'Everyone seems to think it will stop by itself': Hockey parents frustrated by sport's toxic culture - CBC.ca

As Hockey Canada grapples with public fallout over how its organization settled sexual assault claims in the past, some Canadians are questioning how anyone could trust hockey's national governing body and calling for action and change at all levels of the sport. 

"I'm not sure it's possible for women to trust an organization with that kind of history anymore," Beatrice van Dijk, a mother of four daughters who played hockey in Toronto, told Cross Country Checkup.

"I'm not sure it's possible for parents who care about young men being raised in a non-toxic, non-highly sexualized power environment to have trust in an institution that has enabled such behaviour."

Hockey Canada's controversy started in May, when the organization reached a settlement with a young woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted in 2018 by eight Canadian Hockey League players, including members of that year's World Junior team.

Since then, Sport Canada, a branch of the federal Department of Heritage, has frozen funding for Hockey Canada. Several sponsors, including Scotiabank and Tim Hortons, have paused or withdrawn sponsorships to the organization. 

Halifax police have also opened an investigation into an allegation of a separate group sexual assault in 2003, involving members of Canada's 2003 World Junior team.

Lack of accountability

Hockey Canada executives testifying before a House of Commons committee Wednesday said they've paid $8.9 million for sexual abuse settlements to 21 complainants since 1989 from the "National Equity Fund," which they said is generated by membership fees and investments.

It's an embarrassing time to be a Canadian associated with hockey.-Beatrice van Dijk, mother of four hockey-playing daughters

Van Dijk, whose husband was a professional hockey player in Germany, said this shows steps are not being taken to hold people accountable.

"It's an embarrassing time to be a Canadian associated with hockey," she said. 

"I'm not sure why you would want to accept an invitation to participate in one of Hockey Canada's events, given that it's been tarnished with this history."

Van Dijk, who is 48 and now lives in New York state, says incidents like the ones Hockey Canada is currently dealing with are not new. 

"Everyone seems to think it will stop by itself, and nobody wants to talk about the particulars." 

LISTEN | Hockey mom on 'complete institutional failure' of Hockey Canada scandal: 

Metro Morning7:57Hockey mom and coach says Hockey Canada's sexual assault scandal a result of 'complete institutional failure'

Beatrice Van dijk is a mother of 4 daughters who played hockey in Toronto

A longstanding issue

Former Canadian Hockey League goalie Brock McGillis has firsthand experience with hockey's toxic culture.

He played for the Windsor Spitfires and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League from 2001 to 2002. He was in his late teens at the time and said his experiences in junior hockey locker rooms led to him hating his life.

Former Ontario Hockey League player Brock McGill came out as gay in November 2016 and is now an activist in the LGBTQ+ space. (Submitted by Brock McGillis)

"The impact of being a gay man in there, hiding who I was and adhering to the norms and becoming a womanizing hockey bro — and what that did to me, I mean, quite honestly, I was going home … and attempting to die by suicide," he told Cross Country Checkup.

McGillis, who came out as gay in November 2016, says conformity is one critical barrier holding hockey culture back.

"People dress the same … talk the same, whether that's who they are or not," he said. "There's no room to be anything other than the norm — and if you are, you're othered."

According to McGillis, because players are predominantly white, mostly middle to upper class and usually assumed to be straight, that creates an environment in locker rooms for people to say and do things without being held accountable, including using language and taking part in behaviour that hurts women, minorities and people in the LGBTQ community.

"Then, in turn, you see thoughts and behaviour that lead to bigotry, and lead to misogyny, and lead to sexual assault."

LISTEN | Academic Teresa Fowler on Hockey Canada's enduring problem with sexism: 

Day 69:02Hockey Canada's enduring problem with sexism and misogyny

Teresa Fowler, an assistant professor of education at Concordia University of Edmonton, is part of a team that interviewed elite-level men’s hockey players about their experiences with sexism, misogyny and hypermasculinity in the sport. She says her research shows the problem is pervasive, enduring and systematic.

Staying silent

Part of the blame falls on adults in these spaces for not doing more to hold these players accountable, says McGillis, citing coaches who come from the same culture and reinforce it in their own coaching. 

"And typically, hockey people have hockey babies," he said. "Parents who come from hockey culture put their kids in hockey. So it's learned and normalized culture."

No one wants to be the person who looks like they're stirring the pot.-Theresa Bailey, co-founder of Canadian Hockey Moms

Theresa Bailey, a hockey parent for about 16 years and the co-founder of advice website Canadian Hockey Moms, says parents do want to have these conversations, but they avoid speaking publicly for fear their children will face repercussions.

"I think that everyone wants to talk about these things, but no one wants to get in trouble with the member associations or provincial associations," she told Cross Country Checkup.

"No one wants to be the person who looks like they're stirring the pot."

WATCH | Advocates says hockey culture needs to change: 

Culture of hockey needs to change, advocates say, amidst new sexual assault allegations

6 days ago

Duration 1:55

Calls are growing for accountability from Hockey Canada — as well as demands for a change to hockey culture — after police open an investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the 2003 World Juniors.

Bailey says she feels people in positions of power in minor hockey associations that are typically volunteer based aren't adequately equipped or trained to handle the toxic parts of hockey culture.

"That's tricky," she said. "I've seen people really not know how to handle some of the problems that come forward, or handle them in ways that shut down people from coming forward."

Taking a stand

Bailey believes the best way to eliminate the toxic atmosphere is for Hockey Canada and similar associations to encourage diversity within teams, on coaching staffs and on the board.

"I don't know how else to do that than put people with divergent opinions in there that are not going to be shut down."

Looking ahead, van Dijk believes there's an opportunity to fix hockey culture — and the first step involves parents taking a stand with their wallets when it comes to paying fees at local hockey associations.

"I would say 'I will pay you these fees, but only if you don't pay the provincial hockey association anything until that provincial hockey association takes a stand on Hockey Canada,' " she said. 

"Because our fees are going to enable messed up, toxic, predatory sexual behaviour amongst young men, and we don't want that kind of society." 

---

Written by Mouhamad Rachini. Produced by Abby Plener and Steve Howard.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMixgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jYmMuY2EvcmFkaW8vY2hlY2t1cC93aGF0LW5lZWRzLXRvLWNoYW5nZS1pbi1jYW5hZGEtcy1ob2NrZXktY3VsdHVyZS0xLjY1MzYyMzAvZXZlcnlvbmUtc2VlbXMtdG8tdGhpbmstaXQtd2lsbC1zdG9wLWJ5LWl0c2VsZi1ob2NrZXktcGFyZW50cy1mcnVzdHJhdGVkLWJ5LXNwb3J0LXMtdG94aWMtY3VsdHVyZS0xLjY1MzczNTXSASBodHRwczovL3d3dy5jYmMuY2EvYW1wLzEuNjUzNzM1NQ?oc=5

2022-07-31 08:00:00Z
1515529592

UFC 277 results: Sergei Pavlovich dispatches Derrick Lewis in just 55 seconds in controversial first-round st… - MMA Fighting

Sergei Pavlovich needed just 55 seconds to finish Derrick Lewis at UFC 277 but it appeared the referee may have pulled the trigger on a premature stoppage to end the fight.

Despite facing one of the most dangerous knockout strikers in the history of the heavyweight division, Pavlovich showed no fear coming out and engaging with Lewis right away. A right hand from Pavlovich tagged Lewis early and the former title contender was immediately in trouble as he tried to recover.

Pavlovich swarmed on his opponent with a barrage of shots with Lewis eventually falling down to the canvas with referee Dan Miragliotta quickly jumping in to stop the bout.

Lewis was back to his feet almost immediately as he complained about the stoppage but it was already too late as Pavlovich began celebrating his victory.

