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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 SPORTS

Leafs fire head coach Players sick in Perth heat Szukala joins Al Ittihad TORONTO: The have fired head coach Randy PERTH: Extreme heat in Western Australia led to unhappy players vomiting BUCHAREST: In a refreshingly honest admission, Poland centre back Carlyle in a bid to salvage a season that has started to slip away, the and suffering excessive weight loss during a top of the table A-League Lukasz Szukala says he turned down offers from England and Germany to team said yesterday. clash on Monday, the local players union said. join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad from Romanian champions Steaua The decision to part ways with Carlyle comes with Toronto having Perth Glory have since requested for later kick-off times after the 2-1 Bucharest because the money was too good to refuse. lost seven of their last nine games and clinging to the final wild-card home loss to Adelaide United was played out in 39 degrees Celsius (102 Szukala, who has played 10 times for Poland since mak- playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Boston Fahrenheit) temperatures which dropped by only four degrees at the end ing his international debut in 2013, signed a two-year con- Bruins. “It’s never an easy decision to make when changing your leader- of the game, local media reported. “Some players have since reported heat tract, starting on July 1 and did not bother with the foot- ship but our team was not trending in the right direction and we felt an illnesses, including excessive weight loss, headaches and vomiting,” baller’s common claim that he was moving for the “chal- immediate change was necessary,” Maple Leafs Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) Chief Executive Adam Vivian said in lenge and interest of a new environment.” General Manager David Nonis said in a statement. a statement yesterday. “The PFA will continue to monitor the players’ health “I had offers from Germany and England, but the finan- Assistant coaches Peter Horachek and Steve and will be conducting further discussions with Football Federation cial conditions offered by Al Ittihad were fantastic,” said the Spott will handle coaching duties for the Maple Australia and the clubs. “We will be asking them to share with us the advice 30-year-old, who was voted the best foreign player in Leafs in their next game on Wednesday against in which they were satisfied the players’ health and safety was not compro- the Romanian league in 2014. “It was impossible the visiting Washington Capitals. mised by proceeding with the match at that time.” to turn down their offer.” Szukala became the The Maple Leafs’ coaching job is widely consid- League officials shot down suggestions they had risked player safety by second Steaua player to join Al Ittihad after ered one of the toughest in the 30-team NHL allowing the match to go ahead on the hottest January day in Perth in 20 highly-rated midfielder Lucian Sanmartean years. “We’ve gone to great lengths to take serious medical advice on heat,” given the intense media scrutiny and agreed a one-year deal with the team A-League head Damien de Bohun was quoted as saying by ABC news. “It’s pressure to bring home the franchise’s coached by former Romania boss Victor important to note that the FFA’s standards are more stringent than FIFA’s Piturca.—Reuters first Stanley Cup since 1967.—Reuters standards and it’s based on medical best practice. —Reuters Ryder captain to be named inside six weeks - McGinley

LONDON: The captain of Europe’s 2016 Jose Maria Olazabal and European Tour Ryder Cup team will be decided by the officials. middle of February, according to outgoing skipper Paul McGinley. INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS The Irishman, a member of the five-man “They all did so well and I’d love to see panel that will elect the next skipper, told them all having individual success. I’d like Reuters in an interview at Wentworth Golf as many of them as possible to make the Club on the outskirts of London that the team again in two years’ time.” top players would have a big say in the Justin Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open winner, decision-making process. and Henrik Stenson formed the most suc- “We are pretty far down the road,” said cessful pairing for Europe at Gleneagles the 48-year-old McGinley. “I think within a and McGinley is particularly keen for the maximum of six weeks we’ll have a new 38-year-old Swede to end his long wait for captain in place. a first victory in a major championship. “The wheels will turn on another Ryder “Henrik and Justin were arguably the Cup and we’ll be getting ready for best players at