Author Archives: ianbethune

UConn’s Pat Lenehan Named Goldwater Scholarship Recipient

Junior Pat Lenehan (Cheshire, Conn.), a two-year walk-on guard on the UConn men’s basketball team, has been named one of three UConn students to receive a 2014 Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most prestigious undergraduate academic honors in the nation.

UConn HuskiesLenehan, a Molecular Cell Biology major, is currently with the team in Buffalo, N.Y., where they are competing in the East Regional of the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. He is an honors student who plans to earn an MD/PhD, become a research oncologist and advance treatments of pediatric patients with Cystic Fibrosis. At UConn, his stellar academic record has already earned him recognition as a Babbidge Scholar and he is also a recipient of the Presidential Scholars Award Scholarship and the United Technologies Corporation Academic Scholarship.

Michael Cantara (Barrington, R.I.), a sophomore honors student majoring in Engineering Physics, and Peter J. Larson, Jr. (New Canaan, Conn.), a junior honors student majoring in Pathobiology, join Lenehan as UConn’s 2014 Goldwater Scholarship recipients.

“I am very proud that the University of Connecticut has had three students named as 2014 Goldwater Scholarship recipients,” UConn President Susan Herbst said. “It is particularly exciting that during this time of March Madness, one of those students is Pat Lenehan — a member of our men’s basketball team. Pat balances an amazing schedule with all the demands of being a student-athlete and a very rigorous academic program that includes hours of both classroom and research time.

“We are very excited for Pat for his performance both on the court and in academics, as we are the entire men’s basketball program.”

The Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, named in honor of former Senator Barry Goldwater, who in the U.S. Senate for 30 years, was created to foster and encourage excellence in fields related to science, mathematics, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholars were nominated by faculties of colleges and universities nationwide and 283 recipients were selected from a field of 1,166 nominees. Virtually all of them intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective. The one- and two-year scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.“I couldn’t be more proud of Pat’s accomplishments in the classroom or the hard work he contributes on the basketball court every day in practice,” UConn basketball coach Kevin Ollie said. “The Goldwater Scholarship organization couldn’t have selected a more deserving recipient. There’s no doubt in my mind that Pat is destined to achieve great things as he moves forward in life.”

Lenehan, 20, is the son of Mary and Kevin Lenehan of Cheshire. Currently, he is conducting research with Dr. Barbara Mellone on proteins and the formations of centromeres and kinetochores in Dosophilia.

“We are very proud of Pat and his success academically,” said UConn Athletics Director Warde Manuel, who announced Lenehan’s achievement to the basketball team at Friday afternoon’s practice, eliciting a huge cheer from his teammates. “He is a tremendous example of the excellence that our student-athletes can achieve. The way he combines his intense academic workload with his commitment to the basketball team is truly remarkable.”

Lenehan has also contributed to several publications on obstetrics. He is currently contributing to a publication of Dr. Melanie Collins, whom he shadowed in the Pulmonary Department at Central Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, on the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis.

“To become a Goldwater scholar, students must be more than straight-A students,” said Dr. Jill Deans, director of the Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships at UConn. “They must demonstrate a deep commitment to research. All three of our recipients have managed to achieve this level of excellence while contributing to the university community and beyond. Pat Lenehan’s intellect and talent, along with his dedication to his lab and devotion to the basketball team, is a mark of character and ability that will serve him and humanity for a lifetime.”

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Red Sox Announce More 2014 Spring Training Roster Moves

FORT MYERS, FL – Prior to tonight’s game against the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox announced the following roster moves:

Boston Red SoxRight-handed pitcher Rubby De La Rosa and infielder Brock Holt were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Infielder Brandon Snyder was reassigned to minor league camp.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcements.

With today’s moves, the Red Sox now have 40 players in big league camp, including 31 players from the 40-man roster, and nine non-roster invitees.

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Wolf Pack’s Latta a German/Canadian Hockey Hybrid

Nick Latta

By Bob Crawford

Nick Latta, a native of Pelting, Germany, is the first German-born player to suit up for the Hartford Wolf Pack in its 17-year history. You’d never know, though, that Latta was not North American by talking to him.

The 20-year-old centerman, who signed an Amateur Tryout (ATO) deal with the Wolf Pack on Tuesday, speaks with only the slightest trace of a European accent, having grown up in a totally bilingual household. Latta’s mother Karin is German, but his dad, Ken Latta, was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario and played in the Ontario Hockey League, roughly 30 years before his son would do the same.

“My dad, he was drafted to Philadelphia in the fourth round in ’81,” Latta said Thursday. “He played over here (North America) for a bit, and then he went over to Germany, played first league over there, and that’s how he met my mom. And obviously I got right into hockey when I was young, and fell in love with the game right away.”

Latta played hockey in Germany until the age of 17, when he headed over to his dad’s home province to follow his footsteps into the Canadian Junior ranks. Although Germany boasts one of Europe’s more prosperous pro leagues, the level of interest in the game is much different from what Latta found in North America.

“It’s (hockey in Germany) not as big as over here,” he said. “Here Junior hockey fills rinks, back home you’re lucky if you get a hundred people for a game. I like it a lot more over here to play hockey.”

On the other hand, Latta is grateful for his international background, and for the ability to switch seamlessly back and forth between two very useful languages.

“I think it’s helped me a lot along the way here, with my dad speaking English and my mom speaking German all the time,” he said of his upbringing.

Also, his being of German nationality has allowed Latta the opportunity to represent his country a number of times in international events, a chance he might not have gotten if he had grown up in Canada. Many Canadian kids would give their eye teeth to be able to go to even one World Junior championship, and Latta has been to three with the German National Junior Team.

“That was always a blast,” Latta said. “The first time I played at World Juniors was in Buffalo, I was just 16 years old and it was a great time. Even though we moved down (relegated to a lower level), it’s just unreal how much they (North Americans, particularly Canadians) care for Junior hockey and how good the level is.”

And although there have been a number of good NHL players to come out of Germany in recent years, Latta always looked toward the land of the Maple Leaf for his hockey heroes.

“Ever since I started playing hockey, my goal was to play in North America,” he said. “I always followed the NHL, and I kind of picked my favorite players through that.”

The top sporting icons in his native country are soccer players, and Latta is proud to identify himself as a big fan of the iconic Bayern Munich soccer club.

“I actually used to play soccer,” Latta said, “until a soccer coach actually gave me the option between soccer and hockey, so I obviously went with hockey on that one.”

Right around his 17th birthday, Latta moved across the Atlantic to Sarnia, Ontario, where he would play four OHL seasons with the Sarnia Sting. Culturally, that transition was no big deal for Latta, considering he had spent many a summer in Thunder Bay, but hockey-wise he found it quite a step up.

“I thought the biggest thing at the start was the small ice surface,” Latta said. “Over there (in Europe) you have a lot more time and space. So I think that was really the biggest thing when I came over, and then obviously the speed too.”

With every new step he has taken in hockey, Latta has had the advantage of being able to benefit from his dad’s experience, as well of that of his uncle, David Latta. David was a first-round pick of the Quebec Nordiques in 1985, and played ten years of pro hockey in the NHL, AHL, IHL, WCHL and Germany.

“They always tell me how it is, and how you have to work so much harder every level you get to,” Latta said of his dad and uncle. “I don’t speak to my uncle too often, just in the summer when I go up to Thunder Bay, but my dad, I’ve got to give him a lot of credit for what he’s done so far in my career.”

Latta’s Sting had a tough season as a team this year, finishing with the worst record in the OHL at 17-44-2-5 for 41 points, but he had a good year individually. Latta’s career-high 38 goals were good for a tie for the team lead, and he added 28 assists for 66 points in 65 games. After landing the ATO from the Wolf Pack, Latta stepped right into the lineup and had an assist in his first game, helping set up a key third-period goal in the Wolf Pack’s 4-1 home win over Bridgeport Wednesday.

“I was happy with my game,” Latta said of his pro debut. “I was a little nervous at the start, but after the first couple of shifts I got settled in, and it was good to get an assist my first game, too.”

As for the difference between the OHL and the AHL, Latta found that to be a mixed bag.

“On the one side it’s harder, on the other side it’s easier,” he said. “In Junior hockey, I’m not going to say no one knows their place, but here everyone knows their job, and not too many guys make mistakes. Obviously the pace is quicker, and it gives you less time to make plays.”

Compounding the challenge is the fact that Latta plays center, a position that carries with it a host of different responsibilities on both sides of the puck. That, however, is one thing that does not seem to faze Latta a bit.

“I’ve been actually playing center my whole life, except for the first two years in Sarnia, so I think I know my job real well as a centerman,” he said. “You’ve just got to be solid defensively.”

Being good on faceoffs is obviously another component of being a successful pivot, and it was that element of the game that led to Latta’s first mark on the scoresheet as a pro. He won a draw in the offensive zone, getting the puck back to defenseman Danny Syvret, and headed right to the front of the net, screening Bridgeport goaltender Kevin Poulin as Syvret fed to McIlrath for a shot that would beat Poulin low to the stick side.

“I always work on my draws,” Latta said. “I think it’s a big key in the game to get the puck right off the start and have puck possession. On that play, the defensemen made a good pass and nice shot.”

So a fine start to Latta’s first taste of pro hockey, but he is being careful not to look too far ahead, mindful of the fact that the ATO arrangement offers no guarantees.

“I’m just happy to get the opportunity here,” he said. “I always want to make sure I play hard and keep working hard here. I’m happy to get the chance here, and hopefully I can make the most of it.”

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photo credit: chris rutsch

Wolf Pack Get Three in Third For 4-1 Win Over Sound Tigers

Hartford, CT, March 19, 2014 – Third-period goals by Danny Kristo, Dylan McIlrath and Oscar Lindberg broke open a 1-1 game Wednesday night at the XL Center, and gave the Hartford Wolf Pack a 4-1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Hartford Wolf PackThe win improved the Wolf Pack’s record to 27-29-1-6 for 61 points and moved Hartford one point ahead of Bridgeport for third place in the Northeast Division.

Micheal Haley also scored for the Wolf Pack, and Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 28 out of 29 shots.  Jesse Root, playing his first pro game out of Yale University, had Bridgeport’s only goal.

“You could say it’s kind of like a miniature version of our season,” Grumet-Morris said of Wednesday’s game, “in the sense that in the beginning of the year we weren’t really on track and then we picked it up and played better in the last third of the season.”

The game-winning goal came 2:11 into the third frame, as Ryan Bourque fended off Bridgeport defenseman Scott Mayfield in the left-wing corner and passed the puck toward the slot.  Kristo deflected it into the air and over Sound Tiger goaltender Kevin Poulin (20 saves).  The puck came down and hit Poulin’s left skate and went into the net.

McIlrath then scored his sixth of the year at 9:18 to give the Wolf Pack a two-goal lead.  Nick Latta, making his pro debut after signing an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement with the Wolf Pack Tuesday, won a faceoff in the offensive zone to Danny Syvret at the right point.  Syvret handed to McIlrath at the middle of the blue line and, as Latta headed to the front of the net to screen Poulin, McIlrath drove a 65-foot shot past Poulin’s right pad.

Lindberg created the final margin with an empty-net goal with 1:07 remaining, making it a three-goal third period for the Wolf Pack, who were outshot 15-7 in the third.

Bridgeport got the only goal of the first period, off of a rush at 13:07.

Aaron Ness sent Mayfield down the right side with a pass, and Mayfield slammed a shot on goal from near the faceoff dot.  Grumet-Morris made the save, but the rebound went into the middle and Root had the puck go off of him and in, after he was knocked down and slid into the net.

The Wolf Pack then scored the only goal of the second frame, and it was Haley, a former Sound Tiger, tying the game at 11:20.  Lindberg forechecked Bridgeport defenseman Jake Newton off the puck near the left faceoff dot, and Lindberg fed to Haley in front.  Poulin got a leg on Haley’s shot as it went under his pads, but could not keep the puck out of the net.

The Wolf Pack are back in action on home ice this Friday, March 21, a 7:00 PM contest against St. John’s IceCaps.  The first 5,000 fans into that game receive a Wolf Pack team poster, courtesy of LAZ, and all Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.  To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 – XL Center

Bridgeport 1 0 0 – 1
Hartford 0 1 3 – 4

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Root 1 (Mayfield, Brace), 13:07. Penalties-Hrivik Hfd (hooking), 2:52; Vaughan Bri (hooking), 9:23; Cantin Bri (cross-checking), 16:02.

2nd Period-2, Hartford, Haley 7 (Lindberg), 11:20. Penalties-Miller Hfd (high-sticking), 5:46; Cantin Bri (holding the stick), 8:14.

3rd Period-3, Hartford, Kristo 19 (Bourque, Stamler), 2:11. 4, Hartford, McIlrath 6 (Syvret, Latta), 9:18. 5, Hartford, Lindberg 15 (Haley, Hrivik), 18:53 (EN). Penalties-Root Bri (tripping), 12:17; Miller Hfd (tripping), 14:39.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 8-6-15-29. Hartford 10-7-7-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 3; Hartford 0 / 4.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 1-6-0 (23 shots-20 saves). Hartford, Grumet-Morris 15-13-5 (29 shots-28 saves).
A-1,779
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Ryan Hersey (8).
Linesmen-Kevin Redding (16), Paul Simeon (66).

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UConn’s Moriah Jefferson One of Five Finalists for Lieberman Award

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore point guard Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, Texas) has been named a finalist for the 2014 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday. Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making abilities and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. As a sophomore, Jefferson is the youngest of the five finalists. The winner will be announced at the Final Four in April.

Nancy Lieberman AwardSince its inception in 2000, three Huskies have taken home the award a total of six times. UConn point guards earned the honors in the first five consecutive years of its existence, with Sue Bird earning the award its first three years (2000-2002) and Diana Taurasi receiving the accolades in the subsequent two years after Bird (2003, 2004). Renee Montgomery was the last Husky to net the award in 2009.

Moriah Jefferson is enjoying an impressive sophomore season that ranks right among some of the all-time Husky greats. Jefferson currently boasts a team-high 170 assists on the season, which ranks second-best among UConn sophomores behind Diana Taurasi’s 208 from the 2001-02 season. Moreover, her stellar assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.88, which ranks 12th in Division I, is on pace to shatter numbers posted by some of UConn’s most accomplished point guards in their respective sophomore seasons, including past Lieberman Award winners Diana Taurasi (2.51 in 2001-02), Sue Bird (2.00 in 1999-2000), and Renee Montgomery (1.72 in 2006-07).

After starting just two games in her entire freshman campaign, Jefferson has been in the starting five for every one of UConn’s 34 games and has played big minutes for the Huskies this season. Through the conclusion of the American Athletic Conference Tournament, which saw No. 1 UConn defeat No. 3 Louisville time to claim its 19th overall conference crown, Jefferson leads the league in field goal percentage (57.7), assists (5.0 per game), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9) and ranks second in steals (2.6 per game). A spectacular regular season resulted in a First Team All-Conference nod by The American and saw her added to the Lieberman Award Watch List as a semifinalist in February.

Defensively, Jefferson helped UConn shut down some of the most prolific offenses in the nation. Jefferson and the stingy Huskies have only allowed opponents to shoot an average of 30.4 percent from the field and relinquish a mere 47.0 points per game, both of which rank first in the nation. Individual highlights include Jefferson’s defensive efforts on Odyssey Sims, the nation’s second-leading scorer. Against then-No. 7 Baylor on Jan. 17, Jefferson limited her fellow Lieberman Award Finalist to 4-of-25 shooting to help the Huskies seal the 66-55 win.

In addition to sporting league-leading numbers, Jefferson has also far outpaced her own career highs this season. The sophomore has set career numbers in points, assists, steals and rebounds entering the NCAA Tournament. In UConn’s first matchup against No. 4 Louisville on Feb. 9, Jefferson clocked a complete 40 minute game and netted a career-high 18 points against the Cardinals. The following week the 5-7 guard battled for eight boards against USF, representing the highest single-game rebound total of her career. On Jan. 28, the Texas native dished out a dozen assists against Temple for the fourth-highest individual performance in UConn history. Furthermore, Jefferson also threatened to break a single-game UConn record with nine steals against Memphis on Jan. 22 that fell just one shy of tying the program marker.

Jefferson and the Huskies enter the 2014 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Lincoln Regional. UConn (34-0) will face Prairie View A&M (14-17) in the opening round for the second time in the last three seasons. Tip time for the contest is slated for 8pm on Sunday, March 23 with national televised coverage on ESPN.

2014 Nancy Lieberman Award Final Five

Odyssey Sims, Baylor University

Jerica Coley, Florida International University

Brittany Boyd, University of California

Moriah Jefferson, University of Connecticut

Heather Butler, University of Tennessee at Martin

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UConn’s Breanna Stewart Selected as Finalist for the 2014 Naismith Trophy

James R. Naismith Women's College Player of the Year

STORRS, Conn. – Sophomore forward Breanna Stewart has been selected as one of four finalists for the 2014 Naismith Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top collegiate basketball player, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Friday.  The fan voting component of the award’s selection process will begin next week.

Stewart is joined by Notre Dame’s Kayla McBride, Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike and Baylor’s Odyssey Sims.

The finalists were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s National Voting Academy, which determined that the player performances throughout the 2013-14 regular season stood out among a host of great women’s basketball players. The 2014 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year presented by AT&T will be awarded to one of these four finalists on April 7, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn.

For the 10th consecutive year, fans will have the opportunity to vote for the player of their choice and help determine the 2014 Naismith Trophy winner. Beginning March 24 and running through April 5 fans can cast their vote through the online and mobile optimized site www.NaismithVote.com. The fan vote represents 25 percent of the selection process – the largest fan impact of any collegiate basketball award.

Stewart, who was recently selected as the 2013-14 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and the espnW National Player of the Year, is leading the top-ranked Huskies at 19.7 points per game and is second on the squad at 8.1 rebounds per contest.  She ranks in the league’s top-10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, blocks and free throw percentage.

The North Syracuse, N.Y. native was honored as the 2014 American Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player after averaging 21.7 points per game en route to leading UConn to the inaugural title.  The 2013-14 American Conference Preseason Player of the Year has been selected as the USBWA National Player of the Week and is also a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award.

Five Huskies have won the Naismith Trophy, including Rebecca Lobo (1995), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003), Maya Moore (2009 and 2011) and Tina Charles (2010).

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UConn’s Geno Auriemma Among Four Finalists for Naismith College Coach of the Year Award

Atlanta – University of Connecticut women’s basketball head coach has been selected as a finalist for the 2014 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Award, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday, March 19.  Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw, North Carolina State’s Wes Moore and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley join Auriemma as finalists for the honor.

UConn HuskiesThe four finalists were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s National Voting Academy, which based its criteria on the coaches’ performances to this point in the 2013-14 women’s college basketball season.

Auriemma, who has led the Huskies to eight national championships in his 29 years at UConn, is a five-time WBCA National Coach of the Year and has won the AP Coach of the Year honor on seven occasions.  The 2013-14 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Auriemma has been selected as the conference coach of the year 11 times.

The Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Award will be announced during the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Nashville.

“These four finalists have turned in some of the most impressive coaching jobs in college basketball this season, especially considering the challenges each has had to overcome. They set the standard of exemplary leadership, and we commend them for the tremendous seasons thus far,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

ABOUT THE FINALISTS:
Geno Auriemma, University of Connecticut: He has led the Huskies to a 34-0 mark and a No. 1 seed entering the NCAA tournament. This is the sixth time that UConn will enter the NCAA Tournament without a loss. The team won both the regular season and conference championships in the inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference. Auriemma, who has won the Naismith Award on six previous occasions, was named the conference coach of the year.

Muffet McGraw, University of Notre Dame: After losing a four-time All-America point guard and joining a new conference, all McGraw did this season was lead the Irish to its best start and longest winning streak in school history (32-0). They finished with a perfect 19-0 record in ACC play, winning both the conference regular season and tournament titles – the first ACC school ever to win the league title in its first season in the conference. She was the unanimous choice as ACC Coach of the Year, the sixth time in her career she’s been a conference Coach of the Year, and second year in a row (also BIG EAST in 2013). McGraw has won the Naismith Coach of the Year award twice, including in 2013.

Wes Moore, North Carolina State University: Led NC State to a 21-3 start, the school’s best beginning since the 1981-82 season, en route to a 25-7 regular season record. The 16th-ranked Wolfpack (25-7) spent 11 straight weeks in the AP and Coaches top-25 polls, and won 10 games over top-100 RPI team. In his first season at the helm, Moore led the Pack to the NCAA women’s tournament for the first time in four years.

Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina: A unanimous selection for SEC Coach of the Year by the media, the three-time Olympian guided South Carolina (27-4, 14-2) to its first SEC championship with a record 14 conference wins. The Gamecocks also landed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. South Carolina’s 26 regular-season victories are a school record and include four wins against nationally ranked teams with three of those coming on the road. The Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation, the highest mark since January 1982.

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UConn’s Breanna Stewart Appears on Cover of Sports Illustrated

STORRS, Conn. – American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Breanna Stewart will appear on one of six regional covers of the Sports Illustrated NCAA Tournament Preview edition, which will hit newsstands this week.  The North Syracuse, N.Y. native who was recently tabbed as the espnW National Player of the Year, is also profiled in a piece by SI’s Emma Carmichael.

Stewart’s appearance marks the eighth time UConn women’s basketball has been represented on the cover of SI.  Other regional covers feature Michigan State’s Gary Harris, Syracuse’s Tyler Ennis, Florida’s Casey Prather, Arizona’s Nick Johnson and Wichita State’s Tekele Cotton.

The following is a preview of the magazine’s profile of Stewart;  “Carmichael profiles UConn women’s basketball star Breanna Stewart, the 6’4″ sophomore who can score from every place on the floor and draws similarities to the NBA’s Kevin Durant.” Writes Carmichael: “What makes Stewart special isn’t difficult to qualify – she has averaged 19.7 points this season and scored 1,000 in just 63 games, the second fastest to reach that mark in school history. But there’s something else: Stewart is a new prototype for women’s hoops.” (Page 56) Her skill set includes much more than the average post player which is why Stewart is considered a new prototype in women’s college basketball. Says Stewart, “The fact that they expect me to do so many different things means [coach Geno Auriemma] can get on me for not doing so many different things if I don’t do them,” Stewart says with a laugh.  “I wouldn’t want it any other way.” (Page 60)

The truth is Stewart still has a postseason run and two full years with the Huskies to hone her skills on both sides of the court. Thus far, the Huskies have outscored opponents by 35.7 points, the highest average margin of victory in NCAA history for both men and women, largely in part to Stewart’s prowess. When asked about her future, Stewart said, “I envision leaving Connecticut with four national championships. I couldn’t expect anything else.” (Page 61)

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Red Sox Foundation to Host Welcome Home Party at the House of Blues April 4

The Red Sox Foundation will once again host the annual ‘Welcome Home Party’ presented by HP Hood on April 4 at the House of Blues. The event will take place immediately following the 2:05 p.m. home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tickets for the charitable fundraiser are on sale now at redsox.com/welcomehome.

Boston Red SoxAttending the event will be members of the 2014 Red Sox team and coaching staff, as well as owners and members of the front office. Proceeds from the event benefit the Red Sox Foundation’s donations and programs benefitting the families of New England.

This year’s fundraiser will have a game show format with players and is emceed by Emmy award nominated actor Mike O’Malley and Red Sox Alumni Kevin Millar.

In addition to HP Hood, other companies supporting the event include Bank of America, Cross Insurance, CVS, Amgen, Suffolk Construction, Ernst & Young, and Sapient Nitro.

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Nicholls Returns to Greenville

HARTFORD, March 18, 2014:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned forward Josh Nicholls from the Wolf Pack from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Hartford Wolf PackNicholls, a rookie out of the Western Hockey League, had played two games with the Wolf Pack since being summoned from Greenville on Saturday.  All told in AHL action on the year, Nicholls is scoreless with nine shots on goal in six games.

In 51 ECHL games with Greenville, Nicholls has 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points, along with 14 penalty minutes.  Nicholls is currently riding a ten-game ECHL point-scoring streak, with seven goals and seven assists for 14 points over that span.

Nicholls, who was a seventh-round selection (182nd overall) by Toronto in the 2010 NHL Draft, was signed as a free agent by the Rangers March 5, 2013.

The Wolf Pack are next in action tomorrow night, Wednesday, March 19, hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 7:00 PM game at the XL Center.  That’s a Wolf Pack “Winning Wednesday”, meaning that if the Wolf Pack win, each fan can get a free ticket to the next Wolf Pack home game, which is this Friday night, March 21 against the St. John’s IceCaps.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.  To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

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