Edmonton Signs Former Chief Whitney

The Edmonton Oilers signed free-agent center Ray Whitney, a former stick boy with the team during its Stanley Cup-winning seasons in the 1980s, to a one-year contract.

Whitney, 25, spent parts of the past six seasons with the San Jose Sharks. He attended the Oilers’ training camp as a free agent after San Jose bought out the final year of his contract.

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Whitney has 48 goals and 73 assists in 200 career National Hockey League games. He played in 12 contests with San Jose last season, collecting two assists.

Whitney, who grew up in the Edmonton suburb of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, was a stick boy for the Oilers during four Stanley Cup-winning seasons from 1984-88 before beginning his junior hockey career with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs. He was a member of the Chiefs’ 1990-91 Memorial Cup champions, scoring 67 goals and totaling 185 points.

The Sharks’ first pick in the second round of the 1991 NHL draft, Whitney scored a career-high 17 goals and made 24 assists in 60 games during the 1995-96 season.

Financial terms of the contract weren’t disclosed.

Kevin Dineen signed a one-year contract extension that will keep the Carolina Hurricanes captain with the team through the 1999 season, the team said.

The team also signed right winger Kevin Brown to a one-year deal.

Jan Benda, a 25-year-old Belgium-born German right wing, signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Pittsburgh Penguins claimed twins Chris and Peter Ferraro off waivers from the New York Rangers.

Red Wings’ driver faces misdemeanor

The driver of the limousine involved in an accident that injured two Detroit Red Wings will be charged with driving without a license, prosecutors said.

The one-misdemeanor count - driving with a suspended license, second offense - means no felony prosecution is planned despite marijuana in the driver’s system.

If convicted, Richard Gnida, 28, could face up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Dallas’ Chambers sidelined

Dallas Stars defenseman Shawn Chambers is expected to be sidelined two to four weeks with a broken bone in his left hand, an injury suffered Thursday in a preseason game.

Tests slated for Cullen

Tampa Bay Lightning center John Cullen will undergo tests Monday at Boston’s Dana Farber Institute that should clear the way for a bone marrow procedure later this month.

Cullen, battling non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, attended the team’s opener Wednesday night against Carolina and dropped the ceremonial first puck.

On the ice

Reigning MVP Dominik Hasek stopped 34 shots as the visiting Buffalo Sabres opened with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. … The Carolina Hurricanes lost their debut game in the NHL, dropping a 4-2 decision to host Tampa Bay and spoiling the Hurricanes’ first NHL game after relocating from Hartford.

Dallas’ Greg Adams and former Spokane Chief Jon Klemm of Colorado scored goals barely a minute apart early in the third period, and the teams skated to a 2-2 tie in Colorado. … Visiting Detroit scored two power-plays goals in the opening 21 minutes and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames as the Red Wings opened defense of their Stanley Cup championship.

Garry Galley scored twice in his return to Los Angeles’ lineup after a 10-year absence as the Kings rallied to tie Pittsburgh 3-3 in Pittsburgh.