1 OBEHREND BEACON January 22, 2010 www.thebehrendbeacon.com Sp 101!Nliii)1 1 41 , 44 Athletes contribute to Haitian relief NICK BLAKE ,poit, editor The devastating earthquake that hit the small island of Haiti has caused countless deaths and has destroyed thousands of homes, schools and hospitals. As different groups and or ganizations do what they can to begin to help put Haiti back to gether, America's sports leagues and players are doing what they can to help. Major League Baseball is do nating $1 million to the relief effort, along with public service announcements that will tell fans what they can do to help. The NBA and NBA Players Association has donated $1 mil lion as well. The NBA is also teaming up with UNICEF to help with relief efforts. Philadelphia 76ers center i 'y I 01 NHL provides exciting first half NICK BLAKE sports editor The NHL has recently passed the halfway point of its season, and the conference standings show some surprise teams near the top. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 63 points, 7 behind the first place Washington Capitals. Sidney Crosby is leading his Penguins in points with 63 and goals with 33. These stats put Crosby among the league lead ers, as well. The Penguins are also cele brating the selection of four players to their respective Olympic teams for the upcom ing 2010 games. Samuel Dalembert is a native of Port-au-Prince and he has stepped up his own effort to help raise awareness and money. Dalembert made a public service announcement for NBA Cares that asks fans to con tribute to relief efforts. Other NBA stars are doing individual things to help Haitians. Former player Alonzo Mourning flew to Haiti person ally to lend a hand and help re lief workers. The NHL had donated $lOO,OOO to UNICEF and con tinues to do what it can to help raise more. The league has set up web sites and a texting service for fans to make contributions to UNICEF's relief efforts. The NFL and the NFL Play ers Association has pledged $2.5 million to the relief efforts Crosby and goaltender Marc- Andre Fleury will represent Team Canada, defenseman Sergei Gonchar and forward Evgeni Malkin will represent Team Russia and defenseman Brooks Orpik will sport red, white and blue for Team USA. Ahead of the Penguins are the always strong New Jersey Devils in second and the newly dangerous Buffalo Sabres in third. The Sabres have been a turn around team from last year after missing the playoffs. Buf falo currently has 66 points and is riding the stellar play of goal tender Ryan Miller. Miller holds a 27-9-4 record in 41 games played this year and posts a staggering GAA at 1.99 with a 93.6 save percent age. The GAA and save per- in Haiti The NFL will air public serv ice announcements during their playoff games this week, both on TV and at the stadiums. The NFL has a number of players who are from Haiti, or have immediate family from the island. Nearly every team is making individual contributions, aside from what the NFL is doing as a whole. The Washington Red skins sent a plane full of sup plies and clothes for the survivors. The Pittsburgh Steel ers have made donations to the Red Cross and a health care fa cility in Haiti. There is no holding back for America's sports organizations as they do everything they can to join the efforts to help get the Haitian people and their coun ty back on their feet. centage are good enough for the top spot among NHL goal tenders. The Sabres will also send four of its members to Vancou ver for the Olympic Games. Ryan Miller will very likely be the starting goaltender for Team USA with the numbers he is carrying this season. De fenseman Toni Lydman will represent Team Finland, de fenseman Henrik Tallinder will represent Team Sweden, and defenseman Andrej Sekera will represent Team Slovakia. The Western Conference is even more surprising than the east with four teams currently holding a playoff stop, that weren't there last year. The Colorado Avalanche fin ished dead last in the west last year but currently are holding NBA.COM Samuel Dalembert is one athlete giving time to Haitian relief efforts. third place with 62 points. The Los Angeles Kings, who finished second to last in the west last year, currently sit in eighth and final playoff spot. The Phoenix Coyotes, who finished third to last in the west last year and almost lost their franchise to bankruptcy in the offseason, currently sit in fifth place. The Detroit Red Wings, who fell in seven games to the Pen guins in the Stanley Cup Finals last year, are currently on the outside looking in sitting in ninth place. The Red Wings have been struggling with injury problems this season. First Detroit lost forward Johan Franzen, who suffered a torn ACL. The Wings then lost defenseman Niklas Kronwall who also suffered a Intramural Offerings and Deadlines Swimming: Entry Deadline, law 24 Ste► Night Chess Leagues Begins Jan. Eastwal Mini Bowliar Begins Jan. 2$ Ping Pong Entry Deadline, Feb. Alma FootiNdh Ently Deadline, Fed Friday Night Soccer Every Friday he in 44 p.m. In Erie Hall. For more Information, Wet lielloremlipmedu/albletki/Mdrumale. Ryan Miller leads the NHL in both save percentage and GAA and is the front runner to be the starting goaltender for the USA Olympic team. knee injury which is keeping him on injured reserve. The NHL will be taking a two week break during the Olympics, which will take place from Feb. 12-28. Almost every Olympic team will feature at least one player orts from the NHL These Olympic games are shaping up to be the most en tertaining in recent history. Players who rival each other during NHL play will come to gether to help bring Olympic gold to their home country.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers