NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils have hired Sheldon Keefe as coach less than two weeks after he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He’s the Devils’ fifth coach since 2019 and third since March.

They fired Lindy Ruff late in the season, replaced him on an interim basis with Travis Green and missed the playoffs anyway.

Green left to coach the Ottawa Senators.

This is Keefe’s second head-coaching job in the NHL after spending the past four-plus seasons with Toronto.

He’ll now be tasked with trying to get New jersey back into the postseason.

DEAL FOR FORMER OAKLAND STADIUM

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The city of Oakland is selling its share of the Oakland Coliseum to a local Black development group for at least $105 million.

The coliseum is home to the departing Oakland Athletics baseball team.

Mayor Sheng Thao announced the deal Wednesday. She said the sale will spur housing and economic development at the site, which also includes the Oakland Arena.

The African American Sports & Entertainment Group was founded with the primary purpose of spurring economic equity for the Black community.

The Oakland City Council must pass an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into a purchase and sale agreement.

LAWMAKERS WANT OLYMPIC ANSWER

By The Associated Press

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators have sent a letter to the leader of the World Anti-Doping Agency asking for answers about the case in which 23 Chinese swimmers were cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics despite positive tests for a banned drug.

That letter came a day after a bipartisan group from the House sent a similar request to IOC President Thomas Bach and a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray asking for a briefing on federal investigators’ knowledge of the case.

NASCAR FINES STENHOUSE

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has been fined $75,000 by NASCAR for fighting with Kyle Busch after the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Stenhouse’s father, who joined the fracas, was suspended indefinitely. The $75,000 fine was the largest ever handed down by NASCAR for fighting.

Busch was not penalized for his action in the Sunday night race.

The two tangled on the first lap and then Busch seemed to deliberately wreck Stenhouse on the second lap.

Stenhouse parked his damaged Chevrolet in Busch’s pit stall, where it had to be towed away by NASCAR. NASCAR on Wednesday also suspended Stenhouse mechanic Clint Myrick for eight races and engine tuner Keith Matthews for four races.