“I was ready to punch him for five rounds, for three rounds, it doesn’t matter,” Pavlovich said afterwards. “How do you like that boxing? I did my job. I’m very happy with my performance.”

Obviously, Pavlovich was just doing his job but a huge win will likely be marred by the controversial stoppage with Lewis’ home state crowd booing rather loudly after the matchup came to an end.

Regardless of how it happened, Pavlovich has now notched his fourth win in a row overall with all of his victories coming by way of knockout or TKO without a single opponent making it past the first round.

The victory will also earn Pavlovich a higher ranking after taking out a veteran like Lewis as he serves notice that a new contender has arrived in the heavyweight division.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiigFodHRwczovL3d3dy5tbWFmaWdodGluZy5jb20vMjAyMi83LzMwLzIzMjg1NjMzL3VmYy0yNzctcmVzdWx0cy1zZXJnZWktcGF2bG92aWNoLWRpc3BhdGNoZXMtZGVycmljay1sZXdpcy01NS1zZWNvbmRzLWNvbnRyb3ZlcnNpYWwtc3RvcHBhZ2XSAZcBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW1hZmlnaHRpbmcuY29tL3BsYXRmb3JtL2FtcC8yMDIyLzcvMzAvMjMyODU2MzMvdWZjLTI3Ny1yZXN1bHRzLXNlcmdlaS1wYXZsb3ZpY2gtZGlzcGF0Y2hlcy1kZXJyaWNrLWxld2lzLTU1LXNlY29uZHMtY29udHJvdmVyc2lhbC1zdG9wcGFnZQ?oc=5

2022-07-31 03:27:00Z
1510222169

CFL 2022 Recap: Winnipeg @ Calgary - week 8 - CFL

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9dXYyb1lSZFlqM0XSAQA?oc=5

2022-07-31 03:05:12Z
1507317832

Alek Manoah exits Blue Jays game against Tigers - MLB.com

TORONTO -- It should come as no surprise that Alek Manoah lobbied to stay in the game even after getting hit in the throwing elbow by a 93 mph comebacker.

The Blue Jays’ All-Star right-hander came close to a nightmare scenario on Friday, when he was forced to leave his team’s 4-2 loss to the Tigers with a right-elbow contusion 87 pitches into his outing. But Manoah’s precautionary X-rays came back negative, and it’s unlikely he will have to miss a start.

In fact, as he told Blue Jays trainer Jose Ministral, the 24-year-old was ready to keep pitching the sixth inning at Rogers Centre.

“He said, ‘Are you crazy?’” Manoah said, after the game, of his interaction with Ministral. “ … Honestly, I didn’t even think I needed the X-ray, but they wanted to do it [as a precaution]. Everything was negative, everything is clean, so I’ll get back on the horse and get back out there in five days.”

Manoah told reporters that his immediate reaction after taking Jonathan Schoop’s liner to the arm was born of shock more so than actual pain.

He brought his left hand to his elbow and winced, crouching beside the mound as the defense recorded the putout at first. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gestured for Ministral and interim manager John Schneider, who decided to bring in Tim Mayza, ending Manoah’s night at 5 1/3 innings.

“[Mayza] was up anyway and we were kind of headed in that direction,” Schneider said of his decision to pull Manoah. “He’s competitive as hell and he wanted to stay in, but it was a pretty easy decision to get him out just to be safe.”

The Blue Jays' trademark move is to exercise caution with their stars.

Manoah’s early exit came on an evening when Toronto took the field without two of its biggest stars in George Springer and Bo Bichette, both dealing with discomfort after a high-impact series opener against the Tigers. Bichette did pinch-hit with two outs in the ninth, lining out sharply to center field to end the game, but his absence -- and that of Springer -- was costly through the game.

The Blue Jays’ offense mustered just four hits off Tigers pitchers in an outing that may as well have been a showcase of a parade of relievers on the trade block -- many of whom, such as Michael Fulmer and Will Vest, would fit like a glove for the home team.

Though Manoah didn’t have his “sharpest outing,” as Schneider put it afterwards, he kept his team in the game despite the lukewarm offensive night. He struck out four Tigers batters and allowed four earned runs, including a solo shot to Willi Castro.

“We hold him to a pretty high standard,” said Schneider. “I don’t think his stuff was quite as crisp as it has been, and that happens over the course of a long season. But he was good. I’m not going to put anything more than that. He was good. I think we expect him to dominate a lot of the time, but it was kind of just one of those nights for him.”

Like several other teams this year, the Tigers loaded up on left-handed batters against Manoah, whose splits show this is an area to improve upon. The tough matchups paired with inconsistent command of the two-seam and four-seam fastballs made it a rare off night for Manoah.

He wanted to keep going, but respected the coaching staff’s decision to pull him.

“Someone has to be the smart one, you know,” Manoah joked. “It was the right time to get me out, and the bullpen did a great job.”

While the organization let out a collective sigh of relief at the negative X-rays, Manoah’s injury scare came at an intriguing moment.

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi made a solid return from the 15-day IL on Thursday, which ostensibly gave the Blue Jays some clarity around their rotation ahead of Tuesday's Trade Deadline. But Friday’s scene brought back the memory of Kevin Gausman missing time after being hit in the ankle by a comebacker, and came just moments before coveted starter Luis Castillo reportedly packed his bags for Seattle.

There’s no need to panic. But every loss, injury scare and rival transaction should intensify the Blue Jays’ urgency to make moves.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiSGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1sYi5jb20vbmV3cy9hbGVrLW1hbm9haC1leGl0cy1ibHVlLWpheXMtZ2FtZS1hZ2FpbnN0LXRpZ2Vyc9IBAA?oc=5

2022-07-30 04:39:48Z
1512254859

Lions come back to defeat Roughriders, match best start since 2007 - TSN

REGINA — It took a little while but the B.C. Lions offence continued to roll in a 32-17 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday.

The Lions fell behind 17-4 in the second quarter but responded with 28 unanswered points to improve their record to 5-1 while dropping the Riders to 4-4.

Nathan Rourke, who continues to shine in his first season as the starting quarterback, said that while there was some concern about the slow start, the Lions were confident they could find their way as the game progressed.

“There was nothing special (to the comeback). They were just there making some plays and we just needed to execute at (a) higher level. We’re very confident that when we execute to the best of our abilities, nobody can get in our way except ourselves,” said Rourke.

“Credit to Saskatchewan, they made some great plays early on but we found a way. I'm extremely proud of the guys for doing so.”

Like Rourke, defensive lineman Mathieu Betts was confident the Lions had the time and ability to turn the game around.

“The vibe was good even though we were down, but the way Number 12 can play, we know we’re always in the game. We really didn't change anything defensively. We had a couple of tweaks that we had to do and just try to reset and do our best to try to give the offence the ball back and that's what we did,” said Betts.

B.C. entered the game with only four sacks allowed in its first five games. Anthony Lanier and Charleston Hughes picked up sacks for the Riders in the early going, but the Lions offensive line regained its composure and provided Rourke with outstanding protection for the rest of the game.

“They did a great job. They didn't blink early in the game. It was a rough start and they'd be the first ones to tell you that. But they certainly got together,” said Rourke.

“That’s a very talented defensive line in Saskatchewan . . . We knew our offensive line was going to have their hands full and they did a really good job handling that and getting better as the game went on. That was a big key to us turning things around.”

The Lions, who are chasing the undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers for first place in the West Division, haven’t started a season at 5-1 since 2007 when they topped the division with a 14-3-1 record.

Friday’s game was the first of three scheduled meetings between the teams in a five-week stretch. Rourke wasn’t ready to admit that Friday’s victory gives the Lions a leg up on the Riders heading into the two upcoming games.

