LaSalle 2026-7 hockey schedule released

 It's mid-June, and LaSalle has finalized its 2026-7 hockey schedule. There are, as of press time, 2 open dates at Knickerbacker Arena, meaning coach Tim Flanigan is looking to schedule some teams from outside Section II to fill those dates.

The lineup:

December:

4: @ Plattsburgh.

5: vs. Beekmantown @ Plattsburgh State.

9: @ Saratoga.

12: Home opener vs. opponent TBA.

18-19: Hawks tournament at M & T Bank Mohawk Harbor Center. Mohawk Valley & Iroquois Arlen are the out-of-section opponents. LaSalle will play Iroquois Arlen on the 18th, and Mohawk Valley on the 19th.

23: @ Adirondack.

January:

2: Shenendehowa.

8: CBA.

9: @ CD Jets.

15: Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa.

16: Cadets For Vets vs. CD Jets.

22: @ CBA.

23: @ Guilderville.

29: Bethlehem.

30: Queensbury.

February:

5: @ Hawks.

6: @ Bethlehem.

12: TBA.

13: Senior Night vs. Guilderville.

Dates are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

News & notes

 7 horses are dead following an overnight barn fire near the Saratoga Casino & Raceway. The fire started around 2:30 am this morning, and is still under investigation.

As a result, today's matinee card has been cancelled.

Niskayuna has found its next varsity football coach.

Pete Furey was hired over the weekend to succeed Brian Grasdorf, who stepped down over the winter. Furey's father, John, has been coaching for more than 2 decades, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the elder Furey on the Nisky sideline this fall.

Georgia will look to avoid being eliminated from the College World Series tonight (7 pm, ESPN) after losing to Oklahoma, 4-3, on Monday. Mike O'Shaughnessy (CBA) went 0-3, striking out twice.

If Georgia defeats Texas tonight, they could see the Sooners again in an instant rematch tomorrow night.

A year ago, the now-Carolina Blaze couldn't buy a win in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Now, however, they're 4-1 after sweeping the Texas Volts, 6-5, in 9 innings on Monday. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) went 1-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored. The Blaze will hit the road on Wednesday to open a series vs. the Chicago Bandits (6 pm, CBS Sports Network, Spectrum channel 315).

News & notes

 Broom service hasn't arrived for the Tri-City ValleyCats just yet.

The NY Boulders avoided being swept Sunday night, as they pounded out 20 hits in a 19-8 win over the 'Cats in front of just over 3,000 fans at Bruno Stadium. The 'Cats hit the road this week at Quebec & Brockton before returning home on June 23.

Former Union College star Shayne Gostisbehere is a Stanley Cup champion.

Gostisbehere and the Carolina Hurricanes claimed the Stanley Cup Sunday night as the 'Canes defeated Las Vegas to win their 2nd title. Shayne started his NHL career in Philadelphia a number of years back.

Congratulations to Shayne & the Hurricanes.

Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) went 0-1 with 2 walks and a run scored, as the Carolina Blaze (3-1) took down the Texas Volts, 9-1 in 6 innings on Sunday in a game delayed from Saturday due to the Volts suffering from transportation issues in getting to Durham and the Duke campus. The conclusion of this miniseries takes place tonight at 7 on ESPN2.

At the College World Series, we're keeping an eye on Georgia's Michael O'Shaughnessy, a CBA graduate. The senior transfer from Davidson is currently hitting .287 with 20 homers and 55 RBI. The Bulldogs will play SEC rival Oklahoma in a winners' bracket game tonight at 7 (ESPN).

Basketball season is officially over in the 518, as the NY Phoenix were eliminated from the 94x50 league playoffs in a 115-95 loss to Jersey Shore on Saturday night. There's always next year.

News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats said goodbye to pitcher Nate Nabholz prior to Saturday's game vs. the NY Boulders. Nabholz, with 3 saves on the season, had his contract transferred to the San Francisco Giants, who will assign him somewhere in their farm system. Best of luck to Nate.

Then, the 'Cats gave Nabholz a going-away present in the form of a 13-5 beatdown of the Boulders on Star Wars Night at Bruno Stadium. Jake Reinisch, David Glancy, & Josh Leslie all homered, as Mason Martinez picked up his 2nd win.

The 'Cats will go for the sweep today at 5 pm.

In addition to watch parties for the just-concluded NBA Finals, they're holding watch parties here in the 518 for the FIFA World Cup, and in a most unlikely place in Albany.

Fans got to see Team USA's 4-1 win over Paraguay under the stars at Jennings Landing How cool is that? With basketball season finally over, I'd guess any future watch parties will be at MVP Arena.

The high school sports season came to an end on Saturday as well........

Softball:

Class B final:

Chatham 13, Dobbs Ferry 2. The Panthers scored 3 in the 7th to lock down the B title.

Class C:

Deposit-Hancock 4, Galway 3.

Class D:

Oakfield-Alabama 4, Windham-Ashland-Jewett 1.

A word about Windham-Ashland-Jewett. Despite being based in the boundaries of Section II, the district is in Section IV due to geographical reasons.

Like, seriously? The district is in Greene County, along with Cairo-Durham & Catskill. They play in Section IV's Delaware League, and had a breakout season. Good thing they did schedule some games against their territorial rivals, else they'd have stayed below the radar.

