Archive
SUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTERS
ADVERTISE| CLASSIFIEDS| JOBS| E-TRIB
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NETWORK NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS NETWORK
Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source
Notebook: Gonchar could be only Penguins Olympian | TribLIVE.com
News

Notebook: Gonchar could be only Penguins Olympian

Karen Price
Karen Price

Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar had only five goals and nine assists in 30 games heading into Friday and was at minus-14, tied for third-worst among all NHL defenseman.

But arguably the Penguins' most disappointing offseason might be the team's lone representative to the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Gonchar was named to the Russian national team yesterday as one of a record 158 NHL players named to Olympic rosters. The Colorado Avalanche lead all NHL teams with 11 players named, while the Penguins are the only team in the league with just one representative. Sidney Crosby, 18, was in contention for a spot on Team Canada, but he was left off the squad named Wednesday as team executives decided to go with age and experience.

The Olympic hockey tournament will take place from Feb. 15-26.

  • The AHL Penguins hired former NHL defenseman Al Sims yesterday to be Joey Mullen's assistant in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Sims, 52, was a head coach for seven years in the International Hockey League and was named Coach of the Year in 1992-93. He spent a year in the East Coast Hockey League and the past four seasons in the Central Hockey League. He also coached the San Jose Sharks in 1996-97, leading the team to a 27-47-8 record.

  • Mark Recchi returned to the Penguins' lineup last night, saying in the morning that he was feeling "good enough" to play. He missed one game with a groin injury. ... Defenseman Dick Tarnstrom missed last night's game with an illness. Right wingers Eric Boguniecki and Ryan VandenBussche were also scratched.