“I think every game that we play, whether it's East or West, are important (but) the West games are especially important,” said Rourke. “It’s not easy to beat a team once, never mind three times during a season.”

Rourke continued to live up to the hype Friday by completing 27 of 33 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 1,941 yards on 153-of-193 passing with 16 touchdowns.

The Lions have a talented group of receivers which will only get better next week with the expected return of veteran Bryan Burnham who has been sidelined since June 25 with fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The Riders are heading into a bye week after working through a couple of rough weeks. They were hit with a COVID-19 outbreak following their July 16 game in Halifax against Toronto that left them undermanned for last week’s return game against the Argos. They also had to deal with high profile suspensions of defensive tackle Garrett Marino (four games) and receiver Duke Williams (one game).

Quarterback Cody Fajardo, who missed last week’s game because of COVID protocols, suffered damage to his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in Week 2 and has been wearing a large brace in every game since.

Despite those issues, the Lions weren’t about to underestimate Fajardo.

“Fajardo is a good quarterback in this league. He's obviously a great athlete, so that’s how I'm treating him . . . If he’s out there, he must be ready to roll and be the guy to give them the best chance to win the game so that’s how we treated him,” said Betts.

The Lions got touchdowns from Rourke on a one-yard run along with a 15-yard reception from Jevon Cottoy and a 14-yard catch by Dominique Rhymes. Kicker Sean Whyte had field goals of 16 and 39 yards and added a single on a miss from 46 yards. Stefan Flintoft had two singles on kickoffs. The Lions also got a safety when Marcus Sayles tackled Riders running back Jamal Morrow in the end zone in the second quarter.

Betts had two sacks with Obum Gwacham and Tibo Debaille collecting one sack each. Former Rider Loucheiz Purifoy had an interception for the Lions.

Fajardo, on a one-yard run, and Tevin Jones, on an eight-yard reception, scored touchdowns for Saskatchewan. Brett Lauther added a 28-yard field goal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2022

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRzbi5jYS9saW9ucy1vdmVyY29tZS1lYXJseS1kZWZpY2l0LXRvLWRlZmVhdC1yb3VnaHJpZGVycy0zMi0xNy1tYXRjaC1iZXN0LXN0YXJ0LXNpbmNlLTIwMDctMS4xODMwODU10gF5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudHNuLmNhL2xpb25zLW92ZXJjb21lLWVhcmx5LWRlZmljaXQtdG8tZGVmZWF0LXJvdWdocmlkZXJzLTMyLTE3LW1hdGNoLWJlc3Qtc3RhcnQtc2luY2UtMjAwNy0xLjE4MzA4NTU_dHNuLWFtcA?oc=5

2022-07-30 04:19:23Z
1508620358

Chapman has two homers as Blue Jays fend off Tigers - TSN

TORONTO — After spending about three weeks on the injured list, Yusei Kikuchi didn't want to come off the field.

Kikuchi struck out five and gave up one run to earn the win as the Toronto Blue Jays held off the Detroit Tigers for a 5-3 win on Thursday. It was Kikuchi's first start for the Blue Jays since July 5, spending time on the injured list with a strained neck.

After finishing the fifth inning with back-to-back strikeouts, Kikuchi asked interim Toronto manager John Schneider to stay in the game.

"He came in and he told me he was hungry for more, which is awesome," Schneider said. "I told him outstanding job and use this as a springboard going forward.

"We're going to need these kinds of outings from him going forward for us to get to where we want to go. So he was great about it."

Kikuchi (4-5) held the Tigers to two hits and a walk, throwing just 67 pitches. It was his first win since a 4-1 decision in Tampa Bay on June 30.

"The first thing I actually told Schneider was that 'I'm starving, I want to keep going,'" said Kikuchi through translator Kevin Ando. "But I did understand that I was on a pitch count after not throwing for a while.

"Just overall, I'm really looking forward to my next step."

Working with Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker has saved Kikuchi's season. The 31-year-old lefty has been struggling with his command all year until Walker helped Kikuchi find his natural throwing motion during his stint on the IL.

"Pete came up to me and said 'hey, look, whenever we do any sort of fielding work, you get it to first base or whichever base right on the money almost every time,'" Kikuchi said. "So what he was saying was that was basically my natural arm slot, maybe.

"So we put together a throwing program to get me in a more athletic position, just letting the natural arm slot work."

Matt Chapman had a two-run homer and added a solo shot to lead Toronto's (55-44) offence. Alejandro Kirk had an RBI single and added a double, going 2-for-3 for the Blue Jays, while Danny Jansen added a run with a sacrifice fly.

"All of us have had Kikuchi's back the whole season and we've been in his corner," Chapman said. "But I think for him to maybe step away for a little bit, regroup, come back and have an outing like this can set the tone for a strong finish for him."

Adam Cimber, Tim Mayza, Yimi Garcia and Jordan Romano came out of Toronto's bullpen. Mayza and Garcia each gave up a run but Romano got the final four outs of the game for his 23rd save of the year.

Willi Castro and Jonathan Schoop had one home run apiece for Detroit (40-60) with Eric Haase earning an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Tyler Alexander (2-4) allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits and a walk over four innings. Will Vest, Angel De Jesus, Jose Cisnero and Alex Lange came on in relief for the Tigers.

Castro's home run in the second gave Detroit an early 1-0 lead but Kirk replied for the Blue Jays in the third, with his hit dropping into centre field for a single. That gave George Springer enough time to score from second to tie the game. Springer had reached base on a throwing error by Detroit shortstop Javy Baez, making it an unearned run.

Chapman gave Toronto its first lead of the game in the fourth, with the 346-foot blast scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to make it 3-1.

Two innings later Chapman struck again, hitting his second home run of the game and 18th of the year. He has 12 homers since the beginning of June.

"If I'm making consistent contact and finding the barrel I know that the power is going to be there," Chapman said. "That's something that I want to happen naturally as opposed to going out there and feeling like I have to drive the ball or try to do more when I should let it come to me."

Schoop chipped away at Toronto's lead with a homer in the seventh and then Haase reduced the Blue Jays' lead to 4-3 with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Jansen gave the Blue Jays some breathing room in the bottom of that inning with his fly ball bringing home Gurriel Jr.

MAKE ROOM — Right-handed reliever Jeremy Beasley was optioned to the Blue Jays' triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y., ahead of Thursday's game. The move made space on the Blue Jays' roster for Kikuchi's return from the injured list.

UP NEXT — Blue Jays all-star Alek Manoah (11-4) will take the mound on Friday as Toronto continues its four-game series against the Tigers. Bryan Garcia (0-0) will make his first start of the season for Detroit.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2022.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiXGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRzbi5jYS9tYXR0LWNoYXBtYW4taGFzLXR3by1ob21lLXJ1bnMtYXMtYmx1ZS1qYXlzLWZlbmQtb2ZmLXRpZ2Vycy01LTMtMS4xODMwNDMw0gFkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudHNuLmNhL21hdHQtY2hhcG1hbi1oYXMtdHdvLWhvbWUtcnVucy1hcy1ibHVlLWpheXMtZmVuZC1vZmYtdGlnZXJzLTUtMy0xLjE4MzA0MzA_dHNuLWFtcA?oc=5

2022-07-29 02:17:01Z
1512394914

Whitecaps edge Toronto FC in shootout to win Canadian title - TSN

The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — Tristan Blackmon scored and the Vancouver Whitecaps won the Canadian Championship on Tuesday, beating Toronto FC 5-3 on penalties in the final.

It’s just the second time the ‘Caps have hoisted the Voyageurs Cup following their victory in 2015.

Brian White scored for Vancouver in the 19th minute, heading in a cross from Ryan Gauld.

Toronto equalized in the 75th minute when Lukas MacNaughton directed in a ball from Federico Bernardesci.

