Olympic organizers plan to truck in snow for the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events at Cypress Mountain.
Olympics
Vancouver officials will be trucking in snow: Olympic organizers plan to truck in snow for the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events at Cypress Mountain.
The forecast for the week ahead suggests there will be no new snow for the mountain on Vancouver’s north shore, nor will it get cold enough to make any, the organizers said Wednesday.
Contingency plans are now being rolled out that include using straw and wood to build the base for the courses. Organizers will use trucks, snow cats and, if necessary, helicopters to move snow to the event sites.
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NHL
Oilers lose to Canucks in OT: Daniel Sedin scored on the power play 1:39 into overtime and assisted on Vancouver’s two goals in regulation as the Canucks sent the host Edmonton Oilers to their ninth straight loss, 3-2.
Down by a goal late in the third period, the Canucks tied it 2-2 during a 4-on-3 power play. Sami Salo fired a shot from the point that beat goalie Devan Dubnyk with 4:06 left to force OT.
It didn’t take long for the Canucks to win it. Henrik Sedin made a perfect pass to twin brother Daniel on the doorstep for an easy tap-in.
Alex Burrows had the other goal for Vancouver, and Henrik Sedin posted three assists.
Elias has concussion: Officials for the Czech Republic believe captain Patrik Elias will recover in time for next month’s Vancouver Olympics even though the New Jersey Devils have put him on the injured list with a concussion.
Stars put Lehtinen on injured list: The Dallas Stars have placed right wing Jere Lehtinen on the injured list with an upper-body injury. The team said the injury is not serious and is unlikely to affect his participation in the Olympics for Finland.
College football
Leach lawsuit will not get speedup schedule: A judge in Lubbock, Texas, ruled that fired Texas Tech coach Mike Leach’s lawsuit against the university can go forward but not as quickly as his attorneys wanted.
State District Judge William Sowder denied a motion by Leach’s attorneys to speed up taking depositions from school administrators and obtaining documents relevant to the case.
“I see no reason to give Mr. Leach any special treatment in this case,” the judge said. “So this case will take an ordinary course of action.”
Louisiana Tech hires Dykes: Louisiana Tech has tapped Arizona Wildcats offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes to replace Derek Dooley as head coach. Dykes has coached in college for 15 years and has been with Arizona since 2007. He has never been a college head coach.
Former Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley left to replace Lane Kiffin at Tennessee.
Soccer
Arsenal takes lead in Premier League: Arsenal moved into first place, overcoming a two-goal deficit to beat Bolton 4-2 and extend its English Premier League unbeaten streak to nine.
Arsenal (15-4-3) has 48 points and is ahead of Chelsea (15-3-3) on goal difference, with Manchester United (15-5-2) one point back.
Horse racing
Full brother of Barbaro breaks maiden: A full brother of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., in his third career start.
Lentenor won the 1-1/16-mile ninth race on the turf by 3 ½ lengths with a time of 1:41.02.
Mixed-martial arts
UFC’s Lesnar ready for return: Brock Lesnar is ready to resume training to defend his UFC heavyweight title after a serious intestinal problem derailed his career and endangered his life.
Lesnar hasn’t been in the octagon since UFC 100 last July, when he beat Frank Mir in the biggest event in mixed-martial arts history. He struggled through several months of pain and confusion with an illness eventually diagnosed as diverticulitis. UFC president Dana White expects Lesnar to return this summer, likely fighting the winner of Mir’s bout against Shane Carwin.
Colleges
New Orleans pulling out of Sun Belt Conference: New Orleans will end its affiliation with the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, part of a move from NCAA Division I to Division III as the university deals with state budget cuts and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Cycling
Cardoso wins stage of Tour Down Under: Manuel Cardoso of Portugal won the third stage of the six-day Tour Down Under, overcoming heat which soared to 104 degrees in Australia. Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong finished near the front after a strong ride on the 82-mile stage between Unley and Stirling.
Seattle Times news services