Kelsey McGovern, Staff Writer

On Sept. 19, Mayor Cherelle Parker endorsed the new 76ers arena to be relocated to Center City, stating, “Our Sixers are staying home” in a video on CBS News. A proposal from New Jersey to move the arena to Camden’s waterfront prompted Parker to prioritize keeping the 76ers in Philadelphia. She views this as a positive extension to the community, emphasizing the influx of tax revenue and the creation of hundreds of jobs in Philadelphia, which will bring in $1.3 billion in private investment, according to CBS News.

The 76ers’ lease at the Wells Fargo Center expires in 2031, making efforts to establish the new arena urgent. The City Council still needs to approve Parker’s endorsement, which gives the Chinatown community hope of preserving their neighborhood. The Sixers have expressed gratitude, stating, “We are grateful to Mayor Parker and her team for their time and diligence in evaluating our proposal and look forward to advancing to the next steps with City Council.”

However, the Chinatown community has actively protested the project, fearing it will harm the neighborhood and lead to gentrification rather than revitalization. The Save Chinatown Coalition has voiced their concerns, arguing that local businesses and residents will be displaced and that traffic will increase. The proposed arena would be located at 10th and 11th streets and Market and Filbert streets, alongside a high-rise building with 395 residential units. Community members worry the arena will alter the character of their neighborhood.

Residents are frustrated that Mayor Parker has not engaged with many Chinatown members to discuss the potential impacts of the project on their daily lives and culture. According to WHYY, the community recently celebrated their Mid-Autumn Festival, showcasing their culture that they fear could be jeopardized if the arena is approved. Wei, the festival’s founder, stated, “The crowds here, the energy, is a testament to how this community sustains culture and sustains identity for so many people in this area.”

The power to fully approve this proposal now lies with the City Council, which will hold public hearings allowing the Chinatown community to voice their opinions. Supporters of the project believe the arena will bring more business to Chinatown, while many residents fear they will be displaced.

On Twitter former Eagles player Jason Kelce has used his platform to support the Chinatown community, advocating for the team to remain at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Some 76ers fans are strongly against the possible move to Camden, insisting the team belongs in Philadelphia, not New Jersey.

Andrew Noel, Writer

Last week, the Flyers reported to the team practice facility in Voorhees, New Jersey for preseason training camp. The start of training camp marks the beginning of what will be a crucial season for the Flyers, as they continue to rebuild toward the success that fans have come to expect.

The most notable offseason acquisition for the Flyers was the long-awaited arrival of forward Matevi Michkov, from Russia. Given the current political situation involving Russia, as well as Russian ice hockey’s rocky past with the Flyers, many thought that Michkov, who is seen as arguably the franchise’s savior, would never be able to play for the Flyers. These doubts have been put to rest, with Michkov officially part of the Flyers and ready to help the team. 

Unfortunately, Michkov is the only needle-moving prospect the Flyers have. Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey have shown potential, but even at their best they are not going to be the difference between winning or losing a Stanley Cup.

Bringing Michkov from Russia was the only notable move in what was an overall very quiet off-season for the Flyers. The quiet offseason was not a surprise to many, as the team’s difficult salary cap situation was always going to limit the team’s ability to improve significantly. Despite this, some fans are beginning to get restless with the new Flyers front office and are eager to see improvement in the standings.

This restlessness from fans is completely justified, as the Flyers are about to embark on their most important season since the new regime took over. Many feel that the progress of the rebuild has stalled, with star prospect Cutter Gauthier being traded for scraps, and flashy goalie prospect Alexi Kolosov facing an uncertain future in Philadelphia. Taking Gauthier and Kolosov out of the picture, there is not a lot for Flyers fans to look forward to. Having onestar prospect in the system after three years of rebuilding leaves a lot to be desired. 

In addition to this, some fans believe too much emphasis has been placed on building a culture around the team, one that has not existed for a decade. While there is no doubt that culture is important for winning teams in sports, good vibes do not automatically translate to wins, and good vibes do not make players better. 

Three years into the rebuild, and the Flyers have good vibes and a star prospect, who happens to play the least important position on the ice and happens to play the one position that the Flyers have talent in (winger). The puck has not yet dropped on the 82-game season, but when it does, many Flyers fans will be faced with the same thoughts that they have had for a decade, thoughts of directionlessness, stagnation, and another year wasted in one of the best hockey towns in the country. One can only hope I am wrong, but until actual change occurs and improvement is seen, it will be the same old Flyers, once again.

Lily Gebbia, Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA – Last Sunday afternoon, the La Salle’s Explorers suited up for a inter-city rival game against the St. Joseph’s Hawks at McCarthy stadium, where they were previously undefeated. Going into the game, La Salle held an edge over the Hawks, winning 14 of the 18 all-time matchups. Sunday’s game resulted in a 1-1 tie, marking the first ever draw between the two teams. 

The match got off to a quick start as Hawk’s midfielder Natalie Nevins converted her first shot within two minutes of the game. Following the quick lead, the Explorers brought their offense up a notch, firing three shots on goal within the next 10 minutes. Finally, in the 18th minute, senior forward Haley Gschrey broke away from the Hawk’s defense and was able to easily get into a position to score. She did so, firing a shot into the top right corner of the net and tying the game. 

That game tying goal marks the sixth of the year and 20th all time for Gschrey, as she continues to remain a top threat for La Salle’s offense and the A-10 conference, being sixth in goals scored this year. The game remained exciting, with both teams looking for that go ahead score. In the next few minutes, senior forward Sunni DiElmo made a push and got a shot off that inevitably hit the top of the crossbar to take them into the next half. 

In the second half, both teams were firing shots but none seemed to convert. La Salle had an edge of 10-7 in shots on goal compared to the Hawks. Senior goalkeeper Michela Auguadro saved three goals in the last ten minutes of the game, helping the Explorers stay in the game. Those saves add to her 32 saves on the year, only allowing 12 goals, otherwise. 

As the game clock starts to tick down, both teams scramble to get the game winning goal. Ultimately, both teams fell short and the game ended in a draw, marking both teams third draw of the year. Going forward, The Explorers hope to win their next game against Davidson, which will be at McCarthy stadium on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. A win there would give them an edge on conference play with their next eight games all being A-10 matchups.

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

If you happen to drive through Doylestown, Pennsylvania on a weekend, go past the famous Fonthill Castle that looks out of place today and end up passing Maennerchor Field – chances are you will see 30 guys or girls playing a sport that seems as dated as the castle. The sport being played is rugby, and the club that calls the field home is on the cusp of its 50^th anniversary.

The Doylestown Dragons Rugby Football Club (or Doylestown RFC) was created in 1974 when a group of rugby players from Doylestown played rugby with Blackthorn RFC. Realizing the 45 minute drive to Blackthorn’s home field near Philadelphia three days a week was too much, the players decided to start their team in Doylestown.

Today, the rugby club has grown from just having a men’s side to including youth teams, both high school girls and boys teams and also a women’s team. The current president of the men’s team, Brian Kelnhofer, started out playing for the club’s youth and high school teams and is now back playing for the men’s team.

“I think it speaks for rugby,” Kelnhofer said. “Kevin Riley and Brian Stella are the two guys who I walked into [the sport with]. They were great friends when I was a kid and they said, “‘We need more people,’ and I was hooked from the jump.” Today, Kelnhofer, Riley and Stella have continued the bond they forged as kids and all play together on the men’s team.

The team struggled in the fall both in terms of finding enough players and capturing wins. However, they started the spring with a roster of over 20 players and finished the season undefeated, with one of the wins coming against their old foe Blackthorn.

The head coach of the team, Jeremy Ault, credits hard work for the team’s success. “We have been working on our skills and the fundamentals in the winter,” he said. “You can never not train enough of the fundamentals. Since we went to outside practices, we have been wanting to work on our game plan since this is a different style, whether you are familiar with it or not.”