Toronto dominated 71.2 per cent of the possession and outshot the home side 18-14, including 6-5 in on-target shots, but ‘Caps goalkeeper Cody Cropper came up big with five saves.

Alex Bono made four saves for TFC, which has won the Canadian Championship eight times in its history.

The Whitecaps beat Canadian Premier League clubs Valour FC, Cavalry FC and York United to earn a spot in the final.

Toronto had a bye in the first round, then downed the CPL's Halifax Wanderers and Major League Soccer's CF Montreal.

With the score knotted at 1-1 after 90 minutes of play, Tuesday's game went to a penalty shootout.

Gauld was up first for the 'Caps and the Scottish designated player sent a shot sailing into the top corner of the net.

Domenico Criscito took the first kick for Toronto and fired a ball past Cropper.

White then stutter stepped to fake out Bono and blasted a low shot into the right corner.

Toronto's Jordan Peruzza took advantage of Cropper's early dive on the next attempt and put a ball into the opposite side of the goal.

Wingback Julian Gressel took the third shot for Vancouver, hitting Bono's outstretched hand as he fired a shot into the corner.

Next, Cropper stopped a low shot by Canadian Jonathan Osorio to give the 'Caps an edge.

Vancouver's designated player Andres Cubas followed the save with a blast past Bono.

Federico Bernardeschi kept Toronto's hopes alive, patiently waiting for his shot then rolling a ball into the net.

But it was Blackmon who scored the game-clincher. The crowd erupted as the 'Caps defender fired a quick shot past Bono for the victory.

Former Toronto FC striker Tosaint Ricketts looked poised to give the Whitecaps the win in the 80th minute when he got a ball from White deep in the box. His shot hit Bono's hand and skittered wide of the post.

Toronto buried the equalizer in the 75th minute.

Jayden Nelson chipped a short pass to Bernardeschi at the top of the box and the Italian sent a cross in deep. MacNaughton rose from the pack and put a header in past Cropper to tie the score at 1-1.

Cropper kept the 'Caps ahead in the 60th minute, stretching out to turn away a shot from Toronto star Lorenzo Insigne.

Toronto dominated 71.3 per cent of the possession through the first half but it was Vancouver that had the better chances, outshooting the visitors 9-8. Both sides had four shots on target.

The 'Caps appeared to be in trouble in the 37th minute when Toronto won a free kick from outside the penalty area. Isigne took the kick, sending a right-footed shot well over the Vancouver net.

Vancouver got on the board in the 19th minute following a corner.

Gauld sent a cross into White at the back post and the American striker directed a header toward the net, hitting Bono's left hand on the way in. The goal gave the 'Caps a 1-0 lead.

Lucas Cavallini nearly got the scoring started just 35 seconds into the game. Gauld delivered a ball into the box and the Canadian striker sent a low shot to the bottom left corner of the net, only to see Bono dive to make the stop.

The Whitecaps will be back in action on Saturday when they visit Nashville SC. Toronto FC will take on the Revolution in New England the same night.

FOOTNOTES: An announced crowd of 24,307 took in the game in sweltering conditions. Vancouver is under a heat warning and the temperature read 30 C at kickoff. … There was an audible cheer when Isigne's name was announced before the game. The 31-year-old Italian was a longtime captain for Napoli in Serie A before he joined Toronto as a designated player in June. … Vancouver topped Toronto 1-0 in MLS play back on May 8 … Both the Whitecaps and Reds had played MLS matches on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2022.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiWGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRzbi5jYS93aGl0ZWNhcHMtZWRnZS10b3JvbnRvLWZjLWluLXNob290b3V0LXRvLXdpbi1jYW5hZGlhbi10aXRsZS0xLjE4Mjk2NTXSAXJodHRwczovL3d3dy50c24uY2EvdmFuY291dmVyLXdoaXRlY2Fwcy10b3JvbnRvLWZjLTIwMjMtY2FuYWRpYW4tY2hhbXBpb25zaGlwLWZpbmFsLXZveWFnZXVycy1jdXAtMS4xODI5NjU1P3Rzbi1hbXA?oc=5

2022-07-27 02:37:27Z
1511711096

Analyzing the Tkachuk for Huberdeau/Weegar trade: Did Flames or Panthers win? - Sportsnet.ca

It’s been a few days since the Flames and Panthers shook up the hockey world with a banger blockbuster trade. It’s not often superstars are on the move in the NHL, and this one saw two switching teams.

When it was clear that Matthew Tkachuk was not willing to sign long-term in Calgary, management took the opportunity to move him to increase the return. Since that sentiment was known, it wouldn’t have been too surprising if they lost leverage and couldn’t maximize the return to the heights of this calibre player. It’s not easy to win a trade as a team moving the best skater in all of it. But there were teams with interest and offers — but clearly, the Panthers were the most enticing.

After first losing Johnny Gaudreau to free agency and Tkachuk via trade, the Flames bring back Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, along with a first-rounder and a prospect (Cole Schwindt). The Panthers, on the other hand, get the best player in all of this and extended him for eight years, at $9.5 million a year on average. So now that the dust has settled a bit and we’ve all have a second to digest the trade, and hear what all players involved (and managers) have had to say, let’s break it all down.

The biggest piece of this deal is obviously Tkachuk, who is coming off a 104-point career-year. With 42 goals on the year — also a career-high — his shooting is a key aspect of his offence. Tkachuk has really smooth hands and can pull off some really stellar plays, even in tight spaces. He can drive to the quality areas of the ice and concentrates most of his shots to the home plate area, even at 5-on-5 when he has less time and space out there. Plus, he can play a net-front role, which contributed to him collecting such a high rate of inner-slot shots. The winger is among the best at creating offence off the cycle thanks to his ability to generate scoring chances.

An underrated aspect of his game is his ability to set up his teammates as well. Tkachuk’s more of a dual-threat than he gets credit for. He sends his teammates a high volume of passes in the offensive zone and can move the puck right to the quality areas of the ice.

Tkachuk is responsible back in his own zone as well, which upgrades that winger slot for Florida. If he ends up playing with Aleksandar Barkov, that’s two elite two-way players on one line. Or, it could create a one-two punch with the duo split between the top-six, whether he’s centered by Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, or even Anton Lundell for lineup balance.

But there is a ripple effect from this trade, that doesn’t have to do with Tkachuk directly. The loss of Weegar only weakens the Panthers team-defence that was already suspect, which puts more pressure on a starting goaltender who hasn’t always played up to expectations.

On the other side of it, there’s Calgary. After Gaudreau walked, it could have made all the sense in the world to stay a step back and quickly re-tool to extend their window. The Flames did lose their most valuable player, after all. The Tkachuk situation put them in a position to lose both of their superstar forwards.

In Huberdeau, they add one right back. He’s less of a Tkachuk replacement, and has more similarity to Gaudreau, thanks to his puck movement — although there’s a bit of a gap, and much of it shows below the surface.

Despite leading the league in assists (both raw totals and rate), Huberdeau didn’t earn the title of 'best passer' in 2021-22 — that was reserved for Gaudreau. The former Panthers’ winger didn’t rank as highly when it came to primary shot assists in all situations, or passes that directly preceded shots, and that showed on the scoresheet as well with a lower percentage of primary helpers.

