Leading off today: The state ice hockey final fours will remain in Utica through 2011, The Observer-Dispatch reported today.

   The New York State Public High School Athletic Association, which has held the event at Utica Memorial Auditorium since 1986, awarded a three-year extension according to Section 3 chairman John Cunningham.

   "We weren’t in jeopardy," Cunningham told the newspaper, adding that no other venues made a formal bid. "You always worry about somebody from a bigger city with more off-ice attractions, but when you go to the states, it’s really all about hockey. You really don’t have time for much else."

   Milestones: Malverne/East Rockaway girls soccer goalie Kelli Hughes, a six-year varsity starter, recorded career save No. 1,000 on Friday.

   The Cheshire (Conn.) girls swim team set a national mark Monday night with its 235th straight dual-meet win. The Rams began the streak in 1986. The previous mark of 234 was set by Elkhart ind.) from 1980 to '94.

   'Superbug' still spreading: The so-called superbug spreading all over the country has started hitting with greater frequency in New York.

   Ballston Spa administrators say two students were treated in the past month for a drug-resistant staph infection known as MRSA. Consequently, athletic facilities there are getting some extra cleaning even though the two athletes are no longer contagious. The middle school and high school locker rooms, gyms and pool decks are being cleaned twice a day as a precaution.

   In Syracuse, the count of affected students at Nottingham High has reached at least three. District officials say they're scrubbing walls, lockers and classroom equipment.

   Last month, the focus was on Henninger High School after two students were diagnosed with MRSA.

   Lansingburg readies for game: Tuesday night's three-hour meeting of the Section 2 transfer committee ended with a ruling in favor of Lansingburgh, making the Knights the No. 1 seed in the Class A football tournament.

   Lansingburgh will host Mohonasen in a Section 2 quarterfinal tomorrow.

   Lansingburgh Superintendent George Goodwin and AD Michael Harkin proved to the committee that senior running back Nyquan McGirt lives in the Lansingburgh section of the city of Troy, negating a previous determination that had Lansingburgh on the verge of forfeiting six games.

   McGirt played at Troy Catholic Central in 2006. He was ruled ineligible Oct. 9 by the transfer committee, then allowed to play Friday against Glens Falls before the Section 2 executive committee on Monday sent the issue back to the transfer committee.

   Soccer suspensions: Seven Utica Notre Dame boys soccer players and their coach have been suspended for the remainder of the season after a prank that the Syracuse Diocese said showed "poor judgment," The Observer-Dispatch reported.

   "It was an incident at the school," said Danielle Cummings, director of communications for the Syracuse Diocese. "It was not hazing. After interviewing those involved, it was clear it was meant to be a prank. Clearly, it was a demonstration of poor judgment. The situation and those involved have been dealt with by the school administration."

   Coach Ryan Monaco said he was suspended because he did not immediately respond to the incident.

   "I was under the impression it was kids being kids,” he told the paper. "The school felt it was a different situation, a hazing type thing. I didn’t feel it was."

   The Jugglers (4-8-2) are now down to 13 players but are continuing to field a team under assistant coach George Saber.

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