Howie: My final 2026 NHL Draft big board
Several clubs selecting in the top 15 are expected to target blueliners, creating what could become one of the most defense-heavy opening rounds in recent NHL Draft history.
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Howie: My final 2026 NBA Big Board
BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing combines elite athleticism, shot creation and scoring ability that evaluators believe translates immediately to the NBA game. Most projections have him headed to the Washington Wizards with the No. 1 overall selection.
Iverson, Parker upset deep fields for Bjorklund victories
DULUTH, Minn. — Acer Iverson and Kasandra Parker arrived at the 36th annual Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as talented contenders in fields packed with proven champions, Olympians and established road-racing stars. By Saturday morning's end, both had transformed from overlooked challengers into first-time champions on one of
Howie: The five Vikings training camp battles that will define the 2026 season
"Watch what Harrison Smith decides to do. If he thinks the team is a legitimate contender, he will come back to help out. If he does not, he will retire. His appraisals of talent and the Purple's immediate potential are far more informed than all the fans and journalists combined." -- Fred Friedman
Malik Henry finally looks like the quarterback everyone saw coming
DULUTH, Minn. — Malik Henry stood outside the visitors' locker room Monday night sounding like a quarterback whose team had finally figured something out. The Michigan Arsenal had just walked into Amsoil Arena and beaten the Minnesota Monsters 41-34 in one of the biggest games of the Arena Football
Don Ness and the reinvention of Duluth
Ness convinced Duluth to stop speaking about itself like a city waiting for the next economic funeral and start speaking about itself like a place with a future worth competing for nationally. Not perfectly. Not without backlash. Not without legitimate criticism. But undeniably.
Howie: My AF1 Dream Team
Player of the Year frontrunner Malik Henry of Michigan tops my 2026 AF1 Dream Team, as teams battle for six playoff spots. Offense QB — Malik Henry, Michigan League leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. Nashville's Tyler Kulka and Albany's Sam Castronova are close, but Henry
My Final Top 50 Prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft
The first five names on this list will generate most of the headlines. That's how the draft works. The real story, however, often emerges years later. Somewhere between picks 25 and 50 sits a future NHL star. Every draft has one.
Hawks have the look of a team ready to chase down Grand Rapids in Section 7-4A football
The rankings begin this way: Hermantown, Grand Rapids, North Branch, Cloquet, Duluth Denfeld, Duluth East and Rock Ridge.
Duluth Marshall standout among nation's top young prospects
Recruiting services rank Duluth Marshall's Chloe Johnson among the top players nationally in the Class of 2028, and ESPN has rated her among the elite prospects in her class.
Cloquet's Jamie Langenbrunner continues hockey journey with Predators front office
CLOQUET, Minn. — Jamie Langenbrunner, a Cloquet native, two-time Stanley Cup champion and former captain of the U.S. Olympic hockey team, has been hired by the Nashville Predators as a special assistant to general manager Chris MacFarland. The move places one of northeastern Minnesota's most accomplished athletes
Shea, Myran repeat as William A. Irvin 5K champions
The race attracted 2,525 finishers, narrowly missing the event record of 2,548 participants set in 2025. The William A. Irvin 5K serves as one of the traditional kickoff events for the annual Grandma's Marathon weekend, drawing runners from across the region and beyond to Duluth's waterfront.
Juneteenth Basketball Classic shows Duluth at its best
The event represented something larger than a summer exhibition. It was a reminder that basketball remains one of the city's most powerful community connectors, capable of bringing together people from different neighborhoods, backgrounds and generations for a common purpose.
Howie: A permanent record of Northeastern Minnesota high school sports
This project is rooted in a belief that local prep sports matter. They matter because they teach discipline, resilience, teamwork and leadership. They matter because generations of families share experiences together. Most importantly, they matter because they help define who we are as communities.
Tim Meyer: Minnesota connections help fuel growth of professional football in Europe
As the sport continues to grow overseas, figures such as Zach Edwards and Jack Del Rio provide evidence that Minnesota's influence on football extends far beyond the state's borders.
Monsters' Carlos Thompson's football journey didn't end when the Netflix cameras left
Years after Last Chance U introduced Thompson to a national audience, he is still playing professional football, still chasing championships and still searching for the next opportunity. The Netflix cameras helped tell the first chapter of his story. The most enduring chapters have come since.