The Prince George Citizen - Thursday, July 3, 2003 -11 S p o r t s Fedorov done in Detroit by PIERRE LEBRUN ested in signing Fe­ Canadian Press dorov, who led the Sergei Fedorov won’t be back in a Detroit Red Wings with 83 points Wings uniform next season. The unrestricted free (36 goals) in 80 games agent officially cut ties with the only NHL club last season, but it’s not he’s ever played for Wednesday. clear at this point “Sergei wants to make it clear today that he whether any of them won’t be back with Detroit next season,” Fe­are offering $10 million dorov’s agent Pat Brisson said Wednesday a year. evening from Los Angeles. “He has great memo­ “It’s an in te r e stin g ries from his 13 years in Detroit and will really process now,” Brisson miss the fans greatly but he feels like now is the said. time for a new challenge.” The Wings’ No. 1 pri­ Talks between the 33-year-old free agent and ority since the free- FEDOROV Wings general manager Ken Holland deteriorated agent season began with each passing day after the playoffs ended. TUesday was to sign unrestricted free agent Der- Holland was irked the Fedorov camp didn’t react ian Hatcher, a Norris Trophy candidate and when the Wings offered $40 million US over four Michigan native who wouldn’t mind making De­ years after the season ended. The Fedorov camp troit his home after spending his entire career wasn’t too pleased that Holland’s offer lessened with the Minnesota/Dallas franchise. in the past three weeks. With Fedorov out of the way the Wings have So now it’s over. After three Stanley Cups in the more than enough money to accommodate last six years, the Russian centre is moving on. Hatcher’s $7 million a year demand although a “We just want to make it official that we’re source said Wednesday that the Wings have only done with Detroit,” Brisson said. offered $6 million. Term is also a major factor, Brisson said there were “several teams” inter­ with Hatcher wanting at least four years. Whitney could be a bargain by PIERRE LEBRUN Cassels and (Geoff) Sanderson.” Canadian Press Whitney, like his fellow unrestricted colleagues, If the theme of this year’s NHL free-agent mar­ continued to sit and wait Wednesday on another ket is about saving money, then Ray Whitney quiet day on the free-agent front. The league’s should be the No. 1 target on a number of clubs. general managers have lived up to their word that While Paul Kariya, Sergei Fedorov, Derian there would not be a frenzied rash of signings this Hatcher and Brian Leetch are looking for con­ year as teams watch their coin ahead of next Sep­ tracts paying upwards of $8 million US a year, tember’s anticipated labour war. there’s a definite bargain to be had in the 31-year- “It’s not necessary for teams to come right out of old Whitney. the gate and sign players right away,” said Barry, the The consistent point producer, coming off a 76- head of IMG Hockey. “There’s lots of time here. But I point season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, can still think there’s enough teams out there that need AP photo be had for around $3.5 million a season although to win so they need to add the right kind of mix.” Roy Halladay won his 12th consecutive decision Wednesday for the Toronto Blue Jays, his whoinsistence on three or four years could be a There were minor signings: beat the Detroit Tigers 8-2. sticking point with some teams. ■ The Carolina Hurricanes signed unrestricted The knocks against Whitney are his size, 5-10 tough guy Joey Tetarenko to a one-year contract and 175 pounds, and his defensive play — a mi­ worth $450,000. The 6-2, 215-pound Tetarenko nus-26 last season. Only rookie Rick Nash was split time with Florida and Ottawa last season, worse on the Jackets at minus-27. playing in four NHL games. Jays take a Halladay Still, you know what you’re getting with Whit­ ■ The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed defence- ney. Beginning with the 1997-98 season, the na­ man Jason Strudwick. DETROIT (AP) — With his team in a batting bat, he threw a 2-0 curveball, a 3-1 curveball and tive of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., has registered Whitney, meanwhile, can also spruce up a team’s' slump, Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Mike Bar­ a full-count curveball and struck out guy out. 371 points in 433 games, an average of 0.86 power play, collecting 159 points with the man ad1 nett decided to hold a meeting for his batters. There aren’t too many pitches with that kind of points a game — eighth among players currendy vantage