Turin – Three days before the American men’s hockey team lands in Turin, USA Hockey officials are monitoring an investigation into a nationwide gambling ring with ties to former Avs assistant coach Rick Tocchet and other NHL players.
Tocchet, now an assistant coach in Phoenix, was served a complaint summons Monday.
Asked if any U.S. men’s hockey players had been implicated, USA Hockey spokesman Dave Fischer said: “It’s just the rumor mill right now. But it’s definitely on the radar.”
IOC: The International Olympic Committee may vote as early as today on whether to restore softball and baseball as Olympic sports. Voted off the schedule in July, the sports’ federation and U.S. officials have been working to get the IOC to reconsider.
Skiing: American Kristina Koznick, who partially tore ligaments in her right knee while warming up for a World Cup race last weekend, doesn’t know if she’ll participate in Friday’s opening ceremony, much less the slalom on Feb. 22.
Koznick, 30, said she should know more today, when she expects to meet with U.S. Ski Team doctor William Sterett. Then she could face an unhappy choice: race injured or surrender her spot.
“I’m at least working toward a chance, which is better than nothing,” she said by phone Wednesday on her way to be fitted for a brace.
Ski jumping: Italy will replace two ski jumpers who were injured Monday with athletes from its nordic combined team. Giuseppe Michielli is expected to take one spot, while either Alessandro Pittin or Jochen Strobl will likely get the other, the head of the Italian winter sports federation said.
