■ICE HOCKEY
Franzen out for four months
Swedish star Johan Franzen will be out four months with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, the Detroit Red Wings announced on Friday. The 29-year-old Franzen suffered the injury to his left knee on Thursday in the Red Wings’ 3-2 win over Chicago. It was the first win of the new season for Detroit. Franzen, who goes by the nickname “The Mule,” won a Stanley Cup with Detroit last year and a gold medal with Sweden at the 2006 World Championships. He had 34 goals in 71 games last season and is hoping to play for Sweden at the Vancouver Olympics in February.
■ICE HOCKEY
Fleury says he was abused
Former NHL star Theo Fleury says he was sexually abused by a junior hockey coach. Fleury’s account is detailed in an autobiography titled Playing With Fire. The book is to be released next week. Excerpts appeared online. The former Calgary Flames forward accuses Graham James of abuse. James was jailed in 1997 after admitting to sexually abusing two players on his junior hockey team — one being former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy. James could not immediately be reached for comment. Fleury’s NHL career was derailed by drugs and alcohol.
■ICE HOCKEY
Quinn fined US$10,000
The NHL slapped Edmonton Oilers head coach Pat Quinn with a US$10,000 fine for comments he made after Thursday’s victory over the Calgary Flames. Quinn lashed out at Calgary forward Jarome Iginla for sending Edmonton’s Sheldon Souray to the ice in Edmonton’s 4-3 win. Souray suffered a concussion and Iginla was given a minor penalty for tripping. Quinn said dirty plays often go unpunished and the league is making it more difficult for the players to follow their on-ice code and police themselves. “I don’t understand the players of today,” said Quinn, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames and Vancouver Canucks. “If that had happened in the old days, [Iginla] would have got hit over the head with a stick right after. It was a pretty dirty play in my opinion. He poked his feet out and then piled on top of him. Somehow they never deal with that and they won’t let the vigilante stuff happen to deal with it. It’s disappointing.”
■SOCCER
Almeida suffers setback
Werder Bremen’s Portugal international striker Hugo Almeida has received a setback in his recovery from an appendix operation and will require further surgery, the club announced on Friday. The 25-year-old has made three Bundesliga appearances this season, but has been out of action since the operation for appendicitis last month and is set for a return to the operating theater because his scars have failed to heal. “At the moment, I can’t say when he’ll resume training,” Werder coach Thomas Schaaf said.
■SOCCER
Van Gaal calls for more time
Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal on Friday called on club bosses and fans to give him more time to work wonders on the struggling Bundesliga giants. “If I’m given the necessary time, I’ll have the chance of doing something big,” Van Gaal told German channel DSF. “I’ve shown what I’m capable of in other clubs I’ve been with, I think that the public and media have to keep faith with Louis van Gaal.” The Dutch coach, who previously worked with Ajax and Barcelona, remains optimistic for the remainder of the season, even though his side are eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen after eight games.
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