Posts

Posted on

Olympic ice hockey venues may not be finished in time for games

  • IIHF president says seating at arenas may be reduced

  • NHL concerned about ice quality and dimensions

The head of the International Ice Hockey Federation said parts of the main hockey rink for the Milan Cortina Olympics might not be fully finished on time, but the playing surface, practice facilities and dressing rooms will be ready when the puck drops for the men’s event on 11 February.

“We can be confident on that,” IIHF President Luc Tardif told reporters Monday at the world junior championship. “You’re not going to go to Milano for nothing.”

Continue reading...
Posted on

Draymond Green gives hilariously self-aware take on Steve Kerr's fiery ejection

Draymond Green gives hilariously self-aware take on Steve Kerr's fiery ejection originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Whether it’s smashing a clipboard or sharing disapproval with a referee’s call, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is not one to shy away from expressing anger. 

Kerr’s latest heated moment came in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 103-102 loss to the LA Clippers on Monday, as he demonstratively argued against a no-call on a goaltend by Clippers forward John Collins. 

Warriors star Draymond Green was asked after the game if he had ever seen his coach that angry, to which he provided a hilarious and astutely self-observant example. 

“Yeah,” Green responded during his postgame press conference. “When he was ready to kill me the other day in the huddle.” 

Green referred to the clash between Kerr and himself during a Warriors win over the Orlando Magic in December. Green left the bench and did not return to the game, saying it was “best to remove” himself. 

It’s a good sign for morale that Green can chuckle about the incident in hindsight. 

The team responded well after Kerr’s ejection, and his players appreciated the fire that he showed after receiving some unfavorable officiating. 

“To be honest, I was going to do that and [then] I saw him…” Warriors star Steph Curry said to reporters after the game. “… I love that fired-up Steve for sure. Somebody had to do it tonight.” 

Jimmy Butler felt the same way, noting how powerful it is to see Kerr’s anger in person. 

“You see it sometimes on the internet,” Butler said after the game (h/t The Athletic’s Nick Friedell). “But I really get to see it face to face. Like I always tell you, I like confrontation when motherf—ers start yelling so that’s definitely good.” 

Players always appreciate a coach who will stick up for them, especially when it seems like all the calls are going against them. 

As long as that anger isn’t directed at each other during a timeout like the clash with Green, Kerr’s fire could continue to be beneficial for the Warriors. 

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Nuggets reportedly optimistic Nikola Jokic will be back playing by the All-Star break

Denver was not exactly forthcoming around Nikola Jokic's knee injury, aside from the good news that no ligaments were damaged. The team called it a hyperextension, although that is what happened to the knee, not a diagnosis (something Jeff Stotts pointed out at In Street Clothes, adding Jokic's case has the markings of a bone bruise).

As for a return timeline, the Nuggets said only that the three-time MVP would be re-evaluated in a month. Fortunately, reporting from Tony Jones at The Athletic fleshed that out.

According to team sources, the hope is that Jokić is back and playing by, at worst, the All-Star break. On Sunday night in Brooklyn, Jokić was in Denver's locker room in good spirits. While he hasn't returned to the court yet, he's well underway in his rehabilitation and has been able to be aggressive with it.

If Jokic's return falls near the All-Star Game, it will be interesting to see how he and the Nuggets handle it. While Jokic says it's an honor to be voted in by fans, and this year will feature a USA vs. World format for the game as it returns to NBC during the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, it's no secret Jokic doesn't really love playing in the exhibition All-Star Game itself. He and the Nuggets are not going to delay a return just to avoid it, but if his return is on that bubble, there will be conversations.

The return timeline impacts a few other things as well, including Jokic meeting the 65-game threshold to be eligible for any postseason awards (if he is not back by the Jan. 30 game against the Clippers he will not make it to the pointless 65-game threshold set by the league).

It also impacts seeding in a deep, bunched-up Western Conference. Denver is working to keep its head above water and is 2-2 without Jokic so far. At 24-12, the Nuggets sit fourth in the West, but only 4.5 games separate the No. 2 seed Spurs and the No. 7 seed Suns, who would be in the play-in. Any kind of slump can quickly put a team in the play-in, where they face good teams to get out of it (then have a much tougher road through the postseason).

There has been good news on the injury front for Denver with both Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun returning to the rotation over the weekend. However, another starter, Cam Johnson, remains out, also with a knee hyperextension.

What the Nuggets really need is the return of Jokic, and so far his recovery appears to be going well.

