Bruins release Prospects Challenge schedule

The Bruins will play two games in the Prospects Challenge at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, held just before the main training camps open across the NHL.

The B’s prospects will open against their Pittsburgh Penguins counterparts on Friday, Sept. 12 at 3:30 pm and finish with a game against the New Jersey Devils’ prospects on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 12 noon.

The rosters will be released at a later date. This is the 10th year that the B’s will participate in the Buffalo prospects tourney.

Meanwhile, the NHL will release the 2025-26 season schedule on Wednesday.

— Steve Conroy

US men will play Ecuador and Australia in friendlies to prepare for the World Cup

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. >> The United States will play Ecuador and Australia in October friendlies as preparation for next year’s World Cup.

The No. 15 Americans will meet No. 25 Ecuador on Oct. 10 at Austin, Texas, and No. 24 Australia four days later at Commerce City, Colorado, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Monday.

Coming off its 2-1 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, the U.S. plays No. 23 South Korea on Sept. 6 at Harrison, New Jersey, then faces No. 17 Japan three days later at Columbus, Ohio.

Following the October friendlies, the U.S. will have a pair of exhibitions in both November and March.

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama says he’s been cleared to return following blood clot

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the last few months, he told the French newspaper L’Equipe in remarks published Monday.

There was no immediate comment from the Spurs on the report. It has been expected that the team anticipated Wembanyama would be able to start this coming season, though there was no official word until now.

“I’m officially cleared to return. … I’ll finally be able to play a bit of basketball again,” Wembanyama told the French sports daily.

Wembanyama was the league’s rookie of the year two years ago, and Spurs guard Stephon Castle won that same trophy this past season. Wembanyama was the front-runner to be defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February.

Elway won’t be charged in golf cart accident that killed former agent Jeff Sperbeck

LOS ANGELES >> NFL Hall of Famer John Elway won’t be charged after his business partner Jeffrey Sperbeck was fatally injured falling out of his golf cart at a Southern California golf resort community last April, authorities said Monday.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that investigators found nothing criminal and ruled it a tragic accident.

“Consequently, no criminal charges will be filed at this time, and the case will be documented as an accidental death,” the statement said.

Sperbeck, Elway’s partner and former agent, died after suffering an injury when he tumbled out of the golf cart driven by the former quarterback on April 26 at The Madison Club in La Quinta, east of Los Angeles. Sperbeck was 62.

— The Associated Press