the Ryder Cup and it would Hazeltine in two years’ time.” The bookmak- be a shame if Henrik went through his ers have installed 2011 British Open cham- entire career without winning a major,” said pion Darren Clarke as the odds-on the Irishman who is an ambassador for the favourite to lead the side in Minnesota and specialist bank and asset manager Investec. McGinley said it was important for the pan- “But I have no doubts he will. He has el to canvas the opinions of Europe’s lead- proved himself at the top level, he’s won ing golfers. big tournaments all around the world. “He “You look mainly at who the players has the game, he has the power and he has want when you are looking for the next the mental capacity to win a major champi- captain,” he added. “One thing that’s onship,” said McGinley. “Justin is continually worked in our favour over the years is that improving year on year and he will certain- we have voted in captains that the players ly be a factor as well this year.” McGinley have wanted to play for.” also expects world number one Rory McGinley was lauded by the entire team McIlroy to come out firing on all cylinders for the way he plotted the downfall of Tom when he begins his season at next week’s Watson’s United States side in Scotland in Abu Dhabi Championship alongside the September, Europe’s eighth victory in the second-ranked Stenson and number six last 10 editions of the biennial team event. Rose. The Northern Irishman achieved There is always a twinkle in his eye when back-to-back major wins in 2014, at the his thoughts drift back to that special week British Open and US PGA Championship, at Gleneagles and the Irishman is hoping and McGinley said there were many more the vast majority of his team will be back in victories ahead for McIlroy. “What’s good the side at Hazeltine. about Rory is the great balance he has in “I’m pulling for all my players from his life,” he explained. “He’s had a good win- Gleneagles to do well,” said McGinley who ter off, he’s enjoyed himself and will come is joined on the selection panel by 2010 back fresh and invigorated for a new year captain Colin Montgomerie, 2012 skipper of golf.”—Reuters Terranova clinches

second stage WASHINGTON: Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), from Russia, goes airborne as he collides with goalie Roberto Luongo (1) in the first period of an NHL hockey game.—AP CHILECITO: Argentine Orlando Terranova his first Dakar stage, ahead of KTM team- claimed his second stage win of the Dakar mate and reigning champion Marc Coma Rally yesterday, to move third overall in the and overall race leader Joan Barreda Bort of Capitals see off Panthers standings led by Mini teammate Nasser Al- Spain. “I made some little mistakes because Attiyah. it was a little bit dangerous today with Qatari Al-Attiyah, the 2011 champion, many stones and it forced you over the lim- WASHINGTON: Alex Ovechkin had a goal Jackets past the Colorado Avalanche. DUCKS 4, PREDATORS 3 finished fifth in the day’s 542km third stage, it, but overall it was quite good,” said and an assist to help the Washington Savard, whose turnover early in the game Francois Beauchemin scored the tying which included 284km of specials. South Walkner. Capitals beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 on led to a goal for Colorado, was able to get goal with 2:17 left in the third period and Africa’s Giniel de Villiers, picked up his third “It’s my first rally and I hope I can enjoy podium finish in three days, ahead of it.” Overall Honda’s Barreda Bort leads Sunday. Brooks Laich and Karl Alzner added enough on the puck to knock it past Ryan Kesler got the deciding goal in the another Toyota driven by Saudi Arabia’s ahead of Portuguese teammate Paulo second-period goals for Washington, which Semyon Varlamov for the Blue Jackets’ fifth shootout, giving the Anaheim Ducks a vic- Alrahji Zayed, to stay second overall. Goncalves and Walkner. Coma sits fourth at has won 10 straight home games against win in their last six road games. tory over the . Spaniard Carlos Sainz, winner in 2010, 10min 50sec. “It was really dangerous the Panthers. The Capitals improved to 10- Brandon Dubinsky scored a pair of goals Matt Beleskey and Corey Perry also had finished fourth at 4min 6sec to move up to because we were on river beds with a lot of 1-3 in their past 14 games, and avoided a for the Blue Jackets, and Ryan Johansen and goals in regulation for the league-leading fourth in the overall standings, while fellow stones and broken up tracks all day,” said letdown after their 3-2 victory over Chicago added a goal. Colorado scored its quickest Ducks, and Frederik Andersen made 27 Peugeot veteran Stephane Peterhansel, fin- Barreda Bort. “Now we go to Chile and in the Winter Classic. goal of the season when Jarome Iginla saves. Seth Jones and Craig Smith had pow- ished seventh, nine minutes off the pace, to there will be different stages and a different Braden Holtby made 29 saves for intercepted a wayward pass by Savard in er-play goals in the second period and sit 16th overall at 1hr 12 min. feeling so we will see there.” Today’s stage Washington. Nick Bjugstad had a goal and the Blue Jackets’ zone and wristed a shot Mattias Ekholm also scored for the In the motorbike section, Austria’s runs between Chilecito in Argentina to an assist for Florida. Vincent Trochek and past Curtis McElhinney 30 seconds into the Predators. Backup goalie Carter Hutton Matthias Walkner, was a surprise winner of Copiapo in Chile. —AFP Dylan Olsen also scored. game. Gabriel Landeskog and Cody McLeod stopped 30 shots, but remained winless in also had goals for Colorado. five starts this season - all on the road. HURRICANES 2, BRUINS 1 Eric Staal scored the only goal in the LIGHTNING 4, SENATORS 2 OILERS 5, ISLANDERS 2 shootout to lift Carolina past Boston. Anton Tyler Johnson had two goals and Nikita Matt Hendricks scored a pair of goals and Khudobin got the start in goal for Carolina Kucherov had two assists to lead the Tampa the Edmonton Oilers topped the New York in place of Cam Ward, who played the previ- Bay Lightning past the Ottawa Senators. The Islanders. Jordan Eberle, Derek Roy and ous four games. Khudobin, a former Bruin, Lightning took a 3-2 lead into the third peri- Matt Fraser also scored for the Oilers, who made 19 saves and stopped Reilly Smith, od and increased that to 4-2 at the 7:58 won for just the third time in their last 25 Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug in the mark on Johnson’s second goal of the game. games. Edmonton, however, improved to 2- shootout. Tuukka Rask made 35 saves for The Lightning also got goals from Victor 0-2 in its last four games since interim head Boston, but couldn’t stop Staal. Hedman, who also had an assist, and Steven coach Todd Nelson took sole possession of Patrick Dwyer opened the scoring for Stamkos. Ben Bishop made 20 saves and the Oilers’ bench, with general manager Carolina with 33.2 seconds left in the first improved to 6-0-2 against his former team. Craig MacTavish moving back upstairs. period. Bergeron tied it for Boston, one-tim- Ottawa got a goal and an assist from Kyle Johnny Boychuk and Brock Nelson scored ing a pass from Brad Marchand past Turris, along with another goal from Mark for the Islanders, whose three-game win- Khudobin in the second period. Stone, but had its two-game winning streak ning streak ended. New York is 7-2-1 in its end. last 10.—AP BLACKHAWKS 5, STARS 4 Patrick Sharp scored 1:17 into overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a win over NHL results/standings Dallas and end the Stars’ four-game winning streak. Sharp drove past Jason Spezza down Western Conference Tampa Bay 25 12 4 134 108 54 the slot, took Duncan Keith’s feed from the Pacific Division Detroit 20 10 9 109 99 49 W L OTL GF GA PTS left point and beat Kari Lehtonen with a Toronto 21 16 3 130 122 45 Anaheim 26 9 6 115 110 58 shot that slipped between the goalie’s body Boston 19 15 6 104 108 44 and his blocker. Vancouver 22 12 3 109 98 47 San Jose 21 14 5 109 105 47 Florida 17 11 9 87 97 43 Chicago’s Brad Richards fooled Lehtonen Los Angeles 19 12 9 112 103 47 Ottawa 16 15 7 102 105 39 with an improbable sharp-angle shot with Calgary 21 16 3 115 105 45 Buffalo 14 23 3 77 136 31 3:57 left in the third period to tie it at 4 and Arizona 15 19 4 92 124 34 Metropolitan Division set up overtime. Edmonton 9 22 9 88 135 27 Pittsburgh 24 10 5 118 94 53 Brandon Saad, Patrick Kane and Bryan Central Division Bickell scored for the Blackhawks, who Nashville 25 9 4 116 88 54 NY Islanders 26 12 1 121 109 53 came back from four one-goal deficits to Chicago 26 11 2 124 85 54 Washington 20 11 7 112 99 47 win. Erik Cole had two goals and an assist St. Louis 23 13 3 118 99 49 NY Rangers 21 11 4 113 90 46 for the Stars. Jamie Benn and his brother, Winnipeg 20 13 7 103 96 47 Columbus 17 17 3 96 119 37 Dallas 18 14 6 119 124 42 Jordie, also scored for Dallas. Philadelphia 14 18 7 106 120 35 Minnesota 18 15 4 104 106 40 New Jersey 14 20 7 90 117 35 BLUE JACKETS 4, AVALANCHE 3 Colorado 15 16 8 101 117 38 Carolina 12 23 4 77 102 28 David Savard drove in shot from just Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the ARGENTINA: Toyota driver Giniel de Villiers of South Africa and co-pilot Dirk Von inside the blue line with 1:01 left in the Montreal 26 11 2 108 89 54 standings and are not included in the loss column (L). Zitzewitz of Germany, race during the second stage of the Dakar Rally 2015. —AP third period, lifting the Columbus Blue