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Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan

[embedded content] Game 7’s are what sports fans live for. It’s the best and worst thing in all of sports if you’re a fan of either team participating in game 7. The anxiety can only be matched if you’re in a literal survival mode scenario as if you’re being chased by a grizzly bear in […]

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1 month ago

May 4, 2025

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Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan

Game 7’s are what sports fans live for. It’s the best and worst thing in all of sports if you’re a fan of either team participating in game 7. The anxiety can only be matched if you’re in a literal survival mode scenario as if you’re being chased by a grizzly bear in the middle of the woods with no way out. I’m not kidding, my resting heart rate during game 2 of this series was 118 BPM. Game 7 heart rate is still to be determined. Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan and game 7 between the Stars and Avalanche was the epitome of game 7.

I had anxiety about this game starting Thursday night as soon as the first empty net goal went in for Colorado. As a fan of the Dallas Stars, it was always going to go to game 7 in this first round matchup, it was destiny. Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan.

First Period Thoughts

The biggest difference in the games that the Stars have one this series is not letting in the super early goal within the first ten minutes and not coming out on their heels. Game 7 started off better than all three of their losses so far, and they even got on the power play just a few minutes into the game.

I thought there was a chance that the Stars would blow the roof off of American Airlines Center during that power play, but it was fairly passive. Passes didn’t connect in high danger areas, and Colorado played a beautiful PK.

Before the ten minute mark, Jamie Benn high sticked Val Nichushkin in the crease where the Stars had several high danger opportunities during the shift. Huge blow and it ended up being a double minor. A massive no-no from the Captain in a game 7.

However, the Stars were the best PK in the league (until the last five games or so of the season) for a reason. Clinical clears and amazing saves from Jake Oettinger kept the game scoreless after four minutes of man advantage for Colorado.

The rest of the period was exactly what I feel like most game 7’s are like. It was near impossible to get into either offensive zone, and there weren’t really any high danger scoring chances from either team. The game wasn’t sloppy by any means, it was just a great job by both teams not allowing the other to get into their comfort zone.

Mikael Granlund ended up with a subpar shot on goal later in the period that hit off of Mackenzie Blackwood’s shoulder and rattled off the post. It was not a high danger chance, but the post makes it seem like it was. Granny has been sneaky for the Stars since being acquired back in the earlier part of the year, and he showed why he’s so sneaky during that play.

The rest of the period went by without much going on in the offensive zone, and the teams went to the locker room still knotted where they were to begin the game. 0-0.

Second Period Thoughts

The second period was a doozy. The first period there were hardly any chances, and the second remained the same.

The Stars were on the power play with just around ten minutes remaining in the period. Thomas Harley was sent a puck at the blue line to continue the cycle but the pass wasn’t good enough and Logon O’Connor was able to sweep the puck down the boards and get passed Harley. Disaster struck for the Stars as the Avs went up 1-0 on a shorthanded goal.

I was distraught at this point because the Avs scoring the first goal was a huge blow to the team, but it was a shorty. A shorthanded goal is a recipe for something terrible to come the rest of the game. Luckily neither team hit the score sheet for the remainder of the period.

Third Period Thoughts

Here’s where things go from bad to worse for the Dallas Stars. Just seconds into the period, Nichushkin gets interfered with and Colorado pulled the goalie for the six on five advantage. If the Stars touch up, they go to the penalty kill, if they don’t, well, let’s just say awful things happen.

Nathan Mackinnon netted his seventh goal of the series with the six on five advantage and beat Oettinger sort of like Wyatt Johnston beat Blackwood in the opening seconds of game five.

The crowd was all the way out of it and you couldn’t even hear groans. Just dead silence. The worst was yet to come as the Avs got a power play with just under ten minutes to go in the game, and it seemed like literally all hope was lost.

Luckily for the Stars, they traded for this fella Mikko Rantanen, who just so happened to play for the Colorado Avalanche a mere few months ago. With about 12 minutes remaining in the game, Mikko got a pass from Oskar Bäck at the point and he sent that puck straight bar down. A thing of absolute beauty, and the Stars were just one more goal away from evening the game in a game 7.

