Sharks draft pick Smith helps to propel U.S. past Sweden for gold

DIGEST

Gabe Perreault, left, celebrates his first-period goal with U.S. teammate and Sharks draft selection Will Smith. CHRISTINNE MUSCHI — THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP

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Isaac Howard scored twice in the second period and the United States beat host Sweden 6-2 on Friday to capture gold at the IIHF world junior hockey championship.

Sharks prospect Will Smith, taken fourth overall in last year’s NHL Draft, had two assists in the win and his Boston College teammate Gabe Perreault, a 2023 first-round pick of the New York Rangers, had a goal and two assists. Sharks draft pick Eric Pohlkamp was also part of the American team that secured the under-20 tournament for a sixth time.

Defenseman Mattias Havelid, a second round pick by the Sharks in 2022, had an assist for Sweden, which lost to the U.S. in last year’s bronze-medal game and has now finished second 12 times in the tournament.

MLB

Judge orders release >> A judge in the Dominican Republic on Friday ordered the conditional release of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco while he is investigated for allegations he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother a car and thousands of dollars in exchange for her consent, according to court documents.

The judge said Franco is allowed to leave the Dominican Republic but must return once a month to meet with authorities. He also was ordered to pay 2 million Dominican pesos ($34,000) as a type of deposit as the investigation continues. Franco, who was expected to be released early Saturday, did not speak to reporters after the hearing ended.

Franco, 22, is accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The judge in the case, Rumaldi Marcelino, had several options for a ruling Friday: release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended.

Brantley retires >> Five-time All-Star and World Series champion Michael Brantley announced his retirement after 15 seasons.

Brantley leaves with a .298 career batting average during 10 years in Cleveland and five more in Houston. He hit 129 home runs with 720 RBIs and 125 stolen bases in 1,445 regular-season games. He hit .283 over 62 postseason games, including .327 in two World Series with the Astros.

Men’s basketball

Isaacs sued >> Texas Tech basketball player Pop Isaacs, the team’s leading scorer, has been accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual assault of a minor when the Red Raiders were playing in a tournament in the Bahamas, ESPN reported. The lawsuit was filed in Lubbock County, where the Texas Tech campus is, by the parents of the girl who says she was assaulted.

According to the lawsuit, the girl was 17 at the time of alleged assault. The age of consent in the Bahamas is 16, but the lawsuit says the girl was intoxicated and could not give consent.

WNBA

Sparks hire GM >> The Los Angeles Sparks hired former WNBA player Raegan Pebley as general manager, replacing Karen Bryant, who will focus solely on the team’s business operations. Bryant served in dual roles as GM and chief administrative officer last season. Pebley played in the league from 1997-98. She was a TV analyst for the Dallas Wings from 2016-23 and served on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association board from 2018-23.