Hand signs; Rabbits die; Morrow awarded $1.5 million

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Tony Hand, who played three games for Victoria in 1986-87, has signed a three-year contract extension with Manchester Phoenix (UK Elite Hockey League). Hand, who turns 42 in August, had 21 goals and 68 assists in 67 games as the playing head coach of the Phoenix this season. . . . D Troy Neumeier (Prince Albert) announced his retirement from pro hockey. He had three goals and 10 assists in 35 games for Hull (UK Elite Hockey League) this season. . . . Jokerit Helsinki (Finland SM-Liiga) announced Thursday that head coach Glen Hanlon (Brandon) won’t be retained as head coach next season and that they won’t sign any foreign players for next season. As a result, the team won’t re-sign F Quinn Hancock (Tacoma/Kelowna/Calgary/Prince George). He had three goals and 20 assists in 45 games for Jokerit this season. . . . D Gerhard Unterluggauer (Brandon) has signed a three-year contract with Villach (Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 14 goals and 26 assists in 58 games with Innsbruck (Austria Erste Bank Liga) this season.
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The Seibu Prince Rabbits of the Asian league have folded. Prince Hotels Inc., the Rabbits’ owner, had said if it wasn’t able to find a buyer for he team it would shut it down. And it has decided to do just that. The team has been in operation for 37 years. “I think they could have done more,” Rabbits coach Chris Wakabayashi told The Associated Press. “They tried to negotiate with companies to take over the whole team and that's tough to do in this climate. It seems to me there was no Plan B and I think they just wanted to get out of the sport.” The roster included two Ontarians -- Richard Rochefort of North Bay and Joel Prpic of Sudbury. . . . The Asia league now has just six teams. “There will be major cuts in expenses with the economy going the way it is,” Wakabayashi said. “Hopefully, the league can hold its ground but it's going to be tough.”
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D Josh Morrow, whose career was ended by a shoulder injury that required surgery, has been awarded $1.5 million after he launched a lawsuit against the doctor who operated on him. Morrow was playing with the Kamloops Blazers when Dr. Ross Outerbridge performed the original surgery. Neal Hall of the Vancouver Sun has the story right here.
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Vicki Hall, who writes for the Calgary Herald, has the latest on the WHL and its reaction to the possibility of the Calgary Flames moving its AHL affiliate to Abbotsford, B.C. That story is right here.
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The Edmonton Oilers have signed F Jeff Lee of the Edmonton Oil Kings to a tryout deal. Lee now is with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. Lee played out his eligibility with the Oil Kings this season, picking up 62 points in 72 games.