*Viz from April 20, 2022

Plus, Huberdeau’s 5-on-5 impact wasn’t as strong this past season. That doesn’t change the fact that the Flames added a player who can move the puck better than most in the league. The winger can create shooting lanes for his teammates with his distribution; he puts out a high volume of passes, makes his own lanes to thread the puck to the slot, and completes his pass attempts at a high clip. Plus, Huberdeau has an effective shot when he opts to use it — but not to the extent where he’ll replace Gaudreau, who generated the second best rate of scoring chances off the rush at 5-on-5. Nor does he carry the puck in nearly as much as the former Flame. However, his passing could help keep Elias Lindholm (if paired together) towards the top of the charts in shot attempts off the cycle if he can get him the puck as often as his former linemate. And Bennett, who Huberdeau was often paired with, did generate quite a few scoring chances off the rush in Florida, thanks to help from his teammate's set ups, so it’s possible that the Flames can find a way to keep those rush shots up.

What helps Calgary’s addition is that they’re a much better team defensively, and that structure should support Huberdeau more than Florida’s riskier style of play. Huberdeau does have some defensive struggles because of his all-offence focus; but within this structure, it shouldn’t standout as much.

Speaking of defence, the Flames addressed that with this trade as well with Weegar. He’s been sound back in his own zone for quite a few seasons, but really has gained appreciation for it in more recent years. Recency bias may say otherwise after some memorable misplays in the playoffs, but those are only a small snippet of his NHL career. And time in Calgary could strengthen his efforts on the backend even more — even if he doesn’t have Aaron Ekblad on his side for support.

Weegar’s defensive efforts start before opponents can even get into the offensive zone; at 5-on-5 he can be counted on to deny entry, whether he steps up in the neutral zone or closes the gap back in his own end to limit scoring chances. The defender does his best to block passing lanes and knock opponents off the puck — whether with his stick or a hit to change possession. Plus, he can help break the puck out of his own end with control.

The question is fit. The Flames already had a pretty solid top-four on defence without Weegar in the mix. Now, technically their top-five is even better. But who shifts to the third pair? Or, does a defender move to make room for Weegar in the top-four, maybe to bring back a forward to address the loss of their other top-six forward? That likely only happens if there’s a guarantee he’s sticking around for more than just the season.

That’s the risky part of this all. Huberdeau and Weegar both just entered the final year of their contracts. And that puts Calgary back to a situation they were just in with key pending unrestricted free agents. But the Flames have options on how to proceed, depending on their priorities for this upcoming season. And in the meantime, they just added two very strong players to their roster who should be in a position to succeed with the team’s defensive structure around.

So neither team walks away from the trade a loser. There’s a downside from both perspectives, but quite a bit of upside thanks to the calibre of the players each squad just added.

Data via Sportlogiq

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNwb3J0c25ldC5jYS9uaGwvYXJ0aWNsZS9hbmFseXppbmctdGhlLXRrYWNodWstZm9yLWh1YmVyZGVhdS13ZWVnYXItdHJhZGUtZGlkLWZsYW1lcy1vci1wYW50aGVycy13aW4v0gFwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3BvcnRzbmV0LmNhL25obC9hbmFseXppbmctdGhlLXRrYWNodWstZm9yLWh1YmVyZGVhdS13ZWVnYXItdHJhZGUtZGlkLWZsYW1lcy1vci1wYW50aGVycy13aW4vc24tYW1wLw?oc=5

2022-07-26 20:10:00Z
1503951127

Jonathan Huberdeau Looks Ahead To Playing For The Flames | Tim & Friends - SPORTSNET

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9dm1IZkZjck5sZHfSAQA?oc=5

2022-07-25 21:36:49Z
1503951127

Highlights | Round 4 | 3M Open | 2022 - PGA TOUR

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9dHpzaE1ySGxJRVXSAQA?oc=5

2022-07-24 22:57:28Z
1505740891

Canada wins gold in men's 4x100m relay at World Athletics Championships - CBC.ca

Twenty-six years after Robert Esmie, Glenroy Gilbert, Bruny Surin and Donovan Bailey captured gold for Canada in the men's 4x100-metre relay on a Saturday night in Georgia at the 1996 Olympics, another Canadian quartet of runners have struck gold again — this time on a Saturday night in Eugene, Ore.

With a boisterous American crowd going crazy for the heavily-favoured U.S. track team at the World Athletics Championships, Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse ran the race of their lives to win gold for Canada. 

Their time of 37.48 seconds is the fastest in the world this season and a new Canadian record. 

"It means everything. We've been talking about this for a few years now. Last year at the Olympics. It feels good to get it here. A lot of Canadian fans here so it almost feels like home soil," De Grasse said. 

The United States finished second in a time of 37.55, while Great Britain won bronze with a time of 37.83.

WATCH l Canadian men golden in 4x100m relay at athletics worlds:

Canadian men golden in 4x100m at World Championships

4 hours ago

Duration 7:27

Canada's Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse topped the men's 4x100m podium at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

It's the first time a Canadian men's relay team has won gold on American soil since those 1996 Atlanta Games. It also marks the sixth time Canadian men have won a relay medal at the world championships — three gold, three bronze. 

The fans at Hayward Field were stunned as De Grasse outran American Marvin Bracy to get to the finish line first — De Grasse threw his hands in the air in celebration. 

He finished in a time of 8.79.

His effort is even more remarkable considering he had COVID-19 less than a month ago. He chose to sit out the 200m event  — he's the reigning Olympic champion in that event. 

But De Grasse put team and country ahead of any individual aspirations at worlds to ensure he'd be rested for the relay. 

"It feels great to end it like this after a rough start. To do it with these guys. It's an awesome feeling," he said.

Canada's Andre De Grasse outruns American Marvin Bracy to victory on Saturday night. (Ashley Landis/The Associated Press)

It was a perfectly executed race from start to finish for Canada. Brown blasted out of the blocks, putting the Canadians in a strong position going into the second leg.

The 30-year-old from Toronto was running his eighth race at worlds.

"I trusted these guys. We had the right spacing. I love these guys and I'm so proud," he said. "I worked so hard this championship and to end it off like this is icing on the cake. I'm so proud of these guys."

Blake, who is somewhat new to the team, ran an 8.86 to keep Canada out front. 

"It feels good. Aaron just said listen for me this time. I got out as hard as I could and when I got the baton I went, that feels good," Blake said. 

"Glenroy told us in our meeting to focus on the checkmark. Go to the middle of the zone as quickly as possible. I was running with a smile on my face at that point."

And then Rodney, who's the corner specialist, rounded the bend with speed and strength.

"We've been working on the spacing. As soon as I saw Jerome go over that tape I was getting ready. Just a great day," he said. "Chemistry is everything. We worked hard practicing. My job here at these worlds was the relays. Now we have the whole collection."

De Grasse then brought it home for Canada, outrunning Bracy.

WATCH | Donovan Bailey on Canada's gold-medal win:

Donovan Bailey on Canada’s world gold medal in 4x100m

3 hours ago

Duration 4:10

3-time world champion Donovan Bailey joined Andi Petrillo and Perdita Felicien to discuss the historic men’s 4x100m finish in Eugene, Ore.

The last time a Canadian men's team won the relay at worlds was back in 1997 in Athens. Athletics Canada head coach Glenroy Gilbert was part of that mid-90s Canadian dream team that won two world titles and a world bronze, as well as that 1996 Olympic gold.

"In my opinion I think they're a stronger team than what we were. They're not just 100-metre guys, they're 200-metre guys too. Their capacity is much higher. We were primarily 100-metre sprinters," Gilbert said. 

"I'm very proud to work with them and put forth the knowledge I have from over the years. They've made it easy."

Gilbert tested positive for COVID-19 a couple of days ago and had been coaching the team via Zoom. He is currently isolating in Eugene. 

He was unable to be in the stadium for the golden race Saturday night, but no doubt played a huge role in the team's success.

The Canadian men's 4x100m relay team celebrates after capturing gold. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

De Grasse, Brown and Rodney were all part of the last Canadian relay team to win a medal at worlds — a bronze medal seven years ago in Beijing. 

Blake was part of the team that captured silver in Tokyo last summer at the Olympics.

