Spanish eyes are smiling in Birmingham
By JULIE O’HARE

The Spanish men’s team created history on semi-finals day of the European Team Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, as they sensationally beat defending champions France in a long and dramatic match to reach the final for the first time.

In tomorrow’s final they’ll play many-time champions England, who beat Spain 4-0 in their pool match and tonight ousted local rivals Scotland in a late-night encounter.

The women’s final will be between top seeds England and France, for the sixth year in a row, as they beat Belgium and Scotland in contrasting style.

England’s women have only lost once in the 41-year history of the event and extended their winning run against third seeded Belgium as Victoria Lust and Sarah-Jane Perry won the opening two matches. Lust was tested in the first two games by Yara Delagrance before easing through the third, while Perry was taken to four by Nele Gilis – who led 9-7 in two of the games she lost. Laura Massaro won the dead rubber, coming from a game and 8-3 down to beat Tinne Gilis.

France had to come from behind after Scotland’s Georgia Adderley battled her way to a 3-2 win over Melissa Alves, recovering from losing the fourth 11-2 to take the decider 13-11 on her fourth match ball.

Camille Serme and Coline Aumard repaired the damage for France with three-nil wins to take them through to a sixth successive final against England.

Spain’s astonishing win came after Gregoire Marche had put the French ahead with a tough four-game win against Borja Golan, the 16-time Spanish champion playing his 21st European Team Championships. The rest of the Spanish team are more youthful, and they needed all their energy and determination to complete a stunning comeback.

Current national champion Edmon Lopez fought back from one-two down to beat Victor Crouin, blitzing the decider 11-1, and Bernat Jaume put Spain 2-1 up with a three-nil win over Benjamin Aubert.

This left France’s Lucas Serme needing a 3-0 win, while Spain’s Iker Pajares needed to take two games. Serme took the lead, Pajares levelled and then had an effective match ball before Serme regained the lead 12-10.

The Spaniard now needed just 6 points in the fourth game to give Spain the win but he did better than that, taking the game 12-10 to put Spain through on games countback after 104 minutes.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Golan. “In an individual sport, to play for a team in events like this is the best squash has given me. This is a great event every year, but to make the final after so many years, with a group of players like this, I’m so proud.”

Spanish manager Jonas Gonerup, who won the European Team Championships title with Sweden in 1982, said:

“Not bad, but they need to go one better to equal me! Seriously, they’re such a good team. After losing the first match and Edmon being 1-2 down in the second they fought back so well. After Edmon won, Bernat knew he needed a 3-0 to put us in the driving seat and he did just that. We knew Iker could win, but Lucas played so well but so did Iker.

“It’s a great team effort, they were all very strong physically and mentally when it came to the crunch and I’m very proud of what they’ve achieved tonight.”

England won through to their 27th consecutive final with an assured win over Scotland, who were back in the semi-finals after missing out last year. Greg Lobban took the first game against Declan James, but thereafter it was all England as James took the next three, Tom Richards beat Angus Gillams in three – coming from 0-6 in the third – and Daryl Selby took the two games that England needed against Rory Stewart to end a long day at Edgbaston Priory Club.

Finals are at 11.00 and 13.30 tomorrow with the women’s 3rd/4th play-offs at 9am on the glass court.

European Team Championships Women’s Semi-Finals Results:

[1] England 2-0 [3] Belgium

Victoria Lust 3-0 Yara Delagrance 11-7, 11-9, 11-1 (19m)

Sarah-Jane Perry 3-1 Nele Gilis 11-13, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (43m)

Laura Massaro 2-1 Tinne Gilis 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 (46m)

[2] France 2-1 [8] Scotland

Melissa Alves 2-3 Georgina Adderley 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-2, 11-13 (50m)

Camille Serme 3-0 Lisa Aitken 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (25m)

Coline Aumard 3-0 Alison Tomson 11-7, 11-5, 11-1 (29m)

European Team Championships Men’s Semi-Finals Results:

[1] France 2-2 [3] Spain (7-9)

Gregoire Marche 3-1 Borja Golan 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6 (67m)

Victor Crouin 2-3 Edmon Lopez 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 1-11 (65m)

Benjamin Aubert 0-3 Bernat Jaume 7-11, 8-11, 7-11 (36m)

