Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 5, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page c2 c 2 Winnipeg free press monday january 5, 2009 sports Winnipeg repress. Com on 2 Beckham denies move to a Milan a ploy Abu Dahabi United Arab emirates David Beckham said on sunday his move to a Milan was not just an attempt to secure his spot in in glands National team and promised to give his very Best for his new club. The former England Captain joined the Ross Oneri from major league soccer mls Side la Galaxy on loan and will spend three months with the italian giants before returning to the United states. Beckham 33, is in the emirates As part of a Milans Winter training. I did not join Milan just for that reason to play in Europe and make myself available for England selection Beckham told a news conference. I have never played in Italy and i think its one of the Best leagues in the world. He is just one appearance away from equalling world cup winning Captain Bobby Moores record 108 Caps for an England Outfield player but he has failed to figure prominently under new coach Fabio Capello. It is widely believed Capello does not think much of the Quality of mls. H Ockey Manitoba ass Bernie Reichardt joked about How the port Alberni Region was being hit with a snowstorm on sunday much the same Way team West was snowed under at the world under 17 hockey Challenge on Vancouver Island. After getting out to a 3 0 record team West comprised of players from Manitoba and Saskatchewan lost the Bronze medal final 4 2 to the United states on sunday for its third consecutive defeat to come Home with no hardware at All. While it was bitterly cold in Winnipeg it a snot great shakes in port Alberni either despite no. 1 who Bantam draft Quinton How Denis two third period goals in a losing Effort. Its coming Down like you believe Here Reichardt said. And were heading Home to minus 40 with the wind chill. Such is life for a team that sneaked through its Pool with an unblemished record but then ran into the u. S. 7 0 loss Friday sundays 4 2 defeat and defending Champion Ontario 7 4 semifinal loss saturday to finish fourth Overall at the elite tournament. Slow Start we got off to kind of a slow Start they got a couple Early on us and its Tough to come Back from said Howden 16, of Oak Bank the first Overall Choice last May of the Moose jaw warriors after scoring 121 goals in a hockey. We came out in the third period with a really Strong Effort but we came up just a Little bit Short. Still said Howden the 6 foot 2, 170 Pound warriors Rookie you definitely dont leave on a Down note. It was a Good experience All around from where you re playing to where you re staying and All the Guys you re playing with. We got off to a Good Start and we were really Happy. Then we just kind of slumped with the u. S. In the first game and then we got to the semis and we came up a bit Short. But it was a great experience. While Howden will be flying Back to Regina to rejoin the warriors team West head coach Paul Kreuger of the aaa Manitoba midget leagues Winnipeg wild said his squad should still hold its head High. Ism still talking walking and breathing he joked after the game. The u. A is together year round and they Are relentless. They re great skaters and they re great play makers and they re a real tight group when they ave got five Man units out on the ice. We May have played a Little too passive to Start and that gave them some opportunities. We needed to get out to a better Start and be a Little quicker and a Little More aggressive. And As the game went on we did that but it was a Little too late at that Point. Chris. Cariou free press. My. Ca team West snowed under in b. C. Under 17 squad loses Bronze game to u. S. In world hockey Challenge by Chris Cariou around the nil Vancouver practice. Mats Sundin is talking about practice. Hers talking about two More Days of practice. Two Days to determine whether hell make his debut As a Vancouver Canuck on wednesday in Edmonton or maybe hold off until Friday at Home against st. Louis. It All depends on practice. Sundin skated for four Days while the team was on the Road in Nashville and Atlanta. He joined them for sundays morning skate prior to the Dallas stars game but it a snot a real practice. Today and tuesday he will participate in full team workouts As he moves into the next phase of his preparation. Its Tough to mimic and copy a real Good practice where the Pace and intensity go up so i am looking Forward to two full Days of practising the 37 year old swede said sunday. I think then we can evaluate How everything feels. Leafs going for playoffs not Tavares or Hedman Toronto John Tavares or Victor Hedman. The nil entry draft is still five months away but with the two top prospects playing against each other in the final of the world Junior championship in Ottawa tonight the debate Over who will be selected first Overall is Likely to intensify. Will general managers be drawn towards Tavares a Canadian sniper who has scored a tournament leading eight goals and 14 Points or would they rather have Hedman a six Footsie swedish defence Man who has drawn comparisons to Chris Pronger it is a question that Brian Burke does not have to think about. I was on ten Friday and they were asking would it be Nice to get Hedman or Tavares a the Toronto Maple Leafs pm said from Ottawa. And i said were not in that Derby. And we dont intend to be. We might end up there. But its certainly not our goal. With his team Only five Points behind the eighth place Buffalo sabres in