Marian Hossa is set to join Slovakia at the world championship after the early exit of defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks from the playoffs, according to an Associated Press report. Hossa, who had 25 goals and 32 assists this season, will boost Slovakia’s chances of adding to its lone world title in 2002. The Slovak team announced on Saturday that Hossa will be available for Sunday’s game against Germany in Group A in Bratislava.

An 11-year NHL linesman and veteran of the Stanley Cup playoffs has been temporarily removed from working playoff games. The decision comes as the league contends with fallout from questions about the missing puck from last year's 2010 Stanley Cup final won by the Blackhawks. Steve Miller, 38, is not included among the officials who will work the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, according to the list made public by the NHL on Friday.

The 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championship, which will take place from April 29 to May 15 in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia, will feature eleven players and three staff members from the Maple Leafs organization. Three players from the Maple Leafs will represent Canada, including Dion Phaneuf, Luke Schenn and James Reimer. Mike Komisarek, Mike Brown and prospect Jake Gardiner were named to the United States’ preliminary roster, while Mikhail Grabovski (Belarus), Nikolai Kulemin (Russia), Carl Gunnarsson (Sweden), Korbinian Holzer (Germany) and Marcel Mueller (Germany) will all compete for their respective countries in the tournament. Grabovski was named captain of the Belarusian team, while Dion Phaneuf will serve as an alternate captain for Canada. Brian Burke, President and GM of the Maple Leafs, is part of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group for the Word Championship, while David Nonis, Toronto’s Senior Vice-President of Hockey Operations, is Canada’s General Manager for the tournament. Leafs’ Equipment Manager Brian Papineau will serve Canada in the same capacity at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said he expects to keep restricted free-agent goalie Corey Crawford in a Hawks uniform and hopes it's for many years. "He's a top priority for us," Bowman said Thursday in his end-of-season address to media. "He's earned the right to be a No. 1 goalie for us and our team loves playing in front of him. He has the right demeanor and right approach. He loves to be in Chicago. He's clearly a priority for us. It's nice to know going into next year we are going to have some stability in goal."

Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference will not be suspended for his hit on Canadiens forward Jeff Halpern midway through the third period of Boston's overtime win in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series. The NHL held a disciplinary hearing with Ference via phone on Thursday morning and decided the hit wasn't worthy of a suspension.

The Rangers will play an exhibition game in the Czech Republic in September, facing HC Sparta Prague as part of the NHL�s push into Europe. The game will be played Sept. 29 at Tesla Arena. Rangers GM Glen Sather on Thursday called Sparta Prague �one of the most storied franchises in Europe.�

Multiple media outlets reported Andrew Ference would have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL via telephone at 11 a.m. ET Thursday for his hit on Jeff Halpern on Wednesday night, according to an ESPN.com report.

Canucks GM Mike Gillis has been fined by the NHL for complaining about the officiating in Vancouver's first-round playoff series win over the Blackhawks, according to an ESPN.com report. The NHL confirmed the fine Wednesday in an email to The Canadian Press. The league wouldn't reveal the amount.

The sale of the Stars has picked up some momentum and Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi is the frontrunner to buy the team, according to a source familiar with the sale. The 43-year-old Gaglardi is the president of Northland Properties, a hotel and restaurant empire started by his father more than 40 years ago. They have entered into an agreement to pursue the negotiation of a sale, another source told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun.

Roberto Luongo will start in goal for the Canucks in Game 7 against the Blackhawks on Tuesday night, according to an ESPN.com report. "Roberto's handled the big stage before, he'll be fine," Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault said on the eve of the big game.