Baltimore Skipjacks

The Baltimore Skipjacks were cruising along with a 2-1 lead entering the third period at the Baltimore Arena last night.Then, the Springfield Indians, who lead the Northern Division of the American Hockey League, struck for a pair of goals in less than six minutes and defeated the Skipjacks, 3-2, before 2,315.Terry Yake beat Baltimore goalie Jim Hrivnak with a shot from the right circle that went between Hrivnak's glove and the goal post at 23 seconds to tie the score.Five minutes, 32 seconds later, Springfield took its first lead, as Joe Day lifted a rebound over a prone Hrivnak for the game-winner.

The Baltimore Skipjacks and Capital District Islanders skated to a 3-3 tie in an American Hockey League game yesterday before 2,318 at the Baltimore Arena, and everyone seemed pleased to walk away with a point in the standings.The point moved Baltimore to within one of the first-place Rochester Americans in the Southern Division."It's a point," said Skipjacks coach Rob Laird. "We wanted to win, but I'll take a tie in a game like that. You have to give credit to CDI. They played a controlled, patient hockey game.

Goalie Olaf Kolzig stopped 26 shots and defenseman Mark Ferner scored two goals, leading the Baltimore Skipjacks to a 4-1 American Hockey League victory over the Hershey Bears before 5,606 at the Baltimore Arena last night.The victory, Baltimore's second in its past three games, enabled the Skipjacks to regain a tie for first place in the Southern Division with the idle Rochester Americans.Kolzig, who called it a "character win," made several point-blank stops, as he dived, kicked, gloved and blocked shots with his stick and blocker pad. The only goal he allowed was on a short-handed breakaway by Guy Phillips.

The Baltimore Skipjacks yesterday returned center Harry Mews to the Hampton Roads Admirals of the East Coast Hockey League.Mews, who did not score in two games with the Skipjacks, was to rejoin the Admirals in Johnstown, Pa., for their game with the Chiefs.Baltimore, in first place in the Southern Division of the American Hockey League and a 5-2 winner over the Utica Devils on Saturday night, will play Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Hersheypark Arena against the Hershey Bears.

UTICA, N.Y. -- One of the Utica Devils' favorite warm-up tunes is "Welcome to the Jungle."It's also the most appropriate, because the Devils seldom lose before their hardly hospitable, hometown crowd at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.Last night's 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Skipjacks was an exception that American Hockey League rule, and many of the 2,748 fans took exception to it.The Jungle's natives were restless early, when Baltimore scored three quick goals, and the Skipjacks then rode the superb goaltending of Shawn Simpson to their second victory in two trips to the auditorium, where Utica had won six consecutive games.

Baseball Major League Baseball -- Signed a 39-page document with the Players Association, formally ending their five-year collusion battle. The deal calls for the 26 clubs to give the Players Association $280 million in payments. It also formalizes the new-look free agency granted to 15 players on Dec. 7New York Mets -- Named Jerry Koosman minor-league pitching instructor. Signed 1B Kelvin Torve and C Orlando Mercado. Announced they will not offer a contract to P Jeff Musselman.Oakland Athletics -- Announced they will not offer contracts to P Jim Corsi, P Dave Otto and OF Steve Howard.

Dimitri Khristich, the rookie from the Soviet Union who was signed by the Washington Capitals last week, made his professional hockey debut over the weekend, playing three games for the Baltimore Skipjacks in the American Hockey League.Khristich, 21, played mostly at left wing for the Skipjacks but also played a couple of shifts at center. In addition to skating a regular shift, he played on the Baltimore penalty-killing unit and acquitted himself well. He did not score, but he had several shots on goal, moved the puck well, checked his man on defense and showed excellent skating ability.

The Baltimore Skipjacks, who face the Rochester Americans at the Baltimore Arena tonight, will have more potential firepower in the lineup than at any time this season.The Washington Capitals have assigned rookie center Dimitri Khristich, a Soviet who was signed this week, to Baltimore for three games, and have returned center Alfie Turcotte and left wing Steve Maltais. Turcotte and Maltais, who spent more than a week in the National Hockey League, are the Skipjacks' leading scorers.Khristich, 21, who played on the Soviet world junior championship team in 1989 with Alexander Mogilny of the Buffalo Sabres and Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings, will play with Baltimore tonight, tomorrow and Sunday, then make his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden on Monday, when the Capitals face the New York Rangers.

LANDOVER -- Center Dimitri Khristich became the youngest player allowed to leave the Soviet Union to play in the National Hockey League when he signed a contract last night to play for the Washington Capitals.However, Khristich, 21, will be only the third-youngest Soviet to play in the NHL, after Alexander Mogilny of the Buffalo Sabres and Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings.Mogilny and Fedorov both were 20 when they defected to the United States to play for their NHL teams.Khristich, considered one of the top young players in the Soviet Union, joins defender Mikhail Tatarinov as Soviets on the Capitals.

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. --The Baltimore Skipjacks learned their lesson a week ago. Bruised by a 5-2 loss to Adirondack at home, the Skipjacks came into Glens Falls Civic Center last night and handed the Red Wings a 5-3 loss.Thomas Sjogren scored twice and assisted on a third goal, as Baltimore Skipjacks skated to a 5-3 victory over the Adirondack Red Wings last night, broke a string of seven straight regular-season losses in Glens Falls. The Skipjacks' victory stopped a 10-game Adirondack unbeaten streak, which had been the longest in the American Hockey League.