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MILAN (AP) — Thelong waitfor the best hockey players in the world taking the ice in an international tournament lived up to the hype.

APTOPIX Milan Cortina Olympics Ice Hockey

Four of the seven games in the knockout round atthe Milan Cortina Olympicswent to overtime, including theU.S beating Canadain a fast-paced, back-and-forth final for the gold medal. The sport earned the spotlight it got in the NHL's return to the Games following a dozen-year drought.

"This is as good as it gets," U.S. forward Vincent Trocheck said. "They've got to keep doing it."

That's the plan.

The league, union and International Ice Hockey Federation havean agreement to participate in 2030in the French Alps, pending finalizing a deal with the International Olympic Committee. But the next chance for best-on-best country versus country competition is not that far away:The World Cup of Hockeyis set for February 2028.

The NHL and NHLPA are in lock step on a lot of issues, including the aim of establishing an international calendar with this kind of tournament every other year. The IIHF is on board, too.

"The hockey world from NHL/NHLPA standpoint is in a better place when The Players' Association and the league are cooperating and, internationally, when these three organizations are collaborating the hockey world is in a better place,"NHL Commissioner Gary Bettmansaid. "And it gives us an opportunity to grow the game in places where we're not as strong as, say, we are in North America and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with (IIHF president Luc Tardif) in furtherance of growing the game. That's the goal, and the more things that we can figure out to do together, the better it will be for everybody."

This was the sixth Olympics with NHL players since the precedent started in 1998 in Nagano. Skipping in 2018 and having 2022 get derailed by the pandemic had a lot of people in Milan lamenting the situation — but, in a way, the absence made the experience fonder.

"It's been so long since the last one," Canada defenseman Drew Doughty said. "Wish it had never happened this way, but here it is."

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The U.S. won gold in men's hockey at an NHL Olympics for the first time, ending Canada's run of two in a row and three of the past four. It was the country's first since the1980 "Miracle on Ice,"though the only miraculous part of this championship was how it took American Connor Hellebuyck turning inone of the best hockey goaltending performancesin international hockey history.

"He was our best player by a mile," Jack Hughes said after scoring the golden goal in overtime,missing a tooth or twofrom a stick to the face earlier in the game.

Hughes' goal came less than two minutes into3-on-3 OT, which may be the biggest thing from Milan that drew criticism and should change moving forward — at least in the gold-medal game and probably at the NHL and NHLPA-run World Cup.

Canada coach Jon Cooper said playing 3 on 3 instead of 5 on 5, which is used to settle NHL playoff games, is "not hockey anymore."

"There's a reason overtime and shootouts are in play: It's all TV-driven to end games, so it's not a long time," Cooper said, referring to how games are settled in the league during the regular season. "There's a reason why (3 on 3) is not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs."

Following the U.S. victory and before the champagne and beer started flowing, players on the winning side had no complaints.

"Right now, I think it's great," Brock Nelson said.

AP Winter Olympics:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Aside from towering over most of hisAthleticsteammates at 6-foot-5, Nick Kurtz blends in at his locker in the middle of the clubhouse — and that's just the way he prefers it.

Athletics Spring Baseball

Even now with the extra fanfare and attention on him this spring asreigning AL Rookie of the Yearat just 22. Kurtz stuck with his usual offseason routine of returning home to North Carolina, where he likes to "chill," play video games and watch movies when he's not busy training.

"First of all, I'm excited for Year 2. I kind of know what to expect and what it's like to play inthe big leagues," Kurtz said Sunday before his first Cactus League game, against Cleveland. "Am I embracing the spotlight? Not so much. I'm a guy who likes to be out there, but obviously there's a lot more eyes, a lot more expectations, which I'm all about. I use that as our team, we have higher expectations of ourselves and what we think that we can do, so it's a good thing."

A'smanager Mark Kotsaywill consider Kurtz for the leadoff spot — where he was hitting Sunday and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout in his team's 6-0 loss to the Guardians — to maximize the slugger's at-bats.

After such a special 2025, Kurtz continues to come to work and praise all of his teammates who helped him achieve the spectacular year he had, Kotsay said.

"The same way like he's 13 years old, he's never going to change," Kotsay said at Hohokam Stadium. "It's awesome to watch him in the clubhouse, on the back field, he comes in the same way, the same guy, just feels blessed to be here, and I don't think that's ever going to change for him."

Kurtz batted .290 with 36 home runs, 86 RBIs and a 1.002 OPS in 117 games and became the eighth rookie since 1901 to finish with an OPS over 1.000 while making at least 400 plate appearances. In July, he became the first major league rookieto hit four homersin a game, leading the A's to a 15-3 victory over the Houston Astros.

So, what's it like watching him day to day?

