Referee Mike Sullivan will make his Nationwide Hockey League officiating debut on Sunday when he takes the ice in Calgary for Flames vs. Arizona Coyotes. 

Sullivan, sporting #47,  will swimsuit up alongside referee Kendrick Nicholson (#30) and linesmen Travis Toomey (#90) and Bevan Mills (#53).  The Officiating Supervisor can be Al Kimmel. 

Sullivan, to not be confused with the Pittsburgh Penguins head coach, was employed by the NHL  previous to the beginning of the season.  He performed faculty hockey at Bowling Inexperienced State College earlier than listening to to Europe. Sullivan spent three seasons in Italy, enjoying within the win2day ICE Hockey League (then referred to as the EBEL) earlier than heading to the U.Ok. to hitch the EIHL’s Dundee Stars for one season. 

“I needed to be a referee for some time now, however I by no means actually knew how one can get began,” Sullivan advised his former workforce, the Dundee Stars.  “[In 2017], I used to be fortunate sufficient to attend the NHL Publicity Mix for potential/potential officers. I cherished the entire expertise and realised that I needed to essentially give officiating a shot.”

Sullivan made his officiating debut in 2019, working video games within the Better Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), together with the American Hockey League – as a referee – and the Ontario Hockey League – as a linesman.  He’s at present in his fifth AHL season, his third as a full-time referee.

“Officiating is unquestionably one thing that I might like to do for the remainder of my life,” Sullivan stated again in 2020.  “To have the ability to be across the sport on a regular basis, and make a fantastic profession out of it, could be a dream. For the time being, I’m simply ensuring that each sport I get within the AHL, OHL, and Minor Hockey, I work arduous and do my greatest to referee a good sport. The sport has given me a lot, and I owe it to the sport to try this.”

From the NHLOA:

Born and raised within the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario, Mike Sullivan performed hockey throughout the Better Toronto Space till 2011, when he started a collegiate profession at Bowling Inexperienced State College.  After enjoying 4 years for the Falcons, he graduated and joined his older brother in Italy, signing with Asiago within the Italian Skilled Hockey League.

After two seasons in Italy, he started pursuing a profession in officiating by making use of to the 2017 NHL Officiating Beginner Publicity Mix. After a watch opening week on the mix, he returned to Italy for an additional season, the place his workforce gained the Alps Hockey League Championship, and he acquired the esteemed privilege of representing Italy on the 2018 World Championships. That summer season, he attended the 2018 NHL Officiating Mix as soon as once more to proceed to develop as a possible official.

He performed one ultimate season within the UK’s Elite League, the place he performed for the Scottish based mostly Dundee Stars, whereas additionally incomes his Grasp’s Diploma in Enterprise from the College of Dundee.

After as soon as once more attending the 2019 NHL Officiating Mix, he picked up a whistle and started his officiating profession, working 200 youth video games within the Better Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), whereas additionally being a linesperson for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and a Referee for the American Hockey League (AHL). He transitioned to full time Referee within the AHL for the 2021 season, working a full schedule together with the primary two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 2022-23 season was his 4th AHL season, the place he continued to hone his sport by a full season schedule, incomes the glory of working the Calder Cup Convention Finals.  After that season, In June of 2023, his on-ice profession would come full circle, as he could be supplied a minor league referee NHL contract in his hometown of Toronto.

Sullivan is the fourth and ultimate referee to make his Nationwide Hockey League debut this month.  Referee Graedy Hamilton took the ice for the primary time within the NHL at Coyotes vs. Sharks, adopted by Stephen Hiff at Sharks vs. Kraken, and Riley Brace at Canadiens vs. Senators.  All 4 had been employed previous to the 2023-24 season.

UPDATE:  Sully acquired a barn-burner for his first sport within the present because the Flames gained 6-5.  Right here’s the opening draw and some officiating highlights… 

Congratulations to Mike Sullivan on the beginning of his Nationwide Hockey League officiating profession! 

In gentle of current occasions, Kesha is giving certainly one of her largest songs a rewrite.

The singer carried out her mid-aughts monitor “Tik Tok” with Reneé Rapp at Coachella on Sunday, however tweaked its opening lyric that references Diddy after the rapper’s houses have been raided by legislation enforcement.

Instead of the road “get up within the morning feeling like P. Diddy,” Kesha as an alternative sang “(expletive) P. Diddy” whereas elevating a center finger.

Her shock look got here throughout Rapp’s Coachella set, and the “Imply Ladies” star joined Kesha in cursing out Diddy and elevating a center finger within the air.

