Saturday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: The KHL has announced two new clubs will join the league for next season -- Budivelnik Kiev (Ukraine) and Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. These two
teams replace Dynamo Moscow (folded) and Lada Togliatti (inadequate financing). One other team, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, has until Tuesday to provide the KHL with financial guarantees which meet league requirements or they may be "excluded from participation" in the league. KHL training camps open July 23 and the regular season starts Sept. 8. . . .
D Tomas Kudelka (Lethbridge 2005-07) signed a one-year contract with Budivelnik Kiev (Ukraine KHL). He had three goals and 17 assists in 55 games with Binghamton (AHL) this season. . . .
D Darcy Werenka (Lethbridge, Brandon, 1989-93) signed a one-year contract with Graz 99ers (Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had eight goals and 22 assists in 37 games for Vienna Capitals (Austria Erste Bank Liga) this season. He finished the season by helping Austria win the World Championship in Division 1 A with two goals and four
assists in five games. Austria will play in the Championship Group next year. . . .
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THE COACHING GAME:
Derek Laxdal, the director of hockey operations and head coach of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, wouldn’t comment when asked by the Idaho Statesman about an Edmonton Journal report that he is the leading candidate for the vacant head-coaching position with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Laxdal’s Steelheads were beaten 2-1 by the host Cincinnati Cylcones on Friday night. The Cyclones won the ECHL final for the Kelly Cup in five games. . . . With the Steelheads’ season over, we should find out rather quickly if Laxdal is the leading candidate with the Oil Kings, because it is believed that Edmonton GM Bob Green would like to have his head coach in place by month’s end. . . .
You should add Dallas Gaume’s name to the list of potential head coaches, or at least to the list of candidates. Gaume resigned earlier this month after 11 seasons on the Red Deer Rebels’ coaching staff. For whatever reason, he was bypassed on more than one occasion when that club needed a head coach.
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The weather in Brandon has turned from the high 20s Celsius to the mid-teens with rain. The high for Saturday is forecast at 19C, with rain all day. The forecast for Sunday is a high of 15C with a 30 per cent chance of precipitation.