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Ottawa Citizen
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Could Ottawa Charge trade up in PWHL draft that GM expects to get 'six terrific players'?
Article content If the Ottawa Charge had first pick in Tuesday's Professional Women's Hockey League draft, the decision would probably come down to University of Wisconsin centre Casey O'Brien and Clarkson University defender Haley Winn. Article content With the New York Sirens choosing first, does coach Greg Fargo urge them to take Kristyna Kaltounkova, who played four seasons for him at Colgate? Article content Article content Since consensus No. 1 pick Abbey Murphy opted out to put off a pro career to finish her collegiate playing days at the University of Minnesota, O'Brien, Winn and Kaltounkova could very well be the first names called when the league holds its third draft at Ottawa's Hard Rock Live inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Article content Article content And it's also quite likely Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld, the PWHL's most active trader, has inquired about moving up from fifth in the draft order to fill a glaring hole by taking O'Brien, who scored an NCAA-leading 88 points in 41 games last season to win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female player in the United States, or Winn, the best defender in the class of '25 who could answer Ottawa's need on a depleted blue line and, with 14 goals and 46 points in 38 games for the Golden Knights in 2024-25, for a power play quarterback. Article content As it stands, Hirshfeld will have to broaden his scope at No. 5. Article content Article content 'We're looking at all options,' he told reporters attending a media availability Monday at TD Place. 'To be honest, we have a lot of spots to fill just because expansion really thinned us out. So I think we're looking at defenders and forwards. I can tell you we're not looking at a goalie.' Article content Article content Star puck-stopper Gwyneth Philips might be relieved to be reminded that the blue line has been a priority for the Charge on draft day. Article content In 2023, Ottawa's first three picks were defenders, and, last season, Hirshfeld focused on the position with three of seven picks. Article content After losing four defenders in the off-season — Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova through the expansion draft and Zoe Boyd and Jincy Roese to free agency — the Charge signed two in the last few days: Norway's Emma Bergesen and Brooke Hobson, who spent the past two seasons with the Sirens. Article content 'Emma was someone we looked at in last year's draft,' said Hirshfeld. 'We felt like she had a little more maturity in her game, and I think (last) year in Sweden, playing consistent minutes and the top line pairing was really good for her. When we look at this year's draft, I don't think it's quite as deep as last year's, and we have a third-round value on Emma for this year's draft, so the opportunity to sign her ahead of time really gives us another extra third-round pick.
Calgary Herald
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Could Ottawa Charge trade up in PWHL draft that GM expects to get 'six terrific players'?
Article content If the Ottawa Charge had first pick in Tuesday's Professional Women's Hockey League draft, the decision would probably come down to University of Wisconsin centre Casey O'Brien and Clarkson University defender Haley Winn. Article content With the New York Sirens choosing first, does coach Greg Fargo urge them to take Kristyna Kaltounkova, who played four seasons for him at Colgate? Article content Article content Since consensus No. 1 pick Abbey Murphy opted out to put off a pro career to finish her collegiate playing days at the University of Minnesota, O'Brien, Winn and Kaltounkova could very well be the first names called when the league holds its third draft at Ottawa's Hard Rock Live inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Article content Article content And it's also quite likely Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld, the PWHL's most active trader, has inquired about moving up from fifth in the draft order to fill a glaring hole by taking O'Brien, who scored an NCAA-leading 88 points in 41 games last season to win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female player in the United States, or Winn, the best defender in the class of '25 who could answer Ottawa's need on a depleted blue line and, with 14 goals and 46 points in 38 games for the Golden Knights in 2024-25, for a power play quarterback. Article content As it stands, Hirshfeld will have to broaden his scope at No. 5. Article content Article content 'We're looking at all options,' he told reporters attending a media availability Monday at TD Place. 'To be honest, we have a lot of spots to fill just because expansion really thinned us out. So I think we're looking at defenders and forwards. I can tell you we're not looking at a goalie.' Article content Article content Star puck-stopper Gwyneth Philips might be relieved to be reminded that the blue line has been a priority for the Charge on draft day. Article content In 2023, Ottawa's first three picks were defenders, and, last season, Hirshfeld focused on the position with three of seven picks. Article content After losing four defenders in the off-season — Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova through the expansion draft and Zoe Boyd and Jincy Roese to free agency — the Charge signed two in the last few days: Norway's Emma Bergesen and Brooke Hobson, who spent the past two seasons with the Sirens. Article content 'Emma was someone we looked at in last year's draft,' said Hirshfeld. 'We felt like she had a little more maturity in her game, and I think (last) year in Sweden, playing consistent minutes and the top line pairing was really good for her. When we look at this year's draft, I don't think it's quite as deep as last year's, and we have a third-round value on Emma for this year's draft, so the opportunity to sign her ahead of time really gives us another extra third-round pick.
