THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Andrej Podkonicky (Portland, 1996-98) signed a one-year contract with Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga). He had three goals and three assists in 16 games with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga) and six goals and nine assists in 31 games with Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga) last season. . . .
F Gilbert Brule (Vancouver, 2002-06) signed a one-year contract with ZSC Zurich (Switzerland, NL A). He had eight goals and 10 assists in 27 games with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) and five goals and nine assists in 33 games with the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) last season. . . .
F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) signed a one-year contract extension with HIFK Helsinki (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had six goals and 15 assists in 23 games with Olten (Switzerland, NL B) and six goals and 13 assists in 26 games for HIFK after joining the club in January. . . . Redenbach is a former WHL scoring champion, having won the title in 2003-04 when he put up 105 points for the Swift Current Broncos.
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D Zach Habscheid won’t be back with the WHL’s Victoria Royals. Instead, Habscheid, 20, will play for the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede. The son of veteran coach Marc Habscheid, Zach played three seasons under his father, two with the Chilliwack Bruins and last season with the Royals. In 139 regular-season games, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Habscheid had 13 points, two of them goals, and 195 penalty minutes. Injuries, including concussions, limited him to 45 games in 2010-11 and 41 games last season.
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Terry Ruskowski (Swift Current, 1971-74) is the new general manager and head coach of the Central league’s Quad City Mallards. He replaces David Bell, who resigned from both positions after one season with the Mallards. . . . Ruskowski, 57, has been a pro coach for 17 seasons, nine of those in the CHL. He spent eight seasons with the Laredo Bucks and last season with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. He also almost two full seasons (1989-91) as head coach of the Saskatoon Blades. He lost his job late in the 1990-91 season with the Blades at 22-30-2. . . . Saskatoon GM Daryl Lubiniecki hired Bob Hoffmeyer to replace Ruskowski. Hoffmeyer finished the season but didn’t return to the Blades, ultimately signing on as head coach of the IHL’s Kalamazoo Wings. . . . Lubiniecki then signed Lorne Molleken as head coach.
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David Branch, the commissioner of the OHL, won’t name names when it comes to the Windsor Spitfires and the recruiting violations that cost them a $400,000 fine and five draft picks. (The Spitfires, it must be noted, are appealing.) . . . “For good or bad,” writes columnist Bob Duff of the Windsor Star, this could prove to be Branch’s defining moment in a long and storied career as the man in charge of the OHL.” . . . Duff also calls for Branch to reveal the names of the players who were involved in this situation. Not doing so, says Duff, tars too many players with the same brush. . . . That piece is right here.
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Bob Duff, the afore-mentioned Windsor Star columnist, has another piece right here that includes reaction on the Spitfires situation from some U.S. hockey people.
Here’s some of what Duff writes, this in reference to a lawsuit that was filed by the OHL's Kitchener Rangers following a story that appeared in the Michigan Daily:
Herschel Fink, the Detroit-based lawyer who represents the paper, has implied that he might put the entire Canadian Hockey League and its recruiting practices on trial, a can of worms that no junior hockey operator wants to see opened.
"Sometimes things come out and there are unintended consequences that you wish you hadn't started," Fink said in an interview with Toronto's Sportsnet 590 The Fan. "I don't know if that's going to be the case here.
"If it did go all the way and if it moved into the U.S. courts . . . there's a potential to dig into this whole question of compensation of players and whether it takes place and how the league deals with this issue."
That's a scary proposition for those in the hockey development business and may very well be why everyone is afraid to cast the first stone against the Spitfires.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Dan DaSilva (Portland, 2002-05) was released by mutual agreement by Lev Poprad (Slovakia, KHL). He had one assist in 15 games this season with Poprad. . . .
F Justin Mapletoft (Red Deer, 1996-2001) was released by the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had six assists in 14 games for the Wild Wings this season. . . .
After the first day of his tryout, F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) has signed a contract  with the DEG Metro Stars Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL) for the rest of this  season. Loyns had one goal and one assist in nine games with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) this season. Last season, he had six goals and 11 assists in 21 games for Val Pusteria (Italy, Serie A). . . .
D Darrell Hay (Tri-City, 1996-2000) has rejoined Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga) after being released last week by Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had one goal in 20 games for Liberec this season. Last season, Hay had five goals and 10 assists in 52 games for Mlada Boleslav. The contract is for the remainder of this season. . . .
Joining Hay in Mlada Boleslav is F Andrej Podkonicky (Portland,  1996-98). Podkonicky was assigned on loan to Mlada Boleslav for the rest of the season by Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had three goals and three assists in 16 games with Brno this season. Podkonicky was with Liberec last season, getting nine goals and 19 assists in 52 games for the club. . . .
F Patrik Valcak (Lethbridge, Kelowna, 2003-04) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Nitra (Slovakia, Extraliga) after his release by Trinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had no points in eight games with Trinec this season. Valcak had four goals and 15 assists in 23 games for Olofström (Sweden, Division 1) last season.
