Connect with us

Published

on

SAGINAW, Mich. — Josh Bloom scored off a rebound during a scramble in front of the net with 22 seconds left to give the host Saginaw Spirit their first Memorial Cup junior hockey title, 4-3 over the London Knights on Sunday night.

Saginaw is the fifth U.S. winner in the 104-year history of the Memorial Cup, following the Portland Winterhawks in 1983 and 1988 and the Spokane Chiefs in 1991 and 2008.

“I don’t think the moment’s really set in, It’s going to be one heck of a party tonight and I can’t wait to touch that trophy again,” Bloom said. “Saw the puck sitting there on the goal line, I would’ve dove in it if I had to. Such a special moment.”

Owen Beck scored twice in the first period and Joey Willis gave Saginaw a 3-0 lead in the second before Ontario Hockey League champion London rallied to tie it.

Andrew Oke made 10 saves for Saginaw, with the Spirit outshooting the 13-1 in the first period and 31-13 overall. Kasper Halttunen, Easton Cowan, Sam Dickinson scored for London and Michael Simpson made 27 saves.

The teams met for the 12th time this season, with the game the fifth all-OHL final in tournament history.

They split the four-game season series, London beat Saginaw in six games in the OHL’s Western Conference championship series, and topped the Spirit 4-2 on Wednesday night in the Memorial Cup round-robin finale. The Spirit then beat Moose Jaw 7-1 on Friday night in the semifinal to get another crack at London.

“This is the biggest moment at our level right here,” Saginaw coach Chris Lazary said. “And I tell you, you could tell when guys came in this morning, the look on their face, we were going to win this game. We give up 13 shots. Thirteen to the London Knights, that’s pretty impressive.

“To me, us, London, two best teams probably in the Canadian Hockey League to be honest. They took an OHL championship off us and there was zero chance they were taking the Memorial Cup on our home ice, zero chance.”

Beck opened the scoring at 9:07 of the first and added a power-play goal with 45 seconds left in the period after London’s Landon Sim was given a major penalty and game misconduct for an elbow to defenseman Zayne Parekh’s head. Bloom assisted on both goals.

Willis made it 3-0 at 7:47 of the second period. Halttunen scored for London at 9:45 of the second, and Cowan cut it to 3-2 at 7:48 of the third and Dickinson tied it with 9:44 to go.

“Obviously, it’s not a good feeling,” Knights forward Jacob Julien said. “We had a slow start to the game and we found our way back and then it happens. It’s the game of hockey, game of inches, bounces happen all the time.”

Saginaw is the third host team to win in the last six tournaments, following Windsor in 2017 and Saint John in 2002. The Spirit are the first team to win in a Memorial Cup debut since Saint John in 2011.

Beck was selected the MVP of the tournament. He had four goals and an assist in five games. The Montreal Canadiens prospect was traded from Peterborough to Saginaw in January. Peterborough lost in the Memorial Cup semifinal to Seattle last season.

“It’s unbelievable,” Beck said. “To come so close last year, to be in this tournament twice, to see what it’s all about. Man, it’s unbelievable.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Fired Moore in custody, suspect in alleged assault

Published

on

By

Fired Moore in custody, suspect in alleged assault

Sherrone Moore was in custody in the Washtenaw (Michigan) County Jail on Wednesday night as a suspect in an alleged assault, just hours after he was fired as Michigan’s football coach for having what the school said was an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”

Moore was initially detained by police in Saline, Michigan, on Wednesday and turned over to authorities in Pittsfield Township “for investigation into potential charges.”

Pittsfield police released a statement Wednesday night saying they responded at 4:10 p.m. to the 3000 block of Ann Arbor Saline Road “for the purposes of investigating an alleged assault. … A suspect in this case was taken into custody. This incident does not appear to be random in nature, and there appears to be no ongoing threat to the community.

“The suspect was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail pending review of charges by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor,” the statement continued. “At this time, the investigation is ongoing. Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status at this time, we are prohibited from releasing additional details.”

Pittsfield police did not name the suspect in its statement.

Earlier, Saline police stated they “assisted in locating and detaining former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Mr. Moore was turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation into potential charges.”

Michigan fired Moore on Wednesday following an investigation into his conduct with a staff member.

“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” the school said in a statement. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”

Moore, 39, spent two seasons as Michigan’s coach, after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Continue Reading

Sports

Braves sign vet OF Yastrzemski to 2-year deal

Published

on

By

Braves sign vet OF Yastrzemski to 2-year deal

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves signed veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal Wednesday that includes a club option for 2028.

The 35-year-old Yastrzemski hit .233 with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in 146 games last year between San Francisco and Kansas City.

Yastrzemski, who spent the first six-plus seasons of his career with the Giants before being sent to the Royals in July, will make $9 million in 2026 and $10 million in 2027. Atlanta holds a club option for 2028. Yastrzemski will make $7 million if the Braves pick up the option. He will receive a $4 million buyout if they do not.

The versatile Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, can play all three outfield positions and is a career .238 hitter. His best season came in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, when he batted .297 with 10 homers in 54 games and finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting.

Continue Reading

Sports

Rule 5: Yanks pick Winquest, Rockies get Petit

Published

on

By

Rule 5: Yanks pick Winquest, Rockies get Petit

ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Yankees made their first selection in a Rule 5 draft since 2011 on Wednesday, taking right-hander Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Winquest was one of 13 players — and 12 right-handed pitchers — chosen in the major league portion of the draft.

The Rockies took RJ Petit, a 6-foot-8 reliever, with the first pick from the Detroit Tigers. Petit, 26, had a 2.44 ERA in 45 relief appearances and two starts between Double A and Triple A last season. The Minnesota Twins chose the only position player, selecting catcher Daniel Susac from the Athletics.

Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player and must keep him on the active major league roster for the entire following season unless he lands on the injured list. Players taken off the roster must be offered back to the former club for $50,000.

The 25-year-old Winquest recorded a 4.58 ERA with a 48% groundball rate in 106 innings across 25 games, including 23 starts, between Single A and Double A last season. He features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph plus a curveball, cutter and sweeper. He is expected to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen next season.

Right-hander Brad Meyers was the last player the Yankees had chosen in a Rule 5 draft. He suffered a right shoulder injury in spring training and was on the injured list for the entire 2012 season before he was offered back to the Washington Nationals. He never appeared in a major league game.

Also picked were right-hander Jedixson Paez (Colorado from Boston), right-hander Griff McGarry (Washington from Philadelphia), catcher Carter Baumler (Pittsburgh from Baltimore), right-hander Ryan Watson (Athletics from San Francisco), right-hander Matthew Pushard (St. Louis from Miami), right-hander Roddery Munoz (Houston from Cincinnati), right-hander Peyton Pallette (Cleveland from Chicago White Sox), right-hander Spencer Miles (Toronto from San Francisco), right-hander Zach McCambley (Philadelphia from Miami) and right-hander Alexander Alberto (White Sox from Tampa Bay).

Continue Reading

Trending