St. John's University will honor former men's basketball coach Jim Smith during a special event on Feb. 16 in Guild Hall. The event will follow the Johnnies' regular-season finale against Carleton at 3 p.m. in Sexton Arena.

After a social hour, a dinner and program will begin at 6:15 p.m. The cost is $40 per person, which includes a basketball game ticket.

During the program, Smith will be inducted as a charter member into the new J-Club Hall of Honor.

Smith, the winningest collegiate basketball coach in Minnesota, retired in March 2015 following his 51st season with the Johnnies with a 786-556 career record. His teams won seven MIAC titles and five MIAC playoff titles, and made nine trips to the NAIA tournament and eight trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

4 skiers on U.S. teams

Four athletes with Minnesota ties were named to the Nordic ski teams that will represent the U.S. at world championship meets this month and February.

Aaron Pike of Park Rapids will compete at the World Para Nordic Skiing Championships Feb. 15-24 in Prince George, British Columbia. A two-time Winter Paralympian, Pike won silver medals in middle-distance cross-country and biathlon sprint at this week's World Cup races in Ostersund, Sweden.

Rochester native Ian Torchia and two athletes from Plymouth, Alayna Sonnesyn and Mara McCollor, will race at the Nordic Junior and U23 Cross-Country World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland, Jan. 20-27. Torchia and Sonnesyn will race in the U23 event, and McCollor in the junior event.

Rachel Blount

Etc.

• Forwards Rem Pitlick and Tyler Sheehy and goalie Mat Robson represent the Gophers on this year's Hobey Baker Award fan ballot. Voting began Wednesday at hobeybaker.com and runs through March 10.

• Bowen Becker and Max McHugh of the Gophers were selected Big Ten swimmer and freshman of the week, respectively, after their performances in a 158-104 victory over Hawaii in a road dual meet. Becker finished first in the 50 and 100 freestyle events in 20.02 and 44.66 seconds. McHugh won the 100 and the 200 breaststrokes in 54.04 and 1:59.04.

• Sophomore setter Kennedi Orr of Eagan was named Gatorade's Volleyball Player of the Year in Minnesota. She had 411 assists as the Wildcats (29-3) won the Class 3A state title.

• Sophomore Lexy Ramler and junior Ivy Lu of the Gophers were named the Big Ten gymnast and event specialist of the week, respectively. Ramler took first in all-around (39.475), the balance beam (9.925) and floor exercise (9.850) in the Best of Minnesota meet; Lu won uneven bars (9.925).

• Augustana, the defending NCAA Division II national champion, was the top pick in the NSIC preseason baseball coaches poll. Minnesota State Mankato was picked second.

• The Gophers softball team is ranked No. 24 in FastPitch News' preseason rankings. No. 10 Michigan is the only other Big Ten ranked, but the Wolverines do not play Minnesota during the regular season. Florida State is No. 1.

• St. Mary's $704,000 baseball clubhouse was unveiled at a ceremony early this week.