Sports – Page 421 – North Platte Post Archive

Storm Finalize Roster, Announce Captains

Posted on September 24, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – After guiding his team to a 6-0-1 preseason record, Storm Head Coach Jim Hulton has announced the team’s final roster in advance of the season opener in Lincoln on Friday night.

The roster is made up of 10 returning members and 15 newcomers. A total of 16 players have already committed to play at 13 different Division 1 colleges.

“We really like the group that we have here,” Hulton said. “They came in good shape, they work very hard, and we obviously had some success, albeit in exhibition where it doesn’t mean anything, but we’re very happy at the starting point hence the reason we didn’t have any further additions.”

In addition, Hulton has also named forward Garrett Gamez his captain for the 2014-15 season, with veterans Kyle Eastman, Chase Berger and Jalen Schulz serving as alternates.

“Garrett Gamez is a third-year guy who really epitomizes everything the Storm is all about,” Hulton said. “He in particular has embraced a new role this year being a lot more physical and robust in his play, and six points in one exhibition game indicates what he has done. He’s is a special person who rallies all types of people around him.”

Gamez is entering his third season with Tri-City, and finished second on the team in scoring a year ago with 28 assists and 34 points. The Chino Hills, Calif. native also led the team in scoring during the preseason, including a six-point effort last Friday vs. Des Moines in the Fall Classic West.

Eastman is also in his third USHL season with Tri-City, and has already suited up in 101 games for the Storm.

Berger and Schulz enter their second seasons with the Storm organization. Berger was third on the team in goal scoring with 14 tallies in 2013-14, accounting for 29 points. Both played in 57 of the 60 games for the team a year ago.

“I think it’s very important that they’re all returning players that lived through some of the tough times of last season,” Hulton said. “They know the expectations of our coaching staff now and that’s very important. They have to be the extension of the coaching staff. As a staff we’re very comfortable in our communication and rapport with all four guys.”

In order to narrow the roster, Hulton completed a trade with Des Moines Monday that sent forward Mark Petaccio and defenseman Grant Hutton to the Bucs in exchange for a third round pick and a 15th round selection in the 2015 USHL Phase II Draft.

Tri-City has also placed forward Wade Allison on injured reserve to begin the season.

The final roster, separated by position, is below and can be found online at stormhockey.com.

Single game tickets are on sale now for all 30 Storm home games, with the home opener slated for Oct. 3 vs. Sioux Falls at 7:30 p.m.

The Storm begin regular season play on Friday night in Lincoln against the Stars at 7:05 p.m.

Forwards

Nolan Aibel – 5/26/1997 – Brookville, N.Y. – Tri-City Storm
Aleksi Ainali – 4/12/1995 – Vihti, Finland – HIFK U20
Wade Allison – 10/14/1997 – Myrtle, Man. – Omaha AAA
Mason Appleton – 1/15/1996 – Green Bay, Wis. – Notre Dame HS
Chase Berger – 11/14/1994 – St. Louis, Mo. – Tri-City Storm
Kyle Eastman – 1/31/1995 – Angola, N.Y. – Tri-City Storm
Matthew Freytag – 2/15/1997 – Wayzata, Minn. – Wayzata HS
Garrett Gamez – 2/17/1995 – Chino Hills, Calif. – Tri-City Storm/

Chase Hatcher – 2/22/1994 – Haddonfield, N.J. – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Joel Herbert – 6/24/1994 – Edson, Alb. – Whitecourt Wolverines
Cody Milan – 4/11/1996 – White Lake, Mich. – Tri-City Storm
Nick Master – 1/28/1995 – Broomall, Penn. – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Conner Valesano – 2/10/1995 – Duluth, Minn. – Tri-City Storm
Jake Wahlin – 11/9/1996 – White Bear Lake, Minn. – White Bear Lake HS
Chris Wilkie – 7/10/1996 – Omaha, Neb. – Tri-City Storm

