Brian Hedger
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Articles by Brian Hedger
St. Louis City SC tops Crew in penalty kicks to win US Open Cup
A marathon night of soccer at sold-out ScottsMiracle-Gro Field ended with St. Louis City SC topping the Crew to win the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in a shootout. Daniel Edelman's goal in the fifth round ended a five-round shootout in favor of St. Louis, which got the only save in the first round by 6-foot-6 goalkeeper Ben Lundt against Santiago Rodriguez.
St. Louis City SC tops Crew in penalty kicks to win U.S. Open Cup
A marathon night of soccer at sold-out ScottsMiracle-Gro Field ended with St. Louis City SC topping the Crew to win the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in a shootout.
St. Louis City SC tops Crew in penalty kicks to win U.S. Open Cup
A marathon night of soccer at sold-out ScottsMiracle-Gro Field ended with St. Louis City SC topping the Crew to win the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in a shootout. More: Columbus Crew chasing U.S. Open Cup glory 24 years after winning it Daniel Edelman's goal in the fifth round brought ended a five-round shootout 5-4 in favor of St. Louis, which got the only save in the first round by 6-foot-6 goalkeeper Ben Lundt against Santiago Rodriguez.
Columbus Blue Jackets collapse again in 6-2 loss to Toronto Maple Leafs
It's getting repetitive seeing the Blue Jackets start strong, crumble in the second period and get their doors blown off as a result ― which happened again Oct. 20 at Nationwide Arena in an ugly 6-2 loss to Kirill Marchenko and the Toronto maple Leafs. Marchenko, the Blue Jackets' latest malcontent , was booed every time he touched the puck or appeared on the video board during the first period of his first game back since the Maple Leafs (5-4-2) acquired him Sept.
Columbus Blue Jackets' meltdown lets Kirill Marchenko leave happy Original
Updated Oct. 21, 2026, 6:42 a.m. ET Former Blue Jacket Kirill Marchenko scored a goal in his first game back in Columbus with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs defeated the Blue Jackets 6-2, with Columbus allowing four unanswered goals in the second period. Fans booed Marchenko and sang along to the song "Forget You" after a video tribute was played. The loss highlighted ongoing issues for the Blue Jackets, including defensive struggles and ineffective special teams.
Columbus Blue Jackets collapse again in 6-2 loss to Toronto Maple Leafs
It's getting repetitive seeing the Blue Jackets start strong, crumble in the second period and get their doors blown off as a result ― which happened again Oct. 20 at Nationwide Arena in an ugly 6-2 loss to Kirill Marchenko and the Toronto maple Leafs.
Columbus Blue Jackets react to Kirill Marchenko's return with Toronto Original
Updated Oct. 20, 2026, 5:24 p.m. ET Kirill Marchenko, a former fan favorite, was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Toronto Maple Leafs after expressing a desire to play elsewhere. Marchenko joins a list of other star players who have forced trades or left the Blue Jackets organization. Former teammates expect Marchenko will be booed by fans in his first game back in Columbus.
Columbus Crew chasing U.S. Open Cup glory 24 years after winning it Original
Oct. 20, 2026, 12:20 p.m. ET Columbus Crew alums who won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup as the club's first championship will attend the team's 2026 U.S. Open Cup Final against St. Louis City FC. The Crew's last U.S. Open Cup title was 24 years ago, a drought older than current player Taha Habroune. Habroune, a Columbus native, is now a rising star for the team and hopes to win the cup in his hometown. The Crew will host St. Louis City FC in this year's U.S. Open Cup final.
Columbus Blue Jackets stumble in 2-1 loss to Minnesota Wild
The Blue Jackets are starting to iron out their defensive play, but the offense is sputtering after a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 18 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite getting sharp goaltending from Cam Talbot and solid defense inside their own zone, the Blue Jackets (3-4-0) scored just one goal for the second time in as many days to split a back-to-back that started with them downing the New York Rangers 1-0 in overtime Oct. 17 at Nationwide Arena.
