Michigan interim president Domenico Grasso sent the letter to students and faculty, the first comments from the university since the firing.
Michigan football recruit ‘devastated, shocked’ over Moore firing
Matt Ludwig, a four-star football recruit, requested to be released from his letter-of-intent with Michigan after it fired coach Sherrone Moore.
GAME DAY: Senators-Blue Jackets Line Combinations
After a winless, pointless three-game homestand, the Senators will try to right their ship on the road Thursday night in Columbus, Ohio.
They’ll face the Blue Jackets, who have almost the same record as Ottawa, sitting just two points ahead of them. But with the Senators losing three straight, five of their last six, and plummeting in the Eastern Conference standings, the calibre of their opposition should be the last thing on anyone's minds.
Senators head coach Travis Green continues to fiddle with his forward lines, hoping to find some chemistry.
Nick Cousins is back down on the fourth line after starting the last game with Tim Stützle and Fabian Zetterlund. Brady Tkachuk takes his spot on that line, while David Perron moves up from the fourth line to play with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson.
Kurtis MacDermid draws into the lineup, meaning Steven Halliday and Olle Lycksell take a seat. There’s a good chance MacDermid and Blue Jackets tough guy Mathieu Olivier find each other at some point.
But when you’re in a slump, you look for lucky charms wherever you can find them: in MacDermid’s eight games this season, the Senators have gone 5-1-2.
Linus Ullmark will start in goal.
Senators projected lineup
Tkachuk – Stützle – Zetterlund
Perron – Cozens – Batherson
Amadio – Greig – Giroux
MacDermid – Eller – Cousins
Sanderson – Zub
Kleven – Spence
Matinpalo – Jensen
Starting goalie: Ullmark
Weird stat of the day: Daniel Alfredsson celebrates his 53rd birthday in Columbus. According to NHL.com, in his long NHL career, Alfredsson only ever played three times on his birthday.
The Blue Jackets come into this game losers of three straight as well.
Blue Jackets projected lineup (according to nhl.com)
Voronkov – Monahan – Marchenko
Johnson – Fantilli – Jenner
Wood – Coyle – Sillinger
Gaunce – Lundestrom – Chinakhov
Werenski – Provorov
Mateychuk – Severson
Smith – Fabbro
Starting goalie: Merzlikins
Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Gabriel Jesus is looking to impress, Daniel Muñoz is tough to replace and is this it for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?
This season Chelsea have held Arsenal after going down to 10 men and have beaten Barcelona, Liverpool and Tottenham. They have also dropped points against Atalanta, Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Leeds, Qarabag and Sunderland. It is clear that winning against smaller sides remains a problem for Enzo Maresca. Chelsea rise to the big occasion but inconsistency flares when they are expected to win. They do not like playing against deep defences – Maresca has often reacted with dismay when opponents switch to a back five to counter his carefully formulated plans – and can be forgiven if they are edgy about hosting Everton on Saturday. David Moyes’s side have just recorded clean sheets at Bournemouth and Manchester United. They will back themselves to neutralise Chelsea’s attacking talents. Jacob Steinberg
Chelsea v Everton, Saturday 3pm (all times GMT)
Liverpool v Brighton, Saturday 3pm
Burnley v Fulham, Saturday 5.30pm
Arsenal v Wolves, Saturday 8pm
Continue reading...Former Canucks Forward Playing His Way Onto Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Team
As it stands, no members of the Vancouver Canucks are expected to make Team Canada’s 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics roster. However, there is a former Canucks who has gotten off to a red-hot start to the 2025–26 season and could be making a bid for Olympic contention. Had things gone differently during his time with the Canucks, Bo Horvat could have been Vancouver’s lone representative on Team Canada.
Currently, Horvat has been one of the NHL’s strongest goal-scorers to start the year. The former Canucks captain is tied with Jason Robertson and Connor Bedard for third in the entire NHL, having scored 19 goals in 31 games played at a pace of .612 goals per game. He currently leads the New York Islanders in points by a margin of eight — Mathew Barzal has the next highest total with 23 on the year.
Throughout his time with the Canucks, Horvat has shown flashes of being a phenomenal goal-scorer at the NHL level. One instance in which this was very prominent was during the 2020 Bubble Playoffs, in which he scored 10 goals in 17 games, holding the league lead until Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning. Horvat and his team had been eliminated two rounds before that.
Horvat’s offensive production shot up a couple of seasons after that. During the 2021–22 season, he scored a career-high (at the time) 31 goals in 70 games to mark the first 30-goal season of his career. The year after that, he potted 31 in 49 games played with the Canucks before being traded to the Islanders at the end of January. He finished that season with a grand total of 38 goals.
Since joining the Islanders, Horvat has posted 33-goal and 28-goal seasons in 2023–24 and 2024–25 respectively. He is currently on pace to score 50 goals by the end of 2025–26. The former Canucks captain also has the second-most faceoff wins in the entire NHL with 329, while his faceoff winning rate of 57.8% ranks ninth among centers who have played more than 400 minutes and taken more than 200 faceoffs.
With the Olympics on the horizon, Horvat is a good option for Team Canada in terms of center depth. Of course, however, this will be impacted by how Canada decides to deploy players like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon. Horvat was not named to Team Canada during the 4 Nations Faceoff last year, though his current goal-scoring streak could propel him to land a spot on the team.
“It’s always in the back of my mind,” Horvat said to amNewYork of making Canada’s Olympic roster. “I want to be there. Plain and simple. Anybody in my position, anyone around here wants to be a part of that. To wear the Canadian flag and represent your country has always been a dream of mine, and if I get that opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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U-M TE commit granted release from signing after Sherrone Moore firing
Matt Ludwig, a four-star tight end from Montana, has been granted a release from his signed national letter of intent, a program spokesman told Freep.
2025 Heisman Trophy: Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez leads list of players who missed out on being finalists
Rodriguez has starred for a Texas Tech defense that's one of the best in the country
Oregon Signee Tommy Tofi Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Offensive lineman Tommy Tofi (San Francisco, California/ Archbishop Riordan High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.
Grizzlies Zach Edey out at least a month with stress reaction in left ankle
When Zach Edey has been on the court this season, the Memphis Grizzlies have outscored their opponents by 17.7 points per 100 possessions. When Edey is off the court, the Grizzlies get outscored by 8.2 per 100 — that's a 25.9 points per 100 swing with him on the court.
Which is why this is such bad news in Memphis: Edey will be out at least a month due to a stress reaction in his left ankle, the team announced Thursday. This is the same ankle on which Edey had offseason surgery, which caused him to miss the first 13 games of the season.
Edey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN’s Shams Charania, "This is a management plan to optimize Zach's long-term health in consultation with the Grizzlies and medical experts. Following this step, the short- and long-term prognosis for Zach is excellent."
This is a rough blow for a Memphis team that had gone 7-2 in its last nine and started to string together some wins, and is expected to get Ja Morant back soon from the calf strain that sidelined him.
With Edey out, expect Jock Landale to become the starting five for a while, with Jaren Jackson Jr. spending more time at center as well.
In the same announcement, the Grizzlies said that wing John Konchar will have surgery to repair a UCL tear in his left thumb. The team did not provide a timeline for his return, but this injury usually keeps players out at least a month.
Matt Rempe Making Strides Toward Return From Injury
There are some encouraging signs regarding Matt Rempe’s recovery from an upper-body injury.
We haven’t seen Rempe in game action since suffering an upper-body injury during a fight against Ryan Reaves that landed him on long-term injured reserve.
Rempe has missed the past 23 games. However, it appears as if he’s getting closer to making a return to the lineup.
The 23-year-old forward practiced for the first time on Tuesday and actually traveled with the team to Chicago for the New York Rangers’ Wednesday night game against the Chicago Blackhawks despite not playing.
“He’s skated a fair amount on his own with our skills coaches, and the next step is to get him on with the group in the team setting in a non-contact jersey,” Mike Sllivan said of Rempe. “That’s what he was today, he participated like that. And then obviously the final step is to get him into game role scenarios.”
The Absence Of Adam Fox Was Especially Prevalent In Rangers' Disastrous Loss To Blackhawks The weight of Adam Fox’s absence is beginning to grow larger on the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a>.
It’s worth noting that Rempe has been skating in a non-contact jersey, but these recent developments are certainly a sign that he’s been making significant progress in his overall recovery.
