The Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The Vancouver Canucks' Todd Bertuzzi pleaded not guilty to an assault charge stemming from a hit on Colorado forward Steve Moore during a game.

Bertuzzi appeared in court for 10 minutes and did not speak as he left. His four words in court - "Not guilty, your honor" - were his first public utterances since March, when he tearfully apologized for his actions.

Bertuzzi was charged with assault causing bodily harm June 24 after punching Moore from behind and crashing onto the ice on top of him during the March 8 game. Moore suffered a broken neck and concussion.

COYOTES: Phoenix signed center Petr Nedved, who scored 19 goals and 27 assists in 81 games last season for the Rangers and Oilers, and traded center Daymond Langkow to Calgary.

MAPLE LEAFS: Goaltender Ed Belfour had surgery to repair a bulging disc in his back and is expected to make a complete recovery.

RANGERS: Kevin Weekes, who had 23 wins and six shutouts in 66 appearances for Carolina last season, signed with New York.

Golf

BUICK CHAMPIONSHIP: Corey Pavin made seven birdies and matched his career low with an 8-under-par 62 for a three-stroke lead at Cromwell, Conn. Bob Burns and Matt Weibring were second at 5-under 65.

Pavin started fast, sinking a 120-yard wedge shot on the second hole for an eagle.

WACHOVIA LPGA CLASSIC: Laura Diaz had a run of five straight birdies and was tied for the lead with Jill McGill and Hilary Lunke at 6-under-par 66 after the opening round at Kutztown, Pa. Hee-Won Han, coming off a runner-up finish last week, birdied five of her first seven holes and got to 7 under before making bogey at Nos. 15 and 16 and dropping into a nine-way tie for fourth at 67.

THE TRADITION: After losing the outright lead with a bogey at No. 17, Bruce Summerhays saved par on No. 18 to finish at 5-under 67, tied with Jose Maria Canizares and Vicente Fernandez for the first-round lead at Aloha, Ore. Fuzzy Zoeller was one shot back in the final major of the Champions Tour season.

BMW OPEN: Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen shot a 6-under-par 66 for the first-round lead at Eichenried, Germany. Colin Montgomerie was a stroke behind and bolstered his chances of making the Ryder Cup team.

NBA

BRYANT CASE: The judge in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case questioned why prosecutors waited until Tuesday, just three days before the start of the trial, to ask for a hearing on the reliability of DNA evidence crucial to the defense.

Judge Terry Ruckriegle said he should deny the evidence challenge because it could delay the trial, but he gave prosecutors until Tuesday to more fully explain their objections.

PISTONS: Center Ben Wallace had an emergency appendectomy Wednesday in Richmond, Va., but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp Oct. 4.

Tennis

PILOT PEN: Defending champion Jennifer Capriati was upset 6-4, 7-5 by eighth-seeded Nathalie Dechy at New Haven, Conn. It was Dechy's first career win over Capriati in six tries.

Wild card Lisa Raymond powered into the semifinals, beating Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-3 in New Haven, Conn.

TD WATERHOUSE CUP: Lleyton Hewitt cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Michael Llodra to advance to the quarterfinals at Commack, N.Y. The win was the 13th in 14 matches for Hewitt.

BLAKE EXITS OPEN: James Blake pulled out of the U.S. Open, citing illness. It's the third straight Grand Slam tournament Blake, ranked 76th, will miss.

Digest