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BRAMPTON, Ontario — The Canadian government has restored funding to Hockey Canada.

Hockey Canada made the announcement Sunday, adding that Canadian sport minister Pascale St-Onge made it official, before the Canada-U.S. gold-medal game at the world women’s hockey championship.

Hockey Canada saw its funding shut off by the federal government and a number of sponsors have pulled funding since May when it was revealed a woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight players — including members of the 2018 world junior team — following a foundation gala in London, Ontario, in February 2018.

Hockey Canada and the woman quietly settled a $3.55 million lawsuit out of court.

The organization then announced members of the 2003 men’s world junior roster — the last time Halifax hosted — were also being investigated for a group sexual assault.

It was also revealed that Hockey Canada’s little-known National Equity Fund — maintained by fees collected from players across the country — had been used to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims.

Hockey Canada executives in July revealed that they paid out $8.9 million in sexual abuse settlements since 1989, excluding the 2018 deal.

To have its funding reinstated, Hockey Canada needed to meet three conditions outlined by St-Onge:

• Become a full-signatory to Abuse-Free Sport and the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC);

• Review and implement the recommendations from an independent governance review led by retired Justice Thomas Cromwell;

• And commit to more frequent reporting to the federal government.

“Today marks an important milestone for Hockey Canada in our journey to earn and maintain the trust of Canadians,” Hockey Canada chair Hugh L. Fraser said in a statement. “While I would like to thank Minister St-Onge and the government for their vote of confidence and for their ongoing efforts to prioritize safe sport in Canada, I also wish to stress that we still have work to do to change the culture of our sport.

“This is a significant moment for the future of Hockey Canada, and hockey in Canada, as it will enable us to further our commitment to supporting all levels of the sport.”

Hockey Canada elected a new nine-member board in December after the previous board resigned and CEO Scott Smith was ousted as a result of the controversies.

Cromwell recommended the new board serve only a one-year term focused on improving the organization’s governance and safety across the sport.

Hockey Canada has yet to hire a new CEO.

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Ex-LSU WR Lacy turns himself in, released on bail

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Ex-LSU WR Lacy turns himself in, released on bail

Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy, accused of causing a crash that killed a 78-year-old man on Dec. 17 and then fleeing the scene without rendering aid or calling authorities, turned himself in to authorities Sunday night, was jailed and then released on $151,000 bail, according to police records.

Lafourche (Louisiana) Parish Sheriff’s Office records indicate that Lacy was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run with death and reckless operation of a vehicle.

A warrant had been issued for Lacy’s arrest, and police on Friday said they had been in contact with Lacy and his attorney to turn himself in.

According to a news release from Louisiana State Police on Friday, Lacy was allegedly driving a 2023 Dodge Charger on Louisiana Highway 20 and “recklessly passed multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed by crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated no-passing zone.”

“As Lacy was illegally passing the other vehicles, the driver of a northbound pickup truck abruptly braked and swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision with the approaching Dodge,” a Louisiana State Police news release said.

“Traveling behind the pickup was a 2017 Kia Cadenza whose driver swerved left to avoid the oncoming Dodge Charger. As the Kia Cadenza took evasive action to avoid impact with the Dodge, it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento.”

Police alleged that Lacy, 24, drove around the crash scene and fled “without stopping to render aid, call emergency services, or report his involvement in the crash.”

Herman Hall, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, who was a passenger in the Kia Sorento, later died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to state police. Hall was 78.

The drivers of the Cadenza and Sorento also sustained moderate injuries, according to police.

Lacy’s agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said in a statement that his client is “fully cooperating with the authorities.”

Lacy played two seasons at Louisiana before transferring to LSU in 2022. This past season, he had 58 catches for 866 yards with nine touchdowns and declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 19, two days after the crash.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach contributed to this report.

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Minnesota’s Hetherman joins Miami as new DC

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Minnesota's Hetherman joins Miami as new DC

Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has resigned his post with the Gophers and accepted the same position at Miami.

Hetherman helped the Gophers to an 8-5 record this season, including a 5-4 mark in the Big Ten. Minnesota closed the season with a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl earlier this month.

The Hurricanes fired defensive coordinator Lance Guidry last month after late-season defensive woes effectively cost Miami a chance to play for a conference championship, as well as a potential berth in the College Football Playoff.

Guidry spent two seasons on the Miami staff after arriving from Marshall. Though Miami showed growth in the early part of the season, the Hurricanes regressed in the final month, including a 42-38 loss to Syracuse in the regular-season finale with an ACC championship game berth on the line.

Miami blew a 21-0 lead, finished the regular season with losses in two of its final three games and failed to advance to Charlotte to play for the conference title. Miami finished two spots outside the final CFP spot.

Then, in its season finale, a 42-41 Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State, Miami blew a 10-point third-quarter lead — allowing the Cyclones to score the go-ahead touchdown with 56 seconds remaining. Guidry was fired three days later.

“In a continuous effort to always improve all aspects of our program, I have decided to make a change on defense,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said at the time. “We will move forward and make decisions that provide our players, staff and program the best opportunity to win and develop at the highest level.”

The Hurricanes open next season at home against Notre Dame, which will play for the CFP title next week.

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Former Michigan QB Orji to transfer to UNLV

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Former Michigan QB Orji to transfer to UNLV

Former Michigan quarterback Alex Orji has committed to UNLV, he told ESPN.

Orji started three games for the Wolverines this season and played in 20 career games there. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

During his career, Orji has accounted for seven touchdowns. He played in 11 games this year, many in short-yardage or red zone situations to use his dual-threat abilities under center.

This season, Orji ran 57 times for 269 yards and one touchdown. He completed 25 of 47 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

Orji told ESPN that he was excited to join new UNLV coach Dan Mullen and offensive coordinator Corey Dennis.

“It felt like a great opportunity to go out to Vegas with Coach Mullen and Coach Dennis,” Orji said. “It’s an opportunity to cultivate winning culture.”

Mullen has a strong history developing quarterbacks, with Dak Prescott at Mississippi State, Alex Smith at Utah and Tim Tebow at Florida among those who have thrived working with him as either a head coach or an offensive coordinator.

Dennis recruited and worked with multiple high-profile quarterbacks while an assistant at Ohio State, and he spent last season at Tulsa as the quarterback coach and pass-game coordinator.

Orji is 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and made his first career start for Michigan this season against USC. He has appeared in a slew of high-leverage situations in his career, as he carried the ball twice for 15 yards in Michigan’s national championship win against Washington and combined for 54 rushing yards in Michigan’s past two wins over Ohio State.

He also appeared in the Big Ten title game in 2023 and against Alabama in the Rose Bowl that season.

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