Coyotes Boost Offense by Signing Veteran Hull

Brett Hull, third on the NHL’s career goals list, signed with the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday.

The free-agent forward signed a $4.5-million, two-year deal.

Hull, an 18-year veteran who spent the last three seasons with Detroit, has 741 goals, behind only Coyote managing partner Wayne Gretzky’s 894 and Gordie Howe’s 801. Hull, who turns 40 on Monday, has also scored 103 playoff goals, fourth behind Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jari Kurri.

“He is a dynamic player who creates excitement every time he enters the offensive zone,” Coyote General Manager Michael Barnett said.

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The Ottawa Senators agreed to multiyear contracts with defenseman Chris Phillips and forward Peter Schaefer.... Forward Jochen Hecht agreed to a one-year, $2.1-million contract with the Buffalo Sabres, avoiding arbitration.... Left wing Ryan Jardine signed a one-year contract to return to the Florida Panthers.... Goaltender Mikael Tellqvist and forward Clarke Wilm re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.... Center Michal Handzus avoided arbitration and signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.... The Minnesota Wild re-signed right wing Richard Park to a one-year contract.

Golf

Chris DiMarco had four birdies to complete his first round, then added nine more in the second for 31 points and a six-point lead at The International at Castle Rock, Colo.

Rain and lightning ended Thursday’s first round, forcing half the field to return Friday for up to 33 holes at hilly Castle Pines Golf Club. Two more rounds of storms hit Friday, setting up another marathon day in the altitude for 72 players. The second round will be completed today; the top 70 plus ties will go to the third.

First-round leader Rod Pampling was second with 25 points through 11 holes of the second round. Bob Tway was another point back.

Craig Stadler and Tom Purtzer shot eight-under 64s and shared the first-round lead at the Champions Tour’s 3M Championship at Blaine, Minn.

Sammy Rachels birdied five of the first seven holes and finished tied with Tom Kite at 65. Defending champion Wayne Levi birdied the last three holes and was alone in fourth place at six under.

Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench shot an 89, and Arnold Palmer, who teamed with Tom Lehman to design the course, opened with a 92.

Meg Mallon and Angela Jerman capitalized on early, windless conditions and moved into a tie for the lead with seven-under 135s after two rounds of the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic at Sylvania, Ohio.

Brandie Burton was alone in third, one shot back, after a 69. Karrie Webb had a 68 and was tied for fourth with first-round leader Karen Stupples.

Janice Moodie of Scotland and Becky Morgan of Wales shot two-under 70s for the second straight day for a share of the lead halfway through the HP Open at Stockholm.

Annika Sorenstam shot a par 72 after a birdie and a bogey, and is two shots off the lead at two under.

Tennis

Andre Agassi won a nerve-testing first-set tiebreaker, then closed out a 7-6 (12), 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Carlos Moya that sent him to his first tournament semifinal in five months.

Agassi will play No. 2 Andy Roddick in the semifinals of the $2.5-million Cincinnati Masters at Mason, Ohio. Roddick advanced by defeating wild-card entrant Tommy Haas, 6-3, 6-3. Lleyton Hewitt faces unseeded Tommy Robredo in the other semifinal.

Jennifer Capriati, playing for the first time in more than a month, lost to unseeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva, 6-2, 7-5, in the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup at Montreal.

Pro Football

Miami Dolphin wide receiver David Boston will sit out the season after injuring a tendon in his left knee during practice, Coach Dave Wannstedt said.

“It is anticipated that the injury will require surgery that will sideline him for the season,” Wannstedt said in a statement late Friday.

The bulk of offensive production will undoubtedly fall on receiver Chris Chambers, who was signed to a five-year, $30-million contract extension on Thursday.

Jimmy Kennedy, the St. Louis Rams’ No. 1 draft pick in 2003, broke his right foot during training camp and could sit out the season.

The 330-pound defensive tackle was hurt Thursday during a pass-rush drill against the Chicago Bears.

Kennedy will have surgery next week and will be out three to four months.

The New York Jets signed veteran guard Pete Kendall.... New Orleans Saints’ second-round pick Devery Henderson signed a four-year deal with the team.

Miscellany

Kenya’s suspension was lifted by soccer’s governing body, allowing the country to resume World Cup qualifying.

FIFA suspended Kenya from international competition June 2 because the government had taken over the national soccer federation.

Shortstop Jermain Curtis, a Times’ All-Inland Empire selection from Fontana Miller High where he hit .597 as a junior last season, has committed to UCLA.

Chad Chaffin passed Johnny Sauter on the outside with less than a half-lap left to win the Power Stroke Diesel 200, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Clermont, Ind.

Mike Penner is on assignment.