Groups have been set for the 2026 World Junior Championships, which will be played Dec. 26, 2025 through Jan. 5, 2026, at Xcel Energy Center and 3M Arena at Mariucci Arena.

Group A will feature Team USA and play all games at the X. The other teams will be Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany. The U.S. is the two-time defending gold medalist. Group B will play at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus and feature Finland, Czechia, Canada, Latvia and Denmark.

Group A and Group B ticket packages, both which include medal-round tickets, will go on sale beginning Saturday at 10 a.m. CT at 2026.worldjunior.hockey.

PWHL

Frost blank Charge in ‘Raleigh Takeover’

Minnesota exploded for five goals Friday night for shutout win against the Ottawa Charge in Raleigh, N.C.

The Frost scored all the goals they needed with a three-score outburst in the first period before adding two more in the third.

Goaltender Maddie Rooney stopped all 19 shots she faced for the clean sheet.

Minnesota got one goal each from Kendall Coyne Schofield, Brooke McQuigge, Denisa Krizova, Sophie Jaques and Michaela Cava.

The Frost play at Toronto at noon on Sunday.

NHL

Bruins send captain Marchand to Florida

The Florida Panthers welcomed the arrival of Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand in a trade that adds even more grit and experience to the Stanley Cup champions’ roster.

Marchand, traded by the Bruins after 16 seasons in Boston will give the Panthers more depth as they battle for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Stars add Rantanen from Hurricanes

Mikko Rantanen is heading to the Dallas Stars, who agreed to acquire the prolific playoff performer from the Carolina Hurricanes.

Dallas dealt rookie forward Logan Stankoven, two first-round and two third-round picks to acquire Rantanen.

That doesn’t include Dallas agreeing to an eight-year, $96 million contract.

college hockey

St. Thomas blasts Ferris State in CCHA play

The St. Thomas men’s hockey team bested visiting Ferris St. 7-3 in Mendota Heights.

The Tommies (17-13-5) led just 4-3 after one period, but scored one more in the second and added another two in the final frame while holding the Bulldogs (13-19-3) scoreless after their initial outburst.

Cooper Gay and Liam Malmquist scored two goals apiece for UST, with Lucas Wahlin, Jake Braccini and Quinton Pepper logging one goal apiece. Jake Sibell made 28 saves in the win.

mlb

Walker’s MRI show no sign of oblique strain

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker received some good news regarding the oblique issue that has limited him this spring training.

Astros manager Joe Espada said an MRI didn’t reveal any strain.

Espada said Walker is returning to the Astros’ spring training camp.

Walker, who turns 34 on March 28, batted .251 with 26 homers and 84 RBIs in 130 games for Arizona last season.

He signed a $60 million, three-year contract with the Astros in December.

Kirby likely to open season in injured list

Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby has inflammation on his throwing shoulder and likely will open the season on the injured list.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander the Mariners plan to shut Kirby down to get the inflammation out. He will be reassessed in a week. An initial MRI showed no structural damage.

Kirby, 27, started 33 games last season to tie for the major league lead. He went 14-11 with a 3.53 ERA with 179 strikeouts and 23 walks in 181 innings.

NFL

Raiders acquiring Geno Smith from Seahawks

Geno Smith is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are sending the Seattle Seahawks a third-round pick for Smith.

The 34-year-old, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback reunites with new Raiders coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas.

Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season.

Commanders release longtime DT Allen

The Washington Commanders parted ways with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, releasing the standout defensive lineman after eight seasons with the organization.

Drafted in the first round out of Alabama in 2017, Allen was the second-longest-tenured player in the organization after punter Tress Way.

Bills extend Bernard for four years, $50M

The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement to sign starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard to a four-year contract extension worth up to $50 million, with $25.2 million of it guaranteed.

The 25-year-old Bernard still has one year left on his rookie contract.

Titans release seven-year veteran Landry

The Tennessee Titans released veteran linebacker Harold Landry III on Friday to clear salary cap space.

The seven-year veteran, who led the Titans with nine sacks last season, was due to count $24.1 million against the cap for this season.

golf

Lowry leads after two rounds at Bay Hill

Shane Lowry had six birdies in slightly tamer conditions for a 5-under 67, giving him a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Corey Conners (70) and Collin Morikawa (68) were three shots behind.

— From news services