Sports

Nailers to be affiliated with Columbus Blue Jackets

Local Sports August 7, 2026

WHEELING — The Wheeling Nailers weren’t NHL orphans for very long. Less than a month after the Pittsburgh Penguins ended their affiliation with the ECHL franchise, the Nailers announced Thursday morning that it has agreed to a new partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the AHL Cleveland Monsters. “We are excited to begin our new partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters,” said Nailers President and Governor Brian Komorowski. “Geographically, this makes all of the sense in the world for us. When transactions occur, the travel for the players ...

Penguins sign 23-year-old forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year deal

Local Sports August 7, 2026

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins made a significant investment in their future on Thursday, signing forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year contract worth $4 million annually. Koivunen, 23, was a restricted free agent. The deal signals Koivunen is an important part of the ...

WVU basketball announces match up with UNC in November

Local Sports August 7, 2026

MORGANTOWN — It’s taken 61 years, but it appears North Carolina has finally gotten over Ron “Fritz” Williams and is set to play West Virginia once again. The two schools announced Thursday they would meet this season, on Nov. 27, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The game is part of the Dick Vitale Invitational. ESPN will televise the game on one of its networks. The last time the two schools met was in 1965, with Williams going for 25 points on 9 of 11 shooting and adding six assists in the Mountaineers’ 102-97 victory inside the Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, ...

Griffin struggles in first start for Guardians, who fall out of wild-card spot

Local Sports August 7, 2026

CLEVELAND (AP) — All-Star Foster Griffin struggled in his first start for the free-falling Cleveland Guardians, allowing five runs in four innings of a 13-6 loss to the Mets that gave last-place New York a three-game sweep. Cleveland (57-59) has lost 11 of 14 and fell one-half game behind ...

Mets to pay $8.1M to Pirates as part of Weaver trade, Cubs to send Toronto nearly $5M with Taillon

Local Sports August 6, 2026

The New York Mets will pay more than $8.1 million to Pittsburgh as part of this week's trade that sent pitcher Luke Weaver to the Pirates for minor league infielder Sammy Stafura, covering most of the nearly $13.4 million remaining on the right-hander's contract. Pittsburgh will in effect ...

Bichette drives in run in 10th inning in the Mets' 6-5 win over the Guardians

Local Sports August 6, 2026

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bo Bichette singled off Matt Festa to score automatic runner Francisco Lindor in the 10th inning, helping the New York Mets to a wild 6-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night. Chayce McDermott (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory, and ...