Lucas Serme 2-2 Iker Pajares 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 10-12 n/p (104m)

[2] England 3-0 [5] Scotland

Declan James 3-1 Greg Lobban 9-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-8 (57)

Tom Richards 3-0 Angus Gillams 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)

Daryl Selby 2-0 Rory Stewart 11-8, 13-11 (40m)

James Willstrop v Alan Clyne

Pictures courtesy of : Edgbaston Priory Club

LAS VEGAS – During Friday’s pre-race press conference for the AMA Supercross season finale at Las Vegas’s Sam Boyd Stadium, American Honda announced that Ken Roczen has renewed his contract with Team Honda HRC.

The deal will have the German campaigning a CRF450R in AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross for the next three years.

A World and National Motocross Champion and a native of Germany, Roczen originally signed with Honda ahead of the 2017 season. After that, he enjoyed early dominance followed by serious injury, grueling rehabilitation and improbable comeback.

Roczen earned third place in last year’s AMA Pro Motocross final points standings, and with one round remaining this AMA Supercross season, he has earned six podium finishes and sits fourth in the points standings. Through it all, he has been a model of professionalism while inspiring legions of fans.

“Re-signing with Honda was a no-brainer for me,” Roczen said. “I owe the team a lot and I feel like we have a lot of good days ahead of us. Three years is a long time, so when I signed, I was beyond stoked and it was a big pressure relief for me. The guys that I work with on this team are like a big family. Over the last two and a half years, the team and I have been through a lot. We’ve had some incredible highs but we’ve also hit rock bottom, and one thing that Honda always did—no matter what—was believe in me. They never gave up. The team also does whatever it takes to make a rider happy, which is huge because it brings comfort, and I want to win just as bad as they do. I know we haven’t done that in a while, but our work and what we do together isn’t done. Them standing behind me through thick and thin, the good times and the bad times, is what makes a great team, so I’m excited to continue our relationship.”

“During his time with Honda so far, Ken’s dedication has been exemplary,” said Lee Edmunds, American Honda’s Manager of Powersports Marketing Communications. “The tenacity with which he pursues success is exceeded only by the resolve with which he approaches challenges. We firmly believe that attitude will help him — and us — get back on top. Ken is our guy, and we’re thrilled to continue together.”

DOVER, Del. – Johnny Sauter continued his mastery of Dover Int’l Speedway Friday afternoon.

Driving the No. 13 Ford for ThorSport Racing, Sauter held off reigning NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series champion – and the man who replaced him at GMS Racing – Brett Moffitt to earn his third-straight victory at the Monster Mile.

Sauter had to rebound from a late-race pit road speeding penalty to earn the victory, his first of the season and the 24th of his Truck Series career.

During a caution period with less than 40 laps left following a crash by Austin Wayne Self, Sauter was busted for speeding on pit road. The resulting penalty dropped him outside the top-10, but the veteran racer would not be denied.

Shortly after the restart, which saw Ben Rhodes leading the field, Sheldon Creed crashed his No. 2 Chevrolet in an incident that also damaged the trucks of Todd Gilliland and Tyler Ankrum. Sauter was now sixth for the ensuing restart and he quickly went to work passing the trucks in front of him.

On lap 169 Sauter moved by Harrison Burton to take over second and one lap later Sauter dispatched Rhodes to take over the lead.

Sauter continued to lead the way until the final caution flag of the race waved with 10 laps left when Brennan Poole found the outside wall in turn one. That set up one final restart with five laps left with Sauter leading Moffitt and Burton.

Moffitt tried to hang with Sauter on the restart, but Sauter’s Ford F-150 was just too much for the reigning series champion. Sauter pulled clear and pulled away to what the Wisconsin native called one of his favorite victories of his career.

“When you get kicked to the curb you feel like you have a lot to prove,” said Sauter, who was released by GMS Racing prior to the 2019 season in favor of Moffitt. “A couple months ago I didn’t know if I’d be racing. To get three in a row here is extra special.

“This is so special. This ranks right up there as one of the best wins of my career.”

Moffitt, in his first season driving for GMS Racing after winning the Truck Series title last year for Hattori Racing Enterprises, is still searching for his first victory of the year.

