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John Bauza takes out Christon Edwards in two rounds in Las Vegas

Fight Editor
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John Bauza takes out Christon Edwards in two rounds in Las Vegas

Split-T Management’s John Bauza Remains undefeated with 2nd round Stoppage of Christon Edwards

 

NEW YORK – Split-T Management’s John Bauza remained undefeated with a 2nd round destruction of Christon Edwards in round two of their scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas.

 

Bauza set a ferocious pace early and dropped Edwards at the end of the opening frame. Bauza, of North Bergan, New Jersey via Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico did not rest of his early success, as he wasted no-time in ending the night early by dropping Edwards two more times in the opening 40 seconds of the second frame, and the bout was stopped.

 

With the win, the 23 year-old Bauza raises his perfect mark to 15-0 with six knockouts.

 

Edwards of Houston falls to 12-3.

 

The bout was part of the ESPN+ streamed undercard.

 

Bauza is promoted by Top Rank.

 

Photo Credit: Mikey Williams

NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – Monday, June 14, 2021

NHL Editor
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NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – Monday, June 14, 2021

THREE HARD LAPS

* The Islanders stifled the Lightning in Game 1 of their Semifinals matchup, rewriting a different outcome than their series-opening contest during the 2020 Conference Finals.

* Ryan Pulock leads all defensemen with four goals during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, three of which have stood as the game winner for New York.

* The Golden Knights and Canadiens are set to begin their Semifinals series tonight with a couple of decorated goaltenders at the helm.

ISLANDERS TURN TABLES WITH VICTORY IN GAME 1 REMATCH
After losing 8-2 in the opening game of the 2020 Eastern Conference Final against the Lightning, Semyon Varlamov and the Islanders held the defending champions off the scoreboard until the final minute of play en route to a Game 1 victory in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock provided the offense for New York, which won the 33rd one-goal game of the 2021 postseason.

* Pulock, whose four goals in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most by an Islanders defenseman since Ken Morrow (5) and Denis Potvin (8) in 1983, recorded New York’s sixth goal by a blueliner this postseason – tied with Vegas and Carolina for the most among all teams.

* Sunday’s contest marked the Islanders’ fifth victory of the postseason by a one-goal margin, tied with Montreal for the most among all teams. The only playoff years in which the franchise had more such victories are 1980 (6) and 1993 (6).

* Varlamov has allowed one or fewer goals in two of his last four outings and joined rookie teammate Ilya Sorokin as the second Islanders goaltender to record a four-game win streak this postseason.

DECORATED NETMINDERS SET TO CLASH AS STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS CONTINUE
Marc-Andre Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and 2020-21 Vezina Trophy finalist, is expected to lead the Golden Knights against Carey Price, a Hart Memorial Trophy, Vezina Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner, and the Canadiens tonight for Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena. Each goaltender also has a William M. Jennings Trophy to his name, with Fleury winning this season (with Robin Lehner) and Price claiming it in 2014-15. Montreal will be the first Canadian team to play as visitors in a game contested in the United States in 460 days.

* Fleury and Price have never started against each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their only head-to-head meeting in the postseason came in Game 1 of the 2010 Conference Semifinals when Price entered for 14:06 of relief action (3 saves on 3 shots) in place of Jaroslav Halak. In 27 all-time meetings during the regular season, Fleury also holds the edge (15-8-3, 2.57 GAA, .912 SV% & 1 SO; Price: 12-11-3, 2.91 GAA, .909 SV% & 1 SO).

* The Golden Knights netminder and native of Sorel, Que., with victories in each of his last four games, holds an all-time postseason record of 3-4 against the Canadiens (2.82 GAA, .892 SV%, 1 SO w/ PIT). He trails Mario Gosselin (7-6), Dan Bouchard (5-6), Martin Biron (4-1), Gilles Meloche (4-3) Rejean Lemelin (4-2) and Martin Brodeur (4-1) for the most wins among Quebec-born goaltenders against Montreal in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.

* Price enters the final four with a seven-game win streak dating to Game 5 of the First Round. With a series-opening victory, the native of Anahim Lake, B.C., can tie Jacques Plante (8 GP in 1960) and Bill Durnan (8 GP in 1944) for the third-longest playoff run in Canadiens history – behind only Patrick Roy (11 GP in 1993) and Ken Dryden (9 GP in 1978).

