Wednesday . . .

The MacBETH REPORT: F Owen Fussey (Calgary, Moose Jaw, 1999-2003) signed a one-year contract with the Edinburgh Capitals (UK Elite). He had 24 goals and 13 assists in 49 games for Fassa (Italy Serie A1) last season. . . . F Tim Smith (Spokane, Swift Current, 1998-2002) signed a two-year contract with High1 (South Korea, Asia Hockey League). He had 13 goals and 16 assists in 35 games for Bad Tölz (Germany 2.Bundesliga) and three goals and one assist in nine games with Lausanne (Swiss NL B) last season.
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The Tri-City Americans expect to have two import players in their lineup at some point this season. It just won’t be right off the hop. . . . GM Bob Tory says that G Alex Pechurski, a 19-year-old Russian, and F Sergei Drozd, a 19-year-old Belarussian, won’t be around for the start of training camp, but “we’re expecting them for the Everett or Tri-City tournaments.” . . . One interesting name on Tri-City’s camp roster is that of G Joel Danyluk, 19. Prince George selected him in the 13th round of the 2005 bantam draft but he has gotten into only three games with them over the last two seasons. He played most of last season with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers. . . . The Americans, of course, are looking to fill the position vacated by stalwart Chet Pickard. Sophomore’s Brett Martyniuk and Drew Owsley backed up Pickard last season. Also in camp will be G Warren Shymko, a 16-year-old from Calder, Sask., who played for the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts last season. He was the 95th player taken in the 2007 bantam draft. . . . The Americans are having all players report Monday for a five-day skills and development camp that will include power skating with Vanessa Hettinger and fitness testing.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Ryan Johansen, a seventh-round selection in the 2007 bantam draft. Johansen played last season with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees, recording 17 points in 47 games. He added seven points in 10 playoff games.
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Interesting precamp notes from the Regina Pats, who register for training camp on Thursday in Lumsden, Sask. The Pats are expecting 39 players from Saskatchewan in camp, along with other players from Alberta (16), Manitoba (15), B.C. (9), California (2), Minnesota (2), Colorado (1), Nunavut (1), Slovakia (1) and Czech Republic (1).
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Regina will have its first-round selection from five of the last six bantam drafts in camp — F Brett Leffler (2004), D Colten Teubert (2005), F Dominick Favreau (2007), D Myles Bell (2008) and F Chandler Stephenson (2009). . . . The only one missing will be F Brett Miller (2006), who got into nine games last season with the Red Deer Rebels.
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One player worth watching in Regina’s camp will be C Brayden Metz, who was selected 21st overall by the Pats in the 2005 bantam draft. He played last season with the Chilliwack Bruins and Moose Jaw Warriors before winding it up with the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires. A player with seemingly big offensive upside, he has a shot at being the Pats’ No. 2 centre.
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Former WHL F Alan May ((Brandon, Medicine Hat, New Westminster, 1982-86) has resigned as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. He has spent one season on the Admirals’ staff.
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Former WHL F Marty Flichel (Tacoma, Kelowna, 1992-96) has signed on for a seventh season with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. Flichel, 33, will serve as team captain and playing assistant coach. He had 52 points in 60 games last season and is the franchise’s all-time leader in goals (108), assists (181) and points (289).
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F Tylan Stephens has confirmed that he won’t be returning to the Kootenay Ice for a fourth season. Stephens, 20, had 57 points in 72 games last season. Instead of playing for the Ice, he will attend the U of Calgary. He has hopes of becoming a pilot.
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It almost always is interesting when a so-called community-owned team (they actually are owned by shareholders, as opposed to the entire community) holds its annual meeting. And such was the case Wednesday night in Lethbridge when the Hurricanes’ shareholders gathered to discuss things. The Lethbridge Herald story is right here but it should be noted that the meeting hadn’t ended by the newspaper’s deadline. . . . Upon reading Dale Woodward’s story it was nice to see that GM/head coach Rich Preston didn’t lose his sense of humour during all those seasons with Darryl Sutter and the Calgary Flames.