Baseball:

Class C:

Saratoga Catholic 4, Kendall 1.

Class D:

Duanesburg 9, Fillmore 4.

Section II closes out with 5 state titles on the day, as we'd previously reported Averill Park sweeping the Class A titles. By the way, NYSPHSAA still has AP identified as the "Warriors" instead of the current "Golden Knights". Someone's not paying attention.

News & notes

 "All good things must come to an end."-Geoffrey Chaucer.

After a narrow escape at Michigan earlier this season, the Albany Firebirds saw their 20 game win streak end at MVP Arena at the hands of the Arsenal, 57-39, on Friday night. Sam Castronovo had 4 TDs, including a rushing touchdown, but was also responsible for 4 Firebird turnovers (2 interceptions, 2 lost fumbles) that proved to be costly.

MVP Arena will host a watch party for tonight's Game 5 of the NBA finals between the Knicks & San Antonio (WTEN, 8:30 pm).

A correction from earlier this week. Last night's Mets-Braves game was not on WTEN, but instead on Apple TV. The Mets won, 7-5, behind 6 RBI from Bo Bichette. Game 2 is today at 4 on SNY.

The Tri-City ValleyCats got back on the winning track Friday, downing the NY Boulders, 7-1. Game 2 is tonight at 6:30, but good luck finding a ticket, as it's Star Wars night, and that usually is a sell-out, especially with post-game fireworks.

State regional results from Friday & today:

Women's lacrosse:

Friday:

Class A semi-final:

Penfield 18, Shaker 4.

Class B:

Victor 17, Queensbury 8. Victor went on to win the title earlier today.

Class C:

Jamesville-DeWitt 7, Burnt Hills 2.

Softball:

Friday:

Class AAA:

Lancaster 17, Saratoga 2 (6 innings). Lancaster overpowered the Lady Streaks with 12 runs in the 6th to put this one away.

Class A:

Averill Park 6, Maine-Endwell 2.

Class B:

Chatham 8, Susquehanna Valley 7.

Class C:

Galway 1, Pine Plains 0.

Class D:

Windham-Ashland-Jewett 1, Fort Ann 0.

Today:

Class A final:

Averill Park 6, Pearl River 3.

Baseball:

Friday:

Class A: 

Averill Park 9, Grand Island 0.

Class C:

Saratoga Catholic 5, Tuckahoe 3.

Class D:

Duanesburg 13, Bridgehampton 0 (5 innings).

Today:

Class A:

Averill Park 5, Plainedge 0.

News & notes

 Troy High was planning an exhibition soccer tournament for Thursday to commemorate the start of the 2026 World Cup tournament. However, the tournament was postponed in anticipation of inclement weather that didn't come until much later. It's been rescheduled for June 24, with a 1:30 start at Picken Field.

The Tri-City ValleyCats return home tonight for a series vs. the NY Boulders, weather permitting, at 6:30 pm, after the 'Cats fell to Three Rivers, 11-10, on Thursday night, snapping a 3 game winning streak. Jake Reinisch (Shen/Wake Forest) & Amani Larry homered for the 'Cats.

It was not a good day for Section II at SUNY Cortland on Thursday, as all 4 men's lacrosse teams were eliminated in the state semi-finals.'

Class A:

West Genesee 12, Shaker 5.

Class B:

Victor 17, Niskayuna 9.

Class C:

Jamesville-DeWitt 20, Burnt Hills 3.

Class D:

Marcellus 18, Schuylerville 4.

The women will have their semi-finals today, along with baseball & softball in Binghamton. Shaker sophomore Olivia Zayas, we should note, is the daughter of NYSPHSAA boss Robert Zayas, so figure he'll be at today's game.

News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats have finally won a series.

David Glancy hit his team leading 6th homer of the season, Dylan Broderick extended his hitting streak to 16 games, and Austin Dill went 7 strong innings to help the  'Cats topple Three Rivers, 7-2. The teams will close the series tonight at 6:55 pm

However, we caution ahead of time to not only bring sunscreen, but umbrellas for Friday & Sunday's games, with rain in the forecast.

MVP Arena in Albany hosted a watch party for Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Knicks rallied from a 29 point 2nd half deficit to defeat San Antonio, 107-106, setting up an opportunity to clinch the title for the first time since 1973 on Saturday. With the Firebirds playing tomorrow night instead of Saturday, the chances are MVP Arena will again host a watch party.

You probably know by now that the AUSL, with 6 teams instead of 4 as was the case last year, has decided to end the barnstorming, and each of the 6 teams have home fields this year. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) is one of the faces of the league, per ESPN promotional ads, and is back on familiar ground, as the Carolina Blaze are playing their home games at Duke's softball field in Durham, North Carolina. The Blaze are 2-0 after beating the expansion Portland Cascade, 11-2, in 5 innings on Wednesday night. Gold went 3-3 with a walk, a run scored, and 3 RBI, and is currently hitting .600 on the season, heading into the series finale tonight. The Blaze will get a day off before hosting the Texas Volts on Saturday (12 noon, ESPN). Today's game, by the way, will air on CBS Sports Network (Spectrum channel 315).