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Northwestern‘s motion to dismiss the $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former coach Pat Fitzgerald was denied Tuesday, setting up a potential trial in April 2025.

Cook County Circuit Court judge Daniel Kubasiak ruled that the case from Fitzgerald can proceed and set a trial date for April 7, 2025. Northwestern fired Fitzgerald in July, just three days after imposing a two-week, unpaid suspension for the coach, following the conclusion of an investigation into hazing claims within the football program.

Fitzgerald, a two-time national defensive player of the year at Northwestern, had coached at his alma mater since 2006.

“This matter is, in its simplest form, an employer-employee debate,” Kubasiak wrote in his opinion Tuesday. “As Fitzgerald argues, and as the Court agrees, in every contract there is an implied doctrine of good faith and fair dealing, and that is yet to be determined in this matter.”

Fitzgerald filed his lawsuit in October, claiming that Northwestern violated a verbal contract by firing him for cause, after agreeing to the suspension following the conclusion of its own investigation. He also claimed Northwestern and university president Michael Schill violated his written contract. Fitzgerald is seeking 68 million that remained on his contract, which ran through 2030, as well as future earnings losses of approximately $62 million.

“Because the entire motion to dismiss was denied today, our plan is clear and straightforward – we are going to move this case forward and expeditiously to trial, which is set for April 7, 2025,” Fitzgerald’s attorneys, Dan Webb and Matthew Carter, said in a statement. “We will take all steps necessary to pursue Coach Fitzgerald’s serious claims and to protect his rights, name, and reputation.”

At a February hearing, Fitzgerald’s attorneys had pushed for a December trial, arguing that it would allow him to avoid missing a third season of coaching at the college or pro level. Northwestern attorney Reid Schar said then that while the 2025 date is “aggressive,” it’s more achievable than December, citing a large number of discovery documents that likely could only be reviewed by the end of June. Kubasiak, at the same hearing, encouraged both sides to settle the case.

After receiving a complaint about hazing within the program in November 2022, the university launched an investigation in January 2023, led by attorney Maggie Hickey. The probe found that while claims of hazing from a former player were largely corroborated, there was not sufficient evidence that Fitzgerald and other coaches and staff had knowledge of the incidents. But Northwestern attorney Reid Schar argued at the February hearing that additional allegations of hazing from former Northwestern players prompted Schill’s decision to fire Fitzgerald.

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Panthers handle Leafs, seal 3rd ECF trip in row

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Panthers handle Leafs, seal 3rd ECF trip in row

TORONTO — A three-goal second period broke open a tight game, quieted a raucous crowd at Scotiabank Arena, and powered the Florida Panthers past the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday night.

Though it wasn’t the typical marquee names you see on the Florida scoresheet, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell and Jonah Gadjovich combined for those tallies, giving the Stanley Cup-champion Panthers a 3-0 lead headed into the third period. It was plenty of room for Florida to shut the door in the third period and seal a berth in the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive season. Florida will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 3 beginning Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs, 2-0 winners in Game 6 Friday night in Sunrise, Florida, could not find enough time and space to operate in the Panthers’ zone. With 10 minutes left in regulation, Toronto had just 14 shots on net, with its season on the line, as boos rained down from the capacity crowd.

Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart chipped in with third-period goals for Florida, giving the champions a 5-1 lead after Toronto’s Max Domi scored at 2:07 of the final frame to briefly give the home team hope. Florida’s Brad Marchand added an empty-net goal to conclude the scoring.

“We’re excited about the opportunity,” Marchand said during the game broadcast on SportsNet. “We’re having fun, enjoying the moment, that’s all you can do. You don’t get a second chance at these opportunities. You just have to embrace and enjoy it.”

Goaltender Joseph Woll, who authored the shutout in Sunrise on Friday, struggled at home, looking out of position on several Florida goals. Anthony Stolarz, Toronto’s regular starter who had been sidelined since Game 1 with an undisclosed injury, was active and on the bench as Toronto’s backup for Game 7, but he was not called upon.

Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was much sharper on the other end of the ice, allowing only Domi’s goal off a wrist shot on a clean entry into the zone. Bobrovsky, who has started every postseason game for the Panthers this season, was playing in his first Game 7 since he led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup last June with a victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the series’ last game.

Jones, in his first season with Florida and seeking his first shot at the Stanley Cup, opened the scoring with his third goal of the postseason.

“I’m just happy with the situation I’m in,” Jones said on TNT’s postgame show. “Hopefully, my game can grow, and I’m just trying to bring what I can to the table with this team. I’m playing with a lot of great players, and these guys know what it takes to win.”

The game was delayed in the second period, just before Florida’s goal-scoring spree, after referee Chris Rooney, widely considered to be one of the top officials in the NHL, was bloodied and had to leave. The longtime referee was hit by an inadvertent stick to the face.

The play happened 13 seconds into the second period, when Florida’s Niko Mikkola was jousting for the puck and his stick went into Rooney’s face. Rooney skated off with some assistance and with a towel covering much of his face as he was brought to the locker room area for further evaluation and treatment.

The NHL has stand-by officials at playoff games, and Garrett Rank took over as one of the two referees following Rooney’s injury, joining a crew that also included referee Jean Hebert and linespersons Devin Berg and Jonny Murray.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Referee Rooney leaves Game 7 after stick to face

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Referee Rooney leaves Game 7 after stick to face

TORONTO — Referee Chris Rooney, widely considered to be one of the top officials in the NHL, was bloodied and had to leave Game 7 of the Florida PanthersToronto Maple Leafs playoff matchup Sunday night after taking an inadvertent stick above one of his eyes.

The play happened 13 seconds into the second period of the Panthers’ 6-1 win when Florida’s Niko Mikkola was jousting for the puck and his stick hit Rooney’s face.

The game was stopped for several minutes and a stretcher was brought onto the ice, but Rooney skated off with some assistance and with a towel covering much of his face as he was brought to the locker room area for further evaluation and treatment.

Rooney got stitches and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The NHL has standby officials at playoff games, and Garrett Rank took over as one of the two referees following Rooney’s injury, joining a crew that also included referee Jean Hebert and linesmen Devin Berg and Jonny Murray.

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Follow live: Panthers, Leafs battle to advance to Eastern Conference finals

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