Mikko has been exceptional throughout the series, but starting in game five he’s been the best player for either side. We’re not done with Mikko talk just yet.

Several minutes had passed and Stars fans were anxious. The crowd was still in the game, but getting a tad bit more worried as the Stars power play couldn’t get anything near the net, let alone get a clean entry into the offensive zone.

At this point everyone in the press box had noticed that Mikko was double and sometimes even triple shifting with every line the Stars put on the ice. The motor on Mikko never seemed to give out in the third period.

With 30 seconds or so on the power play left, Mikko took the puck into the zone with three Avs players right on him. He skated behind the net and tried a wraparound shot. Puck luck is created and earned, not given. The puck bounced off an Avs skate and directly into the net and my ears are still ringing from that crowd pop.

Again, puck luck is created and earned, not given. The Stars go on ANOTHER power play just a couple of minutes later, and this one didn’t take much time off the clock at all. Mikko (again) sends a pass to Matt Duchene, Dutchy fired the puck across the crease to a wide open Wyatt Johnston, and Mr. Game 7 himself earned himself the lead.

The pass was super hot coming from Dutchy, and Wyatt handled it with poise and composure as he found the open net, and American Airlines Center was electric.

Obviously, with just under four minutes left in the game, there is plenty of time for the Avs to get the tying goal. They pulled their goalie with a little under two minutes left in the game, and all cheeks were clenched from there until just under three seconds left in the game.

We’re not done with Mikko Rantanen. He gets the puck and skates it into the open net for a hat trick in game 7 against his former team. Stories like this in sports are incapable of being scripted better than that. Four points in game 7, 12 points in the series, and a whole lot of moose was shown in that game.

It was an incredible game for theatrics and storylines, but that series is officially in the past. The Stars move onto the second round to face off against either Winnipeg Jets or St. Louis Blues for a chance at a third straight Western Conference Finals trip.

This team is incredibly deep, and they don’t have their best defenseman or one of their top goal scorers in Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. The fact that they were able to get past this super deep Colorado Avalanche team without them gives me all the warm and fuzzies for the rest of this playoff run. Stars win. Play that song.

Game 7 is the best and the worst thing about being a sports fan, and luckily for Dallas Stars fans, it was the best night we’ve had in a long time.

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Patriots promote internally for top scouting role – 98.5 The Sports Hub

The Patriots have promoted one of their national scouts, Tony Kinkela, to become their director of college scouting, per Albert Breer. The Patriots’ former director, Camren Williams, left the team to become the Broncos’ co-director of player personnel last month. Kinkela spent 11 years scouting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before coming to New England […]

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4 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

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The Patriots have promoted one of their national scouts, Tony Kinkela, to become their director of college scouting, per Albert Breer. The Patriots’ former director, Camren Williams, left the team to become the Broncos’ co-director of player personnel last month.

Kinkela spent 11 years scouting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before coming to New England in 2022. The Patriots’ scouting department looks very different at the top entering the 2025 season.

Kinkela joins AJ Highsmith as a new, first time director in Foxborough. Highsmith was recently hired as the director of pro scouting – also his first time in a director position.

The Patriots recruitment and operations department is still headed by the same executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, but the turnover at the top of the scouting departments could point to the changes that have been brought in by Mike Vrabel and new senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden.

The Patriots have had underwhelming drafts for going on a decade. It will be interesting to see how the drafting improves with Kinkela now playing a critical role.

Luke Graham is a digital sports content co-op for 98.5 the Sports Hub. He is currently a sophomore at Northeastern University studying communications and media studies. Read all his articles here, and follow him on X @LukeGraham05.

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NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships 2025: Men’s Schedule

Before the Wanda Diamond League steals the FloTrack spotlight for the summer, the best collegiate track and field athletes in the nation are getting together for one more huge event – the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The collegiate stars will be at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus […]

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11 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

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The collegiate stars will be at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Oregon, to compete for national titles from June 11-14.

Fans can watch their favorite student-athletes and teams live on ESPN+, while portions of the competition each day will be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.

For breaking news, results, highlights and more, keep an eye on FloTrack all week long.

The top performers this year in the college ranks recently fought their way through a pair of regional competitions to determine the field for the national event at Hayward Field.

Every individual event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will feature 24 athletes – 12 from each regional – while each relay welcomes 24 teams – 12 from each regional event.

The 2025 NCAA Division I Track and Field West Regional was held in College Station, Texas, and the East Regional took place in Jacksonville, Florida. Both were held May 28-31.

As of June 3, seven defending champions are expected to be back at the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships to put their titles on the line.

Three of those returning champions are men: Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan of Ole Miss (shot put); Habtom Samuel of New Mexico (10,000m); and USC’s JC Stevenson (long jump).

Scroll down for a look at the complete men’s schedule for the season-ending NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships:

NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Men’s Schedule

All Times Eastern

Wednesday, June 11

Field Events

4:30 p.m. – Hammer Throw Final
7:35 p.m. – Pole Vault Final
8:15 p.m. – Javelin Final
8:40 p.m. – Long Jump Final
9:10 p.m. – Shot Put Final

Combined Events

3 p.m. – 100m (Decathlon)
3:40 p.m. – Long Jump (Decathlon)
4:55 p.m. – Shot Put (Decathlon)
6:10 p.m. – High Jump (Decathlon)
9:43 p.m. – 400m (Decathlon)

Track Events

7:05 p.m. – 4×100 Relay Semifinals
7:21 p.m. – 1,500m Semifinals
7:38 p.m. – 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinals
8:08 p.m. – 110m Hurdles Semifinals
8:25 p.m. – 100m Semifinals
8:41 p.m. – 400m Semifinals
8:58 p.m. – 800m Semifinals
9:14 p.m. – 400m Hurdles Semifinals
9:29 p.m. – 200m Semifinals
9:56 p.m. – 10,000m Final
10:36 p.m. – 4×400 Relay Semifinals

Thursday, June 12

Combined Events

12:45 p.m. – 110m Hurdles (Decathlon)
1:35 p.m. – Discus (Decathlon)
2:45 p.m. – Pole Vault (Decathlon)
5:15 p.m. – Javelin (Decathlon)
9:43 p.m. – 1,500m (Decathlon)

Friday, June 13

Field Events

5:15 p.m. – Discus Final
7:30 p.m. – High Jump Final
8:10 p.m. – Triple Jump Final

Track Events

7:50 p.m. – National Collegiate Wheelchair 100m Final
8:02 p.m. – 4×100 Relay Final
8:12 p.m. – 1,500m Final
8:24 p.m. – 3,000m Steeplechase Final
8:42 p.m. – 100m Final
9:02 p.m. – 400m Final
9:14 p.m. – 800m Final
9:27 p.m. – 400m Hurdles Final
9:37 p.m. – 200m Final
9:55 p.m. – 5,000m Final
10:21 p.m. – 4×400 Relay Final

How To Watch The 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships

The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place June 11-14 at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Oregon.

Live coverage will be provided by ESPN+ starting at 3 p.m. Eastern on June 11; 12:45 p.m. EDT on June 12; 2:45 p.m. on June 13; and 3:30 p.m. on June 14.

On June 11, ESPN will broadcast men’s action at 7 p.m. Eastern. On June 12, the women will be on ESPN at 7 p.m. EDT. On June 13, the second day of men’s competition will air on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EDT. On June 14, the women will take the ESPN2 spotlight at 9 p.m. EDT.

For the entire event, FloTrack will be your one-stop shop for breaking news, highlights, results and more, so make sure top pop open that extra tab.

About Hayward Field

Hayward Field, which was built in 1919, is no stranger to top-tier track and field events, including the Diamond League and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The venue is named after Bill Hayward, who ran the University of Oregon track and field program from 1904 to 1947. Though it originally was intended for Ducks football, many additions and renovations over the century have helped it become a premier destination.

In September 2023, the venue became the first facility outside of Zurich or Brussels to host the two-day season-ending Wanda Diamond League Final, where the year’s 32 overall champions were crowned.