Defensemen

Tory Dello – 2/14/1997 – Crystal Lake, Ill. – Tri-City Storm
Mattias Goransson – 3/10/1995 – Grums, Sweden – Byrnas J20
Kevin Kerr – 2/9/1996 – Bensalem, Penn. – Tri-City Storm
Jason Krych – 4/12/1997 – Champlin, Minn. – Totino-Grace HS
Gordie Myer – 2/28/1996 – Sylvania, Ohio – Cleveland Barons
Bobby Nardella – 4/22/1996 – Rosemont, Ill. – Sioux City Musketeers
Jalen Schulz – 4/29/1995 – Cambridge, Minn. – Tri-City Storm
Cameron Spicer – 2/22/1996 – Erie, Colo. – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs

Goaltenders
Alec Dillon – 5/5/1996 – Victoria, B.C. – Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Blake Weyrick – 2/5/1996 – Malibu, Calif. – USNTDP

Tony Stewart Will Not Face Charges in Deadly Crash, Statement from Stewart

Posted on September 24, 2014September 24, 2014

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) — A grand jury has decided against charging NASCAR star Tony Stewart in the August death of another driver at a sprint car race in upstate New York.

The decision was announced Wednesday, nearly seven weeks after Stewart’s car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. at a dirt-track race on Aug. 9 in Canandaigua (can-uhn-DAY’-gwah). District Attorney Michael Tantillo also said Ward was under the influence of marijuana that night “enough to impair judgment.”

Ward had climbed from his car after it had spun while racing alongside Stewart. The 20-year-old walked down the track, waving his arms in an apparent attempt to confront the three-time NASCAR champion.

The front of Stewart’s car appeared to clear Ward, but Ward was struck by the right rear tire. He died of blunt force trauma.

Tony Stewart’s Statement:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tony Stewart called the death of Kevin Ward Jr. “the toughest and most emotional experience of my life,” and asked that Ward’s death not be overlooked after an upstate New York grand jury declined to charge the NASCAR champion.

Ward was killed Aug. 9 when a sprint car driven by Stewart struck him during a dirt track race. In a statement, Stewart said the incident would stay with him forever, and he thanked his supporters and the thorough investigation into the incident.

Stewart said: “While the process was long and emotionally difficult, it allowed for all the facts of the accident to be identified and known. While much of the attention has been on me, it’s important to remember a young man lost his life.”

This Saturday at Husker Nation Pavilion

Posted on September 24, 2014

The Husker Nation Pavilion presented by CenturyLink will be open Saturday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. (three hours before kickoff) for Nebraska’s Homecoming game against Illinois at Memorial Stadium. The Pavilion, located north of Memorial Stadium on the Gass Practice Field, offers fun with family-friendly entertainment for every game.

Activities at the Pavilion will be open to fans from 5 p.m. right up until kickoff shortly after 8 p.m. against the Fighting Illini.

While the activities will end when the football game begins, fans are still welcome to watch the game, which is being televised nationally by BTN at the Pavilion live on the big screen.

The nation’s premier pregame party, the Husker Nation Pavilion provides free and fun activities for the whole family. The Pavilion features great games and activities for kids.

The Gass FieldTurf practice area is available for kids of all ages to stretch out on before the game. The FieldTurf area is exactly like the FieldTurf inside Memorial Stadium and the nearby Hawks Championship Center, and is one of the fields the Huskers use in their preparations each week.

The Nebraska football team’s grass practice field and the track will be closed to fans.

Husker Nation Pavilion Highlights

Fun & Inflatables – The Husker Nation Pavilion presented by CenturyLink features games for kids of all ages, including inflatable games (weather permitting) and obstacle courses. Field goal kick, quarterback toss, basketball shot, and baseball/softball pitch speed games will all be available for kids to play at the Pavilion.

