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The Sea Shepherd Society’s anti-whaling and the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No.3 collide in the waters of Antarctica on Saturday. (Institute of Cetacean Research/Associated Press)

The Bob Barker anti-whaling ship and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in icy Antarctic waters Saturday in the second major clash this year in increasingly aggressive confrontations between conservationists and the whaling fleet.

No one was injured in the collision, which each side blamed on the other.

The U.S.-based activist group Sea Shepherd, which sends vessels to confront the Japanese fleet each year, accused the Japanese ship of deliberately ramming the Bob Barker — named after the former game-show host who donated millions of dollars for the anti-whaling group to buy it.

But Japan’s Fisheries Agency said the activist boat caused the collision by suddenly approaching the harpoon vessel No. 3 Yushin Maru to throw bottles containing bad-smelling butyric acid at the Japanese ship.

The agency accused Sea Shepherd of “an act of sabotage” and noting the Japanese expedition is allowed under world whaling regulations as a scientific expedition. Conservationists call the annual hunt a cover for commercial whaling.

Neither side’s account could be verified. Video shot from the Bob Barker and released by Sea Shepherd shows the two ships side by side, moving quickly through the water. The ships come closer together and the Japanese ship then appears to turn away, but its stern swings sharply toward the Bob Barker.

The collision is obscured by spray, but a loud clanging noise can be heard before the vessels separate.

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said a one-metre-long, 10-centimetre-wide hole was torn in the Bob Barker’s hull, but it was above the water line and was not a threat to the ship. The Japanese agency said Yushin Maru sustained minor damage to its handrail and hull.

The collision was the second this year between a Sea Shepherd boat and the Japanese fleet.

On Jan. 6, a Japanese whaler struck Sea Shepherd’s high-tech speedboat Ady Gil and sheared off its nose. The Bob Barker then came to rescue the crew of the Ady Gil, which sank a day later.

The governments of Australia and New Zealand, which have responsibility for maritime rescue in the area where the hunt is usually conducted, say the fight between the two sides is becoming increasingly dangerous and have repeatedly urged them to tone it down.

The Haitian lawyer for 10 U.S. Baptist missionaries charged with child kidnapping tried to bribe their way out of jail and has been fired, the attorney who hired him said Saturday night.

Laura Silsby, 40, centre, the leader of a group of 10 American missionaries being held in Haiti, and Charisa Coulter, 24, left, both of Meridian, Idaho, are escorted out of the court building in Port-au-Prince on Thursday. (Rodrigo Abdjorge/Associated Press)The Haitian lawyer, Edwin Coq, denied the allegation. He said the $60,000 US he requested from the Americans’ families was his fee.

Jorge Puello, the attorney in the neighbouring Dominican Republic retained by relatives of the 10 missionaries after their arrest last week, told The Associated Press that he fired Coq on Friday night. He had hired Coq to represent the detainees at Haitian legal proceedings.

Coq orchestrated “some kind of extortion with government officials” that would have led to the release of nine of the 10 missionaries, Puello charged.

“He had some people inside the court that asked him for money and he was part of this scheme,” Puello said.

Coq denied the charge.

“I have worked for 10 people for four days working all hours,” he said. “Look at what hour I’m working now, responding to these calls. I have the right to this money.”

On Friday, Coq had told AP that he was working for no fee.

Puello said Coq initially requested $10,000 US but kept asking for bigger and bigger amounts. He said that when Coq reached $60,000 US, he said he could guarantee it would lead to the Americans’ release.

A magistrate charged the group’s members Thursday with child kidnapping and criminal association for trying to take 33 children out of earthquake-ravaged Haiti without the proper documents.

The Americans said they were on a humanitarian mission to rescue orphans. But at least 20 of the children had living parents.

Coq said Thursday that the group’s leader, Laura Silsby of Meridian, Idaho, deceived the others by telling them she had the proper documents to remove the children from Haiti.

Puello raised similar concerns. He said that he warned Silsby on the day the group was detained at the border that she lacked the required papers and risked being arrested for child trafficking.

