Stevens

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers replaced coach John Stevens with Peter Laviolette Friday after the team was shut out in consecutive games.

Laviolette led the Carolina Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup title in 2006. He was fired in December 2008 and was still under contract.

Laviolette, who also coached the New York Islanders for two seasons, was 167-130-30 in his four-plus seasons with Carolina.

With the calendar turned to December, it's time to head into the gym for high school basketball.The Eagle sports department will get Butler County area fans prepared for the start of the season this week with previews of the girls teams in Wednesday's edition and the boys squads Thursday.

PITTSBURGH — The Big East didn't need to add an extra game, book an empty stadium, negotiate a TV slot or split into divisions to get what the SEC, Big 12 and ACC already enjoy.No, an exceptional season by Cincinnati and a very good one by Pittsburgh, plus an astute schedule maker, gave the conference parity with some of the other top conferences without all the extra muss and fuss.Finally, after 19 seasons, the Big East is playing a football championship game.It's a de facto one — No. 5 Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0 in Big East) already owns a share of the Big East title, and No. 14 Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1) can claim only the other half. The real payoff to the winner of Saturday's sold-out game at noon at Heinz Field is the BCS berth and all the rewards, monetary and otherwise, that go with it.There's even an outside chance — if No. 3 Texas loses to No. 21 Nebraska in the Big 12 title game, the polls mesh and the BCS rankings concur — that Cincinnati also could play for the national title next month.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame football season is officially over.Athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced Friday that the school has decided against going to a bowl game with a 6-6 record, citing "unique circumstances." He didn't elaborate, but Swarbrick fired coach Charlie Weis after five seasons earlier this week and the search for a replacement is under way.Swarbrick said he reached the decision after meetings with assistant coaches and team leaders.

NEW YORK — The 2010 NHL draft will be held in Los Angeles on June 25-26, marking the first time in its 46-year history that the event will be held in California.The NHL announced Friday that the Los Angeles Kings will host the draft at the Staples Center.Yang holds 2-shot Chevron advantageTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Despite battling a fever and a pounding headache, Y.E. Yang shot a 7-under 65 Friday to build a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Chevron World Challenge.