Three Hobey Baker finalists named
Freshman forward Kyle Connor of the University of Michigan, junior goalie Thatcher Demko of Boston College and senior forward Jimmy Vesey of Harvard University have been named the Hobey Hat Trick finalists for the 2016 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, honoring college hockey’s top player.
Criteria for the award includes displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.
Connor completed his rookie season as the nation’s leader in points (71) and goals (35) while Demko posted a 27-7-4 record with 10 shutouts and a 1.85 goals-against average. Vesey, the older brother of University of Maine sophomore forward Nolan Vesey, is known as a great two-way player and is the nation’s leading goal scorer over the past two seasons with 56.
The winner will be announced on Friday, April 8, during the Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida.
Braves’ president steps down
John Schuerholz has stepped down as Atlanta Braves team president after 25 years among a number of organizational changes.
Schuerholz, who is entering his 51st season in professional baseball, will remain as vice chairman. President of baseball operations John Hart will report to Schuerholz.
Executive vice president Mike Plant has been named President, Development and executive vice president Derek Schiller has been named as president, business.
Schuerholz joined the Braves in October 1990 as general manager and for 17 seasons (1991-2007) oversaw baseball operations. Schuerholz, 75, has served as team president since October 2007 and will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in August.
Tanaka to start opener for Yanks
The New York Yankees named Masahiro Tanaka as their Opening Day starter on Monday against the Houston Astros.
Tanaka had surgery in October to remove a bone spur in his pitching elbow and got off to a slow start in spring training before giving up one run in four innings in his final preseason outing on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Thursday that the starting rotation will include Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and Luis Severino. The fifth starter is still up for grabs between C.C. Sabathia and Ivan Nova.
Texans’ Watt played through five core muscle tears
Houston Texans star J.J. Watt played with five different torn core muscles during last season en route to winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for the third time, according to published reports.
The standout defensive end played through a fully torn left adductor longus and a fully torn left adductor pectineus — two of the three muscles that connect the pelvic bone to the thigh bone. He also had partially torn left and right abdominals and a partially torn right adductor longus.
In addition, Watt played with a broken left hand and played three games with a cast to protect it. He also had a back injury during the season.
Watt didn’t miss a game while racking up a league-leading 17.5 sacks.