Hockey

AFTER GOING MORE than 8 months without hockey, Flyers chairman Ed Snider could not wait to get back. In fact, one of his first orders of business after returning from his 80th birthday celebration with family in the Caribbean was a stop at the Flyers' practice facility on Tuesday. It was Snider's first appearance at a practice since last April during the Flyers' epic first-round playoff series against Pittsburgh. "I was sick that this thing took so long," Snider said, referring to the NHL's 119-day lockout.

The NHL's 48-game schedule, caused by Lockout III, will dramatically change the dynamics of the 2013 season. For proof, take a look at last year's 82-game season and what would have happened if only the last 48 games were played - and the first 34 didn't count. Boston was the Eastern Conference's best team after 34 games last season, going 24-9-1. But the Bruins limped home in the final 48 (25-20-3) and would not have even qualified for the playoffs if only those games counted.

The NJSIAA on Wednesday took a step toward creating a nonpublic tournament in field hockey. The organization's executive committee unanimously approved on first reading a motion to create Non-Public North and Non-Public South sectional tournaments. If the motion is approved on second reading during the organization's monthly meeting in February, the change will take effect for the 2013 season. "The publics have been asking for this," said NJSIAA associate director Kim McGraw-Cole, who oversees field hockey.

Three members of the Neumann men's ice hockey team received ECAC West weekly honors. Sophomore Chris Bournazos was the player of the week, junior Braely Torris was named goalie of the week, and freshman Brandon Gagne earned a spot on the honor roll. Bournazos had two goals in the Northfield Bank Tournament championship game and was named MVP as Neumann handed No. 1 Norwich its first loss of the season. Torris made 34 saves and picked up his first win against Norwich. Gagne had two assists as Neumann went 2-0 in the tournament.

FLYERS CHAIRMAN Ed Snider received just about the best present he could ask for on Sunday morning, as he celebrated his 80th birthday. Hockey is back in Philadelphia. After an epic, 16-hour bargaining session that began Saturday afternoon, embattled leaders Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr emerged from a Manhattan hotel lobby bearing news that the start of a shortened season is right around the corner. "This is the best wake-up call I've ever had," Flyers star Claude Giroux told the Daily News early Sunday morning.

The United States won the world junior ice hockey championship on Saturday after Rocco Grimaldi scored twice and Vince Trocheck added an empty-netter to clinch a 3-1 win over defending champion Sweden in the gold-medal final in Ufa, Russia. American goalie John Gibson made 26 saves for the victory and was the MVP of the tournament. Valeri Nichushkin scored an overtime winner to give Russia a 6-5 victory over Canada in the bronze-medal match. CYCLING: Countering a New York Times report on Friday, Lance Armstrong 's attorney said that the cyclist hasn't reached out to the USADA about admitting that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Jake McCabe and former Gloucester Catholic standout John Gaudreau scored two goals each to lead the United States to the final of the world junior hockey championships with a 5-1 win over Canada on Thursday in Ufa, Russia. McCabe put his team ahead with a pair of identical goals, scoring through goalmouth scrambles in the first period. In the final, the Americans will face defending champion Sweden. The Swedes beat Russia, 3-2, in a shootout. Jeff Vanderbeek has taken over sole control of the New Jersey Devils and refinanced the team's debt.

Former Gloucester Catholic star Johnny Gaudreau had a hat trick, Riley Barber scored twice, and the United States beat the Czech Republic, 7-0, to reach the world junior ice hockey semifinals Wednesday in Ufa, Russia. On Thursday, the Americans will play Canada, which edged them, 2-1, in the Group B preliminary round. Defending champion Sweden, which won Group A, will face Russia, which beat Switzerland in a 4-3 penalty shootout. Two-time Olympian Molly Engstrom , 29, retired from the U.S. women's national hockey program.

The United States advanced to the quarterfinals of the world junior hockey championships Monday with a 9-3 rout of Slovakia in Ufa, Russia. The Americans' prospects of reaching the knockout round had looked uncertain after a loss to Canada a day earlier, but they dominated the Slovaks. In Group A, the Czech Republic beat Switzerland, 4-3, in overtime. Canada stayed in first place in Group B by downing Russia, 4-1. BASEBALL: Former American League MVP Miguel Tejada said he has reached a deal with the Kansas City Royals.