Vancouver Sun
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Could Ottawa Charge trade up in PWHL draft that GM expects to get 'six terrific players'?
If the Ottawa Charge had first pick in Tuesday's Professional Women's Hockey League draft, the decision would probably come down to University of Wisconsin centre Casey O'Brien and Clarkson University defender Haley Winn. With the New York Sirens choosing first, does coach Greg Fargo urge them to take Kristyna Kaltounkova, who played four seasons for him at Colgate? Since consensus No. 1 pick Abbey Murphy opted out to put off a pro career to finish her collegiate playing days at the University of Minnesota, O'Brien, Winn and Kaltounkova could very well be the first names called when the league holds its third draft at Ottawa's Hard Rock Live inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. And it's also quite likely Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld, the PWHL's most active trader, has inquired about moving up from fifth in the draft order to fill a glaring hole by taking O'Brien, who scored an NCAA-leading 88 points in 41 games last season to win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female player in the United States, or Winn, the best defender in the class of '25 who could answer Ottawa's need on a depleted blue line and, with 14 goals and 46 points in 38 games for the Golden Knights in 2024-25, for a power play quarterback. As it stands, Hirshfeld will have to broaden his scope at No. 5. 'We're looking at all options,' he told reporters attending a media availability Monday at TD Place. 'To be honest, we have a lot of spots to fill just because expansion really thinned us out. So I think we're looking at defenders and forwards. I can tell you we're not looking at a goalie.' Star puck-stopper Gwyneth Philips might be relieved to be reminded that the blue line has been a priority for the Charge on draft day. In 2023, Ottawa's first three picks were defenders, and, last season, Hirshfeld focused on the position with three of seven picks. After losing four defenders in the off-season — Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova through the expansion draft and Zoe Boyd and Jincy Roese to free agency — the Charge signed two in the last few days: Norway's Emma Bergesen and Brooke Hobson, who spent the past two seasons with the Sirens. 'Emma was someone we looked at in last year's draft,' said Hirshfeld. 'We felt like she had a little more maturity in her game, and I think (last) year in Sweden, playing consistent minutes and the top line pairing was really good for her. When we look at this year's draft, I don't think it's quite as deep as last year's, and we have a third-round value on Emma for this year's draft, so the opportunity to sign her ahead of time really gives us another extra third-round pick. 'Brooke is a seasoned veteran defender who's tough. She exemplifies the type of hockey that we want to play.' Among the defenders the Charge will consider with the fifth pick are offensive-minded Nicole Gosling, who was Winn's D-partner at Clarkson, and Rory Guilday, a 5-foot-11 defensive stalwart who was the captain at Cornell. 'Elite defenders are hard to find, we've said that since Day 1,' said Hirshfeld. 'We drafted three defenders right at the top of that draft because we identified early that's where there was a shortage. I don't think that's changed into Year 3. I think there's still a shortage of elite defenders.' While Hirshfeld and coach Carla MacLeod will handle the drafting, they've been 'very collaborative' in assessing talent with their scouts for the last two months. They are also being advised by Mel Davidson, who coached Canada's women's hockey team to gold medals at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. With the Charge roster currently standing at 15 players, Hirshfeld believes the team will wind up with six good ones from the draft. 'We are working hard at this,' he said of restocking a roster that also lost goalie Emerance Maschmeyer and last year's second overall pick, forward Danielle Serdachny, in the expansion draft, and top scoring forward Tereza Vanisova as well as veteran centre Shiann Darkangelo to the open market. 'We are doing everything we can to field a competitive team. We want to get back to the Walter Cup final this year and win it. No one is sitting back and feeling sorry for themselves. We are all working hard. We've been on the phone a lot. We've been doing meetings a lot. We've talked to a lot of different players. We've got a lot of scenarios that are still in play. 'We're really excited about the draft. We think we're going to get six terrific players. There are some free agents that are available and we're still talking to, and there's some trade discussions going on. So I feel very confident that by early November, when training camp starts, we're going to have a really competitive team. I understand the disappointment of the fans, but I would ask them to stick with us and trust us. I think they're going to be really happy with the team that's on the ice when we start getting the next season.' Live coverage of the first three rounds of the six-round draft will be available across Canada on TSN, and the TSN app. Full draft coverage will be available live on TSN+ and globally on the PWHL's YouTube channel.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Men's College World Series: Coastal Carolina pull off 7-4 win over Arizona
