Gophers forward Jimmy Snuggerud, a junior from Chaska, was named Wednesday as one of the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award given annually to college hockey’s top player.

It comes a day after Snuggerud was named to the Big Ten’s all-conference first team. He is hoping to become the fifth Gopher to win the Hobey, which was first given to Minnesota star forward Neal Broten in 1981.

Also among the finalists is Denver Pioneers defenseman Zeev Buium, picked by Minnesota in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Buium and teammate Jack Devine both made the list after helping the Pioneers to the program’s 10th NCAA title last season.

The other seven finalists are Penn State forward Aiden Fink, Army defenseman Mac Gadowsky, Michigan State forward Isaac Howard, Boston College forward Ryan Leonard, Clarkson forward Ayrton Martino, Holy Cross forward Liam McLinskey and Minnesota State Mankato goalie Alex Tracy.

The field will be reduced to three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on April 3, with the trophy awarded on Friday, April 11 at the Frozen Four.

— Jess Myers

gophers men’s basketball

Two more players enter NCAA transfer portal

Without a sitting head coach, Minnesota watched junior forward Frank Mitchell and redshirt sophomore Kadyn Betts share intentions to leave the program in the wake of Ben Johnson’s dismissal last week.

Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Canisius, came on strong at the end of last season, producing multiple double-doubles in Big Ten play. He averaged 4.8 rebounds and 4.9 points in 15 minutes per game.

Betts, a 6-foot-7 forward from Pueblo, Colo., was outside the rotation last season.

Mitchell and Betts are the second and third players to enter the portal since Johnson was let go after a 15-17 season.

— Andy Greder

MLB

Dodgers sweep Cubs in Japan; Ohtani homers

Shohei Ohtani hit a solo homer in his return to the Tokyo Dome, Roki Sasaki threw three eventful innings in his big-league debut and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 to sweep the two-game series in Japan.

Kiké Hernández hit a two-run homer and Tommy Edman added a solo shot. Ohtani’s homer in the fifth barely cleared the right-center fence and the call was reviewed by umpires before being confirmed, giving the Dodgers a 6-2 lead.

Sasaki gave up one run and one hit while striking out three, but also walked five batters, including a free pass that forced in a run. Landon Knack (1-0) got the win, pitching two scoreless innings of relief.

Alex Vesia handled the ninth to earn the save after working out of a two-out jam.

Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (0-1) was tagged for five runs over four innings, giving up the homers to Hernández and Edman. Jon Berti had three of Chicago’s eight hits.

The Dodgers were without Freddie Freeman (ribs) and Mookie Betts (illness) for a second straight game.

Arizona sends Mancini to minor league camp

The Arizona Diamondbacks reassigned veteran Trey Mancini to minor league camp.

Mancini agreed to a minor league contract with the organization in early February.

The outfielder/first baseman was attempting a comeback after sitting out last season.

NFL

Commanders rework Samuel’s contract

Deebo Samuel and the Washington Commanders reworked the wide receiver’s contract to guarantee $17 million this season with $3 million in additional incentives.

Samuel, 29, is entering the final season of the three-year, $71.55 million extension he signed with San Francisco in 2022; his previous base salary wasn’t guaranteed.

The Commanders acquired him from the 49ers on March 1 for a fifth-round pick in next month’s draft.

Bears sign returner Duvernay from Ravens

The Chicago Bears signed former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay to a one-year contract.

Duvernay has 1,053 yards on punt returns and 2,162 yards and two touchdowns on kickoff returns over four seasons with Baltimore and one with Jacksonville.

He also has 977 yards receiving and five touchdown catches.

— From news services