Asked if Silsby had deceived the other nine Baptists in assuring them she had the proper papers, Puello said, “I believe that is true.”

P.E.I. skip Kathy O’Rourke, right, and third Geri-Lynn Ramsay, smile after defeating Ontario 10-6 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on Saturday. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Kathy O’Rourke is taking Prince Edward Island to the final of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts for the first time.

O’Rourke’s rink defeated Ontario’s Krista McCarville 10-6 in the semifinal Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., to advance to Sunday’s final against two-time defending champion Jennifer Jones.

O’Rourke took an early 5-1 lead through three draws and gave little ground en route to the victory.

Lightning defenceman Mattias Ohlund, left, helps goalie Antero Niittymaki defend against the Flames’ Matt Stajan on Saturday night in Tampa, Fla. (J. Meric/Associated Press)

Tampa Bay capitalized on a rare third-period letdown by Calgary.

Andrej Meszaros scored 1:58 into overtime and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Flames 2-1 on Saturday night in Florida.

“It’s a huge sign being able to win a game like this,” said Tampa Bay right wing Martin St. Louis.

Meszaros’ winner came from the left circle to complete Tampa Bay’s comeback from a 1-0 deficit after the second period.

Steven Stamkos also scored for the Lightning, who have won seven of 10. Goalie Antero Niittymaki improved to 6-0-1 over his last seven starts.

Calgary got a goal from Mark Giordano. The Flames dropped to 23-2-2 when leading at the start of the third.

“They got some momentum and they’re a good offensive team,” said Calgary captain Jarome Iginla. “Once they get a little jump, especially at home, they start bringing it.”

The Flames were coming off a 2-1 win over Florida on Friday night, a game in which they allowed just 13 shots. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 21 shots Saturday, including all 10 he faced through two periods.

“We’ll take the positives and move on,” said Iginla.

Giordano put the Flames up 1-0 on a power-play goal with 4:16 left in the first. Stamkos tied it at 1 with a rebound goal a minute into the third.

Stamkos has seven goals and 14 points during a nine-game point streak.

Calgary’s Ales Kotalik received a fighting major and game misconduct after a fight with the Lightning’s Stephane Veilleux late in the first period. The teams combined for 14 penalties and 16 shots during the first. The game misconduct stemmed from the right wing’s sweater not being tied down.

“That was one of the toughest games for grinding it out,” said Lightning coach Rick Tocchet.

“Everybody contributed. That’s the kind of team we have to be.”

The Flames are 8-2-2 — including 3-0-1 in games with Southeast Division teams — against the Eastern Conference this season

“We got a point and move on,” said Flames coach Brent Sutter. “It was there for us to have two, no question. We came up a little short.”

Calgary and Tampa Bay have had little success since meeting in the 2004 Stanley Cup finals. Neither has won a playoff series since, and the Lightning finished last and next-to-last overall the past two seasons.

New Jersey scored big by acquiring sniper Ilya Kovalcuk from Atlanta on Thursday. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell got taken on the Ilya Kovalchuk deal, Hockey Night in Canada analyst Mike Milbury told the Hotstove segment on Saturday night.

Kovalchuk was dealt, along with Anssi Salmela, to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for defenceman Johnny Oduya, rookie Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick.

Milbury was highly critical of the Thrashers’ GM, and doesn’t believe Waddell got fair value in return for his star.

“I think he misplayed his hand, and I think he badly misplayed his hand,” Milbury said.

Waddell was unable to reach a deal in the off-season on a contract extension with Kovalchuk, who is set to become an unrestricted free-agent this summer. Milbury believed Waddell hastily pulled the trigger on a deal, with the March 3 trade deadline approaching.

“I don’t think he shopped it on time, and I don’t think he shopped it properly,” Milbury said.

Waddell didn’t allow other teams to talk to Kovalchuk about the possibility of re-signing the Russian sniper after his contract runs out this season. That reduced his value, making him strictly a rental player, Milbury said.

Milbury, a former Boston Bruins’ GM, let the criticism fly for his former colleague, saying Waddell has a history of making bad trades. He pointed to the Marion Hossa deal in 2008, which saw the Thrashers send the star forward, along with Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito, and a 2008 first-round pick.

Only one of those players, Armstrong, remains on the Thrashers roster.

“Not very good return,” Milbury said. “He should have learned from that deal.”

HNIC contributor Pierre LeBrun came to Waddell’s defence, saying that eight GMs felt the Thrashers got the best they could given the circumstances, since Kovalchuk was clearly a rental player only.

Waddell revealed that he was willing to make Kovalchuk the highest paid player in the NHL, but Kovalchuk turned down a 12-year, $101-million US offer, and a seven-season, $70-million deal.

However, Waddell made those big money offers recently, not in the off-season, and Kovalchuk had apparently already made up his mind that he wanted to test the free-agent waters — with a goal of heading to a contending team.

Losing Kovalchuk leaves a big hole for Atlanta.

“You cannot let a star player get into his last year before free agency without signing him,” HNIC’s Elliotte Friedman said. “Unless you feel you can win it all.”

Toronto teammages congratulate Luke Schenn on his first-period goal against visiting on Saturday. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

The best way the Toronto Maple Leafs could help their general manager grieve the loss of his son was to beat the provincial rival Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

The Leafs did just that and dedicated their impressive 5-0 victory to 21-year-old Brendan Burke, who was killed along with his friend, Mark A. Reedy, on Friday afternoon in a traffic accident.

The 2004 Jeep Cherokee that Burke and Reedy were in slid into oncoming traffic and crashed into a pickup truck on a snowy highway in Indiana’s Wayne County near the Ohio border. The driver of the pickup truck escaped injury, but both Burke and Reedy were declared dead at the scene.

Saturday’s loss in Toronto snapped the Senators’ franchise record 11-game victory string.

Leafs goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and defenceman Francois Beauchemin knew the younger Burke the best because when they won the 2006-07 Stanley Cup with Anaheim, they celebrated the championship with Brendan when his father was the Ducks’ general manager.

The 32-year-old Giguere has yet to give up a goal in two games since he was re-acquired by Burke last Sunday. He made 30 saves for his 34th career shutout. Beauchemin played alongside newcomer Dion Phaneuf and the pair shut down Ottawa’s top line of Jason Spezza, captain Daniel Alfredsson and Milan Michalek.

The two youngest Leafs and closest to Brendan Burke’s age, forward Phil Kessel and defenceman Luke Schenn, each scored twice in the victory. The 22-year-old Kessel hit the 20-goal mark in his 47th game of the season. The 20-year-old Schenn, who has struggled at times, played arguably his best game this year.

This was one of Toronto’s best efforts of the season, thanks to a strong physical game and swift transition. The Leafs built a 3-0 advantage in the first period and went up 4-0 in the second period.

Even the usually passive Air Canada Centre crowd was electric as the full house of 19,246 whooped it up late in the game with the wave as well as boisterous “Go Leafs Go” and “Ottawa sucks” chants.

When the Leafs went up 3-0 on rookie Tyler Bozak’s fluky goal late in the first period, there was a wait-and-see feeling in the building because last week, Toronto allowed a three-goal advantage to turn into a 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks and the Leafs failed to hold a late-game 3-1 lead in New Jersey on Friday.

Kessel scored first on a rebound and then Schenn blasted a hard shot from the top of the face-off circle that beat Brian Elliott. It was a soft goal, but this was the same goaltender who won nine in a row for the Senators.

After the second period, Ottawa coach Cory Clouston replaced Elliott with Pascal Leclaire, who had not seen action in 11 games.

Schenn beat Leclaire midway through the final 20 minutes.

The Leafs outshot Ottawa 37-30.

A man shovels a sidewalk in northwest Washington, D.C., on Saturday. (Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press)Residents and road crews in Washington, D.C., began the long process Saturday night of digging out from one of the biggest snowstorms in history to hit the U.S. capital.

The storm, which began Friday, dumped up to 60 centimetres of snow on the district and even more on parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and northern Maryland.

