The Twins will be accepting donations at the gates on behalf of Feed My Starving Children and UNICEF to aid in the relief efforts in Japan.
John Gordon, beginning his final season as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer, will raise the Twins Territory Flag before the game. Gordon began broadcasting Twins games in 1987.
The sixth-annual “Friday Night at the Frozen Four” is tonight from 4:30-9:30 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center. The event includes the presentation of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and the Hockey Humanitarian Award, plus appearances by 24 college hockey legends. Among that group will be former Gopher and Hobey Baker winner Neal Broten.
Fans can skate on the ice with the celebrities and also receive autographs. Tickets are $13 ($8 for students, seniors (55+) and available at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
FOX Sports North analyst Kevin Gorg told Sports Headliners that Edina native Anders Lee, playing for the Notre Dame team that lost to Minnesota Duluth last night in the Frozen Four, has a “ton of potential” including scoring skills and is a sure NHL prospect. Lee, 6-3, is a freshman center for the Irish.
Wild prospect Sean Lorenz (fourth round, 2008 NHL Entry Draft) also plays for Notre Dame. He was named CCHA Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
Another Wild prospect, Mikael Granlund (first round, 2010 NHL Entry Draft), set an SM-liiga record when he earned five points (two goals, three assists) in 12 minutes, 38 seconds. It was the fastest five points in SM-liiga history and the first five point period in Finnish Elite League playoff history. The performance led HIFK Helsinki to a 7-1 win and advancement to the SM-liiga finals. Overall, Granlund leads the league with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 11 playoff games.
It wouldn’t be surprising if there is an announcement soon after the Wild’s final regular season game on Sunday regarding the future of coach Todd Richards.
Everyone expects the Lynx to choose Connecticut sensation Maya Moore with the first pick in Monday’s WNBA draft. Moore is the NCAA’s first ever three-time Wade Trophy winner. During Moore’s college career the Huskies’ record was 150-4, the best for any player in men’s or women’s NCAA history.
NBA star Kevin Durant said this on ESPN earlier this week: “She does things on the court that you see Kobe (Bryant) or LeBron (James) do.”
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve sees Moore, a forward, as a player with exceptional passion and multiple skills including shooting. “I think she was even honored on the all-defensive side of things,” Reeve said. “A player that does a little of everything and is determined to be the best.”
Former Benilde-St. Margaret’s player and Iowa Hawkeye prospect Kachine Alexander is expected to be drafted during the second or third round. She is projected as a shooting guard in the WNBA.
Gophers football coach Jerry Kill has designated quarterback MarQueis Gray as the team’s player representative on a media teleconference call next week involving Big Ten programs.