The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Philadelphia GM played in region
Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren’s ties to western Pennsylvania hockey stretch back 30 years.
Holmgren started his professional playing career with the 1975-76 Johnstown Jets.
After a season at the University of Minnesota, Holmgren joined a Jets squad attempting to defend the NAHL Lockhart Cup won the previous season.
In only six early season games with Johnstown, the 6-foot-3 forward made an impact, scoring three goals with 12 assists and 15 points.
MIKE MASTOVICH | Fleury is a comeback kid at 23
Marc-Andre Fleury got an up-close view of multiple Philadelphia Flyers early in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final at Mellon Arena.
The Penguins goaltender frequently contended with a crowded crease and a number of Flyers who rushed the net, pushed and shoved Fleury or badgered his teammates who were trying to clear the front of the cage.
The strategy enabled Philadelphia center Mike Richards to beat Fleury with a wrap-around attempt that bounced off the goalie and a rebound shot through three bodies.
HUGH CONRAD | Red Flash deny rumors of a hire
To paraphrase Mark Twain, the rumors that current Penn State assistant men’s coach Kurt Kanaskie has been offered the head men’s basketball coaching position at St. Francis University are premature. In fact, they are nothing but rumors.
Multiple news outlets reported Friday and Saturday that Kanaskie had been offered the job. In response, St. Francis Sports Information Director Bob Volkert issued a strong denial of that Saturday night.
ERIC KNOPSNYDER | ‘The Code’ not worth cracking
The premise is a good one: Take all of baseball’s “unwritten rules,” write them down and offer insight into the reasons they are necessary and the consequences that can result in breaking them.
The problem is, Ross Bernstein’s “The Code: Baseball’s Unwritten Rules and Its Ignore-At-Your-Own-Risk Code of Conduct” (Triumph Books, 240 pages, $22.95) has more holes in it than Mario Mendoza’s swing.
Flash split on Day 1, but still in hunt
Ayzsha Ervin’s pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning handed No. 3 St. Francis a tough 4-3 loss at the hands of No. 1 seed Long Island in the second round of the Northeast Conference tournament on Saturday evening.
The Red Flash had the perennial NEC power on its heels for a good part of the game, but Ervin came through in the clutch with the bases loaded and two outs.
Local sports briefs 5/11
Malkin’s slap shot on breakaway proves deceptive and effective
As if the NHL needed further proof of his dominance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Evgeni Malkin elevated his game to yet another level on Friday night.
The Pittsburgh Penguins center scored two goals – one in which he used a slap shot to convert a short-handed breakaway – in a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Mellon Arena.
Malkin assisted on another goal and even mixed it up with Flyers forward Scottie Upshall and defenseman Derian Hatcher late in Game 1 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference finals.
St. Francis well represented on NEC teams
St. Francis coach Sabrina Lane was selected by her peers as the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year – headlining four awards handed out to the Red Flash at a banquet on the eve of the NEC tournament.
Junior utility player Nicole Waligora, a Westmont Hilltop graduate, collected first team all-NEC honors after finishing the regular season ranked fifth in the league in on-base percentage (.440). Waligora hit .326 on the year with 19 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
NEW - Despite potential Flint interest, Herbers preparing for season with Chiefs
Johnstown Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said the International Hockey League’s Flint Generals haven’t contacted him about the team’s vacant coaching job.
A published report listed Herbers as someone the Generals front office might be interested in as the coaching search continues in Flint, Mich.
“I haven’t talked to Flint and I don’t know anything about it,” Herbers said.
Inside the Keystone clash
A look at how the Pittsburgh Penguins match up with the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference finals, which begin tonight in Pittsburgh:
Three area schools atop District 6 playoff seedings
After 30 years, Portage coach Larry McCabe has the top seeded team in the District 6 baseball playoffs.
The Mustangs, who earned the top spot in Class AA, are the only local school to do so in baseball. Two local softball teams – Greater Johnstown in Class AAA and Blacklick Valley in Class AA – head into the playoffs atop their respective classes.
McCort grad recognized by D-II
Pitt-Johnstown senior infielder Dan DelSignore was named to the second team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District II team on Thursday.
DelSignore, a graduate of Bishop McCort High School, has posted a 3.46 G.P.A. in secondary mathematics education.
St. Francis taking a swing at NEC
St. Francis enters its first Northeast Conference softball championship tournament since 2002 in style.
The Red Flash have won 10 of their past 11 conference games and 13 of 19 overall.
Local sports briefs 5/9

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