HOCKEY

Bowman returns for busy week

The Spokane Chiefs will play at the Kamloops Blazers tonight – the first of four games in five nights this week.

After tonight, they will travel to Chilliwack to take on the Bruins on Wednesday night before returning home to play the Everett Silvertips on Friday at the Arena. Spokane will round out the week Saturday night in Seattle against the Thunderbirds.

The Chiefs received good news Sunday when they learned last year’s leading scorer, Drayson Bowman (above), is coming back for at least one more season in Spokane after the forward was released by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Bowman signed an NHL contract with Carolina during the summer and was said to have an outside chance of making the Canes this season.

Spokane is still missing three veterans – defensemen Trevor Glass (AHL-Rockford) and Justin Falk (NHL-Minnesota Wild) are at pro camps, and forward Ondrej Roman is still in the Czech Republic.

NFL

Jags tackle has leg amputated

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier, who was shot earlier this month, is paralyzed below the waist and had his left leg amputated.

Dr. Andy Kerwin, a surgeon for the University of Florida at Shands Jacksonville hospital, said Collier, who had 14 bullet wounds, is in good condition after being previously listed in critical condition.

Kerwin said Collier had bullet wounds to the back, left groin, left legs and right buttock. In addition, a bullet severed his spinal cord, paralyzing him from the waist down. The amputation was the result of damage to his left leg and groin, which had blood clots.

Collier had five bullets removed from his urinary bladder and suffered bouts of pneumonia, infections and renal failure.

He will undergo physical therapy to learn to get from his bed to a wheelchair. He won’t walk again, the doctor said.

Collier and former teammate Kenneth Pettway were waiting for two women outside an apartment complex early Sept. 2 when a gunman fired into the vehicle, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Pettway was not injured.

A motive is unknown, but investigators said earlier Collier appeared to be targeted. Police have made no arrests.

“It’s a tragedy this young man was caught up in this violence,” Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said.