"It's extremely annoying, not fun, because I know whatever I do I can never hit it opposite field that far, so I would say annoying," joked locker mate Zack Gelof, a second baseman rehabbing from surgery last September on his left shoulder. "Not as fun."

The 22-year-old Kurtz is counting on the A's carrying their momentum from late last year in a 76-86 finish and having a faster start this season to become a contender again in the AL West. He loves the young core of this group — many of whom have been locked up on long-term contracts — and hopes to be part of turning the club into a winner ahead of its scheduled move to Las Vegas for the start of the 2028 campaign.

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"My plan is to be here for as long as I can," Kurtz said. "I'll be here for the next six years, minimum, so it's really exciting to know that when we go to Vegas we have guys that we'll be super familiar with and some of my best friends I've made for life, so it's really fun."

Many of those very faces were all together on the island of Maui in Hawaii for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom's wedding in November when the AL Rookie of the Year award was announced, so they celebrated Kurtz's first shining moment of what is expected to just be the start of great things to come in his career.

Still, it wasn't anything outrageous by any means. That wouldn't be Kurtz's way.

"Not a whole lot, maybe a couple beers, just hanging out," he said.

The left-handed hitter then spent the winter focused on making sure he did everything necessary to keep his body strong and healthy for another full year in the major leagues — one he hopes ends with a playoff berth this time. He started swinging a little later, in December, and increased his workload in the weight room, but noted, "I'm not a big changing guy. If it worked last year let's do it again this year."

Center fielder Denzel Clarke appreciates how the understated Kurtz handles his business. The first baseman offered a quick greeting to Guardians catcher David Fry when he stepped into the batter's box in the first inning and grounded out to third on four pitches.

"I don't know how under the radar you can be at 6-5, but he's just a very calm, very chill guy who's going to go about his day-to-day life," Clarke said. "Nothing too crazy, nothing too flashy, he's just going to be him."

Selected No. 4 in the first round of the 2024 amateur draft out of Wake Forest, Kurtz impressed the A's with his maturity from the moment he arrived and made his debut last April. He will turn 23 on March 12.

"I think he learned it really quickly when he got to us, and he mentioned that," Kotsay said. "He did go through a little bit of failure but he found his routines and his processes pretty quickly and recognized you can't get caught in the results, you just get caught in your process, and I think for a young player to realize that as quickly as he did, it showed in the success that he had."

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/mlb

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan lost more ground to city rival Inter Milan after a 1-0 loss to Parma at home on Sunday in a match which saw Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek hospitalized after a collision with the Parma goalkeeper.

Italy Serie A Soccer

Loftus-Cheek was struck on the head after colliding with Edoardo Corvi after a cross into the area about 10 minutes into the match at San Siro.

The 30-year-old Loftus-Cheek had a bloodied face while being treated on the field. He was stretchered off with a neck and head brace, and later taken to hospital.

Italian media reports said the England international and former Chelsea player sustained broken teeth and was being examined for head trauma.

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"Our thoughts are with him," Parma coach Carlos Cuesta said.

Mariano Troilo scored with a header off a corner in the 80th minute to give Parma the win. The goal was initially disallowed for a foul but the call was reversed after video review.

Milan had entered the match looking to cut its gap to Inter to seven points. Inter moved 10 points clear with a2-0 victory at Leccefor its seventh straight league win on Saturday.

Milan had already lost points at home in a 1-1 draw against Como on Wednesday.

It was the third win in a row for Parma, which is in 12th place.

Other results

Fourth-place Roma opened a four-point gap to fifth-place Juventus. Roma scored three second-half goals in a 3-0 home win against 16th-place Cremonese, which has lost 12 consecutive matches.Roma is tied on points with third-place Napoli.Seventh-place Atalanta scored two second-half goals to rally to a 2-1 win over third-place Napoli at home. It was Atalanta's third straight league win. Napoli hasn't won in three consecutive matches in all competitions.Genoa beat Torino 3-0 at home to end a three-game winless streak. Torino, which played the entire second half with 10 men, hasn't won in four straight matches in all tournaments.___AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Fourth-place Roma opened a four-point gap to fifth-place Juventus. Roma scored three second-half goals in a 3-0 home win against 16th-place Cremonese, which has lost 12 consecutive matches.

Roma is tied on points with third-place Napoli.

Seventh-place Atalanta scored two second-half goals to rally to a 2-1 win over third-place Napoli at home. It was Atalanta's third straight league win. Napoli hasn't won in three consecutive matches in all competitions.

Genoa beat Torino 3-0 at home to end a three-game winless streak. Torino, which played the entire second half with 10 men, hasn't won in four straight matches in all tournaments.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Snow is piling up rapidly and powerful winds are making the situation worse for tens of millions in the Northeast as Winter Storm Hernando enters its second day, making travel impossible across much of the heavily populated region.

