Newsmakers: Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane selected U.S. alternate captain
Named A year after Patrick Kane’s career appeared in jeopardy because of a sexual assault claim, the Chicago Blackhawks star was named one of the alternate captains for the United States for the World Cup of Hockey. The sexual assault case in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, was dropped Nov. 5 for what the prosecutor said was a clear lack of evidence.
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid was named captain of Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey. The 19-year-old McDavid had 16 goals and 48 points in 45 games last season. He was drafted first overall in 2015. Philadelphia forward Sean Couturier and Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad will serve as alternate captains for the team made up of Canadian and U.S players age 23 or under as of Oct. 1.
The Nashville Predators named Mike Fisher as the seventh captain in franchise history, replacing Shea Weber who was traded to Montreal in July.
Pledged San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York pledged $1 million to improving racial and economic inequality and building a stronger relationship between law enforcement authorities and the communities they serve. York announced the donation Thursday, following quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s pledge to give $1 million to help underserved communities.
Kaepernick announced his pledge last week after he refused to stand for the national anthem in protest of racial oppression and police brutality in the United States. York said the Niners will partner with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the San Francisco Foundation in this effort.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center says New York Giants quarterback and Ole Miss alumnus Eli Manning is pledging $1 million to its campaign to improve neonatal and pediatric care. The Center is trying to raise $100 million to expand the neonatal intensive care unit, add more pediatric ICU rooms and surgical suites and create an imaging department geared toward children.
Reported Detroit Pistons assistant coach Tim Hardaway faces up to six months in jail after pleading no contest to violating Michigan’s “super-drunk” driving law.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has undergone surgery on his severely injured left knee, the first step toward what will undoubtedly be a long, arduous recovery. The 23-year-old will miss the 2016 season.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he spoke to Bridgewater’s surgeon after the procedure and learned no major problems were encountered beyond the knee dislocation and complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. The Vikings said after the injury that Bridgewater also suffered other significant damage.
Announced Former tennis stars Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick are the International Tennis Hall of Fame nominees in the recent player category for the class of 2017.
Clijsters, one of six women to be ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles, won four Grand Slam singles titles – three at the U.S. Open, one at the Australian Open – and two major trophies in doubles. When she came out of retirement and won the 2009 U.S. Open in her third tournament back, she was the first mother to collect a major title since 1980.
Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open championship was the last Grand Slam singles title for an American man. He finished that season at No. 1 in the ATP rankings.
Swapped Stewart-Haas Racing swapped members of Kevin Harvick’s crew with those of teammate Danica Patrick. Harvick had criticized his crew several times this season, and blasted them last weekend at Darlington. During one 16.6-second stop, Harvick fell from first to 12th. The 2014 Sprint Cup champion said it was time for the crew to perform and he was “over being a cheerleader.”