This Canadian team has talked about the importance of chemistry when it comes to the relay. They felt more prepared and more experienced than the other teams going into the final and it showed on Saturday night. 

Gilbert says it's something they practice every spring during a number of camps and competitions. 

"A lot of it is fundamentals and chemistry. All of these guys are talented. If they adhere to fundamentals under pressure they'll be successful. And the chemistry these guys have is unmistakable," he said.

WATCH | Chemistry a major factor for Canada's 4x100m relay team:

Chemistry between Brown, Rodney a boon for Canada's 4x100m relay team

4 days ago

Duration 0:55

Brendon Rodney and Aaron Brown have won two Olympic medals together on the 4x100m relay team, but their friendship pre-dates the track.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

(CBC)

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNiYy5jYS9zcG9ydHMvb2x5bXBpY3Mvc3VtbWVyL3RyYWNrYW5kZmllbGQvY2FuYWRhLTQtMTAwLXJlbGF5LXdvcmxkLWF0aGxldGljcy1jaGFtcGlvbnNoaXBzLWZpbmFsLXJlY2FwLTEuNjUzMDMyONIBIGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNiYy5jYS9hbXAvMS42NTMwMzI4?oc=5

2022-07-24 02:58:00Z
1511900695

Fresh off All-Star performance, fired up Manoah shines in Blue Jays win over Red Sox - Sportsnet.ca

BOSTON – This was the full Alek Manoah experience, a tornado of energy and emotion tearing through Fenway Park on a steamy Saturday, triggering everything from alarm to rage over six gripping innings of work.

The gamut ran bailing on a pitch in the second inning and shaking out his right hand, to using indelicate language as he recommended that Franchy Cordero be seated after a strikeout in the sixth.

Unhappy that the all-star game sensation screamed in elation after getting Bobby Dalbec to end the frame and glanced at their bench, the Boston Red Sox voiced their displeasure, received more suggestions that they recline, and a few of their players began to emerge from the dugout to further the conversation.

Quickly, the Blue Jays funnelled their mountain-of-a-man off the field, order remained and they proceeded to lock down a 4-1 victory Saturday, their fifth in a row, improving them to 9-3 against the Red Sox this season.

What a ride.

“Just competitive baseball, man,” Manoah said of fiery sixth-inning exchange. “It’s hot baseball, those guys are trying to do everything they can to win. We're doing the same thing on our side. I was pretty fired up coming into the dugout and glad we were able to get the win.”

The day after establishing new franchise records with 28 runs and 29 hits, the Blue Jays needed Manoah and the bullpen to be every bit as stingy as they were. RBI singles from Santiago Espinal and George Springer along with an Alejandro Kirk sacrifice fly in the third erased the deficit created by Bobby Dalbec’s solo shot in the second, and it was all pitching from there.

Manoah, fresh off of striking out the side during an epic all-star inning in which he was mic’d up, was front and centre in that regard, with all the inherent drama.

There were surely palpitating hearts in the Blue Jays’ baseball operations offices during the second inning. Manoah wound up for a 2-0 pitch to Dalbec and as his right arm came over the top, something seemed to give, flopping the ball into the ground. Afterwards he circled the ball slowly before picking it up, his right arm dangling as he spread his fingers wide, prompting interim manager John Schneider and trainer Jose Ministral to charge out.

“The mound was a little gluey,” explained Manoah, who caught a spike and slipped. “I was just trying to regroup myself, get my breath back and just get back to pitching.”

After a brief conference, Manoah remained in the game. Four pitches later, Dalbec sent a slider over the Monster. Manoah battled his way through the next four frames, including the fateful sixth.

Cordero appeared to be the first Red Sox player to take exception, staring out at Manoah and muttering something after swinging through a slider for the second out of the inning. When Manoah noticed, he glared back and told the DH to, and we’ll paraphrase here, go sit the funk down.

Cordero smirked as he returned to the dugout and the ill-will turned up a notch when he caught Dalbec looking to end the frame and pounded his chest in celebration. Dalbec didn’t like that and said something, Manoah impolitely asked him to walk away, and a few Red Sox climbed out of their dugout as Cavan Biggio, alertly, guided the big man to the Blue Jays bench.

“I was just trying to get him in the dugout and try not to let nothing turn into something,” said Biggio, wisely aware that the benches cleared between the sides when they last met in Toronto after Nick Pivetta hit Alejandro Kirk. “Trying to keep momentum on our side and not give them any reason to get it on their side.”

Nothing more developed, but given the stakes for both clubs, and that the Red Sox lost for the 12th time in their past 15 outings, the tensions shouldn’t be surprising.

“We all know he's an emotional guy,” said Schneider, who put his arm around Manoah in the dugout afterwards and chatted with him. “That’s what makes him elite – the way he competes. What I told him was outstanding effort today, way to empty the tank and just make sure that your emotion doesn't get the best of you and doesn't show up your opponent. But I couldn't ask for much more out of him in that inning.”

Manoah’s fortitude, of course, is an increasingly integral part of the Blue Jays’ backbone, complementing the steady dominance he provides every fifth day.

As Yusei Kikuchi works to rejoin the staff – Schneider called the lefty’s five shutout innings during Friday’s rehab start at triple-A Buffalo “encouraging” – the combination of Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Manoah gives GM Ross Atkins a front three comparable to any in baseball, with Ross Stripling providing dependable reliance behind them.

That gives Atkins the option of loading up the bullpen rather than trying to add both relief and rotation help ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, although there’s certainly a path to the Blue Jays doing both. There is one school of thought that believes two high-end relievers are preferable to a starter, although the final verdict will also have to factor in what the market bears, too.

The Blue Jays bullpen held Saturday, particularly in the eighth, when Adam Cimber walked one and hit another, leaving two men on and two out for closer Jordan Romano, who got Dalbec to fly out to centre to preserve a 3-1 lead. After a Teoscar Hernandez double tacked on a fourth run in the ninth, Romano closed out the bottom half, easy-peasy.

“With where he was in terms of rest and how we felt about those matchups,” Schneider said of asking Romano to get more than three outs for the second time this year, “it was the perfect time to do it.”

As it so often has this season, securing a third consecutive Blue Jays series win all started with Manoah.

“He brings a little bit of extra emotion,” Schneider says of how Manoah’s vibe rubs off on the rest of the club. “A little bit of extra, ‘Here we go, we're here,’ like he says. It’s easy to get up for a game when he’s on the mound, for sure.”

Added Biggio: “He's the ultimate competitor. Love having him out there.”

For a number of reasons beyond the obvious, opponents won’t feel the same way, another intriguing part of the same wild ride.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMieWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNwb3J0c25ldC5jYS9tbGIvYXJ0aWNsZS9mcmVzaC1vZmYtYWxsLXN0YXItcGVyZm9ybWFuY2UtZmlyZWQtdXAtbWFub2FoLXNoaW5lcy1pbi1ibHVlLWpheXMtd2luLW92ZXItcmVkLXNveC_SAQA?oc=5

2022-07-23 23:50:00Z
1505740863

Matthew Tkachuk Traded To Florida In Blockbuster Deal | Instant Analysis w/ @SteveDangle - SPORTSNET

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9WnoxOG9OSVFvRm_SAQA?oc=5

2022-07-23 17:44:57Z
1503951127

Players from 2003 World Juniors hockey team deny knowledge of alleged sex assault - The Globe and Mail

A puck sits on the ice before a faceoff as the Czech Republic and Switzerland play a world junior hockey championship game in Vancouver on December 26, 2018.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press

Three retired NHL players who were part of Canada’s 2003 world junior hockey lineup say they were unaware of an alleged group sex assault involving members of that year’s team.

Jordin Tootoo, Carlo Colaiacovo and P.A. Parenteau said in Twitter posts on Friday and Saturday that they had not heard of the incident before the allegation surfaced in a TSN report on Friday. The assault is alleged to have taken place in Halifax, which was co-hosting the world junior hockey championship that year. The city’s police have opened an investigation.

This is the latest in a series of revelations about the culture of hockey and its national governing body, Hockey Canada. Police in London, Ont., recently reopened an investigation into a different sexual assault, allegedly committed in 2018 by Canadian Hockey League players, including members of that year’s world junior team.

Hockey Canada said Friday it contacted Halifax Regional Police after recently learning of the 2003 allegations, and added that it will co-operate with authorities as they investigate.

TSN reported on Friday that, according to its sources, video footage from 2003 shows about six players taking turns having sex with a woman who was unresponsive and lying face up on a pool table. TSN did not view the footage, but cited three sources who described it. The Globe and Mail has not independently verified the existence of the footage or any details related to it.

Jordin Tootoo of the Brandon Wheat Kings poses for a photo following an afternoon practice at the Keystone Centre on December 9, 2002.Bruce Bumstead

Mr. Tootoo, a former Chicago Blackhawks player, wrote a memoir called All the Way: My Life on Ice. It references the 2003 team’s sexual behaviour at one point.

“We were horny young men. We were in Halifax and we had every ... girl hitting on us. What are you going to do? Let’s start slaying these broads. And it wasn’t just one-on-one action. A few of the guys would get a couple of girls after practice and head into one of the rooms. Enough said.”

In his Twitter post on Saturday, Mr. Tootoo said his book deals with topics such as his “journey with alcohol addiction.”

“If I am being totally honest with you, I don’t recall knowing or hearing about the incident in question during or after the tournament,” Mr. Tootoo said in the post.

“I was shocked when I heard about it in the media and will co-operate fully with any investigation.”

Mr. Colaiacovo, who now co-hosts a TSN hockey radio show, said in his Twitter statement that he was saddened to hear of the allegations about his team.

“As a member of that team, it is important that everyone is aware that I had no involvement or knowledge of any incidents whatsoever. I will fully co-operate with any investigations,” he said.

Mr. Parenteau shared Mr. Colaiacovo’s post and echoed the sentiment.

“I will co-operate and was not involved in that [incident],” he said.

The world’s governing body for hockey, the Switzerland-based International Ice Hockey Foundation, has requested that Hockey Canada turn over additional information about the 2018 sexual abuse complaint. The IIHF has also asked for details of how the complaint was addressed by the organization.

In May, Hockey Canada quietly settled a lawsuit related to the 2018 allegation. The complainant was a woman who alleged she had been assaulted in a hotel room in London, Ont. by eight Canadian Hockey League players.

IIHF communications manager Adam Steiss told The Globe the governing body had learned of the settlement in May.

“At this time the IIHF has not initiated an investigation into Hockey Canada’s actions,” Mr. Steiss said in a statement. “Nevertheless, this is a deeply troubling incident that the IIHF takes extremely seriously.”

The World Junior Championship tournament is held annually. It usually begins on Boxing Day and lasts into the first week of January. The 2021-2022 event was postponed when players on several teams tested positive for COVID-19. It is scheduled to be held in Edmonton next month. The 2022-23 event will begin on Boxing Day and will be held in Halifax.

Hockey Canada is supposed to be the host of both events. The IIHF did not respond to a question on Saturday about whether it would consider removing the organization from that role.

The IIHF has conducted integrity workshops at the World Junior Championship since 2018. Mr. Steiss said it will continue to do so. It has its own abuse and harassment code and wants reassurance that Hockey Canada has abided by it.

“The IIHF continues to monitor Hockey Canada’s actions to ensure that it is acting in accordance with the abuse and harassment code and will take all appropriate steps in line when and if necessary,” Mr. Steiss said.

In her lawsuit, the complainant in the 2018 case sought $3.55-million in damages. It is unknown how much she received, because she signed a non-disclosure agreement as part of the settlement. Her claims have not been tested in court.

A number of players from the 2018 world junior team have issued denials, or said they were not part of any wrongdoing. In court documents, the woman said she was intoxicated at the time of the incident, and that she was coerced and held against her will.

According to a statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court, she had sex with one player and then others entered the room and joined in. Some players brought golf clubs to the room and that scared her, she said. At one point, according to the claim, the players took a video in which she was directed to say she was sober and that the acts were consensual. Afterward, she said, she was told to take a shower.

Public outcry has surrounded the case since the lawsuit was settled in May. Officials from Hockey Canada have been called to testify before Parliament, and major sponsors have temporarily pulled their support for the organization. Swiss Chalet and The Keg are the latest on a long list that also includes Canadian Tire, Scotiabank, Telus and Tim Hortons.

Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWdsb2JlYW5kbWFpbC5jb20vY2FuYWRhL2FydGljbGUtd29ybGQtanVuaW9ycy0yMDAzLWNhbmFkYS1wbGF5ZXJzLWFzc2F1bHQtYWxsZWdhdGlvbnMv0gEA?oc=5

2022-07-23 19:57:18Z
1501757855

Tkachuk trade shows Flames' intent to defend Pacific Division title - TSN

Backed into a corner with a second star forward in two weeks set to leave the team, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving came out swinging and moved Matthew Tkachuk in one of the biggest deals in franchise history.

Late Friday evening, the team announced a deal that sent the 104-point game-breaker, a rare blend of skill, physicality, edge, and leadership, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for playmaking winger Jonathan Huberdeau, who himself had 115 points last season, underrated defenceman Mackenzie Weeegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a lottery-protected first-round pick.

For a Flames fanbase in the midst of one of the most excruciating off-seasons in recent memory, the return for Tkachuk has to provide at least some comfort and hope. While Calgary was never going to replicate him in a deal, they have at least come close to replacing him by adding another legitimate star in Huberdeau (who was fifth in Hart Trophy voting last season), a stay-at-home blueliner with an underrated offensive skillset in Weegar, plus two future assets.

The emphasis on immediate help in Huberdeau and Weegar shows the Flames still intend to defend their Pacific Division title next season.

Without Tkachuk and Gaudreau, the Flames would have still iced a strong lineup. They had Elias Lindholm, one of the game’s best two-way centres, 35-goal scorer Andrew Mangiapane, and good middle-six contributors in Blake Coleman and Tyler Toffoli. Their back-end of Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson, Chris Tanev, and Oliver Kylington performed very well, and Jacob Markstrom remains one of the NHL’s better netminders. 

Now, the Flames can pursue other business ahead of training camp in a few weeks. Nazem Kadri, who they have been connected to in the past, remains a free agent, as do depth forward options like Sonny Milano and Evan Rodrigues. 

There is calculated risk in this deal for the Flames that will be addressed in the coming months. 

Both Huberdeau and Weegar, like Gaudreau was this season, are pending unrestricted free agents. The Flames have the next season to not only attempt to replicate what they did last season, but try and convince them to continue their careers at the Saddledome–something they could not do with Tkachuk or Gaudreau. Treliving will have to sell them on the process he and his staff have built in Calgary, the city, lifestyle, fanbase, and merits of competing for the Stanley Cup in Canada.

For now, however, Flames fans can exhale–and even be optimistic about training camp.

Many envisioned a worst-case scenario when word got out that Tkachuk would not re-sign long-term. The Jarome Iginla trade and its negligible return flashed through many minds.

