2022 NHL All-Star Game

    The Metropolitan Division defeated the Central Division in the championship round of the 2022 NHL All-Star Game on Saturday. The event was held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was the third time in the last five National Hockey League All-Star Games that the Metropolitan Division prevailed. 

     The Florida Panthers had representation at the NHL All-Star Weekend. Current NHL points leader and assist leader Jonathan Huberdeau was the only Panthers player while interim head coach Andrew Brunette was the head coach of the Atlantic Division. 

     The second semifinal of the event had the Central Division get by the Atlantic Division 8-5. Huberdeau scored on a forehand shot from the low slot by Cam Talbot and tied the game 1-1 with 6:32 left in the first period. The Atlantic Division closed it to 3-2 with 40.4 seconds left in the first when Huberdeau assisted on an Auston Matthews goal. 

Jonathan Huberdeau Last In Fountain Face-Off

     Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau finished last in eighth place for the Discover NHL Fountain Face-Off skill competition. It was the first time that this was a part of NHL All-Star Weekend. 

     Huberdeau ended up with a time of 39.915 seconds. Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets won the final round at 25.634 seconds against Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators. 

South Florida To Host 2023 NHL All-Star Game

     The Florida Panthers and the South Florida region will host the Honda 2023 National Hockey League All-Star Game next season on February 4, 2023 at FLA Live Arena. The skills competition will be held one night earlier on February 3, 2023.  

     The NHL All-Star Game was held in Sunrise back in 2003. It turned out to be the first shootout to ever take place in National Hockey League history. The South Florida area was to host the 2021 NHL All-Star Game, however it was eliminated because of the shortened regular season due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Dan Straily Signs With Diamondbacks

     Former Miami Marlins starting pitcher Dan Straily has signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Players can only agree to minor league deals due to the Major League Baseball lockout. Straily will be invited to the Diamondbacks spring training camp if it occurs. 

     Straily was with the Marlins in 2017 and 2018. He compiled a 15-15 record with a 4.20 earned run average in 56 starts. 

Jimmy Butler NBA All-Star

     Miami Heat guard Jimmy Butler has been named an Eastern Conference reserve player for the upcoming 2022 NBA All-Star Game on February 20. It was the sixth time that Butler was selected to participate in the NBA All-Star Game. 

     Butler received the same honor two seasons ago with the Heat. He did get selected while with the Chicago Bulls three times and the Minnesota Timberwolves once. 

Heat Step On Spurs

     The  Miami Heat dropped the San Antonio Spurs 112-95 at AT&T Center on Thursday night. The Heat snapped a three-game losing streak, which tied their season high in 2021-22. 

     Miami(33-20) had a 21-19 edge after one quarter and were ahead 57-47 at halftime. The Heat increased their lead to 88-55 at the end of three quarters. San Antonio(19-34) unable to get any traction during the second half.

     The Heat were led by Tyler Herro with a game-high 24 points. Bam Adebayo compiled a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jimmy Buttler and Duncan Robison both scored 17 points each. Kyle Lowry played his first game since January 15 and had two points along with four assists in 25 minutes of play. Derrick White put in a team-high 22 points for the Spurs. 

Beasley Media Group Exits South Florida Region

     Beasley Media Group is about to exit the South Florida radio market. The organization has sold their final radio station in the region 1470 WWNN-AM in Boca Raton and two FM translators to Marco Broadcasting for $1.25 million. 

     WWNN-AM has been using the brand South Florida's Money Talk Radio Network since it added programming from former sister-station 740 WSBR-AM in December 2019. It is possible that WWNN will change their format with new ownership.

     Several on-air personnel have been on the radio station with sports programming. Jeff DeForrest was an evening sports host there in 2006. Jim Grieshaber hosted an evening show in the late 2000s. Longtime 640 WMEN-AM producer Erik Lengyel was a game analyst on Friday night high school football games in 2010 and 2011. Former 560 WQAM-AM program director Duff Lindsey was the operations manager at WWNN from 2011 until June 2019.  

     Beasley Media Group came into the South Florida market in 1996 when it was known as Beasley Broadcasting. They purchased Sports Radio 560 WQAM, Power 96 WPOW-FM and Kiss Country 99.9 WKIS-FM from Sunshine Wireless Company. Beasley later acquired three radio stations in the Boca Raton area which included WSBR-AM, WWNN-AM and WHSR-AM in 2000. Beasley Media Group sold their three Miami radio stations to CBS Radio in October 2014.