Nickeil Alexander-Walker stared up at the scoreboard and smiled Monday night as a tribute video played in his honor as the Timberwolves welcomed the guard back to Minnesota, now as a member of the Hawks.

Alexander-Walker seemed to be holding in some emotion as numerous highlights of his flashed across the screen before he was officially announced amid a standing ovation at Target Center in his honor.

Alexander-Walker noted it was “pretty cool” to see a tribute video dedicated to him. It’s an honor for anyone, but particularly a player with Alexander-Walker’s lack of stature. He wasn’t drafted by Minnesota. He spent just two and a half seasons with the organization. The guard is a self-defined “role player.”

Yet he received a hero’s welcome.

“It was just really cool, you know? You dream of those things as a kid, getting the tributes, getting the love from the fans, the standing ovations. Minnesota has been nothing short of amazing to me, from the organization to the city, everything,” he said after the game. “Honestly, watching (the video), it was hard not to smile and just appreciate it.”

In the same way he’s been appreciated by Minnesota ever since he busted onto the scene during the 2023 postseason. Alexander-Walker noted significant tributes are often saved for folks who defined a team’s culture. But, in many ways, that’s what he did in Minnesota.

His effort, defensive tenacity and positive attitude were some of the primary building blocks for both of the Timberwolves’ two most recent Western Conference Finals runs, and everyone recognized it. Maybe more than even Alexander-Walker knew. It was undeniable to the naked eye Monday, from the fans in Alexander-Walker’s No. 9 jersey to those who lit up at the first sight of him exiting the Hawks’ team hotel.

Alexander-Walker described his entire return to Minnesota as “pretty amazing.”

“To me, I didn’t think (my presence) was as substantial as they made it to seem,” he said. “I was excited to come back, but the love that I got from the moment that I was a part of that trade (with Utah in 2023) in the last minute to when I had to leave, honestly, I have so much love for Minnesota and the fans, and I want to personally thank everybody for that, as well.”

It’s what drives him.

“The small things like that really make the work you put in,” he said. “As you go along, when you have days where you go 3 for 15 and it’s like, ‘Man, I can’t hit a shot’ or ‘My body is hurting, why do I do this stuff?’ It’s just because there’s people that really appreciate the work you put in.”

Alexander-Walker was excellent even in defeat Monday, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in Minnesota’s runaway victory.

With the Hawks down 31 in the third quarter, it was Alexander-Walker’s energy that brought Atlanta back to within 16 before Minnesota finally closed the door.

Typical Alexander-Walker — playing hard to the final buzzer. He believes in doing so every time you step onto the floor.

“These things don’t really belong to us. They’re not like a birthright, you know what I’m saying?” he said. “It’s like you earn it and it’s a privilege to be here, it’s a privilege to have this opportunity, and just making the most out of it.”

That, on top of his magnetic personality, are why fans and teammates alike adore the guard. Signed Timberwolves jerseys continued to pile on top of his chair in Atlanta’s locker room after the game.

Alexander-Walker and Anthony Edwards swapped jerseys on the court at the conclusion of Monday’s contest. He estimated he’d have six or seven of his former teammate’s jerseys by night’s end.

Well after the game had ended, Alexander-Walker roamed the halls of Target Center as he connected with former teammates and staff members, greeting each with a smile and one of his patented handshakes.

This was a piece of his family. And he was home.

“All these guys are my brothers. The relationships we have, no matter the personality, all of us just meshed well,” Alexander-Walker said. “We all got along, we were all cool, all cracked jokes and we all went through the same struggles together. I think that’s made us closer. We all related on certain things and we were there to big each other up. Naz had my back when I’d be frustrated, I’d have Jaden’s back a lot. We were there to pick each other up at times, so that’s why I think stuff like this kind of shows up.”

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Monday was a step back in the right direction for Minnesota.

After a pair of hideous home defeats over the weekend, the Timberwolves were dominant for a quarter and a half to cruise to a 138-116 victory over the short-handed Hawks.

Minnesota out-scored Atlanta 40-22 in the second frame to open up its advantage, which it pushed to 31 midway through the third quarter.

Anthony Edwards had 21 points, five rebounds and five assists at the half. Julius Randle had a triple double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and newcomer Ayo Dosunmu had 21 points in his second game with the Wolves.

Atlanta was without Dyson Daniels and Jaylen Johnson, the team’s two best players.

The Hawks did, however, have Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Minnesota honored the guard with a tribute video during pre-game introductions, and he reminded the Wolves faithful why he was such a valuable piece for the past few seasons.

Alexander-Walker finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists — a stat line no Wolves player has replicated this season. Alexander-Walker and Edwards exchanged jerseys after the game.

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MILAN (AP) — After raving about his young players, goaltending and defender Caroline Harvey’s driving speed in a 5-0 win over Switzerland on Monday, U.S. coach John Wroblewski was quickly reminded of the next challenge ahead for his women’s hockey team at the Milan Cortina Games.

Alex Carpenter #25 of Team United States scores a goal against Andrea Braendli #20 of Team Switzerland in the third period during the Women’s Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Switzerland on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Canada is up next. And with or without Marie-Philip Poulin — Canada’s “Captain Clutch — Wroblewski understands his team is in for a handful on Tuesday.

“Yeah, I heard about that. It’s a shame,” Wroblewski said of Poulin limping off the ice and missing the final two periods of Canada’s 5-1 win over Czechia.

Canada coach Troy Ryan said he didn’t have full details of Poulin’s apparent lower-body injury. He said it was too early to say whether she could play Tuesday.

“The interesting thing about looking forward to Canada is that every time we play them, it’s got a different life, a different culture,” Wroblewski said. “And so we’ll see what we get tomorrow night.”

The U.S. might be favored in the tournament, but the Canadians are the defending Olympic champions.

The Americans continued finding new contributors in winning their first three games by a combined score of 15-1. It was the youngsters’ time to shine against Switzerland.

Harvey and Joy Dunne, two of seven U.S. players still in college, each had a goal and two assists.

Gwyneth Philips #33 of Team United States makes a save against Rahel Enzler #21 of Team Switzerland in the first period during the Women’s Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Switzerland on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Gwyneth Philips stopped 20 shots in her Olympic debut, and shared the shutout with Ava McNaughton, The 21-year-old McNaughton stopped one shot after being inserted with 1:48 left. Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Haley Winn also scored in an outing the Americans closed with three goals in the first 7:42 of the third period.

Captain Hilary Knight had two assists to increase her Olympic career point total to 31 — one short of matching the U.S. record set by Jenny Potter.

If not for Swiss goalie Andrea Braendli stopping 35 of the first 37 shots she faced, and 45 overall, the game could well have been an early rout.

“Switzerland’s goalie was awesome. She had some kind of force field going back there, I don’t know what,” Wroblewski said. “I think we just needed take a deep breath.”

Switzerland dropped to 1-2 and was shut out for the second straight outing following a 4-0 loss to Canada on Saturday.

“It takes it’s toll after a while, they just keep on coming at you,” Swiss coach Colin Muller said. “I thought we did a great job defensively and better offensively today. We had more courage than we had last game. It’s great to see. Every game we get better. If it ended up 3-1, I would’ve been happy.”

Though Switzerland tested the Americans early, Philips stood firm.

The second-year PWHL Ottawa Charge goalie kicked out her left skate just in time to stop a shot from Ivana Wey in the opening minute. Some 12 1/2 minutes in, Philips got her glove up to foil Rahel Enzler, who was set up on the doorstep.

Alex Carpenter #25 of Team United States celebrates with teammate Joy Dunne #24 after a goal in the third period during the Women’s Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Switzerland on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Philips said the early action helped settle her nerves. And she was more than happy to share the shutout.

“I’m ecstatic. I’m so happy with Ava,” Philips said. “She’s one heck of a goalie and she deserves to be here and get some ice time.”