Basel 1-2 Aston Villa, Celtic 0-3 Roma and more: Europa League – as it happened
A good night for English clubs in Europe; not so much for Scotland’s representatives
Stuttgart 3-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv. Some bonus content here. No need to thank us! And there really is no need to thank us, because it comes courtesy of our old MBM and Clockwatch pal Kári Tulinius. “Stuttgart looked like they were heading to the most comfortable of home wins when they went 3-0 up after yet another defensive rick by Maccabi, when the normally reliable Alexander Nübel tried to save Roy Revivo’s shot with a hand so weak it seemed like it was made out of cottage cheese. The comedy defending moment still goes to the visitors, though, who let in an opener after a covering defender simply fell on his behind while tracking a high ball, giving Lorenz Assignon all the time in the world to measure the aim on his volley.”
Callum O’Dowda swings a ball in from the left wing. Barnabás Varga heads into the top-right corner from close range. He couldn’t miss, partly because the nearest defender, Emmanuel Fernandez, was the wrong side of the striker, facing upfield, then span around in confusion, making no challenge whatsoever. Comically poor defending.
Continue reading...Sabres Sign Trevor Kuntar, Making NHL Debut vs. Canuck, Ellis To IR
The losing ways of the Buffalo Sabres on their Western road swing ended on Tuesday in Edmonton, even those the club surrendered a three-goal third period lead before Alex Tuch’s overtime winner, but the club’s injury woes have reappeared. Already with Michael Kesselring, Jiri Kulich, and Justin Danforth out, the Sabres lost winger Jason Zucker in Calgary, and goaltender Colten Ellis against the Oilers.
Zucker will be unavailable long-term with a lower-body injury, and Ellis was placed on injured reserve on Thursday due to being in concussion protocol. Center Josh Norris did not play in Edmonton after being a late scratch with what Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff described as an illness, but also due to something that occurred during warmups.
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“(Ellis) said he was feeling better, but just protocol now, so we’ll go through that and get him back as soon as we can.” Ruff said after the morning skate in Vancouver. “(Norris) is doing better, but he won’t play (against the Canucks).”
Winger Isak Rosen was recalled to take Zucker’s spot and after demoting Noah Ostlund earlier in the week, the Sabres opted to call up center Trevor Kuntar from AHL Rochester. Kuntar was a 2020 third round pick of Boston, who after two seasons in AHL Providence was not qualified by the Bruins and signed an AHL deal with the Amerks.
The 24-year-old had nine goals in 24 games with Rochester, and was signed to an NHL two-way deal on Wednesday to be eligible to join the NHL club. Ruff indicated that Ostlund needed to play one AHL game before being able to be recalled and with the Amerks playing in Belleville on Wednesday, it would have been nearly impossible for the young center to get to Vancouver in time to play against the Canucks.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
Canadiens Scratching Arber Xhekaj For Prospect vs. Penguins
The Montreal Canadiens are making some changes to their blueline for their Dec. 11 matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Canadiens announced that defenseman Arber Xhekaj will not be in the lineup for them against the Penguins. In addition, the Canadiens shared that blueliner Adam Engstrom is set to enter the lineup for the Habs against the Penguins.
Xhekaj has appeared in 27 games so far this season with the Canadiens, where he has recorded one assist, 21 blocks, 57 hits, 55 penalty minutes, and a minus-7 rating. This comes after the 24-year-old defeneman posted one goal, six points, 118 penalty minutes, and 180 hits in 70 games for the Canadiens this past season.
Engstrom, on the other hand, has posted five goals, 11 assists, 16 points, and a plus-8 rating in 20 games this season for the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He also played in his first two career NHL games for the Canadiens earlier this season, where he was held off the scoresheet.
The Canadiens are entering their matchup against the Penguins with the hope of snapping their two-game losing streak.
Brindley Returns, Bardakov Sits: Gavin Brindley Back in the Avalanche Lineup
Gavin Brindley will return to the lineup tonight for the Colorado Avalanche as they face the Florida Panthers at Ball Arena.
The 21-year-old forward has missed the past 10 games due to a lower-body injury. With his return—alongside Joel Kiviranta, who also recently came back from a lower-body injury—Zakhar Bardakov will be a healthy scratch for tonight’s game.
