Aliquippa wins appeal, will play Class 3A football for next 2 years
The ongoing saga between the PIAA and Aliquippa over what football classification the Quips should play in took another turn Wednesday. On appeal, the PIAA overturned its earlier decision to keep Aliquippa in Class 4A, thus allowing the Quips to play the next two football seasons in Class 3A. “Yes,...
Dog on the course! Canine makes cameo during Milan Cortina Olympics cross-country skiing event
TESERO, Italy — A surprise participant in Wednesday’s action at the Milan Cortina Olympics had four legs and zero concern for race times. As elite cross-country skiers pushed to the finish in the women’s team sprint heats, a dog wandered onto the course and ran with athletes down the straightaway....
Quinn Hughes’ OT goal lifts U.S. past Sweden in Olympic quarterfinals
MILAN — When the U.S. gave up a tying goal to Sweden with 91 seconds left in the quarterfinals at the Olympics, even the most seasoned players were on edge. “That’s as nervous as I’ve been ever in a hockey game,” American forward Dylan Larkin said. After plenty of nerves,...
American Alysa Liu sits within 2 points of lead heading into Olympic free skate
MILAN — Alysa Liu will try to end a 24-year drought for American women in Olympic figure skating Thursday night when the “Blade Angel” attempts to chase down Japanese rivals Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto in the free skate at the Milan Cortina Games. The 20-year-old Liu scored 76.59 points...
Hilary Knight gets dream matchup as U.S. faces Canada for Olympic hockey gold
MILAN — Before the puck dropped on the U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series three months ago, before the Americans romped through their first six games at the Milan Cortina Olympics, and before her engagement Wednesday, Hilary Knight looked ahead to the gold-medal final with hope and anticipation. How fitting it would be,...
New special teams coach Mike Priefer brings 2 decades’ worth of NFL experience to Pitt
In terms of personnel and oversight, Pitt enters a new era on special teams in 2026. That’s the result of former coach Jacob Bronowski departing Pitt for a job at Auburn in early December, coupled with the Panthers losing their starting kicker to the transfer portal and long snapper, punter...
Penguins uncertain as to Sidney Crosby’s status after being injured at the Olympics
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice Wednesday in Cranberry was a highly energetic affair. Coach Dan Muse skated his players fairly hard for a session that lasted approximately an hour and a half. Even with that demanding pace, those on the ice were upbeat and buoyant as they attended to their tasks,...
Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame to induct 10 in Class of 2026
The Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame will induct 10 athletic greats in its Class of 2026. Laina Walker Connor (Elderton, softball and volleyball), Tom Edgington (Worthington, archery and bowhunting), Jim Kunst (Kittanning, basketball), Richard McKernan (Ford City, sports officiating/football coach), Stephen Predebon (Leechburg, basketball), Matt Myers (Ford City, football),...
Going deep: Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin hits 1st batting practice homer against live pitching
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin’s batting practice has become must-watch viewing, as the teenage sensation puts on an air show by hitting balls onto the metal roof of the batting cages at Pirate City. The 19-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop offered a different display of power Wednesday, when he drilled his...
Recapping the 2025-26 WPIAL boys and girls basketball 1st roundVideo
It took five days, starting with six preliminary round games, but the first round of the 2026 WPIAL boys and girls basketball playoffs are in the books. Some opening round eyebrow-raisers included victories by the Ringgold boys, Deer Lakes boys, Shady Side Academy boys, Ligonier Valley boys and Peters Township...
Canada rallies to beat Czechia in OT to avoid a stunning quarterfinal exit at the Olympics
MILAN — Nick Suzuki tied it on a deflection with 3:27 left, Mitch Marner scored in overtime and Canada avoided what would have been a stunning quarterfinal exit at the Olympics by rallying to beat Czechia, 4-3, on Wednesday. Canada fell behind with 7:42 remaining when Ondrej Palat scored on...
Pitt Athletics to host block party complementing NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft isn’t just for fans of the pro game anymore — Pitt Athletics has announced that a three-day block party will take place during the April festivities in Pittsburgh. “We’re excited to partner with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to create a one-of-a-kind experience for our fans during...
