Wed, Sep 30, 2015 page18

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • Agencies
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  ICE HOCKEY

  Vegas, Quebec in final stage

  Las Vegas and Quebec City are moving closer in their bids to land an NHL franchise. A Bill Foley-led group and Montreal-based communications giant Quebecor are in the third and final stage of a process to potentially bring the world’s top hockey league to Las Vegas and Quebec City respectively. “They have been invited to make presentations to the executive committee on Tuesday,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an e-mail. Later in the day, the committee was to report to the NHL board of governors. “Evaluation process will continue,” Daly wrote. “No defined timeline.” Quebecor spokesman Martin Tremblay and Michelle Kersch, spokeswoman for Foley’s group, confirmed their groups are to make a presentation. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this month said the league is “not feeling any timeline pressure,” in the expansion process. Bettman has proposed an expansion fee of US$500 million, a significant jump from the US$80 million fee paid by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild when the NHL last expanded to 30 teams in 2000. It is expected to take at least two years before the NHL would potentially have 32 teams playing. The league has examined each market and both groups’ arena plans after they were chosen out of 16 expansion applicants.

  BASEBALL

  Tulowitzki soon to return

  Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on Monday tested his injured shoulder by taking batting practice and expects to return in time for the post-season. Tulowitzki has not played since Sept. 12 last year, when he cracked his scapula and bruised muscles in his upper back after colliding with teammate Kevin Pillar in a game against the Yankees. After taking between 30 and 40 swings, Tulowitzki said: “Hitting is the last thing. This is pretty much the first time I have hit live.” Tulowitzki took a few cuts outside before rain forced him to conclude the session indoors. The Blue Jays obtained Tulowitzki from Colorado on July 28 in a multiplayer deal. He was batting just .232 with the Blue Jays, but they are 30-8 with him in the starting lineup. Manager John Gibbons said Tulowitzki could return sometime this week. The Blue Jays entered Monday’s game against the Orioles with a magic number of four to clinch the AL East title. Asked if he expected to be ready for the post-season, Tulowitzki replied: “Definitely.”

  BASEBALL

  Nationals suspend Papelbon

  Washington Nationals pitcher Jonathan Papelbon was suspended for four games without pay on Monday following his dugout brawl with star outfielder Bryce Harper, the Major League Baseball team said in a statement. Papelbon on Sunday lunged at Harper in an ugly confrontation that added insult to injury after the Nationals were officially eliminated from playoff contention a day earlier. “The behavior exhibited by Papelbon yesterday is not acceptable,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement announcing the punishment. “That is not at all in line with the way our players are expected to conduct themselves, and the Nationals organization will not tolerate it in any way.” The four-game suspension is to begin after Papelbon completes a three-game ban issued by MLB following a separate incident in a match against the Baltimore Orioles last week, effectively ruling Papelbon out for the remainder of the season. Papelbon accepted responsibility for the fight. “I am in the wrong there,” Papelbon said. “There is a lot of competition and it’s a long season. It is a grind.”
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