The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 67

JUNE 16, 2002 Boston Sunday Globe D15 Pro hockey notes Horse racing notes Kevin Paul Dupont Ex-Bruins bench players Ron Indrisano 'Emblem' bid barely exited gate O'Reilly, Burns return From the inactive list ot a bad week to be a former Bruins coach. The day after Terry O'Reilly hooked on with the Rangers as an assistant to Bryan Trottier, Pat Burns got back in the game as head man behind the Devils' bench. At this writing, no truth to the rumor I jthat Steve Kasper was seen peeking through the window of the MCI Center in ydowntown D.C. The Burns hiring was a real surprise, because no one expected Exit 16W chief gtou Lamoriello to give Kevin Constantine gate so soon. But O'Reilly's return? A 4shock.

Not only because he had been so 4ong out of the game, enjoying life in commercial real estate development on the North Shore throughout the 1990s, but dalso because he was burned out and ready I for new challenges upon packing it in as Bruins boss in the spring of 1989. But jjivith both of his sons happy and healthy jand in college this fall, the 51-year-old O'Reilly felt the time was right to get back into the action. "This is crazy, isnt it?" said O'Reilly, reached Friday morning, shortly before he began to prepare for a trip this week to Toronto, he will meet up with the full Ranger staff prior the Saturday-Sunday en- "try draft. "What's it about? More than anything, I just jnissed it, and the time just felt right." What a staff of solid ex-NHLers Ranger boss Glen has put before his ever-uiue casi oi diuc- 'shirts. The Mount Rush- BOBBAFFERT "A lot of work" was unfortunate that War Emblem did not get a clean shot at winning the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes June 8.

There is no question he lost his best chance when he stumbled badly then bumped with Magic Weisner as soon as the gate opened. Still, both War Emblem's temperament and his running style contributed to his defeat, as jockey Victor Espinoza was forced to rush the front-runner up between horses to gain position. Espinoza then had to battle War Emblem while putting him under a snug hold in an attempt to rate along in fourth place. War Emblem resented this and was rank until Espinoza moved him to the front along the inside with a half-mile to run in the 1 Vi-mile race. War Emblem battled it out to the quarter-pole, then faded to eighth, as long shot Sarava went on to win.

A press box chart caller estimated that War Emblem, who did recover quickly, lost about 2 lengths with his poor start. He was beaten by nearly 20. His critics will never believe he could have handled 12 furlongs even under ideal conditions, but that will never be known. "For us, the race was over at the said Bob Baffert, who trains War Emblem, and has now failed in three Triple Crown bids. "War Emblem cant have any horses in front of him.

That's just him. He's a big, free-running horse. The shame of the whole thing is that all those fans never got a chance to see the real War Emblem. That's what's disappointing to me. Silver Charm (1997) and Real Quiet ('98) at least got to run their races.

"Since the Preakness May 18, we've fretted and worried and got this horse to the Belmont the best way we know how. And then he never got his chance. It would be like Shaq getting ready to play the NBA Finals and then stubbing his toe and being unable to play. All of that work went for nothing, and that's what's hard. "They've got to bump the Belmont up to $5 million if they want me to come back here.

It's a lot of work to go through to get a horse to this race. The only good news is that I won't have to do any more interviews for a while." Because War Emblem needs things to go his way before he can perform to his potential, his name is now listed among the 16 who failed to win the Triple Crown after taking the first two legs rather than among those who have accomplished the feat (11). It will be interesting to see how War Emblem's career unfolds. he has both ankle and knee chips, it wont be a long one. For now, he has been sent to owner Prince Ahmed Salman's Bradbury Thoroughb-ed Farm in California to rest.

"Well probably point War Emblem TERRY O'REILLY Timing felt right lists from Raleigh, N.C. "Now this is my ego speaking," said Baldwin, who later went on to own minority positions with the Penguins and, briefly, with the San Jose Sharks. "But if I had been there, we never would have let the franchise leave. We stayed and suffered through some hard times." In fact, Baldwin was with the Whalers in the World Hockey Association '70s, when they were tenants in the Garden, vying for dates with the Bruins, Braves (AHL), and Celtics. He still muses over the club's final day on Causeway Street, when a Garden attorney had a Zamboni wheeled over to block the Whaler dressing room door, fearful the WHA squad's owners would beat it out of the old West End without paying a remaining rental tab of some $70,000.

"One of the many disputes we had in our time there," recalled Baldwin. "Most of the disagreements were over dates. I mean, we were playing on Monday and Friday afternoons in some cases the market was just too crowded, dates too few. We realized early on that Boston wasnt the right market. But we always paid our bills.

