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Alouettes Sign Former BC Lions DT Aaron Hunt

2012-02-21T16:53:00.002-05:00

MONTREAL, February 21, 2012 - The Montreal Alouettes announced on Tuesday the signing of defensive tackle Aaron Hunt, linebacker Mark Restelli and defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash. All three import players have signed two-year deals with the club.

Aaron Hunt (6'3'', 280 lbs.) became a free agent last week after spending his six-year CFL career with the BC Lions. Last year, the 31-year-old recorded 29 defensive tackles including seven sacks in 17 games and was voted a CFL All-Star for the second time in his career, having also earned the honor in 2008. The former product of Texas Tech University tallied 170 tackles and 41 sacks with the Lions.

Mark Restelli (6'2'', 215 lbs.) spent three seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos. Last season, he attended the Miami Dolphins training camp and played in all four pre-season games as a safety before returning to the Eskimos. The now 25-year-old linebacker made a big impact as a rookie in 2009, making 58 defensive tackles and adding 16 others on special teams.

Alan-Michael Cash (6'2'', 292 lbs.) registered 149 tackles and nine sacks during his four-year college career at North Carolina State. The 24-year-old attended the Alouettes training camp last season.

Oilers Recall Goalie Yann Danis From OKC Barons

2012-02-21T16:49:00.001-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Edmonton Oilers recalled goaltender Yann Danis from the Oklahoma City Barons, Oilers General Manager Steve Tambellini announced Monday. In a separate transaction, the Oilers assigned goaltender Olivier Roy (oh-live-ee-ay wah) to the Barons from the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, Barons General Manager Bill Scott announced.

Danis, a 6-0, 185-pounder from Fontaine, PQ, has a 21-10-1 record, 1.98 goals against average and .926 save percentage. A member of the Western Conference All Star Team, his statistics put him among the top goaltenders in the AHL. His goals against average is tops in the league while his five shutouts puts him second. His .926 save percentage and 21 wins are third among AHL net minders.

Originally signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens in 2004, Danis played four seasons at Brown University. With Brown, he was the ECAC Player and Goaltender of the Year in 2003-04. In 100 games with Brown, he compiled a 43-43-12 record, 2.20 goals against average, .930 save percentage and 13 shutouts.

Roy, a 6-0, 180-pounder from Amqui, Quebec has a 12-15-5 record with Stockton, a 2.44 goals against average, .927 save percentage and three shutouts. His save percentage is good for third in the ECHL. Over his last eight games, he has a 1.49 goals against average and .958 save percentage.

This marks his second assignment to the Barons this season. He was assigned to Oklahoma City December 17 and served as the backup for the Barons two games against the Charlotte Checkers in Charlotte. Roy was selected in the 5^th round (133^rd overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The Barons close out their four-game home stand Wednesday evening against the Texas Stars, AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars. Faceoff is 7pm at the Cox Convention Center. The game can be heard on AM 1340 The Game or on a pay-per-view basis via AHLLive.com.

Montreal Alouettes Unveil 2012 Season Schedule

2012-02-19T14:55:00.002-05:00

The Montreal Alouettes and the CFL released Friday the schedule for the 2012 season.

The Alouettes will travel to Calgary to kick off the 2012 campaign against the Stampeders on Canada Day (July 1) before welcoming the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to Percival Molson Stadium for the home opener on Friday, July 6 at 7pm.

Schedule highlights include a home-and-away series against the defending Grey Cup Champions, the BC Lions, on August 31 and September 8.

The Alouettes will see familiar faces in new places on consecutive weeks when they square off against quarterbacks Henry Burris in Hamilton on July 21 and Toronto's Ricky Ray at home on July 27. The game versus Toronto will also mark the return of former Alouettes offensive coordinator Scott Milanovich as the head coach of the Argonauts.

On August 23, Montreal will host Hamilton for the first time since the Tiger-Cats prematurely ended the Alouettes 2011 season in an overtime thriller in the East Semi-Final. Barring a playoff match-up on the road in Hamilton, the Alouettes will visit Ivor Wynne Stadium for the final time on September 28 as the Tiger-Cats.

The Alouettes will close out their 2012 home schedule at Percival Molson Stadium against West Division rival, the Edmonton Eskimos, on October 28. The last weekend of the CFL schedule features all teams playing within their divisions. In the East, Toronto will host Hamilton on November 1 and the Alouettes will travel to Winnipeg on November 3.

The Alouettes training camp is set to begin on June 3. Fans will get a first look at the 2012 Alouettes in action on Thursday, June 14, when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a preseason game.

The 2012 CFL season will culminate with the 100^th Grey Cup game on Sunday, November 25 in Toronto.

With the exception of the Alouettes home opener, which begins at 7pm, all weeknight games at Percival Molson Stadium will kickoff at 7:30pm. All weekend home games will begin at 1pm. All Alouettes regular season games will be broadcast on RDS-HD, TSN-HD, 98,5FM, and CJAD 800AM.

2012 season tickets and group tickets are now on sale. Alouettes individual game tickets will go on sale in the month of May. For more information about Alouettes tickets, please visit MontrealAlouettes.com or call (514) 787-2525.

Oilers Acquire Rodney From Ducks For O'Marra

2012-02-17T00:51:00.001-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY – Edmonton Oilers General Manager Steve Tambellini announced Thursday the Edmonton Oilers have acquired defenseman Bryan Rodney from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for center Ryan O’Marra.

Rodney, 27, has played in 41 games this season with the Syracuse Crunch collecting 20 points (5G, 15A).

The 6’0”, 200-pound rearguard has played 33 career NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes scoring a goal and adding 12 assists. In 280 AHL games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Albany River Rats, Charlotte Checkers and the Crunch, Rodney has recorded 156 points (29G, 127A). He was also named an AHL All-Star in 2010 and 2011.  

