BASEBALL

Bonny Eagle High English teacher picked as Dogs’ new P.A. announcer

The Portland Sea Dogs announced on Wednesday that Paul Coughlin was hired as the team’s new public-address announcer.

Coughlin, who is an English teacher at Bonny Eagle High School, replaces Dean Rogers, who stepped down from the position in the fall.

Coughlin has experience as a singer and a musician.

Nearly 100 people auditioned for the position. Seven finalists were selected from that group.

HOCKEY

NHL: The Phoenix Coyotes acquired center Matthew Lombardi from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft.

Lombardi played for the Coyotes from 2008-10, scoring 19 goals with 34 assists in 78 games during the 2009-10 season. He missed most of the 2010-11 season due to a concussion, and had eight goals and 10 assists in 62 games for Toronto last season.

Lombardi has 97 goals and 157 assists in 508 NHL games, including a stint with the Calgary Flames. He’s also played in 40 career playoff games with three goals and 13 assists.

• Jarome Iginla practiced at Flames training camp for the first time this season and believes he’ll be ready to play in the season opener against the San Jose Sharks.

Iginla, 35, missed the first three days of training camp because of a groin injury.

• Superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk is back with the New Jersey Devils. He participated in a scrimmage against the Devils’ top minor league team, scoring a goal and adding an assist less than 24 hours after landing in the United States following a flight from Russia.

While there was much speculation whether Kovalchuk would return to the Devils after playing 36 games in the KHL during the NHL’s four-month lockout, Kovalchuk said there was never a doubt in his mind that he would play for the Devils if a new collective bargaining agreement was reached.

Kovalchuk missed the Devils’ first three practices. He decided to play in the KHL All-Star game Sunday as a way to thank the Russian people.

• The Devils signed center Travis Zajac to an eight-year contract worth $46 million.

SOCCER

MLS: Robbie Keane agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Los Angeles Galaxy, extending the Irish national team captain’s stay with the two-time league champions.

• The New England Revolution obtained the No. 1 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft from Toronto FC for the fourth pick and allocation money.

It will be the highest pick for the Revolution, who missed the playoffs in each of the past three years. In 2002, the team picked second and selected Taylor Twellman, who retired as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

The draft will take place Thursday.

• The Chicago Fire acquired midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and the 30th pick in the SuperDraft from the Colorado Rapids for the 11th pick along with allocation money and a 2013 international slot.

— From staff and news services

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