Sports – Page 459 – North Platte Post Archive

US Routs Dominicans in Exhibition as Rose Rests

Posted on August 20, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving made all five shots and scored 12 points starting in place of Derrick Rose, and the U.S. national basketball team beat the Dominican Republic 105-62 on Wednesday night in an exhibition game.

James Harden also scored 12 in limited playing time for the Americans, who used their subs for most of the second half. Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan each scored 13 points.

Rose sat out, with team officials saying coach Mike Krzyzewski wanted to be able to look longer at other players with cuts coming soon. The Americans have 16 players on the roster and have to get down to 12 before the upcoming Basketball World Cup.

Pelini Not Dwelling on Injured Players

Posted on August 20, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini isn’t feeling sorry for himself after seeing as many as three players lost for the season because of injuries and a bunch of others ailing.

Pelini said after practice Wednesday that “there’s nothing you can do about it” and that other teams are in the same situation.

Nickel back Charles Jackson and linebacker Michael Rose are out with season-ending knee injuries and running back Adam Taylor broke his ankle and probably won’t make it back this season. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams is day to day with an ankle injury.

No. 1 right offensive tackle Zach Sterup and long snapper Gabe Miller are among other players who are hurt.

Pelini also announced defensive tackle Aaron Curry has quit the team.

NHL Draft Lottery to Change in Next 2 Years

Posted on August 20, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Forget about tanking in the NHL. Bottoming out in the standings might not get you to the top of the draft.

The weighted lottery will change a bit next year and even more in 2016, the NHL said Wednesday, in order to “more appropriately reflect the current state of competitive balance.”

The 14 teams who fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs will be in the mix for the No. 1 draft pick.

Next year, the team that finishes with the fewest points will have a 20 percent chance — down from 25 — the second-fewest will have a 13.5 percent chance — down from 18.8 — the third-fewest will drop to 11.5 percent from 14.2, and the fourth-lowest will go to 9.5 percent from 10.7.

The following year, the lottery will include the first three picks of the draft instead of just the top choice, meaning the team with the fewest points could end up as low as the fourth selection.

Huskers Shake Up Personnel on Wednesday

Posted on August 20, 2014

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its third week of the 2014 Fall Camp Wednesday afternoon, as the Huskers practiced for just under two hours inside the Hawks Championship Center.

Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini spoke with media following practice, noting that Wednesday’s practice was a good one, mainly because the Huskers mixed and matched their personnel throughout practice, giving different guys different looks.

“We wanted to look at some specific guys, and look at specific (situations) with certain guys,” Pelini said. “On both sides of the football we did that, there was a reason why we did that and at the same time it gave some of our more experienced guys a little bit of a rest.”

Pelini also announced that junior defensive tackle Kevin Williams will be day-to-day with an ankle injury suffered Monday at practice. That prognosis is much better than originally thought according to Pelini, as Williams has been sidelined with two knee injuries throughout his NU career.

“Kevin is day-to-day, he is fine, it is more of an ankle injury than anything else,” he said. “It is a very mild one, I think it scared him more than anything.” \

Lincoln native and Lincoln Southeast graduate D.J. Foster has changed positions from offensive guard to defensive tackle according to Pelini. Foster, a true freshman out of Lincoln Southeast, is the brother of current NU sophomore tight end Trey Foster.

“Just looking at D.J. over there, he is obviously a tremendous athlete and a guy who was playing well at guard,” he said. “When Kevin Williams went down, it got me to thinking to build our depth over there.”

Pelini added that Foster so far has been impressing at defensive tackle.

“We put him in there yesterday and he looked really good. He did a really good job. Long term he is going to be an offensive lineman unless he chooses not to be. I know in the short term, he can help us out on the defensive side of the ball. Especially with what he has shown me in these first two days.”

The Huskers will be back on the practice fields Thursday to continue the 2014 Fall Camp. Check back here or at Huskers.com for a practice report and video coverage following practice immediately.

Nebraska fans are reminded about their opportunity to be on hand at Memorial Stadium as the Huskers kick off the 2014 season. Fans can purchase the Cornhusker Kickoff Combo package for the Florida Atlantic game on Aug. 30 and the matchup with McNeese State on Sept. 6. The two-game package can be purchased at Huskers.com for $100. Fans can also purchase single-game tickets to all games other than the Miami and Minnesota games at Huskers.com.

Broncos Lose WR-PR Jordan Norwood to Torn ACL

Posted on August 20, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood tore his left ACL in practice Wednesday, ending what was shaping up as one of the league’s best comeback stories.

Norwood was trying to catch a sideline touchdown pass from Peyton Manning when Houston cornerback Brandon Harris broke it up. Norwood landed awkwardly and was carted off the field.

The fifth-year pro, who’d been cut five times by four teams and sat out all of last season, was Denver’s most consistent punt returner and had worked his way into the receiver rotation.

He had a 20-yard punt return and a 34-yard TD catch against Seattle in the preseason opener.

Wes Welker now moves up to primary punt returner with undrafted rookie Isaiah Burse another option.

Texans-Broncos Practice Features Chippy Moments

Posted on August 20, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos right tackle Chris Clark took exception when J.J. Watt pushed him around in a 1-on-1 pass-rushing drill and kept right on motoring toward the imaginary quarterback.

Clark finally broke free with a swipe at the Houston Texans star that sent the pass-rusher’s helmet bouncing on the ground.

“Don’t get mad when you get beat,” Watt hollered at Clark.

That turned into the theme of Wednesday’s joint workout in full pads, one which ended with a lot of jawing and posturing after Texans safety D.J. Swearinger loudly celebrated his interception of Peyton Manning in an 11-on-11 drill.

Dove Hunting Season Just Around Corner

Posted on August 20, 2014

LINCOLN – Dove hunting season begins soon and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for those hunters, as well as recommendations for areas to hunt.

Doves may be hunted statewide. The season is Sept. 1-Oct. 30, with daily bag and possession limits of 15 and 30, respectively. Bag limits are for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared doves in aggregate.

Nebraska residents 16 years and older and all nonresidents are required to have a valid Nebraska hunting permit, habitat stamp and Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Register at nehip.com, OutdoorNebraska.org/HIP, at any Game and Parks district office or by phone at 1-877-NEHUNTS. Hunter education certification is required for some hunters.

Dove hunters who find a leg band on a dove should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service banding office at 1-800-327-BAND or report it at reportband.gov. In addition, randomly selected hunters will be asked to save one wing from each dove during the first week of the season and mail the wings postage-free to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sunflower, millet or wheat, which generally provides good dove-hunting opportunities, have been planted at the following wildlife management areas (WMA) across the state. Planting and weather conditions may have reduced seed production in some plots:

North-central – Pine Glen, Thomas Creek, Bobcat, Plum Creek, Calamus Reservoir and Myrtle Hall

Northeast – Oak Valley, Wood Duck, Black Island, George Syas, Don Dworak and Elk Point Bend

Southeast – Branched Oak, Yankee Hill, Little Salt Creek West, Olive Creek, Little Salt Creek, Helmuth, Wildwood, Pawnee, Twin Lakes, Stagecoach, Osage, Kansas Bend, Peru Bottoms, Schilling, Rake’s Creek and Tobacco Island

Southwest – Cedar Valley, Wapiti, Clear Creek, Red Willow, Medicine Creek, Swanson Reservoir and Enders

South-central – Alexandria, Alexandria SW, Flathead, Little Blue, Little Blue East, Rose Creek, Rose Creek West, Arrowhead, Diamond Lake, Divorky Acres, Dry Sandy, Meridian and Sacramento-Wilcox

No fields were planted specifically for doves at Panhandle WMAs, but Buffalo Creek, Bordeaux Creek, Chadron Creek and Cedar Canyon provide good hunting opportunities around ponds or water sites.

Other WMAs throughout the state can provide good dove hunting opportunities, depending on local conditions. Contact the nearest Game and Parks office for area-specific information.

Eurasian collared doves may be harvested Oct. 31-Aug. 31. The daily bag and possession limits are 15 and 30, respectively.

Tri-City Announces Training Camp Roster

Posted on August 20, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – As the 2014-15 season approaches, the Tri-City Storm coaching staff have taken the next step towards putting together their opening night roster.

