Buffalo Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta suspended for 10 games

The NHL levied a heavy penalty on Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta, hitting the repeat offender with a 10-game suspension for his illegal check to the head of Columbia Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson. He had an in-person hearing with the league Tuesday afternoon and has already served two games of the suspension.

Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s chief disciplinarian, said in his video explanation that there would have been supplemental discipline assessed “no matter who delivered this hit.” But weighing heavily into the long suspension is the fact that Kaleta has been fined three times and suspended three other times in his career.

There was no penalty called on Kaleta on the play, which occurred early in the first period in a game between Buffalo and Columbus on Oct. 10. Johnson, a former King, did not leave the game and did not appear to suffer an injury.

Kaleta will lose $152,439 in salary. The funds will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

—Lisa Dillman

ETC.

Bail ruled eligible for UCLA

Wanaah Bail, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA to play basketball at UCLA.

Bail signed to play at Texas Tech in 2012-13 but walked away from the school after summer classes. He enrolled at UCLA this summer and appealed to the NCAA to be immediately eligible.

He will be a freshman this season. Bail has not been medically cleared to practice with the team. He had knee surgery June 28.

—Chris Foster

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U.S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to within a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front until he completed a four-under-par 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Southampton, Bermuda.

The 36-hole exhibition, which concludes Wednesday, is for the four major champions of the year. British Open champion Phil Mickelson chose not to play and was replaced by three-time major champion Padraig Harrington.

Dufner, who won the PGA Championship, opened with a 69. Masters champion Adam Scott struggled late in the wind for a 70. Harrington, who won the PGA Grand Slam last year as an alternate, shot 74.

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Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki struggled to a 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory over local Mandy Minella to reach the second round of the Luxembourg Open.

Second-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States had an easier time, defeating 2009 champion and Swiss wild card Timea Bacsinszky, 6-3, 6-3.

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Manager Walt Weiss agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Colorado Rockies.

He was 74-88 in his first season as manager, a 10-game improvement for the team over the previous season.