TORONTO – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Lanny McDonald, Chair of the Board of the Hockey Hall of Fame, announced new appointments to the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee as confirmed at the Directors’ meeting held yesterday in Toronto.

Jarome Iginla and Ed Olczyk will join the Selection Committee commencing with the 2025 nomination and election proceedings (replacing David Branch and Mike Gartner, each having served their full-term limit of 15 years). McDonald also announced that Ron Francis will become Chair of the Selection Committee, taking over from Gartner who will transition to Chair of the Board in June 2025.

“One of the things that makes the Selection Committee so strong is the regular inclusion of new voices and the opportunity for highly knowledgeable hockey people to contribute in the process of honouring excellence in our game,” said McDonald. “To this end, we are very pleased to welcome Jarome and Ed to the committee, and thrilled that Ron, a long-time member and one of hockey’s great leaders, has agreed to serve as Chair. I would also like to express our appreciation and gratitude to David and Mike for their outstanding contributions over the past several years.”

Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020, Jarome Iginla played over 15 seasons with the Calgary Flames and led the team in scoring during 11 of those seasons. A three‐time NHL First All‐Star Team member, Iginla recorded 1,300 points in 1,554 regular season games over his phenomenal 22-year NHL career. He was also a member of Team Canada at three Olympic Games, winning gold medals in 2002 and 2010.

Ed Olczyk, a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame (Class of 2012), played more than 1,000 games recording 794 points throughout 16 NHL seasons. During the 1989–90 season Olczyk scored a point in 18 consecutive games, which was then the longest streak by an American-born player in NHL history. Following his playing career, Olczyk has served as an NHL coach and is a two-time Emmy award winning broadcaster.

Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007, Ron Francis ranks second on the NHL all‐time assist list and is a two‐time Stanley Cup champion. After his playing career, the Hurricanes officially retired Francis’ No. 10 jersey on January 28, 2006, and the long‐time Carolina Hurricanes captain would serve the club in a variety of capacities before being named General Manager in April 2014. He is currently the Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the Seattle Kraken, a position he has held since the expansion club commenced operations in 2019.

In addition to these new appointments, Brian Burke, Marc de Foy, Anders Hedberg and Pierre McGuire were re-appointed to the Selection Committee each for a further three-year term expiring December 31, 2027.

The Selection Committee will meet in late June 2025 to consider duly nominated candidates for election into Honoured Membership and the annual Induction Celebration will be held on Monday, November 10, 2025

The post Hockey Hall Deepens Selection Committee appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves and two first-period goals were all his Bruins needed as they pitched their second shutout in as many days, defeating the visiting Seattle Kraken 2-0 on Sunday.

Justin Brazeau and Charlie Coyle tallied in the first half of the opening period for Boston, which has won back-to-back games and three of five since a three-game losing streak.

Swayman made 13 of his saves in the final frame, seeing by far his heaviest workload against a late Seattle push. After Boston had a combined 30-10 advantage in shots on goal over the first two periods, the visitors responded with a 13-3 finish.

Making a Massachusetts homecoming, Seattle netminder Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots.

The Kraken have lost three straight and were shut out for the second night in a row.

Boston had a dominant territorial advantage in the first, building its 2-0 lead while holding the visitors without a shot over the first 15:30 and finishing the period with a 15-3 advantage in that department. Three power plays boosted the Bruins’ total.

Brazeau needed only 3:23 to net the opening goal, deflecting Nikita Zadorov’s shot from the left point while stationed amidst traffic right in front of Daccord’s net.

The 26-year-old Brazeau has been one of Boston’s hottest players of late, scoring four goals in his last six games.

A highlight-reel power-play goal by Coyle increased the Bruins’ lead to 2-0 at the 9:57 mark. After accepting Brad Marchand’s pass from the right end of the goal line to the left, Coyle deked Daccord by moving to his backhand and quickly to his forehand to tuck the puck inside the post.

At 10:56, Pavel Zacha had a potential third Boston goal taken off the board due to an offsides call following a successful Seattle challenge.

Neither side found a goal in the second, with both teams’ best chances coming during a last-minute Boston power play. After Swayman denied Yanni Gourde on a short-handed 2-on-1, the Bruins rushed up ice but were unable to pot a loose puck past Daccord as time expired.

Seattle’s strong finish included both Chandler Stephenson and Oliver Bjorkstrand hitting posts in the final nine minutes.

Swayman also made multiple point-blank stops in succession just after two minutes following the first pipe. Another came on a Brandon Montour drive in the final minute of regulation.

