Thursday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Patrik Valcak (Lethbridge, Kelowna, 2003-04) has been released by Dukla Trencin (Slovakia Extraliga). He had four goals and 17 assists in 24 games with Dukla this season.
F Sami Sandell (Brandon, 2004-06) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Troja-Ljungby (Sweden Allsvenskan). Sandell started the season with LeKi Lempäälä (Finland Mestis), where he had 10 goals and seven assists in 17 games. He also appeared in one game with Ilves Tampere (Finland SM-Liiga), where he had one goal. Sandell's contract with LeKi had an out clause to move to another country if the opportunity arose.
F Michal Lukac (Prince George, 2001-02) has been loaned to Örebro (Sweden Allsvenskan) by Asplöven Haparanda (Sweden Division 1). The loan is through Dec. 18, which covers four games and takes Örebro to the Christmas break. Lukac had 10 goals and 10 assists in 12 games for Asplöven prior to his promotion loan.
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The Central league’s Louisiana IceGators have relieved general manager/director of hockey operations Brent Sapergia (Saskatoon, Medicine Hat, 1979-81) of his duties. Owner Danny Smith has hired John Gibson as the new head coach. Ron Handy began the season as head coach, but stepped aside after three games and Sapergia also served as interim head coach until Gibson took over.
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The Red Deer Rebels are again without F Landon Ferraro (knee). He missed 13 games earlier in the season before returning to action. But the knee continues to bother him and he was to see a specialist in Vancouver this week. . . . The Rebels, though, expect to get D Colin Archer (concussion), F Josh Cowen (shoulder), F Daulton Siwak (concussion) and D Justin Weller (ribs) back for a game Friday in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes.
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Congratulations to former WHL referee Kyle Rehman and his wife, Jill. According to Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate, Jill gave birth to the couple’s first child this week, a daughter whom they have named Reese. Rehman is on an AHL contract these days and told Meachem that he so far has worked 16 NHL games. Rehman, 29, last worked in the WHL during 2005-06.
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Lorne Molleken, the GM/head coach of the Saskatoon Blades, was most unhappy with his club’s play in a 7-2 loss to the Wheat Kings in Brandon on Wednesday. And when the Blades arrived in Medicine Hat on Thursday, they were treated to a hard workout. “It’s going to be a fun one today,” Molleken told Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “The goalies will probably not get a shot.” . . . Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News later reported that the Blades were on the ice for 45 minutes “without a puck touching the ice.” Furthermore, Steinke wrote, “The crew at The Arena had to do some work to repair the ice surface before the Tigers had their practice session.” . . . The Blades and Tigers play in Medicine Hat on Friday night. In their last two games, the Blades have lost to Brandon and the Calgary Hitmen (5-4), the two teams they are likely to battle with all season long for top spot in the Eastern Conference.
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According to Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province, the Giants likely will be without F Milan Kytnar (shoulder) and D Kevin Connauton (abdominal strain) when they play the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Friday night. Neither practised on Thursday. Connauton, a 19-year-old draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, has had an MRI and it didn’t show a tear. So the Giants, while they don’t know how long he’ll be out, are at least breathing a bit easier. . . . The Giants will play three games this weekend and are hopeful that both players will put in an appearance at some point.
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An observation: In touring around the Internet over the last couple of days, I have been amazed at the number of trades made in the junior A ranks as the Dec. 1 carding deadline arrived. Too bad there isn't a way of tallying up the number of players on the move across Western Canada because the total would be interesting.