Two Maine roller derby matches set Saturday
PORTLAND — Maine roller derby kicks off the fall season with a doubleheader Saturday at the Portland Expo.
The R.I.P. Tides (Portland) will battle Central Maine Derby (Bangor) at 5 p.m. and then the Calamity Janes (Portland) take on The Perfect Storm (Rock Coast Rollers of Rockland) at 7 p.m.
The R.I.P. Tides are entering the bout after an undefeated spring season.
The Calamity Janes also had a strong spring season and beat Rock Coast a couple months ago in Rockland.
Doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $5 for children and no charge for children under age 5. For more information, visit mainerollerderby.com.
NHL shoots down expansion rumors
The NHL denied reports on Wednesday that the league is planning to expand to Las Vegas, Quebec City, Seattle and Toronto.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Canada’s TVA Sports that expansion is “not in our plans. There is absolutely nothing new on that.”
Daly said the four cities have been named “every time there’s talk of expansion in the NHL but it would be surprising that all four would get a team at once.”
The NHL hasn’t expanded since the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild joined for the 2000-01 season.
Klitschko quickly reschedules Pulev fight to Nov. 15
BERLIN — World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko will fight Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev for the IBF title on Nov. 15 in Hamburg, after the Ukrainian postponed next month’s bout due to injury, he said on Wednesday.
Klitschko, who also holds the WBO, WBA and IBO belts and has won 62 of his 65 bouts, tore bicep muscles during training in Austria earlier this week and postponed the Sept. 6 fight.
Pulev, 33, who has recorded 11 knockouts from 20 wins, became the IBF international champion in 2011 and European champion in 2012.
Cards’ Molina ready to start rehab assignment
PITTSBURGH — Yadier Molina says he is ready for game action.
The Cardinals star catcher had a full workout Tuesday with Double-A Springfield while general manager John Mozeliak looked on. Molina has been on the disabled list since July 10, when he tore ligaments in his right thumb, an injury that required surgery.
Molina told The Springfield News-Leader that he intends to start a rehab assignment Wednesday night and catch five or six innings for Springfield against Arkansas in a Texas League game.
There had been some talk that Molina might be eased into game action by being the designated hitter. However, he said that wasn’t necessary.
Molina will wear a support on his injured hand.
Virginia Tech extends Beamer’s contract
Longtime Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer will be around a little longer after receiving a two-year contract extension through the 2019 season.
The 67-year-old Beamer is starting his 28th season with the Hokies on Saturday when they face William & Mary. His record at the school is 266-132-4 and includes four seven conference titles.
He is the winningest active coach in FBS, and the win total is a school record.