Finlandia
The Finlandia University women’s hockey team has added a new recruit. Aspen Wallin is from Providence, Utah. She was the Art Teece Memorial Award-winner as a senior, as the best women’s hockey player in the state.
MTU
Michigan Tech’s Student Development Complex will begin to reopen July 13th. The initial phase will be restricted to current Tech students, with limited hours and access to the fitness center and pool. Community members will be given access sometime later. Current memberships and locker rentals are being extended accordingly. University officials say HuskiesFit group exercise classes are targeted to resume in the early fall. All previously purchased class punch cards will be accepted regardless of expiration date. Medical facilities and the pharmacy located at the SDC have continued to operate through the COVID-19 shutdown, and remain open.
NMU
Northern Michigan University athletic director Forrest Carr has gone on record supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. In a statement released by the university yesterday, Carr said the school will establish a Department of Athletics Equity and Inclusion Council to develop a comprehensive diversity plan.
MLB
The Detroit Tigers have still not announced which player they’ll choose with the first pick of the Major League Baseball draft tonight. Most observers are betting on slugging first baseman Spencer Torkelson from Arizona State. Vanderbilt outfielder and third baseman Austin Martin is the other strong contender.
The Milwaukee Brewers will have the 20th selection this evening. Rounds two through five will take place tomorrow night. The draft has been shortened this year to save teams money because of losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the players union has released a counteroffer to the owners’ latest proposal to save the 2020 season. The proposal includes an 89-game regular season, with expanded playoffs. That’s less than the 114 games in their earlier proposal, but more than the owners included in their recent counter. The players also remain adamant that they receive prorated pay based on 100 percent of their salaries. Owners want to cut that to 75 percent. Initial reaction from team owners to the new proposal has not been positive.
NFL
The Detroit Lions have reached a contract agreement with former Notre Dame defensive end Julian Okwara. He was their third-round pick in the recent National Football League draft.
Softball
The Copper Country Men’s Slow Pitch Softball League will begin its season this coming Monday. The league will field eight teams, playing a 14-game regular-season. The playoffs will take place July 25th and 26th. Organizers say the schedule will be released this weekend. For more details, click here.
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