Unity Walk – Husker fans are encouraged to join the new path of the Nebraska football team’s Unity Walk. The team expects to arrive on the East side of Memorial Stadium, directly in front of the entrance to Nebraska’s new East Stadium. The team’s arrival is expected approximately two hours before kickoff (6 p.m. for Illinois). Fans are encouraged to line the walkway, along with members of the Husker Spirit Squad and Nebraska band members, as the Huskers enter East Stadium through Gate 20.

Pole Vault Exhibition – Members of the Nebraska Track & Field team will hold their annual pole vault exhibition in the Husker Nation Pavilion from 6 to 7 p.m.

Live Band: Lemon Fresh Day will perform live in the Husker Nation Pavilion from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Food Vendors – A food vending area will be located in the East Plaza. Face painters and balloon twisters will also be on hand.

Huskers Authentic Team Store – Nebraska’s official team store – Huskers Authentic – will not be in the Pavilion, but fans are encouraged to visit the new Huskers Authentic Team Store in East Stadium. Huskers Authentic also will have a satellite store open for fans on the East side of the Pavilion.

Big Screen & Bleacher Seating – Seating is available for fans to help them relax while watching the video board or meeting friends before the game. Saturday’s game with Illinois, which is being televised by BTN, will be available on the Husker Nation Pavilion screen.

Gass Practice Field – The Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Field is available for youngsters and families. The FieldTurf surface on the practice field next to the Hawks Championship Center offers fans a fun place to stretch out before the games – just like the Huskers during their game-week preparations. Nebraska’s grass football practice field, the Nebraska Soccer Field and the track surface are not available to football fans.

Autograph Zone – No scheduled participants in the autograph zone as of Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Pavilion Entrances & Exits – Fans can enter the Husker Nation Pavilion from both the East and West gates at field level outside of the Ed Weir Track & Field/Nebraska Soccer Stadium (North side of Memorial Stadium). Fans who plan to watch the game on the big screen can enter through the South gates near the Columns above the track (East side of Memorial Stadium).

Stubbs’ HR, Barnes’ Catch Lift Rockies over Padres

Posted on September 24, 2014

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Drew Stubbs hit a tiebreaking home run leading off the eighth and left fielder Brandon Barnes robbed Rene Rivera of a tying shot in the bottom of the inning to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 3-2 victory against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

The Padres, who were trying to extend their winning streak to a season-high six games, were assured of their fourth straight losing season. The Padres (75-82) can still finish with their best record in three seasons. They went 76-86 in 2012 and 2013.

Stubbs homered on the first pitch from Dale Thayer (4-4) into the Jack Daniel’s party deck atop the right-field wall, his 15th. It was the first run Thayer allowed in nine outings.

Rymer Liriano was shaken up after slamming into the wall trying to make the catch but remained in the game.

With Woodhead Out Chargers Sign Draughn

Posted on September 23, 2014

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Chargers have signed outside linebacker Cordarro Law, running back Shaun Draughn and linebacker Kevin Reddick.

The Chargers need help at running back because Danny Woodhead was lost for the season after breaking his lower right leg Sunday and at inside linebacker because Manti Te’o fractured his right foot and will be out for several weeks.

Draughn has played for Kansas City, Baltimore, Indianapolis and Chicago. He signed a one-year contract with the Bears and played in Chicago’s first two games before being waived Sept. 16.

Reddick played in all 16 games with New Orleans last year and saw limited action at linebacker.

The Chargers released defensive end Lawrence Guy from the practice squad and released cornerback Marcus Cromartie from injured reserve.

Royals Roll On, Beat Indians 7-1

Posted on September 23, 2014

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Yordano Ventura blanked Cleveland’s punchless offense for seven innings as the Kansas City Royals kept pressure on first-place Detroit in the AL Central with a 7-1 win over the Indians on Tuesday night.

The hard-throwing Ventura (14-10) allowed four singles and threw a 100 mph fastball on his 104th pitch.

Salvador Perez’s two-out, two-run double off Danny Salazar (6-8) put the Royals ahead 5-0 in the fifth and they turned their attention to the left-field scoreboard to monitor the Tigers’ score. Kansas City entered one game out of first and with a grasp on one of the league’s two wild-card spots.

The Royals are closing in on their first postseason appearance since 1985, when they won their only World Series title.

At 86-71, Kansas City matched its win total from last season. It’s the first time the Royals have had consecutive seasons with at least 86 victories since 1977-78.

Huskers Showing More Defensive Maturity

Posted on September 23, 2014

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its preparations for its primetime Big Ten conference opener Saturday night with the Illinois Fighting Illini, as the Huskers conducted a 1-hour and 50-minute practice Tuesday afternoon. The Huskers practice both inside of the Hawks Championship Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields.

Defensive coordinator John Papuchis met with media members after practice, mentioning that the overall defensive maturity has been the thing that he has been most impressed with so far this season.

“I would say as much as anything is our maturity, in terms of when things have happened during the games that haven’t been good for us, we have responded relatively well,” Papuchis said. “That was probably one of the things that bothered me the most in the last couple years, things started to snowball on us.”

Papuchis added that the team’s maturity has really improved with the increased confidence and mental strength shown on the team.

“We have a lot of guys that have a lot of snaps under their belt, but they have realized you have to keep playing and believe in what we are doing and have confidence that we are going to get things squared away,” Papuchis said.

Freshman cornerback Joshua Kalu made an enormous impact for the Blackshirts this past weekend against Miami, as the first year player made his first career interception in the second half of the game. So far, Papuchis has really liked what he has seen out of Kalu, noting that he is a football smart kid.

“First of all he is a very good football player, athletically gifted, beyond that he is mature and smart,” Papuchis said. “He is a football smart kid, I think when he leaves this facility he spends a lot of time with his playbook because when he makes a mistake he corrects it the next time.”

When asked what he and the coaching staff is preparing for defensively, Papuchis said the Illini’s offensive scheme is very multiple, with different variations of the spread offense and pro-style offense.

“They are as multiple of an offense as you can be, I think they have every personnel grouping that you can have,” he said. “The big sets, spread four-wide sets, and they run a lot of empty. They force you to prepare for a lot of different things.”

The Nebraska football team will continue its week of preparation Wednesday as the Huskers prepare for Saturday’s game. Kickoff between the two Big Ten West foes will be nationally televised on Big Ten Network at 8pm (CT).

NCAA Boss Says Domestic Violence a School Issue

Posted on September 23, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert believes it is the responsibility of individual schools to handle issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, and that a spate of recent cases reflect greater societal problems.

Emmert spoke Tuesday with a group of reporters before delivering a lecture at Kansas City’s Rockhurst University about the future of college sports.

While domestic violence has become a major issue for the NFL, similar issues have popped up on college campuses. Just this week, Tennessee dismissed a freshman running back who reportedly struck an ex-girlfriend at a party over the weekend.

Emmert also stood by his recent pronouncement to a group of Division I faculty athletic representatives that the Penn State scandal was handled as well as it could have been “under the circumstances.”

Huskers Host Pair of Big Ten Newcomers

Posted on September 23, 2014

The Nebraska soccer team (4-4-1) returns home this week to host Big Ten newcomers No. 25 Rutgers and Maryland at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

The Huskers face the Scarlet Knights on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., in a match that will be streamed on BTN Plus. NU’s game against Maryland on Sunday will be televised on the Big Ten Network starting at 2 p.m.

Nebraska enters the week seeking its first Big Ten win of the season after an 0-2-1 start in conference play. Each game will mark the Huskers’ first meeting in series history against the opponent.

Last Time Out: Huskers Fall to No. 13 Wisconsin, 3-0
Nebraska outshot Wisconsin 10-7 at McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison, Wis., but fell by a 3-0 margin on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Badgers scored goals in the first, 20th and 86th minutes.

Jaycie Johnson (three shots on goal), Caroline Gray (two shots on goal), Mayme Conroy (one shot on goal) and Caroline Flynn (one shot on goal) led Nebraska’s offense.

Scouting the Rutgers Scarlet Knights
No. 25 Rutgers is 6-1-0 on the season and holds a 2-1-0 record in Big Ten play during its first year as a member of the conference. The Scarlet Knights opened their season with consecutive wins over Stony Brook, Vanderbilt, Seton Hall and Prin before suffering their only loss of the season to Maryland, 2-0, on Sept. 12. Rutgers responded last weekend with victories over Michigan State and Michigan at home.

Eight different players have scored for the Scarlet Knights, with Amy Pietrangelo and Stefanie Scholz leading the team with three goals each. Goalkeeper Casey Murphy has earned four shutouts in seven starts this season, while allowing three goals over 628 minutes. She has 18 saves.

Scouting the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland is 3-3-2 this season and holds a 1-1-1 mark in the Big Ten. After suffering back-to-back losses to start the season, including a 3-0 setback to No. 1 UCLA on Aug. 22, the Terrapins reeled off wins against William & Mary and NC State before tying Navy. Maryland defeated Rutgers 2-0 on Sept. 12 before falling to Michigan and tied Michigan State on Sept. 21.

Eight different players have scored for the Terrapins, including Alex Doody, who leads the team with two goals. Goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands has played all 760 minutes of the season in net and compiled 28 saves. She has given up seven goals and pitched three shutouts.

Huskers Showing Ability to Score Late
Nebraska has scored in the 75th minute or later in six of its nine games this season. Jaycie Johnson has scored twice in the 75th minute or later, while Courtney Claassen, Caroline Flynn, Katie Kraeutner and Sydney Miramontez have each added one during that time stretch.

The Huskers failed to score down the stretch against Wisconsin, Illinois, Oklahoma, but made late goals in each of their first four games of the season. Overall, NU is 4-1-1 when scoring in the last 15 minutes. The Huskers are 0-3-0 when they don’t.

Schatz Filling Goalkeeper Role
Sophomore Kelly Schatz has started all nine games at goalkeeper for the Huskers this season, playing more than 804 minutes. Schatz has 23 saves and has earned two complete game shutouts. She also contributed to a third NU shutout as she played the first 48 minutes against North Dakota. Schatz has given up 13 goals on the season and holds a .639 save percentage.

Johnson Continues to Produce on Offense
Nebraska’s leading goal scorer from 2013, Jaycie Johnson, started 2014 where she left off from last season and has six goals through nine games.

Johnson scored two goals in each of the first three weekends, managing a pair of scores in both the Marquette and North Dakota matches. She scored once against SMU and once while facing DePaul.

A Lake Winnebago, Mo. native, Johnson has taken 38 shots this season, 27 of which have been on goal.

NU Ties Big Ten Opener, Falls to Illinois
Nebraska opened its Big Ten season with a pair of home matches on Thursday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 14. The Huskers tied Northwestern in the first game, 1-1, before dropping a 3-0 decision to Illinois.

Against the Wildcats, Northwestern’s Sami Schrakamp struck first in the 12th minute to put the Wildcats up 1-0. With time winding down in the game, Katie Kraeutner scored off an assist from Jaycie Johnson in the 88th minute to tie the game. Neither team scored in the extra time.

Against the Fighting Illini, the Huskers took six shots but failed to score in a 3-0 setback. Illinois’ Allison Stucky scored in the 40th minute, while Jannelle Flaws added two goals, scoring in the 71st and 80th minute.