Rodney, who is from London, Ontario, completed a five-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career in 2005, totaling 234 points (47G, 187A) and 224 penalty minutes in 311 regular-season games with Ottawa, Kingston and London. He also won the 2005 Memorial Cup with London.

The Barons are at home this weekend for a three-game set. Friday and Saturday they host the Milwaukee Admirals, AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators. Faceoff is set for 7pm. Sunday, they host division rival San Antonio at 4pm. All three games will be played at the Cox Convention Center.

Wear Your Hockey Jersey To Work This Friday

2012-02-16T13:37:00.002-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Barons, in conjunction with USA Hockey are encouraging everyone to wear the jersey of their favorite hockey team to work February 17 as part of Hockey Weekend Across America.

The festivities surrounding the three-day Hockey Weekend Across America include Wear Your Jersey to Work Day February 17, a Try Hockey for Free day February 18 and Hockey Heroes Day February 19. All three days provide additional opportunities for fans to showcase their hockey spirit.

The first event of Hockey Weekend Across America begins with fans wearing the jersey of their favorite team to their office or workplace on February 17. The Barons are offering another incentive. Wear your jersey to work and upload a picture to the Barons Facebook page or to the Barons Website that day. Everyone who uploads a picture will be entered to have the chance to win a VIP experience at a Barons game during the final part of the 2011-12 season. That includes use of a Terrace Suite for four people, an autographed stick and a chance to participate in a fan experience. Pictures submitted in poor taste will not be considered.

Fans will also have the chance to win a complete set of hockey gear from Reebok by visiting the USA Hockey website, USAHockey.com.

This Saturday, Arctic Edge in Edmond and Blazers Ice Centre in south Oklahoma City are hosting Try Hockey for Free Day. At that event, youngsters ages 5-12 will have the chance to try hockey for free. Registration for the event at Arctic Edge starts at noon. Registration for the event at Blazers Ice Centre starts at 2:15pm.

Join the Barons in wearing the jersey of your favorite team (preferably the Barons) to work on February 17!

Oklahoma City skates in three games this weekend. February 17 & 18 they square off against the Milwaukee Admirals. Faceoff is scheduled for 7pm. February 19, the Barons wrap up a three-game weekend with a game with division rival San Antonio at 4pm. All three games will be played at the Cox Convention Center.

Alouettes Sign Former Eskimos LB Rod Davis

2012-02-16T13:29:00.001-05:00

Montreal, February 16, 2012 - The Montreal Alouettes announced on Thursday the signing of import linebacker Rod Davis to a two-year contract.

ROD DAVIS (6'2'', 240 lbs.), who became a free agent on Wednesday, led the Eskimos with 79 tackles last season despite having played in only 14 games. The 30-year-old linebacker also racked up five quarterback sacks. The University of Southern Mississippi product played his first three CFL seasons in Edmonton.

Sporting KC To Host 5th Annual Open Tryouts

2012-02-14T14:09:00.001-05:00

Sporting Kansas City will hold open tryouts for prospective players on Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10 at the team’s Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park, the club announced Tuesday. The tryouts are open to players who are 18 years of age and older, and are among the first 300 registrants.

“The quantity and quality of talented players to participate in our open tryouts each of the last four years has been encouraging,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. “These tryouts are an important opportunity for us to evaluate players with aspirations to play in Major League Soccer and by moving the tryouts to June, we put ourselves in a position to align the tryouts in advance of the summer transfer window.”

This year’s event marks the fifth consecutive year the club has held an organized open tryout. The previous occasions have drawn scores of players from more than a dozen different countries.

In 2008, the club offered open tryouts for the first time since the team’s inaugural season in 1996 and signed two players to professional contracts later that season. Nelson Pizarro appeared in three matches, while Kevin Souter played in ten games over two seasons, including two appearances in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Members of the Sporting Kansas City technical staff will conduct the tryouts, evaluating and identifying all players who participate on Saturday, June 9. They will then select a group of the top performers from day one to return on Sunday, June 10 for a second session to allow the players an additional opportunity to showcase their abilities. No registered players are guaranteed a spot at the second day of tryouts.

Finalists from the open tryouts may then be given the chance to train with the Sporting Kansas City first team as they compete in their 17th season in Major League Soccer.

Interested individuals can register for the 2012 open tryouts at SportingKC.com. Players must pay the tryout fee, ranging from $200-$208 depending on payment method, for the opportunity to participate and also must be able to provide their own transportation, lodging and food for the weekend.

2012 Sporting Kansas City Open Tryouts

Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10

Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park

6310 Lewis Road, Kansas City, MO 64132

tryouts@sportingkc.com

Sporting KC Launches New 'Live For It' Campaign

2012-02-14T14:05:00.001-05:00

Sporting Kansas City unveiled the club’s 2012 marketing campaign on Monday, introducing the “Live for It” slogan to showcase the unparalleled experience of attending matches at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park and to represent the incredible devotion of the club’s passionate supporters.

The campaign will include a wide array of traditional and non-traditional marketing elements, including a cross-platform approach that will spread the message through television, radio, outdoor, print and online advertising placements.

The team’s new television spot debuted on Sunday during the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on KCTV5 and can now be seen on SportingKC.com. The commercial will continue to air in the local broadcast market throughout the season and a second spot will debut during the club’s season opener on Saturday, March 10 on KSMO-TV.

Both television spots were created locally as a joint collaboration between Sporting Kansas City, Barkley and Liquid 9.

Over the airwaves, the “Live for It” campaign began last week on Sports Radio 810 WHB and 610 Sports Radio. The radio promotions can also be heard during the season on a lineup of local FM stations that currently includes 96.5 the Buzz, Mix 93.3 and Hot 103 Jamz.

Once again, several of the team’s marquee players will be prominently displayed on billboards throughout the metropolitan area. The initial phase of the outdoor campaign, featuring 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year C.J. Sapong and 2011 MLSSoccer.com Breakout Player of the Year Graham Zusi, will be unveiled on Monday, February 20^th. Two additional billboards will be posted during the season featuring 2011 MLS All-Star Matt Besler and 2011 Team MVP Jimmy Nielsen.

