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Hockey update: A weekly look inside Cincinnati's minor-league hockey teams.

Cincinnati Cyclones

Last week: Beat Johnstown (6-2), lost in Atlantic City (2-1).

Where they stand: 12-12-1, sixth in the nine-team Eastern Conference Northern Division.

Who's next: Dayton (8-12-2) at home Wednesday (7:30 p.m.); at Reading (15-7-3) Friday; at Roanoke (15-9-1) Saturday; Dayton at home Sunday (7:30 p.m.).

Who's hot: Tyler Deis has scored in every game he's played as a member of the Cyclones. In four games, he has 10 points (four goals and six assists).

Nuts & bolts: The Cyclones face the Dayton Bombers 11 times this year. In their five previous meetings, the 'Clones are 3-2-0. Last week, the 'Clones sent Fraser Clair to Dayton in exchange for Jade Galbraith.

Tickets/promotions: Call TicketMaster at 562-4949 for individual tickets. Season and group tickets are available at 421-3222. ... On Wednesday, it's $1 beer night.

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks

Last week: Beat San Antonio (4-3) and Milwaukee (6-4).

Where they stand: 11-13-3-0, fifth in seven-team West Division.

Who's next: At Hamilton (18-9-1-1) Wednesday; Houston (9-13-2-2) at home Friday (7:35 p.m.); Houston at home Saturday (7:35 p.m.).

Who's hot: LW Chris Kunitz (three goals, one assist), RW Cory Pecker (three goals, one assist) and LW Casey Hankinson (one goal, three assists) each have four points in their last two games. ... G Ilya Bryzglaov has a 1.86 GAA over his last 15 starts. Nuts & bolts: D Chris Armstrong played his 600th career game Friday vs. San Antonio and recorded his 350th career point with a goal Sunday. ... Wednesday's game at Hamilton will mark head coach Brad Shaw's 1,300th game as a coach, assistant coach or player in professional hockey.

Tickets/promotions: Call 351-3999. Friday, Toys for Tots collection.

Deal will let CART race next season

INDIANAPOLIS - There will be a 2004 Champ Car season.

The prospective owners of the troubled CART racing series said Monday a buyout agreement has been reached that includes having the series file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Open Wheel Racing Series LLC, formed by three CART team owners, said the deal would allow racing next season.

The deal includes the purchase of specific assets - including contracts with promoters, sponsors and teams - as Indianapolis-based CART goes through a planned bankruptcy process, Open Wheel Racing said in a statement.

No further details were being immediately released, said Wendy Gabers, a spokeswoman for East Lansing, Mich.-based Rocketsports Racing, owned by Open Wheel Racing partner Paul Gentilozzi.

"Effective immediately, we're ready to begin work to implement our vision for Champ Car in 2004 and for many seasons beyond," Gentilozzi said.

Prep signings

RAMSEY, WILSON PICK: Two more Cincinnati prep football players have announced oral commitments to colleges:

Cliff Ramsey of Loveland, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound offensive/defensive lineman, committed over the weekend to Boston College. Ramsey was named all-city by the Southwest Ohio Football Coaches Association and all-league in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.

Robbie Wilson of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, a 6-1, 210-pound running back, has committed to Miami University. Wilson rushed for 826 yards (10.3 average) and had 1,510 all-purpose yards this season, with 25 touchdowns.

--Tom Groeschen

Girls basketball

• Roger Bacon 43, Alter 37 - Sophomore center Heather Hausfeld scored 11 points and grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds to lead Roger Bacon.

• McNicholas 64, CHCA 61 - Sophomore Lauren Schaller scored 14 points to help McNicholas hand CHCA its first loss. Britani Johnson scored 21 points to lead CHCA.

• Glen Este 48, Anderson 38 - Senior Alex Gee scored 17 points for the Trojans, who jumped out to a 13-5 lead.

• Taft 56, Withrow 51 - The Senators remain unbeaten.

NHL

'CANES FIRE COACH: Coach Paul Maurice was fired Monday by the struggling Carolina Hurricanes in his ninth season, the longest current stretch with one NHL team.

Maurice, who took the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002, was replaced by former New York Islanders coach Peter Laviolette.

HEATLEY: Thrashers All-Star Dany Heatley canceled plans to skate today for the first time since the car wreck that killed teammate Dan Snyder.

The Thrashers said Heatley's knee was sore after a rehab session Monday, so his return to the ice was postponed until later in the week.

MONDAY'S GAMES: Pavel Datsyuk scored his fifth goal in five games and added an assist, and Curtis Joseph stopped 21 of 22 shots to give the Detroit Red Wings a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in Detroit.

• Andrew Brunette had a goal and two assists, and the Minnesota Wild spoiled Phoenix's final game at America West Arena, 5-2.

Horse racing

FUNNY CIDE RETURN: Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide could make his next start in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 7.