Patriarch Kirill
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Russians star in NHL playoffs as nation wages war in Ukraine

By Stephen Whyno May. 30, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 24, 2022 11:21 AM EST
Feb. 25 1940 — The first telecast of an American hockey game is transmitted over station W2XBS in New York. The viewing audience watches the New York...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 24, 2022 11:17 AM EST
Feb. 25 1940 — The first telecast of an American hockey game is transmitted over station W2XBS in New York. The viewing audience watches the New York...

Russian Olympic Committee goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, right, celebrates with Nikita Nesterov (89) and Yegor Yakovlev, left, after defeating Sweden in a shootout during a men's semifinal hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Favored Russians back in final at Olympics, now face Finland

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 18, 2022 01:07 PM EST

Kamila Valieva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, reacts in the women's short program during the figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Valieva skates into first place after Olympic short program

By Dave Skretta Feb. 14, 2022 09:48 PM EST

FILE - Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov (27) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov and the Russians are favored once again at the Olympics without NHL players. Voynov was part of the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” team that won gold in 2018 in Pyeongchang. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Russians expect a 'gold medal, nothing else' at Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 07, 2022 06:03 AM EST

FILE- Germany players celebrate after receiving their silver medals at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. Four years after an improbable run to the Olympic final and that ended with a silver medal, Germany is back at the 2022 Beijing Olympics without NHL players looking to duplicate that effort. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Germany back at no-NHL Olympics aiming for another long run

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 06, 2022 04:39 AM EST

Johannes Ludwig, of Germany, slides during the luge men's single round 3 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.(AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Olympics Live: US diplomat says human rights should be focus

Feb. 05, 2022 09:23 PM EST

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche 1/17/2022

Jan. 20, 2022 02:18 PM EST

FILE - Canada's Owen Power (25) is chased by Czech Republic's Vojtech Jirus (25) during second-period IIHF world junior hockey championship game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada are eyeing several college players to play at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to participate in Beijing. Owen Power could suit up for Canada. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Beijing Olympics will showcase hockey's next generation

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 20, 2022 02:15 PM EST

Finland's Sekari Manninen, right, scores his side's third goal as Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov fails to stop him during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
No NHL boosts Russian hopes for Olympic gold in men's hockey

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 12, 2022 01:41 PM EST

FILE - Kunlun Red Star Beijing players look at a scoreboard during the Kontinental Hockey League ice hockey match between Kunlun Red Star Beijing and Amur Khabarovsk in Mytishchi, just outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. China will take part in the men’s hockey tournament at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after initial concerns that the team would be embarrassed on home ice against NHL-level competition. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Without the NHL, Russia emerges as favorite for Olympic gold

By James Ellingworth Dec. 23, 2021 01:03 AM EST

Yulimar Rojas, of Venezuela, competes in the final of the women's triple jump at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Olympics Latest: Belarus runner says team forcing departure

Jul. 31, 2021 09:18 PM EDT

Singapore's Yu Mengyu competes during the table tennis women's singles third round match against Taiwan's Cheng I-ching at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
ITF Germany 08A, Women Singles

Jul. 27, 2021 12:55 AM EDT

Sofia Pozdniakova, left, Hughs Sofya Velikaya of the Russian Olympic Committee as she celebrates after winning the gold at the women's individual Sabre final competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Fencer Pozdniakova wins Olympic gold in family tradition

By James Ellingworth Jul. 26, 2021 11:32 AM EDT

India's Kamal Achanta competes during the table tennis men's singles second round match against Portugal's Tiago Apolonia at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Olympic Tournament Men Singles

Jul. 25, 2021 10:23 PM EDT

Hong Kong's Lam Siu-hang celebrates after winning the table tennis men's singles second round match against India's Sathiyan Gnanasekaran at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Olympic Tournament Men Singles

Jul. 25, 2021 03:31 AM EDT

South Africa's Olympic soccer team members, wearing face masks, leave the training venue in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Monday, July 19, 2021. Two South African soccer players have become the first athletes inside the Olympic Village to test positive for COVID-19. The Tokyo Games open on Friday. (Kyodo News via AP)
Medal predictions for events at the Tokyo Olympics

Jul. 19, 2021 05:57 AM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 24, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Feb. 25 1940 — The first telecast of an American hockey game is transmitted over station W2XBS in New York. The viewing audience watches...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 18, 2021 12:51 PM EST
Feb. 24 1960 — Bill Cleary’s four goals lead the United States to a 9-1 victory over West Germany in the hockey championship round of the...