European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 28, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Says he was extortion target by the los Angeles times Inglewood Calif. Alexei Zhitnik of the los Angeles Kings acknowledged sunday that he was targeted for extortion last summer in his ukrainian Homeland. Zhitnik a second year do Senseman said the threats from an organized crime group in the former soviet Republic were verbal rather than physical. Zhitnik s Candor was surprising because Many nil players from the former soviet Union have been reluctant to discuss alleged incidents with the so called russian mafia. Team executives and coach Barry Melrose Are so concerned that they have urged Zhitnik not to return Home to Kiev this summer. Their concerns Are shared by other nil general managers including the san Jose Sharks Dean Lombardi who described the alleged gangster influence of former soviets in the nil As �?o1930s Chicago  i have Little problem with russian mafia Zhitnik said. Quot they say things like blow up your car and different stuff Zhitnik 21, said neither he nor his twin brother Dmitri were harmed. He said he did not pay the gangsters. A if you pay the first time the next time you pay much More Quot he  but my friends helped me. Like the police the cops can to do nothing. No rules. No  mighty Duck defens Eman Alexei Kasat nov who is from St Petersburg said the extortion schemes involve Quot not just a couple of players. It s every sports people who have Money Quot. He said he had not been approached but has spoken with several players who have been threatened including his former new Jersey Devil teammates Alexander Semak and Valeri Zel Pukin Darius Kasparaitis and Vladimir Malakhov of the new York islanders and Sergei nem chinos of the new York rangers. _ Quot its like America had a1 Capone Quot Kasat nov said. Quot i m serious. It might be dangerous. Now there s so much illegal groups there big and Little. You Don t know who is protecting you an who is helping you a Kasat nov said he had contacted nil so Tyrity personnel who said they could not take action unless he had been threatened. Zhitnik s help came from friends he declined to identify. He said some of the threats came from men he grew up with. "1 knew a couple of Guys went to school with them Quot he said. Coming off a successful Rookie nil season Zhitnik had a relatively High profile when he returned to Kiev last summer. That As Well As his $400,000 salary made him a potential victim of extortion. Agents representing russian players Are also aware of the dangers their clients face As affluent citizens in the economically unstable former soviet republics. Mike Barnett who represents Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit red wings urged Fedorov to bring his family to the United states before signing a four year $11.7-million contract that makes him the n11ly highest paid russian player. Zhitnik s Mother father and brother live in Kiev and Zhitnik said he talks to them once a week.,his father Nikolai when contacted Friday in Kiev by the times said the family has not had any problems with gangs. A for my parents Ity nothing bad Quot Alexei said. Quot they arc like Norma people. I am at bigger risk because i go to different places restaurants  said Melrose Quot every time he goes Back there i done to breathe easy until he gets Back. We be tried to get him to move Over Here and move his family but it s  Lombardi said the Sharks heard of threats made to Alexander Char Bayev the teams third pick and 51st Overall in last june sentry draft but he was unable to confirm any incidents.600th Gartner goal  rangers Romp by the associated press Mike Gartner scored one for the books and then one for Good measure. Quot it was a great feeling of Relief Quot the new York rangers Forward said after scoring his 600th goal in sundays night s 8-3 Victory Over the new Jersey devils. A it s been kind of hovering for a few games and to get it done at mag Madison Square Garden in front of the fans Here was pretty exciting. "1 could sense after the last few games that people wanted to see it. Everybody wants to be there for a Milestone  Gartner scored at 6 16 of the third period to join an exclusive club. Only Gartner five other players in nil history have scored 600 or More goals a Gordie Howe 801wayne Gretzky 780marcel Dionne 731phil Esposito 717 and Bobby Hull 610gartner added no. 601 less than two minutes later before an appreciative Garden crowd. With the rangers leading 6-3, Gartner scored twice within 1 07 of the third period. Alexei Kovalev who finished with a goal and three assists helped set up the Milestone goal. Gartner stuffed Kovalev s goal Mouth pass behind devils goaltender Chris Ter Reri for no 600. And no sooner did the applause die Down than he scored his 601st at 7 23, Gartner also had an assist on one of two goals by Sergei nem chinos As the rangers extended their Home unbeaten Streak to 15, Sergei Zubov added three assists for the rangers. In other games sunday whalers 3, senators 2 Geoff Sanderson scored two goals including the game Winner in overtime As the suddenly revived whalers Defeated the visiting senators. The Victory extended the whalers winning Streak to four games a their longest in two seasons. Sanderson a second goal of the game came at 4 10 of overtime. Alexei Yashin forced the extra session by scoring with 10 22 left in the third  hockey league islanders 4, sabres 3 Benoit Hogue s goal Between the legs of goaltender Dominic hasek at 2 28 of overtime lifted new York Over visiting Buffalo extending the islanders winning Streak to six games. The sabres almost won the game in regulation but Randy Woods 35-foot slap shot clanged off the right Post with one second left. Blues 3, Blackhawk 2 Brendan Shanahan scored three goals including the game Winner with 4 14 to play As the blues stretched their winning Streak to five. Shanahan took a backhand feed from Igor Korolev near the Chicago Blue line and shot from the left Circle. Goalie Jeff Hackett got a piece of the puck but it trickled into the net off his pads. Shanahan added two Power play goals against visiting Chicago. Capitals 7, penguins 3 the Host capitals ended an eight game wingless Streak against Pittsburgh getting two goals from Randy Burridge Don Beaupre stopped 29 shots and Mike Ridley had a goal and two assists for the capitals who were 0-6-2 against the penguins since nov. 27, 1992. Panthers 3, lightning 1 at Orlando John Vanbiesbrouc made 36 saves to Lead the panthers Over the lightning. A Vanbiesbrouc is 5-0-1 against the lightning in his career. Jody Hull had a goal and an assist for the panthers. Rob Dimaio broke the shutout with 6 27 remaining on a Power play goal off a feed from Denis Savard. The assist gave Savard 1,211 career Points moving him past Florida general manager Bobby Clarke to 20th on the nil career list. Kings 3, mighty ducks 2 Pat Conacher scored twice and Shawn Mceachern got the tie breaking goal late in the second period As the Kings beat the mighty ducks in their first regular season visit to Anaheim Arena. The Victory was Only the fifth in 20 games for the struggling Kings. New year s 94 in i.v2. 1-Star of pm Iff tits Paris rinsing in 94m o4-Star hotel i Paris 119 for information or booking visit your i i for information or booking visit your sat travel office or Call us at 0631 -7207ev Val travel office or Call us at 063 -72078buy 3 get a eee alarmed forces recreation Center when you Check in on sundays mondays or tuesdays and Reserve 3 consecutive room nights you get the 4th night free buy 3 get i free runs from feb. I 28 excluding presidents Day weekend. Ach Emsee Dan 4412-355, Civ. 0805i 803172. Fax 08051 803158 9garniteh Dan 4402-575. Civ. 08821 79081. Fax 08821 3942  Dan 4415-623/823 Civ. 08652 61057. Fax 08652 62768