MONDAY SPORTS: PRO BOWL, MCEWEN TO REP SASK, DUB & MORE

NFL PRO BOWL GAMES

The Pro Bowl Games concluded with NFC and AFC stars competing in a flag football game that gave fans and a national television audience glimpses of what the soon-to-be Olympic sport could look like with such highly skilled athletes on the field. The NFC defeated the AFC 64-59, with the final score determined by combining points from today’s game with those accumulated by each conference over two days of skills challenges. 

CURLING

Mike McEwen is a veteran of Canadian men’s curling championships, but he’ll skip Saskatchewan for the first time at the Brier. McEwen’s rink claimed Saskatchewan’s provincial men’s title Sunday with a 7-3 win over Ryan Kleiter in Saskatoon. McEwen skipped Manitoba at the Brier seven straight years from 2016 and 2022 and also skipped Ontario in 2023. His foursome will represent the host province March 1st to 10th in Regina.

WHL

Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats broke a two-game skid with a 7-6 shootout win over the Red Deer Rebels on Sunday inside the Brandt Centre.

Braxton Whitehead and Tanner Howe scored in the shootout, with Howe getting the winner, lifting the Pats to their 14th victory on home ice and 18th overall.

Tye Spencer (2G-1A) and Tye Gibson (3A) led the way with three point games, while Ewan Huet picked up his ninth win of the season. Tanner Howe (1G-1A), Zach Moore (1G-1A), Sam Oremba (1G-1A) and Braxton Whitehead all chipped in with multi-point games while Zackary Shantz scored his first career short-handed goal.

(ReginaPats.com)

Elsewhere in the DUB on Sunday:

COUGARS 5 BLAZERS 3

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Zac Funk and Carlin Dezainde each scored twice and Keaton Dowhaniuk added three assists as the Prince George Cougars defeated the visiting Kamloops Blazers 5-3 on Sunday in Western Hockey League action at the CN Centre.

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BLADES 3 WHEAT KINGS 1

SASKATOON, Sask. — Egor Sidorov scored twice as the Saskatoon Blades outlasted the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings 3-1.

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HITMEN 8 OIL KINGS 1

CALGARY, Alta. — Carson Wetsch scored three goals and Ben Kindel added four assists as the Calgary Hitmen blitzed the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings 8-1.

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SILVERTIPS 6 WILD 1

EVERETT, Wash. — The Everett Silvertips spotted the visiting Wenatchee Wild and early power-play goal then stormed back with six unanswered goals en route to a 6-1 victory.

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WINTERHAWKS 5 AMERICANS 2

PORTLAND, Ore. — Gabe Klassen and Tyson Jugnauth each had a goal and assist, James Stefan chipped in with three assists and the Portland Winterhawks beat the visiting Tri-City Americans 5-2.

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THUNDERBIRDS 5 ROYALS 3

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Seattle Thunderbirds scored the first three goals of the game then held on to beat the visiting Victoria Royals 5-3.

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CHIEFS 8 ROCKETS 5

SPOKANE, Wash. — Berkly Catton and Carter Streek each scored twice as the Spokane Chiefs defeated the visiting Kelowna Rockets 8-5.

NHL

• The NHL returns to business Monday night with two games on the schedule, including one in Toronto between the Maple Leafs and visiting New York Islanders. The Leafs have won three in a row, while the Islanders have dropped three straight. Elsewhere, the New York Rangers host the Colorado Avalanche, who have won three straight and lead the Central Division.
• Jesse Puljujarvi signed a two-year, 1.6-million-dollar (U-S) contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday. The 25-year-old forward, who signed a professional tryout with the Penguins on December 10th, could make his debut against the Winnipeg Jets. It would be his first NHL game since he had bilateral hip surgery this off-season.

SUPER BOWL

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Super Bowl opening night evolved into a wacky, circus-like spectacle long before Las Vegas had a chance to host the NFL’s biggest game.

There’s no telling how wild it’ll be for Sin City’s media extravaganza.

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are in town and they’ll officially kick off the festivities Monday night at Allegiant Stadium when they meet with thousands of media members from across the globe.

The event is open to fans who purchased tickers and it’ll be the first and only public appearance this week for every player and coach from the two teams.

They’ll field questions ranging from serious to silly. They’ll be asked to discuss personal topics and to participate in goofy skits.

This is where a female reporter once showed up in a wedding dress veil and proposed to Tom Brady. Back then, it was called media day and took place on Tuesday.

Now, it’s live on national television in prime time.

More than 6,000 media members from 26 countries are accredited to cover the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas and related events onsite in the gambling capital of the world. Some will show up to opening night dress in costumes with no intention of talking about anything that’ll happen on the field.

NFL

Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick took out a full-page newspaper ad to thank Boston fans for their support during his time on the New England sideline. The ad that ran in today’s Boston Globe includes an image of Belichick overlooking a large crowd. Belichick coached the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships and 17 AFC East titles in a 19-year span. Belichick thanked fans for their passion and even poked fun at his reputation as an NFL grouch.

(RP.com Wire Services)