Briefs: N.C. State's Johnson faces felony charge

N.C. State’s Johnson faces felony charge

Suspended N.C. State guard Markell Johnson is facing a felony assault charge in his home state of Ohio.

According to a court document, Johnson was among four people indicted Dec. 5 in Cuyahoga County. The document states they “did knowingly cause serious physical harm” to a male victim on or about Oct. 8.

Court records show Johnson has pleaded not guilty and posted $5,000 bond on Dec. 20. The case was continued Thursday until the next pretrial hearing scheduled for Jan. 8, according to online court records.

Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts declined to comment on Johnson’s case.

Athletics spokesman Fred Demarest said the school learned of the indictment Dec. 14 and indefinitely suspended Johnson that day. N.C. State announced the suspension two days later.

• Nebraska quarterback
• Tanner Lee
• is forfeiting his final year of eligibility and will enter the NFL draft.

Lee transferred from Tulane and was the Huskers’ starter in 2017. He completed 57.5 percent of his passes for 3,143 yards, with 23 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

HOCKEY

Senators defenseman Claesson suspended

The NHL has suspended defenseman Fredrik Claesson of the Ottawa Senators for two games for an illegal check to the head of forward Noel Acciari of the Boston Bruins.

Claesson was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a check to Acciari’s head in the opening period of Ottawa’s 5-1 loss at Boston on Wednesday night.

He will forfeit $6,989 in salary. The money goes to the players’ emergency assistance fund.

Claesson is eligible to return when Ottawa visits Detroit next Wednesday.

Rangers’ Kreider out with blood clot

Forward Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers is out indefinitely with a blood clot in his right arm.

Kreider, 26, left a 1-0 shootout win over Washington the previous night.

This season, in 37 games, the speedy and rugged Kreider has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points. He’s in his sixth NHL season, all with the Rangers.

New York recalled forward Vinni Lettieri from the Hartford Wolf Pack.

• Mark Scheifele
• , the Winnipeg Jets’ top-line center, will miss six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury.

Scheifele was injured in Winnipeg’s 4-3 win over Edmonton on Wednesday after taking a hit from the Oilers’ Brandon Davidson.

Scheifele has 15 goals and 23 assists in 38 games this season.

• Bundle up, because the world junior hockey championship outdoor game between the United States and Canada is a go on Friday.

Tournament officials gave the go-ahead for the game to be played at the Buffalo Bills’ New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y., during a meeting Thursday. USA Hockey and the organizing committee confirmed the decision in a text to The Associated Press.

The forecast for Friday’s game at 3 p.m. calls for temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees. The cold prompted some to wonder if the game might be moved to Buffalo’s downtown KeyBank Center, where the majority of the 10-nation tournament is being played.

The preliminary-round game between the U.S. and Canada will be the first outdoor game played at the international level. The Canadians have won their first two tournament games, while the Americans are 1-0 and faced Denmark on Thursday night.

The United States is the defending champion after beating Canada in a shootout in January. The U.S. was defeated by Slovakia 3-2 in its second game late Thursday night.

ELSEWHERE

Photographer accuses Twins’ Sano

A photographer has accused Minnesota Twins star Miguel Sano of grabbing her wrist and trying to kiss her and pull her through a door after a 2015 autograph session.

Betsy Bissen accused Sano on Thursday in a tweet, saying what he did amounted to assault.

Bissen works as a photographer for publications including TwinsDaily. She said she had long been afraid to tell her story for fear of losing access to shoot Twins games. She says she screamed and resisted Sano until he gave up.

Sano denies the allegations. The Twins said they take the allegations seriously but made no other comment.

Bissen didn’t respond to phone, email and social media messages from The Associated Press seeking an interview.

• The Minnesota Lynx signed coach
• Cheryl Reeve
• to a multiyear contract extension and made her general manager of the four-time WNBA champions.

Reeve’s record in eight seasons with the Lynx is 195-77, winning titles in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. During the 11 years before Reeve’s arrival, the Lynx made the playoffs only twice.

Her .715 career winning percentage is the highest in WNBA history.