HOCKEY

Conditional lease approval may assure that Phoenix Coyotes aren’t forced to relocate

The Phoenix Coyotes have taken a major step toward securing an owner.

All that’s left is one last hurdle.

Glendale’s City Council voted 4-2 late Tuesday night in favor of a reworked, $320 million arena management deal with Greg Jamison, clearing the way for the former San Jose Sharks CEO to complete his purchase of the team from the NHL.

The new arena deal requires Jamison to complete his purchase of the team from the NHL by Jan. 21, 2013, a deadline he was confident would be met.

The Coyotes have been run by the NHL the past three seasons, since former owner Jerry Moyes took the team into bankruptcy in 2009. The team still managed to be successful on the ice despite financial limitations, reaching the playoffs all three years.

The Coyotes also are the NHL affiliate of the AHL Portland Pirates.

GOLF

LPGA: Kathleen Ekey, Moriya Jutanugarn and Kim Welch shot 4-under 68 to share the lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament. The top 20 after the 90-hole event at LPGA International in Florida will earn full tour status.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR: The circuit will race on the dirt for the first time since 1970 next season when the Truck Series visits Eldora Speedway in Ohio. The trucks will go to the Tony Stewart-owned track in Rossburg on July 24 as a lead-in to the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races later that weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

BOXING

WBA, WBC: Unbeaten super middleweight champion Andre Ward (26-0, 14 knockouts) will defend his WBA and WBC belts Jan. 26 against former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (40-2, 34KOs) in the first boxing match at USC’s Galen Center.

SKIING

WORLD CUP: Travis Ganong of the United States turned in the fastest time in the downhill training run on the Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek, Colo. The first racer out of the gate, Ganong flew through the course in 1 minute, 41.38 seconds. The downhill race is scheduled for Friday. Bode Miller is the defending champion, but won’t compete to give his left knee more time to heal after undergoing microfracture surgery nine months ago.

• Four-time winner on the World Cup circuit Daniel Albrecht underwent surgery in Switzerland after seriously injuring his left knee in a training crash on the World Cup downhill course in Lake Louise, Alberta. The Swiss ski federation said the 29-year-old racer dislocated the kneecap and tore ligaments.

SOCCER

BRAZIL: Luiz Felipe Scolari is expected to be selected the new Brazil coach, returning to the national team 10 years after leading the country to the 2002 World Cup title.

— From news service reports