sutters is a wonderful move because he has long had ties to the family, including having coached three of them — Ron, Rich and Brent — with the Broncos. At one time or another, I believe Chappy coached all of the Sutter brothers, either in Lethbridge or with the Red Deer Rustlers who at that time were a junior A power.
The induction ceremony will be held prior to a game with the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Feb. 20.
———
JUST NOTES: The Saskatoon Blades take their winning road show into Medicine Hat on Friday night for a date with the Tigers. Saskatoon has a franchise-record 23 road victories this season. . . . Lorne Molleken, the Blades’ GM/head coach, has 410 WHL coaching victories. One more and he’ll tie former Saskatoon coach Marcel Comeau for 10th on the all-time list. Comeau also coached the Calgary Wranglers, Tacoma Rockets and Kelowna Rockets. He now scouts for the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. . . .
The Kelowna Rockets have been on something of a roll lately — they have won seven of eight — and will get a good test Friday night when they entertain the Vancouver Giants. The Rockets have yet to beat the Giants in five meetings this season. . . . Kelowna and Vancouver will meet two more times after Friday’s tilt. . . . In the QMJHL, the Montreal Juniors have lost F Angelo Esposito, 19, indefinitely with a knee injury. He was injured Wednesday in a 4-2 loss to the visiting Victoriaville Tigres. He underwent an MRI on Thursday with results expected Friday. He has 42 points, including 24 goals, in 35 games. . . . Another Friday game of note has the Calgary Hitmen visiting the Wheat Kings in Brandon. The Hitmen, who lead the Eastern Conference, had won two of three games from Brandon this season, but the Wheat Kings won 7-6 in overtime in Calgary on Jan. 31.
———
From the blog of Rich Hammond, who covers the Los Angeles Kings for the L.A. Daily News:
There have been some questions about whether the Kings will keep Oscar Moller on the roster or return him to his junior team (which is now Seattle of the WHL) for the rest of the season. I put the question in a quick message to Dean Lombardi, and his response was "Not sure yet," so clearly it's at least under consideration. We'll see where it goes.