Final month, U.S. Homeland Safety Investigations officers raided two of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ houses, which a number of retailers reported was a part of a intercourse trafficking investigation. In current months, Diddy has confronted quite a few allegations of sexual assault in a slate of civil fits filed towards him.

This is not the primary time Kesha has tweaked the lyrics of “Tik Tok.” In November, she dropped Diddy’s identify from the tune solely, singing at a Los Angeles live performance, “Get up within the morning feelin’ similar to me.” That change got here on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who sued him for rape and intercourse trafficking in November.

“Mr. Combs asserted full management over Ms. Ventura’s private {and professional} life, thereby guaranteeing her incapacity to flee his maintain,” the lawsuit stated. “He supplied unprecedented avenues for achievement for the aspiring artist, however in return, demanded obedience, loyalty and silence.”

Cassie and Diddy shortly reached a settlement. Diddy’s lawyer has stated the rapper is harmless and criticized the raid on his houses as a “witch hunt based mostly on meritless accusations.”

Diddy investigated for intercourse trafficking:A timeline of allegations and the rapper’s life, profession

Talking to MTV Information in 2009, Kesha defined the Diddy lyric took place “as a result of one morning, I awoke surrounded by a bunch of sizzling babes, and I used to be like, ‘I am like Diddy, man.'” Diddy additionally contributed vocals to the tune.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Naledi Ushe

They gotta pay to play.

Michael Douglas joked he and his spouse, Catherine Zeta-Jones, “seduce” their two kids, Dylan, 23, and Carys, 20, into hanging out with them by providing them lavish holidays.

“Catherine and I are blessed with the truth that our youngsters Dylan and Carys nonetheless wish to journey with us,” the legendary actor, 79, shared on Tuesday’s episode of the “Right now” present.

“And so, we simply completed 5 weeks in India at Christmastime. And we’re all the time planning subsequent yr, what our journeys can be and the place we’ll go.”

Douglas — who additionally shares son Cameron, 45, together with his ex-wife, Diandra Luker — mentioned it’s a “deal with” having his grownup youngsters round him.

“Particularly if you’re not forcing them. [I] mentioned, ‘Catherine, look, they really need to hang around with us.’ I mentioned, ‘You understand, it’s good,’” he mentioned.

“However we’ve acquired good journeys. We seduce them with good locations to go.”

Douglas and Zeta-Jones, 54, met on the 1998 Deauville Movie Competition whereas selling their movies.

Douglas famously informed the “Masks of Zorro” actress, “I need to father your kids.”

The pair tied the knot in November 2000 on the Plaza Resort in New York Metropolis.

Though Dylan and Carys have two well-known mother and father, that doesn’t imply they don’t embarrass them typically.

For extra Web page Six you’re keen on…

Final yr, Dylan who can be an actor, mentioned his dad tells loads of “unhealthy jokes.”

“Extra by way of what he says, fairly than who he’s,” he completely informed Web page Six on the Broadway opening of “Good Night time, Oscar” in April 2023.

“Simply dad stuff. [He’s a] bit out of contact, unhealthy jokes for certain!”

And in December 2022, Zeta-Jones, who performs Morticia Addams on “Wednesday,” in contrast Carys to her onscreen daughter’s character on the hit Netflix collection.

“Carys, my actual daughter as a little bit lady. 🤣,” the Oscar winner captioned footage of her daughter at a recital.

“I’ve had a Wednesday Addams in my life for 19 years and 9 months.🤣. Morticia and I like you my little rain cloud🖤.”

The occasion do not cease, however this lyric has. 

When Kesha made a shock look at Coachella alongside Reneé Rapp, she modified a longstanding lyric to her music “Tik Tok” that references Sean “Diddy” Combs. 

Whereas the unique opening line was, “Get up within the morning feeling like P Diddy,” throughout her April 14 efficiency, Kesha as an alternative sang, “Get up within the morning like f–k P. Diddy.” And in footage shared to social media, each she and Rapp may be seen holding up their center fingers. 

E! Information reached out to reps for Combs however was unable to achieve them for remark. 

The change comes amid authorized hassle for the rapper and is actually not the primary time Kesha has swapped the lyric whereas performing. In November whereas performing in Los Angeles as a part of her Solely Love tour, the 37-year-old sang, per The Hollywood Reporter, “Get up within the morning feeling similar to me.” 

That efficiency occurred sooner or later after Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura—Combs’ former girlfriend of over a decade—filed a lawsuit towards the rapper in New York, accusing him of bodily and sexual abuse all through their relationship.

Two extra lawsuits have been filed towards the “I am going to Be Lacking You” artist that very same month over separate alleged incidents of sexual misconduct. He denied wrongdoing in every occasion and settled the case with Ventura on November 18.

Michael Douglas’ youngsters love to hang around with their dad and mom — and it helps that they get to go on superb journeys when doing so.

The actor, 79, who stars because the titular character within the Apple TV+ sequence Franklin, appeared on Right now on Tuesday, April 16, and spoke with host Savannah Guthrie about how he and spouse Catherine Zeta-Jones, 54, have turn out to be empty nesters.

“Catherine and I are blessed with the truth that our children Dylan and Carys nonetheless wish to journey with us,” Douglas shared. “And so we simply completed 5 weeks in India at Christmastime. And we’re at all times planning subsequent 12 months, what our journeys can be and the place we’ll go.”

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“It is only a deal with,” the star responded when requested if it is good to spend time along with his grownup youngsters. “Particularly once you’re not forcing them. [I] stated, ‘Catherine, look, they really need to hang around with us. I stated, ‘, it is good.'”

“However we have good journeys,” Douglas joked. “We seduce them with good locations to go.”

Douglas shares daughter Carys and son Dylan with Catherine Zeta-Jones. He’s dad to son Cameron, 45, whom he shares with ex-wife Diandra Luker.

In August, each Douglas and Zeta-Jones posted on Instagram in honor of their son Dylan’s twenty third birthday.

“Joyful birthday Dylan! Could YOUR new 12 months, convey you pleasure, creativeness, and love,” the proud dad wrote, signing the put up, “Your greatest fan, Dad.”

The Masks of Zorro actress commented, “Joyful birthday my boy❤️.”

In her personal tribute, Zeta-Jones shared a photograph of her and Dylan when he was an toddler. “23 years in the past in the present day, my boy @dylan__douglas was born,” she wrote.

“He’s the present that retains on giving, again and again and over and over. I like you my love♥️.”

In December 2022, Zeta-Jones instructed PEOPLE that her household life has simply been getting higher and higher. “Each my daughter and Dylan have been so extremely supportive to me, not simply as an actor, however simply me, you recognize. I am extraordinarily blessed to have the ability to have each of them in my life.”

Cameron Brink will start her WNBA profession enjoying simply down the street from Stanford.

The Stanford Cardinal star ahead was chosen by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 2 decide of the 2024 WNBA draft. The previous Southridge Excessive College and Mountainside Excessive College star was chosen after the Indiana Fever used the No. 1 decide to pick Iowa Hawkeyes’ star Caitlin Clark on Monday.

The 6-foot-4 Brink posted a profession season at Stanford. She’ll journey south to play for the Sparks.

“The faculty season is difficult,” Brink informed ESPN’s Holly Rowe. ”However I’m simply so trying ahead to a brand new problem and able to get to work.”

Brink simply completed an All-America marketing campaign at Stanford, the place she averaged a career-high 17.4 factors, together with 12 rebounds and three.7 blocks per sport this season. She led the nation in blocks and was third in rebounding.

The senior was chosen because the Pac-12 Participant and Defensive Participant of the Yr, changing into simply the third participant in Pac-12 historical past to comb the league’s Participant and Defensive Participant of the Yr awards, together with Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike (2013, 2014) and Arizona’s Aari McDonald (2021). Brink was additionally chosen because the Naismith Ladies’s Defensive Participant of the Yr.

Satellite tv for pc operator ABS “Agility Past House” has appointed former O3b Networks CEO Mark Rigolle as the corporate’s new CEO. He can be based mostly within the ABS workplace in Dubai, UAE.

ABS highlighted Rigolle’s expertise in multi-orbit constellations. Rigolle joins ABS from Rivada House Networks, the place he was COO. He was beforehand CFO of SES and CEO of O3b Networks. He additionally co-founded Kacific, was the CEO of former LEO enterprise LeoSat and later CEO of Kleo Join.

“ABS is uniquely positioned to reveal how the sector can return to development after a few years of contraction. We’ve got the belongings, the folks, the capabilities, and supportive shareholders to make that occur,” Rigolle commented. 

ABS’s former CEO Amit Somani left the corporate in January after lower than 2 years within the function, rejoining Yahsat as chief development and technique officer.  

ABS lately rebranded as Agility Past House (ABS), shifting away from its former identify Asia Broadcast Providers. The corporate operates a fleet of satellites masking the Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Center East, and CIS. 

