Bochenski, Kessel spark US victory

May 4, 2007

HOCKEY
Bruins forwards Brandon Bochenski and Phil Kessel each had a goal and an assist yesterday to lift the United States over Slovakia, 4-2, in Group F at the world championships in Mystichi, Russia. Former Bruins goalie John Grahame of the Hurricanes made 29 saves. Also in Group F, Germany upset the Czech Republic, 2-0. In Group E, defending champion Sweden beat Denmark, 5-2, and Finland blanked Switzerland, 2-0 . . . The president of the International Ice Hockey Federation blasted Canadian politicians for making the country's hockey officials explain the selection of Shane Doan as team captain at the world championships. "It's totally unacceptable that politicians should interfere with things like the selection of a national team's captain," IIHF president Rene Fasel said. Canada's opposition parties questioned the choice of Doan because of allegations he uttered an ethnic slur at French-speaking officials during a 2005 NHL game. An NHL investigation found no evidence he used a slur . . . Forward Bill Guerin is unlikely to play in the Sharks' playoff game at Detroit tomorrow after a teammate's deflected shot seriously cut his face in Game 4 . . . Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro had hip surgery and is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

BASKETBALL

The NCAA men's basketball rules committee approved a measure that would move the 3-point line back 1 foot in 2008 -- from 19 feet 9 inches to 20-9. If approved by the playing rules oversight committee May 25, it would mark the first major alteration to the 3-point shot since its adoption in 1986-87 . . . Rick Pitino signed a three-year contract extension at Louisville that could keep him at the school through 2013. The new deal increases Pitino's annual salary from $1.65 million to $2.25 million . . . Notre Dame's Mike Brey signed a two-year extension through the 2012-13 season . . . Bulls forward Luol Deng won the NBA's sportsmanship award, as selected by the players . . . The Warriors' Jason Richardson was fined $35,000 by the NBA for improper interaction with a fan during a playoff game in Dallas . . . Kings forward Ron Artest pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project, and fined $600.

BASEBALL

Some 50 members of the Cardinals organization were among an estimated 500 mourners at a public memorial in Tupelo, Miss., for pitcher Josh Hancock, who died in an SUV accident early Sunday. Fellow pitcher Randy Flores was the only teammate who spoke, saying, "Every day, I was reminded of his heart." . . . Righthander Chan Ho Park was designated for assignment by the Mets three days after he allowed the Marlins seven runs in four innings in his debut . . . Rookie Phil Hughes, who was removed from Tuesday's start with a no-hitter going when he suffered a strained hamstring, became the seventh Yankees pitcher placed on the disabled list this season. The Yankees will bring up righthanders Darrell Rasner and Matt DeSalvo for this weekend's series against the Mariners, putting them on track to become the first team in major league history to use 10 starters in its first 30 games . . . The Giants placed righthander Russ Ortiz on the 15-day DL because of an inflamed nerve in his pitching elbow . . . The California Highway Patrol will recommend that prosecutors charge Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda with drug possession after his arrest Wednesday.

MISCELLANY

A day after visiting with the Patriots, free agent defensive tackle Ian Scott -- a starter for the Bears in the Super Bowl -- signed a one-year contract with the Eagles . . . Free agent running back Josh Scobey signed with the Bills . . . World 100-meter record-holder Asafa Powell could be out of competition for several weeks because of knee tendinitis . . . A lack of wind postponed Louis Vuitton Cup racing off Valencia, Spain . . . Hozumi Hasegawa retained his WBC bantamweight belt for the fourth time with a unanimous 12-round decision over Simpiwe Vetyeka in Tokyo . . . IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko was hit with a $5 million lawsuit over last year's canceled fight with Shannon Briggs at Madison Square Garden . . . Jason Kreis, Major League Soccer's all-time leading scorer, retired as a player to become Real Salt Lake's coach, replacing John Ellinger . . . Keene State softball coach Charlie Beach posted his 500th career win, a 2-1 decision over Southern Maine in the Little East tournament.