Whitney, Sharks Still Negotiate
Former Spokane Chiefs star Ray Whitney has been a restricted free agent since July 1, but he and the National Hockey League San Jose Sharks continue to negotiate, a Sharks spokesman said Monday.
Whitney and another ex-Spokane Chief, Pat Falloon, are the prime attractions in the first sporting event in Spokane’s new $44.8 million Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Sharks meet the Vancouver Canucks here in the NHL exhibition opener for both clubs on Sept. 17.
As a Group II free agent, Whitney is free to sign with another team.
Should Whitney and the Sharks fail to come to terms, the game here would lose some of its luster. Whitney and Falloon are two of San Jose’s rising stars.
The Sharks can retain Whitney by matching any competing offer. If San Jose doesn’t match an offer from another club it would receive compensation from that team based on Whitney’s new salary.
Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said it’s his understanding both sides expect Whitney to remain in San Jose. It is possible that if nothing is settled, Whitney could still report to training camp and play without a contract.
The Chiefs expect to play at least two Western Hockey League games on the road before their anticipated home opener on Saturday night, Sept. 30.
Speltz is in Vancouver, British Columbia, for today’s WHL scheduling meeting. Confirmation of a Sept. 30 home opener and tentative 1995-96 schedule is expected to come out of the meeting.
The WHL season opens the weekend of Sept. 22-24, when Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena is occupied by a circus.
Legion baseball
Jeremy Thomas pitched a three-hitter and drove in two runs as Key Bank shut out the East Valley Merchants 8-0 in five innings.
Steve Sebesta had three hits, scored two runs and drove in four and Nick Pugliese had a solo home run to lead Maxwell House past M&L Construction 16-6 in five.
Brandon Molette hit a first-pitch home run when play from a darknesshalted June 28 game resumed in the top of the eighth inning and Kimmel bested Global Federal Credit Union 9-8 in one extra inning.
In the regularly-scheduled game between the two, Jayson Smith had a two-run home run in a decisive three-run third inning as GFCU won 4-2.
Brian Maley’s two-out single in the bottom of the eighth gave Spokane Federal Credit Union a 5-4 win over Washington Trust Bank.
Olympic Sports two-timed the North Stars in Chewelah, 11-0 on Andy Furlott’s three-hit, five-strike out pitching and 11-0 as Bill Conant pitched a one-hitter. Brett Roberg drove in eight runs in the two games.
AAU basketball
The Spokane Stars are 1-1 in pool play in the U-17 boys tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C., after losing 79-63 to Washington, D.C., Monday.
Mike Homer scored 20 points, Paul Sweeney 13 and Damian Long 10 to lead the Stars, who play AtlantaWarren today. The top two teams from the pool advance.
Washington scored 16 points off offensive putbacks.
At the U-13 girls tournament in Amarillo, Texas, Southern Louisiana scored after time should have expired in a controversial finish to beat the Spokane Stars 52-51.
The Stars, 0-3, play their final game today against Ozark Hoops.
Spokane, which missed two free throws in the final 13 seconds that could have won it, was led by Alyssa Erickson’s 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Golf
Two Spokane women have qualified for the match-play portion of the 94th Pacific Northwest Golf Association Women’s Amateur Tournament at Portland’s Waverley Country Club.
Eileen Hargrove shot an 11-overpar 83 and Katie King had an 84 to be among the 32 qualifiers for match play that begins today.
Karla Kalian of Brush Prairie, Wash., was medalist with a 3-over 75. Washington women’s amateur champion Heather Graff of Kennewick was in a tie at 77.
, DataTimes