NU Responds to 2OT Loss with 4-0 Win
Nebraska went 1-1 at home in its third weekend of play, falling to No. 20 Oklahoma in double overtime on Friday, Sept. 5, before dominating North Dakota by a 4-0 margin on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Against the Sooners, Katie Kraeutner scored in the sixth minute to put NU up early, but Oklahoma tied the score 1-1 in the 71st minute with Ayana O’Neal’s goal. Despite Nebraska controlling on offense to start the second overtime, Oklahoma’s defense managed to withstand the pressure and scored in the 107th minute for the win.

On Sunday, the Huskers outshot North Dakota 32-2, as Jaycie Johnson scored twice, and Mayme Conroy and Courtney Claassen each added one goal in the 4-0 win.

Both of Johnson’s goals came in the first three minutes of the second half. Conroy scored NU’s first goal of the game in the ninth minute. Claassen scored off a rebound in the 76th minute for her first career goal. Caroline Flynn recorded two assists.

Huskers Sweep Butler, Marquette
Nebraska took down Butler, 1-0, on Friday, Aug. 29 at the Nebraska Soccer Field before defeating Marquette, 3-2, on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis.

The Huskers outshot the Bulldogs 17-2, but it wasn’t until Caroline Flynn’s goal in the 83rd minute that NU got on the scoreboard. Flynn scored from 30 yards out to the top left corner of the net from the right side of the field. Goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned two saves during the shutout.

Against the Golden Eagles, Nebraska trailed 2-0 before scoring three goals in the final 26 minutes en route to a 3-2 triumph. Jaycie Johnson scored twice, making her first goal in the 65th minute before adding the game winner off an assist from Caroline Gray in the 83rd minute. Mayme Conroy added a goal for the Huskers in the 69th minute.

Huskers Split Opening Weekend Games
Nebraska opened the regular season on Friday, Aug. 22 with a 4-0 victory over SMU before falling to DePaul, 2-1, on Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

Against the Mustangs, goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned a shutout in her first career start at the position. She compiled five saves, four of which came in the second half. Caroline Gray, Caroline Flynn, Jaycie Johnson and Sydney Miramontez each scored for the Huskers in the home opener.

Against the Blue Demons, Johnson scored the lone goal for the Huskers in the 89th minute off an assist from Flynn, but DePaul had already built a 2-0 lead. Elise Wyatt scored for the Blue Demons in the 16th minute before Abby Reed added a goal in the 85th minute.

Final Season at Nebraska Soccer Field
The Huskers are in their 10th and final season at the Nebraska Soccer Field before moving into the Nebraska Soccer and Tennis Complex next season. Since moving to campus in 2005, NU has compiled a 66-27-13 record and has five home games remaining in 2014.

2014 Season Outlook
Nebraska’s 2014 team includes five seniors in Head Coach John Walker’s 21st season at the helm of the school’s soccer program. The Huskers also welcomed back All-Big Ten second-team member Jaycie Johnson, who is a sophomore in 2014 after leading the team with 17 goals last season. The Huskers added 12 newcomers in the offseason in addition to their 12 returning letterwinners from 2013.

Huskers to Make Three BTN Appearances
Nebraska appeared on the Big Ten Network on Thursday, Sept. 11 and will make two more showings this season. The Huskers host Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m., on BTN. The game was originally set for 1 p.m., but was changed for TV scheduling. NU’s final regular season appearance on the network comes at Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Big Ten’s 12-1 Mark Last Week was Best in 6 years

Posted on September 23, 2014

The Big Ten is coming off its best week of non-conference play in six years with wins in 12 out of 13 games.

It followed the league’s worst showing in non-conference play in 22 years, one in which Big Ten teams lost six of nine games and had national college football analysts howling about the conference’s lack of strength.

The stunning turnaround didn’t result in any chest thumping among the coaches on Tuesday’s teleconference with reporters. Nebraska’s Bo Pelini said it’s “ludicrous” to judge a conference on one weekend, good or bad.

The last time the Big Ten had a winning percentage of .923 (12-1) or better during a week in which it played more than two non-conference games was Sept. 26, 2008, according to STATS. The league went 11-0.