Sports briefs

NHLCanucks, Hawks, Pens

dominate All-Star picks

The Vancouver Canucks and the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks commanded the spotlight Tuesday when each club had multiple players picked to the All-Star Game roster. Chicago was already well represented for the All-Star festivities later this month in Raleigh, N.C., as captain Jonathan Toews and defenseman Duncan Keith were among six players voted into the game in fan balloting. They were joined by forwards Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp. The Penguins had four fans' picks: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury. The Canucks are sending identical twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin, along with Ryan Kesler.

COLLEGES

UConn breezes past Rutgers

Alex Oriakhi had 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots as No. 10 Connecticut (13-2, 2-2 Big East) topped with Rutgers, 67-53, in Hartford. Kemba Walker had 18 points . . . Draymond Green scored a career-high 26 points, and Kalin Lucas made three free throws in the final minute of overtime to lift host Michigan State to a 64-61 victory over No. 20 Wisconsin.

GOLF

Els' autism tournaments

Ernie Els now has a charity event for amateurs that will reward fundraising skills, hopeful it can raise upward of $3 million to help build a center for autistic children. It's called the "Els for Autism Golf Challenge," and it will involve at least 32 tournaments across the country featuring two-player teams that qualify depending on how much money they raise for the project. Els disclosed in March 2008 that his 8-year-old son, Ben, has autism. A year later, the South African announced plans to build the "Els for Autism Center of Excellence" in South Florida to be a research and education facility.

NBA

Bucks-Hawks postponed

Last night's game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks was postponed because of the winter storm that has locked down much of north Georgia. The game has been rescheduled for March 15 at Philips Arena.

SOCCERWarning over Qatar

The head of England's Football Association warned that moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter would be a "logistical nightmare." Since the contentious vote in December, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said he expects the event to be in early 2022 due to concerns about the summer heat in the desert nation. "The notion of playing in Qatar just leaves me in a cold sweat at the moment," FA general secretary Alex Horne said. "It doesn't feel like a great experience for the fans. The whole thing is odd." - AP