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Reports on Wednesday night — the first of which I think came from Mark Stepneski of ESPNDallas.com — indicate that the NHL’s board of governors has approved Tom Gaglardi, the majority owner of the Kamloops Blazers, as the new owner of the Dallas Stars.
The board, which isn’t scheduled to meet until early next month, apparently held a fax vote and Gaglardi’s ownership was approved.
Next up is a hearing in bankruptcy court in Delaware on Friday morning. The sale of the franchise is expected to be granted approval there.
That being the case, the Stars are expected to hold a news conference on Monday at which Gaglardi will be introduced as the owner.
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Remember the song Needles and Pins, by The Searchers. If it isn’t already, you have to wonder if it is a favourite song of F Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Jim Riley, who covers the Thunderbirds on a freelance basis for the Seattle Times, has written an interesting piece on Troock and how acupuncture is helping him overcome a problem with headaches. It is especially interesting when you realize that Troock was thought to have been suffering with post-concussion syndrome. It turned out to be a neck problem that, as Seattle athletic therapist Phil Varney told Riley, “was mimicking concussion symptoms.”
That story is right here.
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JUST NOTES: Congratulations to head coach Mike Williamson of the Calgary Hitmen, who got his 300th coaching victory Sunday. Williamson, in his third season with the Hitmen, also was head coach of the Portland Winterhawks; in fact, his first 219 regular-season victories came with Portland. Hitmen team captain Cody Sylvester presented Williamson with the game puck from No. 300 on Wednesday. Williamson is the 19th coach in the WHL history to get to 300. . . . The Prince George Cougars released F Tayler Thompson, 18, on Monday. Thompson had four points in 16 games. He also was minus-15. . . . The Tri-City Americans were working for Habitat for Humanity on Wednesday. Check out the photos right here. . . .
F Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Gallagher, 19, was a fifth-round selection by Montreal in the 2010 NHL draft. Gallagher has 31 points, including 18 goals, in 18 games with the Giants this season. . . . The Everett Silvertips have signed F Carson Stadnyk, 16, to a WHL contract. Stadnyk, from Saskatoon, was an eight-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. He is playing with the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts and has 27 points, including 15 goals, in 16 games. . . .
The NBA has cancelled games through Dec. 15, so the Portland Winterhawks have moved a Dec. 2 game against the Everett Silvertips to the Rose Garden. Game time will be 7 p.m. . . . Everett has assigned F Michael Bell, 16, to a BCHL team yet to be determined. He was pointless in 10 games with Everett. . . .
After a long run, Ben Wiebe has stepped aside as governor for the Swift Current Broncos. Wiebe will remain on the board of directors — he has had a chair there since the Broncos returned from Lethbridge in time for the 1986-87 season. He had been the governor for 17 years. Al Stewart is the club’s new governor, with GM/head coach Mark Lamb the alternate governor. Stewart has experience as alternate governor and chairman of the Broncos’ board. As well, Liam Choo-Foo is the new chairman of the board, with Kyle McIntyre the secretary. . . .
G Tyler Bunz of the Medicine Hat Tigers was struck in the head by an errant clearance as he was on the WHL’s bench during a 5-2 victory over the Russians in the Subway Super Series game in Regina on Wednesday night. He left the bench almost immediately and was taken to hospital for tests. There was no news as of late last night. Bunz is scheduled to start tonight Super Series finale in Moose Jaw. . . . However, Bunz did Tweet a note: “Congrats to the boys for the series clinching win! sorry I couldnt cheer you on! Big game by @cpickard1! Your the maaan.” . . .
David La Vaque of the Minneapolis Star Tribune has reported that F Ben Walker, the captain of the high school Edina Hornets, is leaving to sign with the Victoria Royals. The Hornets are coached by former NHL D Curt Giles, who confirmed the move. According to La Vaque: “Walker contributed to the Hornets' Class 2A state title run in 2010. As a junior last season he scored 18 goals and added 14 assists. Known for his speed, the 5-foot-10, 174-pound Walker scored 14 goals and added 13 assists playing 24 games for Team Southwest of the Elite League this fall.” Giles and Marc Habscheid, the Royals’ GM/head coach, were teammates on the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars in the late 1980s.
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SIT DOWN BOYS:
The WHL has suspended F Jesse Mychan for 10 games after he picked up a checking-to-the-head major and game misconduct for a hit on D Jesse Forsberg of the the visiting Prince George Cougars on Saturday. The WHL’s reasons for suspension included Mychan leaving his feet to deliver the hit, Forsberg being injured on the play (he is shown as being out week to week) and that it is Mychan’s third suspension this season. . . . F Charles Inglis of the Cougars drew a one-game suspension for the charging major he picked up for a hit on Everett F Josh Birkholz, who is out day-to-day. . . .
