Gionta trades NHL for shot at representing US at Olympics

Zaripov has 2-year doping ban cut

ROCHESTER, NY, Nov 22, (AP): For someone once constantly told he was too small to have an NHL future, Brian Gionta is enjoying a few last laughs entering the twilight of his career.

At 38, the 5-foot-7, 180-pound forward has no regrets with the decision he made last summer to put family and flag first to forego a chance at playing a 17th NHL season.

Rejecting at least one contract offer in July because it would’ve meant relocating his wife and three children, Gionta chose to pursue an opportunity to represent the United States at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February.

“It was not an easy decision by any means, but in my heart I knew it was the right one,” Gionta told The Associated Press.

More important, he added, it was a decision he could make as opposed to having someone else make it for him.

“You’re at peace with it at the same time because you’re able to have made it,” he said. “It’s working so far.”

Gionta is enjoying the benefits of being with his family in Buffalo while training individually at the Sabres’ hockey complex. And then there are the occasional trips he makes to his native Rochester, where he has an open invitation to practice with the Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate.

As for his Olympic aspirations, Gionta was awarded the captaincy upon joining the US National team for

Gionta

a three-game Deutschland Cup tournament in Germany two weeks ago. National team general manager Jim Johansson said Gionta was an obvious choice as captain given his accomplishments.

Aside from representing the US at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy, Gionta has captained the Montreal Canadiens and Sabres, and won a Stanley Cup with the 2003 New Jersey Devils. He’s scored 15 or more goals nine times, including last year in Buffalo, and overall has 289 goals and 588 points in 1,006 career games.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has slashed a doping ban given to Russian forward Danis Zaripov from two years to six months.

He’s eligible Thursday.

Zaripov, a Russian Olympian in 2010, was suspended in July for taking the banned substance pseudoephedrine.

However, the IIHF says it has reached a settlement with Zaripov, who filed an appeal. The IIHF agreed to cut the suspension. Since it’s dated from May 23, that means Zaripov will be eligible again on Thursday.

The IIHF says its decision is “based on extensive documentary and expert evidence that was unavailable” this year.

Zaripov has previously told Russian media he was in contact with the St Louis Blues about a move to the NHL, where his ban isn’t valid.

to play again from