HOCKEY

AHL player suspended after violent penalties

An Adirondack Flames player has been suspended 12 games by the American Hockey League for slamming an opposing player’s head onto the ice during a game.

Left-wing Trevor Gillies, who played parts of two seasons with the Portland Pirates in 2006 and 2007, skated up to Rochester rookie forward William Carrier during a scrum, punched him several times and slammed his head on the ice as he went down.

Gillies was assessed two game misconducts, a fighting major and an instigating minor in the Flames’ 6-1 loss in Rochester on Friday.

• The Portland Pirates made a pair of roster moves, as forward Justin Hodgman was assigned to the Pirates from the Arizona Coyotes, while forward Dan O’Donoghue was assigned by Portland to the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.

Hodgman, 26, is a 6-foot-1, 196 pound center from Brampton, Ontario while O’Donoghue, 23, is a 6-foot-5, 210 pound right wing from Port Jefferson, New York.

TENNIS

LUXEMBOURG OPEN: Top-seeded Andrea Petkovic of Germany exited in the first round, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Pauline Parmentier.

Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens, at No. 7, also bowed out prematurely losing 7-6 (5), 6-1 to Johanna Larsson.

Second-seeded Alize Cornet of France reached the second round with a 6-2, 7-6 (6) win over Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka.

ERSTE BANK OPEN: Last year’s runner-up Robin Haase of the Netherlands defeated Dominic Thiem 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 at Vienna.

Also, Ivo Karlovic of Croatia saved three match points in the second set before beating Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-7 (1), 7-6 (9), 7-6 (2).

LUGE

RETIRING: Longtime standout Armin Zoeggeler, 40, of Italy – the first athlete to medal in the same individual event at six straight Olympics – announced his retirement.

SOCCER

EUROPE: A small drone dangling an Albanian banner and circling the soccer field touched off fighting between Serbian and Albanian players and fans, forcing a European Championship qualifier to be called off in Belgrade, Serbia.

The referee halted the match in the 41st minute when a Serbian player grabbed the banner and Albanian players tried to protect it. Several Serbian fans ran onto the field and clashed with Albanian players.

U.S. WOMEN: Crystal Dunn was replaced by fellow defender Julie Johnston on the national team after spraining ligaments in her right knee during training. Dunn could miss up to four weeks, which would include the first round of World Cup qualifying. .

BASKETBALL

WNBA: The New York Liberty parted ways with Bill Laimbeer, who had coached and served as general manager.

The Liberty went 26-42 in Laimbeer’s two seasons and missed the playoffs both years.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR: Brad Keselowski was fined $50,000 and Tony Stewart $25,000 for their roles in the fracas after the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway over the weekend.

Both drivers were also placed on probation as NASCAR said the penalties “are about maintaining a safe environment following the race.” Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin were not penalized for their roles in the post-race skirmishes.

– From staff and news services

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