Chauffeur Accepts Guilt For Accident

NHL

The chauffeur of the limousine that crashed June 13 while carrying a party of Detroit Red Wings, pleaded guilty in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., to driving with a suspended license.

The accident disabled Vladimir Konstantinov, a finalist last season for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman, and left team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov with serious brain injuries.

Richard Gnida, 28, entered the plea Monday morning before 48th District Judge Kimberly F. Small. Under questioning by Small, Gnida admitted he knew he was driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash.

A tentative sentencing date was set for Nov. 3.

The accident happened six days after Red Wings won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years.

It’s in the genes

Tampa Bay goalie prospect Zac Bierk, who plays with Lightning minor leaguers in Adirondack, comes from an eclectic family.

His father, David, is a world-renowned artist.

His sister, Heather, is a fashion model, and his brother, Sebastian Bach, is lead singer of the heavy metal band Skid Row, which had a few hits in the early ‘90s.

Two years ago during the Memorial Cup semifinals, Bierk stood in goal before the game as Sebastian sang the Canadian anthem. Above them in the Peterborough Memorial Centre was a portrait of the Queen of England painted by his father.

“It was a wild night,” Zac said. “But it was cool, too… . After seeing the things my family has done, I know that anything in life is possible if you work hard. My family has proven that.”

Players of week

Boston Bruins goalies Jim Carey and Byron Dafoe, who had three shutouts between them in four road victories, were co-winners of the player of the week award.

On the ice

Steve Yzerman scored his second goal of the game with 3:06 remaining in regulation as the Detroit Red Wings tied visiting St. Louis 3-3 to snap the Blues’ seven-game winning streak.

At New York, Niklas Sundstrom and Jeff Finley scored 53 seconds apart in the second period as the Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating Carolina 4-2.