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VANCOUVER - Todd Bertuzzi of the Canucks pleaded not guilty Thursday to an assault charge stemming from a hit on Steve Moore during a game that left the Colorado Avalanche forward with a broken neck.
Bertuzzi appeared in court for 10 minutes and did not speak as he left with his wife in a limousine. His four words in court - "Not guilty, your honor" - were his first public utterances since March when he tearfully apologized for his actions.
Bertuzzi was charged with assault causing bodily harm on June 24 after punching Moore from behind and then crashing onto the ice on top of him during the March 8 game. Moore was left with a broken neck and concussion. Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely by the NHL and missed 20 games.
The sides return to court Wednesday to set a trial date.
MINOR-LEAGUER CHARGED: A minor-league player appeared in court in Hamilton, Ontario, a day after he was charged with swinging his stick at an opponent who was left bleeding and convulsing on the ice. Hamilton Bulldogs forward Alexander Perezhogin was charged with assault causing bodily harm. He is accused of injuring Cleveland Barons defenseman Garrett Stafford on April 30 in an American Hockey League playoff game.
FINLAND 4, GERMANY 2: Olli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers scored twice and teammate Ville Peltonen added two goals and an assist for Finland in a World Cup exhibition in Helsinki, Finland.
Also in World Cup action, Bruins defenseman Hal Gill broke his left foot during USA's 3-1 loss to Canada on Wednesday and will miss the tournament. He'll be replaced by the Avalanche's John-Michael Liles, who led all rookie defensemen in scoring last season with 10 goals and 24 assists last season.
COYOTES: The team signed free-agent center Petr Nedved and traded center Daymond Langkow to Calgary for defenseman Denis Gauthier and left wing Oleg Saprykin.
MAPLE LEAFS: Goaltender Ed Belfour had back surgery and is expected to make a complete recovery, general manager John Ferguson said.
RANGERS: The team signed former Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Kevin Weekes. The unrestricted free agent is expected to compete for the No. 1 job with Mike Dunham.