For the primary time in franchise historical past, the Sparks had two of the highest 4 picks within the WNBA draft, and the staff selected Stanford middle Cameron Brink at No. 2, then College of Tennessee ahead Rickea Jackson at No. 4 on Monday night on the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Brink was chosen Pac-12 participant of the 12 months after main the nation in blocked photographs (3.74 per recreation) whereas averaging 17.4 factors and 11.9 rebounds. The 6-foot-4 senior additionally received the Lisa Leslie Award because the nation’s finest middle and was the Naismith Ladies’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months. As a freshman, Brink helped the Cardinal win the NCAA title.

“This can be a nerve-racking surroundings, however I’m so pleased with all of us who’re right here in the present day,” mentioned Brink, whose mom, Michelle, and NBA celebrity Steph Curry’s mom, Sonya, (Brink’s godmother) had been roommates at Virginia Tech. “It takes a village and I’ll hold leaning on all of the folks in my life,” mentioned Cameron Brink. “My ardour is reignited being right here.”

Jackson, who averaged an SEC-leading 20.2 factors whereas grabbing 8.2 rebounds a recreation, was an all-conference first staff honoree and scored 33 factors in her final recreation for the Volunteers. The 6-foot-2 submit participant completed her faculty profession with 2,261 factors (17.8 per recreation) and 773 rebounds (6.1 per recreation) and began 106 of 127 contests in three at Mississippi State and two at Tennessee.

“I’m versatile and wish to proceed to be a greater participant,” Jackson mentioned. “My household is the explanation I’m right here… I do every thing for them and hold God No. 1. I’m excited to convey my character right here, construct new relationships and I’m able to win. Candace Parker performed for Tennessee and performed a few years right here in L.A., in order that’s fairly cool.”

Caitlin Clark, who turned the NCAA’s all-time scoring chief in March whereas main Iowa to the nationwide championship recreation, was chosen No. 1 by the Indiana Fever, as anticipated. Indiana additionally had the highest decide final 12 months and selected Aliyah Boston from nationwide title winner South Carolina.

The Chicago Sky had the third decide and selected South Carolina middle Kamilla Cardoso, a 6-foot-7 senior who averaged 16.6 factors and 10.2 rebounds per recreation whereas capturing 63.8 % from the sphere throughout the Gamecocks’ run via the NCAA event.

The Sparks didn’t have a second-round decide, however with the fourth decide within the third spherical (twenty eighth general), they nabbed USC graduate scholar McKenzie Forbes, a 6-foot guard-forward who grew up within the Sacramento space and performed one season at California and two extra at Harvard earlier than transferring to USC, the place she helped the Ladies of Troy attain their first Elite Eight since 1994.

Interviewed after the draft, new Sparks common supervisor Raegan Pebley may hardly include her pleasure: “We got here in ready and we’re thrilled with the path we’re going. We wish our protection to gas the offense, we wish to assault the rim and defend the rim and Cameron and Rickea will each try this. As for McKenzie, I’ve watched her since she was at Harvard and knew we could need assistance from above to get her however we’re thrilled to maintain her near dwelling.”

The Sparks wish to finish their franchise-record three-season playoff drought and Pebley is assured the group has planted seeds that can bear fruit.

“After we contacted them [before the draft], all three had been fired up and talked about successful and being in LA and with the items we’ll have round them it units them up for fulfillment.”

Embacing her first govt position within the WNBA after a protracted faculty teaching profession, Pebley was busy within the free company interval, including ex-UCLA standout Monique Billings at ahead and bringing extra depth at guard with Kia Nurse and Aari McDonald to enhance Layshia Clarendon, Lexie Brown and Zia Cooke.

Regardless of not having a longtime star because of former No. 1 decide Nneka Ogwumike turning into a member of the Seattle Storm in free company, the Sparks will likely be younger and proficient and coach Curt Miller is trying ahead to what he believes will likely be a aggressive camp.

“I like to show and I can’t wait to get these gamers on the ground,” Miller mentioned. “We had been low [in the league] in rebounding and rim safety final 12 months and Cameron will assist us rather a lot in these areas along with her capability to dam photographs. We’ve lots of depth within the submit.”

Among the many checklist of athletes and executives who attended the Sparks’ watch occasion at Degree Lodge in downtown Los Angeles had been former USC girls’s basketball nice Cheryl Miller and Lakers Corridor of Famer and five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson, who can also be part of the Sparks’ possession group.

“I’m so excited for the Sparks,” Cheryl Miller mentioned. “Cameron is a banger who’s actual cellular and Rickea is only a beast. This can be a actual stepping stone for them. There was no head scratching. These are nice picks!”

Sparks guard Rae Burrell expressed optimism on the draft outcomes.

“I’m tremendous excited to play with a fellow Woman Vol,” she mentioned of Jackson. “We’re headed in an awesome path, we’ve added size and extra protection. We’re fairly younger, however we’ll use that to our benefit and play freely. Our staff will likely be enjoyable to look at.”