Instead, Treliving managed to trade one star for another, keeping the Flames’ competitive window open for at least one more season–and give a fanbase that has been through so much the past few months some much-needed hope.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMie2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRzbi5jYS9zYWxpbS12YWxqaS1tYXR0aGV3LXRrYWNodWstdHJhZGUtc2hvd3MtY2FsZ2FyeS1mbGFtZXMtaW50ZW50LXRvLWRlZmVuZC1wYWNpZmljLWRpdmlzaW9uLXRpdGxlLTEuMTgyODQ5N9IBgwFodHRwczovL3d3dy50c24uY2Evc2FsaW0tdmFsamktbWF0dGhldy10a2FjaHVrLXRyYWRlLXNob3dzLWNhbGdhcnktZmxhbWVzLWludGVudC10by1kZWZlbmQtcGFjaWZpYy1kaXZpc2lvbi10aXRsZS0xLjE4Mjg0OTc_dHNuLWFtcA?oc=5

2022-07-23 12:08:04Z
1503951127

What we know about Flames trading Matthew Tkachuk to Panthers - The Athletic

The Florida Panthers acquired forward Matthew Tkachuk in a blockbuster deal with the Calgary Flames on Friday night, then promptly signed him to an eight-year extension. The deal is worth $76 million, a source told The Athletic.

The Flames also sent a conditional fourth-round pick to the Panthers. In return, Calgary acquired left winger Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, center Cole Schwindt and a conditional 2025 first-round pick.

Calgary filed for arbitration with Tkachuk in mid-July. But he informed the team that he would not be re-signing on a long-term deal, The Athletic reported Wednesday. Last season, Tkachuk set career highs with 42 goals, 62 assists and 104 points. He also averaged 17:54 of ice time and was a plus-57.

One source close to the situation had previously said that Tkachuk’s list of preferred destinations at one point had the St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars on it for months, though that may not be the official list he gave Calgary. The New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers were also among the other teams that expressed interest in the past.

Read our trade grades on the deal here.

Here’s everything you need to know about the situation:

Why did Tkachuk want out of Calgary?

It is probably a combination of things, but it would unquestionably start with Johnny Gaudreau’s departure as a free agent last week. Tkachuk spent most of the early part of his career playing left wing on the second line, mostly alongside Mikael Backlund, because Gaudreau played left wing on the first line, mostly alongside Sean Monahan.

Last season, almost from start to finish, Calgary coach Darryl Sutter shifted Tkachuk to right wing on the top line, employing the theory of putting all the scoring eggs in one basket. It worked. Largely because Gaudreau created so many openings with his speed and vision, Tkachuk had a career year, and many analysts deemed that top line, centered by Elias Lindholm, as the best line in the NHL. Without Gaudreau there, the appetite to play in Calgary long term was greatly diminished.

Then there is the Canadian quandary: More and more, it seems teams such as Calgary end up on a players’ no-trade list, which is concerning. Partly, that might be a function of playing in an older building. Partly, that may be the scrutiny of playing in a Canadian market. And partly, that might be the fear of playing for a demanding, old-school coach such as Sutter. But once a player adds up all the pros and cons of playing in Calgary, they may just decide that they’d rather be somewhere else.

Did the Flames get a good return for Tkachuk?

Calgary was in a tough position here, not only because they were trading an All-Star winger in Tkachuk, but because they lacked leverage. Teams knew the Flames needed to move Tkachuk, who told Calgary he wouldn’t stay long-term. Teams also knew that if they got Tkachuk, it would be because he wanted to be there.

Despite all that, Calgary did very well here. Sure, both Huberdeau and Weegar have one year left before UFA — but bringing them in will help the Flames minimize the damage done by losing Tkachuk (and Gaudreau) and give the club a chance to build off their excellent 2021-22 season and give them at least one more year to try to contend. It’s a tidy piece of work for general manager Brad Treliving, to say the least.

Why didn’t the St. Louis Blues get Tkachuk?

The Blues weren’t a lock to land Tkachuk, but it seemed promising. Ultimately, Florida put together a better package than Blues general manager Doug Armstrong could probably assemble. St. Louis’ Jordan Kyrou is talented, but his 75 points last season don’t match up to Huberdeau’s 115, and the Blues weren’t offering up a defenseman like Weegar, who finished eighth in the Norris Trophy voting two years ago.

Those are a couple of reasons why Tkachuk isn’t a Blue, along with the fact that they likely had a tough time clearing salary-cap space. The club has 10 players with some form of a no-trade clause, and that probably presented a challenge in who could be dealt. It would have been a nice fit and a wonderful story having Tkachuk follow in his father’s footsteps in St. Louis, but in the end, Florida won the sweepstakes with a massive package.

Why Florida traded for Tkachuk

The immediate justification? “Matthew Tkachuk is the best player involved in the deal.” And there’s certainly something to be said for that; Tkachuk is a rare combo of skill, size and skating, and he wanted to be in a spot like Florida. There’s nothing not to like about him as a hockey player. That doesn’t quite justify the price tag, though — Huberdeau was just a Hart finalist and Weegar is a top-paid defenseman.

The rub for Florida, though, is that they were likely going to have trouble signing both next summer. Might as well, the logic seems to have gone, package them together for eight years of Tkachuk. I’m not sure I agree with it, but I understand it.

What the extension means for Florida’s future

Short term, it means Florida is going to have to send out some salary and/or place Anthony Duclair on long-term injured reserve to start the season, then sort things out when he returns from his Achilles injury. Longer term, it locks them into a core of elite center Aleksander Barkov ($10 million AAV through 2030), elite defenseman Aaron Ekblad ($7.5 million through 2026), Tkachuk and, uh, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky ($10 million through 2026). Pretty good.

It’s also worth saying that, if the Panthers lost the trade, it had nothing to do with Tkachuk’s extension. Having him at that number for that long is a steal.

Why did the Flames elect to take Tkachuk to arbitration?

The team said, via tweet, that going to arbitration gives Calgary “the opportunity to continue to work with (Tkachuk’s) representatives towards a contractual resolution while removing the possibility of an offer sheet.” It essentially would have given the Flames more time to negotiate a long-term deal with him, or possibly find a trade partner for him before the arbitration period if it got to that point. We provided an in-depth explainer about why the Flames would elect to go to arbitration with the 24-year-old.

How big of an impact did Tkachuk have on the Flames?

Losing Gaudreau already stung for the Flames. Losing Tkachuk in the same summer might have been seen as a nail in the coffin for the team’s aspirations for Cup contention, but the Flames may still be in the mix in the playoffs thanks to the return in the trade, along with their depth.

Tkachuk is a unicorn in this league, an extremely rare mix of skill and snarl, finesse and grit, scoring and passing, offense and defense. He really can do it all and is currently in the prime of his career as one of the league’s most valuable players. This is a guy who scored 42 goals and 104 points last year while driving play to an elite degree at both ends of the ice. Tkachuk is a superstar.

Matthew Tkachuk is a unicorn. Every single team should be in on him. pic.twitter.com/vqDmaOhwid

— dom (@domluszczyszyn) July 20, 2022

By the numbers, he’s projected to be worth 4.4 wins, which is behind only a few players in the league: Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, Mitch Marner, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. This is an elite winger who is a force at five-on-five between his play-driving, skilled hands, and positive defensive impact.

Tkachuk projects to stay at such a high level for quite some time. Over the next seven seasons, he’s expected to be worth 26 wins. The only question about his impact moving forward is how he’ll manage without his elite linemate, Gaudreau. Calgary’s already reeling from that, so losing both of their game-changing wingers would be absolutely devastating — especially because they don’t have any other wingers who measure anywhere near this pair.

(Photo of Matthew Tkachuk: Candice Ward / USA Today)

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiRWh0dHBzOi8vdGhlYXRobGV0aWMuY29tLzM0NDM2NDQvMjAyMi8wNy8yMy9tYXR0aGV3LXRrYWNodWstdHJhZGUtZmFxL9IBAA?oc=5

2022-07-23 05:43:26Z
1503951127