Patriarch Kirill
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) sprays water on his face during a timeout against the Florida Panthers during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series Monday, May 23, 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...

The Russian Olympic Committee celebrates the winning shootout goal by teammate Arseni Gritsyuk in a men's semifinal hockey game against Sweden 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 after performing her routine in the women's short program during the figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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- Dominik Kahun (72), of Germany, celebrates after making a goal in the penalty shootout during the preliminary round of the men's hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018. Four years after an improbable run to the Olympic final and that ended with a silver medal, Germany is back at the Olympics without NHL players looking to duplicate that effort. "We never want to talk about that we won silver last Olympics, that we're going to win it again. We just go step by step," Kahun said. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Germany back at no-NHL Olympics aiming for another long run

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

FILE - Finland's Leo Komarov speaks with referees during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Leo Komarov is expected to play for Finland at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to send players to Beijing. Komarov played in the NHL as recently as October, and he and the New York Islanders agreed to mutually terminate his contract in November.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
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

United States' Jake Sanderson (8), Tanner Dickinson (71) and Chaz Lucius (28) celebrate a goal against Finland during the first period of an exhibition game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, before the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
No NHL boosts Russian hopes for Olympic gold in men's hockey

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

Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov, centre, bottom, 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. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Without the NHL, Russia emerges as favorite for Olympic gold

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

Anton Borodachev of the Russian Olympic Committee, left, and Erwann Le Pechoux of France compete in the men's Foil team final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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 12:50 AM EDT

Sofia Pozdniakova, right, celebrates with Sofya Velikaya of the Russian Olympic Committee 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 speaks to his coach after winning 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 10:04 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 03:18 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

Britain and Irish Lions' player Louis Rees-Zammit with the rugby team arrives at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, June 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Lions arrive as South Africa goes into stricter lockdown

By Gerald Imray Jun. 28, 2021 11:27 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday June 24, 2021, European Council President Charles Michel, left, greets Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel during an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels. The government of Luxembourg said Monday June 28, 2021, that Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation for 10 days. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, FILE)
The Latest: Hong Kong to ban flights from UK to curb virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 28, 2021 06:35 AM EDT