標籤: announced

On Monday, it was announced that the Carolina Hurricanes will participate in the 2026 NHL Global Series for the first time since the program’s inception in 2017. The overseas trip will take them to Helsinki, Finland to face the Seattle Kraken, home of the Sautéed Reindeer and Nokia.

The Hurricanes will play both games against the Kraken in Finland next season, the first on November 12 at 12 pm EST (7 pm local time) and the second on November 14 at 1 pm EST (8 pm local time). Both games will be played at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, home of Jokerit of the SM-liiga.

If that team looks familiar to you, it’s probably because of longtime Hurricanes player Teuvo Teravainen. In 2023, he joined the ownership group to help bring the team back to the Finnish League after nearly 10 seasons in the KHL.

Although this will be the first time that this generation of Hurricanes has played an NHL game in Finland, it will not be a first for the franchise.

During the 2010 NHL Premier Series, the Hurricanes played the Minnesota Wild in the same building (then called Hartwall Arena), where they won both games.

Additionally, two other games have been announced for the 2026 Global Series, featuring the Chicago Blackhawks vs. the Ottawa Senators on December 18 and 20 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The 2026 NBA Draft is still a few months away, but there is already a general sense of what the first round of the draft might look like. Mexico’s Kareem Lopez, a projected first-round pick, who is currently playing in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia, recently announced his intention to enter the upcoming NBA draft, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“Playing in the NBA has been my dream and my goal my entire life,” Lopez said. “Honestly, I remember. I was probably 5 years old, drawing pictures of myself playing in the NBA… You know, it’s pretty special to be in this position right now.”

While Kareem Lopez is expected to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft, what is even more important for the NBL forward is that he is on track to become the first Mexico-born player to be selected in the first round of the draft.

The first round has included players of Mexican descent before, such as Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., none of whom were born in Mexico. Lopez is on track to become the first Mexican-born player since Eduardo Nájera.

Nájera was selected 38th overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. He played 12 years in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and Charlotte Bobcats.

Lopez has played the past two seasons in the NBL, opting to take the professional route instead of playing college basketball. In recent years, players such as LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddy, AJ Johnson, Alex Sarr, Ousmane Dieng and Ryan Rupert have used the NBL’s Next Stars program as a starting point before entering the NBA Draft.

Philippe Coutinho’s story after leaving Aston Villa did not end as smoothly as many might have expected.

The Brazilian midfielder is now officially without a club after his contract with Vasco da Gama expired, according to the Brazilian FA’s daily bulletin this week.

brazilian outlet metropolitan cities The cancellation was initially confirmed on Monday. Announced on 20 FebruaryNow fully registered. As a result, the 33-year-old is a free agent and is free to negotiate with any club.

For Aston Villa, the transfer saga came to an end last year. Coutinho is working hard to return to Vasco in 2024, the club where he started his career. Villa agreed a loan in July 2024 and until July 2025 This move became permanent At zero cost.

However, less than a year after that definitive change, the move has effectively collapsed.

Ended suddenly after public pressure

Coutinho requested unilateral termination earlier this month. Vasco confirmed that they have reached an amicable agreement after respectful negotiations.

In his second spell at Vasco, Coutinho made 81 appearances, scoring 17 goals and providing seven assists. In 2025 alone, he made 56 appearances – the highest single season total of his career. He was one of the top artists in the country At one point last seasonBut things have deteriorated rapidly.

Brazilian reports have described growing frustration and mental stress, particularly after Vasco’s Copa do Brasil final defeat in December and the slow start to their state championship campaign this year. He was not performing well above expectations especially for at least the last four months.

The turning point came after a match against third division team Volta Redonda. He was booed by a section of the home fans as he walked down the tunnel at half-time. He did not return until the second half.

Shortly thereafter, he issued a personal statement. “With a heavy heart, I understand it is time to take a step back and end this cycle at Vasco.” He has written. He also admitted: “The truth is that I am very mentally exhausted.”

What does this mean for Aston Villa

From Aston Villa’s perspective, the financial chapter closed in 2025 when a permanent deal was agreed at zero cost. The hope was that the player would have found stability at home after leaving the Premier League. Instead, returns were disclosed within 18 months.

Coutinho is now back on the open market. For Aston Villa, the transfer has long been finalized, and there is no known clause on the sale that they are missing out on. Yet the broader narrative about his departure and subsequent struggles adds an unfortunate epilogue to a move based on emotions.

A chapter that began with a determination to leave Villa Park has now ended in free agency and uncertainty.