“It’s all about track position here at Dover now,” said Moffitt, who started from the pole after setting a track record in qualifying. “Restarting on the outside is key and he obviously got the outside. I was lucky enough to get into second without the 98 (Grant Enfinger) filling the gap.

“We had a good ISM Connect Chevy. When we were out front we could lead. We won the first stage. Lapped traffic kind of cost us track position we never got back.”

Burton came home third in the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Toyota, followed by ThorSport’s Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton. Rhodes, Austin Hill, Derek Kraus, Ankrum and Ross Chastain completed the top-10.

For complete results, advance to the next page.

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. – An afternoon rain shower, in addition to weeklong precipitation, creating saturated grounds at Riverside Int’l Speedway have forced World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials to cancel Friday’s event.

Officials are working on a potential rain date.

Those who purchased a ticket in advance to Friday’s event at Riverside International Speedway will receive a face value credit to their MyDirtTickets.com account to be used towards any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. If a credit to your account does not work for you, then you have until June 3 to request a refund. For more details call 844-DIRT-TIX to speak with a customer service representative about your options.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to action Saturday at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., where a Sunday rain date is in place if needed.

INDIANAPOLIS – Flat12 Bierworks is supporting Jarett Andretti’s sprint car program at Andretti Autosport Short Track.

Flat12 Bierworks will be an associate sponsor of Andretti’s sprint car program. Andretti is a regular in the Pirelli GT4 American series and is also scheduled to make his Indy Lights debut during the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway later this month.

Andretti with be the face of the new F12 lineup, which will launch on May 24 with the year-round flagship Jarett Andretti 18 (Orange Wheat) and special release Jarett Andretti Freedom (Vanilla Orange Wheat) with a collector’s edition can to commemorate Andretti’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway debut in the Freedom 100 on the same day.  The new F12 brand will be an homage to the fearlessly – and unapologetically – competitive edge of athletes like the young Andretti.

The new school approach to F12 will complement the long-standing old school roots of Flat12 Bierwerks, established in 2010 as one of the first production breweries in Indianapolis. A tribute to the gladiators of sport, the F12 brand will focus on individuals who have the courage to compete in some of the world’s most dangerous events while Flat12 will remain as the classic Indianapolis mainstay everyone has come to love over the past eight years.

“It’s impossible to overstate how thrilled I am to work with Jarett and the entire team at Andretti Autosport Short Track,” said Jason Wuerfel, CEO of Flat12 Bierworks and Books & Brews. “My primary goal for Flat12 is to honor the rich racing tradition in the city of Indianapolis.  The moment I met and got to know Jarett it became clear to me that he could take to an entirely new level.  While we’re continuing to follow the racing theme, I’m extremely excited for Jarett to be the face of the new, cutting-edge F12 brand. Fans can expect a lot of fun events, appearance, promotions, and online content in the near future.”

Andretti is currently in the middle of one of the busiest race seasons of his young career. He’s already scored numerous top-five finishes in the both the GT4 American Series Sprint and SprintX Series and has also scored several top-five finishes in his sprint car earlier this season, too. His year has been highlighted by the announcement that he will make his debut at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Indy Lights Freedom 100.

“It’s a great time to have new partners such as Flat12 to come on board with us,” said Andretti.  “I have a passion for our sprint car program and Flat12 has a passion for racing and brewing the best beer in Indianapolis.  It’s obvious there are synergies and I’m proud to be representing Flat12 at the track and participating in exclusive events with them.”

SARVER, Pa. – Despite a desperate attempt to withstand incoming weather, Lernerville Speedway and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 officials were left with no choice but to cancel action set for Friday.

A persistent drizzle that eventually turned into a steady downpour just after 7 p.m. left the racing surface heavily saturated. The event has been rescheduled for Friday, July 5, the night before Sharon Speedway’s Lou Blaney Memorial.

The All Star Circuit of Champions will continue their two-day sweep through Pennsylvania and Ohio with a Saturday night visit to Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, on May 4.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Teuvo Teravainen scored a quick goal, and moments later, so did Greg McKegg. Just that quickly, the Carolina Hurricanes chased New York's goalie out of the game -- and the Islanders right out of the playoffs.