–Field Level Media

The post Bruins Blank Kraken appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

RALEIGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Andrei Svechnikov and Jack Roslovic each scored two goals and the Carolina Hurricanes had a huge first period in thumping the visiting Boston Bruins 8-2 on Thursday night in Carolina.

Martin Necas finished with one goal and three assists, while Dmitry Orlov, Sean Walker and Jesperi Kotkaniemi also scored. The Hurricanes doubled their previous highest goal total of the season in the opener of a four-game homestand.

Carolina scored its final three goals of a four-goal opening period during a 52-second span. That marked the second-fastest three-goal bust in franchise history.

Pyotr Kochetkov made 13 saves for Carolina.

Brad Marchand and Hampus Lindholm scored for the Bruins, who’ve won only one of their last six games. Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman allowed six goals on 22 shots in less than half the game before he was pulled in favor of Joonas Korpisalo, who made 13 saves.

Carolina, which was coming off a 5-1-0 road trip, had seven first-period goals this season before racking up four in barely more than 18 minutes to begin Thursday’s game.

Roslovic’s fifth goal of the season came 6:28 into the game. With a Boston delayed penalty pending, the Hurricanes took advantage of sending in an extra skater and benefited from crisp puck movement.

The Bruins didn’t register a shot on goal for the game’s first 10 minutes, finally doing so while on a power play when Kotkaniemi was in the penalty box for a high-sticking double minor.

Soon, it turned into a 5-on-3 advantage for the Bruins. Marchand’s goal came at 13:11, with the puck going off Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin’s shin and past Kochetkov.

Less than 20 seconds later, the Bruins were on another 5-on-3, but they didn’t convert.

But the Hurricanes benefited from a power play of their own when Svechnikov deflected in a blast from Shayne Gostisbehere. Thirty-eight seconds later, Orlov blasted in a shot and then Necas scored just 14 seconds after that on a power play.

The post Bruins Caught in Hurricane appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Samuel Ersson made 23 saves en route to his first shutout of the season as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the host Boston Bruins 2-0 on Tuesday. Tyson Foerster netted the game-winning goal in the second period, and Joel Farabee added a last-minute empty-netter.

The Flyers have won two of their last three games since a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).

Emil Andrae had the primary assist on Foerster’s game-opening goal. It was the 22-year-old Swedish defenseman’s first career point in his sixth NHL game, his second contest this season.

Joonas Korpisalo made 17 saves for the Bruins, who have won just one of their past four (0-3-1). That span includes a pair of shutout losses.

Prior to Tuesday, the Bruins had earned at least a point in 20 consecutive home games vs. the Flyers since March 17, 2012.

The Bruins had a 24-19 shot advantage but finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Just three of their shots came in the third period.

Foerster broke the scoreless deadlock 5:32 into the second. Andrae slipped a pass from the half-wall through traffic and right to Foerster between the circles, where a straight-on wrist shot beat Korpisalo.

The Bruins had a prime scoring opportunity before the game was six minutes old but were unable to convert on 1:37 of five-on-three time.

On the other end, Korpisalo made a big save on Garnet Hathaway, who shot off a two-on-one break with Scott Laughton out of the penalty box.

One of Ersson’s best saves of the opening period came with 5:21 left when a crisp passing sequence resulted in Elias Lindholm getting a point-blank chance at the left post.

Ersson did not see a shot on goal on either of Boston’s last two power plays, including attempts in both the second and third frames.

The opening minutes of the third saw 19-year-old Flyers star Matvei Michkov attempt a lacrosse-style goal, only to be thwarted by Korpisalo, while Ersson pounced on a loose puck that Brad Marchand threw on from behind the goal line during a short-handed sequence.

–Field Level Media

The post Flyers Blank Bruins, 2-0 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Bruins captain Brad Marchand has the monkey off his back.

Marchand scored his first goal of the season on Saturday — an overtime game-winner to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs — and the Bruins will try to ride that momentum into Tuesday’s homestand finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It’s one game. It’s not going to completely turn things around,” Marchand said. “But … it’s a great way to start building our foundation of understanding the way that we need to play to have success. It’s something to build on, but again, it’s one game.”

Marchand’s goal lifted Boston out of a three-game losing streak (0-2-1). Following the game, coach Jim Montgomery was quick to recognize the lift that his team’s bench got when Marchand was the player to win it.

