Katie Engleson Theory Stopped

     Three years ago, our organization came up with the concept of the Katie Engleson Theory. She has been associated with teams through a portion of her life where they went beyond the regular season and past the first two rounds of a playoff tournament. Teams have won championships, finished in the championship round or reached the tournament semifinals. 

     The Katie Engleson Theory finally ended with the Florida Panthers not making the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. She joined the organization as a television sideline reporter in September 2022. The Panthers captured two Stanley Cup titles and three Eastern Conference champions along with three Stanley Cup Final appearances in her first three seasons at the post. 

     Engleson, a Parkland native, was a baton twirler at high school football games while attending St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. The Raiders football team had great success in her four years associated with the program. St. Thomas Aquinas won two FHSAA Class 5A state titles and two national championships in 2008 and 2010. They reached the FHSAA Class 5A state semifinals in 2009 and fell to Manatee Hurricanes on the road. STA got past the first two rounds of the 2011 FHSAA Class 7A state playoffs and lost in the third round at the Dwyer Panthers. 

     She went to college at the University of Alabama. Engleson performed as a baton twirler at Alabama college football contests. The Crimson Tide won the BCS National Championship in 2012 and the CFP National Championship in 2015. Alabama reached the Sugar Bowl in 2013 and 2014 losing both times. The second occasion was in a BCS national semifinal game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Anthony Rizzo Joins NBC Sports

     Former Broward County high school baseball player Anthony Rizzo has joined NBC Sports and Peacock as a baseball analyst. He announced his retirement from Major League Baseball in September 2025. 

     Rizzo participated in high school baseball with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Rizzo was traded to the San Diego Padres in December 2010. 

     After a one-year stint with the Padres in 2011, he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs. Rizzo with was the Cubs from 2012 until 2021. He helped Chicago win their first World Series in 108 years during 2016.

     He was acquired by the New York Yankees in July 2021 and played there from 2021 to 2024. Rizzo contributed to the Yankees capturing their first American League pennant after a 15-year drought in 2024. 

Panthers xxxx Senators

     The Florida Panthers xxxx the Ottawa Senators x-x at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night. The Cats will play their final road game on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

     Florida(37-37-4) 

     Ottawa(41-27-10) 

Raptors xxxx Heat

     The Toronto Raptors xxxx the Miami Heat xxx-xxx at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night. It was the second straight contest both teams met at the same venue. 

     Toronto(44-35)

     Miami(41-38)

Marlins Roll By Reds

     The Miami Marlins sailed by the Cincinnati Reds 6-1 on Thursday at loanDepot park. The Marlins finished off a four-game homestand and will visit the Detroit Tigers for the start of a three-game series tomorrow. 

     Miami(8-5) rushed to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Agustin Ramirez grounded into a fielder's choice to third. Eugenio Suarez made a fielding error and Xavier Edwards reached home. 

     It became 4-1 for the Marlins with three runs during the bottom of the fourth. Owen Caissie double to the left-field warning track for Liam Hicks and Otto Lopez to score. Two batters later, Javier Sanoja drove in Caissie with a base hit into right field. 

     Cincinnati(8-5) closed it to 4-1 in the top of the fifth. Westminster Christian School grad Sal Stewart powered a solo home run to right-center field on a 1-2 pitch. 

     The Fish expanded their lead to 5-1 in the sixth inning. Sanoja singled into center field and Caissie scored. 

     Florida extended it to 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Caissie knocked in Ramirez on a single up the middle. 

Brad Marchand Bill Masterton Trophy Nominee

     Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy along with 31 other National Hockey League players. He was named the Panthers nominee by the Professional Hockey Writers Association South Florida chapter. 

     The award goes to an NHL player who shows sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to the sport of hockey. Jaromir Jagr won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2015-16 season while with the Panthers. 

Marlins Handle Reds

     The Miami Marlins held off the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 at loanDepot park on Wednesday night. The Marlins will complete their homestand and four-game set against the Reds tomorrow. The Reds had their five-game winning streak snapped.