Posted on

'It Was Between Florida And Toronto': Panthers' Brad Marchand Reveals Signing With Maple Leafs Was Possibility If He Hit Free Agency

In an alternate universe, Brad Marchand could be a Toronto Maple Leaf.

Last summer, it didn't appear possible that Marchand, who just helped the Panthers win their second Stanley Cup in a row, would return due to how close Florida was to the salary cap. But somehow, Panthers general manager Bill Zito made it work, inking Marchand to a six-year, $31.5 million contract on July 1.

Ahead of the Panthers' matchup against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, Marchand revealed that it was between "Florida and Toronto of where I was going to go" in free agency, before adding he didn't think it'd be possible to return to the Panthers due to cap restraints.

"I never thought it was going to be possible to re-sign with Florida, I really didn't. Just with the guys we had up and stuff like that," Marchand continued, "but once the opportunity came up to sign here, it was kind of no question that's where I wanted to be. But just with where we were, I didn't think it was going to be able to happen."

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Maple Leafs had an offer waiting for Marchand if he hit the open market on July 1, but ultimately, winning a Stanley Cup altered those potential plans.

Marchand admitted the Maple Leafs are playing better now, compared to how they've played in recent years, adding, "It's unfortunate the fans ran (Mitch) Marner out of town."

The 37-year-old continued, "I mean, that's a huge impact for their group. You know, he's a point-of-game player. Like, that hurts. But, yeah, I mean, they're a great team, great organization."

This is the second time the Panthers have faced the Maple Leafs this season. It is, though, Marchand's first game back in Toronto since he made comments about the Maple Leafs after Florida eliminated them in the playoffs last spring.

'I Grew Up A Leafs Fan': Panthers': Brad Marchand Owns Toronto Again, But Doesn't Believe Fans' Pressure Is Justified'I Grew Up A Leafs Fan': Panthers': Brad Marchand Owns Toronto Again, But Doesn't Believe Fans' Pressure Is JustifiedFlorida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones shook his head, agreeing with Brad Marchand after the veteran forward, who's now ousted the Toronto Maple Leafs from the playoffs on five separate occasions, <a href="https://www.nhl.com/panthers/video/fla-at-tor-jones-marchand-postgame-6373044656112">said the fans beat the pressure into this team</a>.

"So when you actually look at that, and then you see the pressure that Toronto faces, and everyone's talking about whatever the 20 or 30-year build up, I don't know what it is, but you see the fans and the way they're talking, like, they just beat the pressure into this team, and it's got to be tough on those guys to walk through the rink every day and not feel that," Marchand said, adding he was a Maple Leafs fan growing up.

"I mean, you see the way the fans treat them at the end, like, how do you not feel that every single day? And when you go through big games, you realize which are actually big games and which are just big moments."

The Halifax, Nova Scotia-born forward is off to a great start this season, scoring 23 goals and 23 assists through 40 games this season. Not only that, but Marchand is also headed to the Winter Olympics with Team Canada in February.

Safe to say, Father Time hasn't caught up with him yet on the ice. It might not ever catch up with him off the ice with his great quotes, either.

Posted on

Where Do We Go From Here, Rangers Fans; Where Do We Go From Here?

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The new season has begun with the Rangers easily within reach of a playoff berth – if they extract the best hockey from their best players. Last night they did not – especially Breadman Panarin, the club's most important player.

Taken overall, he was the worst.

Last night's MSG challenge from the Utah Mammoth offered a good test of where the Blueshirts are going from here. They failed, losing 3-2 in overtime

On paper, a standings surge is doable since neither those immediately ahead of the New Yorkers in the Met Division – Devils, Capitals, Penguins, Flyers and Islanders – are still within easy reach.

But to do so the Rangers must do better than losing four of their last five games. What's more, the former Coyotes-turned-Mammoth entered The World's Most Famous Arena as not exactly the kind of club that puts fear in the hearts of foes – except, of course, the Rangers whose 44 games played is the most of every NHL club except Detroit.

So, what the Blueshirts did was play the kind of game that makes their outdoor win over Florida a dim, distant memory. 

"The only plus last night," says The Old Scout, "is that they squeezed a point out of a game in which they were outplayed."

Of New York's two power play goals, one was with a big-deal two-man advantage. BUT,

they later got a gift power play that could have won the game with 3:14 remaining in the third period. By contrast – considering the time and score – was so futile, the Blueshirts managed only one shot on goal.

Igor Shesterkin's Injury Will Impact Rangers' Outlook On Season And Trade Deadline Strategy Igor Shesterkin's Injury Will Impact Rangers' Outlook On Season And Trade Deadline Strategy The New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>’ 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth was overshadowed by Igor Shetserkin’s injury scare.&nbsp;

"The Rangers offense is pitiful," adds The Old Scout, "and when it comes to five on five play, they simply don't measure up."

But in this zany Met Division race, the Rangers still have 38 games left. While they are only three points out of last place, they are not that far from getting in a serious playoff place either.

However,  if you use the loss to Utah as a barometer – not to mention the  possible loss of Shesterkin for more than a few games – the Beloveds are going to have to shape up or ship out!

As we now know, it's a mammoth challenge!

Posted on

Astros Owner: Naming Rights Partner Helped Land Japanese Star

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane was less than 20 seconds into his introduction of free agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai on Monday when he turned to the front row to thank a sponsor.

“One of the things that made this possible, is with our great partners in the front row,” Crane said. He then asked Takayuki Inoue, the chief marketing officer of Daikin, to stand up. “Thank you, sir.”

Daikin, a Japanese HVAC company, is entering the second year of a 15-year naming rights deal with the Astros stadium that will pay the team more than $140 million, according to someone familiar with the terms. For most MLB teams, naming rights are the most valuable corporate asset they can sell. In the case of the Astros, the team may have received something more valuable than money—an assist in making the first major free-agent splash of 2026.

Imai has agreed to a three-year deal worth a reported $54 million, making him the team’s highest-paid starting pitcher. He’s also the first player that the Astros have ever signed directly out of Asia.

Of course, the Imai signing works well for Daikin, too. While it’s unclear exactly what Inoue’s role was in the free agent process—a rep for the company didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry—there are obvious benefits for a Japanese company to have a Japanese star playing in the venue that bears its name. Daikin was mentioned multiple times, by multiple people, during Monday’s press conference, and Inoue reportedly took part in the official photos with Imai afterwards—all things that likely delight a high-paying partner.

The Daikin Park partnership, announced in November 2024, appears to have helped shift the team’s entire approach in Asia. Crane spoke Monday about his team’s scouting presence in Tokyo, Seoul and Taiwan, all of which are recent developments. According to The Athletic, Crane and some other Astros executives recently toured the Daikin headquarters and manufacturing plants, and some local baseball stadiums.

“We’ll be moving pretty fast in Asia,” Crane said Monday.

Crane’s non-Astros businesses have been critical here as well. His freight and supply chain company, Crane Worldwide Logistics, had a pre-existing relationship with Daikin. He said Monday that the team’s scouting apparatus across Asia was able to “set up quickly” by working out of Crane offices.  

Everyone in MLB is currently chasing the Los Angeles Dodgers, in more ways than one. The two-time World Series champs make more money than anyone else in the sport, spend among the most, and have built a balanced roster of homegrown talent and free-agent signings. Some of the biggest examples of the latter have come via Japan. Shohei Ohtani gets the most attention, of course, but the team’s postseason run was also fueled by pitchers Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the World Series MVP. 

On a recent episode of the Sporticast podcast, Dodgers president Stan Kasten told stories about the team’s pursuit of both Sasaki and Ohtani. He also discussed the impact that the team’s Asian presence has had on business. The Dodgers have more than a dozen Japanese sponsorships, including some newcomers in the past two years—All Nippon Airways, Daiso, Kosé, Kowa, Toyo Tires and Yakult—all part of a new corporate push that SponsorUnited estimated added $70 million in incremental sponsor revenue last year.

Crane, who said the Dodgers “led the way” in Asia, added Monday that he thought the Pacific Rim was an “untapped” until Ohtani.

“The players coming out of there are really equivalent or better than some of the guys we have here,” he said. “We’ll be laser-focused on it moving forward.”

With assistance from Kurt Badenhausen.


Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis And Uvis Balinskis Named To Latvia's 2026 Olympic Roster

Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis and winger Sandis Vilmanis have been named to Team Latvia's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster.

Balinskis, 29, will take part in his second Olympic Games, having played in four games and notched three assists for Latvia at the 2022 Olympics. Balinskis has plenty of experience representing Latvia on the international stage, donning that Latvian jersey at five separate World Championships. In those five tournaments, Balinskis has scored one goal and nine points. 

Due to a significant injury to Dmitry Kulikov, Balinskis has found himself back in the Panthers lineup. He's skated in 32 games this season, scoring one goal and seven points while averaging 13:58 of ice time. 

Vilmanis, 21, is skating in his second season with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL. In 31 games, he's scored eight goals and 19 points, on pace to smash his rookie season numbers. The former fifth-round pick (157th overall) in the 2022 NHL draft has flown up the ranks within the Panthers' prospect pool. 

Standing 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, Vilmanis plays a strong game, looking to utilize his shot whenever possible. He has previously represented Latvia at the World Junior Championship three times, scoring three goals and seven points in 16 games. 

Uvis Balinskis (Reuters-Imagn Images)

Latvia's roster:

Forwards: Rodrigo Ābols (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Rūdolfs Balcers (ZSC Lions, SUI), Oskars Batņa (Lahti Pelicans, FIN), Teodors Bļugers (Vancouver Canucks, NHL), Roberts Bukarts (HC Pioneers Vorarlberg, AUT), Kaspars Daugaviņš (Selber Wölfe Huskies, GER-2), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (HC Sparta Prague, CZE), Haralds Egle (HC Energie Karlovy Vary, CZE), Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Renārs Krastenbergs (HC Olomouc, CZE), Ēriks Mateiko (Hershey Bears, AHL), Dans Ločmelis (Providence Bruins, AHL), Eduards Tralmaks (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL), Sandis Vilmanis (Charlotte Checkers, AHL).

Defenseman: Uvis Balinskis (Florida Panthers, NHL), Oskars Cibuļskis (Herning Blue Fox, DEN), Ralfs Freibergs (HC Vítkovice, CZE), Jānis Jaks (HC Energie Karlovy Vary, CZE), Roberts Mamčics (HC Energie Karlovy Vary, CZE), Kristiāns Rubīns (HC Škoda Plzeň, CZE), Alberts Šmits (Jukurit Mikkeli, FIN), Kristaps Zīle (Bílí Tygři Liberec, CZE). 

Goaltenders: Elvis Merzļikins (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Kristers Gudļevskis (Pinguins Bremerhaven, GER), Artūrs Šilovs (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL).

Image

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.

Posted on

SMU’s Kevin ‘Boopie’ Miller is The Associated Press men’s college basketball player of the week

The 6-foot senior from Chicago had 27 points, 12 assists and four rebounds to help SMU beat then-No. 12 North Carolina last week, securing the program's first win against a ranked team under second-year coach Andy Enfield. Miller was 10 of 13 from the field, hit a trio of 3-pointers and finished with just two turnovers in 33 minutes in the emphatic 97-83 win over the Tar Heels.

Posted on

Knicks owner James Dolan: 'We want to get to the Finals, and we should win the Finals'

Nothing puts Knicks fans on edge like James Dolan stepping into the spotlight. Except maybe seeing their team get blown out by the Eastern Conference leaders.

Monday, Knicks fans had to suffer through both. Dolan made an appearance with WFAN’s Craig Carton and set the bar high for his team — Finals or bust — and said not to expect any big roster changes at the trade deadline. Here are a few of his comments, via Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.

"We want to get to the Finals. And we should win the Finals. This is sports and anything can happen. But getting to the Finals, we absolutely got to do."

"We love our team right now. They have chemistry, they all like each other. I've never seen a locker room more copacetic. There's a lot of energy there. Leon can always overrule me. But I don't see us making a big change. Because we got to keep building up this group. This group can win a championship. I believe that."

All that felt a little awkward a few hours later, after the East-leading Detroit Pistons easily handled the Knicks on Monday night, beating them 121-90 behind 29 from Cade Cunningham, who was easily the best player on the court. A January regular-season game is not a May playoff game, but this was the Knicks' fourth straight loss as the team has hit a slump. If nothing else, the timing of Dolan's comments felt odd.

In the interview, Dolan praised former coach Tom Thibodeau but said he was not collaborative or dedicated to player development the way a coach and team need to be in the modern NBA.

Dolan also spoke about the Knicks not hanging an NBA Cup banner, via Christian Arnold of The New York Post (the Knicks are 5-6 since winning the Cup in Las Vegas).

"We are going to raise the banner. We're going to raise the NBA championship banner. That's the banner we want to raise. We want an NBA championship, we don't want some consolation prize."

The Knicks are still the betting favorite to come out of the East at DraftKings and reach the NBA Finals (the Knicks are +290 to the Pistons' +400), living up to Dolan's prediction. The thing he said that should make Knicks fans happy was that team president Leon Rose "could overrule him" on player/personnel decisions (Dolan getting involved in roster decisions is the worst possible outcome).

Still, Dolan has spoken and set the bar high — exactly where most Knicks fans wanted it and believed it should be before the season tipped off. It's just always a little concerning when Dolan steps into the spotlight.