Then it was Harvey’s turn to take over. The offensive-minded defender drove up the left boards and sent a pass into the middle for Winn to redirect for the opening goal 6:04 in. Harvey capped the scoring by driving in from the left point and beating Braendli by jamming in the puck on the short side.

“It was a great game. Super fired up for the girls,” Harvey said, deflecting the credit. “Just driving my feet. Teammates were getting open and they were making stuff happen and it was a lot of fun with the girls tonight.”

After having limited playing time at the 2022 Beijing Games, the Wisconsin senior has been spurred by Wroblewski to use her speed and playmaking abilities.

“The amount of times that she drove was insane. I loved the initiatives that she takes,” the coach said. “I hope it keeps rolling, not only for her, but for her teammates.”

Kristin O’Neill #43 of Team Canada celebrates with teammate Marie-Philip Poulin #29 after a goal in the first period during the Women’s Preliminary Round Group A match between Czechia and Canada on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Poulin’s exit overshadows Canada win

After Poulin exited, her team responded with a rush of goals.

Canada was leading 1-0 on Kristin O’Neill’s goal when Poulin left the game after being rocked by an illegal hit from Kristyna Kaltounkova. Poulin then seemed to be keeping weight off her right leg as she left the ice seconds into her next shift.

The Canadians scored twice in a minute soon after, with goals by Laura Stacey and Sarah Fillier prompting the Czechs to pull starting goalie Julie Pejsova for Michaela Hesova. Canada moved to 2-0 for the tournament but was denied a second shutout when Natalie Mlynkova scored for the Czechs.

Italy’s Matilde Fantin (17) celebrates her goal during a preliminary round match of women’s ice hockey between Japan and Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Tao Xiyi/Pool Photo via AP)

Italy, Germany advance

Host nation Italy secured a place in the quarterfinals of the Olympic women’s hockey tournament for the first time by beating Japan 3-2 on Monday.

Germany followed by claiming its spot in the next round with a 2-1 overtime win over France.

Both Italy and Germany improved to 2-1 and joined Sweden (3-0) in completing the three Group B nations to clinch a quarterfinal berth. Japan and France were eliminated from contention.

Italy advanced in just its second Olympic appearance, both as the host, after going 0-4 at the 2006 Turin Games and finishing last among the eight-team field.

“I think this is everybody’s dream coming true,” Italy’s Canada-born goalie Gabriella Durante said. “Hopefully this just grows hockey in Italia that much more for little girls all over the country.”

Matilde Fantin scored twice, and Kristen Della Rovere’s third period goal stood up as the game winner.

Katarina Jobst-Smith #28 of Team Germany controls the puck against Clemence Boudin #85 of Team France in the first period during the Women’s Preliminary Round Group B match between Germany and France on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Jobst-Smith scores in OT

Katarina Jobst-Smith scored for Germany 1:17 into overtime by snapping in a shot from the high slot just inside the left post. Laura Kluge also scored and Sandra Abstreiter stopped 13 shots.

Estelle Duvin forced OT by scoring 8:21 into the third period, and Alice Philbert stopped 44 shots. France finished 0-4 in its Olympic debut, and was outscored by a combined margin of 13-4.

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White Bear Lake Police Chief Dale Hager will retire May 8, the city of White Bear Lake announced on Monday in a Facebook post.

Hager became chief in 2023 and overall spent 12 years with the city, including working as an administrative captain in the police department. He retires with 29 years of law enforcement experience.

“Serving this community and working alongside the men and women of this police department has been one of the great privileges of my career,” Hager said.

“I am deeply proud of the professionalism, commitment, and integrity our staff demonstrates every day, and of the meaningful improvements we have made over the past few years to strengthen public safety and best serve the communities of White Bear Lake and Gem Lake,” he said.

“Chief Hager’s number one priority upon being hired as chief of police was to bolster public engagement opportunities and he did just that — doubling the number of touch points throughout the community in his first year of leadership alone,” City Manager Lindy Crawford said, “He has also been a strong advocate for WBLPD staff, encouraging innovation and new approaches across many areas.”

The hiring process to replace Hager has begun, and the city said it anticipates filling the position by the spring.

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