Carruthers recruits Samagalski for second
The revolving door that's been spinning in Manitoba men's curling for the past month appears to have finally come to rest with the news that Reid Carruthers has now finalized the lineup for his new team.
Carruthers, who split from his former teammates a couple of weeks ago, announced Thursday that he has recruited Derek Samagalski to curl second for him next year.
Samagalski curled second for Carruthers in 2005-06, the winter Carruthers made it to the Manitoba men's final before falling to Jeff Stoughton.
The addition of Samagalski means Carruthers has now finalized a lineup that will include third Dan Kammerlock and lead Shane Kilgallen.
Kammerlock won the 2008 Manitoba men's title as third for Kerry Burtnyk before he was dumped last month. Kilgallen has two Manitoba titles to his credit, one with Randy Dutiaume in 2005 and one with Mark Lukowich in 2002.
Put it all together and Carruthers heads into next winter with a lineup that boasts both youth and experience, a combination that could see his team make some waves.
Carruthers said the team will curl a modest cashspiel schedule of five to six events, plus the provincial playdowns.
Carruthers was the last major Manitoba men's team to finalize next winter's lineup in a month that saw at least five of the top teams, including both Burtnyk and Stoughton, make major personnel moves.
"It's been a pretty wild end to the curling season but we're now good to go, I think," Carruthers said.
-- Paul Wiecek
Bettman denies lobbying for Campbell
There has been plenty of loud speculation recently that NHL vice-president Colin Campbell is being promoted by commissioner Gary Bettman as the right man for the general manager's job with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Bettman, however, denied the allegation Thursday afternoon during his weekly show on XM Satellite Radio.
"It's interesting that there's all this speculation that I try to insert 'my people' in general manager positions, which based on what I've said before, isn't true," he said. "I'll make recommendations if asked. In (Campbell's) case, as good as I think he would be for the Leafs, the fact is, it would be a tremendous loss for the league and for me personally.
"I am certainly not pushing.
"In the final analysis I have absolutely no say over who is hired, that is in any club situation," Bettman added. "That is a club decision."
Judge says Vick must pay Royal Bank $2.4 million
RICHMOND, Va. -- A federal judge on Thursday ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than US$2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan.
The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge -- and the resulting impact on his career -- prevented him from repaying the loan.
According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Newport News, the loan's terms specify that any employment change negatively impacting Vick's income constitutes a default on the loan. Vick is serving a 23-month sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty last year to bankrolling a dogfighting ring. He was subsequently suspended indefinitely without pay and lost all his major sponsors. He also faces state charges related to dogfighting.
"The criminal charges, and resulting impact on the Defendant's employment ... materially affect his ability to repay the Term Note," the bank said in the lawsuit.
The order from U.S. Magistrate F. Bradford Stillman requires Vick to pay $2.4 million, plus $499 in interest per day, starting Sept. 19, 2007.
-- The Associated Press
Saints' sniper Gingera nets Division I scholarship
MATTHEW Gingera, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's goal-scoring leader last season, has scored a scholarship with the NCAA Division I Sacred Heart University Pioneers in Fairfield, Conn,. this fall.
The 20-year-old Gingera, a graduating forward from the Winnipeg Saints, scored 66 goals and set a Saints team record for goals in a career with 149 over three seasons. Gingera will join former Portage Terriers goalie Stefan Drew and Swan Valley Stampeders defenceman Dave Grimson with the Pioneers.
In other MJHL news, Southeast Blades defenceman Kevin Richardson, 20, will join Nichols College, an NCAA Division III school next season.
-- Ashley Prest
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