In the National Hockey League last night, Chris Pronger faced the Edmonton Oilers for the first time since he asked to be traded after the Stanley Cup final.

Pronger had three assists as Anaheim dumped the Oilers 6-2. The Ducks are off to the best start in franchise history at 7-0-2. Both losses have come in shootouts. The only other team that hasn't lost in regulation is 9-0 Buffalo.

Roberto Luongo recorded his first shutout with Vancouver as the Canucks blanked Chicago 5-0. Luongo finished with 32 saves. Henrik Sedin scored his first two goals of the season and notched an assist, while his brother Daniel had three assists.

Joe Sakic picked up his 1500th career point for Colorado, but it was Washington's Olaf Kolzig stopping 45 shots in the Capitals' 5-3 win over Avalanche. Sakic had an assist in the first period to become the 11th player to reach the milestone. Elsewhere, Florida doubled up the Rangers 4-2, Carolina edged Atlanta 5-4, Detroit nipped San Jose 2-1 and Minnesota downed Los Angeles 3-1. Tonight there are 8 games on the schedule; Canadian clubs taking to the ice include Montreal at Boston, Ottawa hosting Toronto and Edmonton at Phoenix.


The CHL says it will start random league-wide drug testing of  players early in the new year. The Quebec league has been doing it the past two seasons. A player agent ignited the issue of doping in major junior hockey almost three years ago when he claimed half the players in the QMJHL used drugs.


Game Four of the World Series between St. Louis and Detroit was postponed because of rain. And, there could scheduling chaos ahead. More showers are expected the next two days in St. Louis, where games are set for tonight and now tomorrow. It doesn't look much better this weekend in Detroit, with a forecast of rain and cold.

The Boston Red Sox are signing reliever Mike Timlin to an incentive-laden one-year deal. It could be worth 2.8 million dollars US. The 40-year-old former Blue Jay went 6-6 with a 4.36 ERA this past season. Timlin also had eight blown saves. Boston finished third in the AL East.


The Canadian Football League announced the players of the week yesterday. Edmonton running back Ron McClendon beat out Winnipeg running back Charles Roberts, for top offensive player honours, defensive player of the week went to B.C.'s defensive back Mark Washington, lineman of the week is DL Brandon Guillory of Edmonton and special teams player of the week is Saskatchewan's kick returner Dominique Dorsey.

In the NFL, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo will make his first career start on Sunday at Carolina. He replaced 14-year vet Drew Bledsoe in the second half of Monday night's 36-22 loss to the New York Giants. Romo is a fourth-year pro but he had never thrown a pass in a game until this season.

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is still listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Oakland. He took part in limited work during today's practice. Roethlisberger suffered his second concussion in about four months last weekend. The star pivot has not been cleared by doctors to play.