What Schools Won The Team Titles At The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s And Women’s Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The Arkansas women took home the outdoor team title in 2024, sweeping the indoor and outdoor championships for the 2023-2024 season.

Florida, led by legendary head coach Mike Holloway, secured the men’s title in 2024, giving the Gators three consecutive outdoor men’s titles. Florida became the first team to three-peat since Texas A&M (2009-2011).

What Schools Have Won The Most Titles At The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1921.

USC owns the most men’s titles with 25, while Arkansas is the only other program with 10 or more (10).

The NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1982.

LSU has won the most women’s titles with 14. The next-closest is Texas with five.

From FloTrack On YouTube

Roisin Willis Advances To NCAA 800m Quarterfinal

FloTrack Is The Streaming Home For Many Track And Field Meets Each Year

Don’t miss all the track and field season action streaming on FloTrack. Check out the FloTrack schedule for more events.

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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TYR Sport and World Aquatics Announce Global Partnership, Ushering in a New Era of Competitive Swimming

TYR Sport and World Aquatics Announce Global Partnership, Ushering in a New Era of Competitive Swimming NEW YORK, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TYR Sport, a global leader in performance swimwear and aquatic gear, is proud to announce a landmark global partnership with World Aquatics, the international governing body for aquatic sports. Through this multi-year agreement, […]

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June 6, 2025

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TYR Sport and World Aquatics Announce Global Partnership, Ushering in a New Era of Competitive Swimming

NEW YORK, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TYR Sport, a global leader in performance swimwear and aquatic gear, is proud to announce a landmark global partnership with World Aquatics, the international governing body for aquatic sports. Through this multi-year agreement, TYR becomes the exclusive global supplier of swimwear and accessories for World Aquatics—reinforcing TYR’s position at the forefront of competitive swimming worldwide.

The partnership will make its official debut at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this July. As part of the agreement, TYR will supply high-performance technical products to athletes, federations, and event officials, highlighting its commitment to innovation and precision engineering at the highest levels of sport.

World Aquatics and TYR will also collaborate on strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the athlete experience, deepening fan engagement, and expanding the global footprint of competitive swimming across all levels of participation.

Built on a shared vision of performance, innovation, and access to sport, the partnership reflects a mutual mission to elevate aquatic athletes and create more opportunities for competitive excellence. TYR’s technical products—developed in collaboration with elite swimmers—are designed to meet the demands of both training and world-class competition.

“We are proud to partner with World Aquatics and support the global aquatics community,” said Matt DiLorenzo, Chief Executive Officer, TYR Sport. “This partnership is a testament to our shared belief in empowering athletes, expanding access to sport, and driving innovation through world-class competition.”

Husain Al-Musallam, the World Aquatics President added, “At World Aquatics, athletes are our top priority. We aim to give swimmers from around the world every opportunity to succeed in our sports. That’s why our long-term, exclusive global supplier partnership with TYR is such a landmark moment for aquatics. TYR is a trusted global swimwear brand that shares our belief in empowering athletes to reach their full potential. They have a proven track record of working closely with athletes to deliver performance-driven products. I’m delighted that swimmers worldwide will now benefit from TYR’s innovation, experience, and athlete-first approach.”

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in TYR’s international growth strategy, further establishing the brand’s presence on the global stage. With visibility at the world’s most prestigious aquatic events, TYR is poised to reach broader audiences while continuing to champion athlete-first innovation.

The partnership is effective immediately, with a series of launch activations set to roll out during the Singapore World Championships and additional initiatives planned throughout the World Aquatics calendar.

About TYR Sport
Since 1985, TYR Sport has been pushing the limits of innovation to develop the industry’s most durable and performance-driven swim and triathlon gear. Whether it’s personal bests or world records, TYR is dedicated to supporting athletes at every level of competition.

