Sports Rundown - February 23, 2026
- Vincent Mendoza
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Seawanhaka Sports Rundown is a weekly roundup of five stories that examine developments in sports news at the local, state, national and international levels.
BY: VINCENT MENDOZA / CHIEF OF SPORTS
Team USA Hockey Team Defeats Team Canada for Gold
On the 46th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice", the United States hockey team won gold in the Olympics as Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal in three-on-three overtime over their rivals – Team Canada.
Along with Hughes, U.S. goalie Connor Helleynbuyck blocked 41 shots in regulation, with the most significant of them coming during power plays late in the second and third periods. As a collective, Team USA killed off a 93-second five-on-three power play in the second period and went 18-for-18 on penalty kills throughout the tournament.
With this victory, the United States conducted a clean sweep of Canada, as the women’s team also defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime for gold on Thursday. With the Olympics coming to an end, the NHL regular season will resume on Wednesday, February 25.
Adam Silver Looking Into Anti-Tanking Rules
On Thursday, February 19, ESPN reporter Shams Charania broke news on X, stating that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver informed the league’s 30 general managers that the NBA plans to make anti-tanking rule changes for next season.
Some of the rules to combat the issue include protections only for top-four or top-14-plus first round selections, not allowing teams to make top-four selections in consecutive years, frozen lottery odds at the trade deadline, flattened odds for all lottery teams, and a few others.
This news comes to the surprise of none, as this has been an issue for the league for quite some time, and has been highlighted by the Utah Jazz’s actions in recent weeks, shutting down Jaren Jackson Jr. for the season and benching young stars like Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George late in games.
Despite the lack of surprise, the news has sparked much debate surrounding the issue, as factors like gambling, fan experience, and competition are amongst the top of the totem pole. It will be interesting to see how the league’s general managers will strategize around the possible implementation of these anti-tanking rules.
LIU Men’s Volleyball Sweeps Merrimack
The Long Island University men’s volleyball team swept Merrimack College in straight sets Friday night, winning the first of back-to-back matchups against the Warriors.
The opening set was tightly contested, featuring 15 ties throughout. Trailing 22-21, LIU rallied behind kills from freshmen Ike Vernon and Kristóf Kövessy to reclaim the lead. With the score knotted at 24, back-to-back kills from Vernon and sophomore Owen Holowecky sealed a 26-24 victory for the Sharks to open the match.
LIU carried that momentum into the second set, building an early 11 to six advantage before going on a nine-to-one run to take full control. A service ace by Holowecky closed out the frame 25-15, giving the Sharks a two-to-nothing lead. In the third set, LIU overcame an early eight-to-seven deficit with another dominant nine-to-one run, jumping ahead 16-to-nine and cruising to a 25–15 win to complete the sweep.
Vernon led the Sharks with 13 kills, while senior Kale Spencer recorded a team-high 11 digs. Kövessy and senior Drew McNellis each tallied four total blocks to anchor the defense.
NFL Wide Receiver Rondale Moore Dies at age 25
NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore, most recently a member of the Minnesota Vikings, was found dead Saturday night in Indiana, authorities confirmed. He was 25 years old.
According to police, Moore’s death is being investigated as a suspected self-inflicted gunshot. He was discovered in the garage of a home in his hometown of New Albany, said Police Chief Todd Bailey. The case remains under investigation.
Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin said an autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, and there is no indication of any threat to the public. Additional details about the circumstances of Moore’s death were not released.
In a statement, the NFL said, “The league is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Rondale Moore. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time.”
NFL players across the league, some of which were his teammates and friends, extended their condolences to Moore’s family and friends.
Mental health is extremely significant, and people of any background can struggle with it. It is important to check on the people around us and be there to support them in any way possible. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone you trust for love and support.
Arsenal Allows Man City back into Premier League Title Finish
Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League title race is beginning to slip again, allowing Manchester City a familiar path back into contention. Despite leading the standings by five points and a single win, Arsenal’s recent stumbles have opened the door for manager Pep Guardiola and his squad, who now control their own destiny with 11 matches remaining, including a crucial home game against the Gunners.
If Arsenal falls short, it would mark the fourth consecutive season they’ve finished as runners-up, a haunting pattern for a club desperate to end its two-decade title drought. As Man City regains form, momentum appears to shift back toward Guardiola’s side, reinforced by his record of never surrendering consecutive league titles.
Comments