Thursday . . . early

THE MacBETH REPORT: F James Knight (Moose Jaw) signed a one-year contract with Slough Jets (England Premier). He had 20 goals and 43 assists in 50 games for Telford (England Premier) last season. . . . F T.J. Mulock (Vancouver/Regina/Kamloops) signed a contract, terms not announced, and F Tyson Mulock (Medicine Hat/Regina) and F Dennis Pederson (Prince Albert) signed two-year contract extensions with Eisbären Berlin (Germany DEL). T.J., a member of the German national team at this year's World championship, had 22 goals and 38 assists in 43 games with Bad Tölz (Germany 2.Bundesliga) this season, finishing fifth in league scoring. Older brother Tyson had 14 goals and 18 assists in 52 games, and Pederson had 19 goals and 34 assists in 52 games with the Polar Bears.
F Brad Cruikshank (Calgary/Edmonton Ice/Lethbridge) signed a one-year contract extension with the Sheffield Steelers (UK Elite). He had 27 goals and 26 assists in 62 games split between Basingstoke (UK Elite) and Sheffield. . . . F Max Brandl (Prince Albert/Portland) signed with Hamburg (Germany DEL). He had one goal and two assists in 12 games with Portland this season after starting the season in Germany.
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JUST NOTES: Former WHLer Rich Gosselin (Flin Flin, 1973-76) has signed on as head coach of the MJHL’s newest franchise, the Steinbach Pistons. Gosselin spent this season coaching senior hockey in Manitoba. He was with the South East Prairie Thunder, who lost to Brian Sutter’s Bentley, Alta., Generals in the Allan Cup final in Steinbach. . . .
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WHL CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES: The Kelowna Rockets get their second opportunity to win the WHL championship tonight in Calgary. The Hitmen won Game 4, 6-2, on Wednesday night in Kelowna and now trail the series 3-1. . . . A sixth game, if needed, would be played Saturday in Kelowna. . . . The referees for Game 5 will be Matt Kirk and Chris Savage. . . . The teams flew to Calgary on the same charter flight immediately following Wednesday night’s game. . . . Kelowna LW Jamie Benn, who hasn’t played since the first period of Game 2, made the trip to Calgary. Benn leads all WHL playoff scorers in points, with 31 in 18 games, but he also has a suspected concussion and is doubtful for tonight. Not playing tonight would gain him three more days of rest, taking him to Saturday night, which would be one week since he was injured on a hit by Calgary D Keith Seabrook. . . . In WHL history, only the 1995-96 Spokane Chiefs have come back to win a series after losing the first three games. They beat the Portland Winter Hawks in a first-round affair. . . . The Rockets have been in two previous WHL championship series and won them both – in each instance, they won the last game on the road.
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WHL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL (all times local):
Friday: Kelowna 3 at Calgary 1
Saturday: Kelowna 5 at Calgary 2
Monday: Calgary 0 at Kelowna 2
Wednesday: Calgary 6 at Kelowna 2
Thursday: Kelowna at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Calgary at Kelowna, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Kelowna at Calgary, 7 p.m.

x -- if necessary.