Latest news with #Bruins'
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nico Iamaleava's UCLA football jersey number announced
UCLA will kick off its 2025 football season Aug. 30 versus Utah. The season opener is slated for 11 p.m. EDT at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (Fox). 2025 will mark the Bruins' first season with redshirt sophomore Nico Iamaleava at quarterback. He transferred to UCLA from Tennessee. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound signal-caller appeared in 18 games for the Vols during the 2023-24 seasons. He completed 241-of-379 passing attempts for 2,930 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. Iamaleava also recorded 435 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 129 attempts at Tennessee. He entered the NCAA transfer portal April 12 and committed to UCLA on April 20. Iamaleava did not attend Tennessee's final spring practice and Orange & White Game before transferring from the Vols. He wore jersey No. 8 at Tennessee. No. 8 is retired by UCLA, honoring former Bruins' quarterback Troy Aikman. Iamaleava is listed to wear No. 9 on UCLA's official 2025 roster. More: 2025 Tennessee football projected starting lineup for offense More: Nico Iamaleava detailed being 'comfortable' in Tennessee's offense during spring practices Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Boston Globe
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Can Viktor Arvidsson give the Bruins much-needed scoring punch?
A spirited postseason run may not be in the cards for the retooling Bruins, but getting the opportunity to reunite with Advertisement 'I didn't bring the names [of the Bruins' free agent additions with links to the Kings] up. They did,' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'He had a no-move clause, and he did it, not just because he wanted to come to Boston and have a great opportunity, but also the relationship I had with him in the past.' Entering a contract season, Arvidsson believes the opportunity afforded in Boston to play for Sturm and potentially earn featured offensive reps was too good to pass up. 'I'm going to come there, play a responsible game, and I think Marco knows exactly what he's getting from me,' Arvidsson said. 'I'm going to help offensively and bring scoring. I know I can do that. I know I had a little bit of a tough time last year with that. I'm really confident that I'm going to make the team better. Advertisement 'Knowing Marco from before, me and him have a really good relationship. I think [it's] going to be a fun year.' The Bruins are hoping the trade benefits all parties — especially if Arvidsson can add a scoring spark to a forward corps short on high-end talent. The Bruins' top priority this offseason was evident: more firepower up front. Despite David Pastrnak's continued brilliance (43 goals, 106 points) and a breakout season from Morgan Geekie (33 goals), Boston ranked 28th in goals per game, 29th in power-play percentage, and 29th in shots on goal per game. But the Bruins opted to focus most of their signings and offseason pickups on hard-nosed, bottom-six players such as Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, and Michael Eyssimont — with Arvidsson standing as the lone outlier as a winger with legitimate 20-goal upside. Beefing up the forward corps could make them tougher to play against, night in and night out. But if the Bruins still can't generate offense, they're seemingly set to get stung by the same flaws that dismantled all hope in 2024-25. As such, plenty is riding on Arvidsson to inject some offense into his new team, likely on a second line that could also feature Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt. Arvidsson's track record speaks for itself. He has scored 20 or more goals five times, including a pair of 30-plus-goal campaigns in 2016-17 (31) and 2018-19 (34) with the Predators. Advertisement But the last few seasons haven't been as fruitful for the Swede. Arvidsson dealt with injuries during the 2023-24 season with the Kings — undergoing back surgery in October before dealing with a nagging lower-body issue. In just 18 games, Arvidsson scored six goals and posted 15 points. With the Oilers, Arvidsson struggled to get into a rhythm further down the lineup, especially on a power-play unit where he has traditionally served in more of a net-front role. He scored just one goal and posted two assists on the Oilers' elite man-advantage. It was a far cry from the 2022-23 season, when Arvidsson had 10 goals and 15 assists on the power play for the Kings. 'A lot of factors played into it, I think,' Arvidsson said. 'I'm as responsible [for it] as everybody else was … I just have to look at myself as a person and a player. I truly believe that. And that's what I'm going to do.' With the Bruins, more featured reps should be available for Arvidsson — be it on the top power-play unit or on the second line, where his shoot-first approach should stand as a breath of fresh air. As Sturm prioritizes shot volume and pace, Arvidsson should be a willing participant. Of the 596 NHL players who logged at least 500 minutes of even-strength ice time last season, Arvidsson ranked 19th with 9.57 shots per 60 minutes Sturm and his staff are banking on a rebound season from a power-play unit that, personnel-wise, should have some upside. That optimism is echoed by Arvidsson, who said that Sturm served as his power-play coach in Los Angeles before becoming a head coach in the AHL. Advertisement 'I think it was a lot of communication between him and the players, how we were going to make it better, how we were going to be successful,' Arvidsson said of Sturm. 