Brindley has endured two separate absences this season. His first came after he sustained a concussion on October 31 against the Vegas Golden Knights, the result of a collision with Ivan Barbashev. Fortunately, the concussion proved mild; he experienced no lingering symptoms and was able to return to the lineup promptly.
GAVIN BRINDLEY IS YOUR OT HERO!! 😱
— NHL (@NHL) November 10, 2025
The @Avalanche win it in @Energizer overtime! pic.twitter.com/mfWQpTNCd4
Following Valeri Nichushkin’s lower-body injury, Brindley was elevated to the second line, only to be sidelined again on November 20 when he absorbed a hit behind the net early in the opening period against the New York Rangers.
Now that Nichushkin has fully recovered, Brindley will likely return to the fourth line where he started the year.
Brindley scored his first NHL goal on October 11 during the Avalanche’s 5–4 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. He recorded his first game-winning goal a few weeks later on November 9, netting the overtime winner against the Vancouver Canucks. So far this season, Brindley has tallied seven points in 18 games, including four goals and three assists.
Brindley spent two standout seasons at the University of Michigan, earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. His first campaign with the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, began on a promising note—he registered four points in his first three games despite a delayed start caused by a broken hand. Over the course of his rookie season, however, his production tapered off, and he finished with six goals and 17 points in 52 games.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
NBA pushes back on idea that the league schedule is at heart of increased soft tissue injuries
Saturday in Las Vegas, it appears likely Victor Wembanyama will make his return to the court after missing a dozen games due to a calf strain. If it feels like there have been more calf strains — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday, Isaiah Hartenstein, Ty Jerome, Ben Sheppard — it's because there have been. Tom Haberstroh broke down the numbers at Yahoo Sports, working with Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes.
In the first 20 games of the 2025-26 season, we've seen a substantial increase in calf injuries (excluding contusions caused by blunt force), according to leading injury expert Jeff Stotts of InStreetClothes.com. This time last season, there were 18 calf injuries at the 20-game mark. This season, it's up to 25 incidents, representing an increase of nearly 40%.
More significant, however, is the elongated recovery timeline of these injuries. Per Stotts' data, the number of games lost due to calf injuries, through 20 games played, skyrocketed from 36 to 108. A tripling of last season's total.
A little more than a week ago, John Holinger of The Athletic (formerly part of the Memphis front office) asked whether the strains of the NBA Cup schedule had exacerbated the rise in soft-tissue injuries. While that has been a topic discussed in league circles, the article largely flew under the radar — until Thursday, when the NBA released a lengthy statement pushing back on the premise of Hollinger’s article, with NBA spokesman Mike Bass' name attached.
"John Hollinger's premise that the NBA Cup has led to a denser schedule resulting in more player injuries is simply not supported by the data. Hollinger wonders if 'the league turned the early-season travel dial a little too high' and posits that teams are facing 'an unnaturally heavy schedule cycle.' The reality is the NBA played roughly the same number of games through 42 days this season (308) as last season (307).
"Further, those numbers are consistent with pre-Cup years (308 games in 2022 and 313 games in 2021). The Cup has objectively not led to a denser league-wide schedule in the early part of the season.
"Hollinger additionally claims the NBA is seeing an 'uptick in early-season soft-tissue injuries' and that 'the league keeps getting worse at keeping those stars healthy.' Through the season's first six weeks, the number of injuries forcing star players to miss games is the lowest in the past six seasons, down more than 25 percent year-over-year. While several star players have not played this season due to injuries sustained last season, the suggestion that any increase in games missed this season is related to the schedule's first six weeks is patently misleading."
Hollinger's response summed up the general reaction to the NBA's statement: Why did the league release this in the first place?
The NBA's point that injuries to stars from last season — specifically, Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton — are part of the number problem is correct. However, the league statement does not address the facts noted at the start of this piece, that calf injuries — and soft-tissue injuries in general — are up. And because of what everyone saw with Tatum and Haliburton, teams are far more cautious about bringing back players from calf and other injuries.
Injuries are always part of the NBA season. Now, due to improved science and teams being risk-averse considering the nine-figure investments in their biggest stars, teams are willing to keep players out longer and make sure they are fully healed before a player returns. It's what's best for the players and the teams, but it means seeing less of some stars.