Sports
Howie: We're expanding our sports coverage this fall
This isn’t corporate sports media. This isn’t fluff. Howie Sports is Independent. Local. Unfiltered. Fifty years in the game — telling you who’s hot, who’s not, and who needs a swift kick in the butt.
Fred Friedman: A Baseball Lifer’s Betrayal
I’ve put my money where my mouth is. I’ve bought Twins tickets for decades. My taxes also helped pay for Target Field — along with three other Minneapolis stadiums: the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Center for the Timberwolves, and the University of Minnesota’s football stadium.
Howie: Strib Varsity aims to own Minnesota’s Friday nights
“This is more than just coverage. It’s a place for fans to connect, celebrate, and experience the thrill of high school sports like never before.” -- Chris Carr, who’s running point on Strib Varsity
Howie: Vikings’ depth chart looks like a Jenga tower — one bad pull and it’s over
Houston shows up Saturday afternoon to see if the foundation is as wobbly as it looks on paper.
Howie: Bulldogs men's hockey nation restless for more W's
The same folks who used to grumble when the Bulldogs only made the Frozen Four are now pretending a seventh-place finish in the NCHC is just the league being “tough.” That’s not tough. That’s losing dressed up in an alibi.
Howie: Sandelin bets local to lift Bulldogs back on their feet
And that’s Sandelin’s magic trick. No slogans, no gimmicks. Just a quiet confidence that the right kids — his kids — can still win the biggest games on the biggest stage. You just have to trust the process. And, maybe more importantly, trust your backyard.
Howie: Show us the goods, J.J. Whether you’re ready or not, this is your team.
So here we go. Game 1 of the Preseason of Prayer. QB1 J.J. McCarthy gets the start. The hype machine is revved up. The fanbase is ready. And the Vikings are rolling the dice with a rookie quarterback, a patchwork roster, and a hope-filled shrug. It’s a very Vikings thing to do.
2025 Prep Football Preview: Hermantown looks to reload, not rebuild
“We have a lot of experienced returners this year in a lot of skill positions and a line that wants to set the tone.” Hawks coach Mike Zagelmeyer
Gascon, Kraemer and Larocque invited to Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Orientation Camp
The three-day, off-ice orientation camp brings together players and staff from all levels of Canada’s national programs. The event includes team-building activities, presentations and planning sessions ahead of the 2025-26 international season.
Travis Whitlock — The Harbor Monsters' center, enforcer and fan favorite
Whitlock might be the league’s last blue-collar folk hero — playing for free so his younger teammates can earn more. “I just want the other guys to get paid and have a shot at their dreams,” he said. “I play because I like it.”
Samberg cashes in, but the big money may still be ahead
This isn’t the final payday — it’s the one that tees up the monster deal. And if he keeps trending up, someone’s going to open the vault.
K.J. Felder Jr. might just have one of the biggest hearts in Duluth
“Oh, my biggest strength is my speed. Knowing how to hit gaps, vision, and just being a playmaker. Being a dog. My size doesn’t stop me from doing anything.” -- K.J. Felder Jr.
Golf Notebook: Mellin wins Arrowhead; Chamber, Enger Park events
The event marked the 99th running of the Arrowhead, widely regarded as the region’s signature amateur match-play tournament. Ridgeview’s firm greens and classic layout again proved a worthy stage, offering players a stern test over three days of competition.