Ed Snider, the Philadelphia Flyers founder whose Broad Street Bullies became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, died after a two-year battle with bladder cancer. He was 83. After being swept out of the playoffs in the first round in 1969, Snider directed his general manager to acquire bigger, tougher players. Five seasons later, the Flyers beat the Bruins for the Stanley Cup. The Flyers repeated as champions in 1975 — the team’s last title . . . The Arizona Coyotes fired general manager Don Maloney. Maloney spent the past nine seasons as executive vice president and GM. The Coyotes made the playoffs from 2010-12, but have since missed four consecutive postseasons . . . Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh (hand) is unlikely to be ready for the styart of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Penguins . . . Boston College forward Adam Gilmour announced he was forgoing his final season of eligibility and will join the Minnesota Wild.
BASEBALL Doubront’s season ended
Oakland lefthander Felix Doubront will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament, a blow to the Athletics’ already thin rotation. The 28-year-old Doubront, who was projected to be Oakland’s fifth starter, was injured during his final spring training appearance. The former Red Sox went 3-3 with a 5.50 ERA in 16 games with Oakland and Toronto last year . . . A Hawaii judge approved dismissing a domestic abuse charge against Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes. Deputy Maui Prosecuting Attorney Kerry Glen said the judge signed off on the move but will give prosecutors about two years to refile charges if Reyes’s wife cooperates. Glen says it’s impossible to move forward with prosecution without cooperation from Reyes’s wife, who refuses to speak with prosecutors.
MISCELLANY
NCAA puts hold on bowlsThe NCAA is prohibiting the creation of bowl games for the next three years after three teams with 5-7 records were needed to fill the record number of bowls last season . . . Maryland freshman center Diamond Stone will enter the NBA Draft and sign with an agent and sophomore point guard Melo Trimble will declare but not hire an agent, the school announced. Players who declare for the draft but do not hire an agent have until May 25 to withdraw and retain their college eligibility . . . Richard Gasquet converted all six of his break points as he beat Nicolas Almagro, 6-4, 6-0, in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters . . . Alfredo Hawit, a former vice president of soccer’s international governing body, pleaded guilty to four conspiracy counts in New York in the sweeping FIFA bribery scandal. Hawit admitted to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in a scheme to sell marketing rights to tournaments in Latin America . . . Eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno will be inducted into the US Speedskating Hall of Fame next month.
