SPORTS DIGEST || Curbstone HOF class announced

Curbstone Hall of Fame class announced

The 50th Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled for May 7 with 13 new members set for enshrinement during ceremonies at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center, Boardman.

Former Cardinal Mooney and University of Michigan football standout, Super Bowl champion and local business entrepreneur Ed Muransky will serve as guest speaker.

The 2017 class includes Jeff Bayuk (football, coach), Mark Brungard (football), Jim Bryant (bowling), Bruce Burge (contribution to sports), John Cullen (basketball, coach), Tony DelBene (baseball), Wally Ford, Jr. (all-sports award), Jim O’Malley (football), Anthony Montana (special award), Henry Nemenz (posthumous award), Craig Snyder (boxing), Tammy Swearingen (volleyball, coach) and Dave Vietz (special award).

Tickets are $60 each and will be available in mid-January.

Further information can be obtained by visiting the organization’s website at www.curbstonecoaches.org.

Also, Vindicator sportswriter and Youngstown State beat reporter Charles Grove will be the guest speaker Monday at the weekly luncheon of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township. The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

Phantoms sweep RoughRiders

youngstown

Two goals by Chase Gresock and 21 saves from Britt League in his home debut powered the Youngstown Phantoms (12-9-2-1, 29 points) past the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 2-1 at the Covelli Centre, sweeping the weekend series and giving the Phantoms points in seven of their last eight games.

“I don’t think it was the prettiest game, probably not our best,” Phantoms Head Coach Brad Patterson said. “But as I told the guys getting five out of (eight) points on this little bit of a homestand, we’ll take that.”

Youngstown opened the scoring just 3:20 into the game. Curtis Hall and Gresock came in on a 2-on-1 from the blue line in, Hall drew the attention of the Cedar Rapids defender and feathered a pass over to Gresock, who redirected it into the empty net with RoughRiders goalie Drew DeRidder (18 saves) caught out of position. “[Hall] made two great plays on the boards and he just slid it to me back door, all I had to do was put it in the empty net.”

Hockey legend Dineen dead at 84

toronto

Bill Dineen, the hockey icon who played with and later coached Gordie Howe, has died. He was 84.

The American Hockey League confirmed in a statement that Dineen died Saturday at his home in Lake George, New York.

Dineen, born in Arvida, Quebec, played 324 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, winning two Stanley Cup championships in Detroit alongside Howe. Dineen made more of an impact as a player in the AHL, where he was a four-time 20-goal scorer over six seasons with Buffalo, Cleveland, Rochester and Quebec.

“Bill Dineen devoted his career to our sport, winning two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings, shaping the lives of numerous players during decades of coaching and crafting a hockey legacy that carries on today through his sons,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

Seattle wins MLS Cup in penalty shootout

toronto

Roman Torres scored in the sixth round of penalty kicks to give the Seattle Sounders their first MLS Cup title, 5-4 over Toronto FC after 120 scoreless minutes Saturday night.

It was the first MLS Cup final to fail to produce a goal in regulation, setting the stage for a dramatic tiebreaker.

While Toronto’s Michael Bradley and Alvaro Fernandez for Seattle had both seen their shots saved, the game went to sudden-death spot kicks. Toronto’s Justin Morrow could only clatter his shot off the crossbar, setting the stage for Torres to win it with a high shot down the middle of the goal.

Staff/Wire reports