November 16, Part II

Bryz on Waivers

The Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks (of Los Angeles) placed goaltender Ilya Brygalov on waivers Friday. If no other team claims the 27 year old goaltender by noon ET Saturday, the Ducks will assign him to the Portland Pirates of the AHL.

Anaheim GM Brian Burke had been trying to trade the Russian netminder since the beginning of the season, but was unable to make a deal. Bryzgalov became expendable when the Ducks signed Swiss prospect Jonas Hiller to back up J.S Giguere last spring.

"What I promised Bryz is that I would find him a place to play," Burke told the Canadian Press on Friday. "Bryz is a great kid and a loyal soldier. He's won three playoff rounds for us and he deserves to play somewhere. But I was unable to move him. The single, biggest obstacle was that he's unrestricted at the end of the year. I wasn't offered anything of value for him. But I promised him, 'If I can't get something of value for you, we'll put you on waiver."'

You can bet that he won't be on waivers long, and even a chance that he might stay in LA area going to the Kings, but should have an idea by Friday night.


Jackets get Rome, Wilson

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired defenseman Aaron Rome and right winger Clay Wilson from Anaheim in exchange for centre Geoff Platt.

Platt has seven points (4-3) in 15 games for the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch this season.

Rome had five points (2-3) in 14 games with the AHL's Portland Pirates this season. Wilson, a 24-year-old native of Sturgeon Lake, Minn., has eight points (3-5) in 14 games for the Pirates.

Both Rome and Wilson have been assigned to the Crunch and Platt will be assigned to the Pirates.


"Old Left-Hander" Passes Away

Joe Nuxhall, the youngest player in Major League Baseball History, and long time member of Cincinnati Reds Radio broadcasts died Friday following a bout with cancer at the age of 79. "Old left-hander" retired as a full-time radio broadcaster after the 2004 season, the 60th anniversary of his historic pitching debut, but called several games last season even though his left leg was swollen by tumors.

With MLB rosters depleated during World War II, the Reds were looking for wartime replacement players and came to scout Orville Nuxhall, Joe's dad. After seeing Orville's son, 6-foot-3 190 pounds throw 85 mph Cincy offered him a contract. His parents let him join the team when junior high classes let out, and on June 10, 1944 at 15 years, 10 months, 11 days old Joe went down in baseball lore as the youngest professional athlete in history. With the Reds trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 13-0 after eight innings Nuxhall was summoned to come into pitch, but was so rattled that he tripped on the top step of the dugout and fell on his face in front of 3,510 fans at Crosley Field, and was terrified when it came time to walk to the mound. He walked one and retired two batters before giving up a single to Stan Musial, and didn't get another out as the Cards scored five runs. Nuxhall was sent down to the minors and eight years later returned to the show for a 16 year career, 15 with the Reds, and complied a 135-117 mark before retiring in 1966.

He started his Hall of Fame broadcasting career in 1967, became the Reds play-by-play announcer in 1974, and for the next 28 years was teamed with Marty Brennaman. Nuxhall's signature signoff was, "This is the old left-hander, rounding third and heading for home", which is illuminated across the top of the Reds administration building.


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