Roberts: Urías locker removal ‘organizational’ call
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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — Julio Urías‘ locker was noticeably absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ clubhouse when the team returned home Monday, replaced by one for veteran second baseman Kolten Wong. At least two of his Dodger Stadium murals have also been covered up in the wake of his Sept. 3 arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence, and there were no signs of his merchandise at the team’s on-site stores.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts characterized the removal of Urías’ locker as an “organizational” decision and called the entire situation “sad on every level.” Asked if the actions taken by the team were an indication that it had moved on from Urías, Roberts said: “I think so. I think that’s kind of where we’re at right now.”
“There’s really not much for me to comment,” Roberts added, “other than the fact that, like I said on the first day, this is a very, very unfortunate, sad situation.”
Urías, a 27-year-old starting pitcher, was arrested two Sundays ago near midnight outside BMO Stadium at Exposition Park in L.A. after a soccer match between Inter Miami and LAFC. A witness contacted police about a physical altercation between a man — later learned to be Urías — and a woman. Urias was booked at around 1 a.m. PT and released on a $50,000 bail at 4:47 a.m., a day before the Dodgers began a six-game road trip through Miami and Washington, D.C.
Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the MLB Players Association, placed Urías on administrative leave “until further notice” Wednesday, making it seem unlikely that Urías could return before season’s end. The Dodgers subsequently announced the cancellation of Urías’ bobblehead giveaway Sept. 21, replacing it with a different bobblehead promotion.
Urías, originally signed by the Dodgers out of Mexico as a teenager in 2012, will be a free agent at season’s end and stood to be one of the most coveted players on the market. He was previously suspended 20 games under MLB’s domestic violence policy in 2019 and could be the first player to be punished twice since the policy debuted in August 2015.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Connor McDavid continues setting records and moving up scoring lists.
McDavid had two goals and an assist in the Edmonton Oilers‘ 5-3 win against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night, passing Jari Kurri for second all time in points in Edmonton history. McDavid, a three-time Hart Trophy winner for league MVP and five-time scoring champion, now has 1,044 points in his 10-year career and trails only Wayne Gretzky on the franchise list.
Kurri had 1,043 points in his 10 years with the Oilers, playing on a line with Gretzky for much of it. Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, had 1,669 points in nine seasons in Edmonton.
“Quite a remarkable feat,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “For him to go up the scoring list as quickly as he has, and within an organization that has had so many significant players. I’ve seen so many remarkable things from him. He’s a tremendous player and great teammate. I said I wouldn’t be surprised anymore just because he surprises you so often over these years, but it’s a nice feat for him and the guys are very proud of him.”
McDavid’s second goal was of the highlight variety. He shot the puck from a tough angle, lifting it over Minnesota goalie Filip Gustavsson without much room.
McDavid didn’t speak to reporters after the game. He was involved in a collision with Minnesota forward Marcus Johansson in the second period in which McDavid’s elbow hit Johansson in the face. There was no penalty called, but it drew the ire of the Wild.
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren practiced with the team on Wednesday for the first time since his upper-body injury on Friday.
He will travel with the team to Ottawa but is still on injured reserve and isn’t eligible to play in Thursday’s game against the Senators. Lindgren, 31, can be activated on Saturday, when Washington hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Not quite ready with being on the IR and that, but another positive step being on the ice today,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said.
Lindgren took a hit to the head and left the Capitals’ home game against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. In the first minute of the second period, he was struck in the side of the head by Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, who was checked into the goalie by Brandon Duhaime. The game resumed, but Lindgren was pulled approximately two minutes later, and the Canadiens went on to win 3-2 in overtime.
Lindgren is 10-8-2 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 21 starts.
He has a career record of 63-47-14 with a .277 GAA and .907 save percentage in 131 regular-season games (123 starts) for the Montreal Canadiens (2015-20), St. Louis Blues (2021-22) and Capitals.
Washington forward Sonny Milano participated in his first full practice since sustaining an upper-body injury on Nov. 6 against the Nashville Predators. Milano, 28, wore a non-contact jersey as he continues his recovery. Milano has played in three games this season.
He has 137 career points (62 goals, 75 assists) in 313 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2015-20), Anaheim Ducks (2020-22) and Capitals.
WASHINGTON — A bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey team was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday.
The ongoing effort, which included the bill being first introduced in October, needed to be submitted for consideration again in the 119th Congress.
Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., reintroduced the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act in the House along with co-sponsors Reps. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., Mike Quigley, D-Ill., and Bill Keating, D-Mass. Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reintroduced it in the Senate.
USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said he encourages fans to contact their congressional representatives to express their support for the bill’s passage. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league enthusiastically supports the legislation.
February marks the 45th anniversary of the Americans beating the heavily favored Soviet Union on the way to the gold medal on home ice in Lake Placid, New York.
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