Hockey Player’s Body Found Frozen in Alps

The body of a former NHL first-round draft pick who disappeared in Austria nearly 14 years ago has been found frozen in the Alps.

Duncan MacPherson, who was selected 20th overall by the New York Islanders in 1984, was last seen Aug. 9, 1989, while snowboarding on the Stubaier Glacier.

The body was discovered late last week by an employee operating a snow-grooming machine at a summer ski resort in Neustift, near the Italian border.

MacPherson’s parents were scheduled to leave today for Austria from Regina, Canada.

“We feel very sad,” said Lynda MacPherson, who was notified about the discovery Friday by a friend from Innsbruck who met the couple during the first of their seven visits to Austria in search of their son.

The family was contacted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Austrian officials over the weekend.

“At 3,000 meters, the body would be pretty well frozen the whole time. His identification was in his pocket,” she said. “They didn’t have a problem identifying him. His dental records are there and our DNA is there.

“Even so, I have to see the body. I have to know for certain that it is him.”

MacPherson was 23 when he disappeared while on his way to take a job as a coach with a hockey team at Dundee, Scotland.

Golf

Michelle Wie shot a two-under-par 69 to share the lead in the first round of the USGA Girls’ Junior Championship at Fairfield, Conn.

Last month, the 13-year-old beat a field of women to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links title and then competed in the U.S. Open for the first time.

Wie is tied for the lead with Paula Creamer, among the top-ranked juniors in the country. Creamer, 16, of Pleasanton, had five birdies in her round of 69.

Southland girls in position to make the cut for match play are Esther Choe of La Quinta, who is tied for sixth at one over, and Amie Cochran of Torrance, Jane Park of Oak Valley and Grace Woo of Burbank, who are tied for ninth at two over.

In the U.S. Junior Amateur, Seann Harlingten of Rancho Mirage and James Lee of Indio are the only Southland boys in the top 50. Harlingten shot two over to tie for 15th and Lee shot four over to tie for 30th.

Tennis

Michael Chang’s first and last appearance at the RCA Championships ended quickly. The 31-year-old, who plans to retire after this year’s U.S. Open, lost to Eric Taino, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in the first round at the Indianapolis Tennis Center.

In another first-round match, Thomas Enqvist, returning from shoulder surgery and only 4-18 this year, beat Jan Vacek, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3.

Ivo Karlovic, who upset defending champion Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon, beat Cristophe Rochus, 7-5, 6-4, in the first round of the Croatia Open at Umag.... Paul-Henri Mathieu beat qualifier Ingo Neumueller, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round of the Generali Open at Kitzbuehel, Austria

Amy Frazier of the U.S. defeated Cara Black of Zimbabwe, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, in the first round of the Bank of West Classic at Stanford.

Miscellany

A steroid expert for the prosecution testified that he didn’t know about a long-lasting form of the illegal steroid that former baseball star Jose Canseco is accused of using in violation of probation.

Canseco, the 1988 American League most valuable player, has been on probation since November after pleading guilty to felony aggravated battery in connection with a scuffle with two tourists at a Miami Beach nightclub in 2001.

The Mighty Ducks signed center Nick Smith and defenseman Sheldon Brookbank.

Smith, who signed a one-year deal, had 12 goals and 26 assists in 79 games last season with Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. He was scoreless in 15 games with the Florida Panthers during the 2001-02 season.

Brookbank, who signed a two-year deal, had two goals and 11 assists and 136 penalty minutes in 69 games last season with Grand Rapids of the AHL.

Former Mighty Duck president and general manager Pierre Gauthier joined the Montreal Canadiens as director of pro scouting.

The NCAA has approved Florida A&M;’s application to move its football program to Division I-A, and the historically black university could be playing at college football’s highest level by 2004. No other historically black college is in Division I-A.