Tuesday, December 12, 2006

The St. Louis Blues, last in the NHL standings again despite a change in ownership and several player upgrades, fired coach Mike Kitchen last night and replaced him with former Los Angeles Kings coach Andy Murray.

Blues President John Davidson told the Associated Press that Murray received a long-term contract after negotiations in New York on Sunday.

"We realize we're a team that's got a long way to go," Davidson said. "We just felt we needed to take a step like this to move forward."

The Blues are 7-17-4 with 18 points and have lost seven in a row. Davidson said Murray will be on the bench tonight at home against the Chicago Blackhawks. . . .

Boston Bruins rookie Phil Kessel, the fifth pick in this year's NHL draft, is being treated for a medical issue unrelated to hockey and will miss tonight's game.

The team issued a statement from his family that he would receive treatment yesterday. No further details were released at the family's request, team spokesman Matt Chmura said. . . .

The U.S. Coast Guard called off its aerial search for the daughter of Canadian hockey legend Bob Gainey, who was washed overboard Friday from a sailing ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard aircraft had scoured the ocean for Laura Gainey since Friday. Gainey, 25, was aboard the Picton Castle when she was washed overboard Friday night by a wave about 475 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass.

· AUTO RACING : NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was "horsing around" on top of a moving golf cart when he fell off and broke his left wrist, his team said yesterday.

The version clarifies what happened during the Mike Hampton Pitching In celebrity tournament in Lecanto, Fla., one day after the initial account from Hendrick Motorsports implied that Johnsonhad fallen out of the cart.

But the Citrus County (Fla.) Chronicle reported yesterday that Johnson was sprawled across the top of the cart Friday at the Black Diamond Ranch when his playing partner hit a berm, throwing Johnson several feet.

"Jimmie was horsing around and was on top of the golf cart when he fell off," spokeswoman Kristine Curley said. "He wasn't trying to deceive anyone and is sorry if anyone believes he was being untruthful."

· COLLEGES: Bryce Taylor scored 21 points to lead No. 22 Oregon to a 92-64 victory over Bethune-Cookman.

The Ducks (8-0), who moved into the Top 25 this week for the first time since January 2003, are off to their best start in 11 years. It is their longest winning streak in Coach Ernie Kent's 10 seasons. . . .

Paula Infante of Maryland is the nation's top field hockey athlete.

Infante will receive the Honda Sports Award, given annually to the top female athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. The senior midfielder-defender led her team to its second straight NCAA title. The national player of the year, Infante had 58 career goals and 139 points.

-- From News Services