THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014 SPORTS

Coe pledges revamp bid ‘Mr. Hockey’ leaves hospital Australia shuns fallen Sun LONDON: Double Olympic champion Sebastian Coe unveiled the manifesto TORONTO: Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, known to many MELBOURNE: Olympic and world champion swimmer Sun Yang has been behind his campaign to become head of world athletics yesterday, pledging a cal- as “Mr. Hockey,” was expected to be released from hospital yesterday barred from training in Australia in the wake of a three-month ban for a doping endar and prize money revamp and new competitions to bring back fans. after tests revealed he did not suffer a new stroke as had previously violation. Launching his bid to become president of the International Association of been thought, CBC News reported on Tuesday. Swimming Australia high performance boss Michael Scott met with Sun’s Athletics Federations (IAAF), the man who successfully delivered the London 2012 The former player had two strokes over the Australian coach Denis Cotterell last week and told him the 23-year-old Chinese, Olympic Games said athletes should also enjoy greater commercial opportunities, past five weeks, and was initially thought to have suffered another one of the biggest names in world swimming, was no longer welcome at local with an overhaul of prize money structure. on Monday after he was found unresponsive in bed. pools. “I met Denis last Tuesday,” Scott told Brisbane’s Courier Mail newspaper. “The vision and proposals that I am unveiling today are designed to increase the But Howe’s son, Murray, told CBC that an MRI showed “no new “As a result of that meeting and our policy, Denis has advised the Chinese swim- reach and appeal of athletics in a world that is rapidly changing,” Coe said at the ming federation that Sun Yang will not be allowed to train at Miami (Swimming stroke” and that his father was likely suffering from dehydration and Club) any more or any of our podium centres. launch event in central London. “I believe that it is essential that we open up a real fatigue. He said Howe would likely return home on Wednesday. debate and take a long hard look at the ‘product’ of athletics if we aim to attract “(Integrity) is foremost going forward. It was a very straight forward call, Howe, 86, lost some function on one side of his body and was which Denis supported and has been acted upon already.” more young people into our sport and drive increased participation and income.” having trouble speaking after a severe stroke in late October, and Swimming Australia confirmed the report and said the gov- Coe said the athletics calendar urgently needed to be redrawn to make then suffered another minor stroke in early November. erning body’s CEO Mark Anderson would issue a statement it more exciting. A 23-time NHL All Star, Howe led Detroit to four Stanley Cup titles late yesterday. Cotterell, head coach of the Miami “To many within and outside our sport, our calendar seems dis- before retiring in 1980 as the all-time leader in career goals and Swimming Club and one of Australia’s most accomplished jointed, lacks a narrative and the essential glue to build excitement points. Both records were later broken by fellow Hall of Famer Wayne swimming mentors, trained 1,500 metres Olympic and and a loyal and passionate following,” he said. “Many fans don’t Gretzky. The Canadian still owns several NHL records, including the world champion Sun and a number of elite Chinese at the know when the athletics season starts, when it ends, why it seems most consecutive 20- seasons (22), most regular season games Gold Coast pool. Prior to Sun, Cotterell also coached to bounce around from the USA to Europe to Asia and back again. played (1,767) and most regular season goals (801) and points Australia’s two-time Olympic 1,500m champion Grant “A harmonised calendar is the key to promotion, marketing, (1,850) by a right winger. He is also the only person to play in the Hackett, who held the world record before it was eclipsed by the athletes and Member Federation development, NHL after turning 50. — Reuters the controversial Chinese. The Miami Swimming Club was and we must address this.” —Reuters unavailable for comment. —Reuters Cricketer Hughes laid to rest in hometown