“You could tell how happy the bench was when he scored that goal,” Montgomery said. “He’s our leader, he’s someone that embodies what it is to be a Bruin — the right way.”

Marchand and David Pastrnak each registered a goal and an assist while Justin Brazeau and Mark Kastelic also scored for Boston in the 4-3 win. Montgomery saw better overall effort from his group, including better puck management and fewer odd-man rushes.

Boston held its opponent to three power plays for only the second time this season, though it has still been short-handed more times than any other team (43).

From Montgomery’s eyes, there was improvement in that area, and he wants to see more in another area as well.

“Our puck pressure last game was the best it’s been, but it’s still not where it needs to be,” Montgomery said. “I would not come close to describing our team as relentless and that’s where we want to get. … Someone’s got to be pressuring the puck.”

The Flyers arrive in Boston at 2-6-1, looking to climb out of the Eastern Conference cellar.

A winning streak has eluded Philadelphia as it was unable to follow up a 7-5 Saturday win over the Minnesota Wild — which broke a six-game losing skid — with another victory, falling 4-3 to the Montreal Canadiens in the second half of a back-to-back.

“We’re just not working as a group,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “Last year, the reason we were so successful was it was five-man units, one after another, every line. We had an identity, we were working hard.”

Some of that togetherness appeared on Saturday in the Flyers’ first regulation win of the season, but it did not last into Sunday. Sanheim did score twice against Montreal, but Aleksei Kolosov (20 saves) could not manage a win in his NHL debut.

Marginal improvement aside, the Flyers have not hit the 30-shot mark in their last six games. With leading scorer Travis Konecny and much of the team’s core returning from a season ago, that result has been a bit of a surprise to coach John Tortorella.

“Some guys, I’m sure, a little frustrated and are gripping their sticks tight,” Tortorella said. “But, it does, it looks disjointed. … We’ve just got to get a little bit of, what’s the word I’m looking for? Just some smoothness in our game, just some good tempo and puck support.”

Konecny has a team-leading five goals, including one in three straight games, and 10 points this season.

However, further evidence of the team’s struggles comes on defense — in a minus-13 goal differential that is tied for second-worst in the NHL. Sean Couturier (plus-1) is the only player with a positive rating.

–Field Level Media

The post Bruins, Marchand Face Philly appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Bruins scored four consecutive goals and turned around a 2-1 deficit to hold on and defeat the Montreal Canadiens, 6-4, on Thursday night. It was Boston’s ninth consecutive victory in the club’s home-opener.

Mark Kastelic scored his first pair as a member of the Bruins, including a key insurance marker with 4:00 remaining that halted a two-goal Montreal rally.

Cole Koepke and Elias Lindholm each had a goal and two assists, while Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak (one goal, one assist) each scored their second goal in as many games.

McAvoy became only the second defenseman in Bruins history to score in the first two games of a season.

Nikita Zadorov and Brandon Carlo also had two assists apiece.

Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves in his first start since signing an eight-year, $66 million extension with the Bruins on Sunday.

Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher scored twice and Cole Caufield tallied a goal.

Also for the Canadiens, Boston University product Lane Hutson registered his first multi-point game in his fourth career contest with two assists, while Oliver Kapanen had his first NHL point.

Cayden Primeau (23 saves) lost his season debut.

The Bruins took a 3-2 lead with 1:37 left before the first intermission as Lindholm tipped Zadorov’s point shot through the legs of Primeau.

Benefitting from Zacha’s hard work down low, Pastrnak ripped home a shot in the slot with 4:04 remaining in the second.

Only 55 seconds later, Koepke sprung John Beecher into the offensive zone before following the play and banging home the puck that was left loose to make it 5-2.

Josh Anderson got one back for Montreal at 9:05 of the third, sending a long shot through traffic that deflected past Swayman.

Gallagher tallied from the slot with 4:17 left before Kastelic struck quickly thereafter on an attempted driving pass that deflected off a defender.

The visitors drew first blood 8:26 into the game when Gallagher tipped in a Joel Armia shot.

McAvoy glided across to the top of the left circle to fire in Boston’s game-tying wrister at 11:04.

The post Bruins Break Habs for 6-4 Victory appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Bruins want to turn the page.

Two nights after largely being dominated in a 6-4 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, Boston will aim for its ninth straight home-opening win on Thursday when the Montreal Canadiens visit.

Defenseman Charlie McAvoy recorded a goal and an assist and was one of four Bruins to find the net on Tuesday, but Florida’s four-goal first period was too much to overcome.

