Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 29 May 2018
Bettman: Seattle would get Vegas’ favorable expansion terms

By GREG BEACHAM sibility that in the fall, early
AP Sports Writer winter at the latest, that this
LAS VEGAS (AP) — NHL could be addressed by the
Commissioner Gary Bet- board. But we’re not there
tman shares the sports yet, and there is still work to
world’s amazement at the be done.”
Vegas Golden Knights’ Seattle hopes to be ready
ability to reach the Stanley to become the NHL’s 32nd
Cup Final in their first year of franchise in 2020, pending
existence. a $600 million renovation of
But if the league adds an- Key Arena. But after the en-
other team in Seattle in the ergizing effect of the Gold-
near future, Bettman ex- en Knights on this hockey
pects it to have every op- season, the league’s ap-
portunity to accomplish the petite for expansion — and
same feat under the same the likely $650 million fee
favorable expansion terms that will be split among the
given to Vegas. league’s other owners —
The commissioner also ac- has been whetted.
knowledged that the Emer- The NHL also has talked
ald City could secure that about adding a franchise
expansion team within the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a news conference prior to Game 1 of the NHL in Houston, the largest met-
year. Stanley Cup Final hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capi- ropolitan area in the U.S. or
The Golden Knights are tals, Monday, May 28, 2018, in Las Vegas. Canada without a team.
hosting the Washington Assoiciated Press Houston Rockets owner Til-
Capitals after winning the years. their attention.” get an update on Seattle’s man Fertitta has showed in-
Western Conference in The Golden Knights clev- Bettman and deputy com- plans, and a formal vote terest in joining the league,
an inaugural season that erly built this winner with an missioner Bill Daly both could happen later this but a bid likely is years
“quite simply astonished undeniably generous ex- confirmed the NHL plans year, perhaps at meetings away.
the sporting world,” Bett- pansion draft that allowed to keep the same rules on in September or Decem- “I don’t think at this point
man said in his usual state- them to select the likes the next expansion draft. If ber. in time there’s interest in fil-
of-the-league remarks be- of franchise goalie Marc- it happens within the next “There is a lot of due dili- ing for an expansion fran-
fore the Final opened on Andre Fleury and many two years, as increasingly gence that has to be done, chise,” Daly said.
Monday night. other proven NHL players. expected, Vegas won’t a lot of interaction with the “I think they’re relatively
Sour grapes were under- Yet Bettman said he has have to lose any of its play- prospective ownership new NBA owners. They’re
standable among the fans received “no pushback ers, Daly added. group,” Bettman said of getting their feet under
of other NHL teams after whatsoever” about the fa- The vote on adding a Seat- the group headed by bil- them in terms of operat-
Vegas’ incredible ascent vorable expansion draft tle franchise won’t happen lionaire investment banker ing that franchise, knowing
to the top of a league with from the league’s other 30 in June when the board of David Bonderman. “We that that means. At some
12 other teams that have owners governors meets during the think we’re on target, and point in time, we’ll have a
never won the Stanley “I think people (around league’s annual awards depending on how every- discussion with them about
Cup and seven more that hockey) are excited,” Bett- show in Las Vegas, Bett- thing goes, it wouldn’t sur- whether there’s an NHL
haven’t won it in the last 20 man said. “I think it’s gotten man said. But the board will prise me that there is a pos- team to pursue.”q

Sargent & Weah, both 18, score as U.S. beats Bolivia 3-0

By RONALD BLUM days earlier. Sargent’s goal Zimmerman, making his
AP Sports Writer was particularly memo- third international appear-
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Josh rable — with his back to ance, scored with a head-
Sargent scored in his Ameri- the goal, he intercepted a er off a corner kick from
can debut, fellow 18-year- pass over his head from the Joe Corona, outjumping
old Tim Weah added a goalkeeper, played the defender Ronald Raldes.
goal in his second interna- ball to himself and put it in Sargent, easily spotted
tional match and a young the net with a strong right- because of his bright red
United States team beat footed shot from about 11 hair, robbed Carlos Lampe
Bolivia 3-0 in an exhibition yards. when the goalkeeper was
Monday night. With no World Cup to play returning a pass to de-
Walker Zimmerman put for, interim U.S. coach Dave fender Luis Haquin. Sargent
the Americans ahead in Sarachan went with youth. scored four goals at last
the 37th minute and Sar- He gave six players their year’s Under-20 World Cup
gent doubled the lead in debuts, raising the total to United States’ Rubio Rubin (23) heads the ball past Bolivia’s and three at the Under-17
the 52nd. Weah, the son 15 in four matches since the Carlos Anez (2) as Josh Sargent (13) looks on during the first World Cup, where Weah
of former FIFA Player of the Americans were eliminated half of an international friendly soccer match, Monday, May 28, was a teammate. Sargent
Year and current Liberia in qualifying. Defenders 2018, in Chester, Pa. had not played a competi-
president George Weah, Erik Palmer-Brown and An- Associated Press tive match since the U-17
scored in the 59th. tonee Robinson and goal- tered on the second half. played his first international tournament in October. He
Weah, born on Feb. 22, keeper Alex Bono joined Christian Pulisic, the 19-year- match since the loss at Trini- signed with Werder Bremen
2000, became the fourth- Sargent as debutants in old American star from dad and Tobago last Octo- in February, after the inter-
youngest American to the starting lineup, and de- nearby Hershey, looked ber that ended the Ameri- national transfer window
score when he displaced fender Matt Olosune and heavy-legged at the end cans’ streak of World Cup closed, and is ineligible until
Sargent, who was born two midfielder Keatan Parks en- of a long club season as he appearances at seven. next season.q