COMING THIS FALL, WOMEN'S PRO HOCKEY

Women's hockey is striking while the Olympic iron is hot. With interest in women's hockey peaking after the USA took the gold, the four-team Women's Professional Hockey League Inc. (WPHL) is expected to make its debut this fall. Unlike the ABL and WNBA, created after the U.S. women's basketball team won gold, the WPHL's operating budget will be $2.5 million a year and its top players won't make more than $21,000 a season, founder Ed Saunders said.

THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

General Mills unveiled its pick for the Olympics Wheaties box cover - the U.S. women's hockey team - as the Winter Games drew to a close. One-and-a-half million boxes of the cereal feature most of the 20-member team. ''I never thought, when I was a little girl, that I'd ever be at the Olympics or on a Wheaties box,'' forward Laurie Baker said. ''I hope this is inspiring to young girls who might want to play hockey.'' Five players are not pictured on the box. They're college students and can't participate in commercial promotions, according to NCAA rules.

SALE OF ISLES OFFICAL

The New York Islanders have finally been sold. After a series of snags that stretched over the past seven years, the Islanders have been officially bought by New York Sports Ventures, headed by Steven Gluckstern and Howard Milstein. An official announcement will be held Thursday morning at Nassau Coliseum. New York Sports Ventures purchased the team from John Pickett for $195 million. The deal includes the team, the cable television contract and the 70-acre tract of land that surrounds the Coliseum.

NHL STARTS 1998-99 SEASON IN TOKYO

While a new Olympic hockey champion will be crowned in Nagano, the National Hockey League announced that the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames will open the 1998-99 season with a two-game series in Tokyo.

The series, which has been dubbed NHL GAME ONE, will be played at Yoyogi Arena on October 10th-11th.

SAKIC TO MISS FOUR WEEKS

The Colorado Avalanche, who trail the Dallas Stars by six points for the top spot in the Western Conference, will be without captain Joe Sakic for the next four weeks.

Sakic sprained a left knee ligament while playing for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Nagano.

STARS ACTIVATE A PAIR OF PLAYERS

The Dallas Stars, who begin play following the NHL's Winter Break with the league's best record, today regained the services of two significant players by activating left wing Greg Adams and defenseman Richard Matvichuk from injured reserve.

Both players, who were out with torn cartilage in their left knees, will be available for Dallas' road game Wednesday against the New York Islanders.

CORSON OUT TWO WEEKS

Montreal Canadiens left wing Shayne Corson could be sidelined up to two weeks with an abdominal and groin strain suffered in Team Canada's loss to Finland in the bronze medal game of the Nagano Olympics. Corson left late in the second period of Canada's 3-2 loss after he fell awkwardly along the boards.

MARCHMENT SUSPENDED EIGHT GAMES

Tampa Bay defenseman Bryan Marchment was suspended for eight games Wednesday for his hit on Carolina forward Kevin Dineen. This was Marchment's second suspension this season for kneeing opponents. Marchment, long criticized for questionable bodychecks, was fined $1,000 and will not be paid during the suspension. He can return March 11 against Edmonton.

SUNDIN SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION

Mats Sundin said Tuesday that he agreed to a new $23.8 million, four-year contract. The 27-year-old Swedish forward and the team said the deal was signed earlier this month, a day before Sundin left for the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Sundin is getting $1.8 million this season and the extension is worth $21 million: $7 million per season.

INJURY REPORT:

Anaheim: LW Paul Kariya, concussion Feb. 1, day-to-day; RW Jeff Nielsen, broken left leg Jan. 27, late-February; LW Shawn Antoski, skull fracture from automobile accident Nov. 24, out for season (placed on injured reserve Nov. 24).

Boston: G Rob Tallas, strained left hamstring Jan. 24, day-to-day.

Buffalo: No injuries reported.

Calgary: G Rick Tabaracci, knee sprain Feb. 1, day-to-day; D Joel Bouchard, concussion Jan. 24, day-to-day; RW Jarome Iginla, fractured bone in right hand Jan. 21, late February; D Jamie Allison, fractured thumb Jan. 9, late-February; RW Ron Stern, knee injury Sept. 14, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Sept. 14).

Carolina: RW Steve Leach, neck strain Jan. 24, day-to-day; LW Gary Roberts, rib muscle strain Jan. 11, day-to-day.

Chicago: G Chris Tererri, fractured left ring finger Nov. 11, 1-2 weeks (placed on injured reserve Nov. 11); LW Bob Probert, rotator cuff surgery Dec. 4, April (placed on injured reserve Nov. 19).

Colorado: LW Keith Jones, torn ACL in left knee April 26, late-February.

Dallas: G Ed Belfour, sore back, day-to-day; LW Dave Reid, back spasms Jan. 29, day-to-day; D Richard Matvichuk, knee Jan. 14, late February; LW Greg Adams, sprained left knee Dec. 20, late-February to early-March; LW Patrick Cote, shoulder, indefinitely.

Detroit: No injuries reported.

Edmonton: LW Ryan Smyth, torn MCL in left knee Jan. 20, late-February to early-March; D Kevin Lowe, inner ear infection, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Oct. 23).

