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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Andrew Harris, accompanied by his 18-month-old son Axton, speaks Friday at Princess Auto Stadium.

Retiring a Bomber ‘the right thing’ for RB Andrew Harris

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:06 PM CDT

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Taking lacrosse to a new level

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Taking lacrosse to a new level

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Yesterday at 9:04 PM CDT

A game of online poker more than three years ago between Kelson Borisenko and his pals turned into a three-hour tirade about the underwhelming hand Manitoba lacrosse players were being dealt.

The group of 20-somethings, who all played at a high level, agreed that while the province’s talent pool was on par with the rest of the country, the opportunity here to get noticed was not.

“For us, it was really frustrating to see all those guys around us that had that talent, who wanted to compete at that next level, but were never given that opportunity,” said Borisenko, who was drafted by the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League in 2020 after spending four years at Manhattan College (New York), a Division 1 program in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Out of those discussions came a plan for a local training program.

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Yesterday at 9:04 PM CDT

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Lacrosse players Brett Morrison (left) and Kelson Borisenko in Winnipeg on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

For Josh story.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Lacrosse players Brett Morrison (left) and Kelson Borisenko in Winnipeg on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. For Josh story.

Jets dumped by Avs, Dillon badly cut

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Jets dumped by Avs, Dillon badly cut

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Updated: 1:02 AM CDT

DENVER — They lost their lead. They lost their composure. They lost the game. And they may have lost a key player to an ugly injury.

Add it all up and it was a Friday night to forget for the Winnipeg Jets, who now find themselves trailing their first-round playoff series 2-1 following a 6-2 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.

Winnipeg appeared to be in full control through 40 minutes, carrying a hard-fought 2-1 advantage into the second intermission. All they needed was one more solid period to wrestle home-ice advantage back from Colorado after a split of the first two games at Canada Life Centre.

It was easier said than done. A parade to the penalty box and an inability to get a kill proved fatal, with the home team scoring five times in the final frame to absolutely bury them.

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Updated: 1:02 AM CDT

Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (foreground) shoots the puck past Neal Pionk (left) and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for a goal during the third period Friday in Denver. (David Zalubowski / The Associated Press)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, foreground shoots the puck past Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk, left, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for a goal during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Four months after being fired by Atlanta, Arthur Smith is hitting the reset button in Pittsburgh

Will Graves, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Four months after being fired by Atlanta, Arthur Smith is hitting the reset button in Pittsburgh

Will Graves, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:51 PM CDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Arthur Smith walked in and sat down, a microphone in front of him and a Pittsburgh Steelers baseball cap pulled tight on his head.

Four months after being fired in Atlanta, Smith is returning to his play-calling roots — and hoping to hit the reboot button on his career — as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.

Smith did little to articulate what exactly the Steelers will look like in the fall. Considering what Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan did in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, maybe Smith didn't have to.

Khan selected offensive tackle Troy Fautanu with the 20th overall pick on Thursday. On Friday, he added center Zach Frazier from West Virginia. They will join a line that includes tackle Broderick Jones, the Steelers' first-round selection a year ago, and veteran guards Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:51 PM CDT

FILE - Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith reacts to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game Oct. 22, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Smith is rebooting his career as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being fired by the Falcons. The Steelers used their early picks in the NFL draft on offensive linemen in the hopes Smith can replicate the success had had calling plays in Tennessee earlier in his career. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith reacts to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game Oct. 22, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Smith is rebooting his career as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being fired by the Falcons. The Steelers used their early picks in the NFL draft on offensive linemen in the hopes Smith can replicate the success had had calling plays in Tennessee earlier in his career. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Makar measures up to all-time greats

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Makar measures up to all-time greats

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Yesterday at 6:51 PM CDT

DENVER —There’s no question Cale Makar is breathing some rarefied hockey air while playing here in the Mile High City. Might the Colorado Avalanche defenceman ultimately be among the best to ever lace up the skates and hit the ice at his position? We here at Dump & Chase certainly think he’s in the conversation, even if his coach tried to stickhandle around the question Friday. DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar already has a Stanley Cup, Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy on his resume. “I mean, comparing players from different eras is always […]

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Yesterday at 6:51 PM CDT

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar already has a Stanley Cup, Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy on his resume.
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar already has a Stanley Cup, Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy on his resume.

Browns’ draft picks from Michigan, Ohio State connected by horrific injury in last year’s big game

Tom Withers, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Browns’ draft picks from Michigan, Ohio State connected by horrific injury in last year’s big game

Tom Withers, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:21 PM CDT

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns selected two players in the NFL draft forever connected by a horrific injury.

In Friday’s third round, the team picked Michigan guard Zak Zinter, who broke his left leg against Ohio State on Nov. 25 when Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr., taken by the Browns in the second round, was accidentally thrown into him.

