HOCKEY

Savard will be lost to Bruins in 2011-12 with ongoing postconcussion syndrome

Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard will miss the entire 2011-12 season because he is still feeling the effects of postconcussion syndrome.

Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli said “it’s very unlikely Marc will play again,” the Boston Globe reported.

Savard was hit by Colorado’s Matt Hunwick on Jan. 22 and missed the rest of the season. It was Savard’s second concussion in 10 months.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman Fedor Tyutin to a six-year contract extension that will take him through the 2017-18 season.

Tyutin, acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers three years ago, had seven goals and 20 assists in 80 games last season.

• Former Nashville Predators enforcer Wade Belak, who retired in March, was found dead in Toronto and police are investigating the cause of death, according to Canadian Press.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR: Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has clinched at least a wild-card berth in the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

NASCAR determined that even if Gordon is knocked out of the top 10 in standings over the next two races, he still would get into the Chase via the wild card.

Gordon has two wins this season, and the only way he could fall out of the top 10 is if either Brad Keselowski or Clint Bowyer wins the final two races of the regular season to drop him out. Even if that happened, Gordon’s two victories would be enough to get him into the Chase.

BASKETBALL

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol scored 29 points to help defending champion Spain beat Poland 83-78 in its opening game at Siauliai, Lithuania.

GOLF

NOTAH BEGAY CHALLENGE: Cristie Kerr and Hunter Mahan combined for an 11-under 61 to win by one shot over Annika Sorenstam and Ricky Fowler at Verona, N.Y.

Tiger Woods and Suzann Pettersen were another shot behind in third, and Natalie Gulbis and Begay were fourth in the best-ball challenge for charity.

COLLEGES

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun, who led the Huskies to a third national championship last April, ended speculation he might retire.

Kyle Muncy, assistant director of athletics, said in an email the 69-year-old Calhoun informed UConn President Susan Herbst he will coach this coming season.

CYCLING

SPANISH VUELTA: David Moncoutie won a mountain finish to take the 11th stage and Bradley Wiggins claimed the overall lead.

Moncoutie broke away 8 miles from the end of the 103-mile leg and reached the finish at the Manzaneda ski resort 1 minute, 18 seconds ahead of Benat Intxausti and Luis Leon Sanchez.

– From news service reports