Chip Alexander

‘They control everything’: How the Dallas Stars monopolized Texas youth hockey Ice is power in the lucrative world of youth hockey. In North Texas, the Dallas Stars hold almost all of it.

The NHL's Dallas Stars bought up all the ice rinks in the Dallas metro area, in several cases got taxpayer money to build the rinks, and now control ice time for youth hockey, jacking up club fees and forcing leagues to play by their rules. Wild story.

Hurricanes prospect has new high-profile teammate at Penn State, eyes pro ranks Penn State forward Charlie Cerrato, a second-round draft pick this year, will be joined next season by Canadian phenom Gavin McKenna, projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft.

Hurricanes prospect has new high-profile teammate at Penn State, eyes pro ranks
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Inside the emotional highs and lows as Hurricanes worked to add Miller, Ehlers The Carolina Hurricanes maneuvered throughout the first days of NHL free agency period before adding two key pieces for next season’s team.

The Hurricanes woke up on July 1 with oodles of cap space and a fisftul of draft picks worried they might end up with nothing.

Over the next three days, they traded for K'Andre Miller and signed Nikolaj Ehlers ... and still have $10 million in cap space.

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Saw Usain Bolt come into a restaurant in Boston.

Divine revelations: Pope Leo XIV’s attendance at 2005 World Series leaves champion White Sox with an immaculate legacy As the Chicago White Sox honor Pope Leo XIV with an outdoor Mass on Saturday, his 2005 World Series seat has become a pilgrimage site for the faithful.

Twenty years ago, the future pope attended Game 1 of the World Series in Chicago. A television camera caught him, by chance or by fate, for about three seconds in the ninth inning.

A story about what lingers from that moment, and night, two decades later: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/11/c...

On this day in 1988, the Blues selected Rod Brind'Amour ninth overall at the NHL Entry Draft

The Hurricanes are in Washington today and I am not, but that doesn’t mean I’m not out there getting to the heart of stories that matter the most.

I will be on with the OGs postgame as usual, link to come later.

Carolina Hurricanes players averaging one baby per round in NHL playoffs Sebastian Aho’s daughter, born Friday, was the second born to a Hurricanes player this postseason. Before Game 3 of Round 1 against New Jersey, Eric Robinson also welcomed a baby girl.

Hurricanes in the playoffs so far:

Four wins
Two babies

Sebastian Aho got the series-winner Tuesday, became a first-time father Friday.

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Hurricanes’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s eye doesn’t look good. He’s lucky it still works A scary high stick to the Hurricanes’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi turned out to be a best-case scenario for the Hurricanes: The forward escaped a serious eye injury, and the Canes eliminated the Devils on the ...

Jesperi Kotkaniemi doesn't know how many stitches were needed to close the gash above his right eye, but he does know he dodged a bullet.

“The doctor went pretty fast,” Kotkaniemi said. “I wanted to get out there as fast as I could so I don’t even really know.”

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Andrei Svechnikov hat trick drew no hats in New Jersey ... but a few in Raleigh Carolina Hurricanes fans found a way to honor Andrei Svechnikov’s playoff hat trick in Game 4 on the road — at his home.

No hats for Andrei Svechnikov in North Jersey, but a few in … North Raleigh?

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With Frederik Andersen hurt, Hurricanes are Pyotr Kochetkov’s team — for now Even if Frederik Andersen is fine, Game 5 is a good time, with a 3-1 lead on the Devils, for the Hurricanes to get Pyotr Kochetkov some playoff game action.

The middle of Game 4 was not an ideal time to get Pyotr Kochetkov some action. But Game 5 is a perfect spot, regardless of Frederik Andersen’s status.

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Jacob Markstrom on his friendly fire slash that injured teammate Cody Glass: “Whatever everyone has been seeing, that's what happened. I mean, it's pretty clear-cut. And I obviously feel really bad. You never want to see a teammate hurt. It’s a situation that you know didn't have to happen.”

Why the Hurricanes’ Logan Stankoven fits in so well with captain Jordan Staal Rookie forward Logan Stankoven, acquired from the Dallas Stars in the Mikko Rantanen trade, had a pair of goals as Carolina defeated New Jersey in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Why the Hurricanes’ Logan Stankoven fits in so well on Jordan Staal's line.
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NFL mock draft on NFL.com has UNC's Omarion Hampton going No. 20 to the Broncos. We'll see.

Even Jackson Blake can’t believe where Jackson Blake is now with the Hurricanes Eleven months ago, Jackson Blake was just a kid observing the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs. As this postseason begins, he’s a key member of the team.

Eleven months ago, Jackson Blake was just along for the ride, watching the Hurricanes in the playoffs. Even he couldn’t see this coming.

Blake hasn’t exceeded expectations this season so much as smashed them, in part because there were basically none this soon.

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UNC football coach Bill Belichick caps spring session with ‘Practice Like A Pro’ day North Carolina football held its final spring practice in front of fans on the newly turfed grass field at Kenan Stadium.