'It wasn't just X's and O's. It was trying to always and every day improve it, having a big bank of plays, situational plays that were effective. He played the game and he knows what it's all about.' If Arvidsson's skating ability can generate cleaner entries — and those wheels are utilized down low to recover pucks — he could be a remedy to the team's special-teams woes. 'Teams are killing in a certain way after taking away Pasta — you know you have to execute on the other side,' general manager Don Sweeney said of the Bruins' power-play struggles last season. 'But when that puck comes up top, it's supposed to go to the net — because that's what they're giving you. We weren't executing at the level you need to to be successful. 'And we need to do a better job. We have to take ownership of that. Our players have to take ownership of it. They didn't do a good enough job. They're more than capable. We just have to do a better job being connected and executing what we're supposed to do.' Conor Ryan can be reached at
NBC Sports
11-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
From home runs to hoops: Megan Grant joins UCLA women's basketball team
LOS ANGELES — Megan Grant, a two-time All-American softball player at UCLA, is joining the Bruins' women's basketball team for the upcoming season. The 5-foot-10 Grant will be listed as a guard/forward. 'Basketball was my first love and has always brought out a childlike spirit in me, so putting on this jersey and being a small piece in this historically great program is a dream come true,' Grant said in a statement Friday. She has been a key contributor for the softball team the last three years. She set the Big Ten single-season record for home runs with 26 and ranked in the top 10 nationally with 81 RBIs and a .933 slugging percentage this past season. Grant helped the Bruins to consecutive Women's College World Series berths, two Pac-12 Conference regular-season titles and a Pac-12 Tournament title. 'She's arguably the number one softball player in the United States, we're trying to be the number one basketball program in the United States,' UCLA coach Cori Close said. 'There's a mindset crossover with that, so to combine her passion and joy for the game and having her standard of excellence and her mindset for her craft, that's going to be a huge addition to our program.' Grant was a multi-sport star at Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, where she lettered in softball for four years and women's basketball and volleyball both for three years. Grant averaged 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds during her prep hoops career. Softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez expressed pride in Grant's latest move. 'Our fanbase is familiar with the all-out effort Megan gives on the diamond each and every day, and I have no doubt that will translate to the hardwood,' she said.
San Francisco Chronicle
11-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
From home runs to hoops: Megan Grant joins UCLA women's basketball team
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Megan Grant, a two-time All-American softball player at UCLA, is joining the Bruins' women's basketball team for the upcoming season. The 5-foot-10 Grant will be listed as a guard/forward. 'Basketball was my first love and has always brought out a childlike spirit in me, so putting on this jersey and being a small piece in this historically great program is a dream come true,' Grant said in a statement Friday. She has been a key contributor for the softball team the last three years. She set the Big Ten single-season record for home runs with 26 and ranked in the top 10 nationally with 81 RBIs and a .933 slugging percentage this past season. Grant helped the Bruins to consecutive Women's College World Series berths, two Pac-12 Conference regular-season titles and a Pac-12 Tournament title. 'She's arguably the number one softball player in the United States, we're trying to be the number one basketball program in the United States,' UCLA coach Cori Close said. 'There's a mindset crossover with that, so to combine her passion and joy for the game and having her standard of excellence and her mindset for her craft, that's going to be a huge addition to our program.' Grant was a multi-sport star at Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, where she lettered in softball for four years and women's basketball and volleyball both for three years. Grant averaged 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds during her prep hoops career. 'Our fanbase is familiar with the all-out effort Megan gives on the diamond each and every day, and I have no doubt that will translate to the hardwood,' she said. ___
Boston Globe
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
In his first day with the Bruins, James Hagens basks in the responsibility to represent his ‘second home'
