Local Sports Headlines Archives

Firebirds clinch Calder Cup playoff berth for third straight season

April 6, 2025 8:19 PM Kenji Ito

Thousand Palms, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley Firebirds clinched a playoff berth for a third straight season. 🧨🔥@Firebirds | #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/1p1asU9WSJ— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 7, 2025 The Firebirds just needed the Bakersfield Condors vs Tucson Roadrunners game to finalize to punch their ticket to the postseason. Sunday’s @TheAHL #PlayoffPrimer is here:🧮→ https://t.co/8ovnQKG3u6 |

Firebirds fall to Silver Knights 4-1 in their final meeting of the regular season

April 5, 2025 11:52 PM Kenji Ito

Thousand Palms, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley Firebirds lost to the Henderson Silver Knights 4-1 on Saturday at Lee’s Family Forum. Scoreless in the first, the Silver Knights opened the scoring with two unanswered goals by Kai Uchacz and Dysin Mayo. Ryan Winterton put the Firebirds back within reach to end the second frame. wints finds

Local resident Laurie Lober completes half marathon in all 50 states

April 4, 2025 3:44 PM Blake Arthur

Laurie Lober, a 64-year-old local resident, completed a half marathon in all 50 states last Fall. Sports Director Blake Arthur met with Lober at her home to find out more about her journey. Laurie Lober has 50 of these medals – 50 states, 50 half marathons. It’s a journey that began in 2015, but a

Firebirds defeat Silver Knights 3-1 to get back in the win column

April 4, 2025 11:14 PM Kenji Ito

Thousand Palms, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley Firebirds defeated the Henderson Silver Knights 3-1 on Friday at Lee’s Family Forum. The Silver Knights opened the scoring with a goal from Jonas Rondbjerg, but the Firebirds responded quickly with two goals by Nikolas Brouillard. tied game! pic.twitter.com/7AvvdjgAH4— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) April 5, 2025 2-1 THANKS

Local PGA Tour Champions tournament seeking new title sponsor after GRAIL opts out

April 3, 2025 4:50 PM Blake Arthur

The Galleri Classic is no more, at least in name. GRAIL, a healthcare company based out of Northern California, decided to opt out of their contract as title sponsor after three years with the tournament. The PGA Tour Champions event in Rancho Mirage is now seeking a new title sponsor to hopefully keep the tournament

Firebirds fall to Eagles 3-1 in their final meeting of the regular season

April 2, 2025 11:18 PM Kenji Ito

Thousand Palms, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley Firebirds lost 3-1 to the Colorado Eagles on Wednesday at Acrisure Arena. The Eagles scored two unanswered goals in the first and second periods by Jayson Megna and Devante Stephens. It wasn’t until the final frame of play for the Firebirds to get on the board. In only

Student Athlete of the Week – Julian Cansino

April 1, 2025 6:00 PM Kenji Ito

Indio middle blocker Julian Cansino is this week’s student-athlete of the week. “Julian has always been super mature with us,” head coach Meagan Nolasco said. “He works hard. He’s a good leader on campus, at the school, and I think he brings all of that knowledge and leadership that he has at the school and

Firebirds shutout Wolves 4-0 to sweep the weekend series

March 30, 2025 10:59 PM Kenji Ito

Thousand Palms, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley Firebirds shutout the Chicago Wolves 4-0 on Sunday at Allstate Arena. In the first period, Ben Meyers scored his 22nd goal of the season to put the Firebirds in front by one. BIRDS STRIKE FIRST pic.twitter.com/ZfArdHRm84— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) March 30, 2025 The Firebirds wasted no time

FILA Easter Bowl wraps up its 57th year at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden

March 30, 2025 11:45 PM Kenji Ito

Indian Wells, Calif. (KESQ) The FILA Easter Bowl wrapped up its 57th year at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The Easter Bowl is one of the world’s most prestigious junior tennis tournaments. Some of the biggest stars, like Taylor Fritz, Francis Tiafoe, and Emma Navarro, competed in the Easter Bowl as juniors. This tournament featured

