Sports
Stars, Panthers excited for benefits of two-game series in Finland
Oct 22, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) skates up ice with the puck as Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) tries to defend during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images Two of the NHL’s top teams head to Europe for a two-game series that starts Friday and could also double as a Stanley Cup Final preview.
The Dallas Stars and the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are in Tampere, Finland, for the second and final leg of the 2024 NHL Global Series.
While Finland is home to just 5.6 million people, the Nordic country is a hockey powerhouse.
According to TheHockeyWriters.com, there are 37 Finnish players on NHL rosters, which equals more than 5 percent of all players. That includes center Roope Hintz of Tampere and defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell for Dallas. Panthers center Aleksander Barkov hails from Tampere, while center Anton Lundell, center Eetu Luostarinen and defenseman Niko Mikkola are also returning to their native country.
Dallas comes off a five-day break after winning its last two games. Last season’s Western Conference finalists are currently second in the Central Division behind the Winnipeg Jets. They arrived in Finland on Monday in preparation for the back-to-back contests.
The trip is a chance for the Stars to bolster team chemistry. Stars coach Pete DeBoer thinks that could pay dividends later in the season.
“It’s really hard to force those situations. They almost have to pop up organically,” DeBoer told reporters on Tuesday. “And this trip, I think, provided that. Guys are across the world and in a different country, and our Finnish players were so excited to show them some of the culture locally here. Our guys dove into it.”
Center Matt Duchene leads the team with six goals and 11 points overall. He tallied three goals and three assists last week in earning the NHL’s Third Star of the Week.
Dallas entered Thursday leading the league in goaltending with a 1.89 goals-against average in nine games. Both top netminder Jake Oettinger and his backup, Casey DeSmith, have a GAA under two and have saved nearly 94 percent of the shots they’ve faced.
Florida heads across the Atlantic having last played on Monday and a winner of three straight. The Panthers lead the Atlantic Division but have a goal differential of only plus-three through 11 games.
Center Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers with seven goals and nine assists. His scoring has come in all aspects of the game, with two goals and two assists on the power play and an NHL-best two short-handed goals.
The series may mark the Panthers debut of Tomas Nosek, whom the team placed on long-term injured reserve at the start of the season after suffering an upper-body injury in camp.
The 32-year-old Czech signed a one-year deal with Florida in the offseason after playing 36 games last season with the New Jersey Devils. Coach Paul Maurice told reporters Thursday that the Panthers plan to activate the nine-year veteran should he come through Friday’s morning skate in good order.
While the Panthers haven’t had as much time in Finland, Maurice, like DeBoer, believes the series will help the team down the road.
“This is going to be a fantastic series. … There’s one guy maybe on each team banged up, but you’re getting the best,” Maurice said. “Barkov and Hintz, those are just two really top-end guys, both playing center ice, very probably playing head-to-head. It’s going to be good hockey.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green held off Auston Kim on Sunday to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore for the second time.
Green, the 2024 champion, balanced three birdies and three bogeys on an eventful back nine to finish with a 3-under 69 and a final score of 14-under at Sentosa Golf Club. The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner tapped in for bogey at the 18th for her seventh LPGA Tour title.
“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour,” said Green, 29. “So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I’m hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”
Green was at 16-under after birdies at the first, 11th and 13th holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Her birdie at the par-3 15th helped her survive a bogey-bogey finish.
“I knew that I had enough of a lead to be able to get away with making mistakes coming down the stretch. But I think 15 was the real turning point,” she said.
First- and second-round leader Kim nearly chased down her first title, matching the low round of the day with a 67 to finish one shot behind Green in the 72-hole, no-cut tournament.
Kim carded six birdies and an eagle at No. 8, but a bogey at the par-3 15th proved costly for the 25-year-old American.
“Overall, I think it was a really solid week,” Kim said. “A great way to start the year. I hit a lot of bad shots but I also hit a lot of good ones, and it was really confidence boosting. I hit all these bad shots, and I didn’t feel like I had anything chose to my A game, but I was still able it pull off a result like this and play some really solid golf.”
Australia’s Minjee Lee (72 on Sunday), Angel Yin (71) and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (68) tied for third place at 11-under with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu (72) another shot back in solo sixth.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand finished with a 73 and tied for 31st at 2-under, one shot behind defending champion Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