2018 TRADE COMES FULL CIRCLE
On Sept. 10, 2018, the Golden Knights sent Nick Suzuki to the Canadiens as part of a trade that saw then-captain Max Pacioretty move from Montreal to Las Vegas. Tonight, 21-year-old Suzuki and 32-year-old Pacioretty – who each have 4-4—8 this postseason – are set to step onto the ice to battle for a berth into the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

* Pacioretty (4-4—8 in 7 GP), who captained Montreal from 2015-16 to 2017-18, is set to become the second player in NHL history to serve as a full-time captain of the Canadiens and then face the club in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Doug Harvey matched up against Montreal in the 1968 Stanley Cup Final with St. Louis after wearing the “C” with his former club in 1960-61.

* Suzuki (4-4—8 in 11 GP), who assisted on each of Montreal’s two series-clinching goals this postseason, was the Golden Knights’ first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (No. 13). Suzuki has accounted for eight of 16 combined points by Canadiens players aged 21 or younger in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs (also Jesperi Kotkaniemi: 4-0—4 & Cole Caufield: 0-4—4) – tied for the fourth-highest combined total in a single postseason in franchise history. The others: 1987 (38 points), 1986 (21 points), 1973 (19 points) and 1991 (16 points).

Cubs recall RHP Trevor Megill from Triple-A Iowa, option RHP Kohl Stewart to Iowa

MLB Editor
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Cubs recall RHP Trevor Megill from Triple-A Iowa, option RHP Kohl Stewart to Iowa

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today recalled right-handed pitcher Trevor Megill from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-handed pitcher Kohl Stewart to Iowa.

Megill will wear uniform number 74 and will be available for tonight’s 6:15 p.m. CT game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Megill, 27, has appeared in two games for Chicago this season after being selected from the alternate site on April 26. He did not allow a run in 2.0 innings pitched, along with two hits, a walk, and two strikeouts. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 30 with a right forearm strain. Megill has a 9.00 ERA (5 ER/5.0 IP) along with five hits, six walks, and six strikeouts in five relief appearances with Triple-A Iowa this season.

The six-foot eight-inch Megill was selected by the Cubs in the major league portion of the 2019 Rule 5 draft from San Diego and last season spent time at the South Bend Alternate Site. He reached the Triple-A level for the first time in 2019, appearing in 32 games for El Paso and pitching to a 4.47 ERA (25 ER/50.1 IP). Originally selected by the Padres in the seventh round of the 2015 draft out of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Megill owns an 11-3 record with 10 saves and a 3.56 ERA (64 ER/162.0 IP) in 107 career minor league games, all in relief.

Stewart, 28, is 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA (8 ER/12.2 IP) in three starts for the Cubs this season. The right-hander won his first start of 2021 on May 31 against San Diego, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings.

Dodgers recall OF Luke Raley

MLB Editor
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Dodgers recall OF Luke Raley

Dodgers place INF Max Muncy on IL

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled outfielder Luke Raley from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed infielder Max Muncy on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain.

Raley, 26, returns for his fourth stint with the club after hitting .182 with one homer and two RBI in 23 games for the Dodgers. In 19 games with Oklahoma City, he hit .329 (23-for-70) with six homers and 29 RBI. In parts of five minor league seasons, he is a career .290 hitter with 52 career homers and 207 RBI. He was acquired by the Dodgers from the Minnesota Twins on February 10, 2020 along with Brusdar Graterol in exchange for Kenta Maeda and minor leaguer Jair Camargo.

Muncy, 30, left yesterday’s contest in the top of the second inning with an oblique strain after homering in the first inning. In 60 games, he is slashing .264/.418/.528 with 14 homers and 33 RBI. He is in his sixth Major League season and has hit .240 with 101 homers and 254 RBI. The 2019 All-Star was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the fifth round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft out of Baylor University.

NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – Sunday, June 13, 2021

NHL Editor
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NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – Sunday, June 13, 2021

THREE HARD LAPS

* The Islanders and Lightning begin their playoff rematch tonight as the Stanley Cup Semifinals get underway. This time, they meet as two of the NHL’s top-three scoring teams in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Nikita Kucherov continues his journey towards joining elite company as he has the chance to lead all players in points for the second time in as many postseasons.

