Friday . . .

The Tri-City Americans have signed Darcy Ewanchuk as their athletic therapist. Ewanchuk has been out of the WHL for the last two seasons, but has 11 years in the league. He worked for the Edmonton/Kootenay Ice and, in 2007-08, was the trainer/equipment manager with the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings.
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Terry Virtue, who left the Americans earlier this week after spending three years on their coaching staff, has joined the staff of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports has more right here.
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In looking to replace Virtue, Tri-City GM Bob Tory is believed to be looking at Scott Beattie, who has been on the Kootenay Ice’s coaching staff. Beattie, of course, also is a candidate to remain with the Ice where he would work alongside new head coach Kris Knoblauch. . . . Tory also may take a look at Keith Cassidy, who most recently has coached the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers and Winnipeg Saints. . . . Knoblauch has given up his position as an assistant coach with Team Pacific, the team that will represent B.C. and Alberta at the 2011 U-17 World Hockey Challenge that runs Dec. 28 through Jan. 4 in Winnipeg.
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F Matt Hubbauer (Regina, 1998-2003) has returned from Great Britain and signed with the Central league’s Wichita Thunder. He had 49 points in 49 games with the Sheffield Steelers in England last season. After playing 51 games with the AHL’s St. John’s Maple Leafs in 2004-05, Hubbauer went on to play three seasons in Germany before going to England.
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Ralph Krueger (Calgary, New Westminster, 1978-79) has signed on with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers as their associate coach. He will work with head coach Tom Renney and assistants Kelly Buchberger and Steve Smith. . . . Krueger, a Winnipeg native, is the long-time head coach of the Swiss national team. In his last stint with the Swiss team, he guided it to an eighth-place finish at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.