JOHN WAWROW Hockey Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Laila Edwards, the first Black woman to suit up for Team USA women's Olympic hockey, participates in a practice, in a rink where she played youth hockey in the past, in Strongsville, Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Laila Edwards enjoys homecoming; prepares to make Olympic debut as USA Hockey’s first Black female

January 22, 2026

Laila Edwards is set to make history as the first Black female to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey. Before heading to Milan, Italy, next month, the 21-year-old Edwards enjoyed a memorable homecoming in Cleveland. In November, the forward-turned-defender played in a Rivalry Series game against Canada, while having a chance to reconnect with her family. U.S. captain Hilary Knight refers to Edwards as the future of the sport. Her journey included leaving Cleveland at 11 to develop her skills in Pittsburgh and Rochester, New York. Now completing her senior college season at Wisconsin, Edwards has overcome numerous challenges, including being a Black player in a predominantly White sport.

Canada forward Gavin McKenna (9) controls the puck during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game against Finland, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

With McKenna as the top prospect, NHL chooses Buffalo Sabres to host draft in June, AP source says

January 12, 2026

With highly prized prospect Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece, the NHL has selected the Buffalo Sabres to host its annual draft in June, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league had yet to reveal its plans. The news was first reported by ESPN. The formal announcement will be made during a news conference that will include NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and held in Buffalo on Monday night. The two-day draft will be held June 26-27. McKenna is a freshman forward at Penn State and has long been projected to be the No. 1 pick.

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, left, celebrates his empty net goal with defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Sabres show signs of character, consistency new GM Kekalainen emphasized in replacing Adams

December 19, 2025

Jarmo Kekalainen emphasized character and consistency upon taking over as the Buffalo Sabres general manager after Kevyn Adams was fired this week. And the Sabres showed signs of delivering upon the message in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Buffalo overcame a slow start and a 2-1 deficit, while securing the win by killing off a penalty in the final two-plus minutes. This is the type of gritty effort Kekalainen sought from a team he criticized as too often being out-worked. The Sabres have won four straight, but still have much work to do to climb back into contention and avoid extending their NHL-record playoff drought to a 15th season.

FILE - Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams resounds to questions after the second day of the NHL hockey draft, June 29, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Sabres fire general manager Kevyn Adams and promote Jarmo Kekalainen to replace him

December 15, 2025

The Buffalo Sabres have fired general manager Kevyn Adams in a move made 2 1/2 months into his sixth season, with the team sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and already in jeopardy of extending its NHL-record playoff drought to a 15th year. The decision was made by team owner Terry Pegula and announced in a press release. Adams’ replacement was already with the team in Jarmo Kekalainen. The former Columbus Blue Jackets GM was hired by Adams in June to serve as a senior adviser. The 59-year-old Kekalainen is from Finland and was the NHL’s first European-born GM in spending 11 years in Columbus before being fired in February 2024.

FILE- Buffalo Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin follows the action during an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin says his fiancée is recovering from a lifesaving heart transplant

September 19, 2025

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has revealed that his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, needed a lifesaving heart transplant over the summer. In a message Dahlin and Matovac posted on the Sabres website on Friday, the defenseman outlined how his fiancée felt sick for several days during a vacation in France before her heart failed. He wrote that Matovac required CPR on “multiple occasions and up to a couple of hours at a time,” and then spent weeks on life support before receiving a new heart. Dahlin said Matovac is “on the path to a full recovery” and is rehabilitating in Sweden before she can be cleared to travel.

JOHN WAWROW Hockey Writer.