Home Blog

Bracket revealed for 2024 NCAA men’s hockey tournament

0

The road to the Frozen Four has been paved.

After the 16-team field for the 2024 NCAA men’s hockey tournament was finalized on Saturday, the official matchups and schedule were released on Sunday during ESPN’s selection show.

Boston College secured the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Boston University as the second seed, the University of Denver as the third, and Michigan State as the fourth, making them the top seeds in their respective regionals.

In regional play, the No. 1 seed faces the No. 4 seed, while the No. 2 seed competes against the No. 3 seed. The winners of those matchups then advance to face each other in another regional game, with that winner then moving on to the Final Four.

Regional play begins on Thursday and concludes on March 31. The Frozen Four will take place April 11-13 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Several top prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft will be featured in the tournament, including projected first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini of Boston University. Other featured prospects from Sportsnet’s latest draft rankings include Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State) and Zeev Buium (Denver).

The 16 teams also feature many prospects already drafted to the NHL, such as Anaheim Ducks prospect Cutter Gauthier (Boston College); Arizona Coyotes prospect Michael Hrabal (UMass); Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Gavin Brindley (Michigan); Chicago Blackhawks prospects Frank Nazar (Michigan), Oliver Moore (Minnesota) and Sam Rinzel (Minnesota); Minnesota Wild prospect Charlie Stramal (Wisconsin); San Jose Sharks prospect Will Smith (Boston College); Washington Capitals prospect Ryan Leonard (Boston College) and Winnipeg Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty (Michigan).

Isiah Kiner-Falefa on his favorite moment during Yankees tenure

0

TAMPA — In the wake of DJ LeMahieu’s bone-bruised foot jeopardizing his Opening Day availability, the Yankees probably could use a Gold Glove third baseman like the one they played all over the field last season.

But Isiah Kiner-Falefa is now with the Blue Jays on a two-year, $15 million pact after two odd seasons in The Bronx that featured boos, a disappointing stint at shortstop and a rarely seen recovery, in which a player the fans turned on won back much of that fan base.

When Kiner-Falefa looks back on his two years with the Yankees, the first memory that comes to mind is not the 2022 jeers.

His mind does not go immediately to a strange 2023, when he was a rare bright spot playing just about everywhere for a team that disappointed.

The moment that jumps out occurred June 14 of last year when he kept edging off third base against the Mets, and reliever Brooks Raley didn’t see him.

Kiner-Falefa took off and stole home, the first Yankee to do so in nearly seven years.

“I loved stealing home,” Kiner-Falefa said this weekend before the Yankees beat his Blue Jays, 10-9, at Steinbrenner Field. “That Subway Series felt bigger than any playoff game I’ve played.”

Kiner-Falefa grew up a Yankees fan in Hawaii and lived his actual dream, becoming the club’s shortstop in 2022 after a March trade, but he struggled defensively and did not hit enough as he became a focal point of fan anger.

Kiner-Falefa eventually lost his spot during the playoffs, and Anthony Volpe took over the following season.

Yet, Kiner-Falefa went from enemy to fan favorite as he transitioned to a super-utility player who proved he can handle any infield or outfield spot.

He played most often in center field but saw time everywhere besides catcher and first base.

For an offense that underwhelmed in virtually every facet, Kiner-Falefa was solid if not spectacular (.646 OPS in 113 games) while consistently making contact — a rare trait on the team.

“Biggest blessing ever, man,” a bearded Kiner-Falefa said about his time with the Yankees. “Having the experience to play in New York is just — it goes so far. Things that maybe I would learn in five, 10 years, I was able to learn in two years with that experience. … Being able to learn from those guys has helped me so much.”

Kiner-Falefa is playing with a Toronto team with a younger batch of stars and a more open path toward playing time.

IKF said he is getting reps all over, but it is appearing as if he will be the everyday third baseman.

Saturday made for a very New York-tinged scene, as he and non-roster invite Eduardo Escobar took turns at third base before the game, throwing across the diamond to non-roster invite Daniel Vogelbach.

