Roy, son suspended for role in hockey brawl

Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy and his son were suspended a total of 12 games for their parts in a brawl that broke out during a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff game.

The league said Tuesday that Roy, who coaches Quebec Remparts, was suspended five games for conduct related to his team’s fight with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Saturday.

Goalie Jonathon Roy was suspended seven games for barreling into Bobby Nadeau and repeatedly hitting him. The suspensions were effective immediately and could run into next season.

The elder Roy, who was on the bench, denied playing any role in the melee, although he appeared to urge on his son with a wave before he attacked the rival goaltender.

Patrick Roy, who is the NHL’s career leader in victories and won Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche, apologized Tuesday to Nadeau and his family as well as to the Remparts organization.

St. Cloud (Minn.) State sophomore forward Ryan Lasch, a resident of Lake Forest and graduate of Trabuco Hills High, has been selected one of 10 finalists for the 2008 Hobey Baker award, given to the NCAA’s top player.

Lasch ranks third in the nation among Division I players with 53 points.

OLYMPICS

French leader says boycott a possibility

French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested that a boycott of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was a possibility -- the first world leader to raise the prospect of punishing China over its ongoing crackdown in Tibet.

The United States, Britain and Germany all condemned China for using force against Tibetan protesters, but they stopped short of threatening to boycott the games or the Aug. 8 opening ceremony.

“Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet, and I will adapt my response to the evolutions in the situation that will come, I hope, as rapidly as possible,” he said.

Asked whether he supported a boycott, Sarkozy said he could “not close the door to any possibility.”

PRO FOOTBALL

Vick’s date in Virginia court is rescheduled

Michael Vick’s trial on state dogfighting charges was rescheduled for June 27.

A Surry County Circuit Judge set a trial date suggested by Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Poindexter and Vick’s lawyers, who did not attend the hearing. The trial originally was set for April 2.

Poindexter cited the logistics of getting a federal prisoner into state court as the reason for the delays.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall could be out several months after injuring his right arm, the NFL Network reported.

Marshall told the Rocky Mountain News he had slipped on a fast-food bag while vacationing at a resort. He described his injury as “a little cut on my arm.”

But the NFL Network reported that Marshall had severed an artery, a vein and a nerve in his forearm along with tendons to five muscles.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Titans and Panthers center Justin Hartwig to a $3.7-million, two-year contract.

Defensive end Kevin Carter re-signed with Tampa Bay, less than a month after the Buccaneers released him in a cost-cutting move.

Defensive end James Hall, released by the St. Louis Rams last month, re-signed with the team.

Rich Seubert signed a three-year extension with the New York Giants, keeping the starting left guard under contract with the Super Bowl champions through 2012.

The Houston Texans released center Steve McKinney, one of the franchise’s original players.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

South Carolina quarterback suspended

South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia was suspended from the team after being ticketed for underage drinking in his third run-in with police in about a year.

Athletic department spokesman Steve Fink says Garcia will not be allowed to practice or meet with the team until Aug. 15.

Hawaii cornerback Keenan Jones was suspended from the team and was scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday for two felony charges.

Jones, 22, was charged with unauthorized entry into a car and second-degree assault in separate incidents involving his girlfriend.

Arkansas linebacker Freddie Fairchild was suspended from the team after he was arrested on suspicion of beating a woman.

MISCELLANY

Testimony begins in trial of cyclist Thomas

The chemist who created some of the steroids at the heart of a sports doping scandal testified that he supplied the substances to cyclist Tammy Thomas, then helped her craft a bogus explanation to cover up her drug use.

Patrick Arnold said it was clear to him that Thomas wanted steroids that could not be detected.

“I believe Ms. Thomas understood full well that this was undetectable, and that was its intention,” Arnold said.