Bob Sutton, Author at The Rapid City Post

Montréal Canadiens' Oliver Kapanen (91), Ivan Demidov, center, and Noah Dobson (53) celebrate a goal by Sammy Blais, not shown, against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Quick strikes from Caufield and Anderson help Canadiens rally for 7-5 win over Hurricanes

January 1, 2026

Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson scored 23 seconds apart in the second period, and the Montreal Canadiens erased a two-goal deficit in beating the Carolina Hurricanes 7-5. Sammy Blais had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who have a five-game point streak after winning for the third time in four games. Nick Suzuki, Oliver Kapanen, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson also scored. Alexander Texier added two assists and Jakub Dobes made 20 saves. Sebastian Aho had two goals and three assists to become the first Carolina player with more than three points in a game this season. Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers each added a goal and two assists. Alexander Nikishin had one goal and one assist.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov watches the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Hurricanes goalie Kochetkov expected to have season-ending surgery

December 29, 2025

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov likely will miss the rest of the season after opting for surgery for a lingering lower-body injury. It’s another blow for the Hurricanes, who held the best record in the Eastern Conference at 23-11-3 entering Monday night’s game against the New York Rangers. Kochetkov is 6-2-0 this season with a 2.33 goals against average in nine outings. He has yet to undergo the surgery.

Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson (50) stuffs the puck past Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (36) for a goal with teammate Sebastian Aho and Red Wings' Moritz Seider (53) nearby during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Gostisbehere, Svechnikov post 3-point games as Hurricanes beat Red Wings 5-2, end 3-game skid

December 27, 2025

Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrei Svechnikov each had a goal and two assists and the Carolina Hurricanes snapped a season-worst three-game skid with a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night in a matchup of divisional leaders. Jackson Blake and Eric Robinson scored during the Hurricanes’ three-goal second period. Jordan Martinook, who missed the three previous games with an injury, scored his 100th career goal with an empty-netter with 1:21 to play. Brandon Bussi made 18 saves and boosted his record to 12-1-1. Michael Rasmussen and Andrew Copp scored for the Atlantic Division-leading Red Wings. John Gibson stopped 33 shots and lost for the first time in nine December outings.

Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel drives past Wake Forest guard Juke Harris (2) during the first second of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Tyler Nickel hits 8 3-pointers to lead unbeaten No. 13 Vanderbilt to blowout of Wake Forest, 98-67

December 21, 2025

Tyler Nickel hit eight 3-pointers on his way to 26 points and No. 13 Vanderbilt continued its surprise season as one of a handful of schools in the country that are still undefeated with a 98-67 win over Wake Forest. Duke Miles had 17 points and nine assists, Tyler Harris scored 14 off the bench and Devin McGlockton and Tyler Tanner scored 11 each for Vanderbilt, which holds its highest in-season ranking since 1992-93. Nickel had eight 3s for the second time in a three-game span. Myles Colvin led Wake Forest with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Juke Harris had 19 points.

Duke's Cameron Boozer (12) and Indiana State's Enel St. Bernard (10) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Cameron Boozer cracks list of great Duke freshman outings

November 14, 2025

Freshman Cameron Boozer has already made it onto a list of all-time great Duke performances in just his fourth college game. Boozer’s 35 points for the fourth-ranked Blue Devils came in Friday night’s 100-62 victory over Indiana State. That tied the second-most points in a game for a Duke freshman behind only Cooper Flagg’s 42 last season against Notre Dame. Boozer shares the 35-point freshman mark with Zion Williamson (2018-19) and Jared McCain (2023-24). Boozer’s output was one more point than Marvin Bagley III (2017-18) and J.J. Redick (2022-23) had in their first seasons with the Blue Devils.

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, left, watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

Bill Belichick says he never sought an early departure from the North Carolina job

October 13, 2025

Bill Belichick has denied reports that he’s been seeking an exit strategy from his North Carolina coaching role. Belichick says “some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that, it’s just categorically false.” Belichick was making his first public comments since a blowout loss to Clemson. During the second of two off weeks in a three-week span, the subject of Belichick’s future with the Tar Heels was a hot topic, so much so that last Wednesday the university released brief statements from the coach and athletics director reaffirming commitments between Belichick and the school.