After a 2023 season that he appreciated but was filled with sporadic playing time, Kiner-Falefa is happy.

“It’s nice to get in the lineup,” IKF said. “That’s the biggest thing for me, is just getting a chance. I’m pretty excited.”

Rays acquire C Ben Rortvedt from Yankees in 3-team deal

0

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired catcher Ben Rortvedt from the New York Yankees as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Miami Marlins. The Rays will be sending outfielder Shane Sasaki, who was recently voted the 27th best prospect in the system by the Draysbay community, to the Marlins; meanwhile, the Marlins and Yankees are swapping infielder Jon Berti for pitcher John Cruz.

Considered an elite defender, Rortvedt has gotten limited playing time over the last two seasons — 2022 with the Twins, and following a trade, 2023 with the Yankees — due to various injuries. He’s got serious power, having topped out at 111 mph EV, and is generally a low-chase, pull hitter from the left side.

Rortvedt is out of minor league options, but appeared to be third on the Yankees depth chart after former first rounder Austin Wells and the return of former primary catcher Jose Trevino from injury. NJ.com interviewed Yankees director of catcher Tanner Swanson, a former Twins coach who was an early adopter of coaching one-knee down and pitch framing, on Rortvedt’s situation earlier this week:

SunChips Debuts an Ecplise-Inspired Bag of Chips with 2 Flavors In It

0

America’s gearing up for this spring’s total solar eclipse. And like anything American, there will be themed snacks to accompany the event.

In honor of the celestial occurrence, SunChips is releasing a never-before-seen bag of chips that’s truly unlike any other crunchy snack on the market (at least, on this planet).

The special edition cosmic chip offers two flavors in one bag, a new mash-up that echoes the sun and moon in synchronicity. SunChips Solar Eclipse Limited-Edition Pineapple Habanero and Black Bean Spicy Gouda chips are created to mirror bright sunny skies and the cheesy moon. The chips are packaged in a limited edition 2024 bag that may be a social media trophy to those who can acquire the exclusive snack. And in case you were wondering, the special chips are space traveler-endorsed.

SunChip’s limited edition, very niche snack is being released in partnership with astronaut Kellie Gerardi, whose social media videos of accomplishing her dreams and traveling to space have made her the most viral astronaut in the universe — and probably beyond.

“As a researcher and astronaut with a love for all things space, I can’t wait to celebrate this exciting event with SunChips,” Gerardi said in a news release. “Total solar eclipses are rare and special events, and I hope people can take a moment out of their busy daily life to pause and enjoy the incredible sight.”

Like anything rare and cool, the special SunChips flavor will be offered via an exclusive drop.

During the total solar eclipse on April 8, SunChips will offer a giveaway for the entirety of the four-minute and 27-second event. When the eclipse starts at 2:33 p.m. CT in the southwestern U.S., chip fans can glance away from the sky (those not in the path of totality can take advantage) and visit SunChipsSolarEclipse.com to try and order a bag of the new flavor while supplies last.

“SunChips harnesses the power of the sun for its unique flavor and goodness, so there’s no better moment to spotlight this snack than during the extraordinary solar eclipse,” Rhasheda Boyd, vice president of marketing at Frito-Lay, said in a news release. “With this exclusive flavor drop, fans who get their bag during the moment of totality will have the opportunity to continue celebrating the eclipse even after the rare event is over.”

Ara: History Untold for Xbox won’t be talked about before it has launched for PC

0

One of the more interesting upcoming strategy games this year is Oxide Games’ Ara: History Untold. We already know that it will be released for PC and Xbox Series S/X this fall, and that it is a Game Pass title starting day one. But recently, the team has mainly talked about the PC version, and there is a perfectly good reason for this.

Ara: History Untold will be a PC exclusive game when it is released, and the developer’s won’t talk about the Xbox edition before the game has been launched. This is confirmed in a Steam post that reads:

“Oxide Games is laser-focused on delivering a top-notch PC-first experience, with Ara slated for Windows, Steam, and PC Gamepass later this year. Plans for Xbox consoles will be revealed post-launch!”

