Minnesota Sports Briefs: Moss returns once again, this time with 49ers

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MINNEAPOLIS - Randy Moss' tenure with the Minnesota Vikings produced an abundance of spectacular highlights, quite a few controversial moments and two very acrimonious endings.

The colorful wide receiver is now in a new phase of his adventurous career as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, who'll be shooting for their first 3-0 start in 14 seasons when the defending NFC West champions take on the Vikings in Moss' first visit to the Metrodome since being cut loose by his original team nearly two years back.

Moss' first tour of duty with the Vikings was predominantly filled with insane on-field production, with the now 35-year-old delivering six seasons with either 1,200-plus receiving yards or 10 or more touchdown catches over a seven-year span from 1998-2004. His second stint with the organization wasn't nearly as long or prolific, however. Moss was traded by New England to Minnesota four weeks into the 2010 season, but the reunion was abruptly cut short after only four games due to conflicts with then-head coach Brad Childress. The Vikings waived Moss in early November of that year and he finished out that campaign with the Tennessee Titans, compiling career lows 28 catches and 393 receiving yards over all three stops.

Moss expects to draw a mixed reaction in his return to Minneapolis, but insists he's more concerned with aiding San Francisco in its goal of winning a championship, something he's yet to accomplish during his distinguished 14- year career. "As far as the past, it's the past," he said. "I look forward, and not backward."

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The NHL announced this week the cancellation of the 2012 preseason through Sept. 30.The cancellations were necessary due to the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL. The preseason was set to begin Sept. 23, with the regular season commencing on Oct. 11. In addition, the 2012 Kraft Hockeyville preseason game, scheduled for Oct. 3 in Belleville, Ontario, has been postponed until 2013. The NHL is officially in its third work stoppage in less than 20 years.

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University of Minnesota freshman ice hockey forward Connor Reilly's season is done before it even began. A knee injury caused by a fall last weekend has put the freshman on ice for the 2012-13 season. Reilly will have surgery in the near-future although a date has not been set. Reilly, who is from Chanhassen, Minn., is a highly touted recruit having led his junior team in British Columbia last season to a league title and record 42-game win streak. He had 86 points BCHL play.

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The University of Minnesota women's hockey team is the preseaon No. 1 ranked team in the country according to U.S. College Hockey Online.com's poll. The defending national champions received all 15 first place votes with defending runner-up Wisconsin coming in second. The Golden Gophers begin their season next weekend as they host Colgate in a weekend series at Ridder Arena.

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