SPORTS DIGEST || Phantoms add ex-college player

Phantoms add ex-college player

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms have added a former college player to their roster.

Forward Jason Cotton from Parker, Texas, most recently played for Northeastern University but has decided to forego the rest of his freshman year to return to junior hockey.

Jason Koehler, Phantoms general manager, said Cotton will be eligible to return to college hockey at the end of the fall semester.

Prior to attending Northeastern University, Cotton played junior hockey in the USHL (Tri-City Storm) and the BCHL (West Kelowna Warriors). During both of his seasons with the Warriors, Cotton tallied 20+ goals and 60 points, playing above a point-per-game average.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward has played center and winger. His brother David plays for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks.

Mooney’s Butler named Coach of the Year

Cardinal Mooney girls golf coach Stacie Butler was one of 22 high school coaches from across the country to be picked as the National Federation of State High School Coaches, the organization announced on Monday.

Cavs trade Joe Harris for draft picks

CLEVELAND

The Cavaliers traded guard Joe Harris to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, a deal to save Cleveland money and create roster flexibility.

In exchange for Harris, the Cavs will receive a second-round pick in 2017 and a protected second-round pick in 2020. Earlier on Tuesday, Harris underwent surgery on his right foot in Indianapolis and is expected to miss two months.

The trade, which also included cash going to Orlando, was inevitable after the Cavs guaranteed guard Jared Cunningham’s contract for the remainder of this season.

By moving Harris, the Cavs can save nearly $3 million in payroll and luxury taxes and it will open up a roster spot. Harris appeared in five games this season for Cleveland and 10 with the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s NBA Development League franchise.

49ers meet with Coughlin in NY

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.

Tom Coughlin will be the sixth known candidate to interview for the 49ers’ head-coach opening.

The meeting, first reported by the NFL Network, will be conducted in the New York area by 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. The team’s CEO, Jed York, is in Houston for ongoing owners meetings about the Los Angeles market.

Coughlin, 69, resigned from the Giants last week but has been allowed to talk to other teams about jobs. He met with the Eagles on Monday.

One of other coaching candidates the 49ers have met with, Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, has a connection to Coughlin. DeFilippo, 37, served as the Giants offensive quality control coach in 2005-06 when Coughlin was the team’s head coach. DeFilippo also is from the York family’s hometown of Youngstown, which is where the interview took place. The team could be contemplating at a scenario in which Coughlin takes over as head coach and DeFilippo is the heir apparent.

AP: IAAF tried to hide doping sanctions

PARIS

Internal documents obtained by The Associated Press show that six years before the IAAF banned Russia, track and field’s governing body knew of doping so startling it feared Russian athletes could die from abuse of blood-boosting drugs and transfusions, and officials later considered collaborating with Russians to hide the full extent of cheating before the 2012 London Olympics.

The six-year span of emails, letters and reports given to AP by a person involved in the anti-doping program at the International Association of Athletics Federations sheds light on the doping scandal that led to Russia being suspended from competition, its athletes at risk of missing the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Staff/wire report