World Cup Statistics

Kovalev liking idea of returning to Habs

With the start of training camp days away and no contract offers on the horizon, Alex Kovalev appears to be growing antsy. The unrestricted free agent now says he wants to play for the Canadiens, who acquired him last season in a trade from the Rangers. Coincidentally, the left winger was quoted in a Pittsburgh newspaper this summer saying he was unhappy in coach Claude Julien’s defensive system. “I don’t know where that story came from,” he said. “I never had any problem with the coach. I had some meetings with him to explain what kind of player I am. There were some adjustments that had to be made and he had to learn what my game was about. But I think we had things going in the playoffs.” Kovalev was held to…

HOCKEY WORLD IN BRIEF

BERTUZZI TRIAL SLATED FOR JAN. 17 Vancouver winger Todd Bertuzzi will go to trial in January on a charge of assault causing bodily harm. The date Jan. 17 was set in provincial court after a brief hearing. The length of the trial is 10 days with up to two days for final arguments. Bertuzzi, 29, was charged June 24 after Colorado’s Steve Moore sustained a concussion and broken vertebra during a March 8 game after Bertuzzi slugged him from behind and landed on him. He plead not guilty in a late August court appearance. The Crown intends to call players, officials and medical staff as witnesses. Bertuzzi will be tried by a judge and the maximum sentence if convicted is 18 months. DANTON SPARED FROM STAND Disgraced NHLer Mike Danton is not expected…

THE HOCKEY NEWS CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Toronto’s old rink was Maple Leaf ____ 4 Former Bruin ____ Cashman 7 To ___ his own 8 He’s NHLPA head 10 Nickname of Detroit’s new WHA club (starring Russell Crowe, perhaps?) 12 Foster Hewitt's medium 13 Suit up. 14 Good teams try to exploit their opponents 18 Number retired by the Kings (it was Dave Taylor’s) 19 Ex-Leaf and Blue ___ Hammarstrom 20 Ill or uncomfortable, out of ___ 21 Milt was a Kraut Line member DOWN 1 Randy ___ was with the Oilers during their glory years 2 Recent Smythe Trophy winner 3 One of the Niedermayers, picitured 4 He's a member of Canada’s World Cup squad 5 Pull 6 Don ____ shared a Vezina Trophy while with Buffalo 9 Spins 11 Teemu’s hometown 12 One of the clubs coached by Mike Keenan 15 Joints susceptible to injury 16 Perspire 17 Veteran center _____ Larionov LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS 1. PATRICK, 4.…