Storm Head Coach and General Manager Jim Hulton announced the team’s training camp roster Wednesday, consisting of players who will make the trip to Kearney and battle for a spot on the roster during the preseason in September.

“We’ve worked diligently to try to improve the team and we’re very happy with the group we have coming in,” said Hulton.

Tri-City has 11 players reporting from last season’s roster and an additional three players that suited up as members of the team’s affiliate list.

“I think the thing that has us excited about the coming season is our experience coming back,” Hulton said. “I look at Garrett Gamez and Kyle Eastman going into their third years and not only are they proven players on the ice but equally as important is their proven leadership away from the rink, which I think our group might have been lacking.”

All players will be in Kearney for preseason camp by Aug. 27.

The team has made roster changes since their initial 30-man list was initially submitted last month, including a trade that sent a 5th round pick in the 2015 Phase II Draft to Cedar Rapids in exchange for forward Nick Master.

Master appeared in 27 games for the RoughRiders last season, scoring four goals and nine assists. The native of Broomall, Penn. is committed to play collegiately at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in the Hockey East conference.

“We’re very excited to add Master into our lineup,” Hulton said. “A former first round pick, he helps to lessen the blow of losing Sam Lafferty. Sam was accepted early into Brown University which is great for Sam and good for his career, but it put a dent in our center ice lineup. To be able to reach out and grab an experienced veteran in Master, who has an offensive pedigree, definitely helps improve our team.”

All other players on the preseason roster participated in the team’s annual tryout camp in Las Vegas in June.

While Tri-City will kick off their season in Lincoln against the Stars on Sept. 26, they will host the Sioux Falls Stampede a week later for their home opener on Oct. 3.

Single game tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Sept. 2 through the Viaero Event Center Box Office.

Season tickets for the 2014-15 season are on sale now with packages as low as $375. Call the Storm office today at 308.338.8011 or visitstormhockey.com for more information.

The preseason roster, in alphabetical order separated by position, is below.

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
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
Mark Petaccio – 3/26/1994 – Sicklerville, N.J. – Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL)
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
Grant Hutton – 7/25/1995 – Carmel, Ind. – Tri-City Storm
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 – Ojai, Calif. – USNTDP

Teenager Struck by Lightning at Football Practice Now Breathing on Own (Update)

Posted on August 20, 2014August 20, 2014

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Officials in southern New Mexico say a 13-year-old middle school student who was critically injured by lighting during football practice is breathing on his own.

Las Cruces Public Schools spokeswoman Jo Galvan says Hunter Keffer’s mother reported on his condition Tuesday night.

Additionally, she says two other students injured Tuesday evening also were transferred to El Paso after first being taken to a local hospital. She says their conditions were unknown Wednesday morning, and their names weren’t being released.

Galvan says the boys were transferred because Las Cruces doesn’t have a trauma center.

Meantime, the El Paso Medical Center says Keffer has been transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at El Paso Children’s Hospital.

A coach also was injured in the strike. He was taken to MountainView Regional Medical Center.

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a teenage boy is hospitalized in critical condition after being struck by lightning during football practice at a New Mexico middle school.

Albuquerque TV station KOB reports (https://bit.ly/1veMCGJ) the teen was hit about 5 p.m. Tuesday at Picacho Middle School in Las Cruces.

Las Cruces police say the boy was rushed to MountainView Regional Medical Center and is reported to be in critical condition.

Las Cruces Public Schools officials say two additional players and a coach were sent to the hospital, but they were conscious and responsive.

Authorities didn’t immediately release the name of the teen or the other three people.

Charles, Bowe Remain Out of Chiefs Practice

Posted on August 20, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Add rookie running back De’Anthony Thomas to a lengthy list of Chiefs players who are missing practice as the team prepares for its preseason game Saturday night against Minnesota.

The electrifying Thomas missed Wednesday’s workout with spasms in his hamstring.

Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles remained out with his foot injury. Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry is out with a heel injury and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is dealing with a quad injury.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid declined to say after practice whether any of them will be available for the Vikings game, when the starters are expected to play into the third quarter.