Thursday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: D Filip Novak (Regina) signed a contract (one year plus option year) with Automobilist Ekaterinburg (KHL). He had four goals and 13 assists in 50 games with Dinamo Riga (KHL) last season. Automobilist is a new club in the KHL this season, replacing Khimik Voskresensk after they were excluded from the league for financial reasons. . . . F Quinn Hancock (Tacoma/Kelowna/Calgary/Prince George) signed a one-year contract with Iserlohn (Germany DEL). He had three goals and 20
assists in 45 games for Jokerit Helsinki (Finland SM-Liiga) last season.
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Jesse Wallin, who is beginning his second season as head coach of the Red Deer Rebels, has added the title of vice-president of hockey operations. He was an assistant coach from 2005-07 and associate coach in 2007-08. He also played 215 regular-season games with the Rebels before going on to a pro career. . . . As well, the Rebels named Randy Peterson their director of scouting and player development. Peterson, who had been the v-p of hockey operations, also is the franchise’s alternate governor. . . . The Rebels don’t have a general manager, as do most WHL franchises, but it sounds as though Wallin will be filling that position, just with a different title. . . . “This move was made because Jesse is hands on with the team on a day-by-day basis,” explained president/owner Brent Sutter in a press release. “He is in the best position to make decisions that affect the hockey operations. The move allows Randy to concentrate strictly on scouting and player development.”
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Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate reports that D Luke Egener, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Rebels last season, will attend the U of Calgary and play for the Dinos next season. . . . Also heading to the U of C are D Eric Frere, who finished his WHL career with the Kootenay Ice last season, and D Graham Potuer, who finished up with the Everett Silvertips.
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If you’re a hockey fan you may want to try to be in southern Saskatchewan in late January. The Regina Pats have released their 2009-10 schedule and it includes an interesting last weekend in January. "The Pats announced the return of the Sportsman’s Dinner as well as the Trans-Canada Clash alumni weekend after one-year absences,” the Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder writes. "The dinner is slated for Jan. 28, followed by a home-and-home set between the Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors. The alumni teams are scheduled to do battle on the afternoon of Jan. 30 in Moose Jaw.”
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Guy Boucher, the head coach of the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs, is reportedly the leading candidate to take over as head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate. RDS has reported that Boucher, Pascal Vincent of the Montreal Junior and André Tourigny of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies have been interviewed, as has a fourth unidentified candidate.
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Jon Keen, the radio voice of the Swift Current Broncos, reports on his blog that former WHLer Mark Lamb has applied for the Broncos' GM/head coaching job. It became available last week when Dean Chynoweth agreed to join the New York Islanders as an assistant coach. Lamb spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars.