Seattle SPORTs Now 2/24/26

 

While Seattle hockey fans ponder why Nathan McKinnon never misses an open net when he plays against the Kraken, Seattle’s two pro hockey teams return home from the Winter Olympics this weekend.

The Kraken (27-20-9, 63 points), currently third in the Pacific Division and in a playoff spot, play at Dallas, Wednesday and St. Louis, Thursday. They begin their longest home stand of the season on Saturday when they host their arch-rivals, the Vancouver Canucks.

Despite having six players in the Olympics, including Team USA captain Hillary Knight, the Torrent currently reside in the cellar of the Professional Women’s Hockey League with a 4-1-2-7 record for 16 points (the PWH separates wins from overtime wins). The Torrent host the Toronto Sceptres on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena.

While the US men and women’s teams both defeated Canada, 2-1, in overtime to win gold medals, the women were dominant. The USA team outscored their opponents, 33-3, going 7-0 in the tournament.

Torrent and Team USA captain Hillary Knight, playing in her fifth Olympics, ranks as Team USA’s all-time leader with 15 goals and 33 total points to go along with two gold medals. Knight also had the tying goal in the championship game. She was joined on Team USA by three Torrent teammates- Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes. Julia Gosling earned a silver playing for Canada and Aneja Tejkalova competed for Team Czechia.

From the Kraken, goaltender Philipp Grubauer was the starting netminder for Germany. Kaapo Kakko (three goals) and Eeli Tolvanen won a bronze medal for Finland and Oscar Fisker-Molgaard competed for Sweden.

The Team USA women’s squad turned down an invitation to visit the White House after disparaging remarks by President Donald Trump. Despite some reports to the contrary, the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks haven’t turned down (or accepted) an invitation to the White House.

 

 

There’s no gum in baseball cards anymore

While record snowfall hits the Northeast, a sure sign that spring has arrived is the appearance of 2026 Topps Baseball cards this week in local stores.

There are other card sets around these days but Topps, at least in this observer’s mind, are still the name that comes to mind when discussing those cardboard photos of your favorite baseball players.

A high point for this author is always opening the first pack of cards in the new year- and no, they don’t come with gum anymore. We purchased three packs of 36 cards each.

Another highlight is seeing who the first player is when you open the pack. This year it’s Jac  Caglianone, a highly-regarded young outfielder with the Kansas City Royals.

But wait. Caglianone’s one of those specialty cards that Topps loves to insert. The all silver card is part of a mini-set entitled Stars of MLB. The company issues two series and an updated set (featuring rookies and players who were traded on their new teams) and the first player we see from the main set – Boston Red Sox left-handed pitcher, Payton Tolle.

The first Mariner we see in the core set- third baseman Ben Williamson. But, wait again. Williamson was traded a couple of weeks ago to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team deal that saw the M’s acquire third baseman Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fortunately, pitcher Logan Gilbert came up a few cards later. But the highlight of our card buying spree is the appearance of Mariner outfielder Julio Rodriguez in a subset called `Titans of the Game.’ Shohei Ohtani also appears as a Titan of the Game and Rodriguez is listed as card number 20. Apparently, there are at least 19 other Titans of the Game this season.

Corbin Carroll on the shelf

 Seattle native and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is currently on the injured list with a broken hamate bone in his right-hand. Carroll won’t compete in the upcoming World Baseball Classic but hopes to be ready for opening day after undergoing surgery.

What makes Carroll’s injury bizarre is that two other major league players- New York Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday went on the shelf the same day with the same injury.

Carroll’s injury came while taking batting practice and often occurs when a player’s hitting. The National League Rookie-of-the-Year in 2023, Carroll was a prep star at Lakewood High in North Seattle, the same high school attended by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. That probably makes Carroll one of the few star athletes who’s not the wealthiest person from his high school.