Carolina earned a second-round sweep of the Islanders on Friday night, beating them 5-2 after Teravainen and McKegg scored 66 seconds apart in the second period.

Coach Barry Trotz kept the identity of his starting goalie a secret until warm-ups -- when Robin Lehner led them onto the ice for the fourth straight game in the series.

He didn't last long.

Trotz pulled him in favor of backup Thomas Greiss after the bang-bang goals by Teravainen and McKegg early in the second period.

"We just got punched in the nose, and I was looking for a spark,'' Trotz said. "I knew that goals had been pretty hard to come by in the series. ... We just couldn't get close enough in the end.''

Teravainen put the Hurricanes ahead to stay after some slick passes from Aho and Warren Foegele set up his sixth goal of the postseason. And McKegg chased Lehner when the goalie couldn't keep hold of the rebound of Brett Pesce's shot and the Carolina rookie stuffed it in for his first playoff goal.

"Our backs were against the wall. Once again, they found a way to pop a goal on us, then they popped another one,'' captain Anders Lee said. "You've seen in this series, these guys are relentless when they get a lead. They're relentless when they're defending. You saw it again tonight.''

Greiss wasn't much better against the high-energy Hurricanes, with Williams scoring their third goal of the period off a give-and-go from Nino Niederreiter at 8:51 and Svechnikov riling up the rowdy Caniacs with his goal with 4:47 left.

Lehner and Greiss each finished with eight saves for the Islanders, who were swept for the first time since the Rangers did it in the first round in 1994.

Lehner is now winless in eight career games against Carolina, while Greiss was appearing in his first playoff game since 2016.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SEATTLE -- NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says Seattle remains in contention to host the 2021 draft despite arena construction delays.

Daly told The Associated Press on Friday that the league would like to decide on the host at least a year out. Seattle officials have been hoping the city's new arena could be the site of the league entry draft and the expansion draft as part of the lead up to the debut of the city's NHL franchise for the 2021-22 season.

Seattle officials were hoping to have the building open by early spring 2021 but design delays and a change in general contractors has delayed the project.

Mortenson, the new contractor, has been given incentives to try to have the arena ready by June 1, 2021, which would also allow it to host a full home slate for the WNBA's Seattle Storm.

Team officials have said they'll have a better idea of the timeline early next year.

Daly said the building isn't the only factor in determining a draft site.

"There are a lot of logistical issues you have to make sure are squared away before you make a decision like that," Daly said. "If they don't get the draft in '21, it's not going to be long before they have a draft. That's been part of our discussions already. It's really part of the ownership transaction."

The cost of the privately funded project, which is being built on the site of the former KeyArena, has grown to between $900 million and $930 million. The cost was originally expected to be about $650 million.

As each NHL team is eliminated from the postseason, we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2018-19, three keys to its offseason, impact prospects for 2019-20 and a way-too-early prediction for what next season will hold.

What went wrong

Let's be clear: This New York Islanders season was not a failure. In many ways, it was a season to be celebrated. Transforming from a team that surrendered the most goals in the NHL (296) to the team with the fewest goals allowed (196), and without making any significant personnel additions to the blue line? That's sensational. Losing the captain and leading goal scorer and replacing him with a bunch of fourth-liners, then seeing the team increase its standings point total by 26? Expectations blown away. Signing a veteran goalie as a stopgap and seeing him get nominated for the Vezina Trophy? And in a platoon? Where the duo combined to win the Jennings Trophy?

There was a lot to like about the 2018-19 Islanders, and coach Barry Trotz and GM Lou Lamoriello (both industry veterans in their first year with the team) will get due credit. When everyone thought the Islanders couldn't sustain it, they did, exceeding 100 points and sweeping the Sidney Crosby-led Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

And then it all unraveled. You can rationalize that the Islanders ran into a freight train in the second round, and that's partially true. The Carolina Hurricanes are brewing something special this postseason. But in the second-round series, during which the Islanders fell flat, many of their flaws were exposed. Mistakes added up.

Their defense was adequate, but they simply could not muster enough goals. A team of high-character, bottom-nine (and defense-minded) guys can take you only so far. In today's NHL, you need at least one supremely talented superstar who can take over a game, and the Islanders had nobody like that on the roster.