“We weren’t good enough in so many areas,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “They were. Their execution was really good and ours was really poor. I can’t pinpoint why we looked slow, but we looked slow the entire game.”

An eventful offseason saw Boston bring in the likes of center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov, but the biggest splash came Sunday when now-true No. 1 goaltender Jeremy Swayman signed an eight-year, $66 million extension.

Boston dealt Linus Ullmark, the co-No. 1 goalie last season, to the Ottawa Senators in June.

Joonas Korpisalo, who was acquired in the Ullmark trade, made 29 saves at Florida in what Montgomery thought was a solid opening effort.

The problems were “in front of him,” according to the coach.

“You can’t give up four backdoor tap-ins and expect your goalie to make save after save,” Montgomery said. “… We weren’t good enough.”

Montgomery had not announced his Thursday starting goaltender. Swayman did not see any preseason action.

The Tuesday loss was Boston’s first in a season opener since 2018 against another reigning Cup winner, the Washington Capitals. Perhaps some motivation?

“It’s a symbol of what every team in the league is trying to achieve, but at the end of the day, we’re more concerned about the foundation that we build within the group, with the practice and the way we’re going to prepare from the day forward,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said.

The Canadiens visit Boston for the second leg of a back-to-back following a 1-0 home win against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Sam Montembeault made 48 saves — the most ever in an NHL season-opening shutout — while ending Toronto’s 227-game streak of scoring at least one goal.

Despite closing the preseason with a four-game losing streak and seeing the power play go 0-for-30 through six exhibition games, coach Martin St. Louis was largely pleased with his team’s level entering Wednesday, and he had his feelings confirmed.

“This is a very close group, a proud group and this game was an opportunity to show that,” St. Louis said. “This was the first game of the season, and you don’t get to go back and replay it. … There’s a lot of positives.”

There is no longer a three-man rotation in Montreal’s net. Montembeault signed a new three-year deal before Jake Allen was dealt to the New Jersey Devils at last trade deadline.

“I think I showed (last season) that I can be consistent,” Montembeault said. “That’s what I want to do every game again this year. Every time I get the chance to be in net, I want to give the team a chance to win.”

Montembeault, who will share the net with Cayden Primeau, came through on Wednesday. His performance allowed Cole Caufield’s first-period power-play goal to stand up.

Caufield, 23, scored in his third consecutive opener, then pointed to the sky to honor the late Johnny Gaudreau, whose former No. 13 he is now wearing. Gaudreau, a Columbus Blue Jackets star, died in an accident in August at age 31.

“(Gaudreau) paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level,” Caufield posted on Instagram following the tragedy last month. “I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others.”

Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble (upper-body injury) did not play on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

The post Bruins Look for 9th Home Opening “W” appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

SADNESS @ COMMONWEALTH AND COLUMBUS, OHIO: It seems that every Labor Day there’s unthinkable news stemming from an automobile accident claiming the life of our youngsters. More often than not, the accident involves a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs. … This past Thursday, terrible news hit the Columbia Blue Jackets, the NHL and our local Boston College Eagles ice hockey program quite hard and fully unexpected as NHL standout Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, both New Jersey natives who grew up to play hockey at Boston College, died when they were struck by a vehicle driven by an alleged drunk driver while riding bicycles, according to New Jersey State Police. …

“The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Friday morning, a communique to break the news to most. “While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a doting father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path,” said the NHL statement. … According to police and media accounts, the two brothers were riding bicycles on County Route 551 — a two-lane highway in a rural area — in Oldmans Township (NJ) around 8:19 p.m. when they were fatally injured. A driver was traveling north when he shifted to the southbound lane so he could pass a car and SUV traveling ahead of him. When one driver tried to return to the northbound lane, the driver of the SUV had moved into the center of the highway to “safely pass the two pedal cyclists traveling north on the right side of the roadway,” police said. The vehicle driven by Sean Higgins, 43, then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two pedal cyclists [from behind]. As a result of the collision, the two pedal cyclists sustained fatal injuries,” said the authorities. … Higgins stayed at the scene, and after further investigation by troopers, was charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility. … According to the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press, Higgins told a responding officer he had five or six beers prior to the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving. He failed a field sobriety test, the complaint noted. … “The Gaudreaus will forever be a part of the Boston hockey community thanks to the incredible impact they made as student athletes on and off the ice at Boston College,” the Boston Bruins said in a statement posted on X. … Johnny and Matthew were both scheduled to be groomsmen at their sister Katie‘s wedding on Friday in Philadelphia, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Unthinkable. … “Thank you for the best years of my life,” Johnny’s wife Meredith Gaudreau wrote on IG. “Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.” … Meredith then shared a follow-up post about Johnny’s role as a father. … “The absolute best dad in the world,” she wrote. “So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the apple of Noa’s eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so much daddy.”

The post Unthinkable appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Boston Bruins Land Free Agents Lindholm, Zadorov

The Boston Bruins began their offseason by landing free agents Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov in deals totaling $82.5 million, according to multiple reports Monday.

Lindholm’s deal is for seven years, $52.5 million and Zadorov for six years, $30 million, per news reports.

Both players finished out the 2023-24 season in Vancouver.

Lindholm, 29, tallied 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 75 games last season with Calgary and Vancouver. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2013 draft by Carolina, Lindholm has 557 career points (218 goals, 339 assists) in 818 games with the Hurricanes, Flames and Canucks.

The Canucks traded their 2024 first-round pick, Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo and a 2024 fourth rounder to Calgary for Lindholm in January.

Zadorov, 29, had 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists), 125 penalty minutes and 68 blocks in 75 games last season with the Flames and Canucks.

Zadorov has 146 career points (47 goals, 99 assists) and 701 penalty minutes in 642 games with Buffalo, Colorado, Calgary, Chicago and the Canucks. The Sabres selected him No. 16 overall in the 2013 draft.

Among 2023-24 playoff teams, the Bruins are third in the NHL with $21.6 million in cap space entering free agency.

–Field Level Media

The post Bruins Hit Free Agent Market for $82.5m appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its next seven members, with NHL stars Jeremy Roenick, Pavel Datsyuk and Shea Weber among the Class of 2024. Roenick was born in Boston and attended Thayer Academy as a youngster. He was drafted 8th overall right out of high school by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Women’s hockey stars Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl were also elected in the player category, and executives Colin Campbell and David Poile were chosen from the builder category to round out the group.

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee voted Tuesday. The Class of 2024’s induction ceremony is slated for Nov. 11 in Toronto.

Roenick was one of the earliest American NHL stars, as he scored 513 goals with 703 assists across 20 seasons in the league from 1988-2009. Best known for his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Roenick also suited up for the Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

To this day, Roenick is the fourth-leading American-born goal-scorer in league history behind only Brett Hull, Mike Modano and Keith Tkachuk. He had been eligible for the Hall of Fame for more than a decade.

“I’m so happy, I can’t thank everyone who was behind this honor enough,” Roenick said in a news release. “I’m at a loss for words and I’m never at a loss for words. Getting over this last hockey hurdle means so much to me.”

Datsyuk, who began his professional career in his native Russia, came to the NHL in 2001 and played 14 seasons for the Detroit Red Wings. He tallied 918 points (314 goals, 604 assists) and won Stanley Cups with Detroit in 2002 and 2008. Datsyuk also won Olympic gold in 2018 and was a four-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for gentlemanly conduct.

Weber spent 11 seasons with the Nashville Predators and five with the Montreal Canadiens. The defenseman racked up 443 points (166 goals, 277 assists) in the NHL and won gold with Canada in consecutive Olympics (2010, 2014). As a junior hockey player, he won a Memorial Cup with the Kelowna Rockets.

Darwitz scored the winning goal for Minnesota to beat Harvard in the 2005 NCAA championship game. She went on to suit up for the United States at the Olympics in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Wendell-Pohl also played collegiately for Minnesota and won the Patty Kazmaier Award for the top female college hockey player in 2005. She was also the MVP of the 2005 IIHF World Championships, the site of the United States’ first-ever gold medal. She captained the 2006 Olympic team.

Campbell has served as a player, coach and executive across a 52-year hockey career, including the senior executive vice president for the NHL’s hockey operations, officiating and central scouting departments for the past 25 years. Campbell won a Stanley Cup as associate coach of the New York Rangers in 1994.

Poile retired from his role as general manager of the Nashville Predators last summer and holds the honors of the winningest and longest-tenured general manager in league history. He was GM of the Washington Capitals from 1982-97 before taking the same role in Nashville and holding it for 27 years. Between those two tenures, Poile’s teams amassed a 1,533-1,172-192-178 record.

“I’m happy for my family and for the life I have been able to live through hockey,” Poile said. “Thanks to the Selection Committee for this tremendous honor.”

–Field Level Media

The post Thayer’s Roenick Leads Seven to Hall appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.