The residents of Nassau County will vote in a special election Aug. 1 on a $400 million referendum that would lead to construction of a new home for the New York Islanders. If the referendum passes, it would be the first step toward the completion of a new arena for the Islanders to play in, as well as a minor-league baseball stadium nearby. "Nervous I think is probably the best way to do it," Islanders owner Charles Wang said of his feelings about the election. "I think it is going to be a tight race. We believe we have something very special here. We want the people to go out there and vote -- and vote yes, obviously."

Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin will not serve prison time stemming from his drunken-driving conviction, the Edmonton Journal and other media outlets reported this week. After Khabibulin was charged with speeding with a blood-alcohol level at more than twice the legal limit in February 2010, it was believed the goaltender would not be given preferential treatment when he dropped his appeal of the conviction and scheduled to begin his 30-day sentence Saturday.

Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on Tuesday withdrew an appeal to his extreme drunken-driving conviction, accepting a 30-day jail sentence. Khabibulin had appealed the jail term after being sentenced in August of last year. But his Phoenix attorney, Mark DuBiel, said Tuesday that Khabibulin wanted to drop the appeal because the case likely would have prevented him from going to the Oilers' training camp and could have lasted into the season. "Despite assurances by legal counsel regarding the strength of my appeals case, I have decided to withdraw my appeal and proceed with sentencing," Khabibulin said in a statement. "Once completed, I eagerly anticipate a timely return to Edmonton for training camp, where I will strive to be the best player, teammate and citizen possible."

The brother of NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard made his first court appearance Monday on charges stemming from his brother's overdose death in May. Aaron Boogaard, 24, did not enter a plea during the brief appearance before Hennepin County District Judge Regina Chu. His mother and sister were present, his attorney said. Boogaard faces one felony drug count and one gross misdemeanor count of interfering with the scene of a death. State guidelines recommend a sentence of 21 months of probation.

Hennepin County's top prosecutor says the brother of the late NHL strongmen Derek Boogaard should have known better than to give his brother a narcotic pain pill the day after Boogaard out of treatment. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman tells reporters Derek Boogaard had gotten out of a drug rehabilitation center in New York the day before his brother gave him the pill that contributed to his death. Twenty-four-year-old Aaron Boogaard was charged Friday with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

The brother of former Wild and Rangers player Derek Boogaard, who died from a drug overdose in May, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal prescription pills on the same night. Online records showed 24-year-old Aaron Boogaard was arrested Wednesday on a narcotics charge. He was held without bail in the Hennepin County Jail in Minneapolis. His family said the arrest has "nothing to do with his brother Derek Boogaard's death."

Chuck Greenberg has filed the paperwork and has been approved as a potential buyer for the Stars, according to a source. Greenberg, who helped a group led by Nolan Ryan purchase the Texas Rangers last August and is no longer with the organization, is now able to explore the club's financial records and determine if he wants to put in a bid. Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi is still in an exclusive negotiating window and could have a signed purchase agreement at some point soon.

Former NHL player Patrick Cote, who was charged with violating probation on a drug-related conviction, has turned himself in to authorities in northern New York. Cote surrendered Tuesday to U.S. officers at the border crossing in Champlain. He's being held in the Franklin County Jail without bail. Cote was arrested in Malone in 2002 after police found 30 pounds of marijuana in his car. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of conspiracy. A New York judge issued a warrant for his arrest in 2004 when Cote failed to report to Canadian probation officials.