HOCKEY

LIGHTNING WAIVE DAVE ANDREYCHUK The Tampa Bay Lightning waived 42- year-old captain Dave Andreychuk yesterday, saying the inspirational leader of their Stanley Cup championship team could not keep up with the speed the NHL’s new rules have brought about.

Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said Andreychuk had worked hard during and after last season’s lockout, but neither he nor the coaches could foresee “the type of game the new NHL would be upon its return – a game in which speed and quickness carry the day. After giving ourselves half a season to evaluate and analyze, it became clear to us that David’s game was not suited to the new NHL.”

Andreychuk had six goals and 12 assists in 42 games this season. He ranks second all-time in the NHL among left wings in goals (640), assists (698), and points (1,338). He reached the 20-goal mark for the 19th time in 2003-04, third most in NHL history behind Gordie Howe (22) and Ron Francis (20). His 1,338 career points is tied for 23rd most in NHL history, and his 274 power-play goals are the most in league history, nine more than Brett Hull, who retired ear lier this season after testing the new rules.

During the Lightning’s playoff run in 2004, he had a goal and 13 assists on the way to being part of a Stanley Cup-winning team for the first time. The Lightning said that Andreychuk will be assigned to their AHL affiliate so that they can pay his $800,000 salary, but he will not be required to report.

BASEBALL

METS SIGN CASTRO TO ONE-YEAR DEAL Backup catcher Ramon Castro and the Mets agreed yesterday to an $800,000, one-year contract. He hit .244 in 99 games last season with eight homers and 41 RBI, getting more playing time than anticipated because Mike Piazza got hurt. Piazza became a free agent, and the Mets acquired Paul Lo Duca from Florida.

Castro also has the chance to earn $50,000 bonuses for 60, 70, and 80 games played. Infielder Chris Woodward and pitcher Victor Zambrano are the only Mets remaining eligible for arbitration.

SMOLTZ UNLIKELY TO PLAY IN WORLD CLASSIC While Major League Baseball awaits word whether Cuba will be allowed to play in the World Baseball Classic, Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz says he probably won’t be pitching for the United States in the tournament. The 38-year-old Smoltz, who has had four operations, on his right elbow, pitched through right shoulder pain in the Braves’ first-round playoff loss to Houston. He says he has no pain now but doesn’t want to rush his preparation in the spring.

As for the Braves, starter Jorge Sosa (Dominican Republic) and reliever Chris Reitsma (Canada) have agreed to play in the event. Coming off a foot injury which shortened his 2005 season, third baseman Chipper Jones has committed to represent the United States. Outfielder Andruw Jones, runner-up in the 2005 MVP voting, plans to play for the Netherlands.

TENNIS

NADAL, SAFIN WITHDRAW FROM AUSTRALIAN OPEN Defending champion Marat Safin and French Open winner Rafael Nadal are out of the Australian Open, joining Andre Agassi on the sidelines for the first Grand Slam of the year.

Safin, the defending champion, is bothered by a left knee injury, and played in only one tournament in the last five months of 2005. Nadal, the world’s second-ranked player and reigning French Open champion, said yesterday he was pulling out because of the left foot he injured in October at the Madrid Masters, the last event he played. The 129-year-old Spaniard won 11 titles in 2005. Agassi, a four-time champion at Melbourne Park, pulled out last week with an ankle injury. Former Australian Open champ Thomas Johannson was also questionable – he has a right shoulder injury and withdrew from the Sydney International this week.

Andy Roddick did not play in the Masters Cup last November due to a back injury, and will see his first action today at the Kooyong exhibition event in Melbourne, while Lleyton Hewitt has a stomach virus at Sydney and nearly pulled out of his first-round match. Meanwhile, Roger Federer said yesterday he’s 100% healthy and has no concerns that the ankle problem that curtailed his last season will flare up before the Australian Open. Federer will tune up at Kooyong event at Kooyong starting Wednesday. The Swiss star took some time off after losing to David Nalbandian in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai in November.

The Australian Open begins Monday in Melbourne.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BADGERS WASTE BIG LEAD, HANG ON TO BEAT MINNESOTA Alando Tucker had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead no. 21 Wisconsin to a tense 64-62 victory over Minnesota last night. Brian Butch added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Badgers (13-2, 3-0 Big Ten), who led by 19 points in the first half and by 14 early in the second before nearly letting the game slip away.

Vincent Grier had 17 points and 11 rebounds and reserve Rico Tucker had 17 points and four steals for Minnesota (9-4, 0-2), which was badly in need of a quality win at home having already lost to Gardner-Webb and Northwestern at Williams Arena.

The Badgers appeared on their way to an easy victory after taking a 25-6 lead over the first 17 minutes, but Minnesota’s full court defense gave them fits after that, allowing the Gophers to scratch their way back into the game. After turning the ball over 15 times combined in their first two conference games, Wisconsin committed a season-high 22 turnovers, leading to 28 Minnesota points.

CINCINNATI’S KIRKLAND DONE FOR SEASON Cincinnati forward Armein Kirkland will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee.

Kirkland was injured in the first half of the 25th-ranked Bearcats’ 70-59 to no. 4 Connecticut on Monday night. He twisted the knee after attempting a shot and immediately hobbled to the bench. At the time, he had scored 14 points in 12 minutes. He had also done a decent job guarding Connecticut’s Rudy Gay.

He is expected to have surgery Friday, the school said yesterday. Kirkland averaged 9.7 points and 3.4 rebounds for Cincinnati (13-3, 2-1 Big East), and the senior was a steadying influence for the team followed the forced resignation of coach Bob Huggins before the season started.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PEERS MAKE PATERNO COACH OF THE YEAR Penn State’s Joe Paterno was named coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association yesterday, marking the record fifth time his peers have chosen him for their highest annual honor.

Although Paterno has received other top coaching prizes lately, he was surprised by this one because the voting closed Monday, after Mack Brown led Texas to the national championship with a victory over Southern California in the Rose Bowl.

“I think Mack Brown deserves to be up here to be honest with you,” Paterno said upon receiving the plaque. “But you know, at 79, I figure this is my last shot. Mack’s still a young guy.”

After four losing seasons in the last five years, each followed by calls for his retirement, Paterno guided the Nittany Lions to an 11-1 record, including a 26-23 triple-overtime victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Penn State shared the Big Ten title and finished the season ranked no. 3, its best final ranking since being second in 1994. Paterno also was honored by the AFCA in 1968, 1972, 1982, and 1986, making this the fourth different decade he’s taken home the award, which is the oldest of its kind and the only one voted on strictly by coaches.

INJURED POSLUSZNY TO RETURN FOR SENIOR SEASON All-America linebacker Paul Posluszny will bypass the NFL draft and return to Penn State for his senior year. Posluszny, winner of the Butkus Award as the country’s top linebacker, partially tore two ligaments in his right knee late in the fourth quarter of the Nittany Lions’ Orange Bowl win last week. Team doctors said Posluszny will need six to eight weeks of rehabilitation. He most likely will be ready when spring practice starts in late March. His return will ease coach Joe Paterno’s makeover on defense, which will lose seven senior starters.

– Associated Press