U.S. tops Switzerland in Under-20 hockey tourney

Colin Wilson

scored twice to lead the United States to a 4-2 victory over Switzerland yesterday and move it atop Group B at the Under-20 World Ice Hockey Championship in Liberec, Czech Republic.

The victory gave the United States six points and the edge on Russia on goal difference entering their showdown today.

Wilson scored a pair of power-play goals and the Americans converted four of 11 extra-man opportunities. Wilson put the United States ahead at 5:08 of the opening period and Bobby Sanguinetti doubled the advantage 2:57 into the second. Andrei Bykov cut the lead 1:20 later.

Flyers prospect James van Riemsdyk scored the eventual winner 2:27 into the final period, giving him two goals and a tournament-leading five points.

Also yesterday, Mikael Backlund and Tony Lagerstrom each scored a pair of goals and Robin Figren added his third of the tournament to rally Sweden from an early deficit for a 10-1 victory over Denmark.

The win moved Sweden atop Group A with six points, ahead of Canada on goal difference heading into their game today.

* Austrian skier Hans Grugger will miss the rest of the World Cup season after surgery to repair torn cartilage and ligaments in his left knee.

* Italian Denise Karbon won her third straight World Cup giant slalom event at a competition in Lienz, Austria. American Julia Mancuso finished second. Fellow American Resi Stiegler crashed and broke her left forearm.

* Roy Jones Jr. took time from training for his Jan. 19 bout against Felix Trinidad at New York's Madison Square Garden to join the Knicks for workouts.

* The assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the outbreak of violence in Pakistan has raised concerns for cricket teams touring that country. Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram was confident visiting teams would be safe in Pakistan, but he wondered whether they would be discouraged from coming.

* Olympic gymnast Dominique Moceanu gave birth to a baby girl, Carmen Noel Canales, on Christmas Day in Cleveland.

* Charles Wells, former agent for disgraced sprinter Marion Jones, has been suspended by USA Track & Field for 2 years. In March, Wells pleaded guilty to bank fraud in a money laundering case that also ensnared Jones, her ex-boyfriend sprinter Tim Montgomery and her former coach Steve Riddick.

* The New York Racing Association agreed to an extension with the state to avoid any interruption of thoroughbred racing the next few weeks. *