* Semyon Varlamov puts his three-game win streak on the line and looks to become the second Islanders goaltender to earn four straight victories during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.


LIGHTNING, ISLANDERS SET TO BATTLE AGAIN FOR STANLEY CUP FINAL BERTH

Game 1 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals goes today at AMALIE Arena when Steven Stamkos and the Lightning host Brock Nelson and the Islanders. Teams that take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven hold an all-time series record of 498-226 (.688), including an 8-4 (.666) mark in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, teams that take a 1-0 lead in the Conference Finals/Semifinals own an all-time series record of 127-55 (.698).

* These two teams last met in the 2020 Conference Finals in Edmonton, with the Lightning advancing in six games. Both teams are looking to give their home fans something special in this series – Tampa Bay would like to replicate the Stanley Cup run of 2020 so it can compete for another championship, but this time with fans in the stands. New York, meanwhile, is looking to relive the dynasty days and deliver another Cup run at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the franchise’s final season playing in the building.

* Overall, the Lightning are 3-0 in three all-time postseason series against the Islanders (2020 CF, 2016 R2 & 2004 CQF) – they have twice gone on to capture the Stanley Cup after eliminating New York in a postseason series (2020 & 2004).
ISLANDERS, LIGHTNING BRING HIGH-SCORING HABITS TO SEMIFINALS

The Islanders (3.58 G/GP) and Lightning (3.45 G/GP) enter the Stanley Cup Semifinals as the second- and third-highest scoring teams in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with each benefiting from a six-goal outburst at some point during the Second Round. The only team at a higher percentage than the two clubs this postseason are the Avalanche (3.80 G/GP).

* Only four playoff years in Islanders history have witnessed the club produce at a higher rate, all of which occurred during its run of four consecutive championships: 1981 (5.39 G/GP), 1983 (4.70 G/GP), 1982 (4.47 G/GP) and 1980 (4.19 G/GP).

* New York, which scored six goals in its series-clinching win against Boston in Game 6 of the Second Round, reached the benchmark in a playoff contest for the first time since Game 4 of the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals (vs. PIT). Only one postseason in the last 30 years has featured the club tally at least six goals in a playoff game multiple times: 1993 (Game 4 & Game 6 of 1993 DF vs. PIT).

* Tampa Bay is currently producing at its highest goals-per-game rate in a single postseason in franchise history, averaging at least three goals per game in a playoff year for the third time joining 2011 (3.28 G/GP) and its Stanley Cup-winning campaign in 2020 (3.08 G/GP).

* The Lightning have scored six goals in a game twice during the 2021 postseason (Game 4 of R2 & Game 4 of R1). Only one playoff year in franchise history has featured the club achieve the feat more than two times: 2015 (3x).

POINT PRODUCERS WILL BE ON DISPLAY IN PLAYOFF REMATCH

Eleven players competing for the four teams in the Stanley Cup Semifinals have collected at least 10 points during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with nine set to be featured during the Lightning–Islanders series.

* Nikita Kucherov (5-13—18 in 11 GP) enters the Semifinals leading all players in points after also doing so during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs (7-27—34 in 25 GP). The Lightning forward can become the sixth different player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to lead the League in points in consecutive postseasons, joining Wayne Gretzky (3x: 1983-85; 2x: 1987-88), Guy Lafleur (3x: 1977-79), Mario Lemieux (2x: 1991-92), Rick MacLeish (2x: 1974-75) and Phil Esposito (2x: 1969-70).

* Brayden Point (8-4—12 in 11 GP) scored the series-clinching goal in Game 5 of the Second Round and sits tied with Nathan MacKinnon (8-7—15 in 10 GP) and Brad Marchand (8-4—12 in 11 GP) for the most goals in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Should he find the back of the net in the series opener, Point can become the sixth different player to notch a four-game goal streak in the postseason for the Lightning; Ondrej Palat (5 GP) set the franchise record in 2020.

* Josh Bailey (5-6—11 in 2021), Brock Nelson (6-4—10 in 2021) and Travis Zajac (1-1—2 in 2021) have collected the most career points in the playoffs against the Lightning by an Islanders player, each posting five points. Nelson, who netted the series-clinching goal against the Bruins, has registered a team-best 22 playoff goals since making his postseason debut in 2013 (22-17—39 in 60 GP) – seven more than the next-closest New York skater over that span (Bailey: 15-33—48 in 64 GP).

RUSSIAN GOALTENDERS KEY TO SEMIFINALS APPEARANCES
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tyumen, RUS) and Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov (Samara, RUS) lead their teams into the final four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in as many postseasons. Teammates on Team Russia during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Vasilevskiy and Varlamov have gone head-to-head in the playoffs six times (Vasilevskiy: 4-2, 1.63 GAA, .933 SV%; Varlamov: 2-3, 2.46 GAA, .921 SV%) and three times during the regular season (Vasilevskiy: 2-1, 2.02 GAA, .897 SV%; Varlamov: 1-2, 2.38 GAA, .918 SV%).

* Vasilevskiy, already the franchise leader in playoff games (69 GP) and playoff wins (41) by a Lightning goaltender, has collected two of his three career postseason shutouts in 2021 – two shutouts shy of Nikolai Khabibulin and Ben Bishop (both w/ 5) for the franchise mark. Four of Vasilevskiy’s 41 postseason victories have come against the Islanders and should the 2020-21 Vezina Trophy finalist backstop his club into the Stanley Cup Final, he would become just the third goaltender in NHL history to win eight career playoff games against the Islanders. Ken Dryden and Pete Peeters (both w/ 8) have accomplished the feat.

* Varlamov is set to put his three-game win streak on the line after teammate Ilya Sorokin recorded a stretch of four straight victories in the First Round. Should Varlamov extend his run to four contests, it would mark the third time in NHL history that a team has featured two different goaltenders post a personal win streak of four-plus contests in a single playoff year. The others: Boston in 1972 (Eddie Johnston: 6 GP & Gerry Cheevers: 4 GP) and Philadelphia in 1980 (Phil Myre: 5 GP & Pete Peeters: 5 GP).

Philadelphia Union Sign Defender Alvas Powell

MLS Editor
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Philadelphia Union Sign Defender Alvas Powell

26-year-old defender has nearly 50 caps for Jamaican National Team; 2015 MLS Cup champion

 

CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union announced today that they have signed defender Alvas Powell as a free agent to a one-year minimum senior contract. The Jamaican international joins the Concacaf Champions League semifinal-bound Union with almost eight years’ experience in Major League Soccer, including a MLS Cup winning season in 2015 with Portland Timbers.

 

Assets for Media Use: Photo of Alvas Powell

 

“We are excited to add Alvas to our defensive unit. He brings almost eight years of MLS experience to the club as well as the mentality and work ethic it takes to win a cup,” said Ernst Tanner, Philadelphia Union Sporting Director. “He has the physicality required to contribute to all phases of play and adds important depth to our backline.”

 

Powell, who holds a green card, came to Major League Soccer after spending time at Portmore United FC. He was loaned to Portland Timbers in 2013 and made a permanent transfer to the Timbers in 2015, the same year he played an integral part in the Timbers’ run to winning the MLS Cup. After spending three seasons with Portland, he went on to play at FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF. He last played at the Sudanese club Al-Hilal.

 

Internationally, Powell has been a stalwart on the Jamaican National Team, where he plays alongside Andre Blake and Cory Burke, and with whom he has earned 49 caps and scored two goals. His debut for the Reggae Boyz came in December of 2012 in the Caribbean Cup. He was also part of the championship-winning squad of the 2014 Caribbean Cup. Powell has played an important role in three of Jamaica’s Gold Cup runs, in 2015, 2017 and 2019, where he helped lead the team to two finals and one semi-final. Additionally, Powell has played in a number of World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies. In a 2019 Concacaf Nations League match, Powell scored a brace in 4-0 win over Guyana for his first international goals.

 

TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union sign defender Alvas Powell on June 10, 2021.

 

Name: Alvas Powell

Position: Defender

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 165

Born: July 18, 1994

Hometown: St. Thomas, Jamaica

Birthplace: St. Thomas, Jamaica

Citizenship: Jamaica

 

Acquired: Philadelphia Union acquire defender Alvas Powell on June 10, 2021.