Finally, we beat it out of Dodge that day, because they had to move the Zamboni so Bruins owner Weston Adams could go home." Baldwin stuck with the struggling Whalers through most of their years in Hartford, not departing until '88, when Richard Gordon became the short-time keeper of the gate, prior to the baton pass to current owner Peter Karmanos. The truth is, in the three years leading up to '88, we had the third-highest gross revenues in the league," he said, detailing receipts from seat and luxury box funds. "The support was there. The piece that didnt work for us was television revenue it just wasn'tthere." For the last three years, Baldwin has been a minority owner of Crusader, which is among the many holdings of LA Kings billionaire Philip Anschutz. Among Crusader's recent titles: "Mystery, Alaska," the hockey flick with Russell Crowe and Burt Reynolds, produced by icon David Kelley son of former BLVWhaler coach Jack Kelley.

Born identity Understandably, it didnt cause much of a stir in the United States last week when the Society for International Hockey Research poured a bucket of ice chips over the longstanding theory that Windsor, Nova Scotia, was the birthplace of hockey. How comforting, especially here in the Hub of Hockey, to know that, in the SIHR's opinion, the game began in Montreal inside the long-gone Victoria Rink, March 3, 1875. Your faithful puck correspondent has been to Windsor, stood at the edge of Long Pond, where the game was allegedly first played, and felt the mystical connection with the game's gods. It's the same connection that can be felt in Cooperstown, N.Y., long debunked, but generally accepted, as the birthplace of baseball. Verdict here: Montreal's got enough trophies in the attic.

Spread it around up there, will ya? Besides, it's a game with the elements of stick, ice, and propellant Common sense tells us that the shouting wont be over until National Geographic ventures to a remote corner of Asia and unearths a caveman, preserved in a block of ice (think: Gary Larson cartoon), stick raised above his head in jubilation. I'm only accepting Montreal if his furskin toga has a CH on the chest Baldwin remains close friends with current Penguins owner Mario Lemieux. "He better get a new arena, or hell be packing his bags there," said Baldwin, well aware that 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 tr 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i Mario Magnifique has been working with local and state government to get something done to replace the aged Igloo. "That's just my opinion, of course." Knee surgery will keep Chris Pronger out of the Blues' lineup until midseason. And ditto for Michael Peca on Long Island Speaking of the Islanders, word around Uniondale is that Gordie Clark, Mike Milbury's assistant GM and director of player personnel, has parted ways with the club.

Ownership reportedly wasnt willing to commit to a contract extension for Milbury's longtime faithful lieutenant (dating to their days coaching together in Boston's minor league system before taking over'the Boston bench) The Panthers still hold the No. 1 pick in next weekend's entry draft, held inside Air Canada Centre in Toronto. But remember, Panthers GM Rick Dudley likes to wheel and deal and the Kitty Kats need bodies today, especially since moving Pavel Bure last season, to interest a passive fan base. If Dudley keeps the No. 1, he could opt for Finnish netminder Karl Leh-tonen.

"If we believe he's the best asset," said Dudley. "If we did draft him, I know we get 29 phone calls from other NHL clubs inquiring about him." Philadelphia story Surprise turn of events in Philly. Word at the end of Broad Street had the Flyers unloading Roman Cechmanek prior to taking a run at Curtis Joseph in this summer's UFA market. But GM Bob Clarke instead sent ex-Mount St. Charles star Brian Boucher to Phoenix, netting backup Robert Esche and 6-foot-5-inch pivot Michal Handzus in return.

Boucher, his Group 2 deal expired, made $1.6 million this past season. Cechmanek will gross 10 million over the next three economical by today's No. 1 goalie status, placing him on Boston's potential shopping list. If CuJo comes in, Cechmanek is gone. Meanwhile, look for the Flyers finally to flip ex-Bruins draft pick Jiri Dopita, most likely to the Oilers, perhaps for speedy forward Todd Marchant Look for Dave Lewis to get top consideration in Detroit to replace Scotty Bowman behind the Wings' bench.

