Wednesday . . . from The Hat

THE MacBETH REPORT: D Vladimir Sicak (Medicine Hat, 1998-2000) signed a one-year contract with Kärpät Oulu (Finland SM-Liiga). He had nine goals and 17 assists in 50 games with Vitkovice (Czech Republic Extraliga) this season. Sicak’s nine goals were the most by a defenceman in the Extraliga this season. . . .
F Michal Sup (Kamloops, 1991-92) announced his retirement. He had four goals and eight assists in 46 games for Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic Extraliga) this season. Sup joined Mlada Boleslav this season after 16 seasons with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic Extraliga) and one season with Duisburg (Germany DEL). . . .
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I am on the road to Brandon. In Medicine Hat. With a pathetically slow wireless Internet hookup. . . . Lots of construction -- and I mean LOTS and LOTS and LOTS -- between Golden and Banff. Lost at least an hour. Can only imagine what it will be like during tourist season. Also lots of RCMP around and about, and good for them for enforcing the speed limits in construction zones. . . .
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Got here in time to see the rather overly promoted Graham James ‘interview’ on The National. . . . Geez, gotta wonder how much money CBC spent on that? All to get a couple of minutes of James repeatedly saying no comment and “I have a lawyer in Winnipeg.” . . . Lets’ see now. What did we learn? Well, we now know that James is living and working in Guadalajara, Mexico. Other than that . . .
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F Tyler Shattock of the Calgary Hitmen has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. He was a fourth-round pick by the Blues in the 2009 NHL draft. The Hitmen acquired Shattock from the Kamloops Blazers at the WHL’s Jan. 10 trade deadline. . . . Gotta think Shattock is at least buying lunch for the boys in Brandon! . . .
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If you’re in the U.S. and don’t have access to Rogers Sportsnet, the NHL Network U.S. will carry a Memorial Cup preview show on Friday and then will pick up all of Sportsnet’s coverage. . . .
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The Peterborough Examiner is reporting that the OHL’s Petes will name Wayne Clark, Jody Hull and Ron Tugnutt as assistant coaches on Thursday. No, they don’t yet have a head coach but that position also is expected to be filled Thursday by new GM Dave Reid. . . . Clark has been coaching a minor midget team in Peterborough and doing advance scouting for the Ottawa 67’s. Hull, a former NHLer, returns to the Petes, a team he served as an assistant coach for five seasons. Tugnutt, a former Petes goaltender, will serve as the goaltending coach. . . . Reid gave head coach Ken McRae and assistant Ryan Barnes their walking papers on Tuesday. . . .
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The AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons have signed GM/head coach Gord Thibodeau for three more seasons, taking him through 2012-13. He has been the Oil Barons’ head coach for seven seasons. Some observers had thought Thibodeau might be a candidate for the vacant head-coaching position with the Edmonton Oil Kings. So much for that. . . .
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F Michael Stickland and D Derek Claffey, both of whom completed their eligibility with the Swift Current Broncos this season, have commited to eastern schools. . . . Stickland will attend St. Mary’s in Halifax and play for the Huskies, while Claffey will go to St. FX in Antigonish, N.S., and play for the X-Men. . . . Also headed to St. FX is F Jason Bast, who finished up his WHL career with the Moose Jaw Warriors this season. . . .
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The Kamloops-based Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will have a new head coach and a new assistant in their second season of existence. The WolfPack plays in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League. Lorne Cumming has been named head coach, replacing Chris Hans, who will focus on recruiting and scheduling. Steve Gainey (Kamloops, 1994-99) will serve as Cumming’s assistant.
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WHL referees Matt Kirk and Pat Smith have been selected to work games in the Memorial Cup. This will be the first Memorial Cup for both men. It must be an especially big thrill for Kirk, who hails from Hamiota, which is only a few slapshots away from Brandon.