Sports

New group unveils vision to launch second NHL franchise in Toronto

A new Toronto-based group has come forward with a proposal to launch a second NHL franchise in Toronto in time for the 2012-13 season.

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Golf briefs – June 5

Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak shot a bogey-free six-under 66 on Thursday for a share of the first-round lead with fellow South Korean Jee Young Lee in the State Farm Classic.

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Terrell Owens may have been released by the Dallas Cowboys

Jones keeping tabs on TO

Terrell Owens can’t stop talking about his days with the Dallas Cowboys — and Jerry Jones can’t stop listening.

Terrell Owens may have been released by the Dallas Cowboys
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LeFors in line to be Bombers’ QB

Stefan LeFors may have the inside track in the battle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ starting quarterback job — though he doesn’t see it that way.

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B.C. Lions caught by the rest of the West

The biggest change the B.C. Lions will face this season is the realization they are no longer the best team in the CFL, Wally Buono said Thursday.

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Energy showcase Alberta talent

Don’t expect a lot of defence when the International Basketball League makes an appearance at Lindsay Thurber High School Saturday evening.

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Sports briefs – June 5

Red Deer’s Julie Young is one of 19 players named to the Canadian national senior women’s volleyball team roster for an exhibition series against Peru.

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Joe Sacco

Avalanche hire Sacco

The Colorado Avalanche hired Joe Sacco of the AHL as their coach on Thursday, a day after firing Tony Granato and shaking up their front office.

Joe Sacco
Dinara Safina beat Dominika Cibulkova Thursday to advance to the French Open final.

Safina following in brother’s footsteps

Dinara Safina cursed at herself in English, muttered to herself in Russian and generally carried on in much the same manner of older brother Marat Safin.

Dinara Safina beat Dominika Cibulkova Thursday to advance to the French Open final.
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and defenceman Kris Letang hold off Detroit Red Wing Darren Helmin Game 4 on Thursday as they evened up the Stanley Cup FInal at 2-2 with a 4-2 win.

Brand new series

Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby refused to let the Pittsburgh Penguins fall into another big hole.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and defenceman Kris Letang hold off Detroit Red Wing Darren Helmin Game 4 on Thursday as they evened up the Stanley Cup FInal at 2-2 with a 4-2 win.
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant shoots over Orlando Magic Marcin Gortat en route to 40 points and a 100-75 win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday.

Bryant makes early statement in finals

One step toward redemption, one step toward a ring.

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant shoots over Orlando Magic Marcin Gortat en route to 40 points and a 100-75 win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday.

Datsyuk’s status for Game 4 of Cup final still up in the air

Pavel Datsyuk’s return to the Detroit Red Wings lineup for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final remains in doubt.

David Krejci

Under the knife

Boston Bruins forward David Krejci will have a little something to make him feel better when he goes in for surgery today: A three-year contract worth more than US$11 million.

David Krejci
Pittsburgh Penguin Sidney Crosby is checked into goaltender Chris Osgood by defenceman Brian Rafalski during Game 3 on Tuesday. The Penguins are trying to avoid the same fate they suffered last year — a six-game loss to the Red Wings.

Penning a new finish

This is where the Pittsburgh Penguins hope to veer from the script. Even though the Stanley Cup final has followed the exact same pattern as a year ago, the Penguins believe that this series could be on the way to a different ending.

Pittsburgh Penguin Sidney Crosby is checked into goaltender Chris Osgood by defenceman Brian Rafalski during Game 3 on Tuesday. The Penguins are trying to avoid the same fate they suffered last year — a six-game loss to the Red Wings.
Notre Dame Cougar Jesse Cheema takes a pass from teammate  as he’s tackled by Lindsay Thurber Raider Dallas Snider on Wednesday. The Raiders won 36-5.

Rugby Raiders continue to roll

Lindsay Thurber Raiders head coach Dean Plant has to stop and think when asked about why the Raiders have dominated the Central Alberta High School Boys’ Rugby League for close to a decade.

Notre Dame Cougar Jesse Cheema takes a pass from teammate  as he’s tackled by Lindsay Thurber Raider Dallas Snider on Wednesday. The Raiders won 36-5.
Serena Williams lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova  in the quarterfinal of the French Open on Wednesday.

Serena chokes at Open

American Serena Williams, of all people, got a case of the jitters.

Serena Williams lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova  in the quarterfinal of the French Open on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant

Bryant ready to strike

His smile has vanished, replaced by something closer to a scowl. His days of joking around are seemingly on hold.

Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant

Colorado Avalanche fire coach Granato

The Colorado Avalanche began their rebuilding process in a major way Wednesday, firing head coach Tony Granato and naming Greg Sherman general manager.

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Sports briefs – June 3

Keegan Soehn of the Red Deer Thunder Country Trampoline Club was a triple gold medalist at the Canadian National trampoline and tumbling championships for the second year in a row.

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Russia’s Dinara Safina returns the ball to Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka during their quarter final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris

Sharapova trounced

Maria Sharapova barely averted a shutout Tuesday before losing to Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the French Open. Cibulkova was one point from victory at 5-love in the second set before Sharapova finally found her form.

Russia’s Dinara Safina returns the ball to Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka during their quarter final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris