MANISA (Türkiye) – Year 3 of the Youth Basketball Champions League opened with a game between Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg and Aliaga Petkimspor. The Germans ran the game from front to back and set the tone for the entire tournament with their pace, intensity, and physicality.
The level had been raised and everyone else needed to follow.
For Ludwigsburg head coach, Kheeryoung Rhee, the level of the competition has gone up a notch regardless of their strong performances.
“I think overall the amount of teams trying to play faster, the pace itself is very evident that it’s improved a lot. There’s more length, more athleticism,” he stated.
With two wins from two and a place in the Semi-Finals secured after a win over perennial challengers, Igokea m:tel, Ludwigsburg became the first German club to reach the Semi-Finals and also guaranteed the highest-ever finish for a German club in YBCL.
2025 YBCL Ludwigsburg Kheeryoung Rhee and bench
In Rhee’s mind, this dramatic improvement in their fortunes from last year’s seventh place finish wasn’t entirely what they expected from the tournament.
“We scouted obviously Igokea and Petkimspor really early and there they looked pretty impressive,” he said.
“It’s been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride, we weren’t really sure how good we are but after the first result, we were pleasantly surprised,” Rhee explained.
That element of the unknown in terms of their own team’s strength is even more understandable when you consider that, like many of the teams at this year’s YBCL, Ludwigsburg used the opportunity of playing in this competition as a tool for recruitment and also evaluating their own talent against some of the continent’s best young players.
Players like 2008-born forward Lars Lenke, 2008-born guard Lars Danziger, 2007-born forward Daniel Biel, and 2007-born guard Raul Dumnici have all been brought in for this tournament.
All four players have grabbed the opportunity presented to them with both hands and taken key roles in the team.
“Both Larses are fun to watch, I think, from an outside perspective,” said Rhee.
“Danziger, he brings a high pace bringing up the ball, I think he’s also very, very creative and Lenke, I mean, he’s athletic… He’s so athletic,” he clarified.
Danziger is producing 8.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds across the two games, and Lenke is putting up 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, throwing down a series of above the rim plays in the process.
Biel has been all over the stat sheet in the same way that he’s all over the court with the style that he plays.
Across the two games he’s accumulated averages of 19 efficiency points, 9.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 steals.
Dumnici exploded for 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists against Igokea and added the kind of sauce that the fans in Manisa come to see.
It’s not just been the new recruits getting the job done for Ludwigsburg, either.
This is a team that gets the job done by committee, with eight players playing more than 19 minutes in each game and young Danish international Anton Hjort, producing almost 2 points per minute in his 7 minutes this far.
Ludwigsburg have two players returning from last year, with 2007-born guard Sebastian Kuhn, who has gone on to make regular contributions with the Ludwigsburg senior team and 2008-born big man Armin Pivac.
“Sebastian has become more stable,” said Rhee when describing the way his experienced point guard leads the team.
“It’s something he actually tries to, let’s say, assert on the guys as well and that’s become evident this week.”
2025 YBCL Sebastian Khun
Pivac is one player that Rhee was especially keen to pick out for praise and primarily because, on a clearly undersized roster, he’s performing possibly the most difficult role in the team.
“For me, personally, Armin Pivac, he’s our five-man and the position five in our, let’s say, concept, is very difficult to play, not only offensively, but also defensively,” described Rhee when talking about which player is the key to their success this week.
The pivotal nature of Pivac’s performances has not only been evident in the results of both games, but also on the stat sheet. Pivac is putting up 12.5 points on 67 percent shooting and pulling 7.5 rebounds.
When Ludwigsburg faced Petkimspor and their massive frontcourt, including seven-footer Ahmet Kerim Andic and talented power forward Berat Cevik, he played his part in holding them both to just 6 points and 9 rebounds combined.
Both players doubled that contribution in their following game.
2025 YBCL Armin Pivac against Petkimspor
His own numbers in that game were 13 points and 9 rebounds, as he dominated the paint despite being undersized and often matched up against players one year his senior.
Up next for Ludwigsburg, in the first Semi-Final this Saturday, is Filou Oostende. The Belgians have been one of the hot topics in the whole tournament and brought a unique brand of basketball to the YBCL this week.
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Rhee was effusive in his praise when describing the threat that the Belgians pose.
“In youth basketball, for a few years now, I think you can find talent everywhere, but having this combination of talent and being this mentally tough, they really impressed me,” he stated.
“Also their pace is incredible, everybody has the freedom to do everything they want, be it pass, dribble or shoot. I say they are like a well-oiled machine.”
The game tips off at 17:30 local time and you can watch it on the FIBA YouTube channel. Make sure you don’t miss it.
Winter Dinner — To benefit Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild, 6 p.m. Saturday, The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave. Tickets: e.givesmart.com/events/Mhq.
100+ Women Who Care Colorado Springs — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21, The Warehouse Restaurant, 25 W. Cimarron St.; 100wwccs.com.
Jeffrey Alan Band — 7 p.m. Jan. 23, Stargazers Theatre, 10 S. Parkside Drive, donation of nonperishable food items or cash to benefit Care and Share Food Bank; stargazerstheatre.com.
Tennis Pro Am — To benefit Newborn Hope, 6-9 p.m. Jan. 30, Colorado Springs Racquet Club, 2529 N. Murray Blvd. Registration: secure.qgiv.com/event/newbornhopeproam2026.
“Neighbors” — A fundraiser to benefit Westside Cares, through Thursday, Auric Gallery, 125 E. Boulder St.; auricgallery.com.
Empty Stocking Fund — Go online to make a donation, through Jan. 24: emptystockingfundco.org.
Through Jan. 31: TreeCycle Christmas Tree Recycling — To benefit Colorado Springs Youth Sports, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, Rocky Top Resources, 1755 E. Las Vegas St., $5 suggested minimum donation per tree. All decorations, stands and spikes must be removed from trees before drop-off. Tree debris, other than from Christmas trees, cannot be accepted; csyouthsports.net/treecycle.
MARCH
34th Annual Colorado Springs Wine Festival: Wines of South America — To benefit the Colorado Springs Conservatory, March 4-7, various Colorado Springs locations. Tickets: winefestivalofcoloradosprings.com.
Colorado Springs Plunge & 5K — To benefit Special Olympics Colorado, 9 a.m. March 7, Rock Ledge Ranch, 3105 Gateway Road. Registration: p2p.onecause.com/2026cosplunge.
St. Patrick’s 25th Gala Celebration — To benefit Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, 5 p.m. March 14, Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road. Tickets: ccharitiescc.org/event/st-patricks-day-shamrock-shindig.
APRIL
Angel Gala — To benefit Angels of America’s Fallen, 5:30 p.m. April 18, Hotel Polaris, 898 North Gate Blvd. Tickets: aoafallen.org.
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Email event details at least two weeks in advance to [email protected] with Community Calendar in the subject line.
The Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club is investigating an incident at a Hershey Bears game.
HERSHEY, Pa. — The Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club issued a statement Sunday after a fight broke out between its players during a “Mites on Ice” appearance at Saturday night’s Hershey Bears game.
The organization said the incident occurred while young skaters were on the ice between periods. The club did not describe what led to the brawl.
In its statement, the club emphasized that creating a safe and positive environment for children remains its top priority.
In another statement from the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association, a spokesperson said they are aware of the staged fight, and that the parties involved will face disciplinary action. The organization also mentioned that the intermission game was not sanctioned by USA Hockey or the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association.
Officials said the organization has begun an internal review and is working to collect information from everyone who was involved or witnessed the incident.
There are multiple investigations into a brawl between young hockey players during intermission of an AHL game on Saturday.
The incident occurred during the Hershey Bears’ Mites On Ice intermission segment. Players from the Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club began fighting as Bears and Cleveland Monsters personnel were in the dressing rooms at Giant Center in Hershey, Pa.
Hershey’s mites on ice game went off the rails again. 😂
Team White’s tiny but heavily padded goalie didn’t tend the goal and instead began cleaning house in a huge brawl.
The mite players, including goalies, rushed toward one another and traded punches. One player appeared to hit his teammate. No officials attempted to break up the brawl, and the crowd cheered on the youth players.
Video taken by fans from inside the arena began to spread on social media Saturday night. The fight was even mentioned on “Hockey Night in Canada.”
In a statement on Sunday, the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) referred to the incident as a “staged fight.”
The AAHA said Sunday in its statement that “appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against those players and team officials involved with the staged fight” after an investigation. The AAHA statement noted that neither it nor USA Hockey sanctioned the Bears’ Mites On Ice Game on Saturday.
In addition to the AAHA’s investigation, the Central Penn youth club pledged an “internal review to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident” in a statement posted to its Facebook page. That statement said, “The safety, well-being, and positive experience of all participants — especially our young players — are of the utmost importance.”
The Central Penn Panthers are based in Lancaster, Pa., and were founded in the early 1990s, according to the club’s website. Teams feature players ages 4 to 18 from levels AA, A, and B.
On Sunday, the AHL’s Bears referred to the statement released by the Central Penn youth club at the end of their own statement.
“What occurred during last night’s youth scrimmage involving one team (split into two sides) held during an intermission of a Hershey Bears game did not reflect the values of the sport or the standards we expect when young athletes are on the ice,” the Bears’ statement said. “Hockey must always be played within the rules, with safety as the top priority.
“The Hershey Bears are proud to provide opportunities for young players to experience the game in a professional environment. At the same time, we cannot support or allow conduct that puts participants at risk.
“We are reviewing this matter and will work closely with participating teams and partners to ensure clear safeguards, supervision, and expectations are in place for any future youth activities held during our games. Our focus remains on protecting young players and upholding the integrity of the sport.”
At least one other recent Bears’ Mites On Ice game featured a fight.
The Bears are an AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, who also feature games between mite-aged players during games. One on Thursday night featured Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s son.
Alex Ovechkin wasn’t about to miss his son playing hockey during the intermission 🥹 pic.twitter.com/gymro6RleU
The Whitefish Winter Carnival has crowned its first round of royalty, the Prime Minister and the Duchess of Lark.
Zak Anderson was named Prime Minister and Katie Akey was crowned Duchess of Lark during the Merry Maker on Saturday.
Zak Anderson is a longtime Whitefish community member with a career rooted in volunteer leadership and civic service. With over two decades of experience in hospitality, marketing, youth sports, and event production, Anderson consistently applies his skills to strengthen local organizations and community initiatives.
Anderson serves as board president of the Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center, supporting public safety, education, and forecasting for backcountry users across northwest Montana. He is also a board member of Housing Whitefish, a nonprofit focused on workforce housing solutions, and previously served on the Whitefish Planning Board. In his role as executive director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau, Zak serves on the city of Whitefish’s Sustainable Tourism Management Plan Committee, contributing to efforts that balance tourism, livability, and environmental stewardship.
Across civic planning, tourism, and public safety, Anderson brings a collaborative, hands-on approach. He leverages his experience in operations, fundraising, and communications to strengthen organizations that serve the greater Flathead Valley.
A lifelong local with deep roots in our realm, Katie Akey is a Whitefish native who embodies the town’s spirit of service and community.
Though she left for a brief period, her return was marked by a seamless transition back into the local fabric, picking up exactly where she left off: championing the traditions and people that make Whitefish home and serving those who are lucky enough to visit.
As a manager of the Great Northern Bar & Grill, Akey oversees one of the last remaining original local establishments. Under her and her family’s dedication to the realm “The Northern” has remained a vital community hub, raising over $65,000 for the Whitefish Winter Carnival through its legendary Disco Party. She has never been one to be part of anything in name only. This is reflected in her extensive volunteer work as a Winter Carnival board member for over 10 years and treasure for the past four. Setting up logistics for travel, participating in parades and stepping in as a character when needed.
Akey’s dedication lies not only in Carnival but also in the town’s heritage, growth and future. Through the FIT program benefiting children for the past 10 years, she’s helped sort prizes weeks in advance all the way through coming home covered in pink and blue dye from the Color Run fundraisers. Also, a member of the Big Mountain Commercial Association board, Akey has a passion for keeping the SNOW buses running and free to all the public by donating space at The Northern and helping serve at the fundraising events. Whether she is behind the scenes at the Great Northern, Winter Carnival, or advocating for students and local mountain transit, Akey remains a driving force in preserving the unique character and future of the community of Whitefish.
The Whitefish Winter Carnival continues through Feb. 8. Up next is the coronation of King Ullr LX VII and Queen of the Snows at the O’Shaughnessy Center at 7 p.m. on Jan. 17, followed by the Disco Party the same evening. For a full list of events, visit whitefishwintercarnival.com.
Whitefish Winter Carnival Prime Zak Anderson. (Photo courtesy of Picture Montana)
Apparently, this is becoming the standard at Hershey Bears games.
Published•Updated
We may have just seen the hockey fight of the year — and it didn’t even happen at an NHL game.
During an AHL match between the Hershey Bears and Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, youth players hit the ice at intermission for a quick mites game. But the crowd at the Giant Center got more than they bargained for.
At one point during the game, a fight broke out between two of the kiddos. The boys threw multiple haymakers as if they were auditioning for a role in a Slap Shot remake. After the player in blue wrestled the player in red to the ground, teammates got involved — attempting to push the blue player off their fallen comrade. That is until another blue player came in and body slammed the pile.
That’s when all hell broke loose. Suddenly, it was an all-out brawl of miniature hockey players punching and tackling each other onto the ice. At one point, a blue player got lost in the moment and started swinging on his own teammate.
Even a goalie got involved!
WATCH:
Not a referee in sight.
Here’s another angle, in case you can’t get enough:
I see promising hockey careers and a lot of missing teeth in their future.
Apparently, though, these sorts of brawls have become commonplace at Hershey Bears mites games. Check out this fight from Dec. 20.
In case you cared about the actual AHL game Saturday, the Bears got the win, 3-2, breaking a tie in the third period while short-handed.
But that’s not what any of the fans were buzzing about when they left the arena.
Youth artists who live in households or receive housing-related services managed by the Cullman Housing Authority are invited to take part in the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) “What Home Means to Me” poster contest. (Cullman Housing Authority)
CULLMAN, Ala. – Youth artists who live in households or receive housing-related services managed by the Cullman Housing Authority are invited to take part in the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) “What Home Means to Me” poster contest.
The contest is open to youth ages 5–18 and is part of a national program sponsored by NAHRO.
Since 2008, the competition has highlighted the artwork of children living in affordable housing, encouraging young artists to express what home means to them through original poster designs.
The contest is conducted in multiple rounds, beginning at the regional level. A total of 24 regional winners advance to the national competition, where 12 national winners are selected.
National winners have their artwork featured in NAHRO’s “What Home Means to Me” calendar the following year. Select winners also receive cash prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C.
Cullman Housing Authority officials encourage eligible youth and families interested in participating to visit the Cullman Housing Authority office at 408 Cleveland Ave. SW, Cullman, or call 256-734-6171 for complete contest guidelines and submission deadlines.
