Elks select Dublanko No. 1 in CFL Draft
Joel Dublanko is looking forward to calling Edmonton home.
The Edmonton Elks took the rugged linebacker first overall in the CFL draft Tuesday. There was karma with the selection, as the American-born Dublanko was able to declare for the draft because his father is from Edmonton.
And the burly 6-foot-3, 240-pound Dublanko still has plenty of family living in Alberta.
“Thankfully it's another home for me in Edmonton (with) how much family I have here,” Dublanko said. “I'm really excited for the opportunity.”
In fact, among the family with Dublanko on Tuesday night was his grandmother, Sharon Dublanko. His grandfather, Larry Dublanko, was unable to attend. Dublanko's grandparents are native Albertans. Dublanko's cousin, Curtis, also played four CFL seasons as a linebacker with Montreal (2011-13) and Edmonton (2014).
Kevin Eiben and Will Fields will share defensive co-ordinator duties this season with the Toronto Argonauts. Eiben will also continue coaching the team's linebackers and secondary, although Toronto hired Myron Lewis as its defensive backs coach. Eiben enters his eighth year as a coach with the team. Fields returns for a third season as a coach with the Argos.
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley received the NBA Teammate of the Year award for a second time on Wednesday. The finalists were selected by a panel of league executives and current NBA players. Brooklyn's Mikal Bridges finished second, followed by New York's Jalen Brunson, Indiana's T.J. Mcconnell and Cleveland's Georges Niang.
The award, given annually for selfless play, on-court and off-court leadership and commitment and dedication to the team, is named after Maurice Stokes and Jack Twyman, friends who played together on the Cincinnati Royals. Stokes was paralyzed after an on-court injury in 1958, and Twyman became his legal guardian and supported Stokes until his death in 1970.
Milwaukee reliever Abner Uribe was suspended for six games and starter Freddy Peralta for five on Wednesday for their roles in a brawl during the Brewers' game against Tampa. Rays outfielder Jose Siri was suspended three games and Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy for two by Mike Hill, Major League Baseball's senior vice president for on-field operations. All four were fined.
Milwaukee said Uribe and Peralta planned to appeal.
Before Wednesday's game, Siri revealed a bruise on his left leg that came after getting hit by a 3-0 fastball from Peralta in the sixth inning of the Brewers' 8-2 victory Tuesday. That incident led to the ejection of Peralta and Murphy.