Scoring has become an early concern for Columbus Blue Jackets Original
Oct. 19, 2026, 6:07 a.m. ET The Minnesota Wild defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1, with the winning goal scored by Kirill Kaprizov. Blue Jackets goalie Cam Talbot made 32 saves, but the team was outshot 34-14 by the Wild. Blue Jackets players and coach Rick Bowness cited poor execution as the primary factor in the loss. The Blue Jackets have struggled to score in their past six games, being held to one goal three times since scoring six goals in their season opener.
Columbus Blue Jackets stumble in 2-1 loss to Minnesota Wild
The Blue Jackets are starting to iron out their defensive play, but the offense is still sputtering after a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 18 in St. Paul, Minnesota. More: Kent Johnson is dangerous again for Columbus Blue Jackets Despite getting sharp goaltending from veteran Cam Talbot and solid defense, the Blue Jackets (3-4-0) scored just one goal for the second straight game to split their second back-to-back of the season after downing the New York Rangers 1-0 in overtime Oct.
Columbus Blue Jackets stumble in 2-1 loss to Minnesota Wild
The Columbus Blue Jackets were outshot 34-14 in a frustrating 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, continuing to struggle offensively. The Blue Jackets are starting to iron out their defensive play, but the offense is still sputtering after a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 18 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Columbus Blue Jackets stumble in 2-1 loss to Minnesota Wild
Updated Oct. 18, 2026, 9:05 p.m. ET The Blue Jackets are starting to iron out their defensive play, but the offense is sputtering after a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 18 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Kent Johnson lifts Columbus Blue Jackets past New York Rangers in OT
It was a hockey night in Columbus, but the Blue Jackets and New York Rangers looked more like soccer teams on skates Oct. 17 at Nationwide Arena. Shots were difficult to generate, outside of power plays, open looks were scarce and the goalies were razor sharp to push the game into overtime before Kent Johnson finally ended it with a goal 3:26 into OT to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 victory over the Rangers (6-3-1). "We talked a lot about being gamers," Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness said.
Kent Johnson is dangerous again for Columbus Blue Jackets
Before the puck had even reached Kent Johnson's stick, the shot that gave the Blue Jackets a gritty 1-0 win over the New York Rangers had already started. More: Kent Johnson lifts Columbus Blue Jackets past New York Rangers in OT Johnson, who'd just stepped onto the ice, spotted a play developing late in overtime Oct. 17 at Nationwide Arena. Skating to an open spot in the high slot above the circles, he readied for a setup pass from Zach Werenski.
Kent Johnson is dangerous again for Columbus Blue Jackets
Before the puck even reached Kent Johnson's stick, the shot that gave the Blue Jackets a gritty 1-0 win over the New York Rangers had already started.
Kent Johnson is dangerous again for Columbus Blue Jackets
Before the puck had even reached Kent Johnson's stick, the shot that gave the Blue Jackets a gritty 1-0 win over the New York Rangers had already started. More: Kent Johnson lifts Columbus Blue Jackets past New York Rangers in OT Johnson, who'd just stepped onto the ice, spotted a play developing late in overtime Oct. 17 at Nationwide Arena. Skating to an open spot above the circles, he readied for a setup pass from Zach Werenski.
Kent Johnson lifts Columbus Blue Jackets past New York Rangers in OT
Kent Johnson scored in overtime to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers in a defensive battle. It was a hockey night in Columbus, but the game played by the Blue Jackets and New York Rangers looked more like soccer on skates Oct. 17 at Nationwide Arena. Shots were difficult to generate, outside of power plays, open looks around the net were scarce and the goalies were razor sharp while pushing the game into overtime tied 0-0.
