Dec 7, 2006 2 min read

Football McCutcheon a finalist

California University of Pa. junior center Tim McCutcheon has been named one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award, which recognizes the top Division II lineman of the year.

McCutcheon is the first Vulcan to be nominated for the award. He was also named to the Street & Smith preseason All-America team and to the Football Gazette and D2football.com preseason All-America squads.

McCutcheon is a three-time PSAC-West first-team all star and a two-time member of the Daktronics all-region squad.

The Upshaw Award is voted on by sports information directors of 150 football-playing Division II institutions and is named in honor of Upshaw, who is the current executive director of the National Football League Players Association.

Upshaw was a standout lineman at Texas A&I University before becoming an All-Pro six times during his 16-year career with the Oakland Raiders. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, his first year of eligibility and has served as the NFLPA executive director since 1983.

Hockey

Nieuwendyk retires

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) – Florida Panthers forward Joe Nieuwendyk retired Wednesday because of chronic back problems, ending a 20-year career.

Nieuwendyk, who won three Stanley Cup three titles and helped Canada capture an Olympic gold medal in 2002, missed 14 of the Panthers’ first 29 games this season because of the injury. He made the decision to retire when doctors told him that his back simply wouldn’t improve.

The center finished his career with 564 goals and 562 assists in 1,257 games.

Nieuwendyk, 40, visited a back specialist last week and told Panthers coach Jacques Martin of his choice to retire on Monday. Players were told Wednesday morning before practice.

The Panthers (9-15-1-4) are second-to-last in the 15-team Eastern Conference with 23 points.

Nieuwendyk spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the Calgary Flames, then played parts of seven seasons with the Dallas Stars. He also played for the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs before he and longtime friend Gary Roberts signed with the Panthers before the 2005-06 season.

Nieuwendyk was the 1999 Conn Smythe Award winner – given to the MVP of the NHL playoffs – while helping the Stars win the Stanley Cup. He also helped the Flames win the Cup in 1989 and was part of the Devils’ third Cup-winning team in 2003.