in the last six seasons, his 0.37 points per Whatever he said, it worked — and helped Roy command of a breaking ball.” 31 and under who played at least 400 games dur­ game average fourth during that span among play­ Halladay earn his 12th straight victory. Detroit has lost 22 of its last 26 games. Still, theing that span. Ahead of him on that list are ers 31 and under who played 400 games. After scoring just six runs in a four-game losing Blue Jays became the first road team to lose a se­ Jaromir Jagr, Ziggy Palffy, Kariya, Pavol Demitra, The Vancouver Canucks need a boost on their streak, the Blue Jays got two homers from Carlos ries at Comerica Park this year. Alexei Yashin, Alexei Kovalev and Markus second forward line, the Montreal Canadiens need Delgado and four RBIs from Vemon Wells in an 8-2 “It would have been huge if we had been able to Naslund. That’s pretty good company. help on their power play and their offence in gen­ victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.sweep them,” Walbeck said. “We still won the se­ Whitney tied for 22nd among NHL scorers last eral. Whitney sounds like an affordable option. “When we were going good, we were getting ries, but now it is bittersweet because we are go­ season, one point behind Jagr and Alexei Kovalev. “This is a guy that has proven himself to be a runs early,” Toronto manager Carlos Tosca said. ing out on the road off a loss.” “He’s an underrated player, there’s no ques­ consistent scorer over the years,” Barry said. “And “When we were able to throw a couple runs up Adam Bemero (1-12) took his sixth straight loss, tion,” Whitney’s agent J.P. Barry said Wednesday he’s trending upwards, the last two years were his there early tonight, everyone was able to breathe giving up five runs on seven hits in 3 1-3 innings. from Calgary. “Last year he scored 76 points andbest points per game (average), 0.91 and 0.94. So a little easier. We hadn’t done that for a while.” The Tigers are 1-16 in Bemero’s starts this season. he wasn’t even on the first line with (Andrew) unlike a lot of free agents his trend his upward.” Delgado now has 28 homers and 91 RBIs. “I felt fine physically,” said Bernero, who was “He’s unbelievable,” said Wells, who has scored suffering from a mild case of strep throat. “They 68 runs. “It is a pleasure just to try to get on base were just hitting everything I threw up there. I Pineiro stingy F.aflle P lu m bin g for him and watch him work his magic.” didn’t get the job done.” & Heating Halladay has something special going, too. Tigers manager Alan Trammell would not com­ OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Joel Pineiro Halladay (12-2) has not lost in 15 starts since April ment on Bernero’s future in the rotation. Rookie pitched three-hit ball over eight innings 15. His winning streak is the second-longest in team Wil Ledezma, considered a future rotation candi­ to win his fourth straight start as the history to Roger Clemens’ 15-game string in 1998. date, pitched four innings of relief, allowing two Seattle Mariners defeated the Oakland ' S C Q 9 5 “I just wanted to go out there and give it every­runs on three hits. Athletics 13-0 on Wednesday night. I — M per hour Only labour thing I had,” Halladay said. “I had a lithe more in­ “Right now, we are not going to make any deci­ Bret Boone had two hits and drove in Free furnace filter included tensity than usual, but it was nice to see the of­ sions,” Trammell said. “Wil is a possibility at some two runs and Dan Wilson went 4-for-5. fence get going again. That helped a lot.” point, but I’m going to leave it at that.” Mike Cameron drove in three runs and Phone: 563-8971 Halladay allowed two runs on seven hits and no Shannon Stewart led off the game with a dou­ Edgar Martinez hit a two-run homer and LENNOX Fax 563-3706 walks in seven innings. He struck out three. ble, took third on a groundout and scored onscored three runs to help Seattle build a HOME COMFORT SYSTEMS eaglep.h ©shawbiz.ca “That guy can do a lot of things that no one else Wells’ grounder. Delgado followed with a homer seven-game lead in the AL West heading A better place™ can do,” said Detroit’s Matt Walbeck, “In one at-to right to make it 2-0. into the final meeting of this four-game set Ticats O-line grilledLIGHT TRUCK ACCESSORY SALE www.interioroffroad.com HAMILTON (CP) — To the average football fan, offensive WARN WINCHES AND linemen are like referees. If they’re being discussed, it’s usu­ ally not in a complimentary manner. ACCESSORIES

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