Friday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Curtis Brown (Moose Jaw/Prince Albert) signed a one-year contract with Biel (Swiss NL A). He had 10 goals and 13 assists in 44 games with Kloten (Swiss NL A) last season.
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The Minnesota Wild made it official Friday, adding Dave Barr as an assistant coach. Barr spent four years as GM/head coach of the OHL’s Guelph Storm before leaving a year ago to join the Colorado Avalanche coaching staff. He lost his job there when the Avs dumped head coach Tony Granato. Barr is one of the people whose name surfaced as a possibility for the GM/head-coaching position with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Lethbridge, of course, signed Rich Preston to a five-year deal. . . .
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It’s a well-known fact that radio folks regularly steal from us newspaper guys. So here’s an ink-stained wretch stealing from a radio guy. What follows is right off Regan Bartel’s blog (Regan, I did take the liberty of editing it . . . LOL!):
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Kyle Verdino is lucky to be alive.
Verdino was involved in a serious two-vehicle accident late last month in Phoenix, breaking an ankle and his left hand.
Kyle was driving to the gym when he was hit by an on-coming vehicle. Charges have not been laid.
Verdino's father, Ralph, said his son also underwent plastic surgery after suffering significant cuts to the right side of his face.
Over 500 stitches were needed to close various lacerations on Verdino's face and body.
Ralph Verdino said: “When we saw his truck four days later at the salvage yard I said, ‘(Sigh).’ People were scared to ask how the driver was. One of the workers said we see a lot of wrecks and this is one of the top five that we've seen here, damagewise.”
Ralph Verdino says his son should make a full recovery.
"The ankle . . . (doctors) figure he will have to be off it for about six weeks, three without pressure at all and then in three weeks doctors will put a walking boot on him.”
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If you are a fan of a CHL team that selected a Finnish player in the import draft, this piece right here will be of interest to you. Give it a look.
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Marcel Patenaude, who was fired as head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads in January, has joined the QMJHL office as vice-president of hockey operations. According to a press release, he will help “fulfill (the league's) mission of maximizing our players' well-being and development.”