■ICE HOCKEY
Celine Dion in Canadiens bid
Singing superstar Celine Dion is part of a consortium considering a bid for fabled ice hockey side the Montreal Canadiens, it was reported on Thursday. Dion, as well as press baron Pierre Karl Peladeau and Seagram drinks heir Stephen Bronfman, form the group that wants to purchase the 24-time Stanley Cup champions from owner George Gillett, who bought the club nine years ago for US$185 million, the Globe and Mail reported. “There is a group bid being discussed and it’s clear that Gillett is very willing to sell if the price is right,” a banker, who is helping line up financing for potential bidders, was quoted as saying. Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte dropped out of the bidding for the team last week, sources in the financial community said.
■ICE HOCKEY
Jagr’s winner downs Sweden
Jaromir Jagr scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes, 6 seconds left to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the first round of the Ceska Pojistovna Cup on Thursday. The Czech forward also set up Petr Cajanek’s opening goal for the host nation after 12 minutes, 33 seconds of the second period. Christian Berglund made it 1-1 with 1 minute, 42 seconds left of the second period with a one-timer past screened Czech goalie Jakub Stepanek. Jagr’s winner came with two Swedes in the penalty box. Hannes Hyvonen scored twice as Finland beat Russia 4-2 in the other opening-round game in Tampere, Finland. The Finns rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three goals in the final period. Toni Kahkonen equalized two minutes into the third period, Hyvonen put Finland ahead after 8 minutes, 29 seconds on a power play and then scored the game-winner with 4 minutes, 10 seconds left.
■ICE HOCKEY
Flyers’ Carcillo suspended
Philadelphia Flyers forward Daniel Carcillo was suspended for one game and coach John Stevens was fined US$10,000 by the NHL on Thursday, a day after Carcillo hit Pittsburgh’s Maxime Talbot in the head in their playoff opener. With seven seconds left in the Penguins’ 4-1 victory on Wednesday, Carcillo delivered a blow to Talbot’s head directly off a face-off. Talbot wasn’t hurt and Carcillo was not penalized for the hit.
■FOOTBALL
Travis Henry faces jail term
Former NFL running back Travis Henry was facing 10 years behind bars on Thursday after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine. Henry, 30, was arrested in Denver in October after a cocaine trafficking ring, operating between Colorado and Montana, was smashed. The former Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos player was freed on bail, but will be sentenced on July 15.
RSS