Tuesday . . . early

THE MacBETH REPORT: D Ross Lupaschuk (Lethbridge, Prince Albert, Red Deer, 1996-2001) signed a contract for the rest of this season with HIFK Helsinki (Finland SM-Liiga). He had no goals and three assists in 22 games with Sibir Novosibirsk (Russia, KHL) and two goals and eight assists in nine games with Mora (Sweden Allsvenskan) last season.
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An update issued this afternoon by the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers:
“The condition of Kitchener Rangers defenseman Ben Fanelli has been upgraded to serious but stable.
“The Fanelli family and the Rangers organization again thank the many people who have expressed their concerns and wishes for Ben's recovery.
“Further updates will be made by the Kitchener Rangers when they become available.”
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The Prince George Cougars have traded F Del Cowan, 20, to the Calgary Hitmen for a conditional eighth-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft. The Cougars had acquired Cowan from the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 20-year-old waiver draft in October. He had four points in six games with Prince George. . . . The Cougars had five 20-year-olds, two of whom have been injured, on their roster so had to make a move when D Dallas Jackson returned. They still have D Garrett Thiessen, 20, on the injured list. . . . Their active 20-year-olds now are Jackson, F Tyler Halliday and F Alex Rodgers.
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The Cougars also added F Taylor Orser, 19, to their roster. Orser, who is from Langley, B.C., had 12 points and 121 penalty minutes in 43 games with the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs last season. . . . The Cougars open a seven-game road swing Wednesday in Kelowna against the Rockets. After that game, the Cougars will head east for a six-game swing through the East Division.
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Cowan joins F Joel Broda and F Cody Gross as the 20-year-olds on Calgary’s roster. Cowan is expected to be in Calgary’s lineup Wednesday when they entertain the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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Mark Larabee of The Oregonian has the latest on what the Portland Trail Blazers hope to do with Memorial Coliseum. That story is right here.
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If Greg and Barb happen to read this, please email me at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca.