Sports category, Page 542
Oilers sign Leon Draisaitl to an 8-year extension worth $112 million
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers have signed Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension worth $112 million, a deal that gives the German star the highest salary cap hit in NHL history at $14 million. The new contract begins with the 2025-26 season and runs through 2033. General manager...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will use practice week to see who is available on offensive lineVideo
Even with veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo missing the season opener because of a pectoral strain, coach Mike Tomlin is confident about which players will start on the interior of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line Sunday. Rookie center Zach Frazier will be flanked by guards Spencer Anderson — who replaces...
This transgender sprinter will compete for Italy at the Paralympics
BOLOGNA, Italy — Valentina Petrillo fell in love with athletics as a 7-year-old while watching Italian sprinter Pietro Mennea win gold in the 200 meters at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. “I said I wanted to be like him,” said Petrillo, a transgender woman who was raised as a boy. “I...
Browns sign 20-year stadium rights deal with Huntington Bank as they position for possible new home
CLEVELAND — As they position themselves for a possible new domed stadium, the Cleveland Browns are renaming their current one. The NFL team on Tuesday announced a 20-year agreement with Huntington National Bank, a partnership that includes naming rights. Cleveland’s lakefront stadium will now be called Huntington Bank Field. The...
Penguins name Joe Brand as radio play-by-play broadcaster
The Pittsburgh Penguins have found their new play-by-play voice for radio broadcasts. Joe Brand was hired for the position on the Penguins Radio Network, president of business operations Kevin Acklin announced Tuesday. Brand, 33, replaces Steve Mears, who took a position as the television play-by-play broadcaster of the Blue Jackets....
Despite not being targeted in opener, Penn State has plan to get WR Julian Fleming involved
A frequently asked question from fans coming out of Penn State’s 2024 opener at West Virginia centered on one of the Nittany Lions’ high-profile transfers: where was Julian Fleming? Fleming, the former Ohio State wide receiver and five-star prospect at Southern Columbia, did not record a catch and wasn’t targeted...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ self-created depth chart issues enough to lower regular-season predictions
For much of the offseason, my belief about the Pittsburgh Steelers was that they’d be 10-7. Again. That they’d be the last team in the AFC playoff bracket. Again. And that they’d finish the season without a playoff win. Again. For an eighth consecutive year. I’m modifying that. Now I...
First Call: Steelers work out WR/KR; Falcons get boost in advance of opener
Tuesday’s “First Call” begins with a Pittsburgh Steelers workout of interest. The team’s opponent for the regular season opener got some good news. Paul Skenes is getting ready to see the Chicago Cubs yet again. And Duquesne got a good look at its next football opponent during a nationally televised...
Dennis Santana notches 1st save with Pirates as club explores committee approach at closerVideo
The first save situation for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the aftermath of usual closer David Bednar’s demotion followed a predictable script. Manager Derek Shelton removed Bednar from the closer’s role Aug. 30 amid a season of struggles, and the next day, the Pirates took a 3-0 lead into the bottom...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 2, 2024: Jack Suwinski, Malcom Nunez lead Indy to blowout win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 66-64) erupted for a 12-1 victory over Toledo (Tigers). RF Jack Suwinski (.214) was 3 for 5, doubled twice and knocked in three runs. 3B Malcom Nunez (.256) was 4 for 5 with an RBI single and two-run double. LF Joshua Palacios (.225) hit a sacrifice fly. 1B...
Reynolds, McCutchen homer in 8th as Pirates rally late to top Cubs
Through seven innings, Monday’s game at Wrigley Field looked to be more of the same for the continually slumping Pittsburgh Pirates, who were trailing by three, having managed zero runs on the night. But eighth-inning home runs by Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen sparked a late-game rally, lifting them to...
Washington’s Luke McCaffrey looks to make his own name
ASHBURN, Va. — Luke McCaffrey has some big cleats to fill as the son of Ed and brother of Christian. Also following brother Max, he is on the verge of being the fourth member of his family to play in the NFL. McCaffrey knows all about what comes with having...
Mountain West and Washington State, Oregon State will not renew football scheduling deal beyond 2024
The Sept. 1 deadline for the Mountain West and Washington State and Oregon State to renew their football scheduling arrangement passed without an agreement, and the conference said Monday it is anticipating making schedules for next season without the Pac-12 schools. The announcement does not necessarily close the door to...
Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Norwin’s Edwards joins Dayton
Patrick Edwards is making his way up the college basketball coaching ladder. The 2018 Norwin graduate was named director of basketball operations at Dayton, his alma mater. “Basketball has always been a love of mine growing up,” Edwards said. “I realized I wanted to coach, specifically at the college level,...
US Open: Jessica Pegula reaches her 7th Grand Slam quarterfinal. She is 0-6 at that stage so farVideo
NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula is back in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open after a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Diana Shnaider on Monday, her seventh trip to that round at a Grand Slam tournament. Now comes the hard part: Pegula is 0-6 in major quarterfinals over her career, and...
NASCAR Playoffs: Don’t look for surprises in the postseason as power programs dominate fieldVideo
DARLINGTON, S.C. — NASCAR’s regular season finished with a pair of surprises as winless drivers Harrison Burton and Chase Briscoe pulled off unexpected victories at Daytona and Darlington. Don’t look for more stunners when the playoffs start next week and NASCAR’s power programs, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Team...
Preparation at left guard paying off for Spencer Anderson as he moves into starting role for Steelers
A call Spencer Anderson received this summer from a Pittsburgh Steelers coach might have changed his career trajectory. Anderson had played all five spots on the offensive line in college at Maryland, and he dabbled with playing the interior and exterior spots after making the Steelers roster as a seventh-round...
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren (hamstring) ‘will be ready by Sunday’ for season opener
Jaylen Warren confirmed that he took part in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first practice of the regular season Monday. “It feels good,” the Steelers co-No. 1 running back said from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex after the session. “We all anticipated (a return to practicing) this week. It’s finally here. It was...
Quarterback question closed for ‘right now,’ Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi concentrates on cleaning up the ‘bad and ugly’
Pat Narduzzi gave a quick — and totally expected — response Monday when he was asked directly if Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein is “the guy” moving forward. “Right now he is,” Pitt’s coach said. Smart on Narduzzi’s part to include that “right now” qualifier. There are 11 games remaining and...
Steelers name 2024 team captains: Russell Wilson, Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Miles Killebrew
Three of the four players chosen as 2024 co-captains for the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers have combined for 17 seasons serving in such a capacity for the organization. The new Steelers captain? He trumps them all when it comes to leading an NFL team. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and outside linebacker...
James Franklin sees performance vs. WVU as ‘really good starting point’ for Penn State’s defense
Penn State’s season-opening win over West Virginia over the weekend answered many questions with regard to how smoothly first-year coordinator Andy Kotelnicki would implement the Nittany Lions’ new-look offense against a tough opponent. Quarterback Drew Allar looked sharp throwing and running, putting together a largely mistake-free game. Receiver Harrison Wallace,...
Scouting the Falcons: Steelers opponent in opener features QB Kirk Cousins’ team debut
SCOUTING THE FALCONS Last meeting Steelers beat Falcons, 19-16, on Dec. 4, 2022 in Atlanta Key matchup Atlanta edge rusher Matthew Judon vs. Steelers offensive tackles. Judon, acquired via trade three weeks ago, is a nine-year NFL veteran with 66½ career sacks. Judon has four sacks, 11 QB hits and...
Steelers sign British DB Ayo Oyelola to practice squad
The Pittsburgh Steelers began their first regular-season week of practice by filling their final available roster spot, signing defensive back Ayo Oyelola to their practice squad. Born and raised in England, Oyelola qualifies under the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and therefore affords the Steelers a 17th slot on their...
Ligonier Valley grad Haley Stormer provides power for Point Park volleyball as it moves to NCAA Division II
When Haley Stormer reached out to Point Park women’s volleyball coach Bridget Bielich about transferring to her program, Bielich knew almost nothing about her. So, like any fastidious coach, Bielich did her homework, beginning with some video study. The first thing that stood out was the Ligonier Valley grad’s strength....
Plum grad Emma Bennethum eager to help Pitt-Johnstown women’s soccer team thrive under new coach
Emma Bennethum looks back fondly on her days as a soccer player at Plum. And why not? Her time with the Mustangs included three consecutive trips to the WPIAL Class 3A championship game. Though each of those matches ended with a loss to Mars, Bennethum and her Plum teammates were...