Ron Wil- son, ditched in D.C. after the season, also could be considered. Lewis, in fact, could be considered for Wilson's old job with the Capitals Chris Dyment, the Reading defenseman who just wrapped up four years with the BU Terriers, signed as a free agent with the Wild last week after the Canadiens dealt his rights (he was picked 97th overall in '97) to Wild GM Doug Risebrough, the ex-Hab. "He should be a good fit for them, and he's excited," said local agent Matt Keator, able to tidy up the contract quickly after the trade was made. "It was the first time a kid actually told me he.

felt weak in his knees when I gave him the word the deal was done." Following Brett Hull's goal in the final moments of regulation that sent Game 3 of the Cup finals into overtime, Dominik Hasek allowed the 'Canes only one goal across nearly nine more periods. And Nicklas Lidstrom was the playoff MVP? Sometimes these awards just receive too much thought Hasek's deal, by the way, could bring him another 1 6 million over the next two years in Detroit. Nonetheless, he said Thursday that he will need a few days to decide if hell return to Motown or begin his long-awaited retirement in the Czech Republic The Leafs finally presented CuJo with a new contract proposal Wednesday and his agent, Don Meehan, said the 35-year-old backstop will ponder it through the weekend. If it's not on par with the $9 million a year that captain Mats Sundin will receive next year, then CuJo wont ponder it beyond this morning's Cup-o-Joe. Material from, personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.

1 1 1 1 1 1 ii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 it 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 BYRON DAFOE Numbers stack up well i to the Haskell against fellow 3-year-olds at Monmouth Aug. 4 or the Pacific Classic against older horses at Del Mar Aug. 25," said Richard Mulhall, stable manager for Prince Ahmed. Princely sum Prince Ahmed is suing Sportsman's Park over the $1 million bonus the Chicago-area track offered to the connections of a horse who could sweep the Illinois Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Russell Reineman, who owned War Emblem when he won the Illinois Derby April 6, sold 90 percent of War Emblem to Prince Ahmed ZYi weeks before he won the Derby May 4.

Reineman has already sued, claiming he is entitled to 50 percent of the bonus, while Prince Ahmed insists he is entitled to 90 percent. The suit, which was filed in US District Court in Los Angeles, includes an injunction to prevent Sportsman's Park from paying out any money until a settlement is reached Medaglia d'Oro, who ran second in the Belmont, will run next in either the Haskell or the Jim Dandy at Saratoga the same day, and the same two events are under consideration for Sunday Break, who finished third. Bobby Frankel, who trains Medaglia d'Oro, indicated that whichever race he sends Medaglia d'Oro to would be followed by an appearance in the Travers at Saratoga Aug. 24. "I havent decided," said Neil Dry sdale, who trains Sunday Break.

"His next objective would be either the Jim Dandy which would be a prep for the Travers or the Haskell." Farda Amiga, who defeated Take Charge Lady in the Kentucky Oaks May 3 and is arguably the best 3-year-old filly in the country, has recovered from a fever but might not be ready to run until late summer. Trainer Paolo Lobo, whose charge is equally adept on dirt and turf, said the daughter of Broad Brush may have to skip the American Oaks at Hollywood Park July 6 but could be ready for either the Alabama at Sara-togaAug. 17 or the Del Mar Oaks, a grass contest, Aug. 24. Nominees are Thirty-seven horses were nominated for Saturday's Grade $200,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes at Rockingham Park, to be held at 1 Va miles over the turf course.

Among the nominees is defending champion Hap, trained by Bill Mott. Hap ran sixth under Jerry Bailey in the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap o.v.Bel io 1 Stakes undercard after chasing winner Beat Hollow, the best grass horse in the country, into the airetch. I who won last year's Sweeps by 7 lengths at odds of 3-10, may not be able to come back on just two weeks' st, but that remains to be seen. Weights will be assigned tomorrow and the draw will be Wednesday. Derby on Go For Gin in 1994, and rode Tiznow to victories in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2000-01, the only time that feat has been accomplished.

Unlike his older brother, Gregg, who was a leading apprentice at both Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park in 1971, Chris never rode regularly in New England. A natural athlete who loved hockey, Chris followed his brother aid late trainer Odie Clelland, his mentor, onto the Maryland circuit before he began to ride. However, McCarron did have two memorable moments at He rode Dancing Champ to victory in the 1976 Massachusetts trainer Bud Delp, who was elected to the Hall of Fame this year, and scored another Mass-win aboard Waquoit in 1987. Waquoit, trained by Guido Federico. who passed away this year, was arguably 14 greatest New England horse ever.

The big gray colt and McCarron dug deep to beat handicap champion Broad Brush and Angel Cordero by a nose following a thrilling stretch duel as the crowd roared. McCarron will have plenty to do in his retirement years. He and his wife, Judy, helped establish the Don Mac Beth Memorial Fund fr 'iisabled riders, and Chris has become increasingly involved with the Jockeys' Guild in recent years. thc Mtile question that a career Jas a racing commentator awaits one of 'the sport's most articulate spokesmen. McCarron says he'll ride off into the sunset 01 more cast of solid jaws now reads, left to right, Trottier, O'Reilly, Jim Schoenfeld, and Ted Green j((held over from the Ron Low regime).

