YSU

YSU
Swimming
RADFORD, Va. -- Freshman Olivia Arnold won the 1,650-yard freestyle and finished second in the 500 free as the YSU swimming team competed in the three-day Radford University Thanksgiving Invitational.
Arnold swam a time of 18:14.39 in the 1,650 and a 5:15.14 in the 500 for the Penguins, who will train for nearly two months before their next meet on Jan. 14 at Akron.
Sophomore Julia Darling also had a strong meet, finishing third in the 100 breast with a season-best time of 1:08.83 and seventh in the 200 breast (2:33.41). Classmate Brittany Senn placed fifth in the 50 free (25.29) and seventh in the 100 free (55.99) while Jessica Front finished sixth in the 200 free (55.44).
Becky Bertuzzi, a Warren JFK High graduate, placed fifth in the 200 free (2:01.01) and Erin-Michelle Gordon finished two spots back in seventh (2:01.73). Gordon also placed seventh in the 1,650 (18:46.19) while Natasha Bray was eighth (18:47.08).
LOCAL
Sikora picksE. Michigan
BOARDMAN -- Kevin Sikora, senior pitcher-outfielder at Boardman High School, has signed a national letter of intent to attend Eastern Michigan University in 2006.
A three-year letterman, he was rated in the top 30 in the Midwest by Team One and is a 2006 pre-season Puma High School All-American.
He was honorable mention all-Federal League as a sophomore and first team all-Federal League. He led the Spartans with 63 strikeouts last season and had 51 in the 2004 campaign. He compiled a 4-3 record last season.
Sims honored
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Former Mahoning Valley Phantoms goaltender Tyler Sims has been named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week.
For the week ending Nov. 19, the University of Providence goalie went 1-0-1 with a 1.49 goals against average and a .951 save percentage.
The sophomore stopped 29 shots in a 2-1 overtime win against Northeastern. He made 29 saves as the Friars tied previously-ranked Boston University 2-2.
This is the second time in four weeks that Sims has earned the award, as he was honored in October.
Sims has a record of 6-3-1. His goals against average of 2.19 ranks him 12th in the country among all NCAA Division I goaltenders and his .925 save percentage places him 13th in the nation. Tyler is a 2004 graduate and co-valedictorian of Boardman High School.
The Friars are 6-4-1 this season. Their 6-2-1 conference record leads Hockey East.
Thiel ticketsavailable
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Tickets for Saturday's NCAA Division III football second-round playoff game between Thiel College and Bridgewater College (Va.) will be on sale Friday.
Tickets may be purchased through the Thiel Office of Student Engagement and Success in the Howard Miller Student Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is a six-ticket limit per customer. Tickets also may be purchased at the door on game day.
Kickoff is slated for noon.
SteelHoundssign Gagnon
YOUNGSTOWN -- The SteelHounds ice hockey team has signed veteran forward Jonathan Gagnon.
Gagnon, 25, began the year with the Danbury Thrashers of the United Hockey League (UHL) where he played six games. Over his career, the former seventh-round draft selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1998 NHL Draft has played in 29 career American Hockey League (AHL) games with the St. John's Maple Leafs, scoring four goals with three assists.
The 6-1, 198-pound left winger also has played for the Central Hockey League's Memphis Riverkings where he helped the team win the CHL Championship in 2003.
During the 2003 playoffs, Gagnon scored 11 goals with nine assists in 14 games. In 144 career games with the Riverkings, the Longueil, Quebec, native has scored 82 goals with 67 assists.
CANFIELD -- The Grange Insurance North-South All-Star football game meeting will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at Canfield High School.
The meeting is open to all Region 8 members of the Ohio High School Athletic Association to select nominations for the North All-Star football team, announced Mike Pavlansky, the Region 8 director.
More information may be obtained by calling Pavlansky at 330-533-5507.
REGION
Lemieux talksOlympics
PITTSBURGH -- Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux is willing to play again for Canada in the Olympics, but wonders if he will be needed.
With new stars such as Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Sidney Crosby emerging, Lemieux said he won't allow himself to be picked for the February Olympics in Italy if he isn't deserving.
"There are too many good young players now to take a spot just because of your name," Lemieux said. "That wouldn't be right for Team Canada or myself. We have so many great young players for Canada now who can do the job.
"If I am playing well and they want me there, I'll be there for them, as well," he said.
However, Lemieux did not attend a Team Canada camp for prospective players last summer, nor has he shown much desire, at age 40, to spend the two-week NHL shutdown for the Olympics playing more hockey.
Lemieux was motivated to play for Team Canada in 2002 despite a serious hip injury that allowed him to play only one more NHL game that season. However, he was motivated by the chance to win a gold medal for the first time in his career -- an incentive that is lacking this time.
Lemieux thinks the 18-year-old Crosby would be a perfect fit for Team Canada.
"He's one of the best players in the league right now, game in and game out," Lemieux said.
Vindicator staff/wire reports