Added McDonald: “Being a lottery decide means nothing, actually. You simply do your factor. Everybody in my household was so joyful after I received traded to L.A. We’re going to be operating like loopy and I’m excited to speak to the ladies and hope they ask lots of questions. My rookie 12 months I needed to navigate myself, so I look ahead to giving them recommendation and serving to them any manner that I can.”

UCLA guard Charisma Osborne, who averaged 14.9 factors, 5.6 rebounds and three.1 assists, was taken by the Phoenix Mercury with the twenty fifth decide general, the primary decide of the third spherical. The one different native participant taken within the third spherical was USC ahead Kaitlyn Davis, who went to the Liberty with the thirty fifth decide general. Davis averaged 10.5 factors, 7.1 rebounds and a couple of.4 assists. She shot 48.5% from the ground.

With the fifth decide, the Dallas Wings chosen Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon. Three forwards had been then taken: the Washington Mystics selected Connecticut’s Aaliyah Edwards, the Chicago Sky took Louisiana State’s Angel Reese and the Minnesota Lynx chosen Utah’s Alissa Pili.

International gamers had been chosen with three of the final 4 picks within the first spherical. Guard Carla Leite of France went No. 9 to the Dallas Wings, Guard Leila Lacan of France went No. 10 to the Connecticut Solar and forward-center Nyadiew Puoch of Australia went No. 12 to the Atlanta Dream. Mississippi guard Marquesha Davis was chosen by the New York Liberty at No. 11.

TAMPA, Fla. — Satellite tv for pc business veteran Mark Rigolle is taking the helm of ABS after Amit Somani’s sudden departure early this 12 months within the newest shake-up for the Dubai-based regional satellite tv for pc operator, the corporate introduced April 16.

Rigolle, most not too long ago chief working officer for the proposed Rivada House Networks low Earth orbit constellation (LEO), will be part of ABS as CEO April 29.

Somani left in January after lower than two years with ABS for private causes, the corporate mentioned, which not too long ago modified its title from Asia Broadcast Satellite tv for pc to Agility Past House after shifting headquarters from Hong Kong.

Somani had joined from Yahsat, a regional satellite tv for pc operator additionally primarily based within the United Arab Emirates.

ABS introduced its rebranding in October 2023, saying it mirrored a push towards constructing strategic, long-term relationships within the business after not too long ago coming underneath new possession.

The geostationary satellite tv for pc operator has not introduced its new possession construction and didn’t reply to requests for remark. 

British personal fairness agency Permira, which purchased a majority stake in ABS in 2010 and first tried to promote the corporate about six years later, lists the operator as offered on its web site however didn’t present particulars concerning the deal.

In its newest earnings outcomes Jan. 10, when ABS introduced Somani’s departure, the corporate mentioned it recorded growing income from gross sales to different operators with satellites reaching the tip of their design life. 

The corporate didn’t element these preparations. Whole gross sales got here in flat at $69 million for the 12 months to Sept. 30.

ABS chair Parm Sandhu mentioned within the earnings launch that the corporate is in lively partnership talks concerning its spectrum rights protecting Europe, the Center East, Africa and Asia Pacific “to unlock the hidden worth in our holdings,” together with two orbital slots with permission to beam navy Ka-band radio waves.

ABS offers connectivity and broadband providers over these areas with 5 satellites: ABS-2, ABS-2A, ABS-3A, ABS-4/Mobisat-1 and ABS-6.

Based in 2006, the operator additionally moved firm accounts from Bermuda to the UAE as a part of its technique refresh. 

Going by means of adjustments

Somani joined ABS as CEO in October 2022 to exchange James Frownfelter, who took over from Jim Simpson in 2018 when he left after only a 12 months within the position.

Rigolle’s profession has additionally seen its justifiable share of adjustments. Earlier than Rivada, he served because the chief monetary officer for SES and was CEO of its medium Earth constellation O3b Networks. 

He additionally co-founded regional geostationary satellite tv for pc operator Kacific and was CEO of LEO startup LeoSat till its collapse following a scarcity of funding.

“The distinctive breadth of his expertise in our business will allow him to hit the bottom operating,” Sandhu mentioned in an announcement.

“We stay up for benefiting from his management and from his insights into multi-orbit constellations throughout this time of speedy market evolution.” 

Rigolle famous he was becoming a member of ABS “at this pivotal time for the corporate and certainly the entire [fixed satellite services] business,” as geostationary gamers face mounting competitors from SpaceX’s sprawling LEO community.

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