TORONTO — Paul Maurice was fired as coach of the Maple Leafs on Wednesday after Toronto failed to make the playoffs during his two years.
“This is a start of a new era for the Maple Leafs,” interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said. “This is all part and parcel of that.”
The Maple Leafs finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 36-35-11 record and missed a playoff spot by 11 points.
In other moves, assistant coach Randy Ladouceur was dismissed while assistant Dallas Eakins was offered a position elsewhere in the organization. Keith Acton will remain an assistant.
• Switzerland held high-scoring Sweden in check for a 4-2 win in Quebec City to stay undefeated and win its group in the preliminary round of the hockey world championship.
Finland beat Slovakia 3-2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to win Group C and set up a game with Latvia on Friday, while Norway beat Germany 3-2 to set up a game with Canada today. Germany will play the United States tonight.
Rhodes returns to Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — The tandem that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title — Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes in 2006 — has been reunited after Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Colts.
• Former Patriots employee Matt Walsh certified in writing he will turn over eight stolen videotapes to the NFL that show the signals of opposing teams, but the smoking gun that some believed Walsh might provide — a tape of the Rams’ walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 — is not included.
Nicklaus honored
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jack Nicklaus received the PGA Tour’s lifetime achievement award, honored for his extended contributions on and off the golf course.
Florida International put on probation
MIAMI — Florida International was placed on four years’ probation by the NCAA and will lose scholarships for a variety of infractions.
More than 40 athletes who competed for the school from the 2002-03 through the 2006-07 academic years violated rules, said Josephine Potuto, chairwoman of the NCAA committee on infractions.
The school, which jumped from NCAA Division I-AA to Division I-A, misapplied enrollment and financial aid rules, transfer requirements and eligibility rules.
• Quarterback G.J. Kinne, who was fourth on the depth chart at Texas, transferred to Tulsa.
• Florida State offensive lineman Daron Rose is ineligible for the season and will attend a junior college.
• Georgetown sophomore basketball guard Jeremiah Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, will transfer to another school.
• Junior forward Cheyenne Moore and freshman guard Miles Beatty have been dismissed from George Washington’s basketball program.
• Eli Holman, the center who left Indiana last week after throwing a tantrum in new coach Tom Crean’s office, will enroll at Detroit Mercy.
• Three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley will leave Temple to become the women’s basketball coach at South Carolina.
Denver Post wire services
