U.S. Falls to Canada in Hockey World Cup

Martin St. Louis had a goal and an assist to lead Canada to a 2-1 victory over the U.S. on Tuesday night in the World Cup of Hockey opener for both teams at Montreal.

The game was fast-paced and full of hard-hitting and stellar play by Canada goalie Martin Brodeur and U.S. counterpart Robert Esche.

It took little time for the teams to show signs of the heated rivalry that has peaked since Canada beat the U.S. in the gold-medal game of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Mario Lemieux, Canada’s 38-year-old captain, went after Steve Konowalchuk when the American forward ran into Brodeur. Both teams lost players to injuries, as defenseman Ed Jovanovski was knocked out of Canada’s lineup, and the U.S. was without forward Mike Modano for most of the game.

Both were said to have lower body injuries and were to be re-evaluated today.

Joe Sakic also scored for Canada, which controlled the game at both ends for the first 25 minutes before the U.S. took back the momentum.

Bill Guerin scored for the U.S., which beat Canada, 5-2, in the final of the inaugural World Cup in 1996 in the same building.

The U.S. will next play Russia on Thursday night in St. Paul, Minn.

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Officials from the NHL and the NHL Players’ Assn. met for seven hours in Montreal, the longest negotiating session in the effort to forge a new collective bargaining agreement.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires on Sept. 15 and the chances of a lengthy lockout have increased in recent weeks.

Neither side commented Tuesday. They will meet again today in Montreal.

Soccer

The Galaxy traded second-year defender Ricky Lewis to the Colorado Rapids for a sixth-round draft choice in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft.

The move opened a developmental roster spot for the Galaxy, and Coach Steve Sampson said it would be filled by forward Alan Gordon of the A-League’s Portland Timbers when the A-League playoffs ended. Gordon, 22, has scored an A-League high 17 goals.

Lewis, a second-round pick in 2003, played in 26 games with the Galaxy, with 15 starts, and had two assists, both this season.

Sampson also said that defender Scot Thompson would join the Galaxy when the Timbers’ playoff run ended.

The Galaxy will be without six potential starters for its game at Columbus on Saturday.

Forwards Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala) and Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela), midfielder Cobi Jones (United States) and defender Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica) will be with their national teams for World Cup qualifying matches. Midfielders Paul Broome and Marcelo Saragosa are suspended because of caution points accumulation.

Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United despite a last-minute holdup caused by his broken foot. Manchester United completed the deal to acquire the 18-year-old striker from Everton at the transfer deadline date. The six-year deal is worth $48.3 million.... Israel Castro scored a 70th-minute goal as Mexico’s Pumas downed Real Madrid, 1-0, to lift the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy in Madrid.

Horse Racing

Candy Ride, winner of the 2003 Pacific Classic and undefeated in six starts in Argentina and California, has been retired, trainer Ron McAnally said.

McAnally had been hoping to get the 5-year-old Argentine-bred back to the races late this year, but an injury to the horse’s left front ankle persisted. Candy Ride’s owners, Sid and Jenny Craig, have made a tentative deal to send the horse to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky., for the breeding season that starts in February.

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Lion Heart, who ran last as the favorite in last Saturday’s Travers at Saratoga, broke a bone in his right front foot and has been retired.

Lion Heart was to have used the Travers as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30. Bought last year for $1.4 million by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, he earned $1.3 million with five wins and three seconds in 10 starts.

Miscellany

The Portland Trail Blazers agreed to terms with restricted free-agent swingman Darius Miles.

Point guard Brevin Knight signed with the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Citadel has postponed its football home opener against nearby Charleston Southern because of the potential that Hurricane Frances could be off the coast of South Carolina this weekend. The schools will try to reschedule the game, Citadel Athletic Director Les Robinson said.