Knights looking for answers after losing Fata to NHL

A plane trip to Japan proved to be Rico Fata’s ticket to the NHL. The 18-year-old right winger accompanied the Calgary Flames to Japan to begin tire regular season with two games against the San Jose Sharks. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Fata, the Flames’ first-round pick in last June’s entry draft. “This has all gone really quick. I never expected to be here right now. My goal was to try and make the club, with the big word try.” Fata’s gain is the London Knights’ loss. Imagine their reaction when they got word he wouldn’t be rejoining them. He scored 43 goals last season as the Knights went from worst in the Canadian Hockey League to first in the Ontario League West and then made it to the OHL final four. “It’s good for…

Oilers high on young Poti, defenseman makes jump

Right out of college, indeed, but not out of the blue. All summer long the Edmonton Oilers told anybody who would listen that Tom Poti was going to challenge for a spot on their blueline this fall. But how many times has an NHL organization talked up a prospect, only to have him fall flat and become more of a suspect? Does the name Jason Bonsignore ring a bell? But Poti is the real deal. On opening night he was slated to be beside partner Roman Hamrlik on the Oiler defense. Clearly identified as the team’s No. 4 defenseman, it was an astonishing feat. “He’s certainly stepped up and done a job,” said coach Ron Low. “He’s had a tremendous camp. We’ve heard of his offensive attributes and we’ve seen it. The thing I…

NHL ROSTERS AND TRANSACTIONS

Legwand sent to Plymouth as last minute deal dies

He got sidetracked in training camp twice, once being sent home with mononucleosis, once being slowed by a shoulder injury. Yet the Nashville Predators still worked until the final minute to try and get rookie David Legwand signed in time to add him to their roster. But they were unable to work out a performance bonus schedule so the teenager will return to the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario League. “We have always said we were in it for the long term with David,” GM Dave Poile said. “This time it was just a case of dollars.” Early in training camp the team had expressed a conservative approach for Legwand, that the center would be returned to Plymouth for another year before making a serious run in 1999. Legwand hurt his shoulder at the…