Local artist Chris Sembower produced the creative artwork for the outdoor campaign and the first flight of billboards will be on display at the following locations:

· C.J. Sapong: I-435 and 350 Highway (February 20)

· C.J. Sapong: I-70 and Indiana (February 27)

· Graham Zusi: I-35 and Cambridge Circle (February 20)

Additionally, Sporting Kansas City will have advertising space in the Kansas City Star and Ink Magazine this week.

Single-game tickets for Sporting Kansas City’s first eight home matches of the 2012 MLS season at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park go on sale to the general public beginning Friday.

Tickets may be purchased on Ticketmaster.com or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park Box Offices (open Monday thru Friday from 10am to 6pm CT and on Saturday from 10am to 1pm CT).

Alouettes New Signings Add NFL, UFL To CFL

2012-02-12T11:52:00.001-05:00

The Montreal Alouettes announced the signing of six import players on Friday. Defensive back/kick returner Stephan Neville, receiver Felton Huggins, running back Noel Devine, defensive end Michael Montgomery, defensive back Dajuan Morgan as well as defensive end Duke Lemmens, all agreed to two-year deals with the club.

Stephan Neville (5'8'', 195 lbs.) tied the NCAA Division II record with 11 career kick return touchdowns over his four-years at Stonehill College. He scored four touchdowns on kickoff returns in 2010, and returned 26 kickoffs for 773 yards. As a defensive back, he tallied 164 tackles and 12 interceptions during his college tenure.

Noel Devine (5'8'', 180 lbs.) played in the United Football League with the Omaha Nighthawks last season. He had previously signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. The 23-year-old former West Virginia University rusher had an explosive junior season with 1,742 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns. He ended his four-year college career with 4,315 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Felton Huggins (6'2'', 186 lbs.) spent the entire 2008 and 2009 seasons on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. The 28-year-old was originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He then spent the 2007 season in NFL Europe with the World Bowl runner-up Frankfurt Galaxy. The three-year starter at Southeastern Louisiana University finished his college career with

162 receptions for 2,350 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Michael Montgomery (6'5'', 282 lbs.) was Green Bay's sixth round pick at the 2005 NFL Draft and spent the first three years of his career as a backup at defensive end for the Packers. The 28-year-old started eight games for the Packers in 2008. He produced 123 tackles and five sacks in his first 56 games and rejoined the Packers in October 2010 after a short stint with the Minnesota Vikings. He most recently played for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League.

Dajuan Morgan (6'0'', 203 lbs.) was a third round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with the Chiefs before joining the Indianapolis Colts in 2010, recording 42 tackles in 30 games during his NFL career. He spent last season as part of the New York Jets practice squad and played his college football with the North Carolina State University Wolfpack while Marc Trestman was the team's offensive coordinator.

Duke Lemmens (6'3'', 250 lbs.) spent four years at the University of Florida, helping the team win the National championship in 2008. In 45 career games with Gators, including 14 as a starter, he amassed 66 tackles, five sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss. The 23-year-old attended the Arizona Cardinals training camp last summer.

Sporting KC Beats DCU In First Kick Preview

2012-02-12T11:42:00.001-05:00

Sporting Kansas City posted a 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. Midfielder Graham Zusi opened the scoring in the 34th minute on a curling free kick, while forward Soony Saad secured the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute, less than two minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.

The club improves to 2-0-0 on the pre-season with the victory over D.C. United, whom Sporting KC will face in the club’s season opener on March 10 at RFK Stadium.

While Sporting Kansas City’s starting lineup on Saturday featured only one change from the club’s Eastern Conference Championship match in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs, it was D.C. United that started strongest on Saturday. Midfielder Nick DeLeon nearly struck in the game’s opening minute, but sent his header over the crossbar on a cross from Robbie Russell.

The Sporting KC defense did well from that point forward, holding their opponent without a shot on goal until the 38th minute, when Jimmy Nielsen stood his ground to turn away Maicon Santos’ close-range attempt.

In the interim, Zusi sparked Sporting’s offense from his attacking midfield position. First, in the 16th minute, he unleashed a powerful shot from the left side that was deflected over the bar for a corner. Then in the 36th minute, D.C. gave up a free kick outside the penalty area and Zusi sent his shot around the wall and into the net off goalkeeper Bill Hamid’s outstretched hand.

The goal marked Sporting’s second on a set piece this pre-season, following Konrad Warzycha’s free kick in the team’s 2-1 win over San Jose last Saturday.

Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes sent a new squad into the match in the 60th minute and the lineup change paid dividends within minutes. SuperDraft selection Dom Dwyer disrupted D.C. United’s play in the midfield, allowing recently acquired forward Jacob Peterson to pounce on the loose ball an instant prior to D.C. United back-up goalkeeper Joe Willis’ arrival. The scramble saw the ball ricochet to Saad for an opportunistic finish into the unattended net.

Peterson nearly got on the scoresheet again minutes later as Warzycha worked his way to the endline and laid a pass back to his teammate, but Willis quickly came off his line to block the shot from 10 yards out.

D.C. United cut Sporting’s lead in half in the 78th minute on a half-volley from guest player Jose Burciaga, Jr., a former left back for Kansas City (2001-2007) and current guest player for D.C. United this pre-season. Midfielder Danny Cruz’s cross from the endline deflected to Burciaga, Jr. at the backpost and his sliding shot was struck with pace beneath the crossbar.

Sporting’s defense withstood D.C. United’s late surge for an equalizer, needing a save from second half goalkeeper Eric Kronberg on a shot from Cruz in the 88th minute to preserve the advantage.

Sporting Kansas City will conclude their stay in Arizona with a match against local side FC Tucson at 11am CT on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the Kino Sports Complex.

Alouettes Release Anwar Stewart, Danny Desriveaux

2012-02-10T14:32:00.000-05:00

The Montreal Alouettes announced this week that the club released veteran import defensive end Anwar Stewart and non-import receiver Danny Desriveaux.

"On behalf of the Montreal Alouettes, I would like to thank both players for their contributions both on the field and in the Montreal community," said Alouettes owner Bob Wetenhall. "Anwar has been a leader on this team throughout his career and he will always be a member of the Alouettes family. We wish him continued success."

An 11-year CFL veteran, Stewart spent 10 years with the Alouettes, helping lead the team to Grey Cup Championships in 2002, 2009 and 2010. The 35-year-old holds the club's all-time record for career quarterback sacks with 66. The CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2004, Stewart was named a CFL All-Star in 2004 and 2009.

Desriveaux spent five seasons with the Alouettes after being drafted 43^rd overall by Montreal at the 2006 CFL Draft. The 30-year-old Laval native won the Grey Cup with the Alouettes in 2009 and 2010.

OKC Barons Ready For Calgary, Abbotsford Heat

2012-02-08T15:19:00.002-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Barons split a pair of home games, but maintained the best record in the AHL with 65 points and a 7-point West Division lead over Houston entering this week. The Barons halted San Antonio’s 7-game winning streak on Thursday with a 3-0 win at the Cox Center, in the process extending their own win streak to a franchise-record 7 straight. The string ended on Friday, when the Charlotte Checkers won for the third time in 4 games at the Cox Center in a 3-1 final. Friday’s defeat also snapped the Barons’ season-high 4-game home winning streak.

THE WEEK AHEAD

For the third straight week, the Barons play just a pair of games as they visit Western Canada to take on the Abbotsford Heat. Thursday’s 8 pm (CST) contest will take place at the home of the Calgary Flames, Scotiabank Saddledome. It’s the second consecutive year the teams have met in Calgary, home of the Heat’s parent club. After a travel day on Friday, the teams wrap up their 8-game season series at the Abbotsford (B.C.) Entertainment and Sports Centre at 9 pm (CST) on Saturday. The Barons have won 4 of 6 against the Heat this season, including both games at Abbotsford in November.

CHART TOPPERS

Entering this week, the Barons lead the 30-team AHL in wins (30), points (65) and point percentage (.691). OKC had allowed the league’s fewest goals (103) and averages a league-best 2.19 goals allowed per game. The Barons’ overall penalty killing percentage (86.5) and home PK rate (89.9) were AHL bests.

RANKING MEMBERS

All-Star winger Philippe Cornet, who made his NHL debut on Tuesday with the Edmonton Oilers and earned an assist, was returned to the Barons after his second NHL game on Thursday. Cornet was tied for sixth in the AHL in goals with 21 and tied for the lead in game-winners with 6. Cornet and teammate Triston Grant were 1-2 in the league in shooting percentage. Cornet’s 21 goals have come on 67 shots (31.3), while Grant, out since Dec. 31 with an injury, has 8 tallies on 33 shots (24.2). St. John’s center Riley Holzapfel was also connecting at 24.2%. Ryan Keller was fifth in plus-minus (+19), while Ryan O’Marra was tied for 11th at +14. Hunter Tremblay was tied for second in shorthanded goals with 4.

WIN WITH GREEN

OKC is 15-5-1-2 when Josh Green is in the lineup, a .717 point percentage.

STREAK RECAP

The Barons’ 7-game winning streak that ended on Friday was the longest in their brief AHL franchise history. It’s tied with San Antonio’s recent 7-game streak for the second-longest in the league this season behind 8-game winning runs for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Bridgeport. During the streak, the Barons never trailed at the end of any period, owning a lead or seeing a tie score at each intermission. OKC only trailed an opponent in one stretch of one game, Jan. 19 at Rochester, for 5:53 seconds. Otherwise, they faced a tie score or held a lead throughout the 7 straight wins.

NETMINDER NOTES

OKC’s goaltenders, Yann Danis and David LeNeveu, began this week 1-2 in the AHL in goals-against average. Danis lead with a 2.04 mark, while LeNeveu was second at 2.06. Danis was tied for second in wins with 19, 1 behind Peoria’s Ben Bishop. Danis was second with 4 shutouts, 2 behind Bishop. Danis was sixth in save percentage at .924, while LeNeveu was seventh at .923. When LeNeveu was charged with 3 goals in Friday’s 3-1 loss it marked the first time since Dec. 31 a Barons goalie had allowed more than 2 goals in a game. OKC’s goalies went 13 straight without being charged with more than 2 goals in a single contest, from Jan. 1-Feb. 2.

UPCOMING GAMES

Thu February 09 vs Abbotsford – 8pm CT *

Fri December 11 at Abbotsford – 9pm CT

* Game to be played at Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames

NHL AFFILIATES

Oklahoma City Barons – Edmonton Oilers

Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames)

OUR BARONS AT A GLANCE

Record: 30-12-2-3, 65 points

Standing: 1st, West Division

Tickets are available for the 11-12 season by calling 232-GOAL (4625) or by visiting the Barons website at OKCBarons.com.  

Follow the Barons all season long on 96.1 FM KXY, online at OKCBarons.com, and watch lives games by visiting AHLlive.com.

Alouettes Hire Jeff Reinebold Of SMU As New DC

2012-02-04T16:15:00.005-05:00

The Montreal Alouettes on Friday named Jeff Reinebold as the team's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Reinebold joins the Alouettes after spending the last four seasons as the receivers coach at Southern Methodist University in Texas. With more than 25 years of coaching experience in the collegiate and professional ranks, the 54 year-old spent eight seasons in the Canadian Football League, including two years as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1997 and 1998.

Reinebold was the secondary and special teams coach in 1994 with the CFL's Las Vegas Posse, the same year Anthony Calvillo began his professional career with the team. He also served as the B.C. Lions offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 1996, the Edmonton Eskimos special teams and linebacker coach in 1995, and started his professional coaching career with the Lions in 1991 as a special teams coordinator, defensive line and receivers coach.

His coaching career also led him in to NFL Europe where he worked with the Rhein Fire in 1995 and again in 1999-2000 where he won World Bowl VIII in 2000 as a linebacker coach. His European stint also saw him serve as the special teams coach of the Amsterdam Admirals.

The South Bend, IN, native attended the University of Maine where he was a defensive back for the Black Bears. Reinebold began his coaching career as a wide receivers coach at Western Montana in 1981.

Bonus Super Bowl Pick By Kaylee Tanner

2012-02-04T16:12:00.000-05:00

Thought you’d like a bonus Super Bowl 46 pick (and the goodies that go with it) …

We kicked off the NFL Playoffs with Jesse Jane.

We followed up with Ashley for the Divisional Weekend.

Then we did the Conference Championships with Kaylee Tanner.

Finally, we’ve got Kelly Campbell of the LFL giving us The Big Game pick straight up.

But, we had such a blast with Kaylee Tanner during Conference Championships week that we asked her back for her version of The Big Game pick straight up, too!

So here’s the rundown …

Giants vs Patriots | Sun 6:30pm ET

Vegas Patriots -3 | Kaylee’s Pick: Giants

Follow Kaylee on twitter here for more on her adventures. Follow us here for select news and info, and to interact with us and others on your topics of choice!

Note: Odds lines are from Caesar’s Palace. Odds lines were current as of print time Saturday afternoon.

Super Bowl Pick By Kelly Campbell Of The LFL

2012-02-04T16:03:00.001-05:00

Who needs ESPN when we got Kelly Campbell picking Super Bowl 46?

We kicked off the NFL Playoffs with Jesse Jane.

We followed up with Ashley for the Divisional Weekend.

Then we did the Conference Championships with Kaylee Tanner.

Finally, we’ve got Kelly Campbell giving us The Big Game pick straight up. Yes, it’s the Lingerie Football League’s very own Kelly Campbell.

So here’s the rundown …

Giants vs Patriots | Sun 6:30pm ET

Vegas Patriots -3 | Kelly’s Pick: Giants

Follow Kelly on twitter here for more on her on and off the field. Follow us here for select news and info, and to interact with us and others on your topics of choice!

Note: Odds lines are from Caesar’s Palace. Odds lines were current as of print time Saturday afternoon.

Sporting KC Announces Affiliate Clubs

2012-02-03T00:50:00.001-05:00

Sporting Club announced Thursday that Tulsa Soccer Club Hurricane has joined the Sporting Club Network as an affiliate of the Sporting Kansas City Juniors. TSC Hurricane will be the first Juniors affiliate in the state of Oklahoma, giving the club’s players a direct connection to the Sporting Kansas City Juniors program and senior team.

“We’re very excited about it,” Sporting Kansas City Juniors director of coaching Jon Parry said. “They’ve got a great arsenal of talent down there, and it’s something we think we can tap into.”

The largest club in Oklahoma, TSC Hurricane formed in 2011 as the result of a merger between Tulsa Soccer Club, Hurricane Soccer Club, Metro Tulsa Soccer Club and Broken Arrow Soccer Club. As a Juniors affiliate, talented players from TSC Hurricane may be invited to train with Sporting Kansas City’s junior and senior teams as part of their professional development. Sporting Kansas City will also have the ability to add members of TSC Hurricane to the club’s Home Grown Player list. Every player in the club will wear a Sporting Club patch on their uniforms for competition.

"We are very excited to become the exclusive Juniors affiliate for Sporting Kansas City in Oklahoma,” TSC Hurricane executive director Jim Tindell said. “This is an important milestone in the implementation of our overall strategic plans and will lead to a new era of Oklahoma soccer for all levels and ages of players. We can't wait to roll up our sleeves and begin working with such an impressive MLS franchise with a very engaged ownership group and staff.”

As part of the six-year partnership, coaches from Sporting Kansas City’s technical staff will travel to Tulsa to provide and administer coaching education workshops, mini-clinics for players of all ages as well as speed and agility sessions. Coaches from TSC Hurricane will also be given access to come and observe Sporting Kansas City training sessions along with traveling with Sporting Kansas City to Orlando to observe the team’s preseason preparations for the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.

“MLS clubs have continued to expand their reach in player development and we feel this new partnership will provide a unique platform for Oklahoma players to reach their goals,” TSC Hurricane director of coaching Mark McIntosh said. “All of our players-regardless of ability, age or gender-will benefit from the engagement of Sporting KC into our programs. We're going to leverage this relationship with Sporting KC to take our club to the next level.”

Additionally, Sporting Club also announced Thursday the addition of five new area organizations to the Sporting Club Network, a groundbreaking membership of athletes and athletic organizations created to affiliate all interested soccer and other organizations in the Midwest with Sporting Club and Sporting Kansas City. The newest members of the Sporting Club Network are the Kansas Rush, Brookside Soccer Club, Puma FC, Smithville Soccer Club and the Kansas City Gaelic Athletic Club. As part of the Sporting Club Network, each organization’s membership will become members of Sporting Club, the parent organization of Sporting KansasCity.

Players that participate and compete through a Sporting Club Network member organization will receive a Sporting Club patch to wear during competition, as well as access to exclusive clinics and trainings. Local member coaches will also have the ability to take advantage of a coaching licensure program and premium coaches experiences at both the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park as well as at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on match days.

About Sporting Kansas City Juniors: The official youth development academy of Sporting Kansas City there are currently four Sporting Kansas City Juniors teams playing in regional and national competition from ages U13 through U18. The U16 and U18 Sporting Kansas City Juniors teams both compete in the prestigious U.S. Soccer Development Academy against the top youth clubs from around the country. The U16 and U18 Juniors teams are both fully funded by Sporting Kansas City.

