Hockey Canada's board chairs to answer to feds, Nicholson deferred to later date - TSN

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Hockey Canada's board chairs, past and present, played defence under House of Commons questioning of the hockey body's handling of alleged sexual assaults and how money was paid out in lawsuits.

Former chair Michael Brind'Amour and interim chair Andrea Skinner appeared via video conference Tuesday before a Canadian Heritage standing committee in Ottawa.

Skinner was appointed interim board chair after Brind'Amour resigned Aug. 6.

Canada's sports minister Pascale St-Onge and victims rights advocate Sheldon Kennedy are among people telling Hockey Canada leadership to step down in order to change the organization's culture.

"Toxic behaviour exists throughout society," Skinner said. "Suggesting that toxic behaviour is somehow a specific hockey problem, or to scapegoat hockey as a centerpiece for toxic culture is, in my opinion, counterproductive to finding solutions, and risks overlooking the change that needs to be made more broadly, to prevent and address toxic behaviour, particularly against women."

She and Brind'Amour were grilled on why Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Scott Smith had not been fired or why an expensive public relations firm was hired to conduct damage control.

"What we have heard is there is a call for a new perspective. Hockey Canada has secured an outside perspective. We're taking steps to change how we communicate," Skinner said.

"Our board does not share the view that Hockey Canada should be making more leadership changes at this time. As a board, we continue to support the CEO and management."

Maintaining leadership stability during a tumultuous time for the organization, currently under a governance review and with board elections looming in November, doesn't come at the expense of the culture change, Skinner said.

Edmonton Oilers chair Bob Nicholson, who was Hockey Canada's president and CEO from 1998 to 2014, did not appear, but has been asked by the committee to appear at a future hearing.

Hockey Canada has been under the national microscope since May when it was revealed it had settled a lawsuit with a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight players from the 2018 junior men's hockey team during a June gala event in London, Ont., that year.

Among other revelations that followed was Hockey Canada's admission it drew on minor hockey membership fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims.

Also, Halifax police were asked to investigate an alleged sexual assault by members of the 2003 junior men's team.

The feds have frozen Hockey Canada's funding and called its executives on the standing committee carpet June 20 and July 26-27.

Smith, former president Tom Renney, chief financial officer Brian Cairo and former vice-president of insurance and risk management Glen McCurdie were among those questioned. The board chairs appeared before the committee for the first time.

It was revealed in the July hearings that Hockey Canada had paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and sexual abuse claims since 1989.

That figure didn't include this year's payout of an undisclosed sum to the London plaintiff. The majority of that money went to those abused by junior hockey coach Graham James.

In the face of lost corporate sponsorships and public outcry, Hockey Canada laid out an action plan to address safe sport issues and says it will no longer use the "National Equity Fund" to settle sexual assault claims.

Hockey Canada also appointed former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell to conduct a review of its governance.

An interim report of recommendations is expected before the board's annual general meeting in November.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2022.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRzbi5jYS9ob2NrZXktY2FuYWRhLXMtYm9hcmQtY2hhaXJzLXRvLWFuc3dlci10by1mZWRzLW5pY2hvbHNvbi1kZWZlcnJlZC10by1sYXRlci1kYXRlLTEuMTg1NzU0M9IBdGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRzbi5jYS9ob2NrZXktY2FuYWRhLXMtYm9hcmQtY2hhaXJzLXRvLWFuc3dlci10by1mZWRzLW5pY2hvbHNvbi1kZWZlcnJlZC10by1sYXRlci1kYXRlLTEuMTg1NzU0Mz90c24tYW1w?oc=5

2022-10-04 10:15:00Z
1590208440

Bottom Six Minutes: Juraj Slafkovsky shows improvement - Habs Eyes on the Prize

If the Montreal Canadiens were hoping to get any wins during their pre-season run, they’ll have to come against Ottawa. Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night, it was their last chance to beat any team not named the Senators. Losing 5-1 will always sting, but this time it came with a very encouraging performance, from a very important part of the Habs rebuild.

Juraj Slafkovsky has been underwhelming thus far in a Canadiens uniform, but he gave glimpses of what he could become against the Leafs on Monday night.

Of course, he assisted on the lone Habs goal of the night, coming from a solid net drive and a few cracks at scoring himself before Jonathan Drouin cleaned up the rebound.

