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Sports briefs

NMU’s Maschmeyer a finalist

EDINA, Minnesota — Northern Michigan University defenseman Brock Maschmeyer is among three WCHA players who are in the 10 finalists for the 2016-17 Senior CLASS Award in college hockey.

The other two from the WCHA are Bemidji State forward Brendan Harms and Ferris State forward Chad McDonald.

Fans can vote for their favorite through March 28, with one-third of the criteria determining the winner. Visit the Senior CLASS Award website at www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/hockey_2016-17/.

The CLASS in the award name stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, according to a WCHA news release. The award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their athletic platforms to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

To be eligible, student-athletes must be NCAA Division I seniors and have notable achievements in four categories — community, classroom, character and competition.

With 64 points, Maschmeyer is the 20th Wildcats’ defenseman to score 60 career points, which includes the seventh-highest number of goals, 24, ever by a Northern blueliner.

An alternate captain the last two seasons, he’s a three-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award honoree and is working toward his degree in public relations with a minor in communications.

Maschmeyer was part of NMU’s effort to spruce up Lakeview Arena in Marquette before October’s Kraft Hockeyville USA game. He’s also volunteered at two elementary school and multiple youth organizations.

Finalists wre chosen by national media from a list of candidates named in January. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches to determine winners to be announced at the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four.

WWE’s ‘The Animal’ dies at 79

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — WWE Hall of Fame member George “The Animal” Steele, whose given name was Jim Myers, has died at age 79.

WWE announced Friday the death of Steele, who was living in Florida. The Detroit native had tweeted and blogged in recent months about his declining health. He dealt with the digestive disorder Crohn’s disease for several years.

Sporting a bald head, hairy back and green tongue, Steele was famous for his signature move of sinking his teeth into the turnbuckle pads around the ring. At a Boston Red Sox game in 2012, he pretended to take a bite from the baseball before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.

Steele was a Detroit-area high school teacher and coach who earned a master’s degree from Central Michigan.

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