The capital’s rail system announced it was shutting down four hours early on Saturday night and transit authorities cancelled all bus service and above-ground rail service for Sunday.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty told the Washington Post that more than 750 municipal workers and contractors will work through the weekend to try to get the city open by rush hour Monday morning.

“This is certainly the most snow as any one of us has seen in our lifetime,” Fenty said.

Philadelphia, the sixth largest city in the U.S., was virtually shut down with a record snowfall of nearly 70 centimetres.

In Virginia, transportation officials said it could take until Wednesday or Thursday before crews finish plowing streets in subdivisions.

“Snowmageddon,” President Barack Obama called it. Even the president’s motorcade — which featured SUVs instead of limousines — fell victim to the blizzard. A tree limb snapped and crashed onto a motorcade vehicle carrying media members.

The snow fell too quickly for crews to keep up, and officials begged residents to stay home.

The usually traffic-snarled roads were mostly barren, save for some plows, fire trucks, ambulances and a few SUVs. The Capital Beltway, always filled with cars, was empty at times.

Airlines cancelled flights, churches called off weekend services and museums closed their doors.

The storm also left almost 190,000 people in the region without power.

According to the National Weather Service, Washington has received more than 30 centimetres of snow only 13 times since 1870.

The heaviest on record was 72 centimetres in January 1922. The biggest snowfall for the Washington-Baltimore area is believed to have been in 1772, before official records were kept, when as much as 90 centimetres fell, which George Washington and Thomas Jefferson noted in their diaries.

With files from The Associated Press

Floyd Little, left, Jerry Rice, centre, and Emmitt Smith pose after they were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press)

Here’s how you stop Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith: Put them in the Hall of Fame and watch them break down and cry.

The men who tore apart NFL defences couldn’t handle the emotions Saturday when they were elected to the shrine along with five others.

“They told me ‘Don’t cry,”‘ Rice said, his eyes wet with tears. “It meant the world to me, just like winning a Super Bowl. On draft day, I didn’t take that for granted. I didn’t take this for granted.”

He could have.

A nominee needs 80 per cent approval from the 44 media members who vote and Rice and Smith were slam-dunks in their first year of eligibility. Vote totals weren’t included when inductees were announced Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“I am just honoured … to stand up there with greatness,” Rice added.

Smith teared up when speaking about his father and how “I was living his dream.”

“We are blessed to achieve this level of greatness together,” Smith said, referring to Rice.

They will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 7.

Rice and Smith each won three Super Bowls and each was the MVP in one of those victories. Smith was the 1993 league MVP as well.

Rice, the NFL’s career receiving and touchdowns leader, and Smith, the top rusher, were joined in the Hall by John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau. Little and LeBeau were elected as senior committee nominees.

Rice, the perfect receiver for the West Coast offence, played 20 seasons for San Francisco, Oakland and Seattle. He made 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards, had 14 1,000-yard seasons and scored 208 touchdowns.

Smith, among the most durable running backs, rushed for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns for Dallas and Arizona.

“This is almost perfect,” Smith said. “I don’t think even Steven Spielberg could have written a script this nice. So many people said I could not do it. I believed in that little giant inside of me that said I can.”

Added Rice, standing next to Smith: “It’s just like playing in that big game, this is something you think about, and it is happening. I never thought I would go in …. with this guy here.

Steve Young, one of two Hall of Fame quarterbacks who threw to Rice, got the first hug from the new inductee, then said: “They made yards after the catch a stat because of Jerry Rice.”

Two other all-time top receivers, Cris Carter and Tim Brown, weren’t elected. Carter, in his third year of eligibility, stands third in career receptions with 1,101, while Brown, in his first year on the ballot, made 1,094.

Jackson, a do-everything linebacker with a great burst off the line, finished his 15-season career for New Orleans and San Francisco with 128 sacks. A six-time Pro Bowler, Jackson sparked the turnaround by the Saints from Aints to contender in the late 1980s. He helped the Saints to their first division title and playoff berth.

Now, a day before the Saints appear in their first Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson is Canton-bound. One glitch: He was introduced as Randy instead of Rickey.

Randle was that rare defensive tackle who was a premier pass rusher. An undrafted free agent out of Texas A&I, Randle had 137½ sacks for Minnesota and Seattle, tied for sixth overall and most for his position, and led the league with 15½ in 1997. He played in seven Pro Bowls.

Grimm, a member of the Washington Redskins’ famed Hogs offensive line, won three Super Bowls. A guard, he made four Pro Bowls and was selected to the all-decade team of the 1980s.

The two senior committee inductees did not get enough support from the regular panel of media members when they were eligible.

LeBeau, the current defensive co-ordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is considered one of pro football’s great defensive innovators as a coach. But he was voted in for his outstanding work for the Lions from 1959-72. LeBeau finished with 62 interceptions, second among cornerbacks when he retired.

“They say anything worth having is worth waiting on,” LeBeau said. “It has been a long wait. I can’t imagine anything else that could be any more rewarding.”

Little starred for the Denver Broncos in the AFL and NFL, leading the NFL in rushing in 1971 with 1,133 yards and in touchdowns rushing in 1973 with 12. He waited 30 years to get elected.

“My dad used to take me to games to watch Jerry play,” Little joked, cracking up Rice.

“It’s been a long journey. This is truly my dream. You can’t explain the emotions of the way you feel at this moment.”

Hundreds of people packed a church in central Alberta on Saturday to mourn the deaths of two young boys found in a bathtub this week.

Connor and Jayden McConnell, shown here on a Facebook memorial site, were found dead in their home in Millet, Alta., on Monday. (Facebook)The bodies of Conner McConnell, 2½, and his 10-month-old brother Jayden were found by their father in their home in Millet, Alta., on Monday.

Police are not releasing how the boys died and no charges have been laid, but police have said the deaths are homicides.

A steady stream of mourners flowed into the Calvary Baptist Church in Wetaskiwin on Saturday, nearly filling the church’s 650 seats. Photographs, depicting two happy and lively boys, filled the foyer.

On Friday, residents in the town of Millet held a candlelight vigil in memory of the two boys.

Leann Melan, who went to the vigil with her children, said the deaths have upset many in the community.

“Everyone feels sorry for the boys,” she said. “It’s not a good thing for someone to do something like that [to] two boys, two little ones. That’s just sick for anybody to do it.”

Cindy King, also from Millet, said the deaths will “be with people for a long time.”

A shrine has been set up outside the McConnell home in Millet, Alta. (Scott Fralick/CBC)

Teddy bears, flowers and stuffed animals line the snowbank outside the McConnell home.

On a Facebook memorial page set up in memory of the two boys, their father Curtis McConnell, 31, said he has been left with “unanswerable questions.”

He told a friend that he got a call from police saying his wife Allyson, 31, was in hospital shortly before he found his sons’ bodies in a bathtub.

Court documents show the McConnells are going through a painful divorce, with custody of the children a major issue.

With files from The Canadian Press

Team Ontario lead Kari MacLean, left, second Ashley Miharija, second left, skip Krista McCarville, second right, and third Tara George share a laugh while playing against Team British Columbia during the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Ontario’s Krista McCarville booked her ticket to the semifinal at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with a 6-4 win over Kelly Scott of B.C., in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on Saturday.

McCarville earned a spot in Saturday night’s semi against P.E.I.’s Kathy O’Rourke.

“I think the key draw in that game was our draw in nine to score,” said McCarville. “We were facing two. It’s not easy when it’s starting to come down and you know it’s getting a little quicker.

“You don’t know how much quicker until it gets to the centre. I was really happy to make that one in nine.”

The two teams traded scoring throughout the game, with the lone blank end coming in the sixth. B.C. finishes the Scotties with a fourth-place finish.

“It wasn’t our sharpest today,” said Scott. “Both our team and their team made drawing look a little difficult. It was a little tricky and patchy. There just wasn’t that confidence in what the paths were doing for us.”

The winner of Saturday night’s semifinal will face Jennifer Jones’s Team Canada on Sunday afternoon at the Essar Centre in the final.