But the point, while impressive, was really a reward for his best overall game so far in a Canadiens jersey. He looked more engaged, better positioned, and was close to finding the net on his own a few times throughout the night. It seemed like he is getting a better handle on the speed of the NHL, and what he needs to do to have success.

This pass to Mike Hoffman is one that ends in a goal more often than not.

And this shot is one that also probably ends in a goal more often than not.

Dominant, he was not, but it was a highly effective outing from Slafkovsky, and one that lends itself to the idea that he still has a lot of room to improve. There were still some moments where he looked a little tentative with the puck, but they were fewer and farther between than they had been in previous games.

Whether he starts the year in Laval or Montreal, the key is to see continued improvement throughout the year. Laval might be the best place for him to keep getting up to speed, but I’d advocate for at least one more pre-season look before they make that decision. He seems like he’s getting better, so give him a chance to prove that this one game wasn’t an anomaly.

Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available on your podcast platform of choice. It’s a quick turnaround, as the Habs will take on the Ottawa Senators tonight, and we’ll have another episode thereafter.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMimQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5oYWJzZXllc29udGhlcHJpemUuY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvNC8yMzM4NjAwNi9qdXJhai1zbGFma292c2t5LXByZXNlYXNvbi1oaWdobGlnaHRzLW1vbnRyZWFsLWNhbmFkaWVucy10b3JvbnRvLW1hcGxlLWxlYWZzLXJlY2FwLXJlYWN0aW9uLXBvZGNhc3TSAaYBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGFic2V5ZXNvbnRoZXByaXplLmNvbS9wbGF0Zm9ybS9hbXAvMjAyMi8xMC80LzIzMzg2MDA2L2p1cmFqLXNsYWZrb3Zza3ktcHJlc2Vhc29uLWhpZ2hsaWdodHMtbW9udHJlYWwtY2FuYWRpZW5zLXRvcm9udG8tbWFwbGUtbGVhZnMtcmVjYXAtcmVhY3Rpb24tcG9kY2FzdA?oc=5

2022-10-04 10:00:00Z
1585004203

Indonesia presses for answers after deadly soccer stampede - Reuters

• "Culprits" to be revealed in coming days - minister
• Ten police removed from their posts, 28 under investigation
• 32 minors among dead
• Rights body says tear gas caused chaos

MALANG, Indonesia, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Dozens of Indonesian police were placed under investigation on Monday over a stampede at a soccer match that killed 125 people, as authorities sought to determine what caused one of the world's deadliest stadium disasters and who was to blame.

Panicked spectators were crushed on Saturday as they tried to flee the overcrowed stadium in Malang, East Java, after police fired tear gas to disperse fans of Arema FC, who had poured onto the pitch after a 3-2 home defeat to Persebaya Surabaya.

Soccer's world governing body FIFA stipulates no "crowd control gas" should be used at matches, and Choirul Anam, a commissioner for Indonesian rights body Komnas HAM, told a news briefing that if gas hadn't been fired "maybe there wouldn't have been chaos."

The death toll was the largest at a soccer match since 1964, when 328 were killed in a crush as Peru hosted Argentina in Lima.

Nine police were stripped of their positions and the local police chief transferred, police spokesperson Dedi Prasetyo said, adding that 28 officers were under investigation.

The decision to use tear gas was among the issues being looked into, he added.

Mourners gathered outside the stadium on Monday. Some scattered flowers over an Arema club shirt while others prayed quietly, or wept, among them the club's manager Ali Fikri.

Chief security minister Mahfud MD said the government would form a fact-finding team, comprising academics, soccer experts and officials, to probe what happened.

"They have been asked... in the next coming days to reveal the culprits that were involved in the crime," Mahfud told a news conference.

A government official said those killed on Saturday included 32 minors.

President Joko Widodo ordered the soccer federation to suspend all top flight matches until the investigation was complete.

FIRST MATCH AT THE STADIUM

The scale of Saturday's disaster has left the small Java community numb.

"My family and I didn't think it would turn out like this," said Endah Wahyuni, the elder sister of two boys, Ahmad Cahyo, 15, and Muhammad Farel, 14, who died after being caught in the melee at what was their first live match.

"They loved soccer, but never watched Arema live at Kanjuruhan stadium," she said.

The Koran Tempo newspaper ran a black front page on Monday, centred on the words "Our Football Tragedy" printed in red along with a list of the dead.

