With both coaches in place, Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey can focus on rebuilding rosters
For the recently reinstated Robert Morris University ice hockey programs, maybe these were the last of the first steps toward a return to the ice. With two head coaches now entrenched, the big strides toward rebuilding can truly begin. Both programs were cut by the university in May 2021. But...
Blackhawks owner on Kyle Beach: ‘Not going to talk about anything’
CHICAGO — Speaking Wednesday night at a town hall organized by the team, Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz angrily rejected any conversation connected to the franchise’s response when a player said he was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach. It was the first time the franchise’s top leaders had faced...
Coronation: Rangers retire Henrik Lundqvist’s No. 30 in ceremony
The King has taken his throne in the rafters at Madison Square Garden. Henrik Lundqvist became the 11th player to have his number retired by the New York Rangers when a banner with his name and No. 30 was raised at the Garden before the team’s game against the Minnesota...
First Call: A possible free agent destination for JuJu Smith-Schuster; Aaron Rodgers discusses his future; Flyers keep losing
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster may already have a preferred destination in free agency. The USFL will stage an interesting television launch in April. Aaron Rodgers outlines his decision-making process for his future playing career. And while the Penguins just keep winning, the Philadelphia Flyers...
Flyers’ Yandle sets Iron Man mark in 965th straight gameVideo
NEW YORK — Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle broke the NHL record by playing in his 965th consecutive game. The 35-year-old Yandle passed the previous mark set by Doug Jarvis, who played 964 straight games over his entire career from Oct. 8, 1975, to Oct. 10, 1987. Yandle started his...
Islanders great Clark Gillies dies at 67
Hall of Famer Clark Gillies, a stalwart on the New York Islanders’ dynasty that won four straight Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s, has died. He was 67. The Islanders announced Gillies death Friday night, with team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello saying “the entire Islanders community is...
NHL reschedules games, season set to end on time April 29
The NHL on Wednesday revealed new dates for 98 games postponed for coronavirus-related reasons, keeping the end of the regular season on schedule for April 29. The changes include moving 23 other games around and 95 games — including nine of the Penguins’ — filling the Feb. 7-22 gap that...
NHL to stop covid testing for asymptomatic players after All-Star break
The NHL will stop testing asymptomatic players, coaches and staff who are fully vaccinated following the All-Star break in early February, saying coronavirus cases continue to decline across the league. The league and Players’ Association announced the protocol changes Tuesday. The current policy will remain in place until the All-Star...
Montreal Canadiens hire player agent Kent Hughes as GM
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens hired player agent Kent Hughes as their general manager Tuesday, hoping he can turn around a team with the worst record in the NHL. The 51-year-old Montreal native replaces Marc Bergevin, who was fired Nov. 28 following the Canadiens’ poor start. Hughes has been an...
Women’s hockey league to increase salary cap, add 2 teams
The Premier Hockey Federation is more than doubling each teams’ salary cap to $750,000 and adding two expansion franchises next season in a bid to capitalize on the wave of attention women’s hockey traditionally enjoys following the Winter Olympics. The PHF’s announcement on Tuesday of its board of governors’ commitment...
Alexander Ovechkin, Connor McDavid headline NHL All-Star roster
NEW YORK — Washington star Alexander Ovechkin and high-scoring Edmonton Oilers teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl headline the rosters for the NHL All-Star Weekend announced Thursday. Selected for the eighth time, Ovechkin led voting in the Metropolitan Division to earn the captaincy for the Feb. 4-5 event at T-Mobile...
First Call: Steelers are record-setting underdogs against Chiefs; K.C. injury update; a Marc-Andre Fleury trade idea
Thursday’s “First Call” shows us just how big of an underdog the Pittsburgh Steelers truly are this weekend in Kansas City. The Chiefs are getting healthier, too. Fire up the Marc-Andre Fleury trade rumors again. And an honor for a former Robert Morris Colonial. More truth than you thought? When...