The reason for this should be obvious, but the developers explains in an accompanying video that “the history of the player base and genre” is the basis for this decision.

Score Lifetime Access to Microsoft Project 2021 for Only $25

0

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is over, but there are plenty of deals lingering — for now.

Amazon’s first-ever Big Spring Sale is over, but many of the best deals are still running. So if the official sale dates passed you by, you still have an opportunity to snag excellent deals on electronics, clothing, tools and home essentials — but these deals could expire at any moment. We’ve gathered our favorite deals still remaining from the sale below to give you the best chance of bagging a bargain.

And if you’re not looking to spend big or you just have a few bucks left over in the budget, check out our roundup of the Big Spring Sale deals under $25 or the deals CNET readers enjoyed most from the sale. We’re also continuing to deliver the best deals directly to subscribers of our Cheapskate daily deals newsletter and texting service.

Berkeley to Spearhead $300M UV Mapping Mission

0

NASA’s decision to launch an ambitious space telescope mission in 2030, with a budget of $300 million, marks a significant leap in our understanding of the ultraviolet universe. The mission, named UVEX (UltraViolet EXplorer), will be the first to perform a comprehensive survey of the ultraviolet (UV) sky, offering new insights into the evolution of galaxies and stars over time.
Managed by the Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) at the University of California, Berkeley, UVEX will be under the scientific guidance of Fiona Harrison, a distinguished UC Berkeley alumna and a current professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology. This mission is set to complement existing and upcoming astronomical surveys across other wavelengths, including the European Space Agency’s Euclid mission and NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, thereby enriching our multi-wavelength understanding of the cosmos.

UVEX’s groundbreaking all-sky UV survey aims to shed light on hot, massive stars, many of which form binary systems. Such systems are crucial for understanding stellar evolution, as the more massive star often strips material from its companion, exposing its UV-emitting core. This process, along with the mapping of “stripped” stars in nearby galaxies, will be a focal point of the mission.

Additionally, UVEX will be equipped with a UV spectrograph, collaboratively developed by UC Berkeley and Caltech. This instrument will capture detailed spectra of massive stars and supernovae, providing invaluable data on the life cycle of stars and the formation of galaxies.

Daniel Weisz, a science team leader for UVEX and an associate professor of astronomy at UC Berkeley, emphasized the mission’s innovative capacity to cover the entire sky from UV to infrared wavelengths. This unprecedented scope will allow scientists to study transient UV light sources, such as the aftermath of neutron star mergers, which are often associated with gravitational wave events.

The mission’s focus extends to low-mass galaxies, which are challenging to study using traditional optical or infrared telescopes due to their faintness and the redshifting of their UV emissions. Weisz highlighted UVEX’s sensitivity to these galaxies, aiming to map out their distribution and thereby enhance our understanding of dark matter distribution in the local universe.

UC Berkeley’s extensive involvement in UVEX, including contributions from professors and researchers specializing in various aspects of astrophysics, underscores the university’s leading role in space science research and mission implementation. The mission’s delayed launch to 2030, due to budgetary constraints, reflects the ambitious scale of this endeavor, which requires extensive preparation to ensure its success.

As UVEX prepares to join the ranks of significant space missions, it promises to revolutionize our understanding of the universe, from the genesis and evolution of binary stars to the detailed study of supernovae. Its launch will mark a significant milestone in UV astronomy, expanding our view of the cosmos in unparalleled detail.

Crews prepare for final launch of Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral

0

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Delta IV Heavy is part of a family of rockets that have long served the Department of Defense and NASA.

Delta IV Heavy is on the launch pad now at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and is ready for its last launch ever

The heavy lift mission will be carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office with launch partners the U.S. Space Force and United Launch Alliance.

The swan song for the Delta IV Heavy rocket comes after a decades-long role in mostly secretive surveillance payloads, just like this final mission.

It’s always a spectacular launch to watch, thanks to 2.1 million pounds of thrust and an interesting quirk that makes it look like the rocket is on fire just before liftoff.

“This is one last chance to put up some national security, critical payload for the Space Force, the NRO. So, we are really looking forward to it. Like you say, bittersweet departure of a legacy. But we have Vulcan coming down the road, so we have a big future ahead,” said Ron Fortson, ULA’s director of launch operations.

ULA leadership says that the Delta program has played a large role in the creation of its next-generation rocket, Vulcan.

And after a successful inaugural launch in January, ULA says the transition from legacy rockets to next-gen will be done seamlessly.

Ahead of Thursday’s 1:40 p.m. launch, teams are keeping a very close eye on clouds and ground-level winds.

Full cast announced for Romeo and Juliet with Tom Holland

The Jamie Lloyd Company has announced the full cast for its upcoming West End production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, starring Tom Holland.

Holland (Romeo) is joined by Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, whose acting credits include Bad Education (BBC), Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Antigone (Mercury Theatre), as Juliet.

The cast is completed by Freema Agyeman (Nurse), Michael Balogun (Friar), Tomiwa Edun (Capulet), Mia Jerome (Montague), Daniel Quinn-Toye (Paris), Ray Sesay (Tybalt), Nima Taleghani (Benvolio) and Joshua-Alexander Williams (Mercutio), Callum Heinrich and Kody Mortimer (Camera Operators).

Romeo and Juliet, which is directed by Jamie Lloyd, opens at the Duke of York’s Theatre, on 23 May, with previews from 11 May, and runs until 3 August 2024.

Holland said today: “Beyond excited to announce our cast for Romeo and Juliet. I can’t wait to get started and I know we’ll create something really special together.”

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers added: “I’m so grateful to be making my West End debut as Juliet with The Jamie Lloyd Company. It’s a dream to be joining this team of incredible artists with Jamie at the helm. I’m excited to bring a fresh energy to this story alongside Tom, and to welcome new audiences to the theatre.”

Zoe Saldaña takes on new role in “The Absence of Eden,” directed by husband Marco Perego

Zoe Saldaña is known for starring in big sci-fi franchises like “Avatar,” Star Trek” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Now, she’s taking on a new role, playing an undocumented immigrant who flees her home in Mexico for sanctuary. The film, “The Absence of Eden,” is directed and co-written by her husband, Marco Perego.

The movie does not take a political stance, the couple says, as it showcases the polarizing issue of immigration.

“I was really proud of him, that out of all the subjects that he could be, you know, building a story around, he chose immigration and the angle of humanity, which keeps us very neutral, but also keeps us in the form of art of telling stories that are compelling about human beings, about people,” Saldaña said.

The inspiration for Perego started with a personal project in 2016. He created a sculpture about immigrant children who died traveling from Syria to Italy. Perego collected 714 pairs of shoes to represent those children and filled them with concrete. It is now in a museum in Vancouver, Canada.

“For me it was, okay, how I can talk about humanity in more of a global aspect,” he said.

Perego spent two years researching and traveling to help tell this story for “The Absence of Eden.” He traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border with his co-writer multiple times.

“My biggest goal was to be as honest as possible when I was telling the story,” he said.

Saldaña explained it wasn’t only about sitting down with people who have been compelled to cross the border.

“It’s also people who work in law enforcement that have a duty to fulfill and sometimes that conflicts with their moral code or how they’re feeling in the core about what they’re doing.”

Saldaña said they may be uncomfortable conversations, but she thinks it’s important to have all sides to properly understand the issue.

“I feel like the issue of immigration has been an ongoing issue,” she said. “I think that what’s important in my opinion is for us not to forget as Americans that this nation was founded by immigrants.”

As for working on set as husband and wife for the first time, the couple joked about a few moments they disagreed.

“When she speaks Spanish, I’m in trouble,” Perego joked.

As time progressed, Saldaña said, the two found a working rhythm.

“I feel like the more experience we have, it’ll continue to get better and better,” Saldaña said.

“The Absence of Eden” hits theaters on April 12.