Bone-jarring, teeth smashing hockey. Tire-screeching, fender-to-fender finishes. Blistering line drives that, "go all the way to the wall".

Last night's highlights on ESPN's Sports Center?

Nope. Just a sample of the array of sporting activities that you'll find in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

From AHL hockey to NASCAR Winston Cup racing to AAA baseball to professional golf...Greater Scranton offers tons of fun to sports fanatics.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, bang heads with their opponents at 40 annual home games at the fabulous $44 million Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. But if you think the Penguins are tough, check out the intense competition between former Olympic skaters when Champions on Ice and Stars on Ice make their regular tour stops at the Arena.

Pocono Raceway has long been recognized as one of NASCAR's most competitive speedways. Located just 30 minutes from Scranton, Pocono's unique 2.5-mile tri-oval features fender-to-fender action in the turns, 200-mph slingshots on the long straights and photo-finish endings.

Our warm summer nights are filled with baseball, hotdogs and popcorn at the 11,000-seat PNC Field, home of the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The top farm club of the New York Yankess, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees play 72 home games on Montage Mountain each season. Ticket prices are modest and all seats offer great views of the field.

Within walking distance from the stadium is another featured attraction on Montage Mountain, the Glenmaura National Golf Club. Glenmaura is a spectacular, 6,933-yard, private course that's been rated one of the top golf destinations in Pennsylvania. Each spring, Glenmaura plays host to future golf stars at the BUY.COM Steamtown Classic, a new and hopefully permanent stop on the PGA's BUY.COM tour.

The "Sweet Science" also has strong ties to Northeastern Pennsylvania. Former heavyweight champ Larry Holmes began his professional career in Scranton and you can still enjoy several highly competitive pro bouts in town every year. Even women's pro boxing has found a home here thanks to the good work of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau. In fact, Scranton played host to the inaugural women's world amateur boxing championships in November 2001.

Those with a wee bit of the gambling spirit can enjoy harness racing from April through October at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre. On 125 dates each season, harness racers make the trek around the 5/8 mile oval at this 3,500-seat track. Off track wagering is available at The Downs of Carbondale, a chamber member.

Semi-pro football has a long history in Scranton. The Scranton Eagles were voted the eighth best team in semi-pro/minor league football in the nation for the decade of the 1990's. The Eagles play 15 games per year in the Empire Football League, one of the oldest and most competitive football leagues in the United States.

The NEPA Miners a local minor league football team, plays a 10 game regular season schedule in the North American Football League, which is the largest minor league sports organization in the world with over 100 teams.

And, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, the newest member in "arenafootball2" (af2), play at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

On Saturdays during the spring and fall, rugby fans can visit Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre, to see the Wilkes-Barre Breakers Rugby Club.

Throughout Northeastern PA, fans of high school and college athletics have an endless supply of games and matches from which to choose. Friday and Saturday high school football games are huge community events and high school basketball games pack area gymnasiums. Wrestling and soccer are increasing in popularity. Pro athletes such as New York Yankee Mike Mussina, NBA star Bob Sura, NFL receivers Raghib "The Rocket" and Qadry Ismail, Dolphins center Tim Ruddy and former NFL all-pro and new NFL Hall-of Famer Mike Munchak all played their high school ball in Northeastern PA.

NCAA Division III sports draw big crowds too. The University of Scranton lays claim to three national basketball championships since the 1970's and has made it to the NCAA's soccer final four on several occasions.