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SPORTS Wednesday 12 July 2017

In this Feb. 3, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Penguins assistant
coach Rick Tocchet sets up a play during a timeout during the
third period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue
Jackets, in Pittsburgh. Associated Press
Coyotes hire

Rick Tocchet Germany’s Marcel Kittel, wearing the best sprinter’s green jersey sprints to crosse the finish line to
win the tenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178 kilometers (110.6 miles) with start
in Perigueux and finish in Bergerac, France, Tuesday, July 11, 2017.
as head coach Associated Press

By BOB BAUM months. Kittel wins Tour stage 10,
AP Sports Writer There was no evidence
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizo- Tocchet ever bet on hock- Froome keeps race lead
na Coyotes have hired Rick ey games.
Tocchet as head coach, “He’s a man of charac-
turning the team over to a ter and integrity,” Chayka By SAMUEL PETREQUIN and negotiating the two sharp given a one-minute penalty
man who helped the Pitts- said. “Any issues in the past JOHN LEICESTER corners of a challenging in the general classification
burgh Penguins win the are in the past. It didn’t AP Sports Writers final kilometer, before turn- for “assault,” the race jury
past two Stanley Cup titles. raise any red flags for us BERGERAC, France (AP) — ing on the power to surge said without elaborating.
The 53-year-old Tocchet, whatsoever.” Marcel Kittel has no serious ahead of his rivals with 150 Video footage shows the
who spent the past three Tocchet said he doesn’t challenger for the King of meters left and securing his French rider elbowing an
seasons as a Pittsburgh as- dwell on what happened the Sprint title at this year’s 13th career win on the Tour. unidentified rider from the
sistant, played 18 seasons back then but wants his Tour de France. He won by a bike’s length Quick-Step Floors team to-
in the NHL and helped the players to know it’s how The German sprinter won and had plenty of time to ward the end of the stage.
Penguins win the Stanley they come back from ad- the 10th stage with remark- raise his arms in celebration After a plane journey across
Cup in 1992. versity. able ease on Tuesday, before crossing the line. France and a rest day, the
Tocchet spent one season “To me, I want to see how a while Chris Froome stayed Kittel said his confidence is race resumed in Perigueux
as an assistant to Coyotes person reacts from his mis- safely in the main pack to high after his string of victo- for a flat ride through the
coach Wayne Gretzky in takes or his actions on the retain the race leader’s yel- ries. lush landscapes of the Dor-
2005-06 and played parts ice or off ice,” he said in a low jersey. “I know now from the last dogne province in south-
of three seasons with the conference call. “To me, Kittel perfectly timed his ef- sprints that I can hold that western France.
team from 1997 to 2000. that’s high character guys fort in the final straight to speed to the finish line,” Following a hectic stage
Tocchet’s controversial that can do that — that post his fourth stage win he said. “I almost cannot in the Jura on Sunday and
departure from his Coy- can come back from cer- since the start of the race, believe what’s happening with two hard stages in the
otes coaching job did not tain things.” crossing the line ahead of here at the Tour.” Pyrenees mountains later
figure into the decision to Tocchet briefly returned to fellow German John De- Dutch rider Dylan Groe- this week, Froome and his
hire him, general manager the Coyotes in 2008 before genkolb. newegen completed the main rivals were happy to
John Chayka said. being hired as an assistant The stage took the pelo- podium in the medieval let two French riders with
“Rick was the best candi- at Tampa Bay. He became ton on a flat, 178-kilometer town. no ambitions for the overall
date by a wide margin,” interim head coach of the (111-mile) run from Peri- With Mark Cavendish, Pe- race lead escape from the
Chayka said. Lightning that November gueux to Bergerac in south- ter Sagan and Arnaud De- pack. Yoann Offredo went
Tocchet was on a leave and was head coach at western France. mare out of the race, Kittel on his own immediately af-
of absence from his Coy- Tampa Bay the next two Froome, the three-time Tour strengthened his grip on ter the race director waved
otes job in 2007 when he seasons. champion, will be wear the the best sprinter’s green the flag to signal the start.
pleaded guilty in New Jer- But it was his work with the yellow jersey for the 50th jersey. French sprinter Nac- He was joined soon after-
sey to conspiracy to pro- Penguins that elevated him time on Wednesday - join- er Bouhanni, who had to ward by Elie Gesbert, the
mote gambling and pro- to the clear favorite to re- ing five-time Tour winner settle for a sixth-place fin- youngest rider in the pelo-
moting gambling. He was place Dave Tippett, who Jacques Anquetil in fourth ish, acknowledged Kittel’s ton at 22 years old, and the
sentenced to two years’ parted ways with the Coy- place on the all-time list superiority. “Kittel was the pair quickly opened a gap.
probation. NHL Commis- otes after eight years as the behind Eddy Merckx (96), strongest, he came from Their lead stabilized at
sioner Gary Bettman said franchise’s head coach. Bernard Hinault (75), and behind,” Bouhanni said. about five minutes as the
an investigation showed “He’s one of the best com- Miguel Indurain (60). “He won four sprints out of peloton moved past the
Tocchet’s involvement in municators I’ve come “A huge, huge honor,” the five, he is the best sprinter Lascaux cave, a prehistoric
gambling was not as seri- across not only in hockey British rider said of the 50 of this Tour.” World Heritage site featur-
ous as first thought and he but probably professionally days in yellow. Bouhanni was later fined ing some superb hunting
was suspended for three as well,” Chayka said. q Kittel was in 10th place after 200 Swiss francs ($207) and scenes.q