The 2025 Men's College World Series kicked off in full force on Friday, as No. 13 Coastal Carolina earned the first win of the tournament with a 7-4 victory over unseeded Arizona. The Chanticleers, who came into this tournament with the best record in Division 1, overcame a 4-4 tie with a few clutch doubles in the bottom of the eighth to keep their 24-game win streak alive. It was a quiet first inning for both teams. But in the second inning, Coastal Carolina had a huge opportunity, loading the bases off a muffed infield catch by Arizona pitcher Owen Kramkowski. Outfielder Wells Sykes took advantage of the situation, hitting a two-run RBI single to put the Chanticleers on the board first. Advertisement After a slow third inning, Arizona came alive at the top of the fourth, starting with shortstop Mason White getting a solo homer. Then, the Wildcats got two back-to-back doubles, sending catcher Adonys Guzman home to tie the game. Coastal Carolina was able to escape the inning without any further damage. And then, at the bottom of the fifth, the Chanticleers got a few players of their own on base. A well-hit single from right fielder Blagen Pado sent second baseman Blake Barthol home to take a 3-2 lead. Coastal Carolina is known for being hit by pitches — the team has been hit by an NCAA-leading 170 pitches this season. But in the sixth inning, it was Arizona who took advantage of getting hit: Chanticleers reliever Cameron Flukey, who came into the game after four innings, hit three batters in that inning alone, allowing the Wildcats to fill the bases and eventually get a game-tying run before getting an out. Then, a grounder from second baseman Garen Caulfield sent White home to give Arizona the 4-3 lead. But then, in the bottom of the sixth, Chanticleers catcher Caden Bodine hit in a game-tying run to bring things to 4-4. Advertisement The two teams stayed locked in a tie for the next two innings off some strong defensive play, with Flukey finally settling in to easily dispatch the Arizona offense. In the bottom of the eighth, with the Chanticleers sitting on two outs, it looked like the game would come down to the final inning. But Coastal Carolina's offense broke through with a series of doubles. It started with Sykes getting on second off a hit that landed right on the line; left fielder Sebastian Alexander then hit an RBI single to send Sykes home for a 5-4 lead. Another huge double from Barthol sent Alexander and Bodine, who was intentionally walked, home to give the Chanticleers a 7-4 lead heading into the ninth. Arizona wasn't quite done yet, as designated hitter Andrew Cain earned a double with some bold running and first baseman Tommy Splaine got a base hit. But a key double play ended the game and sent Coastal Carolina to the winners' bracket. Advertisement The Chanticleers will play the winner of Oregon St. vs. Louisville, while the Wildcats will try to survive against the loser of that matchup. The tournament is double-elimination, setting up a must-win game for Arizona. The men's College World Series has one of the most entertaining side plots of any of the NCAA championship: The Jell-O shot competition at Rocco's, where patrons compete annually to see which school's fans can eat the most Jell-O shot. LSU, who notoriously consumed 68,888 Jell-O shots in 2023, is off to an early lead, eating 943 shots during the first day of the CWS. However, Coastal Carolina and Murray State are also on a roll, consuming 836 and 805, respectively. All three schools are on pace to break LSU's 2023 record.
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama baseball adds established closer in transfer portal from Florida school
Alabama baseball adds established closer in transfer portal from Florida school Alabama baseball has added its second arm from the transfer portal since the Crimson Tide's season-ending loss to Southern Miss at the Hattiesburg Regional of the NCAA Tournament a week ago. North Florida reliever Kaden Humphrey announced his commitment to Alabama in a post to social media Saturday. A right-hander who recently completed his junior season, Humphrey joins Texas State Bobcats right-hander Matthew Tippie as pitchers Alabama have added from the portal this week. Listed as 6-foot-1, 189 pounds, Humphrey appeared in 24 games for UNF this past season and was 2-2 with a 4.30 ERA. In 29 1/3 innings, he struck out 46 batters and walked 17 while notching 11 saves for a 1.34 WHIP. Opponents batted .206 against Humphrey. In two seasons with the Ospreys, Humphrey posted a 5.05 ERA over 66 innings pitched. He struck out 89 batters while walking 42 in that span. He'll be a senior in 2026 after his two seasons at UNF, plus his freshman campaign at Stetson in the Atlantic Sun conference in 2023. Alabama will looking to replace right-hander Carson Ozmer (4-2, 3.29 ERA) in the bullpen after his NCAA-leading 17 saves in 2025. Ozmer is one of 13 finalists for the annual NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, presented to the top relief pitcher in the nation. The Crimson Tide finished the 2025 season 41-18 overall and were 16-14 in SEC play during the regular season in head coach Rob Vaughn's second year in Tuscaloosa. Alabama's 40 victories in the regular season marked the first time since 2002 that the program had posted 40 or more wins in a regular season. Alabama was the No. 2 seed at the Hattiesburg Regional and were ranked No. 20 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll entering the NCAA Tournament. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinions.