Security minister Mahfud said victims' families would receive 50 million rupiah (around $3,300) in compensation and treatment for hundreds more injured would be free.

On Sunday, he said the crowd was beyond capacity, with 42,000 tickets sold for a match in an arena designed to hold 38,000. Authorities said, however, that tickets had not been issued to Persebaya fans over security concerns.

FIFA, which called the incident "a tragedy beyond comprehension" has asked Indonesian football authorities for a full report.

A tearful Arema FC president Gilang Widya Pramana apologised to the victims on Monday and said he was ready to take full responsibility.

Additional reporting and writing by Stanley Widianto in Jakarta and Kate Lamb in Sydney; Additional reporting by Zahra Matarani and Ananda Teresia in Jakarta; Editing by Ed Davies, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Martin Petty and John Stonestreet

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnJldXRlcnMuY29tL3dvcmxkL2FzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy9zZXZlbnRlZW4tY2hpbGRyZW4tYW1vbmctZGVhZC1pbmRvbmVzaWFuLXNvY2Nlci1zdGFtcGVkZS0yMDIyLTEwLTAzL9IBAA?oc=5

2022-10-03 15:07:00Z
1588892378

Indonesia: 125 dead after fans stampede to exit soccer match - CTV News

MALANG, Indonesia -

Police firing tear gas after an Indonesian soccer match in an attempt to stop violence triggered a disastrous crush of fans making a panicked, chaotic run for the exits, leaving at least 125 people dead, most of them trampled upon or suffocated.

National Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the death toll had been revised to 125 from 174, after authorities found some of the victims were counted twice. More than 100 were receiving intensive treatment in eight hospitals, 11 of them in critical condition.

Attention immediately focused on police crowd-control measures at Saturday night's match between host Arema FC of East Java's Malang city and Persebaya Surabaya. Witnesses described officers beating them with sticks and shields before shooting tear gas canisters directly into the crowds.

It was among the deadliest disasters ever at a sporting event. President Joko Widodo ordered an investigation of security procedures, and the president of FIFA called the deaths "a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension." While FIFA has no control over domestic games, it has advised against the use of tear gas at soccer stadiums.

Brawls are common among rival Indonesian soccer fans, so much so that the organizer had banned Persebaya supporters from Arema's stadium. But violence still broke out when the home team lost 3-2 and some of the 42,000 Arema fans, known as "Aremania," threw bottles and other objects at players and soccer officials.

Witnesses said the fans flooded the Kanjuruhan Stadium pitch and demanded that Arema management explain why, after 23 years of undefeated home matches against Persebaya, this one ended in a defeat.

At least five police vehicles were toppled and set ablaze outside the stadium. Riot police responded by firing tear gas, including toward the stadium's stands, causing panic among the crowd.

"The stadium turned into a smoke-filled battleground when police fired tear gas," said Rizky, who goes by one name. He came with his cousin to watch the game.

"I felt hot and stinging in my eyes, I couldn't see clearly while my head was dizzy and everything went dark ... I passed out," he said. When he woke up, he was already in the emergency room. He said his cousin died because of head injuries.

"We wanted to entertain ourselves by watching a football match, but we got disaster," he said.

Another spectator, Ahmad Fatoni, said police had started beating the fans with sticks and shields, and they fought back.

"Officers fired tear gas directly at spectators in the stands, forcing us to run toward the exit," he said. "Many victims fell because of shortness of breath and difficulty seeing due to tear gas and were trampled."

He said he climbed the roof of the stands and only came down when the situation calmed.

Others suffocated and were trampled as hundreds of people ran to the exit to avoid the tear gas. In the chaos, 34 died at the stadium, including two officers, and some reports include children among the casualties.

"Some were trampled, some fell down and some got hit," Rian Dwi Cahyono told Sky News from the hospital, where he was being treated for an injured arm. Asked what triggered the panic, he replied: "Tear gas."

East Java police chief Nico Afinta defended the use of tear gas.

"We have already done a preventive action before finally firing the tear gas as (fans) began to attack the police, acting anarchically and burning vehicles," he told a news conference early Sunday.

Indonesia's soccer association, known as PSSI, suspended the premier soccer league Liga 1 indefinitely in light of the tragedy and banned Arema from hosting soccer matches for the remainder of the season.

Grieving relatives waited for information about their loved ones at Malang's Saiful Anwar General Hospital. Others tried to identify the bodies laid at a morgue while medical workers put identification tag on the bodies of the victims.