A photo of Hagens — donning a spoked-B sweater for the first time during Friday's NHL Draft — joined the likes of Pastrnak, Thornton, Charlie McAvoy, and other Bruins franchise fixtures in that shadow box. One of the exhibits at the Bruins' Heritage Hall features several franchise regulars getting drafted. James Hagens' photo has already been added. Hagens on visiting TD Garden: 'It makes you want to make the team. It makes you want to work as hard as possible so that you can… — Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) Such are the expectations placed on Hagens, a teenager whose sky-high potential is feeling the weight of being a franchise savior. Advertisement But as Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It makes you want to make the team,' Hagens said following his first day of development camp. 'It makes you want to work as hard as possible so that you can be the guy that can call this home. You could be on that ice playing for these fans.' Monday was not the first time Hagens has paid a visit to the Bruins' home barn. Frequent hockey tournaments brought Hagens and his family up over the years, and he's more than found his bearings since first arriving at BC last fall. Advertisement In February, he etched his skates into the frozen sheet at TD Garden with a pair of games at Hagens is looking to follow in Leonard's footsteps in 2025-26 — be it during the fall or after the Eagles' season comes to a close in March or April. As he toured the Bruins' dressing room and stepped on the floor where his dangles and dekes could cause nearly 20,000 to rise as one, Hagens felt reassurance. It was as though fate had once again brought the Long Island native back to Boston. 'The fans are so passionate about this team,' Hagens said. 'They're so passionate about their sports here. I wanted to go to school here — so I was fortunate enough to be picked by the Bruins. It's a dream come true, to be able to stay in Boston. It's like a second home.' The ice won't be set down on Causeway for at least another few months, but as Hagens and the rest of the Bruins' Development Camp roster toured the arena, the message remained resolute. 'If things aren't going your way and you need a push, this is something to think back on,' former Bruins blueliner and current team player development coordinator Adam McQuaid told Boston's camp roster as they sat in the team's dressing room. 'It's something to work toward.' Who needs sleep? It hasn't taken very long for Hagens to put his best foot forward. Advertisement The day after he was drafted, Hagens and 'Definitely build a deeper connection when you're sleeping together on the floor of the airport,' Moore joked. By the time the duo finally boarded a plane, it was 10 p.m. on the East Coast. They arrived at the team hotel at 4 a.m. — with departure for Warrior Ice Arena scheduled for 6:45. Hagens' top concern at the time? Not waking up his hotel roommate, BC teammate 'I had my earplugs in,' Gasseau said. 'He told me he was tiptoeing around the room.' After both Hagens and Moore passed their physicals, the Bruins announced both Hagens and Moore had other plans, and took the ice. James Hagens and William Moore are on the ice. — Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) 'When you have a chance to put on the Bruin jersey, you can't say no,' Hagens said after practice. 'It doesn't matter what flight delay or how much sleep you get. This is a dream come true, and it's the first time you're able to put on the jersey. 'You'd have to cut off my leg to tell me I couldn't get on that ice.' Showing his stuff Hagens was no worse for wear as he separated himself from the pack during edge-work drills. At least, he didn't show it to McQuaid and the rest of Boston's development personnel. 'He didn't seem to miss a beat after going through a busy couple days,' McQuaid said. 'You can tell how smooth he is out there, and confident with the puck. … It seems like he's excited to be out there. Advertisement 'He came down one end and got to shoot and it was like, 'All right, here we go.' Driven to score some goals. So yeah, it was a great first day and great first impression, on and off the ice.' Hours after, Hagens planted himself at the front of the auditorium at Heritage Hall. The usual hits played out on the screen. No. 4 For a New York native who once had a poster of Matt Martin on his bedroom wall, some of those videos may not have resonated. At least, not until now. In Hagens, a Bruins team short on elite talent and a fanbase yearning for hope has seemingly found its man. And in return, Hagens has found a new home — and a team and city worth fighting for as he sets his sights on a black-and-gold sweater. 'It comes with a lot of pride,' said Boston's first top-10 pick in 14 years. 'A lot of honor to be able to be a part of something like this — to be able to even get picked and to say you're picked by the Boston Bruins. It doesn't really hit you until you're up on that stage. 'But you know it's going to come with a lot of hard work. I know how hard it's going to be, and that's just, it's just a big step. I'm willing to do it. I'm willing to give everything I possibly have into this game and this organization, to the fan base. Advertisement 'I'm just excited to get it going.' Conor Ryan can be reached at
