NHL bringing 2024 draft to Las Vegas
SEATTLE » The last centralized NHL Draft for the foreseeable future is going out with the glitz and bright lights of Vegas.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday the league is moving forward with holding the 2024 draft at The Sphere in Las Vegas, the new venue that opened in September and bills itself as the largest spherical structure in the world.
Bettman said contracts still need to be finalized, but the league is excited about the possibilities for the draft.
“I think it’ll be a pretty well viewed event, both in terms of the draft itself and the viral use of The Sphere inside and outside using the globe. So we think it’ll be fun. We think it’ll be dramatic and compelling,” Bettman said after the league’s Board of Governors wrapped up two days of meetings in the market of the NHL’s most recent franchise addition.
The draft is expected to be the first sporting event to be held at The Sphere and a showcase opportunity for the league before the draft decentralizes starting in 2025.
Iowa’s Parker wins Broyles Award
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. » Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker has been named winner of the Broyles Award, which is presented annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
Parker had been a semifinalist for the award last year.
Parker, 60, is in his 25th season on Iowa’s coaching staff and 12th as defensive coordinator. The Hawkeyes (103) have allowed 15 touchdowns in 13 games, and their 13.2-point defensive average is the team’s lowest since 2008 and ranks fourth nationally.
Missouri’s Schrader honored
BENTONVILLE, ARK. » Missouri running back Cody Schrader has won the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s best player who started his Division I career as a a walk-on.
Schrader, who walked on two years ago after transferring from Division II Truman State, leads Division I with 124.9 yards rushing per game this season. He has rushed for 1,625 yards and 13 touchdowns and led the Tigers to a 10-2 record. He was a unanimous Associated Press first-team All-SEC selection this year.
Man United bars reporters
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND » After reports of player unrest, Manchester United barred journalists from a pre-game news conference with Erik ten Hag on Tuesday as the Dutchman spoke ahead of a latest crunch match for his troubled team.
The United manager had been confronted with stories that his methods had been called into question by sections of the locker room after a 10th defeat of the season against Newcastle last week.