MACKSVILLE: The funeral for cricketer Phillip call me a sook right now.” Hughes turned into a celebration of his life “He left a mark on our game that needs no yesterday despite the grief and sorrow still embellishment,” Clarke said, adding the kind evident from his death. of encouragement he thought Hughes might Australia captain Michael Clarke and the use for the occasion. “We must dig in ... we rest of the test squad were joined by former must play on.” and current players from around the world, “Rest in peace my little brother,” Clarke and friends and relatives from Hughes’ home- said. “See you out in the middle.” India’s stand- town of 2,500 people on the northern coast in captain Virat Kohli, team director Ravi of New South Wales state, 575 kilometers Shastri and former Australian wicketkeeper (350 miles north of Sydney). Adam Gilchrist walked together for a while as Clarke was a pallbearer and spoke at the part of a large group that followed the casket funeral service held at the Macksville out of the hall and on the long procession. Recreation Centre and which opened to the Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brian Lara and song “Forever Young” by Youth Group. Richard Hadlee were among the greats of the The service closed with Elton John’s “Don’t game paying their respects at the service, Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” the same song Sean Abbott, the 22-year-old who bowled the famous entertainer and avid cricket fan the delivery which fatally injured Hughes, was performed at a concert last weekend in at the funeral. He was consoled by members Germany in tribute to Hughes. of Hughes’ family - Clarke has already said Hughes died last Thursday, aged 25, two Abbott cannot not be held responsible. The days after being hit near the ear by a ball family had asked for Hughes’ hearse to go while batting for South Australia against his through the town’s streets to give locals a former state side New South Wales at the chance to take part in the service. The kilome- Sydney Cricket Ground. ter-long procession ended in the center of In steaming temperatures of nearly 30 town, where the hearse took Hughes’ coffin to Celsius (85F) early arrivals to the service, a private service, and Australia’s cricketers including Australian Prime Minister Tony plus family and friends were to hold a wake. Abbott, fanned themselves with papers. The funeral was telecast live around At the front of the hall, near the altar for Australia and on video screens at the PITTSBURGH: Sidney Crosby No. 87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on in this file photo. — AFP the Roman Catholic service, was Hughes’ oak Adelaide Oval, where the rescheduled first brown casket. Flowers, a cricket bat, and his test with India will start next Tuesday, and the baggy green test cap were nearby. Leading SCG, where a row of 63 bats were propped up the service, which included a video tribute, against pickets, each with an inscription of a Penguins down Devils Father Michael Alcock remembered the bats- special moment of Hughes’ career. man as a “shining light.” Owners of shops and businesses in “In his short time he walked as a child of Macksville shut down to attend the funeral, the light, not in an ostentatious way but in a and schoolchildren were let out of their class- natural, unassuming and passionate way,” the es early Wednesday to watch or attend the as Kings blank Bruins priest said. Jason Hughes, Phillip’s older service. brother, said his sibling was “destined to be a Hughes’ cousin Nino Ramunno spoke at rock star.” “I couldn’t have asked for a better length during the eulogy about Hughes’ PITTSBURGH: Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 Detroit. They haven’t dropped back-to-back Wings’ zone, and Florida ended Detroit’s four- little brother,” Hughes said as his parents Greg youth in Macksville as a keen, budding crick- shots for his NHL-leading fifth shutout as the games since mid-October. Radim Vrbata added a game winning streak. Jimmy Hayes, Vincent and Virginia wept in the front row of the con- eter, explaining how he made his start - scor- Pittsburgh Penguins edged the New Jersey Devils power-play goal and an assist, and Derek Dorsett Trocheck and Aaron Ekblad added goals for the gregation. Clarke, who has described Hughes ing 25 as a tailender in his first innings - after 1-0 on Tuesday night. also scored for Vancouver. had two Panthers, who have won three of four. Gustav as the brother he never had, broke down fre- being convinced to fill in for an absent player Fleury matched his career high for shutouts in assists, and Ryan Miller finished with 23 saves. Nyqusit scored with 59 seconds to play to cut the quently last weekend at the SCG when he first in his older brother’s under-10 team. a season and was rarely tested by the Devils, who John Carlson had two goals and an assist, and lead to a goal, but the Red Wings never got anoth- commented on his close friend’s death. Ramunno ended his remarks with a saying have just one victory in their last eight games. Brooks Laich also scored for Washington, which is er good chance. On Wednesday, he took several deep he said he received from a family friend, in Evgeni Malkin scored the game’s only goal 3:32 1-3-1 in its last five games. Tomas Tatar and Pavel Datsyuk also scored for breaths before he began making his tribute at reference to Hughes: “He who lives in the into the third period, taking a feed from Blake Detroit. Jimmy Howard made 27 saves for the Red the funeral, saying Hughes would “definitely hearts of so many, never dies.” — AP Comeau and tucking it under Cory Schneider’s SABRES 2, LIGHTNING 1 Wings, who were seeking a fourth straight home outstretched arm for his 12th score of the season. Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis scored victory. Roberto Luongo made 38 saves to secure Schneider made 22 saves but received little help. shootout goals, and Buffalo defeated Tampa Bay his eighth win of the season. New Jersey generated few quality chances against for its third victory in a row. Zemgus Girgensons Fleury, who has won six straight at home against forced overtime by scoring the tying goal with SHARKS 2, FLYERS 1 the Devils. New Jersey forward Jaromir Jagr left in 3:54 left in regulation. Jhonas Enroth made 26 Matt Nieto scored the tiebreaking goal with the second period following a vicious collision saves through overtime and then sealed the victo- 11.5 seconds remaining to send San Jose past with Pittsburgh’s Robert Bortuzzo. Scott Gomez ry by stopping Ondrej Palat and Ryan Callahan in Philadelphia for its first consecutive wins in more played 22 minutes in his return to the Devils after the shootout. The Sabres (9-14-2) have won six of than a month. Marc-Edouard Vlasic also scored being signed on Monday. seven since a 3-13-2 start. Palat scored for the and Antti Niemi made 28 saves for the Sharks, Lightning (17-6-3), who had won four straight. who last won back-to-back games Oct. 26-28 KINGS 2, BRUINS 0 Evgeni Nabokov stopped 21 shots before allowing against Anaheim and Colorado. Both two-game Jonathan Quick made 31 saves in his 34th goals on both shootout attempts he faced. winning streaks followed skids of four games as career shutout, carrying Los Angeles over Boston. San Jose has gotten off to a slow start this season. Tanner Pearson scored in the first period and Tyler MAPLE LEAFS 5, STARS 3 Sean Couturier scored for the Flyers, who have Toffoli added an empty-net goal with 49.6 sec- Joffrey Lupul scored twice, Phil Kessel ended a lost eight straight road games for their longest onds left for the defending Stanley Cup champi- five-game goal drought and Toronto kept rolling ons, who earned their NHL-best 11th home victo- by beating Dallas. Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri skid away from home since March 1998. Steve ry with a strong defensive effort. Niklas Svedberg also scored for the Maple Leafs, who won for the Mason made 25 saves but had no chance to stop stopped 33 shots, but Boston has scored just six fourth time in five games and haven’t lost at the game-winner. goals while losing four of its last five games. home since getting thrashed by Nashville on Nov. 18. Since back-to-back losses by a combined 15-4, FLAMES 5, COYOTES 2 ISLANDERS 3, SENATORS 2 they’ve outscored opponents 23-12. Josh Jooris scored three goals in the latest AUSTRALIA: Pall bearers (from left) Gregory Hughes, Aaron Finch, Corey Ireland and Thomas Hickey scored 3:06 into overtime as Jonathan Bernier, making his sixth straight impressive performance of his terrific rookie sea- Tom Cooper carry the coffin of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes to the hearse dur- the Islanders started December just as they ended start, stopped 35 of 38 shots for his ninth victory. son, leading Calgary over Arizona. David Jones ing his funeral in Macksville yesterday. Hughes died last Thursday, aged 25, after November, with a victory. The defenseman got his Kari Lehtonen gave up five goals on 40 shots but and Sean Monahan also scored for surprising being hit near the ear by a ball during a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. — AP second of the season with a wraparound goal to made several saves to keep the game from being Calgary, which has won seven of nine to move help the Islanders improve to 8-0 in games decid- even more lopsided. Jason Spezza, Ryan Garbutt, within one point of Western Conference leaders ed after regulation. Jaroslav Halak, the NHL’s No. 1 back from a two-game suspension, and Alex Vancouver and Anaheim. Jiri Hudler had two Agassi: Fans will warm to star last week, wasn’t busy but earned his team- Hemsky scored for the struggling Stars, who lost assists to extend his point streak to five games record-tying 10th straight win with a 16-save per- their third straight. (five goals, five assists). Oliver Ekman-Larsson and new tournament in time formance. Brock Nelson scored in the second peri- Sam Gagner scored for the Coyotes, who also lost od for the Islanders, who have won seven of eight PANTHERS 4, RED WINGS 3 to the Flames 3-0 at home on Saturday. Jooris’ SINGAPORE: Andre Agassi has seen many a better future for the sport.” and 12 of 14, and Ryan Strome connected in the Sean Bergenheim scored the go-ahead goal second of the night snapped a 2-all tie at 7:13 of tournaments come and go in his long and Agassi is one of the ‘icons’ on the four third. Mike Hoffman and Clarke MacArthur scored midway through the second period when he shot the second period on a neat setup from fellow illustrious career and the American great teams, who have also recruited a host of for Ottawa. into an open net after a giveaway deep in the Red rookie Johnny Gaudreau. — AP believes the new International Premier big names including Serena Williams, Tennis League (IPTL) has all the ingredients Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Maria HURRICANES 2, PREDATORS 1 to be a long-term success. Sharapova. Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist to lead the NHL results/standings The 44-year-old joined up with his He predicted fans would warm to the Hurricanes, snapping the Predators’ four-game Singapore Slammers team mates on the tournament once they fully understand its winning streak. Skinner scored his sixth goal of the NY Islanders 3, Ottawa 2 (OT); Pittsburgh 1, New Jersey 0; Vancouver 4, Washington 3; Carolina 2, second leg of the Asia-based mixed team complex scoring system. “It’s a bit like our season late in the first period, and he assisted Nashville 1; Toronto 5, Dallas 3; Florida 4, Detroit 3; Buffalo 2, Tampa Bay 1 (SO); Calgary 5, Arizona event this week and was quick to echo the ranking system in that once you kind of Victor Rask 55 seconds into the third for a 2-0 lead. 2; San Jose 2, Philadelphia 1; Los Angeles 2, Boston 0. sentiments of all the players involved, who get it then you are fine ... you understand Mike Ribeiro cut the lead to 2-1 with 4:46 remain- Western Conference Eastern Conference have been united in their enthusiasm for it,” said the eight-time grand slam champi- ing in regulation for Nashville. Carolina failed to Pacific Division Atlantic Division the innovative competition. on. “So those things are being worked out clear the zone, and Roman Josi sent the puck back WL OTLGFGAPTS Tampa Bay 17 6 3 92 69 37 Montreal 17 7 2 69 66 36 “There’s a lot of upsides in this for me,” day-to-day but only a few days into it and toward the crease, where Ribeiro gathered it, then Vancouver 17 7 1 79 69 35 he told reporters in Singapore, one of a everybody is getting a lot more comfort- Detroit 14 6 5 77 65 33 turned and beat Cam Ward. Anaheim 15 6 5 71 68 35 Toronto 13 8 3 81 72 29 quartet of Asian cities hosting the IPTL able. “This will grow for the crowds as next The Predators earned their first power play of Calgary 16 8 2 83 66 34 Boston 14 11 1 63 63 29 along with Manila, Delhi and Dubai. year they will know what to expect. I think the game with a minute left, but couldn’t score on Los Angeles 13 7 5 67 57 31 Florida 10 7 6 50 58 26 “Watching the sport go to places where that enthusiasm and knowledge will trans- Ottawa 10 9 5 63 66 25 a 6-on-4 opportunity after pulling goaltender San Jose 12 10 4 70 71 28 Buffalo 9 14 2 45 77 20 there should be tennis and enthusiastic late but it already is pretty high.” Arizona 10 13 3 64 81 23 fans who can enjoy a format that is motiva- Regarding the future of the event, Pekka Rinne. Andrej Sekera blocked a shot in the Metropolitan Division final five seconds to seal the victory for Carolina. Edmonton 6 15 4 56 87 16 Pittsburgh 17 5 2 82 55 36 tional to the younger generation in these Agassi sees it as a welcome addition to the Central Division NY Islanders 18 7 0 80 67 36 cities, in these communities,” he added. “It’s existing tour, but not a game-changer. Nashville 16 6 2 65 48 34 NY Rangers 11 9 4 71 70 26 great for them and for the players, acting “Can you ever say that the pillars of the CANUCKS 4, CAPITALS 3 Washington 10 10 4 68 69 24 scored two of Vancouver’s three St. Louis 16 6 2 66 51 34 New Jersey 9 12 4 58 72 22 like a team out there. You want it bad but sport will morphinto this? That’s a stretch Chicago 15 8 1 74 48 31 you also want to keep it relaxed so its a fun as we are a sport of great tradition,” he said power-play goals and assisted on the other. Sedin Carolina 8 13 3 56 69 19 scored the winner at 9:39 of the third period when Winnipeg 12 9 4 52 56 28 Philadelphia 8 13 3 62 76 19 environment for us. “This needs to be a supplement to it in Minnesota 13 9 1 65 55 27 Columbus 7 15 2 54 84 16 “You also get to see so many different my opinion. It’s a great release for the play- he took a pass from twin brother Henrik in the left Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point circle and fired a shot to the far side of Braden Dallas 9 11 5 73 89 23 match-ups and the game played in so ers and an opportunity to communicate Colorado 9 11 5 67 79 23 in the standings and are not included in the loss many different ways and that also lends to their personalities more.” — Reuters Holtby. The Canucks, 2-1 on their seven-game column (L). road trip, bounced back from Sunday’s loss at