 

Previous Experience: Al-Hilal, Inter Miami CF, FC Cincinnati, Portland Timbers

Noyer To Enter NCAA Transfer Portal

NCAAFB Editor
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Noyer To Enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Quarterback led CU to 4-2 Record and Alamo Bowl berth in 2020

 

BOULDER — Quarterback-turned-safety-turned back to quarterback Sam Noyer informed the University of Colorado coaching staff Monday morning that he has decided to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal, thus ending the senior/graduate’s Buffalo football career.

 

Noyer was an original member of CU’s 2016 recruiting class and redshirted that fall.  He was a backup quarterback the next two seasons before deciding to switch sides of the ball for the 2019 campaign, when he saw action at safety and on special teams.  Graduating with a degree in Strategic Communication in December of that year, at the time he had entered the transfer portal until changing his mind and returning to play quarterback after discussions with CU’s new coaching staff.  He went on to earn the starting job.

 

“Sam came back when he didn’t have to after graduating over a year ago and helped the program greatly get back on the right track,” CU head coach Karl Dorrell said.  “As a veteran, he offered us some stability and depth at the position.  We all wish him well and while we’re sad to see him leave, the parting is certainly amicable.”

 

Noyer started all six games in CU’s 4-2 season, leading the Buffs to a 4-0 start and a No. 21 national ranking at one point in earning second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors.  He completed 80-of-137 passes for 1,000 yards in the regular season, with six touchdowns and five interceptions.  He also was the team’s second leading rusher, gaining 191 yards on 45 attempts with five scores; minus quarterback sacks which the NCAA counts as rushing, he had 39 true rushing attempts for 222 yards, a healthy 5.7 yards per carry.  In the Alamo Bowl loss to Texas, he was 8-of-23 for 101 yards with an interception, with six true rushes for 26 yards.  He suffered a should injury late in the second game of the season at Stanford and it hampered him to a degree the remainder of the year.

 

“I’ve obviously enjoyed my time here at CU, and deciding to come back here was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Noyer said.  “The season was everything I thought it would be and more.  But at the same time, I didn’t finish the season well, partly due to my shoulder injury.  So now I’m looking forward to a new opportunity and a fresh start, a place where they need a veteran quarterback who has the added experience of playing on both sides of the ball.

 

“It’s not that I felt that I was needed at CU, I just want a new opportunity, hopefully in Division I and even in the Pac-12 if possible, knowing that I can compete at a high level in a power 5 conference,” he continued.  “But I am willing to go wherever I can play that will help make me better and give me an opportunity to fulfill my dream to play in the NFL.”

 

Noyer’s departure still leaves Dorrell with five quarterbacks on the roster, three on scholarship: sophomore J.T. Shrout and freshmen Brendon Lewis and Drew Carter.  Two others are walk-ons with freshman eligibility, Grant Ciccarone and Jordan Woolverton.

 

Lewis is the only player with previous experience as a Buff, seeing his first action against Texas in the bowl game and he responded by completing 6-of-10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown along with rushing nine times for 73 yards and a score.  Shrout transferred to CU from Tennessee, where he appeared in eight games (one start) over two seasons with the Volunteers, completing 37-of-69 passes for 494 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.  Last fall, he saw action in four games, going 24-of-42 for 315 yards with four touchdowns and the three interceptions.

Hammond named CoSIDA Academic All-District

NCAAFB Editor
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Hammond named CoSIDA Academic All-District

RENO, Nev. – For the first time in his career, Nevada senior defensive end Sam Hammond has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team.

This is the first academic all-district honor for Nevada since Lucas Weber earned the distinction in the fall of 2019. There have been just seven total, including Hammond, to earn the honor from Nevada. He is one of 10 to receive the recognition from around the Mountain West.

Hammond, a former walk-on from Yerington, has been with the Wolf Pack since his true freshman season in 2016. During his time at Nevada he has earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and is currently pursuing a master’s in business administration with a perfect 4.0 GPA in graduate school.