Kent Johnson lifts Columbus Blue Jackets past New York Rangers in OT
It was a hockey night in Columbus, but the game played by the Blue Jackets and New York Rangers looked more like soccer on skates Oct. 17 at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus NWSL 2028 names Lucy Rushton as first general manager
The NWSL expansion franchise awarded to Columbus in April doesn't have a nickname yet, unless Columbus NWSL 2028 does the trick, but it now has a general manager. The club, owned by Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards, announced Oct. 16 that Lucy Rushton is the first GM in franchise history. Rushton, 41, brings 20 years of experience in men's and women's professional soccer, including roles with expansion franchises in MLS (Atlanta United) and the NWSL (Bay FC).
Columbus NWSL 2028 names Lucy Rushton as first general manager
The NWSL expansion franchise awarded to Columbus in April doesn't have a nickname yet, unless Columbus NWSL 2028 does the trick, but it now has a general manager. More: NWSL in Columbus: What to know about the league's 18th franchise The club, owned by Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards, announced Oct. 16 that Lucy Rushton is the first GM in franchise history.
Columbus NWSL 2028 names Lucy Rushton as first general manager
The NWSL expansion franchise awarded to Columbus in April doesn't have a nickname yet, unless Columbus NWSL 2028 does the trick, but it now has a general manager.
Columbus Crew surge past Charlotte FC with dominant performance
It took two minutes for the Crew to go from snakebitten to superb in a 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC on Oct. 14 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Despite dominating every statistical measure but the actual score through the game's first 60-plus minutes, the Crew (9-15-5) didn't break it open in their favor until scoring goals two minutes apart by Anass Zaroury and Taha Habroune in the second half to turn a 1-1 tie into a commanding 3-1 lead.
Columbus Crew surge past Charlotte FC with dominant performance Original
Updated Oct. 14, 2026, 10:49 p.m. ET It took two minutes for the Crew to go from snakebitten to superb in a 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC on Oct. 14 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
Columbus Blue Jackets collapse again in 7-3 loss to Florida Panthers
Another meltdown in a second period for the Blue Jackets led to their undoing again in a humbling 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena, a second straight defeat in a game they led at the first intermission. A similar collapse Oct. 10 led to a 5-3 loss in St. Louis after the Jackets built a 2-0 lead in that one.
Rick Bowness issues edict after Columbus Blue Jackets' ugly loss
There weren't raised voices or walls bashed , at least not within reporters' earshot, and nobody on the Blue Jackets appears to be panicked following an ugly meltdown in a 7-3 blowout loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena. Don't mistake their measured responses as the loss not mattering, though, because this one left some marks in just the fifth of 84 games.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier on ejection: 'It's on me'
Mathieu Olivier didn't issue an argument for the actions that got him ejected from the Blue Jackets' 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena, but he did face the music. After apologizing to his teammates for putting them on a five-minute penalty kill that resulted in a goal that put them down 4-1 late in the second period, Olivier owned up to slashing Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis between the legs after being checked.
Rick Bowness issues edict after Columbus Blue Jackets' ugly loss
There weren't raised voices or walls bashed, at least not within reporters' earshot, and nobody on the Blue Jackets is panicked following an ugly meltdown in a 7-3 blowout loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena. More: Columbus Blue Jackets collapse again in 7-3 loss to Florida Panthers Don't mistake their measured response as the loss not mattering, though, because this one left some marks in just the fifth of 84 games.
Rick Bowness issues edict after Columbus Blue Jackets' ugly loss
Oct. 14, 2026, 6:07 a.m. ET The Blue Jackets took a humbling 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, marking another difficult game early in the season. Coach Rick Bowness stated the team's issues, including costly penalties and turnovers, are self-inflicted. Bowness hopes the embarrassing performance will motivate players, saying anybody who's not embarrassed doesn't belong on the team.
Rick Bowness issues edict after Columbus Blue Jackets' ugly loss
Rick Bowness wants Columbus Blue Jackets players to use embarrassment as motivation after their ugly 7-3 loss. There weren't raised voices or walls bashed, at least not within reporters' earshot, and nobody on the Blue Jackets is panicked following an ugly meltdown in a 7-3 blowout loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier on ejection: 'It's on me'
Mathieu Olivier didn't issue an argument for the actions that got him ejected from the Blue Jackets' 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena, but he did face the music.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier on ejection: 'It's on me'
Mathieu Olivier didn't issue an argument for the actions that got him ejected from the Blue Jackets' 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena, but he did face the music.
Columbus Blue Jackets collapse again in 7-3 loss to Florida Panthers
Another meltdown in a second period for the Blue Jackets led to their undoing in a humbling 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena, dropping a second straight game they led at the first intermission.
Columbus Blue Jackets squander lead in 5-3 loss to St. Louis Blues
A great road start for the Blue Jackets turned into a disastrous finish in a stinging 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 10 at Enterprise Center. Despite leading 2-0 after the first period, the Blue Jackets (2-2-0) lost steam in a brutal second and were outscored 5-1 over the final 40 minutes by the Blues (2-2-1), who scored four goals on 26 shots against goalie Jet Greaves . Pavel Buchnevich scored into an empty net to seal it with 43 seconds left.
Mental miscues haunt Columbus Blue Jackets in loss to St. Louis Blues Original
Oct. 11, 2026, 6:00 a.m. ET The Blue Jackets squandered a 2-0 lead in a slew of mistakes during the second and third periods. Coach Rick Bowness said mental miscues and a dip in intensity caused the collapse, including a costly penalty for playing with too many skaters. After tying the game in the third, a bad penalty and defensive errors led to the Blues' winning goal. Among a number of maddening plays that led to the Blue Jackets' 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Oct.
Columbus Blue Jackets squander lead in 5-3 loss to St. Louis Blues
A great road start for the Blue Jackets turned into a disastrous finish in a stinging 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 10 at Enterprise Center.
Columbus Blue Jackets squander lead in 5-3 loss to St. Louis Blues
A great road start for the Blue Jackets turned into a disastrous finish in a stinging 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 10 at Enterprise Center. More: Cam Talbot impresses in record-setting debut for Columbus Blue Jackets Despite leading 2-0 after the first period, the Blue Jackets (2-2-0) lost all of their momentum in a brutal second period and were outscored 5-1 over the final 40 minutes by the Blues (2-2-1), who scored four goals on 26 shots against goalie Jet Greaves.
Columbus Blue Jackets edge Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in shootout
It was harder than it needed to be, but the Blue Jackets fended off the rival Pittsburgh Penguins to win 3-2 in a game decided by shootout Oct. 9 at Nationwide Arena. Speed, energy and getting off shots weren't problems for the Jackets following a long week of practice, finishing with wide edges in shots (45-22) and attempts (82-49).
Cam Talbot impresses in record-setting debut for Columbus Blue Jackets
After making the final save in a shootout to earn a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in his Blue Jackets debut, Cam Talbot flipped the puck in the air and gave it a whack with his paddle before the cannon at Nationwide Arena boomed a victory blast.
Cam Talbot impresses in record-setting debut for Columbus Blue Jackets
After making the final save in a shootout to earn a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in his Blue Jackets debut, Cam Talbot flipped the puck in the air and gave it a whack with his paddle before the cannon at Nationwide Arena boomed a victory blast. It was a beauty of a save to give the Blue Jacketsa 3-2 shootout win Oct. 9, as Talbot slid to his right while gloving a shot to his left from Pittsburgh's Ben Kindel. “It felt great," Talbot said.
Columbus Blue Jackets edge Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in shootout
It was harder than it needed to be, but the Blue Jackets fended off the rival Pittsburgh Penguins to win 3-2 in a game decided by shootout Oct. 9 at Nationwide Arena.