About World Aquatics
Driven by the vision of a world united by water—for health, life, and sport—World Aquatics is the international governing body for aquatic sports. Founded in 1908, World Aquatics is an independent organisation composed of 210 National Federations and five Continental Organisations. World Aquatics oversees six aquatic disciplines: swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving, and is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the leading global authority in these sports.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tyr-sport-and-world-aquatics-announce-global-partnership-ushering-in-a-new-era-of-competitive-swimming-302475411.html

SOURCE TYR

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Volleyball will be the star at 33rd annual Pottstown Rumble

Ken Kaas, the founder of the 33rd annual Pottstown Rumble, was 21 years old the first time he played indoor volleyball. After he went to watch his first 2-on-2 tournament, he was hooked and got inspired to create a tournament for the Pottstown region. The rest is history. Players from all over the US and […]

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32 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

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The rest is history.

Players from all over the US and Canada will compete In the Pottstown Rumble. (Photos by Bill Bonney Photography)

At least 6,000 players are expected to come from the U.S. and Canada to compete and connect with friends at the three-day tournament held at Memorial Park in Pottstown beginning on June 20.

“We have lots of regulars and big groups coming from New York City and Boston who’ve been coming for years,“ Kaas said. “Many of them met there.”

Thousands of spectators

A couple of thousand spectators usually come to watch the action that includes AVP professional players. $7,000 in prize money will be awarded to pro players.

You can find food trucks and a beer tent with craft beer at the Pottstown Rumble. (Photos by Bill Bonney Photography)

A $10 spectator ticket can be purchased in advance online or at the entrance on the day of the event.

Aside from Memorial Park, which serves as the main field, there are two satellite fields for competition — one in Pottsgrove and the other in North Coventry. In total, there are 225 grass volleyball courts that will be in use.

At the event, you’ll find lots of food trucks and a beer tent with craft beers.

Completed pedestrian bridge

New this year is a completed pedestrian bridge that has been in the works for a few years, so Kaas is pleased that no shuttles will be necessary to transport people this year.

At least 6,000 volleyball players will participate in this year's Pottstown Rumble. (Photos by Bill Bonney Photography) — At least 6,000 volleyball players will participate in this year‘s Pottstown Rumble. (Photos by Bill Bonney Photography)

The bridge connects the atmosphere,“ he said. “We had a boat and a shuttle, and now that the bridge is in, we don’t need to have that.”

Kaas, a union heavy equipment operator by profession, shared his motivation behind continuing the annual event for over three decades.

$7,000 in prize money will go to pro players who win at this year's Pottstown Rumble. (Photos by Bill Bonney Photography) — $7,000 in prize money will go to pro players who win at this year‘s Pottstown Rumble. (Photos by Bill Bonney Photography)

“It’s a lot of work, but there are many who come to me and say, ’this is my Christmas’,” he said. “I do it because it means so much to so many.”

The Pottstown Rumble will be held June 20-22, 2025, at Pottstown Memorial Park, 75 W. King St., Pottstown. For more information, to get a spectator ticket, or to register to play, visit www.pottstownrumble.com.

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Preview and how to watch VNL action live

The road to Ningbo starts now for the best men’s volleyball teams in the world at the 2025 FIVB men’s Volleyball Nations League (11 June – 3 August). After the women’s competition got underway on 4 June, the men follow suit the following week among the 18 national teams competing to reach the final round […]

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57 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The road to Ningbo starts now for the best men’s volleyball teams in the world at the 2025 FIVB men’s Volleyball Nations League (11 June – 3 August).

After the women’s competition got underway on 4 June, the men follow suit the following week among the 18 national teams competing to reach the final round in the People’s Republic of China.

Of those qualified nations, there are three former VNL winners. Defending champions France arrive as the double Olympic champions following their momentous gold at Paris 2024, a few weeks after they had claimed their second Nations League title.

Olympic silver medallists Poland last lifted the VNL trophy in 2023, and with one of the final round pools being played in Gdansk, will hope the home advantage can help them over the line and into the finals.

The only present champion not from the European continent are Brazil, one of only two South American nations to have qualified. Can they hit their stride ahead of the Volleyball World Championships later this year in the Philippines?

Here is what you need to know about the 2025 men’s VNL.

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Trio of local track and field athletes recognized among state’s best by THSCA | High Schools

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Country United States of […]

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June 6, 2025

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