WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Second-ranked Serena Williams will begin her 2017 season and Australian Open buildup at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, organizers confirmed Tuesday. Arizona Coyotes Gear .The 22-time Grand Slam singles winner had already announced that she would miss the Hopman Cup mixed teams tournament in Perth, which has often been a key part of her lead-up to the first Grand Slam of the season.Williams held the top singles ranking for 186 weeks, until the American was recently overtaken by Angelique Kerber. Williams sister, Venus, has played the Auckland tournament for the past three years and won the singles title in 2015.In a statement, Serena Williams said the ASB Classic can really set you up for a great run in Melbourne, and I will be looking to start my year strongly in Auckland.Earlier this week, the world No. 2 withdrew from the Wuhan Open and China Open, the two biggest events left on the WTA schedule before the WTA Finals in late October, citing a shoulder injury that plagued her during the Rio Olympics and the US Open.Williams is scheduled to play the year-end championships in Singapore, an event she has won five times.Information from ESPNs Matt Wilansky was used in this report. Derek Stepan Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Peter Mueller Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/948z-alex-goligoski-jersey-coyotes.html . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. AUBURN, Ala. -- Undersized, baby-faced and sporting floppy blond hair, Will Hastings doesnt really look the part of a Southeastern Conference receiver.Auburns converted placekicker played the part pretty well in the opener against No. 2 Clemson. He caught two balls to convert third-and-long situations and his third catch moved the chains on fourth down.He even drew a pass interference call on a second-half pass. Not bad for a 5-foot-10, 178-pounder who walked on two years ago as a kicker despite a prolific high school receiving career. Auburn tailback Kerryon Johnson doesnt think it really matters if Hastings looks the part or not.I say this to Will all the time: When you see him, no, Johnson said. If you go down to the weight room, hes got records on our board from this first summer. He has records on our board for pro agility and things like that, so hes an athlete.Dont be mistaken. Hes very quick. Hes very shifty. Hes a competitor.And the sophomore has found his way from backup kicker to part of Auburns young receiving corps, which also includes several highly rated freshmen.Hastings was one of the most prolific receivers in Arkansas High School history for Pulaski Academy -- the team that famously doesnt punt and routinely goes for onside kicks -- but only drew interest from a few of the states Division II schools. Hastings was only the states second prep receiver to gain 2,000 yards in a season.Auburn offered him a preferred walk-on spot as a kicker but his only action last season was an onside kick attempt at LSU that Auburn couldnt recover. He played a significantly bigger role in a primetime game against one of the nations top teams after an offseason position sswitch. Custom Arizona Coyotes Jerseys. It was a ton of fun being out there again, Hastings said. I havent played real football since my senior year in high school and it meant the world to me to finally go out there and catch a collegiate pass. That was really cool.Auburn needed some receiver, any receiver, to come through at the time. The Tigers played three quarterbacks early and Hastings came up with their initial two first downs when the offense was struggling badly.Hes got some natural things to him, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. With a new guy you worry if the moment is too big. Obviously it wasnt and he responded pretty well in some pressure moments. Hes a real quick guy, hes a fast guy. And I thought he did a solid job.Chances are, Hastings will face increasing competition as some of the four freshman receivers develop roles alongside senior Marcus Davis. One freshman, Kyle Davis, had a 43-yard catch in the third quarter. Fellow freshman Nate Craig-Myers also played.Hastings grandfather played at Arkansas State, which visits on Saturday. He said his only scholarship offers came from three small schools in his home state: Ouachita Baptist, Henderson State and Southern Arkansas.My family, friends and my whole high school believed in me and I called Auburn a couple days before signing day, Hastings said. I did a kicking camp here before the summer going into my senior year and I called a couple days before (signing day) and said, whats going on? I kept coming to the games and they kept recruiting me.---AP College Football website www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '