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Player becomes an owner

DENVER - How's this for a twist during the lockout? During these tense times between players and owners, a player actually became an owner.

Colorado All-Star defenseman Rob Blake bought into the Santa Fe Roadrunners of the North American Hockey League. The 21-team league is geared toward helping high school players get scholarships.

Los Angeles coach Andy Murray is also a co-owner of the New Mexico team.

"It all came together pretty quick," Blake said. "It's fun to try and develop a team, to see what you can do."

The franchise was based in Fort Worth, Texas, but the owner declared bankruptcy. The club would have disbanded if Blake hadn't come along.

"It's almost like we're selling hockey to a place that doesn't have it," said Blake, a former King. "It reminds me a lot of California when I first moved out there."

Dunedin resident Mark Faucette has filed suit in the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida against the NHL and former director of officiating Andy Van Hellemond, claiming he was discriminated against because he is a U.S. citizen.

Faucette worked for the league from 1988-2003 when he was fired for what the league said was poor performance. He claims more than half of the referees from the United States were fired while Canadian-born officials, even those with similar or worse performance records, were not.

DEVILS: If New Jersey was in training camp, coach Pat Burns would not be physically able to handle his duties, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Burns, diagnosed with colon cancer, had to undergo a second round of chemotherapy. Because of the lockout, the Devils have no need for a replacement.

But if that time comes, it'll be special assignment coach Larry Robinson, who led New Jersey to the Stanley Cup in 2000. "I'll do whatever (GM) Lou Lamoriello wants me to do," Robinson said.

FLYERS: Forward Jeremy Roenick will undergo tests in Montreal to determine how much damage his brain has suffered from concussions. The 16-year veteran has had 10 concussions since his rookie season in 1988-89. He is embroiled in a dispute with team management over his health.

GM Bob Clarke said Roenick passed his physical at the end of last season, and as far as the team is concerned, he is healthy until proved otherwise. If he is determined unfit to play, he will collect his $7.5-million salary, even through the lockout.