BRIEFLY : U.S. BLANKS CANADA IN WOMEN'S HOCKEY.

Gretchen Ulion scored twice and Sara DeCosta stopped 23 shots, lifting the United States to a 3-0 victory over heralded goaltender Manon Rheaume and Canada in the championship game of the Three Nations Cup Saturday at the Lake Placid Olympic Center in New York.

Team USA had been second to Canada in seven previous international tournaments, including four times in the world championships. It also marked the first time the Americans have shut out Canada in any competition.

``Beating them any time is great, but beating them now is extra special,'' Ulion said.

DeCosta's shutout was preserved when Canada had a goal disallowed late in the third period.

Canada and the United States are scheduled to meet four more times before women's hockey makes its Olympic debut in February at Nagano, Japan.

The Czech Republic routed home-team Russia 7-1 in the Baltika Cup, part of the European Ice Hockey Tour. In Saturday's other game, Finland defeated Sweden 3-1.

The Czech Republic and Russia play each other again today for the championship. Finland and Sweden meet for third place.

WINTER SPORTS: Sweden's Ylva Nowen earned her first World Cup skiing victory, jumping from 14th place after the first run to win in 1 minute, 32.33 seconds in Val D'Isere, France. Pernila Wiberg, last year's overall World Cup winner, was making her first slalom start of the season after a knee injury and led Nowen by 1.51 seconds after the first heat but lost an edge in the second and went out as visibility decreased and the snow increased quickly.

Fog and a light rain in Val Gardena, Italy, kept the men's World Cup skiers off the slopes. The setback brought to five the number of World Cup speed races lost to weather this season.

Cammy Myler, Wendel Suckow, Chris Thorpe and Gordy Sheer - with 13 Olympics among them - will lead the 10-member United States Olympic luge team.

BOXING: Former heavyweight boxer Tommy Morrison faces six months in jail after he was convicted in Oklahoma of driving under the influence and two related charges.

The charges came after a chain-reaction traffic accident that injured three people in August. The jury recommended a six-month sentence and $500 fine on the DUI charge and $500 fines on each of the other two charges. Sentencing is set for Jan. 6.

BASEBALL: Former major league pitcher John Montefusco, in custody since Oct. 25, has been formally charged with sexually assaulting, kidnapping and terrorizing his ex-wife. He remains in a New Jersey jail on $1 million bail.

HORSE RACING: Stop Traffic did just that, beating five rivals to win the $82,950 Safely Kept Handicap by 1-1/2 lengths over Iza Bon Bon at Hollywood Park. The race was shifted to the main track from the turf course as a result of recent rain.