WJPA Sports

The NHL has cleared the Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospective buyer.  U.S.-based Hoffmann Family Companies announced THIS WEEK that it had received unanimous approval from the NHL Board of Governors to acquire the team.  In a release, the company said the transaction is expected to close “imminently.” Financial terms were not disclosed.  George Hoffmann will serve as the team’s governor, alongside alternate governors Greg Hoffmann, CEO of the HF Companies’ real estate arm; Kyle Dubas, Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations; and David Hoffmann, founder and chairman of HF Companies.  HF Companies would take ownership from Fenway Sports Group, which purchased the Penguins in 2021 for $900 million from Ron Burkle and Lemieux.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cole Young hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning in his first major league game in his hometown to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 22-year-old second baseman’s drive into the right-field bleachers kept the Mariners in first place in the AL Wes. Young grew up in Pittsburgh’s suburbs. The Mariners’ other run came in the fourth inning when Cal Raleigh led off with a solo shot. The Pirates took a 2-0 lead on an RBI single by Marcell Ozuna in the second inning and a throwing error in the third.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona. Griffin has been sidelined since May 31 with a right forearm strain. He made his major league debut with the Pirates on April 3 and was signed to a nine-year, $140-million contract five days later. Griffin, 20, is hitting .270 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 51 games this season. The Pirates do not have a timetable for when Griffin will be activated. Further imaging on right-hander Jared Jones’ right elbow revealed no damage. He was hit on the elbow by a line drive Sunday.

Brendan Sorsby will have to wait until 2027 to begin his NFL career. The NFL informed the 22-year-old quarterback on Tuesday that it will not hold a supplemental draft this year, and encouraged him to focus on preparing for possible entry into the league through the regular draft next year. The league told Sorsby of its decision in a letter that was obtained by The Associated Press. Sorsby had applied for the supplemental draft after a legal battle with the NCAA, which had declared him ineligible for making thousands of bets on sporting events worth at least $90,000 during his college career.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Washington Wizards selected forward AJ Dybantsa, who led the nation in scoring in his one season at BYU, with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, highlighted by a 43-point effort that broke BYU’s freshman scoring record. At 6-foot-9 and 217 pounds, Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, who happens to be his favorite player. Durant grew up in the Washington area, and Wizards fans can only hope Dybantsa can live up to the comparisons.