Brown Likely to Skip Junior Worlds

Rookie winger Dustin Brown, who turned 19 last week, probably will not play for the U.S. team at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Finland.

Brown, who has played in 14 of the Kings’ 15 games and has one assist, would miss five games if he went to the championships, which start Dec. 26 and end Jan. 5.

“Probably not,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “Dustin’s already been in one. His first priority is to us.”

Brown represented the U.S. at the last two World Junior Hockey Championships. He had two goals and two assists in seven games this year. Last year, he had a goal and two assists in seven games.

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Keeping with an international theme, Murray said he would welcome the chance to be associated with Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey next summer.

“I’d do anything they asked, whatever role they wanted,” Murray said. “That could be driving the bus or whatever they need.”

Murray acknowledged that Pat Quinn, Ken Hitchcock and Jacques Martin merited consideration because they coached Canada to the gold medal at the Salt Lake City Olympics. Murray said he has not been directly approached about any position.

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Winger Adam Deadmarsh did not skate Thursday, his second consecutive day without a full skate. Deadmarsh left the Kings’ training complex Wednesday after a brief skate because he wasn’t feeling well.

Deadmarsh, out since December because of post-concussion syndrome symptoms, had been gradually increasing his regimen.

“I think he had a couple of bad days,” General Manager Dave Taylor said. “He hasn’t felt as good as he had before.”

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Dodger closer Eric Gagne, who won the NL Cy Young Award on Thursday, dropped the puck in a ceremonial pregame face-off.