STEELHOUNDS

STEELHOUNDS
Weekend promotions
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown SteelHounds return home this weekend for a three-game series against the Austin Ice Bats.
All games begin at 7 p.m.
Kids ages 15 and under get 2 off each ticket (excluding family section) for all December home games.
Thursday's game is "Student Rush" night. College students can buy tickets for 8 with a valid student ID. It is also Ladies Night, with women receiving 2 off tickets (excluding family section). There will be a post-game bachelor's auction with defensemen Kelly Sickavish and Josh Reed. Youngstown native and Miss August 2001 Jennifer Walcott will also be on hand to drop the first puck and sign autographs during the intermissions.
On Friday night, every fan will receive a special gift courtesy of the team's sponsors. On Saturday, the SteelHounds will celebrate Festivus, a fictitious holiday from the Seinfeld television series. Following the game, there will be a free skate for all fans.
For details, call 330-747-PUCK or visit www.steelhounds.com.
LOCAL
Bayuk's resignationaccepted by board
HUBBARD -- Jeff Bayuk's resignation as the Hubbard High football coach was accepted by the Hubbard Board of Education at its December meeting Monday.
Bayuk submitted his resignation in November on the day of the board's regular monthly meeting, but the board did not act on it because they wanted to talk to him about it first.
"They asked if I would go and talk to them the following week because they [had] some questions about the reason I was retiring and they just wanted to make sure everything was all right," said Bayuk, who then met with the board a week later in executive session to explain his reasons for resigning his post.
He said that he needed to make a change in his life.
"I have been a head coach for 16 years [and] I was just thinking that it was time for a change," he said. "I don't know if I will continue to coach [somewhere else] or take a break.
The job has been posted within the school district and outside of it. Bayuk said he hopes his longtime defensive coordinator, Mickey Sikora, is promoted to head coach.
"I would like that very much," Bayuk said. "He's qualified, he's a friend of mine and I've coached with him for 12 years."
Prep hockey
BOARDMAN -- The Mooney-Ursuline freshman team defeated Erie Cathedral Prep 6-3. Brian Helbly had two goals and one assist for M-U, while Ian Simmons had a goal and two assists, Zach Jones had a goal and an assist, and Corey Timmings and Phillip Monrean each had one goal. Chase Leonelli had two assists for Mooney/Ursuline.
Game updates
*BOARDMAN -- Saturday's Federal League girls basketball game featuring Canton McKinley at Boardman will begin at 7:30 p.m. (The JV game will start at 6 p.m.)
*LOWELLVILLE -- Western Reserve's boys varsity basketball team will play at Lowellville at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 27. The game is a make-up from a Dec. 8 cancellation.
REGION
Browns place RB Wright on IR
BEREA -- Cleveland running back Jason Wright was placed on injured reserve with a sprained left knee ligament on Tuesday, the ninth player lost by the Browns this season. Wright injured his medial collateral ligament during Sunday's loss at Baltimore when he got hit from the side by a Ravens defender. Wright, who made three starts this season, finished with 189 yards on 62 carries and added six catches for 82 yards.
To take his spot, the Browns signed rookie running back Chris Barclay from the practice squad. Linebacker Clifton Smith also was signed to the active roster. He replaces rookie D'Qwell Jackson, the Browns' second-leading tackler, who was placed on IR last week after undergoing toe surgery.
Smith was with the Browns during training camp before being waived on Sept. 2.
Steelers' Starksto miss game
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle Max Starks will have surgery today to repair torn cartilage in his right knee and will miss Sunday's game against Baltimore.
Also out are backup linebacker Chad Brown with a damaged ligament in his left knee and defensive back Chidi Iwuoma with a dislocated left wrist. Iwuoma had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair his injury.
Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu is questionable because of the left knee injury that has sidelined him for the Steelers' last three games, while safety Ryan Clark (groin) is doubtful.
Starks, a starter the last two seasons, felt pain before the Steelers' 37-3 victory Sunday at Carolina, but played despite the injury.
Vindicator staff/wire reports