By Carol Beggy and Beth Carney, Globe Staff, 01/01/98

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi told People mag that ''figure skaters have awful perceptions of hockey players,'' but apparently she's overcome hers. The professional figure skater last week got engaged to Bret Hedican, a player with the Vancouver Canucks and former member of the US hockey team. The two met - where else? - at an ice rink, at the opening of Vancouver's hockey arena two years ago. ... Pop singer Amy Grant and her husband, Christian music artist Gary Chapman, are splitting up. The pair, who've been married for 16 years and have three children, announced Wednesday that they're separating.