Soviet sports authorities had planned to send...

Soviet sports authorities had planned to send hockey star Vyacheslav Fetisov to the United States to try to persuade teammate Alexander Mogilny to return after defecting, a Soviet newspaper reported.

The daily Stroitelnaya Gazeta said the trip was canceled at the last minute because of travel problems.

Mogilny, 20, a center for the Soviet national team, defected after the Soviets won the world championships last month in Stockholm. He has signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.