January 4th

CZECHS CLINCH 5TH AT JUNIORS

The Czech Republic rallied in the second period to rout Finland 5-1 Thursday and finish fifth at the world junior hockey championship in Pardubice, Czech Rapublic.

The Czechs and the Finns had to settle for fifth and sixth places — the same positions as last year's championship in Sweden — after losing quarter-final matches a day earlier.

Harri Pesonen gave Finland an early lead 1:59 into the opening period. Daniel Bartek tied it 6:44 into the second and Michael Frolik put the Czechs up to stay just over a minute later. Tomas Kundratek added another goal late in the period.
Zbynek Hampl and Martin Latal added insurance goals in the third period.

In the relegation round, Switzerland defeated Denmark 5-2 to finish ninth in a game of the bottom teams that will be relegated and replaced by Germany and Latvia at next year's tournament in Ottawa. Kazakhstan beat Slovakia 8-0 in the other relegation game Thursday.

On the schedule today Sweden faces Russia, while the US plays Canada. The winners will play in the Gold Medal game and the losers the Bronze Medal game, both on Saturday.


TOEWS AVOIDS SURGERY

Rookie sensation Jonathan Toews won't require surgery on his injured left knee. The Chicago Blackhawks centre sprained his knee in the first period of Tuesdays game against the Los Angeles Kings, and will miss 3-4 weeks.

Toews leads all NHL rookies with 15 goals and his 32 points are second only to teammate Patrick Kane. The two friends are the odds-on favourites to capture the Calder Trophy as league rookie of the year.

Toews does join a crowded injury list in Chicago that includes forwards Martin Havlat (groin), Jason Williams (groin), Ben Eager (concussion), Kevyn Adams (knee) and Dave Bolland (broken finger), and defencemen Brent Sopel (broken finger) and James Wisniewski (knee).

With a 19-16-3 record, the Blackhawks are 11th in the 15-team Western Conference, four points behind Anaheim for the eighth and final playoff spot.


CAPTAIN CANADA OUT 2 MONTHS

An MRI revealed on Thursday that Colorado Avalanche forward Ryan Smyth has a fractured right ankle, and he will be out of action for eight weeks. Avalance head trainer Mathew Sokolowski expects Smyth to make a full recovery. Along with Joe Sakic (hernia), the Av's will be without two-thirds of their starting line for two months.

Colorado is currently 7th in the Western Conference with 45 points (21-16-3) and third in the Northwest division, three points behind the Minnesota Wild (23-15-2, 48 pts) and five behind first place Vancouver (23-14-4, 50 pts).


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