Ex Senator goalie is off to Russia

Emery – who became the Ottawa Senators’ No. 1 goalie during their run to the 2006-07 Stanley Cup final, then quickly fell out of favour last season – has signed a one-year deal to play for Atlant Mytishchi of Russia’s Continental Hockey League.

UBC Olympic venue opens

Built at a cost of $48.7 million, most of it from Vanoc, the facility was completed four months ahead of schedule. With its completion, only two major venues – Richmond’s speed skating oval and Vancouver’s Hillcrest curling venue- are yet to be finished. Vanoc says both will be done by the fall.

Naslund a Ranger

There was no way Naslund could remain a Canuck. He was too stoic, too quiet, too soft. He didn’t take teammates to Chuck E. Cheese’s, didn’t take his team to the Stanley Cup, didn’t kibitz with the media, didn’t practise hard and didn’t fight. And Naslund wasn’t fiery enough as captain due, you know, to being Swedish, although nationality didn’t seem to hinder Nicklas Lidstrom as he led the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup last month.

Sundin not sure

“Our offer makes Mats the highest paid player in the league so I’m optimistic that we’ve made the best offer he can receive,” Gillis said on a conference call. “We think we presented an opportunity here that he would like. The city is a great city to live in and we’ve had tremendous success with Swedish players who loved living here and want to stay here.

All quiet on the Canucks front

One of the Canucks’ divisional rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, completed two transactions – both through trades – as GM Kevin Lowe acquired former Vancouver Giant star Gilbert Brule from Columbus as well as power forward Erik Cole from Carolina.

Ducks kick Bertuzzi out of the Pond

The Anaheim Ducks are parting ways with Todd Bertuzzi, as the club has placed the veteran winger on waivers with the intention to buy out the remaining season of his contract with the organization.