Zinter, an AP first-team All-American, fractured his tibia and fibula on a play that hushed a crowd of more than 100,000 fans inside Michigan Stadium.

Former rivals, Zinter and Hall are now teammates — already linked by a fateful play.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:21 PM CDT

FILE - Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter is carted off the field after sustaining an injury during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich. In the third round of the NFL draft Friday, April 26, 2024, the Cleveland Browns picked Zinter who broke his left leg against Ohio State in November when Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr., taken by the Browns in the second round, was accidentally throw into him. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
FILE - Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter is carted off the field after sustaining an injury during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich. In the third round of the NFL draft Friday, April 26, 2024, the Cleveland Browns picked Zinter who broke his left leg against Ohio State in November when Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr., taken by the Browns in the second round, was accidentally throw into him. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon heads to locker room with hand bleeding after fight following game

Pat Graham, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon heads to locker room with hand bleeding after fight following game

Pat Graham, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 1:33 AM CDT

DENVER (AP) — Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon quickly made his way down the tunnel with his hand bleeding after a fight at the end of the game against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.

Dillon suffered what appeared to be a deep cut following a 6-2 loss in Game 3 of their first-round series. The Jets had no update on Dillon after the game or if the injury might have happened because of a skate blade.

“He’s still being examined,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said.

Asked if there was a lot of concern seeing a player get hurt like that, Bowness said, “Yeah, when you see the blood, yeah.”

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Updated: 1:33 AM CDT

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon, right, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Yakov Trenin, left, defends in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon, right, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Yakov Trenin, left, defends in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Sports Editor's Picks

Ken Wiebe:

Central time zone, ‘ugly stepchild of television’ says veteran broadcaster

Fred Greenslade / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Jets fans are in for some late evenings thank to the complexities of balancing playoff and TV scheduling.

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Female fencer looks forward to taking on males at provincial meet

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS Cheryl Cheung will be competing against boys at this weekend’s provincial fencing championship.

Staff:

It’s official, Park heading to Paris Olympics

Darren Calabrese/COC Skylar Park of Canada celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Women’s Kyorugi 57kg semifinals during the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games in 2023. Park was officially nominated by Taekwondo Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee for a return trip to the Summer Olympic Games Tuesday.

Taylor Allen:

Carey to take skipping reins from iconic Jones

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES /Jonathan Hayward Chelsea Carey will be the new skip for curling teammates Karlee Burgess, Emily Zacharias and Lauren Lenentine. The team’s former skip, Jennifer Jones, previously announced she would step down at the end of the season.

Mike McIntyre:

Hawerchuk’s son in wonder of Winnipeg’s “Whiteout” conditions

Hawerchuk’s son in wonder of Winnipeg’s “Whiteout” conditions

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe:

Whiteout gets rave reviews from near and far

Fred Greenslade / THE CANADIAN PRESS The atmosphere created by the Whiteout has garnered the Jets and the team’s fans widespread attention.

More Sports

Pacers take series lead beating Bucks 121-118 in OT

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Pacers take series lead beating Bucks 121-118 in OT

The Associated Press 2 minute read 12:40 AM CDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton completed a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left, capping his first postseason triple-double in his first home playoff game to give the Indiana Pacers a 121-118 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

Indiana leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 on Sunday in Indianapolis. Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo again sat out for Milwaukee because of a strained left calf.

Haliburton had 18 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. Myles Turner added 29 points and nine rebounds, both playoff career highs, to help give Indiana its first back-to-back postseason wins since taking three straight in the 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Pacers also have their first lead in the playoffs since Game 3 of a first-round matchup against Cleveland in 2018. Indiana hasn’t won a series since reaching the 2014 Eastern Conference finals.

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12:40 AM CDT

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives between Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) and guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the second half in Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives between Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) and guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the second half in Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

The Canadian Press 3 minute read 4:00 AM CDT

One of the greatest broadcasting moments for the late Bob Cole occurred early in 1976 while watching Russia's powerful Red Army team head to the dressing room before the first period ended to protest the alleged dirty play of the host Broad Street Bullies — a.k.a. the Philadelphia Flyers. Cole said in amazement: "They're going home."

Unless the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning win their respective playoff games at home today, they'll be going home, too. Oh baby, talk about added pressure.

Here are five things to know about the NHL playoffs:

NYLANDER 'MIGHT' PLAY TONIGHT

Rangers aim to clinch first round series over the Capitals in game 4

The Associated Press 2 minute read 3:11 AM CDT

New York Rangers (55-23-4, first in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Washington Capitals (40-31-11, fourth in the Metropolitan Division)

Washington; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Rangers -191, Capitals +159; over/under is 5.5

NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Rangers lead series 3-0

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