Glendale, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes cleaned out their front office Wednesday, firing general manager Mike Barnett and two other executives after the franchise’s worst season since it moved from Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1996.
Wayne Gretzky, who owns a share of the team and is its managing partner, will return for a third season as coach next fall. But the front office felt the fallout from the team’s third consecutive last-place finish in the Pacific Division. Also dismissed were director of hockey operations Cliff Fletcher and assistant GM Laurence Gilman.
“The bottom line was how would we best be served going forward,” Coyotes chief executive officer Jeff Shumway said. “We believe we need a general manager that can help us build from the inside out.”
NHL
Dubielewicz to start in net for Islanders
Goaltender Rick DiPietro, recovering from two concussions, did not travel with the New York Islanders to Buffalo and will miss tonight’s playoff opener against the Sabres. Islanders coach Ted Nolan said former University of Denver star Wade Dubielewicz will start Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against the top-seeded Sabres.
Nolan said DiPietro is listed as day to day.
Warren Strelow, a pioneering goaltending coach and assistant for the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, died in Worcester, Mass. He was 73.
Strelow, who mentored a string of successful goalies for the San Jose Sharks during the past 10 years, had been in poor health for several years after undergoing a kidney transplant.
HORSE RACING
Street Sense 4-5 favorite for Blue Grass
Street Sense enters his final prep race before the Kentucky Derby as a heavy favorite to defeat six rivals in Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner was made the 4-5 favorite by track oddsmaker Mike Battaglia for the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass, which will be run over Polytrack for the first time. Great Hunter, who defeated Street Sense over Keeneland’s synthetic surface last year in the Breeders’ Futurity, was the second choice at 9-5.
Street Sense, who will be ridden by Calvin Borel, drew the No. 4 post, while Great Hunter, winner of the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, drew the outside No. 7 post.
Unbeaten Curlin is the morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs, Ark.
Curlin has only two career starts, but both were impressive victories. The chestnut colt won last month’s Rebel at Oaklawn by 5 1/4 lengths, following a 12 3/4-length romp in his debut at Gulfstream Park in February. He is an early 7-5 favorite and received the No. 2 spot in the draw for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas. Deadly Dealer is the second choice at 4-1.
Ketchikan will not be entered in the Kentucky Derby because of a bruised bone in his left front leg.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. said the injury is not serious enough to keep the 3-year-old thoroughbred from racing again.
FOOTNOTES
Maradona released, warned about habits
Soccer star Diego Maradona was released from a private clinic after two weeks of treatment for acute hepatitis brought on by alcohol abuse. Doctors gave Maradona, 47, a stern warning: no more drinking or eating big meals. He was taken to the clinic in Argentina on March 28 suffering from what his doctor said was too much alcohol, too much food and too many cigars.
Liverpool became the third English team to reach the semifinals of the Champions League and AC Milan claimed the final spot in the last four. Liverpool, a five-time European Cup champion, got a goal from Peter Crouch to beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the second leg and advance 4-0 on aggregate. Six-time champion Milan downed Bayern 2-0 to progress 4-2 on aggregate.
Ladislav Pataki, a standout track-and-field thrower and sports scientist who defected from the Soviet Union in 1985 to California, died April 5 of brain cancer. He was 60.
