The Sun Chronicle ࡯ Tuesday, June 25, 2013 B3 SPORTS

Briefs Canucks set to introduce Tortorella as new coach

The Vancouver Canucks are ex- pected to introduce John Tortorella as their new head coach on Tuesday. Tortorella, the recently fired coach of the New York Rangers, arrived in Vancouver on Friday amid reports he was the choice to replace the fired Alain Vigneault. If all goes as expected, Tortorella and Vigneault will end up trading teams. Vigneault was hired last week as Tortorella’s replacement with the Rangers. Tor- torella led New York to a 26-18-4 re- cord and sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by conference cham- pion Boston after beating Washing- ton in the first round. Wild re-sign G Backstrom for three more years

The Minnesota Wild have re- signed goaltender Niklas Backstrom to a three-year contract, keeping the veteran from becoming an unre- stricted free agent. The 35-year-old Backstrom went 24-15-3 with a 2.48 goals against average, a .909 save percentage and two shutouts in 42 games last season for the Wild. He AMANDA SABGA / FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE was hurt during warm-ups before the first-round playoff series began Norton’s Anthony O’Leary connects against Hopkinton. O’Leary hit .424 with 15 RBI for the Lancers this season. against the Chicago Blackhawks and unable to play in any of the games. Backstrom tied for first in the NHL GOBIS: Norton’s O’Leary balances two different lives in victories and tied for fifth in the league in games played. His uncer- FROM PAGE B1 far,” said O’Leary as the focus in O’Leary’s bloodlines too, a tain status made goaltending Min- of the ad was on him and his fe- three-year member of the Lanc- nesota’s greatest offseason concern, High over the past four spring male co-star. “That was shot in er varsity (hitting .424 this sea- but with backup Josh Harding still seasons, kind of rolled his eyes Brooklyn, one day too, so it was son with 15 RBI and just five under contract the Wild can now and figured it was just a teen non-stop shot after shot — we strikeouts), a three-year mem- concentrate on other positions this lark. must have done about 100 takes.” ber of the Norton Legion base- summer. “I went up to Boston and told “It’s really difficult because I ball team, a regular during the them that I wanted to get in- might spend eight hours travel- offseason at the RBI Academy. Kelly says no chemo, to it. I had to kind of perform a ing back and forth between here “I’m not sure if I could contin- radiation necessary monologue for them,” recalled and New York for a five-minute ue to play baseball in college, it O’Leary, whose off-the-baseball audition.” takes quite a commitment and Hall of Fame quarterback Jim field interests have also landed Back when he was in the right now, I just want to broad- Kelly says he has been told by doc- him roles in theatrical plays. sixth and seventh grade, en my knowledge. tors that he won’t need to under- “It’s funny because I kind of O’Leary began some local act- “The modeling, the acting is go chemotherapy or radiation treat- watched a lot of TV growing up ing, appearing in Wheaton Col- fun, it’s something that I always ment after having surgery to remove as a kid, but now, not anymore,” lege-produced plays, “Annie” wanted to do.” cancerous cells in his jaw. The for- said O’Leary, who, after tend- and “The Lady Pirates of Cap- But you would hardly know mer Buffalo Bills star made the an- ing to infield duties for the Nor- tain Bree.” it because O’Leary doesn’t have nouncement at his football camp ton American Legion Post base- MARK STOCKWELL / THE SUN CHRONICLE “That stuff interested me, an extensive wardrobe, a clos- in Buffalo on Monday and his com- ball team this summer, will Anthony O’Leary has had small parts I loved it and felt like I could et full of designer clothes. “I ments were posted on the Bills’ web- head to the University of New in a movie and commercials. open up.“ wear a bunch of different stuff,” site. He says he had the left side of Haven as a theater arts major. And so O’Leary began work- he added, dressed in the stan- his jaw and the teeth on that side So even in between the sum- eighth grade. “I had an audition ing with a Boston-based singing dard shorts, T-shirt and wide- of his mouth removed in surgery on mer series of Legion games, and they called me back three coach, Craig Wich. Not that he brimmed hat the other day. “I June 7. He was released from the O’Leary is still busy putting his times,” said O’Leary of the is about to audition for a Broad- have a selection, but basically, I hospital three days later. best face forward — he was in movie filmed in Boston. way role, but it’s another tool in just wear what’s comfortable.” New York City just last week for “Basically, I was the kid that his talent bag. There are thousands of ACC hooks up with an audition for a NIKE adver- was caught between his par- O’Leary is also engaged in young men like O’Leary look- Pinstripe Bowl tisement. ents divorcing, the father los- some print advertising for the ing for that one big break to be- “He’s a kid who works hard, ing his job,” said O’Leary, who Pawtucket-based Hasbro Toy come a national face. “It’s cra- The Atlantic Coast Conference really just a quiet kid who goes spent about 10 days on site, also Company, a Nerf gun to be pro- zy, but it’s very, very profes- has reached an agreement to send a about his business,” said Norton in Framingham and Wellesley, moted for Christmas. sional,” he said of his auditions, team to the Pinstripe Bowl at Yan- High baseball coach Ted Cur- sitting on the street curb, on the Just last week O’Leary was his work in various mediums kee Stadium. The deal announced rle. “I enjoyed coaching him, I couch having a few contributo- in Times Square for an audition thus far. Monday by the Yankees will begin in know he’ll find success in the ry lines. with NIKE, one of some two “At the same time, it’s kind 2014. The Pinstripe Bowl announced future — he has a good head on O’Leary has a manager, dozen young men to be invited. of laid-back too, it’s not just ‘get a similar agreement with the Big his shoulders.” New Hampshire-based Betha- “The failure to success rate is this done in a hurry.’ They sort Ten earlier this month. ACC Com- And the rugged, hardy looks ny Constance, who got him no- up there,” said O’Leary of the of work off of you. missioner John Swofford is scheduled of a young man, a crafted phy- tice from the Don Buchwald and reality of being summoned back “I’ve never been a shy kid, to be in New York on Tuesday for a sique, the skill to verbalize, to Associates talent agency in New for more work. I’ve always kind of been inde- news conference at Yankee Stadi- portray somebody other than the York. O’Leary’s New York team “The NIKE audition was pendent. Right now, I’m just um with team officials. The ACC re- kid from Norton down the street. of managers includes Victoria fun to do, they have me read a trying to figure out how to per- places the American Athletic Confer- O’Leary went from having Kress and Pamela Goldman. script, put me on camera and form — I try to keep my mind ence (formerly the Big East), which his image on the Indiana Jones “They got me an audition for I read a few lines. The casting working.” helped start the 4-year-old game. board game box to attracting an AT&T commercial, which director is the one, ultimately, attention for an audition with were in New York and Detroit, who decides if I could be right PETER GOBIS may be contacted NCAA expands replay use John Wells, the director of Com- that was kind of the highlight for the part or not.” at 508-236-0375 or via email at in college basketball pany Men when he was in the of the work that I’ve done thus Baseball has always been [email protected].

An NCAA panel has voted to ex- pand the use of replay review in col- lege basketball, and instituted the STUNNED: 135th-ranked Darcis upsets No. 5 Nadal 10-second backcourt rule for the women’s game. The Playing Rules FROM PAGE B1 al said. “I am confident that I Romania 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. Oversight Panel also approved a Nadal declined to blame any will have a good recovery and This was a grass-court clin- tweak to the charging-blocking foul injury and gave full credit to be ready for the next tourna- ic lasting 68 minutes. Federer in the men’s game and gave referees the 29-year-old Darcis, who had ments.” had 32 winners, seven aces and leeway when it comes to penalties never beaten a top-5 player be- Darcis finished the match just six unforced errors. He won for accidentally elbowing an oppo- fore and has yet to go beyond in style, serving his 13th ace as 90 percent of the points when he nent above the shoulders. The pan- the third round of any Grand Nadal failed to chase the ball. put his first serve in. When his el held a conference call on Monday. Slam. Darcis is the lowest ranked serve is clicking, Federer usual- The approved changes are effective “I don’t ... talk about my player to beat Nadal at any ly is unbeatable. On this day, he immediately. The panel also voted to knee this afternoon,” Nad- tournament since Joachim Jo- won his first 15 service points place greater emphasis in the men’s al said. “Only thing that can hansson — ranked No. 690 — de- and 24 out of the first 25. game on calling fouls on defensive say today is congratulate Steve feated the Spaniard in 2006 in “I’m happy to get out of there players who keep a hand or forearm Darcis. He played a fantastic Stockholm. Gustavo Kuerten, early and quickly,” Federer on an opponent or use an arm bar to match. Everything that I will in 1997, was the last reigning said. “So it was a perfect day.” impede the progress of an opponent. say today about my knee is an champion to lose Last year, Federer equaled excuse, and I don’t like to put in the first round at Wimbledon. and William Ren- US ties France in any excuse when I’m losing a Nadal was coming off his shaw with seven Wimbledon ti- Under-20 World Cup match like I lost today.” eighth championship at the tles. He is now contending to Darcis, who had won only French Open this month. But on ASSOCIATED PRESS become the first man to win the The United States drew 1-1 with one previous match at Wimble- this day he never looked like the of Spain reacts as he tournament eight times, which France at the Under-20 World Cup don, played the match of his life player who has won 12 Grand loses a point to Steve Darcis. would bring his total of Grand on Monday on a goal in the 85th min- Monday, going for his shots and Slam titles and established him- Slam titles to 18. ute by substitute Daniel Cuevas. moving Nadal from corner to self as one of the greatest play- Germany. He came to Wimble- Federer came out wearing France appeared set to win and ad- corner. Darcis amassed a total ers of his generation. don without any serious grass- a white collared jacket with or- vance to the knockout stage after of 53 winners, compared with 32 Last year, Nadal was oust- court preparation. ange trim, then quickly got Yaya Sanogo scored his second goal for Nadal. ed in the second round by 100th- “The opponent played well,” down to business. He never of the tournament. His penalty kick “Of course, Rafa didn’t play ranked Lukas Rosol, a match Nadal said. “I had my chanc- faced a break point and broke in the 48th minute came after Dim- his best ,” Darcis said. “I that finished under the closed es. I didn’t make it. So in grass six times. itri Foulquier was sideswiped by could see it. So I took advan- roof of Centre Court. (it’s) difficult to adapt your- Murray, the U.S. Open cham- America’s Javan Torre in the pen- tage of it, tried to fight. May- After that loss, Nadal took self, to adapt your game. When pion who again tries to become alty area. The United States, which be he was not in the best shape the rest of the year off to recov- you don’t have the chance to the first British man to win the lost its opening match to Spain, had ever. Maybe he didn’t play his er from the knee problem, miss- play before, I didn’t have that trophy since Fred Perry in 1936, few chances and missed those it did best match. But I have to be ing the U.S. Open and Australian chance this year, is tougher. I got off to a strong start with a have — the worst when Luis Gil’s proud of me, I think.” Open. Since returning to action didn’t find my rhythm.” 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win over Benjamin penalty was easily saved in the 65th. Darcis said he didn’t know this year, he had made it to the Ten years after his first Becker of Germany. But the Americans grew more con- whether Nadal was injured, or finals of all nine tournaments he Wimbledon championship, Fe- “It was a tough start for me. fident toward the end and it paid off was just troubled by the grass entered, winning seven. derer opened play on Centre He is a very good grass player,” when Cuevas pounced on a loose ball conditions. After winning the French Court as defending champion Murray said. “I was ready and in the penalty area. “Not the day to talk about Open, Nadal pulled out of a and looked right as home as he to win in three sets was a good — ASSOCIATED PRESS these kind of things,” Nad- grass-court tuneup in Halle, dismantled Victor Hanescu of start.”