A healthy Kronwall means roster movement for Leafs
NOTEBOOK Blueliner skating in practice again Veteran officials to call Turin Games
Injured Leafs defenceman Staffan Kronwall skated yesterday for 30 minutes and said he hopes to be able to resume practising and playing by the end of the week. That will force the Leafs, who are currently at the maximum 23 players, to make a roster move. Carlo Colaiacovo was called up from the Marlies when fellow rookie Kronwall suffered a knee strain and has played well in his four games. Kronwall had been playing solidly before he was hurt.
“ A lot of it is confidence. I feel good about myself and how I’m playing,” said Colaiacovo. Both players said they had no idea what was in their immediate future. STEEN IN FOR REPAIRS:
It didn’t take rookie Alexander Steen long to learn the Leafs’ way. He took yesterday off practice for what he called “ maintenance” but declined to elaborate on what he had to maintain. He said he would be able to play tonight against the Kings.
“ Nothing big, just minor. I’ll be back out there tomorrow,” said Steen. REFS KEEP WORKING: Four NHL referees and four linesmen were chosen yesterday to officiate at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Paul Devorski, Dan Marouelli and Don Van Massehoven of Canada, and Dennis LaRue of the United States will referee men’s games at the Olympics in February, the International Ice Hockey Federation said. The linesmen will be Steve Miller and Pierre Racicot of Canada, and Thor Nelson and Tony Sericolo of the United States.
Six other referees and 10 more linesmen also will be selected to work the games. HAWKS LOOKING SHARP:
The Chicago Blackhawks acquired centre Patrick Sharp and right winger Eric Meloche from the Philadelphia Flyers yesterday for forward Matt Ellison and a 2006 third- round draft choice. Sharp was Philadelphia’s third- round pick in the 2001. He has five goals and three assists in 22 games this season. In 66 career games, he has 10 goals and five assists. Meloche has appeared in 10 games with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms and has a goal and two assists. SURGERY FOR PITKANEN:
Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Joni Pitkanen was scheduled to have surgery tomorrow to repair a torn abdominal muscle. The 22- year- old native of Finland, fourth in scoring among NHL defensemen with 23 points, is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks. LAICH GETS CALL: The Washington Capitals recalled forward Brooks Laich on yesterday from Hershey of the AHL.
Laich has two goals and two assists in 17 games for Washington this season. THREE NEW JACKETS:
The Columbus Blue Jackets recalled forwards Nikolai Zherdev, Dan Fritsche and Geoff Platt yesterday from AHL Syracuse.
Zherdev, Fritsche, Platt and four other players were assigned to the Crunch on Friday because the Blue Jackets had six days between games.
It’s the longest non- Olympic break for Columbus this season. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT:
Forward Justin Donati of the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors is the OHL player of the week.
Donati, 19, recorded four goals and four assists in three games this weekend as the Majors captured five of six points with a two wins and a loss in overtime. The Oakville, Ont., native, leads the Majors and is seventh in OHL scoring with 48 points in 23 games this season.