Son downplays report of Howe’s dementia

Nearly 84, Mr. Hockey is still in demand and on the move. Gordie Howe is about to embark on another series of fundraisers to support dementia research. It’s a personal cause. His wife, Colleen, died in 2009 of Pick’s Disease, which involves significant mental impairment …

President Obama honors Stanley Cup champion Bruins at White House

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama saluted the NHL’s Boston Bruins for their 2011 Stanley Cup championship on Monday, but one key member of the team skipped the White House visit in protest. “I believe the federal government has grown out of control, threatening the rights, …

Blue Jackets fire coach Scott Arniel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After weeks of lopsided losses and blown leads, the Columbus Blue Jackets have fired second-year coach Scott Arniel. General manager Scott Howson announced the firing Monday. Assistant coach Todd Richards will serve as interim coach for the remainder of a season in …

Ex-ESPN hockey analyst Matthew Barnaby faces DUI charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ex-NHL player Matthew Barnaby is due in court on the drunken driving charge that led to his firing from ESPN last week. The former hockey analyst is scheduled to be arraigned in town court Tuesday in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence, where …

Chris Chelios, Gary Suter enter U.S. Hall of Fame together

Chris Chelios’ father didn’t want his son to have to work in a restaurant like he did. The NHL, let alone a Hall of Fame career of any type, was never a dream they had while Chelios was growing up in Evergreen Park. “[Hockey] was …

Ex-NHL player to testify at congressional hearing on child sex abuse

WASHINGTON — A former National Hockey League player who rocked the Canadian sports world with sexual abuse accusations against a former coach is the marque witness at a congressional hearing Tuesday examining such abuse in the wake of the Penn State scandal. The story of …

ESPN fires NHL analyst Matthew Barnaby after DWI charge

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Former NHL forward Matthew Barnaby was fired by ESPN as the cable network’s hockey analyst on Monday, a day after being charged with drunken driving for being found behind the wheel of an SUV that was missing its front tire. In an …

Wayne Gretzky’s daughter shuts down Twitter feed over racy photos

TORONTO — Paulina Gretzky has shut down her Twitter feed, fueling speculation her hockey great father took issue with racy photos of the aspiring actress and model. The pictures that caused an Internet buzz depict the 22-year-old woman in revealing tops, short skirts and bikinis. …

Carolina fires coach Paul Maurice

RALEIGH, N.C. — The last-place Carolina Hurricanes have fired coach Paul Maurice — the second time he’s been dismissed by the club. The team announced the firing in a statement Monday and said it would announce a new coach later in the day. Carolina dropped …

Sidney Crosby scores twice in season debut

PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby split a pair of defenders, worked the puck to his backhand and let it fly. New York Islanders goaltender Anders Nilsson never had a chance. Welcome back, Sid the Kid. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar capped his 10-month comeback from concussion-like symptoms …

Sidney Crosby set to return for Penguins on Monday

PITTSBURGH — Sid the Kid is back. Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby will make his season debut on Monday against the New York Islanders, his first game in nearly a year since being sidelined with concussion-like symptoms. Crosby hasn’t played since taking head shots in …

Russian Probe says pilot error caused hockey team crash

MOSCOW — A Russian pilot inadvertently put the wheel brakes on during takeoff, causing a crash that killed 44 people including a professional ice hockey team, investigators said Wednesday, citing lax oversight and insufficient crew training as key reasons behind the error.

The Interstate Aviation …

Hot corner: Raffi Torres criticized for blackface costume

Coyotes forward Raffi Torres is being criticized for wearing blackface while dressed as rapper Jay-Z at a Halloween party.

Fans and some media started criticizing Torres and his wife, Gianna, after teammate Paul Bissonnette posted a photo on Twitter of the couple wearing blackface as …

Blackhawks’ Olesz, Scott, Lepisto have had trouble getting playing time

A Blackhawks fan and his wife were in an elevator last week at a hotel in Phoenix when they struck up a conversation with the man riding with them. The couple asked him what he did for a living, and the man told them he …

Penguins’ Arron Asham apologizes after celebrating KO

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins forward Arron Asham wanted to fire up his teammates when he dropped the gloves with Washington’s Jay Beagle in the third period on Thursday. Asham, however, took it a step too far when he rubbed it in as Beagle lay stunned …