Power outages continue to spike and entire cities are shut down today, and we have all the latest news and updates for you to track the storm as it intensifies off the East Coast. Stay with us all day and refresh this page frequently so you can see the latest information.

(MORE:What To Expect From Hernando|Maps Tracker Page)

(06:06 a.m. EST) Flight Cancellations Surge Past 10,000

According toFlightAware data, there have been more than 10,000 flights canceled from yesterday through tomorrow in the U.S., virtually all of them in the path of Winter Storm Hernando. That includes more than 5,300 flights today alone.

Another 1,300 flights have already been canceled for tomorrow, so if you have flight plans, it's best to check (frequently) with your airline, especially if you'll be flying into or out of the Northeast.

(05:55 a.m. EST) We're Dealing With 'Heart-Attack Snow'

From digital meteorologistCaitlin Kaiser:

With temperatures hovering around or just below freezing, this relatively "warmer" air can hold a lot more moisture. This means the snow that is falling is heavier and wetter, which earns its nickname "heart-attack snow" for a reason.

The heavier the snow, the more strain it puts on your cardiovascular system when you're trying to shovel. So, you'll want to take extra care before heading out.

Read moreon heart-attack snow and how to stay safe while shoveling.

(05:17 a.m. EST) It's Officially A Bomb Cyclone

With a drop in central pressure of about 40 millibars in 12 hours, this nor'easter has gone above and beyond to meet the criteria of a bomb cyclone. In fact, it achieved the requirement in about nine hours.

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To read more about what criteria must be met for a storm to "bomb out,"click here.

(05:00 a.m. EST) Scenes From A Snow-Dusted Times Square

(04:39 a.m. EST) Power Outages Spike To More Than 250,000

As expected with a windy nor'easter that's dumping heavy snow, power outages are rising rapidly. According toPowerOutage.us, these states have the lion's share of the quarter-million homes and businesses currently in the dark amif frigid conditions:

- New Jersey: 103,000 customers

- Delaware: 68,000

- Maryland: 33,000

(04:15 a.m. EST) Top Snow Totals To Start The Morning

Winter Storm Hernando really raged overnight. Here are the highest snow totals from this storm, which continues to rapidly escalate, so far:

- Freehold, New Jersey: 17.9 inches

- Mount Holly, New Jersey: 16.2 inches

- South Jersey Regional Airport: 15.3 inches

To see Sunday's live coverage as it played out,read the full recap here.

By Philip Blenkinsop

(Reuters) - The European Commission demanded on Sunday that the United States stick to the terms of an EU-U.S. trade deal reached last year, after ‌the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's global tariffs and he responded with new levies ‌across the board.

The Commission, which negotiates trade policy on behalf of the 27 EU member states, said Washington must provide "full clarity" ​on the steps it intends to take following the court ruling.

After the court struck down Trump's global tariffs on Friday, the U.S. president announced temporary, across-the-board tariffs of 10%, which he then hiked to 15% a day later.

"The current situation is not conducive to delivering 'fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial' transatlantic trade and investment, as agreed ‌to by both sides" in the joint ⁠statement setting out the terms of last year's trade agreement, the Commission said. "A deal is a deal."

The comments were far more strongly worded than the Commission's initial ⁠response on Friday, which had said only that it was studying the outcome of the Supreme Court decision and keeping in contact with the U.S. administration.

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Last year's trade deal set a 15% U.S. tariff rate for most ​EU goods, ​apart from those covered by other sectoral tariffs such ​as on steel. It also allowed zero ‌tariffs on some products such as aircraft and spare parts. The EU agreed to remove import duties on many U.S. goods and withdrew a threat to retaliate with higher levies.

It is not clear whether Trump's new 15% tariffs supersede the EU-U.S. deal. If they do, the EU's zero tariff exemptions could disappear. The new tariffs could also be placed on top of pre-existing 'most-favoured-nation' U.S. duties, which is not the case ‌under the EU-U.S. deal.

Furthermore, the comparative advantage the EU had ​with a 15% tariff would appear to have disappeared as ​even countries without a deal face that ​rate.

Trade policy monitor Global Trade Alert estimates that the EU as a whole will ‌be 0.8 percentage points worse off, with Italy ​facing an extra 1.7 ​percentage points of U.S. tariffs.

"In particular, EU products must continue to benefit from the most competitive treatment, with no increases in tariffs beyond the clear and all-inclusive ceiling previously agreed," the EU ​executive said, adding that unpredictable tariffs ‌were disruptive and undermined confidence across global markets.

It said that EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic ​had discussed the issue with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard ​Lutnick on Saturday.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop;Editing by Peter Graff)