UNC football coach Bill Belichick caps spring session with ‘Practice Like A Pro’ day
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Carolina Hurricanes announce long-awaited signing of top defensive prospect The Hurricanes’ third-round draft pick in 2020 played for SKA in the Russian pro league, but has had his contract terminated, allowing him to come to NHL.

Hurricanes announce long-awaited signing of top defensive prospect Alexander Nikishin
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How Carolina Hurricanes newcomer Logan Stankoven uses his size to his advantage Acquired in the trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to Dallas, Logan Stankoven stood up to Capitals forward Tim Wilson, defending a teammate in a chippy game against Washington.

Should be an interesting game tonight in DC with Canes-Caps. Some pregame reading on a player who starred in last week's game:
Don't let Logan Stankoven's (lack of) size deceive you
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Campbell finally gets its man, three weeks and a national title after it hired him Thirty-six hours after he was taking the NCAA championship trophy on a boat ride down the San Antonio River Walk, John Andrzejek was introduced as the new head coach at Campbell.

Campbell, in a league with Northeastern, Drexel and UNC Wilmington, has to find an edge somewhere. Why not grab a branch of college basketball’s most analytics-focused coaching tree and take a big swing?

Enter John Andrzejek, 32, and his piece of Florida's net.

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Selling Cooper Flagg, Duke’s very model of a modern college basketball superstar For decades, college athletes had to not only refuse commercial opportunities but pretend they didn’t exist. Now, everyone can cash in, but no basketball player has cashed in like Duke’s Cooper Flagg.

It’s an interesting moment to be a college basketball star.

After decades when they had to not only refuse commercial opportunities but pretend they didn’t exist, anyone and everyone can cash in.

But no one has cashed in like Cooper Flagg.

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Honored this week to begin a new chapter at the Chicago Tribune, where I’ll be a Senior Reporter on the GA/enterprise team. In other words:

I’ll be looking for great stories all over Chicago and Illinois. Excited to get to work in America’s best and most compelling city.

Tar Heels, after loss to No. 1 Duke, must play the waiting game until NCAA selections UNC guard RJ Davis insists Tar Heels’ play down the stretch and showing in ACC Tournament warrants spot in the NCAA field.

Tar Heels, after loss to No. 1 Duke, must play the waiting game until NCAA selections
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Welcome to Carolina: Hurricanes newest additions score in home win over Winnipeg Jets Mark Jankowski and Logan Stankoven each scored and Frederik Andersen was stout in net to lead the Hurricanes to a fourth straight win.

Welcome to Carolina: Hurricanes newest additions score in home win over Winnipeg Jets
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‘Starting fresh’: Why Hurricanes newcomer Logan Stankoven could fit in quickly — and well Young forward Logan Stankoven was sent to Carolina as part of the trade that had forward Mikko Rantanen moving to the Dallas Stars.

Starting fresh’: Why Hurricanes newcomer Logan Stankoven could fit in quickly — and well
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‘I want to see them again’: UNC turns gaze to ACC Tournament, potential Duke rematch UNC guard R.J. Davis said the Tar Heels will take the approach they can win in Charlotte, get in the NCAA tournament and make a run.

‘I want to see them again’: UNC turns gaze to ACC Tournament, potential Duke rematch
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Why the Hurricanes traded Mikko Rantanen after 13 games, and what’s next in Carolina The Hurricanes made a big splash acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in January. Friday, the Canes flipped Rantanen to the Dallas Stars.

Why the Hurricanes traded Mikko Rantanen after 13 games, and what’s next in Carolina
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Five, and still alive: Three takeaways from UNC basketball’s home win over lowly Miami Six UNC players scored in double figures as the Tar Heels spread the wealth — and the minutes — in a methodical home win over Miami.

Five, and still alive: Three takeaways from UNC basketball’s home win over lowly Miami

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‘More comfortable every day’: Mikko Rantanen stars as Carolina Hurricanes top Sabres On Whalers night at Lenovo Center, Mikko Rantanen slipped into a different sweater and turned in his first multi-point game with the Canes.

ICYMI: More comfortable every day’: Mikko Rantanen stars as Carolina Hurricanes top Sabres
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The way NC State plays in big games at Reynolds, it feeds the mojo as much as feeds off it N.C. State went shot for shot with No. 1 Notre Dame, staring the Irish down through two overtimes for a 104-95 win and another raucous Reynolds Coliseum celebration.

Last week’s loss in Chapel Hill? Forgotten. N.C. State’s championship pedigree? Reinforced. Notre Dame’s undefeated ACC record? Blemished. Reynolds Coliseum? Raucous.

The Wolfpack stared down the top-ranked Irish through two overtimes until ND blinked, 104-95.

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‘Back to business’: Four Hurricanes rejoin team hoping to make run at division lead Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen were back at practice after the 4 Nations Face-Off, while Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin joined the team later, Jarvis with a medal.

‘Back to business’: Four Hurricanes rejoin team after 4 Nations hoping to make run at division lead
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