No NHL boosts Russian hopes for Olympic gold in men’s hockey
When the National Hockey League and its players agreed to pause the season and participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics, it came with the caveat of pandemic conditions not making it impractical to go to China. Seven weeks before puck drop at what was supposed to be the first Olympics...
Sabres sign Wexford’s Michael Houser to shore up injury-depleted goalie depth
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres signed Michael Houser to a one-year, $750,000 contract and called up Aaron Dell from the minors on Wednesday to shore up their injury depleted goaltending ranks. The signing comes with Buffalo adding goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukonen and Malcolm Subban to their injured list. Luukonen is...
Goalie Tuukka Rask returns to Bruins after agreeing to 1-year dealVideo
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins on Tuesday signed Tuukka Rask for the rest of the season, bringing back the winningest goalie in franchise history after he recovered from offseason hip surgery. General manager Don Sweeney said Rask will back up Linus Ullmark for Wednesday night’s game against the rival Montreal...
Marc-Andre Fleury welcomed back to Vegas by adoring fans
LAS VEGAS — Hockey fans in southern Nevada still love Marc-Andre Fleury. The adoration overflowed Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena when the 18-year veteran led the Chicago Blackhawks onto the ice for their game against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Fans lined the end boards, pounded the glass,...
Sharks plan to terminate Evander Kane’s contractVideo
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks placed forward Evander Kane on unconditional waivers with the intent to terminate the remainder of his $49 million, seven-year contract. The Sharks said Saturday they made the move because Kane violated covid-19 protocols in the AHL, where he is currently playing for...
NHL MVP, Oilers captain Connor McDavid goes on covid-19 protocol listVideo
Edmonton captain and reigning league MVP Connor McDavid went on the NHL’s covid-19 protocol list Wednesday, while the Dallas Stars and their captain Jamie Benn prepared to return to the ice after missing six games over 2 1/2 weeks because of virus issues. McDavid, forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Tyson...
Tied atop NHL, Capitals get players back from virus protocolVideo
ARLINGTON, Va. — Tied for the most points in the NHL, the Washington Capitals are faring better in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus than many of their rivals. The Capitals navigated a stretch in which top players Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie and others went into league covid-19...
Jordan Kyrou keeps Blues warm Winter Classic win vs. Wild
MINNEAPOLIS — Jordan Kyrou had two goals and two assists in a five-goal second period for St. Louis, and the Blues cruised through the coldest outdoor game in NHL history to beat the host Minnesota Wild, 6-4, in the Winter Classic on Saturday night. The official faceoff temperature was minus-5.7...
Dick Vitale taking extended break from ESPN college hoops
Dick Vitale is taking an extended break from the airwaves to rest his voice. The ESPN college basketball analyst said in a story posted Wednesday to ESPN Front Row that on a recent visit to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, throat specialist Dr. Steven Zeitels advised him to rest his...
NHL cutting isolation time to 5 days, change applies in U.S.
The NHL is following other leagues and the CDC by cutting covid-19 isolation times to five days under certain conditions and where it is allowed by local laws. The change went into effect Wednesday and applies only in the U.S. because of stricter pandemic regulations in Canada. The league has...
NHL players vent frustration over being barred from Olympics
Brad Marchand is not happy. Neither is Vladimir Tarasenko. And they are not alone. A handful of NHL players are voicing their frustration over the league’s decision barring them from participating in the Winter Olympics in China in February. Even though the agreement between the league and NHL Players’ Association...
Kraken lose fan favorite Brandon Tanev to major knee injury
SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken will be without forward Brandon Tanev for the rest of the season after he suffered a torn ACL in his knee, the team said Monday. Tanev was injured Dec. 18 against Edmonton and had sought a second opinion on the extent of the injury. The...
First Call: Browns clear players from covid list; Steelers star upset over Pro Bowl snub; bad news for 2 ex-Penguins
Tuesday’s “First Call” provides a health update on the Cleveland Browns before they visit the Steelers on Monday night. We also hear from a Steelers player who is mad that he was left off of the Pro Bowl roster. And we’ve got some bad news for a pair of former...
