First Call: Steelers GM candidate has deep local roots; mixed bag of a day for Penguins in Metro

Monday’s “First Call” reveals some deep local roots for one of the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager candidates. The Steelers are represented well on a list of HBCU all-timers. It was a busy day in the Metropolitan Division beyond the Penguins game in Columbus.

Duquesne is sticking with Keith Dambrot, and an ex-Robert Morris Colonial is now a back-to-back CHA champion.

Trying to head back home?

One of the latest candidates to interview for the Steelers’ soon-to-be-vacant general manager post is Andy Weidl. He’s the vice president of player personnel with the Philadelphia Eagles.

On Saturday night, Weidl was one of three candidates the Steelers announced they had interviewed for Kevin Colbert’s job, which he will vacate after the draft in April.

The other two were Ran Carthon, director of personnel with the San Francisco 49ers, and Joe Hortiz, director of player personnel for the Baltimore Ravens.

Weidl is a 1992 graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School. He began his scouting career with the Steelers in 1998-99 when he worked as a player personnel assistant under former general manager Tom Donahoe. He worked as a scout with the New Orleans Saints and Ravens before joining the Eagles in 2016. He was promoted to director of player personnel in 2018 and added a vice president title the following year.

Colbert and Donahoe are both natives of Western Pennsylvania as well. Donahoe also grew up in Mt. Lebanon. Colbert attended North Catholic High School and Robert Morris University.

Pretty good company

Black History Month served as a backdrop for Touchdown Wire’s (USA Today) list of the best players to make the NFL out of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Five Steelers made the list compiled by Doug Farrar.

10. CB Mel Blount (Southern University)

20. S Donnie Shell (South Carolina State)

48. DL L.C. Greenwood (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff)

49. OLB Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State)

51. WR John Stallworth (Alabama A&M)

I’d have Stallworth a little higher on that list. But that’s just me quibbling. San Francisco 49ers legendary receiver Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State) was first. Walter Payton (Jackson State), the Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back, was second.

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Divisional dance

As the Penguins were beating the Columbus Blue Jackets, they didn’t get any help from the Edmonton Oilers in Raleigh.

The Oilers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1, thanks to goals from Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teräväinen.

We're hosting a passing clinic today, apparently pic.twitter.com/6I8u4F1R4F

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 27, 2022

This is the definition of team hockey. Sheesh. pic.twitter.com/gjqb5L7Qk9

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 27, 2022

That gives the Hurricanes 78 points as they sit atop the Metropolitan Division, four points in front of the second place Penguins. The Pens (74 points) moved three points in front of the New York Rangers (71 points), who lost 5-2 in a Sunday night game against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden.

Former Penguin Tanner Pearson got the scoring going for Vancouver off a nice feed from former Pittsburgh Hornet J.T. Miller.

Pearson from the slot gifted by Miller ???? pic.twitter.com/H47XGjizc5

— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) February 28, 2022

Miller would have two assists on the night. He has 39 now. Pearson is up to 10 goals.

Dambrot not done

Via Pittsburgh Sports now, Duquesne athletic director Dave Harper confirmed that men’s basketball coach Keith Dambrot will be back next season.

That backs up a tweet from CBS Sports’ John Rothstein over the weekend.

Duquesne AD Dave Harper tells me that Keith Dambrot will return next season.

Dambrot is currently in his fifth season as the head coach of the Dukes.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 25, 2022

Dambrot is currently in his fifth season as the head coach of the Dukes. They have lost 14 games in a row and sit 1-14 in the Atlantic 10. However, the Dukes were .500 or better in each of Dambrot’s first four years, and they were 21-9 before covid-19 canceled the A-10 Tournament in 2020. That was Duquesne’s first 20-win season since 2009 and just the school’s second since 1981.

The Dukes conclude regular season play with a road game at George Washington on Wednesday night followed by a home game against LaSalle on Saturday.

New home, same result

With the dissolution of the Robert Morris hockey programs before this season, goaltender Arielle DeSmet transferred to the women’s program at Syracuse.

Now, as was the case in Moon, DeSmet is part of a CHA champion.

The Orange won the CHA Championship with a 3-2 overtime win against Mercyhurst on Saturday. The win comes with an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

???????????????? ????????????????????! ????

Sarah Thompson's OT goal wins @CuseIce the CHA Championship! pic.twitter.com/6rIWNmT5IB

— Syracuse Athletics (@Cuse) February 26, 2022

DeSmet made 29 saves on 31 shots in the victory. She was also named CHA Goaltender of the Year posting the most wins in the conference this season with nine. The native of Charlotte, Vt., also led the CHA in save percentage with .953 and was tied for second in goals against average with 1.64.

As a Colonial in 2020-21, DeSmet had a 2.05 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. She also beat Mercyhurst in a 3-2 overtime victory in last year’s CHA semifinal before her netminder teammate Raygan Kirk and the Colonials won the championship one day later against Syracuse 1-0.