AREA

AREA
Local officialswork Div. I game
CANTON -- Area football officials Pat Montana and Larry Griffiths will be part of the crew officiating Saturday's Division I Ohio championship game at Fawcett Stadium.
Other members of the Montana/Griffiths crew -- Tony Montana, Rick Fryda and Eric Marino -- worked playoff games.
Phantoms losein shootout
STRONGSVILLE -- The Youngstown Phantoms Junior-A hockey club dropped a 5-4 decision on the road to the Cleveland Barons in an overtime shootout Wednesday at Iceland USA.
Aaron Rhyner scored two goals for the Phantoms (11-7-6, 28 points), who received one point in the North American Hockey League standings for the regulation tie.
The game was tied 4-4 at the end of the third period, and after neither team scored during the five-minute overtime period, the issue was decided via a shootout.
Cleveland (15-7-2, 32 points) won the shootout, 1-0.
Youngstown led 2-1 after the first period on goals by Rhyner and Mike McMullen.
Rhyner's second goal of the evening helped create a 3-3 deadlock after two periods.
Jim Roach scored Youngstown's final goal in the third period send the game into overtime.
Phantoms goaltender Tyler Sims was credited with 43 saves as the Barons had the advantage in shots on goal, 47-33.
Sims (8-4-4) also stopped the first five shooters he faced during the shootout before being beaten.
The Phantoms are idle this weekend and return to action on Dec. 5-6 when they host a pair of 7 p.m. games against the USA National Team at The Ice Zone in Boardman. Tickets are available by calling (330) 965-7500 or visiting The Ice Zone, 360 McClurg Road.
Phantoms swapwith Ice Diggers
BOARDMAN -- The North American Hockey League has approved a trade that sent center Tommy Kolar and left wing Kevin Huck from the Youngstown Phantoms to the Toledo Ice Diggers in exchange for center Joe Federoff.
Federoff played Wednesday and assisted on a goal.
A 6-foot-3-inch 200-pounder from Pittsburgh, Federoff was Toledo's leading scorer, registering 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 23 games.
Kolar was tied for second in scoring with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) and Huck, who was acquired from the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League in October, contributed seven points (three goals, four assists) in a Youngstown uniform.
NATION
Vick to dressfor Falcons
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Michael Vick will be in uniform for the first time this season Sunday, standing by as the Atlanta Falcons' backup quarterback at Houston.
The Pro Bowl QB, sidelined since breaking his right leg in preseason, practiced for the second straight day.
During a two-hour workout, Vick rolled out on pass plays after working exclusively in the pocket Wednesday. He also stopped, started and took cuts.
Doug Johnson will start when the Falcons visit Houston but Vick will be available.
Jaguars waiveLB Mitchell
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars waived Keith Mitchell, halting the comeback hopes of the linebacker who briefly lost feeling in his arms and legs in a game two months ago.
Mitchell was taken off the field on a stretcher Sept. 14 against Buffalo. The numbness that he felt disappeared by the time he got to the hospital.
Mitchell came back from the injury and played in two games, but had been inactive in five of the team's last six games.
Injured Bledsoehopes to play
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Drew Bledsoe is experiencing headaches and nausea after a mild concussion, but the Bills' quarterback hopes to play against the Giants.
Bledsoe did not practice and is listed as probable for Sunday's game at the Meadowlands. He plans to practice today.
The Bills on Wednesday attributed Bledsoe's problem to an upset stomach.
Bledsoe revealed the extent of the injury Thursday, citing headaches and some vision problems. He said results from a neurological exam were normal.
Bledsoe was kneed in the back of the helmet at the end of a run in last weekend's loss to Indianapolis.
Manning's MRIshows no damage
INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is expected to play Sunday against New England after an MRI on his right elbow revealed no damage.
Doctors still advised Manning not to throw during Thursday's practice, a day after Manning said he felt a "twinge" in the elbow on his throwing arm.
Robitaille earns700th assist
PHOENIX -- Luc Robitaille earned his 700th career assist in the second period of the Los Angeles Kings' game with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Robitaille, who has 12 assists this season, became the second left wing to reach the career assist mark when he helped set up Michael Cammalleri's goal 1:01 into the period.
Robitaille is the NHL leader in goals by a left wing (636). John Bucyk's 813 assists and 1,369 points are the most by a left wing. Wayne Gretzky is the all-time leader with 1,963 assists.
Staff/wire reports