Ihl

Professional hockey has been a tough sell in Baltimore over the years, but one local sports entrepreneur says he believes the right combination of money and marketing could make it finally succeed here.Robert Leffler, owner of the Leffler Agency, confirmed this week that he has filed a letter of interest with the International Hockey League. Leffler, whose ad agency counts a number of sports teams among its clients, said he received an inquiry from a potential investor and followed up with the league to get information on costs and structure.

Baseball Brewers: Assigned C Creighton Gubanich, P Chad Fox, IF Mike Coolbaugh and OF Brian Lesher to Triple-A Indianapolis. Optioned P Allen Levrault and P Carlos Chantres to Indianapolis. Cubs: Optioned 1B Julio Zuleta and P Joey Nation to Triple-A Iowa. Assigned P Carlos Zambrano, IF Chris Snopek and C Mike Amrhein to minor-league camp. Dodgers: Reassigned OF Brent Cookson, C Brian Johnson, IF Keith Johnson, OF Chris Prieto and IF Andy Stankiewicz to minor-league camp. Expos: Sent P Ted Rose outright to Triple-A Ottawa.

Hockey Flames: Recalled D Dallas Eakins from IHL Chicago. Predators: Recalled G Chris Mason from IHL Milwaukee. Reassigned G Jan Lasak to Milwaukee.

Baseball Mariners: Agreed with P Paul Abbott on one-year contract. Mets: Sent outright contract of IF Desi Relaford to Triple-A Norfolk. Tigers: Agreed to one-year contract with P C. J. Nitkowski. Basketball Cavaliers: Signed F Chucky Brown to 10-day contract. Magic: Signed G Cory Alexander to 10-day contract. Nuggets: Signed F Anthony Goldwire to 10-day contract. SuperSonics: Activated F Ruben Wolkowyski. College Central Florida: LB Tony Hardman will not return to team for medical reasons.

Basketball Warriors: Signed G-F Jamel Thomas to 10-day contract. Hockey Lightning: Reassigned LW Nils Ekman to IHL Detroit.

BaseballAthletics: Agreed to terms with P Scott Service on one-year contract.BasketballTimberwolves: Placed G Bobby Jackson (knee) and F Wally Szczerbiak (knee) on injured list.CollegesHampden-Sydney: Named Marty Favret football coach.North Texas: Suspended basketball F Dexter Tennell for rest of season.HockeyLightning: Reassigned RW Stephane Richer to IHL Detroit.Sharks: Recalled G Evgeni Nabokov from IHL Cleveland.

HockeyKings: Assigned LW Donald MacLean to AHL Fredericton. Recalled G Frederic Chabot from IHL Houston.Pub Date: 1/05/98

CollegesNavy -- Named Don DeVoe men's basketball coach.HockeySt. Louis Blues -- Recalled G Guy Hebert from Peoria of the IHL.

HockeyBlues: Recalled D Rory Fitzpatrick and F Jamal Mayers from AHL Worcester.Flames: Recalled D Chris O'Sullivan from AHL Saint John.Predators: Signed C Cliff Ronning to two-year contract extension. Recalled D Rob Zettler from IHL Utah and D Karlis Skrastins from IHL Milwaukee.Pub Date: 2/08/99

CollegeHumanitarian Bowl: Crucial Technology, a division of Micron Technology Inc., has signed one-year deal as title sponsor.HockeyBlues: Recalled F Derek Bekar from AHL Worcester.Canucks: Activated G Garth Snow from injured list. Assigned G Corey Schwab to IHL Orlando.Senators: Recalled LW Yves Sarault from IHL Grand Rapids.

Hockey Blues: Recalled C Marty Reasoner and D Dale Clarke from AHL Worcester. Capitals: Recalled LW Matt Pettinger from AHL Portland. Assigned RW Matt Herr to Portland. Lightning: Recalled RW Matt Elich from IHL Detroit. Assigned D Marek Posmyk to Detroit. Predators: Assigned D Alexandre Boikov to IHL Milwaukee.

Baseball Mets: Named John Gibbons manager, Rick Waits pitching coach and Al LeBoeuf coach at Triple-A Norfolk. Basketball Kings: Activated F Lawrence Funderburke. Placed F Jabari Smith on injured list. Hockey Canucks: Recalled D Brent Sopel from IHL Kansas City. Panthers: Acquired C Vaclav Prospal from Senators for 2001 fourth-round draft pick or 2002 third-round draft pick.

Basketball Celtics: Placed G Chris Herren on injured list. Activated G-F Adrian Griffin. College Oregon: Football coach Mike Bellotti agreed to two-year contract extension that will keep him with Ducks through 2007. Hockey Blue Jackets: Recalled RW Matt Davidson from AHL Syracuse. Lightning: Activated RW Alexander Kharitonov from IR. Recalled D Kaspars Astashenko from IHL Detroit. Sent D Sergey Gusev to Detroit. Placed D Andrei Zyuzin on IR. Penguins: Recalled G Rich Parent from AHL Wilkes Barre-Scranton.

Baseball Marlins: Named Mike Tosar South Florida scouting supervisor. Pirates: Named Russ Nixon catching instructor and Milt May minor-league hitting instructor. Basketball Celtics: Activated G Randy Brown from injured list. Placed C Mark Blount on injured list. Clippers: Placed G Earl Boykins on injured list. Hawks: Activated G Dion Glover from injured list. Mavericks: Waived F Bill Curley. Signed F Mark Bryant. Continental Basketball Association: Renewed developmental agreement with the NBA for 2000-01 season.

Football Vikings: Waived DB Cris Dishman. Signed LB Pete Bercich. Hockey Avalanche: Recalled C Joel Prpic and G Frederic Cassivi from AHL Hershey. Islanders: Recalled C Jesse Belanger from IHL Chicago. Lightning: Assigned LW Nils Ekman to IHL Detroit. Panthers: Recalled C Eric Boguniecki and D Dan Boyle from AHL Louisville. Assigned D Brad Ference and D-W Lance Ward to Louisville. Rangers: Recalled F Manny Malhotra from AHL Hartford. Assigned D Tomas Kloucek to Hartford.

Hockey Flames: Recalled D Dallas Eakins from IHL Chicago. Predators: Recalled G Chris Mason from IHL Milwaukee. Reassigned G Jan Lasak to Milwaukee.

Basketball Heat: Released G Rick Brunson and G-F Ron Hale. Football Broncos: Signed WR Scottie Montgomery from practice squad. Waived OT Melvin Tuten. Hockey Hurricanes: Recalled D Mike Rucinski and D Greg Kuznik from IHL Cincinnati. Thrashers: Activated C Patrik Stefan from IR. Reassigned RW Bryan Adams to IHL Orlando.

Hockey Blues: Recalled C Marty Reasoner and D Dale Clarke from AHL Worcester. Capitals: Recalled LW Matt Pettinger from AHL Portland. Assigned RW Matt Herr to Portland. Lightning: Recalled RW Matt Elich from IHL Detroit. Assigned D Marek Posmyk to Detroit. Predators: Assigned D Alexandre Boikov to IHL Milwaukee.

Basketball NBA: Suspended Magic G-F Tracy McGrady for one game and fined him $7,500 and fined 76ers G Eric Snow $2,500 for their roles in an altercation during a game on Nov. 3. Hockey Lightning: Recalled D Bryan Muir and D Cory Sarich from IHL Detroit. Reassigned LW Nils Ekman to Detroit. Sharks: Signed free-agent D Bobby Dollas.

Basketball Hawks: Waived F Stephen Howard, F Rich Hughes and G Dan Cross. Hockey Stars: Acquired D Gerald Diduck from Toronto for future considerations. Assigned D Richard Jackman to IHL Utah.