Something all members of the club were happy to touch on was what it means to be a part of Doylestown Rugby for the 50^th anniversary, as well as the club’s reunion that will be coinciding with the anniversary.

“It’s a privilege to say that I will be moving forward as the head coach of a club that has been around for half a century. I think that is something that will definitely be on my resume, but until then I think it will be important to see that growth and development from the younger guys,” said Ault.

“I think that this celebration is bringing a lot of people out of the woodwork who want to come back and get involved,” added Julian Bellman, the communications and marketing chair of the club and Vice President of the men’s team. “As a club, we are setting up a lot of infrastructure to be able to keep track of records and management of past and current players to have better communication with everyone. So, I think having everyone come out for the 50^th and get involved that way and update their information, they will be able to stay informed.”

As for the future of the club, everyone involved with the men’s team was very optimistic. “The numbers have been increasing,” said Bellman. “We have a new head coach (Ault) and a new president (Kelnhofer), who are both doing a great job in their positions with building team morale, getting players out and teaching the game to new people.”

“We want more bodies, more time together and just building the right culture,” said Kelnhofer about his goals for the club. “Because when you do that, everything else follows.”

When asked if he wanted to add anything else, Kelnhofer gave a quick pause, smiled, and said the same slogan that has been said for 50 years.

“Go Dragons.”

Andrew Noel, Staff Writer 

For a team in Super Bowl contention, the Eagles certainly had a lot of roster needs heading into this year’s NFL Draft. Luckily, GM Howie Roseman was able to work his magic and fill most of the needs for the Eagles. Here is a breakdown of each pick. 

Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo – Everyone knew what the Eagles biggest need was coming into the draft. With the decline of James Bradberry and the aging Darius Slay, the only two reliable cornerbacks on the roster, the Eagles with the 22nd pick got Quniyon Mitchell from Toledo. Mitchell was seen as one of the best athletes in the draft and Eagles fans were very happy with the pick. The only knock on Mitchell is that he played his college football in the Mid-American Conference, causing him to face lesser talent than some of the other defensive backs in the draft. s This has led some to believe that he may struggle to succeed against the much better competition in the NFL. 

Cooper Dejean DB Iowa – Howie Roseman once again addressed his roster’s biggest need with his second pick. Dejean can play corner, safety and even some linebacker, which were all massive needs going into the draft. A lot of analysts were surprised when Dejean did not get picked in the first round, so getting him in the second round is a steal for the Eagles. 

Jalyx Hunt DE Houton Christian – With their 3rd pick, the Eagles took the first player ever to be drafted out of Houston Christian University. Hunt is a defensive end, another position the Eagles needed to address, especially after trading Hasson Reddick to the Jets. 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith can also play defensive end, but he will have to show improvement in 2024 if the Eagles plan on making him a starter. Due to the uncertainty at the position, this was a no-brainer for the Eagles. 

Will Shipley RB Clemson – You can never have enough offensive weapons, and this pick backed up that philosophy. A running back wasn’t the most pressing need for the Eagles given the signing of free agent Saquon Barkley, but depth was needed at the position with Kenneth Gainwell being the only other NFL-ready back on the roster. These kinds of picks are smart because they allow a young player to sit behind a veteran and develop with no pressure on him to succeed. It is a great sign that the Eagles are willing to show this type of patience in player development. 

Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M – Similar to the Shipley pick, this is not a move that will impact the Eagles much in the short term but was nonetheless necessary to make. Besides the great duo of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, the Eagles had almost no options at wide receiver. Depth was needed in the position and this pick is exactly what it provides. Like Shipley, not much will (or should) be expected from Smith early in his career, but sitting behind two of the best wide receivers in the game will no doubt benefit Smith and the Eagles in a few years time. 

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB Clemson – The son of an Eagles legend, Trotter will fit right in with the Eagles. Lineback was the biggest need on the team after cornerback, and Trotter fills the need nicely.  

Trevor Keegan G Michigan – You can also never have enough depth on the lines, and this pick is an example of that. Not a ton is expected out of Keegan, but worst-case scenario, he adds depth to one of the most important positions in football. 

