WJPA Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected forward Liam Ruck with their top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Ruck was taken as the 22nd overall selection in the first round. The 6-foot, 174-pound forward recorded 104 points in 68 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League in 2025-26. Ruck, 18, ranked second in the WHL in points and goals and fifth in assists this past season. Ruck also tallied 12 points (8G-4A) in 14 WHL playoff games. He was named to the WHL (East) First All-Star Team. In parts of three seasons in the WHL, all with Medicine Hat, he registered 71 goals, 76 assists and 147 points in 132 career games. Then in their first pick in the second round (39th overall), the Penguins chose Ruck’s twin brother Markus.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 NHL draft pick. The 18-year-old McKenna is from Yukon’s capital of Whitehorse, has been a prolific scorer on both sides of the border, with McKenna’s selection validating the projections of the left winger being his age group’s top prospect more than two years ago. For Toronto, McKenna represents a major plank in the rebuilding process of a team suddenly in transition under new general manager John Chayka. Toronto finished last in the Atlantic Division last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since Matthews’ arrival. [AP photo]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pinch-hitter Noelvi Marte hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning after Cincinnati scored four runs off Paul Skenes in the second, and the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4. Given a 1-0 lead on Konnor Griffin’s first-inning homer, Skenes allowed RBI singles to Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson and sacrifice flies to Blake Dunn and Elly De La Cruz. Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, gave up four runs, six hits and two walks while striking out seven in five innings. His ERA rose from 2.86 to 3.10.

A Philadelphia-based data monetization company announced a partnership with 21 In Right Inc, the Clemente family entity that owns and manages the name, image, and likeness (NIL) of Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, to apply the Company& data valuation, monetization, and digital Twin technology to initiatives that build and expand the Roberto Clemente legacy. Under the agreement, 21 In Right will use Datavault AI platforms, to manage, value, and protect Roberto Clemente’s name, image, and likeness, preserve his legacy through digital Twins and digital archives, and develop new ways for fans and communities to engage with that legacy. 21 As part of the collaboration, Datavault AI and 21 In Right plan a fan activation in Philadelphia starting in July. Planned elements include interactive demonstrations of the company’s AI tools, Clemente-themed digital collectibles, and tributes to Clemente.