See you later, alligator!

This is the last post that will appear here for an indefinite period.
I have taken an indefinite leave from the Kamloops Daily News as my wife is scheduled for a kidney transplant.
Thank you for stopping by and hopefully we’ll meet here again in the not-too-distant future.
———
THE MacBETH REPORT:
D David Hajek (Spokane, 1998-99) signed a contract through Dec. 1 with Dresden (Germany, DEL2). He had five goals and 15 assists in 48 games for Dresden last season.
———
The MacBeth Report has joined the Twitterverse. With this blog going black for a while, you will be able to follow The MacBeth Report on Twitter at @MacBethReport.
———
The Victoria Royals have signed F Dante Hannoun, the 11th overall selection in the 2013 WHL bantam draft. The 5-foot-6, 145-pound Hannoun, from Delta, B.C., will spend this season with the major midget Greater Vancouver Canadians. Last season, he captained the bantam AAA North Shore Winter Clukb Hawks, putting up 151 points, including 63 goals, in 63 games.
———
The Moose Jaw Warriors have acquired D Zach Hodder, 20, from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a conditional eight-round 2014 bantam draft pick. . . . Hodder, from Delta, B.C. will be joining his fifth WHL team as he also has played for the Vancouver Giants, Saskatoon Blades and Prince Albert Raiders. . . . In 125 regular-season games, he has 38 points. . . . Hodder was selected by the Giants with the 20th overall pick of the 2008 bantam draft. . . . The Tigers’ roster now includes four 20-year-olds — D Dylan Bredo, F Jacob Doty, F Boston Leiter and F Curtis Valk. . . . Hodder’s arrival gives Moose Jaw three 20-year-olds, as he joins F Sam Fioretti and F Todd Fiddler.
———
The Medicine Hat Tigers got down to two goaltenders on Friday when they released G Keelan Williams, 17. . . . Williams, from Calgary, played last season with the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes. . . . The move leaves the Tigers with sophomore Marek Langhamer, 19, who is from Czech Republic, and freshman Zac Robidoux, 17, from Morden, Man. . . . Langhamer returned Thursday from the Phoenix Coyotes’ rookie camp in Glendale, Ariz.
———
The host Everett Silvertips scored four second-period goals and beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-4 on Friday night. That allowed the Silvertips to run their preseason record to 6-0. . . . Interestingly, the Silvertips, who struggled to score last season, lead the WHL with 31 goals, 27 of those in their last four games. . . . The Silvertips conclude their exhibition schedule tonight when they meet the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Wash.
———
“Hockey fans at the season-opener of the Tri-City Americans will have a chance to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security improve its facial recognition capabilities,” writes Annette Cary of the Tri-City Herald. “Video will be taped by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at the Sept. 21 game in a portion of the Toyota Center in Kennewick.” . . . Cary’s complete story is right here.
———
The Seattle Thunderbirds are down to three goaltenders after releasing Logan Flodell, 16, from their training camp roster. Flodell is from Regina and played last season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. . . . The Thunderbirds are left with Danny Mumaugh, 17, Devon Fordyce, 19, and Justin Myles, 18, as their goaltenders to this point.
———
“Minor hockey officials, please take note,” writes Stephen Hume in the Vancouver Sun. “The lawyers came for the National Football League, that $10 billion marketing behemoth that makes the National Hockey League look like a peewee division. And soon they’ll be coming for you, too. At least they will if you don’t move much more aggressively to clean up attitudes regarding head injuries in hockey.”
That complete column is right here.
———
Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail writes today of the need to get fun back into the game of hockey. As usual, MacGregor hits the nail squarely on the head. That piece is right here.
———






From Michael Scissons (@mrscizz): “I wish the best to @SportyHurly and @Johnny_ops on their future endeavours. It was my pleasure to have worked with you. #dontbestrangers”
Scissons is the director of sales for the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Davis Hurlburt (@SportyHurly) was an account executive with the Blades. . . . John Brodsky (@Johnny_ops) was the Blades’ director of business operations. He is the son of former Blades owner Jack Brodsky.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.