Page 18 - aruba-today-20180414

A18 SPORTS
Saturday 14 april 2018
Ken Hitchcock, 3rd in NHL wins, retiring after 22 years

By SCHUYLER DIXON have made it to the final.
AP Sports Writer Dallas also won five straight
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Ken division titles under Hitch-
Hitchcock wasn't sure how cock, who was fired from
long he would coach the his first head-coaching job
Dallas Stars the second with the team sliding in
time around after 15 years January 2002. He coached
away. the Flyers from 2002-06, fol-
Turned out to be one sea- lowed by the Blue Jackets
son. (2006-10) and the Blues
The coach who led Dal- (2011-17).
las to its only Stanley Cup St. Louis made the playoffs
championship retired Fri- in each of Hitchcock's five
day, ending a 22-year ca- full seasons, reaching the
reer as the third-winningest Western Conference finals
coach in NHL history. The in 2016 after beating top
823 wins are behind only seed Dallas in seven games
Scotty Bowman (1,244) and in the second round. The
Joel Quenneville (884). He's Blues abruptly fired Hitch-
fourth in total games with cock in February last year,
1,536. cutting short what was al-
The 66-year-old Hitchcock ready going to be his last
will become a consultant In this Feb. 11, 2018, file photo, Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock talks to the media prior to season with the Blues after
for the Stars. an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, in Dallas. their fifth loss in six games.
"I have contemplated this Associated Press "To each and every play-
since our last game and er that I coached, I wish I
I came to the conclusion coaching. slump kept them out for the ey Hall of Fame coach and could do it all over again,"
that now is the right time Hitchcock returned to Dal- second straight year and he left a lasting legacy said Hitchcock, a Canadi-
to step away and let the las after 14 seasons else- the eighth time in 10 sea- wherever he went." an whose record is 823-506
younger generation of where, including stops in sons. The Stars went to the Stan- with 88 ties and 119 losses
coaches take over," said Philadelphia, Columbus "We were honored to have ley Cup Final in consecu- in overtime or a shootout.
Hitchcock, who last year and St. Louis. Ken as our head coach tive seasons, beating Buffa- "You guys were the main
signed a multiyear contract General manager Jim Nill and it was fitting that he lo for the title in 1999 before reason for the all the wins,
that included the stipula- hoped Hitchcock could finished his coaching here," losing to New Jersey in six and I enjoyed coaching
tion of becoming a consul- get the Stars back to the Stars owner Tom Gaglardi games. Those are the only each and every one of
tant when he was finished playoffs, but a late-season said. "He is a certain Hock- times Hitchcock or the Stars you."q

DeChambeau shoots career-best 64 to take Harbour Town lead

By PETE IACOBELLI World No. 1 Dustin Johnson his play at Harbour Town is Harbour Town. "But I'm having great feel
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. shot a second straight 69 simply the next step in his Poulter said his Houston vic- around the greens and I
(AP) — Bryson DeCham- and was tied for 26th, six progress to the top. tory wiped away any con- feel really confident."
beau shot a career-best shots off the lead. "I'm figuring out a lot of cerns holding him back. Johnson again played
7-under 64 on Friday to DeChambeau, 24, jump great things that are help- "The win helps a lot," he simply and steadily in his
take the lead into the started his round with an ing me on the golf course," said. "I can free myself up first Harbour Town appear-
weekend at the RBC Heri- eagle on the par-5 and he said. Poulter's learned in my mind. I can start at- ance in nine years. His
tage Classic. took over the lead with plenty the past few weeks. tacking pins and just play game remains good, his
DeChambeau's first event birdies on the 13th, 15th, He was the talk of golf two free golf. And when you're confidence high despite
as a pro was at Harbour 16th and 17th holes. He weeks back with his stun- in that position, sometimes so many golfers between
Town Golf Links in 2016. made a knee-knocking, ning playoff win at Hous- the game feels easy when him and the lead. "I feel
Two years later, he posted 12-footer for par on the ton Open where he made sometimes it isn't." like I'm playing really solid,"
his lowest ever on the PGA 18th hole after his ap- a 20-foot birdie putt on the Even more remarkable he said. "I'm giving myself
Tour to get to 10-under 132, proach landed in a front- 72nd hole to force a play- than Poulter's play may some chances and looking
one ahead of red-hot Ian side bunker. DeChambeau off, then beat Beau Hossler have been Kim's scoring. forward to the weekend."
Poulter and Si Woo Kim. pumped his fist when the on the first extra hole to He posted nine birdies Much of the field thrived
Poulter showed he's not ball curled in, as pleased gain entrance to Augusta along with a triple-bogey 6 in mild, sunny conditions
done playing high-level with his improved putting National. on the par-3 14th where he where even the course's
golf with a bogey-free 64. as his composure at rally- After an opening 69 at Har- was assessed a two-stroke typically difficult closing
Kim, The Players Champi- ing late to the lead. bour Town, Poulter put on penalty for touching the stretch of No. 16, No. 17
onship winner, had a 65 "Two years, it's time," De- a dazzling second-round, sand when he scrubbed and No. 18 along windy
that included a two-shot Chambeau said. bogey-free display. the fringe of a bunker fol- Calibogue Sound played
penalty for touching sand He won for the first time on Poulter briefly took the lowing a shot. much tamer than a typi-
after a bunker shot. tour last summer, shooting lead alone with a 16-foot Kim quickly erased the er- cal round. Japan's Satoshi
Two shots behind De- a pair of 65s on the way birdie on the par-3 sev- ror from his mind — and the Kodaira followed his 73 on
Chambeau were Chasson to taking the John Deere enth. He had a chance to scorecard — with birdies Thursday with the lowest
Hadley (68), past RBC Heri- Classic. He's had three top reach 10-under, but lipped on the next three holes to round of the tournament
tage winner Brandt Snede- 10s this season, including a out an 8-footer on his final regain his lost shots. so, a 63, on Friday. Michael
ker (64), Luke List (64) and second last month at the hole, the ninth. Poulter has "This might be the first time Kim went from an open-
first-round leader Rory Sab- Arnold Palmer Invitational. shot five sub-70 rounds in that I've played so well with ing 76 to 66 in the second
batini (70). DeChambeau's certain his last six times around a triple bogey," Kim said. round.q