10 Sports WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 Seahawks tap Coyle Howe resting after stroke Stephen WHYNO for middle linebacker The Canadian Press Tim BOOTH The Associated Press will be healthy for Sunday after has a long way suffering a groin injury against to go to recover from a stroke he RENTON, Wash. — Rookie Carolina. suffered over the weekend, his son is about to become Rather than completely jug- said Wednesday amid an outpour- the next option for the gling the linebacker corps, the ing of support from the hockey Seahawks at middle linebacker. Seahawks are planning to move community. Seattle linebackers coach Ken Wright back outside and insert “Mr. Hockey” has shown some Norton Jr. said Wednesday the the rookie. Coyle’s representa- signs of improvement from what Seahawks are planning on start- tives first tweeted congratula- son Mark called a “pretty signifi- ing Coyle at middle linebacker tions for their client getting his cant stroke” and is resting at his this week against Oakland. The first start. daughter Cathy’s home in Lub- undrafted rookie out of Montana “That’s why our depth is so bock, Texas. has only played a handful of important and Brock’s work that “It’s a difficult time for dad,” snaps during the season but im- he had with Bobby out in the Mark Howe said in a phone inter- pressed Seattle’s coaches enough summertime is very important,” view from Lubbock. “It definitely during the preseason that they’re Norton said. impacted his life, so we’re dealing comfortable with the move. Coyle has appeared in every with this, I think, as all families “It’s his position to lose. He’s game this season but mostly on do and just trying to be there. The in there right now. He can mess special teams. He’s played less best thing we can do is just be here it up by a bad week. We could than 10 defensive snaps. But he and be supportive and try to keep change our mind,” Norton said. got plenty of time during the him in good spirits.” “I think we were pleasantly preseason when Wagner was out Sons Mark, Marty and Murray surprised by Brock in his perfor- with a hamstring injury. travelled from their respective mance this summer, through- Coyle started Seattle’s first two homes in New Jersey, Connecticut out the camp, throughout the preseason games and saw exten- and Ohio on Tuesday to be with preseason. He stepped in when sive time in the other two. their father, who has been in de- Bobby [Wagner] was out then. Coyle is the latest undrafted clining health for the past year. He’s going to do the same thing rookie to find his way onto Seat- Gordie Howe is 86 and also suf- now. We know exactly what tle’s roster, a group that includes fers from a form of dementia. CP FILE PHOTO we’re getting and we’re very wide receivers In a statement thanking family, Hockey great Gordie Howe, part owner of the Vancouver Giants, pleased with what we have. and , tight end friends and fans for their support, looks on during a news conference in Vancouver on Feb. 2, 2012. That’s why he’s here.” and backup safety the Howe family said that “dad’s The Seahawks have been . spirits are good and his competi- Mike Babcock and Dallas Eak- Frank Mahovlich, who played without Wagner for the past two Even with Coyle likely to start, tive attitude remains strong.” ins talked about Howe’s health with Howe on the Red Wings for weeks because of a toe injury the Seahawks will likely rotate Concerns for Howe and hopes Wednesday. parts of four seasons, learned suffered against Dallas. Seattle’s their healthy linebackers. for his recovery have poured in “If there’s anybody that can re- of his former teammate’s stroke initial move was to slide K.J. The Seahawks are high on the from across the hockey world and cover from that, it’s that tough old Wednesday morning. Days after Wright to middle linebacker and improvement of rookie Kevin beyond since news of his stroke bird,” Eakins, who coaches the Oil- reading about the death of for- insert MVP Malcolm Pierre-Lewis, who saw his most emerged Tuesday afternoon. Mark ers, told reporters in Edmonton. mer NHLer Milan Marcetta, the Smith at outside linebacker. But extensive play last week against Howe, who has been a scout for “He’s a tough man and quite a 76-year-old it’s unknown whether Smith Carolina. the Red Wings for the past treasure to our game. Our thoughts great said he’s scared to pick up 20 years, estimated he had 375 and prayers are with him.” the newspaper much anymore. text messages, a volume surpassed Former owner “It’s that time in my life, I guess, only by the time he was inducted Howard Baldwin, who signed that a lot of my friends are feeling into the . Gordie to play with sons Mark and the pain,” Mahovlich said in a Mark Howe said other fam- Marty in the WHA and NHL and phone interview. ily members also received mes- also produced Howe’s movie, Those four seasons with Mahov- sages from friends about Gordie’s Mr. Hockey, has been in touch lich were the final four in the NHL health. with the family and voiced his sup- for Howe, at least until one more “Obviously dad, he’s touched so port, as well. go-around with sons Mark and many people in his life in such a “He’s somebody that I dearly Marty in Hartford in 1979-80. positive way,” he said. treasure,” Baldwin said in a Howe even skated one shift for “That’s reflected in so many of phone interview. “He’s a the Detroit Vipers of the Interna- the well-wishes and prayers that treasure and I hope and pray that tional Hockey League in 1997 at we’ve received.” he can pull through this, which I the age of 69, becoming the first Prime Minister Stephen Harper think he will and have a quality of player to take the ice in a profes- posted a message of encourage- life that you would want some- sional game over six separate ment on , and coaches body to have.” decades.

Olympic venues on track in South Korea

The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea — Olym- pic organizers in Pyeongchang have broken ground on the speed skating rink for the 2018 Winter Games and say all six new compe- tition venues are now on track to stage test events on schedule. Pyeongchang organizing com- mittee president Cho Yang-ho visited the site Wednesday in the Gangneung Coastal Cluster, where construction of the 8,000-seat venue is starting. “With today’s groundbreak- ing, all our competition venue preparations are in full swing and I am confident that there is good momentum in our progress,” Cho said. The 2018 Games will utilize 13 competition venues, including four existing and three refurbished facilities. The 131 billion South Korean won ($125 million) speed skating rink, the last of the new venues to get started, is expected to be com- pleted by January 2017, a month ahead of the official Olympic test event and more than a year before the games. New competition venues for Alpine skiing, figure skating and short track, luge and skeleton and are due for completion by late 2016. Pyeongchang organizers earlier this month scrapped plans to stage the opening and closing ceremo- nies for the Olympics outside of the host city. South Korea’s culture ministry said a 40,000-seat venue for the ceremonies would be built in Pyeongchang.

Canada defeats Norway at Grand Masters

The Canadian Press SELKIRK, Man. — Canada’s defeated Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud 5-4 in Wednes- day’s early draw at the Masters Grand Slam of . Howard, from Penetanguishene, Ont., scored a single in the eighth end for the victory at the Selkirk Recreational Complex. In women’s play, Ottawa’s Ra- chel Homan needed an extra end in a 7-5 win over Switzerland’s Alina Paetz and Russia’s Anna Sidorova beat Winnipeg’s Allison Flaxey 6-3.