the Eastern conference standings he also believes Toronto could be closer to a playoff spot than a draft lottery. Its Way too Early to begin talking about draft position said Burke. From the news services Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg free press sports time to split Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Caitlin Muirhead tries to sneak Between Manitoba bosons defence men Katherine Orourke left Erica Holmes to get a shot on goalie Stacey Corfield during sundays final of the inaugural Umsu tournament played at the Max Bell Centre. Leanne Kisil scored the round 5 shootout Winner As the bosons edged the visitors 3 2 to claim the first edition of the University event. The Lethbridge pronghorns took the Bronze Downing the Balmoral blazers 3 2. New York Mike Smith and Tony Sparano performed so brilliantly As Rookie head coaches it was almost impossible to separate them. At Lantas Smith edged miamis Sparano by one vote sunday for the associated press 2008 nil coach of the year award. Both coaches oversaw sensational turnarounds leading their teams from last place finishes in 2007 to playoff berths this year. Their achievements were reflected by the closeness of the balloting with Smith getting 23 � votes and Sparano 22 � from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the nil. After improving from 4 12 to 11 5 and making the pfc playoffs As a wild card the Falcons fell 30 24 at Arizona on saturday night. That should not detract from a memorable season that bodes Well for the football future in Atlanta. Ism honoured individually but More so for our coaching staff and our players Smith said. I think we have tried to establish that wed be very systematic in How we did things that we were going to have a plan. We Laid that plan out from the very beginning How we were going to practise How we were going to travel How we were going to meet How we were going to communicate and i think the Guys really appreciated definitely How we presented the plan in the framework for us to Start the season. The dolphins were 1 15 a year ago before cleaning House and Sparano guided them to an 11 5 Mark that won the acc East. Tennessee is Jeff Fisher received three votes while last years Winner Bill Belichick of new England got one. The associated press Sundin could suit up As soon As wednesday Mats Sundin Miami Bill Parcells is staying with the Miami dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said. After the teams playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens on sunday Huizenga said Parcells has decided to remain for another season. Parcells contract allows him to leave and still receive the us 9 12 million remaining on his four year contract if the franchise is sold. That Sale is expected to be completed soon. But Huizenga said Parcells told him Friday he plans to remain As executive vice president of football operations. I talked to Bill the other Day Huizenga said. He said hey i like it Here. Thanks in Large part to Parcells hired in december 2007, Miami went 11 5 and made the playoffs for the first time in seven years. The breakthrough came after a 1 15 record in 2007. The associated press Smith edges Sparano As Apps Best coach big tuna likes Miami wont abandon fish Vancouver the Security budget for the 2010 Winter olympics will come in at less than a billion dollars says the top cop for the games. But the exact Dollar figure can Only be released by the government ramp assistant commissioner Bud Mercer said during an exclusive interview with the Canadian press. I cant give you the budget and ism not being secretive and ism not being trite he said. I cant provide that number until the provincial and Federal governments have come to terms. It would be completely inappropriate on my part. He added i would say a billion is High. I wont comment any More. The original Security budget for the games was $ 175 million but upon taking office in the fall of 2007, Mercer admitted it was far too Low and that he had submitted revised numbers to the Federal government. Since then both governments have been Cost sharing and according to the Public safety ministry a revised agreement is now in the hands of the province. Security will not be compromised for financial reasons said an emailed statement from the ministry. Mercer give any specifics on Security plans or the number of personnel who will police the games though 12,000 is one reported estimate. Up to 4,000 will be Canadian soldiers it. Gen. Andrew Leslie told the Canadian press. The Canadian press Dave Martin the associated press archives Rookie head coach Mike Smith led a sensational turnaround in Atlanta. Bill Parcells Security for 2010 games less than a billion dollars port Perry ont. A funeral will be held Here today for hockey player Don Sanderson a defence Man with the Whitby Dunlop who died Friday. He was 21 and had been in a coma for three weeks after falling to the ice and cracking his head during a fight. A memorial for the popular player was held in his Hometown sunday afternoon and Drew several Hundred mourners. He was a Good Guy said Bill Sandiford vice president of the Dunlop of the Ontario hockey association outside the memorial. Always cheerful always Happy. Police in Brantford ont., Are still investigating the fight which involved Corey Fulton of the Brantford blast. And As might be expected Sander songs death has renewed debate about the role of fighting in hockey. Can West news service hundreds attend memorial for Dunlop hockey player a 02_ Jan 05 09. Ind c2 1/ 4/ 09 8 50 04 pm ;