MacInnes Hockey Classic Opens Today – Friday Sports Wrap

Click on the highlighted scores for more game details.

High School

The annual MacInnes Holiday Hockey Classic opens today at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. 

In the JV tourney…

• Houghton will face Hancock at 11:30
• Calumet will take on Sault Ste. Marie at 1:30.

In the varsity games…

• Houghton plays Calumet at 5:30.
• Hancock meets Livonia Stevenson at 7:30.

Tomorrow, the JV consolation match will start at 11:30, and the championship game at 1:30. The varsity consolation game will begin at 5:30, and the title tilt at 7:30.

All four of the varsity games will be broadcast on KBear 102.3, with coverage beginning at 5:10 today and tomorrow.

In boys basketball today…

• Jeffers visits Westwood for a 4:30 contest.

In girls basketball, at the Negaunee Irontown Holiday Bash…

• Kingsford will take on Ludington at 3:00 in one semifinal.
• Ewen-Trout Creek will face the host Miners at 5:30 in the other.

That tournament will conclude tomorrow.

College Hockey

The Michigan Tech hockey team will have an additional goaltender when they face sixth-ranked Western Michigan University in the opening round of the Great Lakes Invitational Sunday. Ryan Manzella joins the Huskies after 11 games this season with Sioux Falls in the USHL. In those games, he held a 2.40 goals-against average, and compiled a record of 7-2-1. 

The Huskies take on the Broncos in the first GLI semifinal Sunday at 3:37 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Top-ranked Michigan State will play Northern Michigan University in the other semifinal at 7:07. The consolation and championship matches will be staged on Monday.

NBA

The Pistons overcame a 13-point deficit, and pulled out a 114-113 victory over the Kings last night. Jaden Ivey’s three-pointer from the corner tied the contest with three seconds remaining. He was fouled during the shot, and sank the subsequent free throw for the win. Cade Cunningham scored 33 points and had 10 assists.

The Pistons visit the Nuggets tomorrow night.

NHL

The Red Wings will have a new man in charge when they host the Maple Leafs tonight. Head coach Derek Lalonde and associate coach Bob Bougher were both fired yesterday. The new boss is veteran coach Todd McLellan, who has signed a multi-year contract. McLellan’s most recent job was as head coach of the Kings, where he spent five seasons before being let go in February. He’s also served as head coach of the Sharks and the Oilers, and was an assistant in Detroit from 2005 to 2008. Tren Yawney will fill the assistant coach vacancy. He served as McLellan’s assistant for five seasons in Los Angeles.

Coverage of tonight’s game will begin at 6:45 on 99.3 The Lift.

GLHL

The Portage Lake Pioneers and Calumet Wolverines will play a home-and-home series, with tonight’s contest at Dee Stadium, and tomorrow’s at the Colosseum. Both games will start at 7:30.

NFL

In last night’s NFL game…

• The Seahawks outkicked the Bears 6-3.

There are three NFL games tomorrow…

• The Patriots welcome the Chargers at 12:30.
• The Bengals host the Broncos at 4:15.
• The Rams host the Cardinals at 7:45.

All three games will be broadcast on 99.3 The Lift.

On Sunday, the Packers visit the Vikings for a 1:00 contest.

The Lions visit the 49ers for the Monday night game.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be back with the Lions for Monday’s game. Bridgewater served as the team’s backup signal caller last season, then stepped out of the NFL to coach the football team at his high school alma mater. Miami Northwest won a state title two weeks ago, and Bridgewater indicated that he would be open to returning. He’ll join second-year QB Hendon Hooker as an option should starter Jared Goff be injured.

Local Sports Broadcasts

• Tonight – Hockey – MacInnes Holiday Classic – Houghton v Calumet at 5:30; Hancock v Livonia Stevenson at 7:30. Doubleheader coverage will begin at 5:10 on KBear 102.3.
• Tomorrow – Hockey – MacInnes Holiday Classic – Consolation game at 5:30; Championship game at 7:30. Doubleheader coverage will begin at 5:10 on KBear 102.3.
• Monday – Boys Basketball – Dollar Bay-Tamarack City v Forest Park – MTU Showcase – coverage on 99.1 WIKB.

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