NEW YORK (AP) NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has summoned Sean Avery to New York for a hearing Thursday on remarks that resulted in the indefinite suspension of the Dallas Stars' instigator.

Bettman disciplined Avery on Tuesday for making "inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game." The punishment came down only hours after Avery used a crude term about his former girlfriends now dating other hockey players. (MORE)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Joe Sakic thought long and hard about returning for a 20th NHL season after missing 38 games following hernia surgery last year.

In late August, he declared his mind and body were ready for him to lace up his skates again, but this season hasn't gone as planned for the Colorado Avalanche's 39-year-old captain. (MORE)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Michelle Wie rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole Wednesday for a 3-under 69, giving her a solid start in the 90-hole qualifying tournament as she tries to earn an LPGA Tour card.

Shiho Oyama of Japan led after the first round with an 8-under 64 on the Champions course at LPGA International. (MORE)

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Braves, in dire need for healthy veteran starting pitchers, have reached a tentative agreement to acquire right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox in a six-player trade.

The teams agreed to the trade Tuesday, two people familiar with the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized. The 32-year-old right-hander must take a physical for the deal to be completed, one of the people said, and he was likely to be examined Wednesday. (MORE)

HOUSTON (AP) Oft-injured Mike Hampton finalized a one-year, $2 million deal with the Houston Astros on Wednesday, hoping to resurrect his career in the place where he became a prominent big league pitcher.

"Some of my fondest memories came in an Astros uniform," he said. "So it's a chance to return to some of those glory days." (MORE)