Voting starts for Heart of Champion awards

March 20, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

Voting begins today for the Coach John Kopp Heart of a Champion awards for boys and girls basketball. The voting ends April 9 and the HOC awards will be presented the following week. The award is named for local coaching legend John Kopp, the father of Brian Kopp, a partner in the law firm of Betras, Kopp & Harshman, the company which originated the HOC awards.

Fans can cast one vote per day at www.bhlaws.com for area high school athletes who demonstrate determination and courage on the court. Student-athletes who win the award will receive a trophy from BKH and their schools will receive a plaque as well as a $2,500 cash stipend for use by the school’s athletic program.

Trey Bryarly of Howland and Joey Tabachino of Cardinal Mooney won the award for the 2013 football season. After the basketball winners are named, voting will begin for baseball and softball. For more information contact attorney David Betras at 330-503-9696.

Speedway’s opening event is postponed

Hartford

Sharon Speedway has postponed Saturday’s scheduled open practice and “Springduro 150” Enduro to April 5 with a rain date of April 6. A total of 42 cars have pre-entered for the Enduro, which pays $1,000 to the winner. New entries are being accepted and will be on race day at the cost of $100. Registration forms are available at www.SharonSpeedway.com. Following the Enduro, the 2014 regular racing season will get underway on April 19.

Mineral Ridge hires assistant track coaches

MINERAL RIDGE

The Weathersfield Schools board of education on Wednesday hired the following supplemental coaches for track and field: Andrew Anisa, Jenniifer Stith and Erin Rogers,varsity assistant coaches; and Heather Ault, Courtney Skiba, Amber Cross, Jon Lomax and Gary Wiggins, seventh- and eighth-grade assistant coaches.

NFL owners to discuss expanding playoffs

NEW YORK

NFL owners likely will consider expanding the playoffs by two teams, beginning in 2015, when they hold their spring meetings in Orlando next week, but a vote on the subject is uncertain. The NFL’s influential competition committee is not presenting a proposal to the owners. The current format of four division winners and two wild-card teams has existed since 2002.

Also on the agenda will be alterations to extra points, changing who oversees video replay reviews, and further clamping down on the use of racial slurs by players during games.

Stars: Peverley heart surgery successful

CLEVELAND

Rich Peverley has been released from the hospital after undergoing successful surgery to correct an abnormal heart rhythm, just more than a week after the Dallas Stars forward collapsed on the bench during a game. Stars GM Jim Nill said Peverley was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday. The surgery was Monday.

Peverley, who is out for the season, is expected to return Thursday to Dallas. He will be monitored closely and may require further treatment. The game in which Peverley collapsed, against the Blue Jackets on March 10, was postponed with Columbus leading 1-0. It will be replayed April 9 from the beginning with the same score.

Staff reports/Associated Press