Monday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Eric Schneider (Tri-City, 1995-96) signed a one-year contract with Frankfurt (Germany DEL). He had 22 goals and 32 assists in 50 games for Hannover (Germany DEL) last season. . . . F Chris Falloon (Prince George, 1998-2004) signed a one-year contract with Odense (Denmark AL-Bank Liga). He had 21 goals and 26 assists in 48 games for Bremerhaven (Germany 2.Bundesliga) last season. . . . D Nolan Pratt (Portland, 1991-95) re-signed a two year contract with Amur Khabarovsk (Russia KHL). He had one goal and nine assists in 35 games for Amur last season.
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Things may be heating up just a bit in the WHL’s U.S. Division.
A source has told Taking Note that the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent) will announce Tuesday (Aug. 4) that they have added John Becanic to their coaching staff where he will work alongside head coach Rob Sumner.
According to the source, Becanic will be named the club’s “assistant or associate coach.”
The source spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement hadn’t yet been made. It is to be made Tuesday night at 9:30. According to a release: “The Seattle Thunderbirds will make a significant hockey operations announcement on Northwest Sports Tonight on Tuesday, August 4. Northwest Sports Tonight is hosted by Paul Silvi and can be see on NWCN at 9:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. It can also be seen on KONG 6/16 at 10:30 p.m.”
Becanic had been with the rival Everett Silvertips since their inaugural season (2003-04) when he was fired following last season.
A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Becanic served as assistant coach or associate coach with the Silvertips under head coach Kevin Constantine for four seasons before stepping up to head coach.
Before arriving in Everett, Becanic was director of hockey operations and head coach of the junior A Pittsburgh Forge. He also spent five seasons as director of hockey operations and head coach of the junior A Bismarck Bobcats. And he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, helping them to the 1993 Memorial Cup title.
In two seasons with Becanic as head coach, the Silvertips went 66-66-7-5. Last season, they went 27-36-7-2 and finished seventh in the 10-team Western Conference. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, falling 4-1 in a best-of-seven series with the Tri-City Americans.
Sumner has been with the Thunderbirds since 1996-97 when he signed on as an assistant coach under then-head coach Don Nachbaur. Sumner has been head coach since May 6, 2004, when he took over from Dean Chynoweth.
Last season, the Thunderbirds went 35-32-1-4, good for fifth place in the Western Conference. They were ousted from the playoffs in the first round, losing out in five games to the Spokane Chiefs.
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Former Brandon Wheat Kings D Kevin Cheveldayoff is on his way to the NHL, having been named assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks. Cheveldayoff has spent the last 12 seasons as GM of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. The Wolves won four league championships with him as GM, twice winning the IHL’s Turner Cup (1998, 2000) and twice winning the AHL’s Calder Cup (2002, 2008). In 14 seasons as a GM and/or a head coach, his teams have won six championships. His teams also broke 100 points in eight of those 14 regular seasons. Cheveldayoff, who is from Blaine Lake, Sask., spent four seasons with the Wheat Kings (1986-90). The New York Islanders selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 1988 NHL draft; however, he never played in the NHL. He spent four seasons playing professionally before a knee injury forced his retirement. . . .
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Former WHL F Robin Big Snake (Vancouver, Moose Jaw, Portland, 2001-05) has signed with the IHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. Big Snake, 25, has been a pro for three seasons, totaling 111 points and 1,109 penalty minutes in 186 games. . . . Former WHL head coach Rich Kromm is preparing for his first season as head coach of the Lumberjacks.