Sports briefs

The International Skiing Federation Alpine World Championships began yesterday in Val d Isere France, and Pointe Claire native Anna Goodman is among the 21 athletes scheduled to compete for Canada.

That Goodman finds herself competing for her country at the most prestigious alpine event of the year does not come as that much of a surprise. The 23-year-old daughter of Russell Goodman, a former World Cup skier back in the days of the Crazy Canucks, has been enjoying a consistent slalom season. She finished a very respectable 19th last Friday at a FIS Alpine World Cup slalom race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Her two-run combined time of one minute 49.51 seconds tied her career best for the second time in January. “It was another consistent result but I wasn’t that happy with either of my runs,” said the five-foot-10, 165-pound Goodman, who was 22nd after one run. “I really came here to get into the top 10. I know that I am capable of being in there and the fact it has not happened yet is a bit frustrating.”

Gragnani makes it to Big Show

Defenceman Marc-André Gragnani, an Ile Bizard native who learned his skills in the Deux Rives Hockey Association before playing for the Dollard des Ormeaux-based Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League West Island Lions has been recalled by the Buffalo Sabres from their American Hockey League affiliate in Portland, Me. The six-foot-one, 180-pound Gragnani was fourth among AHL blue-liners with 30 points in 44 games and fifth in team scoring upon his recall. His 26 assists also tied him for the club-lead. The six-foot-two, 192-pound Gragnani, an offensive defenceman with tremendous skating abilities hopes to stick around the bright lights of the NHL a little longer this time than last season, when he only enjoyed a cup of coffee with a two-game stint. Gragnani was Buffalo’s third round selection (87th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Cote named league’s Offensive Player of the Week

For the first time this season a member of the Lac St. Louis Lions has been named Offensive Player of the Week by the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League. Forward Alexandre Côtè earned the plaudit last week after enjoying a very productive weekend Jan. 23-24. Cote scored three goals and added a pair of assists to lead his club to a 6-4 victory on Montreal on Jan. 23 before adding three assists to help the Lions beat Gatineau the next afternoon. Côtè’s Lions split a pair of games last weekend at the Dollard Civic Centre, dropping a 4-2 decision to Séminaire Saint-François on Friday night but coming back to easily handle Levis 8-2 on Saturday night. The Lions will hop the bus this weekend for a pair games on Friday and Saturday night in Amos.