DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche signed left winger Jamie McGinn to a two-year deal Thursday.
The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. He also had three game-winning goals.
Avalanche executive Joe Sakic said McGinn “played an important role for our team” as they made the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10.
McGinn was acquired by Colorado in a trade with San Jose on Feb. 27, 2012.
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche could be wearing out the red carpet at the NHL awards show next week with all the players they have up for honors.
Semyon Varlamov is in the running for top goalie, Nathan MacKinnon up for best rookie and Ryan O’Reilly a candidate for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. Coach Patrick Roy also could be recognized for his work behind the bench.
It was just that kind of season for the surprising Avalanche, who tied a franchise record with 52 wins as they returned to the postseason after a three-year absence.
The attention now — with the nominations and all — is “exciting,” Roy acknowledged.
Former Husker wrestler Bill Scherr earned USA Wrestling’s Myron Roderick Man-of-the-Year Award on Thursday, an accolade that recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.
Scherr served a pivotal role in keeping wrestling as an Olympic sport, as he chaired the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW). In the position, Scherr developed the working structure of CPOW, ran weekly conference calls to help with CPOW’s strategy, oversaw the international relations area of CPOW and served as a spokesman for the organization.
Scherr has served on USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors and coached numerous teams, including the Women’s World Team. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1998 as a distinguished member after achieving success on the international level.
Scherr made one Olympic appearance, capturing the bronze medal at 220 pounds in 1988. At the FILA World Championships, Scherr earned four medals from 1985 to 1989. He took first place at 198 pounds in 1985, while earning runner-up finishes in 1986 and 1989, and a third-place result at the 1987 World Championships.
While at Nebraska, Scherr capped his impressive career with the NCAA title at 190 pounds in 1984. The three-time All-American earned a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 1983 and finished fourth in 1982. Scherr completed his career at Nebraska (1981-84) with a record of 133-18.
Scherr’s brother Jim, also a former wrestler at Nebraska, took home USA Wrestling’s Man of the Year Award in 1994. In addition, former Huskers Jordan Burroughs (2012) and Rulon Gardner (2000) have earned the accolade.
USA Wrestling Release Link: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-
The leaders of big-time college sports agree that transfer rules need to better accommodate players.
The days of coaches having a say in where an athlete can transfer could very well be going away, though it’s not likely deregulation will lead to a system in which athletes come and go as they please.
How that change happens is up for debate.
The wealthiest college football conferences (Big 12, Big Ten, Atlantic Conference, Pac-12, Southeastern Conference) are willing to work with all of Division I to come up with a solution, but they also want the power to make their own transfer rules if need be as part of an autonomy structure the NCAA is moving toward.
That worries the schools outside those powerful leagues, concerned they’ll be in danger of losing their best players to the Big Five.
DETROIT (AP) — Anibal Sanchez pitched seven sharp innings, and the Detroit Tigers ended Kansas City’s 10-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory over the Royals on Thursday.
J.D. Martinez hit a tiebreaking homer in the fourth for the Tigers, who avoided a four-game sweep and pulled within a half-game of the AL Central-leading Royals. Sanchez (4-2) allowed five hits and a walk, keeping the Kansas City offense quiet even though he failed to strike out a batter.
Joba Chamberlain pitched the eighth, and struggling closer Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth for his 14th save in 18 chances.
Danny Duffy (4-6) allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out five.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Showing his surgically repaired ACL was no longer an issue, the Broncos’ pass-rusher flashed through the line and sent the backup quarterback’s pass fluttering to the ground.
Von Miller admired this from the adjacent field.
On the next snap, the man John Elway brought to Denver to replace Elvis Dumervil batted the ball down, and DeMarcus Ware applauded along the sideline.
Quanterus Smith, a second-year pro from Western Kentucky who spent his rookie season on injured reserve, turned heads during the Broncos’ offseason workouts, flashing the speed and skills similar to what he showed on that three-sack day at Alabama that first put him on the NFL radar back in 2012.
The Broncos drafted Smith in the fifth round last year after losing Dumervil to Baltimore in the infamous fax fiasco that prevented them from getting his signed contract on time.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs will head into training camp next month with plenty of questions.
Who will replace Brandon Flowers at cornerback? When will Pro Bowl linebacker Justin Houston show up? Will quarterback Alex Smith land a long-term contract? Who will earn the open spots along the offensive line? And for that matter, the defensive line?
The Chiefs had their final workout Thursday of a mandatory three-day minicamp.
Along with another no-show by Houston, who like Smith is opening for a long-term contract, the biggest news of the day was wide receiver Dwayne Bowe coming up lame. Bowe appeared to be slightly hobbled after making a catch in the end zone.
The Chiefs also waived defensive tackle Chas Alecxih.
Competitors came from far and wide to drive in the Second Annual Buffalo Bill Wild West Challenge on Tuesday night at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, Nebraska.
Winning his second straight Wild West Challenge was Casey Werkmeister; Jamey Kennicutt, Tiffany Bittner and Erik Nelson were all first time winners of the Buffalo Bill featured event.
Starting on the outside of row one gave Gothenburg’s Jamey Kennicutt a great starting point at the drop of the green flag, as he rocketed around the dirt track oval to lead every lap of the IMCA Northern Sport Modified feature to claim the crown. The Rubber Duck, Bryan Herrick of Curtis, Nebraska drove from the fourth row to a podium finish and during the waning laps, he had the chance to challenge for the lead, only to be forced to settle for runner-up honors. Dropping back early on to avoid incidents, Battle Creek hotshoe Kyle Prauner recovered quite nicely by driving through traffic to earn third place accolades. On the final laps, Brandon Poessnecker of Atkinson was able to work his magic through the corners to pass Henry Henderson of Sutherland as the duo crossed the finish line in fourth and fifth overall.
Garnering the lead with a great drive through the third and fourth corners on lap five was enough to power Casey Werkmeister of Maywood to the front as he led the rest of the way in the IMCA Stock Car to earn his second straight crown at the Buffalo Bill Wild West event. Werkmeister drove around his brother Kyle Werkmeister of Maywood who led the initial four laps of the feature. Right behind Werkmeister for much of the feature, in striking distance to make a move was Ogallala’s Casey Woken. Woken would earn runner-up honors for his driving prowess that showcased great consistency. Imperial hot rod driver Justin Bussell was third overall after driving onto the podium from his sixth row starting position.
Doing what she was five laps short of this past year, Tiffany Bittner, the three-time Lady Eagle IMCA Champion grabbed the lead on the seventh circuit and was able to finish the job by just beating Kyle Bond to the finish line by the slimmest margins to win the IMCA Hobby Stock Feature. Bittner started in the sixth row and she was able to pilot her Big Daddy Chassis rocketship through traffic to earn the victory. Mr. Excitement Kyle Bond of Gibbon had a flat tire on the opening lap and was forced to drive from the back of the pack into contention for a podium finish. Off of the last corner on the final lap, Bond drove hard and was just a glimpse away from beating Bittner to the finish. Bond earned runner-up honors, as Jacob Olmstead of Overton earned show honors for his great run.
Central City’s Erik Nelson put on a dominating performance in the winning the IMCA Sport Compact Feature, as he led from the beginning to the end after starting on the pole. At the finish line, Alex Fletcher of Hershey was able to slip past North Platte’s Andrew Baumgardner who lose air in a tire on the final circuit. Fletcher and Baumgardner finished second and third, respectively. Fletcher won the Gentry Memorial Cash Dash in a highly contested race for the check.
Unofficial Results:
–Northern Sport Modified Feature: 1. 15k-Jamey Kennicutt; 2. 0hp-Bryan Herrick; 3. 5k-Kyle Prauner; 4. 52p-Brandon Poessnecker; 5. 11h-Henry Henderson; 6. 13-Terry Dressel; 7. 7-Clay Money; 8. 12j-Kerry Jones; 9. 55z-Zach Schultz; 10. 53dc-Dalten Collins.
Heat Race Winners: 1x-Denny Egge; 5k-Kyle Prauner; 13-Terry Dressel; 55z-Zach Schultz.
–Stock Car Feature: 1. 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 2. 35jw-Casey Woken; 3. 11b-Justin Bussell; 4. 37-Jason Rogers; 5. 11k-Kyle Clough; 6. 45-Mikey Dancer; 7. 32-Lloyd Meeske; 8. 75-Dan Eller; 9. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 10. 09h-Bob Hoing.
Heat Race Winners: 11b-Justin Bussell; 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 49-Zach Zentner.
–Hobby Stock Feature: 1. 95b-Tiffany Bittner; 2. 0-Kyle Bond; 3. 88j-Jacob Olmstead; 4. 32m-Michael Brunswig; 5. 22w-Brady Weinman; 6. 2c-Tyson Canas; 7. 5-Chuck Ledbetter; 8. 22g-Greg Dannatt; 9. 1-Tanner Clough; 10. 22-Austin Davis.
Heat Race Winners: 22-Austin Davis; 32m-Michael Brunswig; 0-Kyle Bond.
–Sport Compact Feature: 1. 7-Erik Nelson; 2. 67-Alex Fletcher; 3. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner; 4. 28d-Devin Bjorklund; 5. 22b-Charlie Blowers; 6. 33-Andrew McClellen; 7. 17s-Michael Smith; 8. Z2-Chelsea Zysset; 9. 67x-Blake Fletcher; 10. 12t-Tanner Jones.
Heat Race Winners: 7-Erik Nelson, 22b-Charlie Blowers.
North Platte – The North Platte Community College men’s basketball team announced the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent from Toledo, Ohio. Fadil Robinson of Rogers High School and Michael Mitchell of Start High School are the newest Knights and will both be freshman during the 2014-15 season.
The 6’7 Robinson brings size to the Knights front court. Robinson averaged nearly a double-double as he finished with 9.5 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior. As a junior, Robinson was a large part of the state runner-ups in the largest class in Ohio. In the State Championship game he scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
“Fadil brings size to our team which is something we are always looking for,” said coach Kevin O’Connor. “He has been a part of a very successful program and knows how to win.”
“I am excited to be a Knight!” said Robinson. “I can’t wait to get to North Platte and start my college career.”
The 6’5 Mitchell brings size and athleticism at the wing position as the Knights look to replace graduated Tim Simmons. Mitchell averaged 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a senior.
“Michael is a player that brings some versatility to our line-up,” said coach O’Connor. “He is a big guard that can score and defend for us.”
“Signing with NPCC and becoming a Knight will be great,” said Mitchell. “It will help me further my education and basketball dreams.”
“We are excited to add both of these players to our team and we can’t wait to get them on campus in the fall,” said coach O’Connor.
Robinson and Mitchell are the third and fourth members of the Knight’s 2014 class.
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