Johnny Wilson WR Florida State – Wilson is a wide receiver who will probably convert to tight end in the NFL. A fantastic pick as the Eagles lacked tight end depth beyond Dallas Goedert. Goedert is also starting to get older, so picking up a player who could take over for him immediately is smart. 

Dylan Mcmahon C N.C. State – Mcmahon is probably the most underrated pick of this Eagles draft class. After the retirement of Jason Kelce a center was needed on the roster to back up converted center Cam Jurgens. Mcmahon plays three offensive line positions and versatility is one of the best traits a player can have in the NFL. 

Only time will tell how good this draft class ends up being for the Eagles. In the short term, it was a great success, with the biggest holes on the roster being filled. There is a lot of work to be done before the Eagles kick off their season in Brazil in September, but these last three days can certainly be seen as a step in the right direction as the Eagles look to return to the playoffs next year.

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

Last season was a year to forget for La Salle’s lacrosse team. The roster was full of underclassmen playing a very tough schedule, a bad combination that led to the Explorers finishing 0-15. Not only did they not win a game, but the Explorers failed to even push a game to overtime, continuing the narrative that a lack of skill, not luck, was the main issue for the team.

While the season has just started, things are already looking up for the Explorers. They won their first game of the season 19-10 over Fairleigh Dickinson, breaking a 16-game losing streak that dated back to the 2022 season. While the Explorers have lost two straight games since the opener, the 13-12 loss to Manhattan in double overtime over the weekend is a positive sign that this season will be different from the team’s previous campaign.

A big reason for the Explorers’ early success has been their offense. Last season’s team only had 40 assists and a .345 shot percentage, second to last and last in the A10. This year the Explorers already have 18 assists, which would put them at 84 over the whole season, an amazing improvement in one year. As for their shot percentage, it is at a cool .438, good for fourth in the conference.

Another reason for La Salle’s solid start has been the players’ efforts. Junior Katie Johnson already has 10 goals this season, tying her total from last year, and Mackenzie Click’s 4 goals against FDU played a huge part in the Explorer’s win. So far, it has been the upperclassman leading La Salle, but freshman Kate Licciardi has held her own. Licciardi has started all three games, grabbing two assists against FDU and netting her first goal against Manhattan, as well as getting another assist in the same game.

The worst loss of the season was to Villanova 14-4. The home opener for the Explorers was disappointing, especially coming after the win against FDU, but La Salle did a good job controlling the pace offensively. The most glaring issue in this game was that once the Wildcats got possession, they would push the ball quickly without much resistance, leading to quick goals. This was not as much of an issue against Manhattan, giving La Salle fans hope that this was just a fluke.

The Explorers have two more non-conference games coming up, before opening conference play at Davidson on March 9. The first of the non-conference games will be against Howard on Wednesday, followed by a home game against UMBC on Saturday. Howard is currently 0-4 and UMBC is 2-2, so La Salle will look to win against both of these beatable teams before going into the harder part of their schedule. The Explorer’s 1-2 record puts them in the middle of the Atlantic 10 standings, so adding another win or two will be a huge morale boost for a team looking to leave last year in the past and improve on what could be a very exciting season.

Aidan Tyksinski, Editor

Last weekend, during the NBA All-Star weekend, the WNBA and NBA teamed up and paired New York Liberty star shooter Sabrina Ionescu versus Golden State Warrior legend Steph Curry in a 3-point challenge. Originally, Ionescu was supposed to shoot from the WNBA three-point line (three feet shorter than the NBA line). However, she decided to shoot from the NBA three-point line saying, “Personally, I shoot from that range to begin with.”

While some fans might have seen this as cocky, it was just Ionescu speaking her truth. She ended the event with 26 points which would have tied her with four NBA players in the first round of the NBA three-point contest and also tied her with the winner, Damien Lillard, in the final round. Unfortunately for this marquee event, Ionescu was paired against Curry, who won the head-to-head competition by three points.

While Ionescu might not have won, the WNBA certainly did. According to the NBA, the NBA All-Star Challenge was viewed by 10 million people, with the peak audience at 5.4 million between 10 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. The event that piqued so much interest? Ionescu versus Curry. At a time when the WNBA is forming super teams and viewership for the league is on the rise, this moment was huge for the league.

This moment was another footnote in a great couple of weeks for women’s sports. Two nights before the 3-point contest, Iowa guard Catlin Clark became the NCAA women’s all-time leading scorer, passing Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum, who achieved the record while playing at the University of Washington. After scoring 24 points while also nabbing a triple-double in Iowa’s win over Illinois on Sunday, Clark needs just 51 points to break the all-time NCAA scoring record, held by college basketball legend Pete Maravich.

Internationally, 19,285 people were in attendance for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game between Toronto and Montreal on Feb. 16, breaking the record for highest attendance for a women’s professional hockey game, according to the Sports Business Journal. According to the Journal, it’s the third time the PWHL has broken the record this season, the league’s first. Speaking of attendance, a WSL game between Arsenal and Manchester United last weekend had over 60 thousand fans in attendance, which also broke a league record. The Big 10 conference also announced that the women’s conference tournament has sold out every day of the tournament for the first time, largely thanks to Clark and Iowa, who are hoping to make another Final Four run this year.

From the court to the ice, to the pitch, it is clear to most people that women’s sports are ascending to heights many never thought were possible. Networks have started to catch on, giving women athletes a national audience and a platform that once upon a time was only given to a select few. While there is still a lot that needs to be done in terms of equality, Ionescu’s performance last weekend was proof that when given the chance, sports fans will watch women’s sports.

Andrew Noel, Staff

Saturday night continued the trend of the Flyers not performing their best when the lights are the brightest. In front of a national audience and 70 thousand cheering fans, the Flyers stumbled to a 6-3 loss against the New Jersey Devils. Thanks to the loss, they have now only won one of the six outdoor games they have played in franchise history.  It was a disappointing output for a franchise that wants to be among the league’s most feared and respected teams. 

The game was a reality check for the Flyers, who, in all honesty, were lucky to lose by just three goals. The Devils took the lead after just 32 seconds and never looked back. It was a bad game for the Flyers, who should be winning these kinds of games easily if they want to think about making a playoff run. Unfortunately, at this point, a playoff appearance at all would be a miracle. It is hard to imagine that just a few weeks ago fans were saying that the Flyers were a Stanley Cup favorite. But anything, especially in sports, can change in just a few weeks. 

The Flyers did bounce back with a midweek win in Chicago over the Blackhawks. The game was a much improved performance from the Flyers who controlled throughout and came out as deserved 3-1 winners. As encouraging as the win was, it is worth remembering that the Blackhawks are the worst team in hockey, and pretty much everyone beats them.  

Overall, it was another week of stagnation for the Flyers: One step forward, two steps back. As discussed in recent articles, the Flyers are coming up with a decision on what they want to do with their team, not just for the short term but for the long term as well. The later in the season it gets, the more and more clear it becomes as to what kind of team the Flyers are. They have improved over the last two seasons, no doubt, but they continue to struggle against the best teams in the league. If General Manager Danny Briere were to do nothing during the upcoming trade deadline, then he would leave the Flyers in no man’s land, which in sports, is the worst place to be. They would be too good to get a top draft pick, but not good enough to make the playoffs. 

The new Flyers leadership has been very open with the fans about the direction of the team. That was great in the beginning, but words must turn into actions, and so far, no actions have been taken to make this fanbase believe that this regime will be any different from the ones in the past. Time has not run out for the Flyers, but the clock is ticking, and if the clock hits zero, then fans will be right to question this front office and wonder if this front office group will be any different from those in the past.  

Saturday’s game against the Devils was a chance for the Flyers to exorcise old demons against a division foe. Instead, they showed that lots of progress still has to be made before they can be considered one of the league’s top teams. Unless this new Flyers leadership makes big changes at the trade deadline, then fans should have no hope that these new Flyers will be anything different than the old Flyers.