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SPORTS Tuesday 31 december 2019

Name dropping: A few up-and-comers who may make mark in '20

By PAT GRAHAM — Alexis Lafreniere, hock-
AP Sports Writer ey, Canada. The 6-foot-1
Some are already on the as- forward may be the No. 1
cent (rock climber Brooke pick in the 2020 NHL draft.
Raboutou). Others are cur- He has 23 goals and 47 as-
rently making waves (surfer sists in 32 games for Rimous-
Kanoa Igarashi) or shooting ki Oceanic of the Que-
for the stars (skateboarder bec Major Junior Hockey
Poppy Starr Olsen). League. He’s with Team
The names of Raboutou, Canada for the world junior
Igarashi and Olsen may not hockey championship, but
ring a bell now. That could is currently sidelined by a
change in a few months knee injury.
when their sports make — Matthew Wolff, golf, U.S.
Olympic debuts this sum- Won the 3M Open in July.
mer at the Tokyo Games. He spent two seasons at
They’re just a few of the Oklahoma State, where he
emerging athletes to keep was a two-time All-Amer-
close tabs on heading into ican and won the 2019
2020. NCAA individual title.
Or the Josh Allens. That’s — Maria Fassi, golf, Mexico.
right, plural, because it was Won the NCAA women’s
a good year to be named individual title in May while
Josh Allen in the NFL. This Aug. 4, 2017, file photo shows Kanoa Igarashi, of Huntington Beach, Calif., surfing in his heat at Arkansas. Turned pro
at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, Calif.
The Josh Allen who’s a Associated Press and has earned $129,164
quarterback in Buffalo led so far.
the Bills into the playoffs af- His father grew up surfing lia. The 19-year-old finished Florida star Emmitt Smith w — Rose Lavelle, soccer,
ter throwing for 3,089 yards. in Japan before moving fourth at the Park World ill forge his own path with U.S. She sc ored a goal
The Josh Allen who’s a to Huntington Beach, Cali- Championship in Brazil in the Cardinal. for the Americans in the
rookie pass rusher in Jack- fornia, to be in the heart of September. There will be — James Wiseman, basket- World Cup final win over
sonville finished with 10 1/2 surf country. two skateboard disciplines ball, Memphis. C ould be the Netherlands. Could be
sacks. Bright futures to the T he 22-year-old Igarashi contested in Tokyo — park the No. 1 pick in the NBA a big factor for the U.S. at
power of two. has dual citizenship and and street. draft over the summer af- the Tokyo Games.
Two other stars to emerge elected to compete for — Joe Burrow, football, ter withdrawing from class- — Amanda Anisimova,
in 2019 were New York Mets Japan where he’s already Louisiana State. OK, he’s es at Memphis earlier this tennis, U.S. T he teenager
slugger Pete Alonso ( 53 a household name and not technically an “emerg- month. His decision ended advanced to the semifinal
home runs, NL rookie of the been featured on a reality ing star.” He’s already Wiseman’s tumultuous col- of the 2019 French Open
year) and Tour de France TV show. emerged — at least on lege career and his battles before falling to eventual
winner Egan Bernal. The — Raboutou, climber, U.S. the college level after win- with the NCAA. champion Ashleigh Barty
NBA’s No. 1 pick, Zion Wil- She’s the first U.S. female ning the Heisman Trophy — Jo Adell, baseball, L.A. of Australia. Anisimova was
liamson, remains in a hold- climber to qualify for To- and leading the Tigers to Angels. Might break spring born in New Jersey to Rus-
ing pattern due to a knee kyo. The teenager grew up the national championship training as an outfielder for sian parents and moved
injury. The New Orleans Peli- with world-class climbing game. Next step, the NFL. the Angels this season and to Florida when she was
cans rookie could be con- parents and split her time Burrow could be the top be in the running for rookie young.
sidered a carryover with between Colorado and pick by the Cincinnati Ben- of the year. He hit .289 with — Takeru Kitazono, gym-
the calendar about to flip. France. She’s a student at gals in the upcoming draft. 10 homers in three minor nast, Japan. W on five gold
Let’s name-drop a few on the University of San Diego — E.J. Smith, football, Stan- league stops last season. medals at the 2018 Youth
the rise: majoring in business.— Ol- ford. The son of Hall of Fame Was drafted 10th overall by Olympic Games in Argen-
— Igarashi, surfing, Japan. sen, skateboarding, Austra- running back and former the Angels in 2017. tina. q

U.S. tops Czechs in OT, Canada beats Germany at junior worlds

OSTRAVA, Czech Repub- a spot in the quarters, In the early session, Nolan
lic (AP) — Cole Caufield which begin Thursday. Foote, Liam Foudy and Ty
scored in overtime to give Tuesday's final group stage Dellandrea had a goal and
the United States a 4-3 win games, when Russia plays an assist each for Canada,
over the Czech Republic Germany and Canada with Calen Addison also
at the world junior hockey faces the Czechs, will de- scoring. Yannik Valenti net-
championship on Monday termine the remaining two ted for Germany.
and a spot in the quarter- quarterfinal spots. Canada was thumped 6-0
finals. The Czechs have four by Russia on Saturday for
Caufield one-timed a shot points while Germany and its worst ever defeat at the
with 1:46 left in overtime Russia are on three. tournament.
for a win that puts the U.S. Shane Pinto, Arthur Kaliyev Canada forward Alexis
atop Group B with eight and Jack Drury all scored Lafreniere, projected to be
points, two points ahead of in regulation for the Ameri- the No. 1 pick at the 2020
Canada. cans, who outshot the NHL draft, missed the Ger- Canada's goaltender Joel Hofer, centre, is congratulated by
Earlier, Canada bounced Czechs 43-29. many game after sustain- teammates after defeating Germany 4-1 at the World Junior
back from a big loss to Rus- Libor Zabransky scored ing a knee injury against Hockey Championships on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019 in Ostrava,
sia with a 4-1 victory over twice and Petr Cajka add- Russia but could return later Czech Republic.
Germany and also booked ed one for the hosts. in the tournament.q Associated Press