First alternate Steve Allan wins 3rd annual Galleri Classic in Rancho Mirage

March 30, 2025 3:29 PM Blake Arthur

What a week for the Australian Steve Allan. Allan wasn’t supposed to be in the field but found out a week before tournament play that he would be replacing Steve Stricker as the first alternate. Stricker withdrew from the tournament due to an ongoing back injury. What a week for Steve Allan! The Australian replaced

Steven Allan leads at 10-under after second round of Galleri Classic

March 29, 2025 11:18 PM Kenji Ito

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) The 51-year old Austrailian Steve Allan leads at 10-under after two rounds of the third annual Galleri Classic presented by Spotlight 29 Casino. The 50-year old American Tag Ridings was in front for most of the round. Ridings was boogey-free and fired nine birdies on the scorecard. Coming onto 18, Allan

Firebirds defeat Wolves 3-2 in OT to extend win streak to two games

March 29, 2025 11:00 PM Kenji Ito

Thousand Palms, Calif. (KESQ) The Coachella Valley defeated the Chicago Wolves 3-2 in overtime on Saturday at Allstate Arena. The Firebirds trailed early in the first period after Justin Robidas scored the opening goal for the Wolves. Ryan Winterton made the game even at one in the final stretch of the first period. that's how

Xavier Prep becomes first high school in the desert to have a hockey program

March 28, 2025 6:01 PM Kenji Ito

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) Xavier Prep becomes the first high school in the desert to have a hockey program. Xavier Prep becomes the first high school here in the desert to have a hockey program. I got to catch up with Saints Athletic Director Andrew Clark on what it means to bring hockey to the

Langer, Percy tied for lead after windy first round of 3rd annual Galleri Classic

March 28, 2025 4:01 PM Blake Arthur

Wind was a factor Friday in the first round of the Galleri Classic in Rancho Mirage. Players battled the elements on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club as gusts were steady from 11:00 a.m. through the end of the round. After 18 holes, Bernhard Langer and Cameron Percy are tied for

Galleri Classic, 50-and-over golf legends event, gets underway at Mission Hills Country Club

March 28, 2025 11:07 AM City News Service

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – The opening round of the Galleri Classic on the 50-and-over PGA Tour Champions circuit is underway at Mission Hills Country Club. Several past major champions are among the players traveling to the desert Friday, including Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, José María Olazábal, Yang Yong-eun, Justin Leonard, Fred Couples and Stewart

Goosen, Alker, Couples, and Langer address the media ahead of round one of the Galleri Classic

March 27, 2025 6:29 PM Kenji Ito

Rancho Mirage, Calif. (KESQ) Retief Goosen, Fred Couples, Steven Alker, and Bernhard Langer all addressed the media ahead of round one of the 3rd annual Galleri Classic presented by Spotlight 29 Casino. Plenty of headlines for the @GalleriClassic Does Retief Goosen defend his title, or will Steven Alker finish on top after two runner-up finishes?

LA Dodgers to Face Detroit Tigers in home opener

March 27, 2025 11:18 AM City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – The Dodgers will play their home opener today against the Detroit Tigers with what the team is billing as “a Hollywood show for the ages, including appearances and performances from top-tiered special guests.” Josh Groban will be the Opening Day national anthem singer for the second consecutive year, accompanied by a

Players, Mission Hills Country Club ready for Galleri Classic golf tournament

March 26, 2025 6:44 PM Blake Arthur

Players and golf course staff are ready for tournament play in Rancho Mirage, looking forward to the 3rd edition of the Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club. Michael Holyk, Director of Golf at @MissionHillsCC1, is proud of his golf course and looking forward to hosting the 3rd annual @GalleriClassic this week in Rancho Mirage.

Fans excited to see golf legends in Galleri Classic

March 26, 2025 10:21 AM Kendall Flynn

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Galleri Classic in the PGA TOUR Champions showcases former golf superstars and four amateur players. Fans have a week-long opportunity to watch players tee off and be a part of the action. “We’ve been golf fans for 20 or 30 years, and we’ve been looking forward to [the Galleri

Notah Begay III gives back to local community with youth golf clinic

March 25, 2025 11:13 PM Blake Arthur

Notah Begay III is playing in this week’s Galleri Classic in Rancho Mirage, but on Tuesday, the professional golfer was giving back to the local community. Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, Spotlight 29 Casino and Begay III teamed up to put on the 2nd annual youth clinic at Coachella Crossroads. Can't say enough about