UMaine hockey banquet set May 8
The Friends of Maine Hockey salute to the 2014-2015 University of Maine men’s ice hockey team at its annual awards banquet is set for Friday, May 8 at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.
The cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with a buffet dinner following. The banquet is open to the public.
A silent auction is also scheduled with funds going to the men’s hockey program.
Individual tickets are $40 each. All reservations must be made by Friday, April 24.
For more information, visit www.goblackbears.com or contact banquet chairwoman Cherie Damon, at cdicemom2@aol.com or 207-949-4745.
Meteorologist to throw out first pitch at Sea Dogs opener
PORTLAND — Keith Carson, an on-camera meteorologist with The Weather Channel and former meteorologist at WCSH-6 in Portland, will throw out the ceremonial first-pitch to open the Sea Dogs season at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 9, the team announced Thursday.
The Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will open against the Reading Fightin Phils.
“Keith is one of the most beloved meteorologists in Portland history,” Sea Dogs General Manager Geoff Iacuessa said in a news release. “However, many Mainers cringed every time they saw he was returning to Maine this winter, as it meant another winter storm was coming. We want to give Mainers a reason to celebrate his return to our great state as we welcome the unofficial start of spring with the return of Sea Dogs baseball. We are counting on Keith to deliver good weather throughout our season.”
UNC coach leaves $200 each for former players
Dean Smith, the legendary North Carolina basketball coach who died last month, left each of his former players $200 for a “dinner out.”
The gift was part of his will, according to a letter sent by his trustee and shared by SI.com on Thursday.
Tim Breedlove of Miller, McNeish & Breedlove, PA, wrote a letter to each player, saying, “Coach directed that following his passing each letterman be sent a $200 check with the message, ‘Enjoy dinner out compliments of Dean Smith.’”
Each check included the notation, “Dinner out.”
In 36 years at North Carolina, Smith coached 184 players, according to SI.com.
Smith coached at North Carolina from 1961 to 1997, winning two NCAA championships and 879 games (a Division I record when he retired).
Patriots LB Hightower out 6-7 months
New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower reportedly will be out six to seven months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right labrum.
Hightower had surgery Feb. 10, according to the Boston Globe.
The injury kept Hightower out in Week 14 against the San Diego Chargers, but he returned to play the rest of the season — other than an insignificant Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills.
Hightower had 33 tackles and 1.5 sacks while playing with the injury, according to the Globe.
Ellsbury optimistic for Yankees opener
For the first time since March 15, New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was able to swing a bat.
Ellsbury said the batting cage work — he hit off a tee — went “great.”
He resumed baseball activities on Thursday, and said he is hopeful of a return from a strained oblique before Opening Day.
“I guess the biggest thing is, I haven’t had it before, so I’m basically going off their instructions,” Ellsbury said. “These are the steps that worked in the past for guys, so this is the progression we want you to take. I’m just listening to them and I know they’re doing a very good job.”
Ellsbury had been permitted to sprint and take “dry swings” with a broomstick before Thursday.
Manager Joe Girardi said the key date is March 31. If Ellsbury gets game action by then, the Yankees will expect him to be ready for the opener April 6.