Monday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Milan Bartovic (Tri-City, Brandon, 1999-2001) signed a one-year contract with Atlant Mytischi (Russia KHL). He had 20 goals and 15 ssists in 45 games for Liberec (Czech Republic Extraliga) this season. . . .
And while we are talking about the KHL, a little look into the finances of one club, Avtomobilist Yekatarinberg. Avtomobilist has been given until June 10 to pay 40 million rubles (Cdn$1.35 million) in back salaries from last season. This represents about 20 per cent of total player salaries for the season. If the club fails to meet this deadline, Avtomobilist won’t be allowed to participate in the KHL next season. The original deadline was June 1 but the KHL gave the club a 10-day extension on Friday. It is unlikely that there will be any further extensions as the schedule for next season will be determined on June 15. Avtomobilist gave some details of its troubles in a press release. The club was supposed to receive 125 million rubles (Cdn$4.2 million) from the regional government but, instead, the club received only 97.5 million (Cdn$3.3 million). The club earned 145.8 million rubles (Cdn$4.9 million) from ticket sales and sponsors to give it total revenue of 243.3 million rubles (Cdn$8.2 million). Note that the regional government originally was to provide the club with almost half of its total revenue. Its expenses were 310.8 million rubles (Cdn$10.5 million), resulting in a loss of 67.5 million rubles (Cdn$2.3 million).
---
As expected, the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs have signed Marty Williamson as their general manager and head coach. Williamson signed a five-year deal, which seems to be more and more the norm these days. Williamson resigned last week as head coach of the Barrie Colts. He had been with the Colts for six years. . . . Sunaya Sapurji of Yahoo! Sports has the story right here.
---
The Saskatoon Blades have signed F Tim McGauley, their first selection in the 2010 bantam draft. McGauley signed following the conclusion of the Blades’ spring camp on the weekend. He had 103 points, including 57 goals, in 26 games with the Lumsden/Bethune Contacts of the South Saskatchewan bantam league. McGauley is expected to play next season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians.
---
Tony Marinaro of the Team 990, a Montreal radio station, reported Monday that the Montreal Canadiens have fired six scouts. According to Marinaro, that included five amateur scouts -- Pelle Eklund (Sweden), Dave Mayville, Denis Morel (QMJHL), Antonin Routa (Europe) and Nikolai Varoutov (Russia) -- and pro scout Gordie Roberts. . . . It isn’t unusual for NHL teams to move scouts in and out after a season, but they usually wait until after the draft, which is scheduled for later this month in Los Angeles. . . . The Canadiens also made the move just before holding their own development camp.
---
Finnish F Teemu Pulkkinen attended the NHL combine in Toronto on the weekend. He was selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the CHL’s 2009 import draft, but doesn’t know where he will play next season. There is more right here.
---
Benoit Groulx is back with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques. He was named the club’s head coach on Monday. Groulx, 42, was the head coach in 2007-08 when the Olympiques won the QMJHL title and played in the Memorial Cup. He then signed with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and was the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The Panthers let him out of his contract on Sunday. . . . Groulx won three QMJHL titles in six seasons as the Olympiques’ head coach. . . . He replaces John Chabot, who came on as head coach during this season.
---
Last week, I was told that F Mitch Czibere (Vancouver, Regina, 2005-09) had signed with the Central league’s Laredo Bucks. . . . Now comes word that Czibere, who spent this season with the MJHL-champion Dauphin Kings, has chosen to attend the U of Alberta and play for the Golden Bears. He had 51 points in 46 regular-season games with Dauphin.