Machacek to Thunderbirds; Royer to Americans

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had six goals and 11 assists in 21 games for Val Puisteria (Italy, Serie A) last season. . . .
F Shay Stephenson (Red Deer, 2000-04) and younger brother D Logan Stephenson (Tri-City, 2001-06) signed tryout contracts with Jesenice (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). Shay did not play last
season while Logan had two goals and three assists in 43 games for the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL). In 2009-10, Shay had six goals and 13 assists in 36 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) and four goals and two assists in seven games for Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, Get Ligaen).
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Travel with Katy Perry or do play-by-play of the Victoria Royals’ games? Dave Sawchuk chose the former and now Marlon Martens will be doing the latter. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has that story right here.
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John Scott of the Chicago Blackhawks has had a tough time coming to grips with the death of close friend Derek Boogaard. Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at their relationship right here.
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Meanwhile, the Minneapolis StarTribune reported Thursday afternoon that Aaron Boogaard (Calgary, Tri-City, 2002-07) has been arrested “on suspicion of prescription fraud/possession of prescription pills, police said.” Aaron is Derek’s younger brother. The newspaper reported that police have until today at noon to charge him and that charges are expected to be laid this morning. The StarTribune story is right here.
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The Tri-City Americans picked up the rights to F MacKenzie Royer, 19, after he was dropped by the Moose Jaw Warriors. Royer, a second-round bantam draft selection by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2007 bantam draft, put up 11 points in 35 games last season — 16 with the Hitmen and 19 with the Warriors.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have traded D Cason Machacek, 20, to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. Machacek, from Lethbridge, had six assists and 183 penalty minutes in 65 games last season. He is preparing for his fourth WHL season, having started with the Kootenay Ice. He was dealt to Lethbridge 20 games into the 2009-10 season. . . . In 205 regular-season games, he has 24 points, four of them goals, and 401 penalty minutes. . . . Lethbridge is left with three 20-year-olds on its roster — F Cam Braes, F Austin Fyten and F Brody Sutter. . . . The Thunderbirds now show Machacek, F Burke Gallimore, D Ryan Button and D Erik Bonsor as their 20s.
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THE COACHING GAME: The ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays are in the market for a head coach after Cail MacLean left to work as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. MacLean, 34, spent two seasons as South Carolina’s head coach, going 88-48-18. Troy Ward, now the Heat’s head coach, was the head coach of the ECHL’s Trenton Titans, MacLean was his captain.
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Congrats to John Greenough for his victory in the CPGA of Saskatchewan Zone Championship at Swift Current-Elmwood on Wednesday. Greenough won the three-round affair by six shots, finishing at 8-under thanks in no small part to a course-record 10-under 61 in the first round. . . . Greenough, an old acquaintance from the days when he kicked around a ball a bit bigger than a golf ball on the east side of Regina, is the golf operations manager at Deer Valley Golf Club, which is located a couple of drives northwest of Regina. . . . His late father, Mark, was one of Saskatchewan’s best amateur golfers, which means the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. . . . Well done, John!
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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