Sharks planning without Kane
SAN JOSE >> When it came time for Kevin Labanc to provide proof that he had been vaccinated against COVID-19, the Sharks winger simply showed his CDC vaccination card to one of the team’s trainers and was on his way.
“There’s not much more to it than that,” Labanc said Wednesday.
The process is proving to be less simple for Sharks forward Evander Kane, who is facing two investigations by the NHL, including one for reportedly using a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.
Using or making a fake vaccine card is illegal in both the United States and Canada, and the NHL could issue sanctions against Kane if the investigation determines that he submitted a counterfeit card.
The NHL’s other investigation involves accusations of physical and sexual abuse raised by his wife in a recent court filing. Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, said the league does not have a timetable for when either investigation will be concluded.
For now, it appears the Sharks are preparing as if they’ll start the regular season without Kane, who is staying away from training camp. The Sharks play their final preseason game Saturday at home against the Vegas Golden Knights, then open the regular season on Oct. 16 at home against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Sharks must finalize their 23-man roster by Monday at 2 p.m. (PT), and there’s been no indication
so far about how they will proceed with Kane, who remains on the team’s training camp roster.
Baseball
PADRES FIRE MANGER JAYCE
TINGLER AFTER SECONDHALF COLLAPSE >> The San Diego Padres still believe they have a World Seriescaliber team despite a brutal late-season collapse that left them with yet another losing record.
If the Padres do make it to the Fall Classic in the near future, it won’t be manager Jayce Tingler who leads them there.
The Padres fired Tingler on Wednesday, three days after they finished 7983 and in third place in the NL West, 28 games behind San Francisco.
General manager A.J. Preller said Tingler — who just a season ago was second in voting for NL Manager
of the Year — would be given the opportunity to remain in the organization.
Basketball
18 EX-NBA PLAYERS CHARGED IN $4M HEALTH CARE FRAUD SCHEME >> Eighteen former NBA players were charged Thursday with pocketing about $2.5 million illegally by defrauding the league’s health and welfare benefit plan in a scam that authorities said involved claiming fictitious medical and dental expenses.
According to an indictment returned in Manhattan federal court, the explayers teamed up to defraud the supplemental coverage plan by submitting fraudulent claims to get reimbursed for medical and dental procedures that never happened.
Soccer
MBAPPÉ INSPIRES COMEBACK
AS FRANCE BEATS BELGIUM 3-2 >> Kylian Mbappé redeemed himself with a goal and an assist as France came from two goals down to beat Belgium and reach the Nations League final.
Theo Hernández scored the last-minute winner to complete the comeback and send world champion France through to Sunday’s final against Spain. It was only his second appearance for his country and came the day after his 24th birthday.
Golf
KO HAS EARLY LEAD AT
FOUNDERS CUP, 11 STRAIGHT ROUNDS IN 60S >> Jin Young Ko put a tough loss behind her quickly and ran off six birdies over a seven-hole stretch on the back nine for an 8-under 63 to build an early three-shot lead in the Cognizant Founders Cup.