About TSC Hurricane: TSC Hurricane was founded in January 2011 as a result of a merger of Tulsa Soccer Club (founded in 1991) and Hurricane Futbal Club (Founded in 1993) that created a "mega" club in size and scope. The innovative club is the most recognized and successful in Oklahoma history with over 140 USYS OK State Champions, 10 USYS Region 3 Champions and 4 USYS National Finalists. It is also one of the largest youth clubs in Oklahoma and is the only official Oklahoma member of the ECNL.

About Kansas Rush: The Kansas Rush Soccer Club--also known as the Olathe Soccer Club--is an Olathe-based soccer club providing playing opportunities for participants ranging in age from pre-Kindergarten and up, including the fielding of over 30 competitive teams as well as the operation of four different adult leagues in the Olathe area.

About Brookside Soccer Club: A not-for-profit, recreational soccer club who are dedicated and passionate about providing a fair, fun and safe environment for the Kansas City area youth from 4 to 18 years of age. Since originally founded in 1977, the Brookside Soccer Club’s mission has been to deliver affordable and accessible quality youth soccer programs that build positive character through participation in a fun, family-oriented soccer environment. Brookside Soccer Club proudly serves over 2000 kids, who come from over 80 zip codes, and over 100 different schools. Along with our wonderful kids, we have over 180 volunteer coaches and over 80 trained referees.

About Puma FC: The Puma FC soccer club is devoted to providing a competitive and recreational soccer development program for girls and boys of all ages. Creating a positive experience and a fun atmosphere among players, parents, and coaches is an essential emphasis that guides us to develop young athletes. Puma FC is in its second year of operation and currently has 22 teams ranging from 5-16 years of age. Puma FC was founded by Jack Jewsbury, Vladimir Roganovic and Rob Million.

About Smithville Soccer Club: Smithville Soccer Club promotes local soccer in recreational and competitive divisions of the Kansas City Metro League and the Heartland Soccer League in Johnson County, Kansas. The club is a member of the Missouri Youth Soccer Association.

About the Kansas City Gaelic Athletic Club: The KCGAC plays the two national sports of Ireland, Gaelic football and hurling. The club was founded in 2008 and strives to educate, coach and develop Ireland’s national sports while promoting Irish culture within the community. Gaelic football and hurling teams compete in a local league in Kansas City and our traveling teams compete at the national level. The KCGAC is a member of the North American County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

UFL Commissioner Announces Resignation

2012-02-01T21:43:00.002-05:00

MICHAEL HUYGHUE announced on Tuesday that he has resigned as Commissioner of the United Football League with immediate effect.

Huyghue has served as Commissioner of the United Football League since its inception and oversaw all three seasons of on-field competition in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

"I am proud of the quality product we were able to put on the field and the overwhelmingly positive fan response," said Huyghue. "While new professional football leagues have struggled to find a niche historically, I believe the UFL exceeded those other attempts.

"The UFL has experienced funding issues and at this juncture it seems most prudent that I step aside while the owners work to raise the necessary funds to conduct a fourth season."

UFL owner and founder BILL HAMBRECHT said: "We are greatly indebted to Michael for taking an idea and turning it into a reality against very challenging circumstances. We remain committed to taking the league forward and are moving ahead to fund a fourth season, but we would not be here today without his steadfast leadership."

Chairman of the UFL owners group BILL MAYER added: "I want to personally thank Michael for providing the steady leadership needed to launch the UFL and take it to it's current position. It was not an easy task. The owner group is committed to go forward with the league and play our fourth season this fall."

Prior to joining the UFL, Huyghue was CEO and founder of Axcess Sports & Entertainment, where he represented a number of NFL, NBA and PGA TOUR players. The Sports Business Journal has twice named Huyghue to the "Forty Under 40" Top Sports Business Executives.

At the age of 29, he became the youngest general manger in professional football when he joined the NFL's World League in 1989. Huyghue joined the Detroit Lions as Vice President and General Counsel, before becoming Senior Vice President of Football Operations for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the team's inaugural NFL season. During Huyghue's tenure with the Jaguars, the team became the winningest franchise in expansion history, achieving two AFC Central Division Championships and an unprecedented two AFC Championship appearances.

About The United Football League: The UFL provides high-quality professional football during a traditional fall season while embracing innovation and fan interaction. The UFL serves its local communities with pride and dedication, and aims to provide every fan with an exciting and memorable game experience. The inaugural 2009 champion Las Vegas Locos won a second championship in 2010, lifting the William Hambrecht Trophy with a second win over the Florida Tuskers. The 2011 season champion Virginia Destroyers defeated the Locos in the Championship Game. The four-team competition featured the Locos, Destroyers, Omaha Nighthawks and Sacramento Mountain Lions. The UFL is funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information, please visit UFL-Football.com.

Montreal Alouettes Wideout Kerry Watkins Retires

2012-02-01T21:36:00.001-05:00

The Montreal Alouettes announced on Tuesday the retirement of receiver Kerry Watkins.

Watkins ends his stellar eight-year career having tallied 515 catches, 7,431 yards and 48 touchdowns. Watkins reached an important career milestone last season against Winnipeg when he caught his 500^thcareer pass, surpassing Red O'Quinn into the No. 2 spot on the Alouettes' all-time list behind Ben Cahoon.

"We congratulate Kerry for a fantastic career and thank him for helping us build such a successful football team," said general manager Jim Popp of Watkins who was a key contributor to the back-to-back Grey Cups won by the Alouettes in 2009 and 2010.

Watkins eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in five consecutive seasons from 2005 through 2009. In 2010, he hauled in 970 yards, but an injury sidelined him for five games, leaving him 30 yards shy from accomplishing the feat for a sixth time in as many years.

Watkins' breakout campaign came in 2005 when he reeled in a career-high 97 passes and set a new career-best with 1,364 yards. That season, he was the first of four different Alouettes receivers (Cahoon, Terry Vaughn, and Dave Stala,) to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark.

Limited due to injury last season, Watkins caught 31 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns. He missed the early part of 2011 due to sinus problems and then suffered a fracture of the right fibula against Calgary on October 30, which caused him to miss the East Division Semi-Final at Olympic Stadium.

Watkins was a CFL All-Star in 2005 and 2009 and was named a CFLPA All-Star on four separate occasions (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009).

OKC Barons In AHL All Star Skills Competition

2012-01-29T22:03:00.002-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY – The four players from of the Oklahoma City Barons selected for the AHL All Star Classic were in action earlier this afternoon at the All Star Skills Competition.

Philippe Cornet, the Barons’ leader in goals scored took part in the Puck Control Relay, the Rapid Fire contest, and the Breakaway Relay. Cornet is going to be a starter for the Western Conference squad.

Fellow forward Ryan Keller took part in the final three events of the afternoon, the Accuracy Shooting, Pass and Score, and the Breakaway Relay. Keller broke all four targets in five shots to tie with the Norfolk Admirals' Trevor Smith for the best percentage in the Accuracy Shooting competition.

Defenseman Alex Plante, also a starter for the Western Conference All Star team, participated in the Hardest Shot competition and the Breakaway Relay. He scored in the breakaway relay and his hardest shot was recorded at 92.7 mph.

Goaltender Yann Danis took part in the standard goaltender competitions at an All Star Skills Competition, including the Rapid Shooter, Pass and Score, and the Breakaway Relay. In the Breakaway Relay, he stopped all six of the shooters from the Eastern Conference and stopped 12 of the 19 shots he faced. Peoria netminder Ben Bishop was named top goaltender in the Skills Competition for stopping 16 of 19 shots.

After the dust settled, the Western Conference All Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All Stars 18-10.

Click here for Skills Competition Results

Barons head coach Todd Nelson will guide the Western Conference at the AHL All Star Classic tomorrow at 6pm. The game will be televised locally on FoxSports Southwest Plus. Check local listings for details.

The Barons will host a watch party tomorrow night at Buffalo Wild Wings on NW Expressway. The game will begin at the same time as Barons Weekly. The guest tomorrow night will be assistant coach Rocky Thompson.

Alouettes Sign Two Incl. Former Steelers Wideout

2012-01-26T14:29:00.004-05:00

The Montreal Alouettes announced on Wednesday the signing of both non-import safety Étienne Boulay and import receiver Adam Mims to two-year deals.

A two-time Grey Cup champion with the Alouettes in 2009 and 2010, Boulay was limited to four games due to a concussion last season. Now entering his seventh CFL season, all spent with the Alouettes, Boulay has amassed 127 defensive tackles, 43 special teams tackles and 11 interceptions over the course of his career. The 28-year-old Montreal native was a second-round selection at the 2006 Canadian Draft.

Mims caught 55 passes for 724 yards and five touchdowns in his senior year at Furman University in 2010. The 5-foot-8 195-pound receiver finished his college career as the school's all-time leader for receptions (198) and receiving yards (2,433). A 23-year-old native of Birmingham, AL, Mims was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers before attending their training camp in 2011.

Ryan Keller Of OKC Barons Added To All Star Game

2012-01-24T14:52:00.004-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Barons forward Ryan Keller was added to the Western Conference roster for the American Hockey League All Star Classic, the league’s front office announced today. The AHL All Star Classic is January 29 – 30 from historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Keller, 5-10, 196-pounder from Saskatoon, Sask. is in his first season with OKC. He currently leads the team in scoring with 33 points and assists with 19. He spent the previous two seasons with the Binghamton Senators as team captain. Last season, he helped guide the Binghamton Senators to the AHL’s Calder Cup.

This is Keller’s second appearance on an AHL All Star team. He was a member of the Canadian AHL All Star team for the 2010 AHL All Star Game. In that game, he scored twice to help lead the Canadian AHL All Stars to a 10-9 shootout win over Planet USA.   

Keller will be joined on the Western Conference squad by four other members of the Barons team. Barons head coach Todd Nelson, goaltender Yann Danis, defenseman Alex Plante and forward Philippe Cornet were previously named to the squad.   

The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic will feature the top young talent in the AHL competing in an internationally televised showcase. The game will be televised locally on FoxSports Southwest. Faceoff is 6pm (CT) on January 30. The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, Caesars Entertainment, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, and the American Hockey League.

The Barons are on the home for two games this weekend. Friday, the Barons host the Houston Aeros, AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild. Saturday, the Barons host the Texas Stars, AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars. Faceoff is slated for 7pm at the Cox Convention Center. Both games can be heard on the Barons flagship station, 96.1 KXY.

Edmonton Oilers, OKC Barons Roster Moves

2012-01-22T15:37:00.005-05:00

OKLAHOMA CITY – GM Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have recalled forwards Lennart Petrell and Teemu Hartikainen and defenseman Taylor Chorney. The Oilers re-assigned centers Josh Green and Ryan O’Marra and defenseman Colten Teubert to the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL.   

Petrell was assigned to OKC on January 2. He played in nine games with the Barons, scoring four points (2-2-4). Petrell has appeared in 30 games with the Oilers this season, scoring six points (3-3-6). Petrell was originally a 6^th round choice (190^th overall) of the CBJ in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.   

This season, Hartikainen has played 29 games with the Barons scoring 19 points (9-10-19). He is making his second trip to Edmonton on recall this season. In his previous stint with the Oilers, he played in three games. In all, he has appeared in 15 games with the Oilers, recording five points (3-2-5). He was the Oilers 6^th round choice (163^rd overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.   

Chorney has played in 25 games with the Barons this season, recording 11 points (3-8-11). He is making his second trip to Edmonton on recall. In his first recall to Edmonton this season, he played in two games. The Oilers 2^nd round choice (35^th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry draft has played 60 NHL games, recording seven points (1-6-7).   

Green has played in seven games with the Oilers this season, recording two points (1-1-2). He returns to Oklahoma City having played 19 games with the Barons this season, scoring 17 points (7-10-17). The 6'3", 215-pound center has appeared in 341 NHL games for eight different teams, scoring 76 points (36-40-76).   

O’Marra has played in seven games with the Oilers this season recording one assist. This season, he has played in 34 games with the Barons recording 16 points (7-9-16). Originally a 1st round choice (15th overall) of the New York Islanders in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, O’Marra has played in 31 NHL games where he has recorded seven points (1-6-7).   

Teubert has played in 20 games with the Oilers this season, registering one assist and serving 18 penalty minutes. With Oklahoma City, he has played 18 games, recording six points (2-4-6) and serving 33 penalty minutes. Teubert was originally a 1^st round draft choice (13^th overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.   

The Barons will play two games this weekend. Friday, they host the Houston Aeros, while Saturday they host the Texas Stars. Faceoff for both games is set for 7pm at the Cox Convention Center. Oklahoma City is in first place in the Western Division and currently boasts the most standings points (59) and wins (27) in the American Hockey League.

Conference Championship Picks By Kaylee Tanner

2012-01-20T14:44:00.001-05:00

Who needs ESPN when we got Kaylee Tanner picking this week’s slate of NFL Playoffs Conference Championship games?

We kicked off the NFL Playoffs with Jesse Jane.

We followed up last weekend with Ashley.

Now we’re back with Kaylee Tanner giving us the picks straight up. Yes, this week we head to the Great White North for Canada’s own Kaylee Tanner. So here’s this week’s schedule …

Ravens at Patriots | Sun 3pm ET

Vegas Patriots -7 | Kaylee’s Pick: Ravens

Giants at 49ers | Sun 6:30pm ET

Vegas 49ers -2.5 | Kaylee’s Pick: Giants

Follow Kaylee on twitter here for more on her adventures. Follow us here for select news and info, and to interact with us and others on your topics of choice!

Note: Odds lines are from Caesar’s Palace and The Mirage in Las Vegas. Odds lines were current as of print time Friday afternoon.

Sporting KC Selects Four In Supplemental Draft

2012-01-20T14:38:00.002-05:00

Sporting Kansas City made four selections in the 2012 Supplemental Draft on Tuesday, adding defenders Shawn Singh, Stefan Antonijevic and Kyle Miller, along with midfielder Pablo Punyed to the team’s preseason roster.

“They all have some interesting qualities that we think could translate into the MLS game,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “In the end, there's going to be a lot of competition for very few spots, so those guys are going to have to work very hard. I feel confident that there's some good talent coming in here and it will be interesting to see how they pan out.”

Sporting Kansas City selected Singh in the first round, drafting the UCLA defender with the 16th overall pick. The 22-year-old appeared in 61 matches for the Bruins, recording three goals and 10 assists in a three-year career. A two-time All-Pac-12 selection, Singh attended the 2012 Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale last week, where he was teammates with Sporting Kansas City 2012 SuperDraft selection Dom Dwyer.

“It's definitely exciting,” Singh said. “I get to join a great organization in Sporting Kansas City and I'm just looking forward to getting this new experience underway.”

Punyed was chosen with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the Supplemental Draft following a career as a four-year contributor at St. John's University. Punyed was named co-BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year in 2011 after scoring four goals and contributing three assists for the Red Storm this fall. Punyed tallied 10 goals and six assists in 84 games played at St. John’s and also represented the United States Under-20 men's national team at the 2008 Copa Chivas.

“I'm very pleased, very excited and very honored to be chosen by an established club like Sporting Kansas City,” said Punyed. “I'm ready for the opportunity I've been given, and I'm ready to come in and provide a spark to the team.”

Sporting Kansas City’s 43rd overall pick produced Antonijevic, a Valparaiso University defender who was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Despite playing primarily as a central defender, Antonijevic recorded eight goals and three assists in 59 appearances over three seasons for the Crusaders. After earning Second Team All-Horizon League honors his sophomore and junior seasons, Antonijevic was a First Team All-League honoree and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team selection in 2011.

"I've heard great things about the stadium, great things about the supporters and great things about the team,” Antonijevic said. “Coming from a smaller school, I consider this a great privilege and a blessing. I look forward to coming in and adding some depth to the backline."

Miller, a former member of the Sporting Kansas City Juniors youth academy and a product of Blue Valley Soccer Club, was taken in the third round with the 48th overall selection out of Rockhurst University. The Overland Park, Kan. native and St. Thomas Aquinas graduate anchored a Hawks' defense that allowed only seven goals during the 2011 season, fewest in the nation, and helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

Miller appeared in 80 matches in his collegiate career, recording three goals and seven assists, and enjoyed a standout senior season in 2011 that saw him receive recognition including All-Conference, All-Midwest and All-America honors.

“It's a dream come true for me,” Miller said. “I went to all the games growing up. Playing for Sporting's Under-19 team was an amazing experience and made me realize that I could take the next step. I can't wait to get started and show what I can do.”

Sporting KC Acquires ROFR For Michael Thomas

2012-01-17T14:12:00.001-05:00

Sporting Kansas City announced Tuesday that the club has acquired the right of first refusal for midfielder Michael Thomas from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for the club’s natural fourth round pick (73rd overall) in today’s Supplemental Draft.

Thomas, an Olathe, Kan. Native who attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School, was drafted by the Earthquakes with the 19th overall selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Notre Dame, but opted to sign with Halmstads BK in Sweden.

In accordance with MLS Roster Rules and Regulations, San Jose retained the right of first refusal within Major League Soccer for Thomas. The right of first refusal grants an MLS club the first opportunity to add a player to its roster in the event that the player signs with Major League Soccer. Holding a right of first refusal applies only within MLS and does not indicate holding of the player’s International Transfer Certificate.

The 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft will take place at 1pm CT today via conference call. Sporting Kansas City holds the 16th (first round), 35th (second round), 43rd (third round, acquired from Chivas USA) and 54th (third round) overall selections in the four-round selection process for draft-eligible players.

TRANSACTION: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) acquires right of first refusal for midfielder Michael Thomas from the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) in exchange for a fourth round selection in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.