Derick Harmon eager to ‘attack’ his 1st full offseason after solid rookie year for Steelers
The past two football offseasons for Derrick Harmon featured no shortage of emotion, ranging from horrible grief to gut-wrenching uncertainty to proud gratification. Finally, in 2026, Harmon has something of a sense of normalcy in how he can approach his spring. “Most definitely,” the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle said soon...
Sidney Crosby injured in Canada’s game vs. Czechia at Olympics and status unclear for semifinals
MILAN — Sidney Crosby left Canada’s Olympic quarterfinal game against Czechia in the second period because of injury, did not return and his status for the rest of the tournament is uncertain. Crosby’s right leg appeared to buckle when he braced for contact on a big hit from Czechia defenseman...
49ers set for a Mexico City return as the NFL brings back regular-season games
MEXICO CITY — The San Francisco 49ers will return to Mexico City to play a regular-season game this season, the NFL said Wednesday. The date and opponent are yet to be determined, but the game will be played in the renovated Azteca Stadium, which recently was renamed Banorte. The stadium...
Penguins forward Filip Hallander sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for conditioning assignment
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Filip Hallander was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League for a conditioning assignment on Wednesday. Currently designated to injured reserve due to a blood clot in an unspecified leg, Hallander has not played since Nov. 3. Since then, he has engaged in several non-contact...
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger takes a familiar approach to handling Joey Porter’s comments
Ben Roethlisberger was the king of two things during his career as quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. One was extending a play by warding off or eluding would-be tacklers in the offensive backfield prior to connecting on a huge passing play. The other was passive aggressiveness. No one could throw...
Mark Madden: Costly personnel blunders have buried the Steelers in mediocrity
As the Pittsburgh Steelers look to break a string of nine seasons with no playoff wins, there still seems to be an underlying faith among the citizens that the Steelers have a great organization and will ultimately get it right. But nine years is a pretty big sample size to...
U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin wins slalom to break 8-year Olympic drought
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin’s eight-year Olympic medal drought is over. The American skiing standout put in two dominant runs to win the women’s slalom at the Winter Games on Wednesday by 1.50 seconds. The race isn’t officially over yet, with dozens of lower-tier racers still to take the...
First Call: Mike Tomlin shows up at a college hoops game; Steelers linked to former WPIAL, Penn State safetyVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” reveals efforts by many of Mike Tomlin’s former players to lend their support to him in the wake of his decision to step down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Penn State and WPIAL standout is linked to the Steelers in free agency....
Mitch Keller embraces role mentoring Pirates pitchers, wants to show consistency all season
BRADENTON, Fla. — It was in the quiet moments that Mitch Keller spoke loudest for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, even if the conversations were barely above a whisper. To young Pirates pitchers after struggling in a start, Keller served as the calming voice who offered reassurance there would be...
A 5-point plan for Duquesne to win its 5th in a row
Duquesne (15-10) is playing its best basketball of the season. The Dukes have won four in a row and five of their last six. Coach Dru Joyce III’s club is now up to a three-way tie for fourth place in the Atlantic 10 with Saint Joseph’s and Dayton at 7-5....
‘You’re older than our coach:’ 32-year-old stars on Westmoreland County Community College court
Julian Thompson calls himself “Unc,” as in uncle. As in, ahem, the elder statesman of the locker room. “I figured I’d get that out of the way and beat them all to it,” the Westmoreland County Community College basketball player said with a laugh. “I knew they’d want to call...
Former Penguins forward Cal O’Reilly signs in Norway
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Cal O’Reilly has signed with Vålerenga of the EliteHockey Ligaen (EHL) in Norway. That transaction was announced on Tuesday. A native of Toronto, O’Reilly, 39, opened the current season skating for the SCL Tigers of Switzerland’s National League. In 20 games with that club, O’Reilly had...
Tiger Woods isn’t ruling out a return to the Masters
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods did not rule out a return to the Masters just under two months away, even as his immediate future appears to include just about everything but golf. Woods again painted an uncertain future about when or where he plays next because of a seventh back...