Florida: RW Ray Sheppard, sprained left knee Feb. 1, late-February; G Kevin Weekes, groin sprain Jan. 28, day-to-day.

Los Angeles: D Phillipe Boucher, thyroiditis Jan. 10, day-to-day.

Montreal: LW Shayne Corson, hip flexor, day-to-day; D Igor Ulanov, left knee surgery, out for season.

New Jersey: C Bobby Carpenter, broken foot Jan. 22, day-to-day; RW Sasha Lakovic, broken right leg Nov. 12, indefinite (placed on injured reserve Nov. 12).

New York Islanders: LW Ken Belanger, thumb surgery Jan. 12, late-March to early-April; D Dennis Vaske, mild concussion Nov. 14, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Nov. 15); G Eric Fichaud, shoulder surgery, out for season.

New York Rangers: W Alexei Kovalev, knee surgery Jan. 28, late February; RW Ryan VandenBussche, right knee surgery Jan. 21, mid-February; RW Shane Churla, knee surgery Sept. 4, March.

Ottawa: C Vinny Prospal, fractured left leg Jan. 3, late-February to early-March.

Philadelphia: No injuries reported.

Phoenix: D John Slaney, broken thumb Jan. 24, late-February to early-March; G Jimmy Waite, sprained thumb Jan 9, day-to-day; D Murray Baron, torn triceps muscle Nov. 17, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Nov. 17); D Jim Johnson, concussion Nov. 11, day-to-day (placed on injured reserve Nov. 12); G Darcy Wakaluk, knee surgery Sept. 17, March to April (placed on injured reserve Sept. 30).

Pittsburgh: D Ian Moran, concussion Feb. 2, day-to-day.

St. Louis: D Rudy Poeschek, back spasms Jan. 22, day-to-day; RW Joe Murphy, surgery to repair torn ligaments in left wrist Nov. 6, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Nov. 6).

San Jose: D Al Iafrate, arthroscopic knee surgery Dec. 28, late-February to early-March; RW Todd Ewen, knee injury Oct. 16, indefinitely.

Tampa Bay: G Daren Puppa, back spasms Dec. 27, day-to-day; C Brian Bradley, mild concussion/wrist Nov. 6, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Nov. 14); RW Troy Mallette, bruised right shoulder Oct. 23, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Oct. 27).

Toronto: LW Wendel Clark, groin strain Jan. 10, day-to-day; C Alyn McCauley, fractured ankle Dec. 31, early-to-mid March; D Jeff Brown, ankle infection Jan. 9, day-to-day; D Craig Wolanin, knee sprain Nov. 1, out for the season (placed on injured reserve Nov. 1); LW Nick Kypreos, post-concussion syndrome Sept. 15, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Sept. 15);.

Vancouver: LW Geoff Sanderson, shoulder, indefinitely; LW Larry Courville, broken left wrist Jan. 14, indefinitely; D Dana Murzyn, knee injury Dec. 27, out for the season.

Washington: D Mark Tinordi, abdominal strain Jan. 16, late-February; D Calle Johnasson, sprained knee Jan. 13, late-February; LW Chris Simon, shoulder injury Dec. 20, out for season; RW Pat Peake, torn right ankle tendons Nov. 8, indefinitely (placed on injured reserve Nov. 8).

TRANSACTIONS:

FRIDAY, FEB. 20

Calgary Flames: Recalled forward Aaron Gavey from Saint John of the American Hockey League.
Los Angeles Kings: goaltender Jamie Storr and defenseman Philippe Boucher to Long Beach of the International Hockey League.

THURSDAY, FEB. 19

Calgary Flames: Signed right wing Martin St. Louis and sent him to Saint John of the American Hockey League. Loaned right wing Burke Murphy to Cleveland of the International Hockey League.
Los Angeles Kings: Loaned defenseman Ruslan Batyrshin to Grand Rapids of the International Hockey League.
New York Rangers: Named John Muckler head coach.
Phoenix Coyotes: Recalled right wings Shane Doan and Brad Isbister from Springfield of the American Hockey League.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18

Calgary Flames: Sent defenseman Jamie Allison to Saint John of the American Hockey League.
New York Rangers: Fired head coach Colin Campbell.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Recalled goaltender Zac Bierk from Adirondack of the American Hockey League.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17

Montreal Canadiens: Recalled defenseman Brad Brown from Fredericton of the American Hockey League. Sent defenseman Brett Clark to Fredericton.
New York Islanders: Recalled defensemen Jason Strudwick and Jason Holland from Kentucky of the American Hockey League.

THURSDAY, FEB. 12

Chicago Blackhawks: Claimed center Jarrod Skalde off waivers from the Dallas Stars.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11

Calgary Flames: Sent left wings Hnat Domenichelli and Todd Hlushko, defenseman Denis Gauthier and goaltender Tyler Moss to Saint John of the American Hockey League.

TUESDAY, FEB. 10

Calgary Flames: Loaned defenseman Kevin Dahl to Chicago of the International Hockey League.

MONDAY, FEB. 9

Dallas Stars: Sent goaltender Manny Fernandez and left wing Jamie Wright to Michigan of the International Hockey League.

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