Wednesday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler up for an important post in New England. The Steelers are welcoming a new running back. A local product plays a big role in New York’s win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Stanley Cup playoff action.

And a former WPIAL star looks to keep his good play going for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA playoffs.

Next in New England?

A former member of the Steelers’ front office is in the running for the New England Patriots general manager’s job.

It’s IUP product Brandon Hunt. Now the Eagles director of scouting, Hunt had been Pittsburgh’s pro scouting coordinator from 2009-22. The Athletic’s Diana Russini had the news.

Hunt is also a Pine-Richland graduate.

Technically, the Patriots have not had an open general manager position since 1990. Head coach Bill Belichick has served in that role as well as head coach up until he parted ways with the team in January.

However, Scott Pioli, who was vice president of player personnel from 2000-08, also absorbed some GM-type duties.

Director of scouting Eliot Wolf ran the Pats’ draft and is the presumptive favorite to grab the job, according to Patriots Football Now.

Hunt was believed to be a general manager candidate in Pittsburgh before Omar Khan got the job. He also interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.

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Worth a glance

The Steelers are inviting a second veteran to their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis at the end of this week.

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First, it was former Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions cornerback Anthony Averett. We told you about that invitation late last month.

Now running back Jonathan Ward will be welcomed as well, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. He previously played for the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals.

The 26-year-old stands 5-foot-10, 195 pounds. He played college football at Central Michigan.

Ward has appeared in 42 NFL games, totaling 17 carries for 69 yards. He also has six receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown. Tennessee elevated him from its practice squad in Week 9. In 2023, he appeared in seven games in Nashville, rushing three times for 11 yards.

Given the Steelers’ dismissiveness about Najee Harris’ fifth-year option late last week, why not take a look at as many running backs as they want?

Vince for victory

The New York Rangers are up 2-0 after the first two games of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Upper St. Clair’s Vincent Trocheck scored the game-winning goal in double overtime Tuesday night. He also had an assist earlier in the game and has five of each so far in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Carolina’s Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Hurricanes.

The former Penguins winger now has seven playoff points. The two teams face off again in Raleigh on Thursday.

Lots to say about T.J.

The NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers resumes Wednesday night. New York took Game 1 by a final score of 121-117 on Monday night.

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T.J. McConnell had a solid game for the Pacers, though, his second in a row. The Chartiers Valley grad posted 18 points on 9 of 16 shooting to go along with three steals and three assists.

McConnell was also quite good in the series finale of Round 1 to eliminate the Milwaukee Bucks last Thursday. That night, the one-time Duquesne Duke scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting while posting nine assists and four steals in 22 minutes.

Wednesday’s game is at Madison Square Garden. The series shifts back to Indianapolis on Friday.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.