EDMONTON, Alberta — Petr Holik scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and Petr Mrazek made 52 saves to lead the Czech Republic to a 5-2 win over the United States on Friday at the world junior hockey championship.
The U.S. (1-2) was sent to the relegation round later Friday when Finland beat Denmark 10-1. The U.S. plays Canada (3-0), which is assured of winning Group B and getting a bye to the semifinals, today.
“No words can describe it,” said U.S. captain Jason Zucker, a University of Denver star, of the loss. “Usually if you get 54 shots in a game you give yourself a good chance to win (but) hats off to them.”
Holik tapped in a goalmouth rebound with less than eight minutes to go in the third period to break a 2-2 tie. Thomas Filippi added a goal at 17:19, followed by an empty-net goal by Holik just over a minute later.
T.J. Tynan and Bill Arnold scored for the U.S.
Mayweather working on plea
LAS VEGAS — Attorneys for boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. completed the second part of a plea deal that let the championship fighter pay a $1,000 fine and avoid trial and jail time for a November 2010 scuffle with a homeowner association security guard in an argument about parking tickets.
The plea acknowledged allegations that Mayweather poked the 21-year-old guard in the face several times with his finger during their argument in front of Mayweather’s million-dollar-plus home.
Mayweather is scheduled to start a 90-day jail sentence Jan. 6 in an unrelated case, which raises doubts about a long-anticipated fight between Mayweather and Philippine fight rival Manny Pacquiao.
Henry deal is in the works
LONDON — Three weeks after being immortalized in a bronze statue outside Arsenal’s stadium, Thierry Henry is on the verge of sealing an emotional return to the English Premier League club that made him a global superstar.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the former France captain will sign for the team in a two-month loan deal once an insurance agreement is reached with the New York Red Bulls, Henry’s MLS club.
• Big-spending Paris Saint-Germain introduced Carlo Ancelotti, a former Chelsea, AC Milan and Juventus manager, as its new coach, ending weeks of speculation.
Footnotes. The Seattle Mariners signed left-handed reliever George Sherrill to a one-year contract. Sherrill appeared in 51 games with the Atlanta Braves last season and was 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
• The Chicago Cubs hired former star Bill Buckner as a minor-league hitting coach with the Boise Hawks of the short-season Class A Northwest League.
• Two-time all-star Melvin Mora is retiring from baseball, five weeks shy of his 40th birthday.
• The New York Rangers placed veteran forward Sean Avery, who has often clashed with coach John Tortorella, on waivers.
• Virginia football coach Mike London received a two-year contract extension and a raise, increasing his annual salary to $2.1 million.
• Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones is skipping his final season of eligibility and entering the NFL draft.
• University of Minnesota basketball star Trevor Mbakwe, who led the team with 14 points and 9.1 rebounds per game before he was injured Nov. 27, had reconstructive surgery on his right knee.
• Baltimore terminated its contract with the organizers of the Baltimore Grand Prix and opened the door to having another group continue the IndyCar race in future years.
