NHL suspends Ovechkin for two games
TORONTO, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin was suspended for two games without pay after a knee-on-knee collision, the NHL announced Tuesday.
Ovechkin collided with Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes Monday night in a 3-2 Washington victory, on a play in which the Capitals' top scorer injured his own knee.
"I regret that this has happened," Ovechkin said in a statement released by the Capitals. "I'm glad that Tim wasn't injured because I never ever want to see anyone get hurt. I am disappointed to miss these games and I can't wait to get back on the ice next week to help my team."
The suspension was the first ever issued to the NHL superstar, who is known as much for his hard-hitting style as his scoring prowess. The suspension means he will miss Thursday's home game against Florida and Saturday's game at Philadelphia, with a return to eligibility slated for Dec. 7 at Tampa Bay.
Ovechkin, who has 18 goals and 30 points, said his injury wasn't as bad a first appeared.
Rays acquire catcher Shoppach from Indians
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Rays said Tuesday they have acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a player to be named later.
The team said Shoppach, 29, hit .214 (58-for-271) last season with 12 home runs, 14 doubles and 40 RBI in 89 games for Indians. The catcher also led all American League batters by getting hit by pitches 18 times.
Shoppach emerged at the plate for the Indians during the last two years after spending much of his career as a back-up for Victor Martinez. In 2008, he led all AL catchers with 21 home runs, and his 32 homers as a catcher over the last two seasons are tied with Joe Mauer for second most in the AL, the Rays said.
The right-handed Shoppach is a career .241 (219-for-909) hitter with 43 home runs and 141 RBI over parts of five seasons with the Indians (2006-09) and Boston Red Sox (2005).
Women ski jumpers pushing Olympic bid
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Women ski jumpers are pressing their quest to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics, says their attorney who asked Canada's highest court to hear their appeal.
The International Olympic Committee voted in 2006 not to include women's ski jumping at the 2010 Games, saying the sport was not developed enough.
Time is of the essence and Ross Clark, the lawyer who filed the request with Canada's Supreme Court Tuesday, said he recognizes it's a long shot, the Toronto Star reported. Two lower courts have ruled against the women, saying the country's Charter of Rights doesn't extend to having a say in which sports are included in the Olympics.
"I recognize that this is a tough road," Ross said. "We may not succeed, on both grounds. Even getting leave is a tough thing; one in 10 are successful."
The 2010 Winter Games will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 12-28.
A spokesperson for the13 female jumpers contends there's more at stake than just whether the women can compete in this Olympics.
"It's even bigger than women's rights. It's human rights," Deedee Corradini, president of Women's Ski Jumping USA, told the Star. "Internationally, it has implications for whether organizations can come into a country, such as the (International Olympic Committee) and ignore the Constitution of that country."
Bruins sign Savard to 7-year extension
BOSTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The Boston Bruins have signed center Marc Savard to a 7-year contract extension, General Manager Peter Chiarelli said Tuesday.
The contract locks up the 32-year-old Savard for the Bruins through the 2016-17 season. Since signing with the team as a free agent in July 2006, he has led Boston in scoring each of the last three seasons, in addition to leading the team's post-season scoring race each of the last two seasons, the team said.
The terms of the deal were not announced, but unnamed sources told U.S. broadcaster ESPN it was worth $28 million.
The 5-foot-10, 191-pound Savard has twice finished in the league's top 10 in scoring with 95 or more points while playing in two straight NHL All-Star Games. He pumped in 25 goals and 63 assists in all 82 regular season games last year, while adding six goals and seven assists in 11 post-season contests.
