Fast Break

Colleges

Montana officials make their case

State and university officials are working to prove a Montana law that allows fantasy sports leagues does not violate the NCAA’s stance against gambling on sporting events.

An NCAA spokeswoman recently said the University of Montana should not have hosted playoff games last season because the state has a form of legalized sports gambling.

“We did have an administrative oversight previously, but that was an error on our side and it’s not going to happen again,” NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said last week. “We’ve taken steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The issue came to light after NCAA officials, citing association rules, threatened to ban all playoff games in Delaware if the state legalized sports betting.

In the course of discussing the Delaware issue, it was noted that Montana hosted two football playoff games last fall despite the fact Montana is one of four states that allow sports gambling.

Hockey

Cowen invited to national camp

Spokane Chiefs defenseman Jared Cowen has been invited to Canada’s National Junior Team development camp in his hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from Aug. 5-10.

Cowan may not be able to take part in on-ice sessions because of his rehabilitation from an injury suffered at the end of the Western Hockey League season.

Forty-one skaters (defensemen and forwards) have been identified to attend the camp.

Goaltenders will be named in mid-June.

Among the 41 players invited, 11 played in the WHL during the 2008-09 season.

Baseball

Indians tickets on sale Monday

Individual game tickets for the 2009 Spokane Indians season go on sale Monday at the Avista Stadium ticket office.

Tickets will also be available by phone at (509) 343-6886.

The Avista Stadium Ticket Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are also available at TicketsWest or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT. Fans can purchase tickets online from TicketsWest by visiting www.ticketswest.com or www.spokaneindiansbaseball. com.

The Indians will kick off the season at home on June 20.