Mathieu Olivier knew he'd drawn Buffalo Sabres' ire, not added penalty Original
Oct. 9, 2026, 10:49 a.m. ET Hockey, like baseball, has a lengthy list of written rules plus an unwritten code that players, coaches and officials generally know and accept. Mathieu Olivier, a power forward who's become the Blue Jackets' top enforcer, ran afoul of the latter leading into his first fight of the season in a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 1 at Nationwide Arena.
Damon Severson's return for Columbus Blue Jackets bolsters defense Original
Oct. 9, 2026, 6:07 a.m. ET Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson is cleared to return from shoulder surgery that cost him the final 10 games of 2025-26. Severson will rejoin Zach Werenski on the top defensive pairing against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Severson's return provides the Blue Jackets with more defensive depth, adjusting the team's other pairings.
Everything old is new again for Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Cam Talbot, family
Cam Talbot's new goalie gear featuring Blue Jackets colors and logos is parked in Toronto. It's awaiting a seal of approval from Kay Whitmore, the NHL's vice president of hockey operations, a former NHL goalie and one-man clearinghouse who ensures that all goaltending equipment measures up to the NHL's stringent specifications.
Columbus Blue Jackets' Pheonix Copley issues statement on offensive posts Original
Oct. 8, 2026, 6:08 a.m. ET Blue Jackets goalie Pheonix Copley is an investor in Sport Drink, a company using controversial marketing. Sport Drink's social media account encouraged violence, and featured posts with homophobic slurs, racist imagery. Copley issued a statement distancing himself from the company's posts, stating they do not represent his personal values. The Blue Jackets declined to comment on the situation involving their player.
Everything old is new again for Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Cam Talbot, family Original
Oct. 7, 2026, 6:55 a.m. ET Cam Talbot is waiting for his new Blue Jackets goaltending gear to be approved by the NHL's vice president of hockey operations. Talbot may have to wear his Detroit Red Wings gear in his first game for the Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets will be the ninth NHL team Talbot has played for, tying a league record for goalies. Talbot, 39, signed with the Blue Jackets late in the offseason, after thinking his career might be over.
Matthew Knies bursts onto the scene in Columbus Blue Jackets debut
The house lights were dim, a spotlight made Matthew Knies glow and those who remained at Nationwide Arena for the celebration of the Blue Jackets' 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 1 roared to life when he was named the game's first star. Knies, who'd been a Blue Jacket for not quite 77 hours, stepped onto the ice, raised the stick he'd been given and slid it over the glass to a fan. The only thing missing was the famous meme: record scratch, a freeze-frame and Knies saying, "Yep, that's me.
Utah Mammoth cruise past listless Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1
Matthew Knies' second game with the Blue Jackets went fine for him, but not for the team in an ugly 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 3 at Nationwide Arena. Blue Jackets fans among the 17,176 in attendance didn't have much to cheer about while the Mammoth dominated from nearly start to finish. Kent Johnson scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets (1-1-0) and Knies assisted it, but that was one of few Columbus highlights.
Here's why Columbus Blue Jackets looked slow in loss to Utah Mammoth Original
Oct. 4, 2026, 6:05 a.m. ET The Blue Jackets lost 4-1 to the Mammoth in a game marked by Columbus turnovers and poor transitions. Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness criticized the team's sloppy play and poor forward positioning, which made them look slow. Costly penalties in the third period led to two power-play goals for Utah, sealing the Blue Jackets' fate. Despite the loss, players are not panicking early in the season and plan to use the upcoming week of practice to make corrections.
Utah Mammoth cruise past listless Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 Original
Oct. 3, 2026, 9:45 p.m. ET Matthew Knies' second game with the Blue Jackets went fine for him, but not for the team in an ugly 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 3 at Nationwide Arena. More: Blue Jackets captain for inaugural season Lyle Odelein dies Blue Jackets fans among the 17,176 in attendance didn't have much to cheer while the Mammoth dominated from nearly start-to-finish.
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