A team spokesman said there were about 30 Vikings, including off-season acquisitions Bernard Berrian and Thomas Tapeh, working out on Monday morning at Winter Park. Players are running and lifting weights in preparation for the team’s spring mini-camp and summer training camp.
There are about 750 tickets remaining for the 2008 Miller Lite Vikings’ Draft Party on Saturday, April 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event will be in the Winter Park field house with Vikings players and cheerleaders in attendance. Capacity for the event is 3,000. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 on April 26. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com, at the Vikings’ ticket office in the Metrodome, or the Vikings’ Locker Room store locations.
Former Viking Leo Lewis, now associate athletics director with the Gophers, e-mailed information regarding the sixth annual Leo Lewis Celebrity Golf Classic on Thursday, July 10 at Ridges Golf Course at Sand Creek in Jordan. The classic benefits the Leo Lewis Sports Foundation that helps youth develop life skills. More information on the foundation and the golf outing is available at www.lewissportsfoundation.org
Jason Kubel is second on the Twins in home runs with three and RBI with 11, trailing Justin Morneau in both categories. Last year he had career highs in at-bats with 418, home runs, 13, and RBI with 65. Kubel, 25, looks like he will be the team’s primary designated hitter and could have another career year. Management has always liked his hitting potential and although he first came to the big leagues in 2004, he’s been slow to develop after missing all of 2005 following surgery on his left knee.
Sean Avery of the Rangers finished first in a Sports Illustrated NHL players’ poll regarding the “dirtiest player” in the league. Chris Pronger of the Ducks was second while Chris Simon of the Wild and Jarko Ruutu of the Penguins tied for third.
The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Al Jefferson Coin Bank courtesy of U.S. Bank tonight at Target Center when the Timberwolves end their season against Milwaukee. As part of fan appreciation night fans can win prizes, including a free trip to Mexico from NWA WorldVacations. Fans will also have the opportunity to receive autographed merchandise from the players following the game.
The Minnesota Thunder is back in town after pre-season games that included Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Carolina. Andrew Barron, a former player in New Zealand and an important off-season acquisition as a midfielder, scored the Thunder goal on Sunday. The Thunder opens its USL regular season at Portland on April 24 and plays at Vancouver on April 26. The home opener is May 4 against Rochester at James Griffin Stadium in St. Paul.
Burnsville native Colin Achenbach of the Swarm scored his first National Lacrosse League goal Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Wings. Minnesota won in overtime, 15-14, improving to 6-0 at home this season. The Swarm’s average attendance is over 11,000 per game, a franchise high since debuting in 2005. Colorado leads the league in average attendance at 17,000, followed by Buffalo and Toronto, both drawing over 14,000 per game.
Following the completion of the fall and winter NCAA Division III championships, six of 10 MIAC schools are ranked in the top 100 of the U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup standings. St. Thomas is in 18th place among 400 Division III schools with 340 points. The Tommies have scored NCAA team points in eight sports to date — volleyball, women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey, women’s swimming, and men’s and women’s indoor track.
Bethel is in 48th place with 203.5 points. Other MIAC schools in the top 100 are: Saint John’s (198.5 points, 51st place); Gustavus (192 points, 56th place); Carleton (170.5 points, 66th place); and St. Olaf (147 points, 76th place). The standings are considered unofficial until the completion of spring sports.