All r' but Trottier, of course, have worn the jspoked-B here in the Hub of Hockey. Good humor and piercing sarcasm will abound in that room. But pity the poor fl slacker who attempts to roll out of checks mail in a practice session. I don know how the division ot re sponsibility is going to work out other than to know that it will work out," said vX)'Reilly, whose No. 24 sweater is long overdue for hoisting to the Causeway I jStreet rafters.

"I think back to when I got the job in Boston. John Cunniff and I know who would do what. But it didn't matter. We got it done, managed it just fine. I think when you're a hockey player from the time you're 7-8 years old, you have an instinctive ability to know fcwhat it takes to bring a team together as a jjroup and get the job done." One of O'Reilhs most infamous mo- in uniform came only a few feet from the bench hell now work behind at 0 Madison Square Garden.

O'Reilly and Peter McNab and Mike Milbury barreled over the sideboards just before Christmas in 1979, Ray Bourque's rookie season, in an overzealous attempt to de- fend teammate Stan Jonathan. The trigger to the bizarre episode was a fan along the sideboards who had reached over the glass to wrench Jonathan's stick from his leather clutches. Will O'Reilly stay out of the stands in (i his new tenure? "I will," he said. "Promise." Howard's end is: From his Crusader Entertainment movie offices in Hollywood, former Whalers boss Howard Baldwin watched the playoffs through a slightly sentimen- tal eye. He's among the ever-loyal who rwish the Whale never left Hartford, even if they live on today as the 2002 Cup fina- iiMiiiiiiMimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Hall honor for Dupont Globe sportswriter Kevin Paul Dupont, 49, who has chronicled the Bruins and professional hockey for 24 years, has been selected to receive the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award.

The award recognizes distinguished members of the newspaper profession "whose words have brought honor to journalism and to hockey." Recipients are selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The formal announcement from the National Hockey League HaH of Fame is scheduled for Wednesday. A ceremony at the Hall is scheduled to take place in November. The two previous Globe selections were Tom Fitzgerald in 1984 and Francis Rosa in 1987. fk.

is, -fir V' NANTYMARRAPESE-BURRELL AND ANOTHER THING By Ron Indrisano GLOBE STAF Jockey Ch McCarron, who went from playing street hockey ji nis native Dorchester to the HaU of Fame in Saratoga, N.Y., has decide retire. McCarron, 47, who is the leading money-winner of all time, will nue for the final time at Hollywood Park next "I've spoken to a lot of athletes too retired, and most of them saii knew when it was time to leave," McCarron told The Daily Racing Form. "I never really understood how they could be so sure, but I know now that it's time for me. I've given it a lot of thought over the past few days, and discussed it with my family. It's time, and I feel good about the decision." McCarron's mounts have earned $264,031,267 CHRIS 546 wins Time to face facts As one quiet day after another expires here, with no sign of green (like cash) smoke emanating from Causeway Street, it sure looks as if we can color Messrs.

Bill Guerin and Byron Dafoe gone from the Bruins. Below, an interesting three-year (1999-2002) statistical comparison put together by Bryant McBride, agent for Dafoe, stacking his client up against fellow unrestricted free agent netminders Curtis Joseph, Eddie Belfour, and Mike Richter. Player Pts.w Pts.wo Overall McCARRON in '74 Dafoe .420 .533 Joseph .615 .516 .589 Belfour .583 .669 .606 Richter .481 .414 .457 Key: Pts. (percentage of available points club won with that goalie in net). Pts.

wo (percentage of points when other goalies played). Overall points won. Friendly fire in purses (through Thursday), and he has ridden 7,137 winners. He rode his first winner, Erezev, at Bowie Race Course in Maryland in 1974, and went on to set what was then a record of 546 wins that year, earning an Eclipse Award as the nation's leading apprentice rider. He won another Eclipse as a journeyman in 1980, and was elected to the Hall in 1989.

McCarron was the regular rider of the mighty John Henry, one of the greatest of all turf champions, and won eight Grade I races aboard Ahr2a, fVe 1987 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of ie Year in 1988. He won a second "The whole coaching profession is pretty precarious. That's probably the thing I'm most proud of the nine Cups getting fired Detroit coach Scotty Bowman, who let it be known minutes after clinching the Cup Thursday night that he has coached his last NHL game. Compikcby Kevin Paul Dupont IIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIMUIIItltHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIHII.