January 29th

SELANNE RE-SIGNS WITH DUCKS

Forward Teemu Selanne put off retirement to rejoin the reigning Stalney Cup champion Anaheim Ducks for the rest of the season.

Financial details of his contract were not disclosed.

Selanne posted team highs of 48 goals and 46 assists for 94 points last season.

Since being drafted 10th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1988, Selanne has registered 540 goals and 1,135 points in 1,041 NHL games over 14 seasons.

The 10-time all-star took the NHL by storm in 1992-93, setting a rookie record with 76 goals and winning the Calder Trophy as the league's top freshman, and also won the Rocket Richard Trophy in 1998-99 when he led the NHL with 47 goals.


ALFREDSSON, OVECHKIN AND LECLAIRE NHL 'THREE STARS OF THE WEEK'

Ottawa Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson, Washington Capitals left winf Alex Ovechkin and Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Pascal Leclaire have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending January 27.

First Star -- Daniel Alfredsson, RW, Ottawa Senators

Alfredsson set a career high, an Ottawa franchise record and took the NHL scoring lead with seven points (three goals, four assists) in the Senators' 8-4 win at Tampa Bay Jan. 24. It was the most points in one game by an NHL player since Jan. 11, 2003, when Jaromir Jagr scored seven points (three goals, four assists) for the Washington Capitals in a 12-2 win over Florida, and the most points by one player in a road game since Feb. 26, 1997, when Eric Lindros had one goal and six assists for the Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa. Alfredsson increased his season points total to a League-leading 67 (32 goals, 35 assists), one more than Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier (30-36--66). The Senators entered the All-Star break with the Eastern Conference's top record, 31-15-4 for 66 points.

Second Star --Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in three games as the Capitals posted a 2-1-0 record and moved within one point of the Southeast Division lead. He notched two goals and an assist in a 6-5 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Jan. 21, scored one goal in a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 23 and recorded assists on both Washington goals in a 2-1 victory over Toronto Jan. 24. Ovechkin entered the All-Star break with a seven-game point streak (7-7--14) and has 25-17--42 and a +11 rating in 29 games since Bruce Boudreau was named head coach.

Third Star -- Pascal Leclaire, G Columbus Blue Jackets

Leclaire went 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .968 save percentage and one shutout in two games last week, stopping 61 of 63 shots. On Jan. 22, he made 31 saves in a 4-2 win at Dallas. On Jan. 24, he made 30 saves to record his League-leading eighth shutout of the season in a 1-0 win at Chicago as the Blue Jackets wrapped up a five-game road trip
with a 3-2-0 mark.


MINOR HOCKEY COACH CHARGED IN ALLEGED ASSAULT OF 3 PLAYERS

A minor hockey coach in Toronto has been charged with assault after two of his players were allegedly struck with a hockey stick, and another player was reportedly hit with a helmet.

Police allege the coach of the minor midget team became angry with several players during a Don Mills Flyers practice Jan. 12 at Chesswood Arena, and struck two of the 15-year-olds with a hockey stick.

Parents then suggested the teens head to their dressing room, but the coach followed and continued arguing with them, they allege.

When he was asked to leave, the man hit another player with a helmet, it's alleged.

None of the teens suffered injuries.

Brian Tracey, 46, of Toronto faces three counts of assault with a weapon. He has been suspended from the Greater Toronto Hockey League.


SWEDEN, CZECH REPUBLIC TO HOST NHL OPENERS

The NHL announced that next season will kick off with games on October 4th and 5th in Europe.

Daniel Alfredsson will return to his native Sweden to face Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Stockholm's Globe Arena.

Vincent Lecavalier and the Tampa Bay Lightning will play the New York Rangers in two games at Sazka Arena in Prague.

The NHL began this season with a pair of games at London's O2 Arena between the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim (LA) Ducks.

Next season's plan will mark the first time the league has played two games on the same day in Europe.

It was also announced that the New York Rangers will be the NHL's representative at teh first Victoria Cup on Oct. 1. The Rangers will play Russian team Metallurg Magnitogorski in an international tournament in Bern, Switzerland.