During the 2020 season Hammond posted an all-conference caliber campaign as he earned All-Mountain West second team honors. He led the team, and was ninth in the Mountain West, with 7.5 tackles for loss, and was second the team in sacks with 4.0 in eight games this year. Overall, he recorded 32 tackles (fourth on the team) and broke up a pair of passes. With one year of eligibility remaining, Hammond has totaled 85 tackles, 11.5 of which have gone for a loss, and 6.5 sacks in his career.

This award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions – NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, where first and second team All-America honorees will be selected in late June.

A-State Football’s Grupe Named CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District

NCAAFB Editor
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A-State Football’s Grupe Named CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District

JONESBORO, Ark. – Arkansas State kicker Blake Grupe was named Thursday to the 2020-21 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 6 Football Team.

 

The honor recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.  Grupe earned a first-team place in District 6, which is comprised of programs located in Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

 

Grupe earned his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in the spring of 2020 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in business administration.  He is an A-State Athletics Director’s Honor Roll and Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll member.

 

The Sedalia, Mo., native was a 2019 First Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and is a two-time member of the Lou Groza Award Watch List, including his sophomore season when he was a semifinalist.

 

Grupe enters the 2021 season with 263 career points scored, ranking as the fourth most in school history among all players and the seventh most in Sun Belt history for points by kicking.  He also has 44 career field goals made to his credit, which stand as the third most ever by an A-State player.

 

The first A-State player to be named Academic All-District since former punter Luke Ferguson in 2015, Grupe now advances to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot.  First, second and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.

PokerStars to Launch Summer Online Tournament Series in Three States

Agate Editor
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PokerStars to Launch Summer Online Tournament Series in Three States

Over the next two weeks, PokerStars will hold a series of online poker events in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with more than $2.5 million in prizes to be awarded.

The Summer Stacks Festival starts Saturday, according to a release from the Flutter Entertainment outlet. The series features 100 events with buy-ins of $100 or less, with opportunities for players to get in the action for free. In addition to the lower-cost buy-ins, the PokerStars events will use “turbo formats,” where blinds increase at a much faster pace than in typical tournaments.

The festival marks the first time PokerStars has run a series across three states at the same time. The prize pool for Michigan and Pennsylvania is $1 million each, while New Jersey players will battle for a share of $500,000.

The series wraps up on June 27 with a two-day $100 Main Event in each state. The prize pool for the Michigan and Pennsylvania Main Events is $100,000 each, and New Jersey’s will be $50,000.

Small, But Growing Market for Online Poker
Online poker is currently legal in just six states. Besides Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, the others are Delaware, Nevada, and West Virginia.

In Michigan, PokerStars is one of two providers currently operating, with BetMGM being the other. PokerStars, which launched in late January, operates statewide through an agreement with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

In New Jersey, PokerStars is one of three licensed poker sites, with BetMGM and WSOP.com. Through April, the site has generated just slightly less $3 million in revenue for the year. In 2020, PokerStars, which operates as a partner with Resorts Casino, collected $12.6 million in rakes and fees.

PokerStars is the only online operator in Pennsylvania. Through the first 10 months of the 2020-21 fiscal year, the site has generated revenues of $25.7 million. The site operates as an online partner of the Mount Airy Casino Resort.

Is Wire Act Hindering Growth?
One of the challenges online poker faces in the US is that only Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey currently participate in the shared liquidity network, which allows players from other states to play against each other. The shared liquidity agreement allowed the World Series of Poker to hold its online Main Event segments in New Jersey and Nevada.

Without that, players in Michigan and Pennsylvania can only play in games with other people currently in that state. While Michigan and Pennsylvania are larger markets, the lack of shared liquidity does depress the market.

There is a push to get other states in the shared liquidity network. But an obstacle to that is the Wire Act opinion case. That obstacle may be going away in the not-so-distant future.

In January, a federal appeals court ruled against a Wire Act opinion the Trump Administration-era Justice Department sought to establish. That opinion wanted to expand the scope of the 60-year-old federal law beyond sports betting.

A key deadline is fast approaching in the case. On March 15, the First Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mandate on its ruling quashing the appeal. According to federal law, a party in a case has 90 days to ask the Supreme Court for a review.

The deadline comes up next week.

If the Biden Administration chooses not to ask the Supreme Court for a review, it increases the chance that states will become more willing to join the shared liquidity network. That may also widen interest in online poker from other states as well.

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