Skiing • Sarah Burke’s friends took a slow trip down a darkened halfpipe at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, saying goodbye to the skier who helped push their sports to the heights they are today.

At the bottom, those friends embraced Burke’s family, still mourning a week after the 29-year-old freestyle skier’s death in Salt Lake City. The Canadian, a pioneer in freestyle skiing, died from injuries suffered during a training accident earlier this month.

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It was a touching tribute in front of a silent crowd — beginning with a video remembrance of Burke’s life played on the big screens across the venue.

Burke was a four-time X Games champion in skiing superpipe and lobbied to get that sport in the Olympics, where it will debut in 2014.

Chara gets top pick in NHL All-Star draft

NHL • Zdeno Chara went with offense in taking Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk with the No. 1 pick in the NHL All-Star draft in Gatineau, Quebec. Daniel Alfredsson stuck closer to home, choosing Ottawa Senators defenseman and teammate Erik Karlsson with his club’s first selection.

The 38 players drafted will be split up in two teams, — named for the captains — which will compete in both the skills competition on Saturday and the All-Star game on Sunday.

Marley, Brubaker win short program

Figure skating • Rockne Brubaker is back at the top of the U.S. pairs world, winning the short program with new partner Mary Beth Marley on Thursday night.

Marley and Brubaker’s delightful "Singing in the Rain"program earned a score of 65.80, more than four points ahead of last year’s runners-up, Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig. Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, winners of the past two titles at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with previous partners, are third.

From wire reports