New special teams coach Mike Priefer brings 2 decades’ worth of NFL experience to Pitt
In terms of personnel and oversight, Pitt enters a new era on special teams in 2026. That’s the result of former coach Jacob Bronowski departing Pitt for a job at Auburn in early December, coupled with the Panthers losing their starting kicker to the transfer portal and long snapper, punter...
Penguins uncertain as to Sidney Crosby’s status after being injured at the Olympics
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice Wednesday in Cranberry was a highly energetic affair. Coach Dan Muse skated his players fairly hard for a session that lasted approximately an hour and a half. Even with that demanding pace, those on the ice were upbeat and buoyant as they attended to their tasks,...
Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame to induct 10 in Class of 2026
The Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame will induct 10 athletic greats in its Class of 2026. Laina Walker Connor (Elderton, softball and volleyball), Tom Edgington (Worthington, archery and bowhunting), Jim Kunst (Kittanning, basketball), Richard McKernan (Ford City, sports officiating/football coach), Stephen Predebon (Leechburg, basketball), Matt Myers (Ford City, football),...
Going deep: Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin hits 1st batting practice homer against live pitching
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin’s batting practice has become must-watch viewing, as the teenage sensation puts on an air show by hitting balls onto the metal roof of the batting cages at Pirate City. The 19-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop offered a different display of power Wednesday, when he drilled his...
Recapping the 2025-26 WPIAL boys and girls basketball 1st roundVideo
It took five days, starting with six preliminary round games, but the first round of the 2026 WPIAL boys and girls basketball playoffs are in the books. Some opening round eyebrow-raisers included victories by the Ringgold boys, Deer Lakes boys, Shady Side Academy boys, Ligonier Valley boys and Peters Township...
Canada rallies to beat Czechia in OT to avoid a stunning quarterfinal exit at the Olympics
MILAN — Nick Suzuki tied it on a deflection with 3:27 left, Mitch Marner scored in overtime and Canada avoided what would have been a stunning quarterfinal exit at the Olympics by rallying to beat Czechia, 4-3, on Wednesday. Canada fell behind with 7:42 remaining when Ondrej Palat scored on...
Pitt Athletics to host block party complementing NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft isn’t just for fans of the pro game anymore — Pitt Athletics has announced that a three-day block party will take place during the April festivities in Pittsburgh. “We’re excited to partner with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to create a one-of-a-kind experience for our fans during...
Derick Harmon eager to ‘attack’ his 1st full offseason after solid rookie year for Steelers
The past two football offseasons for Derrick Harmon featured no shortage of emotion, ranging from horrible grief to gut-wrenching uncertainty to proud gratification. Finally, in 2026, Harmon has something of a sense of normalcy in how he can approach his spring. “Most definitely,” the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle said soon...
Sidney Crosby injured in Canada’s game vs. Czechia at Olympics and status unclear for semifinals
MILAN — Sidney Crosby left Canada’s Olympic quarterfinal game against Czechia in the second period because of injury, did not return and his status for the rest of the tournament is uncertain. Crosby’s right leg appeared to buckle when he braced for contact on a big hit from Czechia defenseman...
49ers set for a Mexico City return as the NFL brings back regular-season games
MEXICO CITY — The San Francisco 49ers will return to Mexico City to play a regular-season game this season, the NFL said Wednesday. The date and opponent are yet to be determined, but the game will be played in the renovated Azteca Stadium, which recently was renamed Banorte. The stadium...
Penguins forward Filip Hallander sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for conditioning assignment
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Filip Hallander was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League for a conditioning assignment on Wednesday. Currently designated to injured reserve due to a blood clot in an unspecified leg, Hallander has not played since Nov. 3. Since then, he has engaged in several non-contact...
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger takes a familiar approach to handling Joey Porter’s comments
Ben Roethlisberger was the king of two things during his career as quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. One was extending a play by warding off or eluding would-be tacklers in the offensive backfield prior to connecting on a huge passing play. The other was passive aggressiveness. No one could throw...
Mark Madden: Costly personnel blunders have buried the Steelers in mediocrity
As the Pittsburgh Steelers look to break a string of nine seasons with no playoff wins, there still seems to be an underlying faith among the citizens that the Steelers have a great organization and will ultimately get it right. But nine years is a pretty big sample size to...
U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin wins slalom to break 8-year Olympic drought
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin’s eight-year Olympic medal drought is over. The American skiing standout put in two dominant runs to win the women’s slalom at the Winter Games on Wednesday by 1.50 seconds. The race isn’t officially over yet, with dozens of lower-tier racers still to take the...
First Call: Mike Tomlin shows up at a college hoops game; Steelers linked to former WPIAL, Penn State safetyVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” reveals efforts by many of Mike Tomlin’s former players to lend their support to him in the wake of his decision to step down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Penn State and WPIAL standout is linked to the Steelers in free agency....
Mitch Keller embraces role mentoring Pirates pitchers, wants to show consistency all season
BRADENTON, Fla. — It was in the quiet moments that Mitch Keller spoke loudest for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, even if the conversations were barely above a whisper. To young Pirates pitchers after struggling in a start, Keller served as the calming voice who offered reassurance there would be...
A 5-point plan for Duquesne to win its 5th in a row
Duquesne (15-10) is playing its best basketball of the season. The Dukes have won four in a row and five of their last six. Coach Dru Joyce III’s club is now up to a three-way tie for fourth place in the Atlantic 10 with Saint Joseph’s and Dayton at 7-5....
‘You’re older than our coach:’ 32-year-old stars on Westmoreland County Community College court
Julian Thompson calls himself “Unc,” as in uncle. As in, ahem, the elder statesman of the locker room. “I figured I’d get that out of the way and beat them all to it,” the Westmoreland County Community College basketball player said with a laugh. “I knew they’d want to call...
Former Penguins forward Cal O’Reilly signs in Norway
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Cal O’Reilly has signed with Vålerenga of the EliteHockey Ligaen (EHL) in Norway. That transaction was announced on Tuesday. A native of Toronto, O’Reilly, 39, opened the current season skating for the SCL Tigers of Switzerland’s National League. In 20 games with that club, O’Reilly had...
Tiger Woods isn’t ruling out a return to the Masters
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods did not rule out a return to the Masters just under two months away, even as his immediate future appears to include just about everything but golf. Woods again painted an uncertain future about when or where he plays next because of a seventh back...
Ex-Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger discusses personal ‘transformation,’ avoids podcast feud with Joey Porter
There was no mention of the criticism he faced from a former teammate, but Ben Roethlisberger briefly touched on his own maturation process in the latest episode of his podcast. The retired Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback steered clear of the controversy stirred up last week by ex-linebacker Joey Porter Sr., who...
RHP Walker Buehler signs with Padres after a long career with the NL West rival Dodgers
PEORIA, Ariz. — Walker Buehler has signed with the San Diego Padres after the right-hander spent the first eight seasons of his major league career with their archrivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Buehler was in the Padres’ clubhouse Tuesday morning after agreeing to a minor league deal with an invitation...
Penguins’ Erik Karlsson collects assist in Sweden’s win against Latvia
A look at how members of the Pittsburgh Penguins are performing in the Winter Olympics: Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson recorded a primary assist for Sweden, which defeated Latvia, 5-1, in a qualification playoff game at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan on Tuesday. Karlsson’s assist happened on a...
With Jake DiMichele finally healthy and defense ramping up, Duquesne looking like A-10 title team of 2024
There was no apparent limp, no favoritism for that once-troublesome foot. Jake DiMichele, the darling of local fans at Duquesne and a key part of the Dukes’ 2024 Atlantic 10 championship and NCAA Tournament team, has (knock on wood) proclaimed himself 100% healed. Finally. For DiMichele, the WPIAL’s third all-time...
Penguins forward Filip Hallander close to returning from blood clot
Coaches did not take it easy on Filip Hallander for his first practice in more than three months with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In fact, they gave the rookie a very demanding assignment Tuesday in Cranberry. He had to skate as the first-line center. Now, to be certain, the person who...