The OHL has issued two more lengthy suspensions, along with one for which it is getting some heat. F Dean Pawlaczyk of the Saginaw Spirit drew a 15-game sentence for a checking-to-the-head major assessed in a game against the Plymouth Whalers on Nov. 6. . . . F Alex O’Neil of the Brampton Battalion got a 10-game suspension for a checking-to-the-head major against the Niagara IceDogs on Nov. 11. . . . F Ryan Rupert of the London Knights got five games for a slashing major he incurred against the Soo Greyhounds on Nov. 11. A lot of observers expected Rupert to draw far more than five games for his violent slash at an opposing player, especially after it resulted in a post-game melee. When all was said and done, the OHL has suspended eight players, including Rupert, for a total of 19 games.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Theo Fleury, who was in Lloydminster for a fund-raising game:
“Standing outside BP's and some kid asks Ron Duguay if he's Bon Jovi. Best thing I've heard in a longtime. That's funny.”

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Tuesday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Andrej Podkonicky (Portland, 1996-98) signed a two-year contract with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had nine goals and 19 assists in 52 games for Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season.
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Here are the highlights to date from the WHL annual general meeting which is being held somewhere in Calgary, as tweeted Tuesday by Cory Flett, whose title is Director, Communications:
1. “We did not issue a #WHL AGM agenda yesterday, will issue a release outlining the outcome of the mtg tmrw at 1pm MT.”
2. Three hours later . . . “The #WHL has officially decided to move away from printing a 'pocket schedule' for the 11-12 reg. season #makesense”
3. Immediately after that one . . . “The #WHL however, will remain the only League in the #CHL that does a FULL print order of media guides still #makessense”
So . . . there you have it, WHL fans. Another exciting day at another WHL AGM.
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Here’s a thought: Why doesn’t the WHL hold its AGM in the home city of its championship team? Gotta think it wouldn’t have done the Kootenay Ice any harm at all to have all of the WHL pooh-bahs talking it up in Cranbrook.
Of course, if the WHL isn’t going to let people know what’s going behind its closed doors, it may as well hold the AGM in Rankin Inlet.
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JUST NOTES: City council in Swift Current voted Monday night to spent $251,000 on a new scoreclock that will have video capabilities. However, it isn’t likely to be installed in the Credit Union i-plex in time for the start of the 2011-12 season. . . . The Prince Albert Raiders have signed F Reid Gardiner, the eighth overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft. Gardiner, a Prince Albert native, had 81 points in 24 games with the bantam AA Humboldt Broncos last season. . . . The Prince George Cougars have signed D Jordan Harris, the 10th overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. Harris, from Prince Albert, had 34 points in 23 regular-season games with the bantam AA Prince Albert Pirates, who won the provincial championship. . . . The NHL’s Calgary Flames have purchased the NLL’s Calgary Roughnecks. Mike Moore, the Calgary Hitmen’s director of business operations, will wear the same hat with the Roughnecks. Moore is a former GM with the Kamloops Blazers and Medicine Hat Tigers.
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Two former WHLers -- Terry Ruskowski and Terry Egeland -- are said to be in the running for the vacant head-coaching position with the Central league’s Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. There is more right here.
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A few thoughts on the NHL and the way its game is being played in the Stanley Cup final:
1. It is quite evident that the cross-check is back in the game, especially has wielded by a player defending the turf in front of his goaltender.
2. I still am trying to come to some kind of understanding of the four-game suspension given to Vancouver D Aaron Rome for that hit on Boston F Nathan Horton. . . . Mike Murphy, who is handling discipline in this series on behalf of the NHL, said the hit was late. By one second. . . . If that one second is worth a four-game suspension in the Stanley Cup final and if the NHL is going to maintain consistency, that hit is going to be worth at least 12 games in the 2011-12 regular season.
3. I thought the NHL had outlawed the can-opener, but Boston D Johnny Boychuk took out Vancouver F Mason Raymond with it just 20 seconds into Game 6 on Monday night. (Raymond ended up with a compressed fracture of a vertebrae and won’t play again for perhaps four months.) There wasn’t a penalty on the play and the NHL chose not to take another look at the incident.
4. I am not a fan of the blustery Brian Burke, who is the king of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But were he the GM of the Vancouver Canucks, do you think he may have come up with a world-class rant to take some of the heat off that team? Surely you remember his rant from a 2002 series with the Detroit Red Wings: "I want to point out to the officials that Todd Bertuzzi does not play for Detroit, it just looks like that because he's wearing two or three Red Wings sweaters all the time. . . . Sedin is not Swedish for punch me, or headlock me in a scrum.” . . . The Canucks, the Sedins and Roberto Luongo in particular, really could have used something like that to relieve the pressure. And you just know that the media would have eaten it up.
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So . . . who wins Game 7? I’m thinking Luongo wins 1-0 (or 2-0 with an empty-netter). Like a hitter who sees the ball well in a particular park so has real success there, Luongo’s comfort zone in Rogers Arena seems especially large. So I would look for him to play well there, again. . . . But should the Bruins win, and that is a real possibility, I would expect the Left Coast of British Columbia to slide quietly into the water.
And the light created by the burning of those Canucks flags flying from automobile windows will light up the sky and confuse a whole lot of birds.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter