NHL prepares for Coyotes' possible relocation to Utah
The NHL is preparing for the Arizona Coyotes to possibly move to Utah, multiple reports indicated Wednesday.
The NHL has been working on two schedule drafts for next season in case the team is in Arizona or playing under a different name in Utah, according to a person familiar with the planning. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made. The NHL's schedule for the following season is usually released in late June.
The prospective owner of the Salt Lake City team, Ryan Smith, earlier this week solicited suggestions for a team name.
While the NHL, Coyotes and Smith Entertainment Group declined comment, multiple published reports said the league sent a memo to owners updating them on the situation while cautioning there are moving parts and nothing is done.
Smith, the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz, announced in January not only his interest in having an NHL club in Salt Lake City but the ability to make that happen immediately. Smith's group asked at the time for the initiation of an expansion process, something multiple groups in Atlanta are also eager for.
The timing, while preparations are underway for Salt Lake City to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, coincided with continued uncertainty surrounding the Coyotes, who are playing a second season in a 5,000-seat arena and are still looking for a long-term home.
The Coyotes last week said they're committed to winning an auction for a plot of land in Phoenix that would house a 17,000-seat arena and entertainment district. The Arizona State Land Department set the auction for June 27 with a starting bid of $68.5 million.
An arena already exists in Salt Lake City, and the Jazz ownership plan calls for using the Delta Center as a temporary home for a hockey team until a new building is constructed.
NFL
SUGGS ARRESTED >> Former NFL linebacker Terrell Suggs has been arrested after allegedly threatening another man and showing a handgun during a dispute in a Starbucks drive-thru line. Scottsdale Police arrested Suggs on Tuesday and charged him with threatening and intimidating and disorderly conduct with a weapon.
RICE FACES CHARGES >> Dallas police said Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another speeding driver of a sports car caused a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas highway.
Police said that an arrest warrant has been issued for Rice, 23, for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. GAME SCHEDULED >> The Green Bay Packers will be the Philadelphia Eagles' opponent when the NFL holds its first regular-season game in Brazil on Sept. 6. The matchup is at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.
WNBA
CLARK EFFECT >> The WNBA will show 36 of the Indiana Fever's 40 games on its national broadcast and streaming partners, starting with the season opener at Connecticut on May 14. Last season, the Fever had only 22 of their games shown nationally.
The Fever, who are expected to take Iowa star Caitlin Clark first in Monday's WNBA draft, will appear eight times across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 as well as eight times on ION and twice on CBS. In addition the Fever will be highlighted 13 times on NBA TV, four times on Prime Video and once on CBS Sports Network.
Clark helped the NCAA set record TV ratings, including 18.9 million that watched the NCAA title game.
College football
WASHINGTON PLAYER ARRESTED >> A University of Washington football player has been arrested and charged with raping two women in Seattle and court documents say he played in two College Football Playoff games for the school after at least one of the allegations was known to the university.
Seattle police arrested Bakersfield native Tylin Rogers, 18, last Friday and booked him into King County Jail, KING-TV reported. He was charged Tuesday with second-degree rape and third-degree rape and his bail was set at $150,000 in each case, per court documents.
NORTHWESTERN'S HOME >> Northwestern will play the majority of its home games next season at its soccer and lacrosse facility while a new Ryan Field is constructed on the site of the old stadium, the school announced. Northwestern plans to install a temporary structure at the soccer and lacrosse field that will remain in place through the 2025 season.
College basketball
COLLIER DECLARES FOR DRAFT >> Isaiah Collier is leaving Southern California after one season to enter the NBA draft. The Trojans announced his decision Wednesday on their X page. Collier, a 6-foot-5 guard from Atlanta, averaged 16.3 points while starting 26 of the 27 games in which he appeared.
EDEY HONORED >> Zach Edey of Purdue became the second two-time John R. Wooden Award winner as the nation's top men's college basketball player on Wednesday. The center joins Virginia's Ralph Sampson, who won in 1982 and '83.