"I deeply regret this tragedy and I hope this is the last soccer tragedy in this country, don't let another human tragedy like this happen in the future," Widodo said in a televised speech. "We must continue to maintain sportsmanship, humanity and a sense of brotherhood of the Indonesian nation."

He ordered the sports minister, the national police chief and the PSSI chair to conduct a thorough evaluation of the country's soccer and its security procedure.

Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said the incident "has certainly injured our soccer image." Indonesia is due to host the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup from May 20 to June 11, with 24 participating teams. As the host, the country automatically qualifies for the cup.

In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed condolences on behalf of the global football community, saying "the football world is in a state of shock." The statement did not mention the use of tear gas.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis said he was praying for "all those who have lost their live and were injured in the clashes that erupted after a soccer game in Malang, Indonesia."

Ferli Hidayat, local police chief of Malang, said there were some 42,000 spectators at the game Saturday, all of whom were Arema supporters because the organizer had banned Persebaya fans from entering the stadium in an effort to avoid brawls.

The restriction was imposed after clashes between supporters of the two rival teams in East Java's Blitar stadium in February 2020 caused 250 million rupiah ($18,000) in damage. Brawls were reported outside the stadium during and after the semifinals of the East Java Governor's Cup, which ended with Persebaya beating Arema 4-2.

Rights groups responded to the tragedy by blaming the use of tear gas in the stadium by police.

Citing FIFA's stadium safety guidelines against the use of "crowd control gas" by pitch side stewards or police, Amnesty International called on Indonesian authorities to conduct a swift, thorough and independent investigation into the use of tear gas at Kanjuruhan stadium.

"Those who are found to have committed violations are tried in open court and do not merely receive internal or administrative sanctions," said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia.

He said tear gas should only be used to disperse crowds when widespread violence has occurred and when other methods have failed. People must be warned that tear gas will be used and allowed to disperse. "No one should lose their lives at a football match," Hamid said.

Hundreds of soccer fans, mostly wearing black shirts, held a candlelight vigil on Sunday night at Gelora Bung Karno, Indonesia's largest sport stadium in the capital, Jakarta, for the victims of the disaster. They sang songs they composed to lift the spirits of the grieving Aremanias.

Despite Indonesia's lack of international accolades in the sport, hooliganism is rife in the soccer-obsessed country where fanaticism often ends in violence, as in the 2018 death of a Persija Jakarta supporter who was killed by a mob of hardcore fans of rival club Persib Bandung in 2018.

Data from Indonesia's soccer watchdog, Save Our Soccer, showed 78 people have died in game-related incidents over the past 28 years.

Saturday's game is already among the world's worst crowd disasters, including the 1996 World Cup qualifier between Guatemala and Costa Rica in Guatemala City where over 80 died and over 100 more were injured. In April 2001, more than 40 people are crushed to death during a soccer match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.

------

Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia. Associated Press journalists Edna Tarigan and Andi Jatmiko in Jakarta contributed to this report.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmN0dm5ld3MuY2Evc3BvcnRzLzEyNS1kaWUtYXMtdGVhci1nYXMtdHJpZ2dlcnMtY3J1c2gtYXQtaW5kb25lc2lhLXNvY2Nlci1tYXRjaC0xLjYwOTIzMDPSAQA?oc=5

2022-10-02 15:09:43Z
1588892378

Highlights | Round 3 | Sanderson Farms | 2022 - PGA TOUR

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9aFFMYmllSlFvT0nSAQA?oc=5

2022-10-02 00:39:57Z
1581367422

NHL Preseason Highlights | Canucks vs. Kraken - October 1, 2022 - SPORTSNET

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9X3ZIRWUtX3BaYlnSAQA?oc=5

2022-10-02 04:22:06Z
1586523913

Blue Jays' Alek Manoah simply mound marvelous in beatdown of Bosox - Toronto Sun

Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate clinching a playoff spot after beating the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on September 30, 2022 in Toronto. Photo by Vaughn Ridley /Getty Images

Article content

The bottles were popping and the champagne flowing as mayhem erupted in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse in the aftermath of their beatdown of Boston on Friday night at the Rogers Centre.

Advertisement 2

Article content

It was the same Red Sox team that helped the Jays officially clinch a post-season berth by beating the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, an off-day for Toronto.

Article content

The Blue Jays promised to throw themselves a bash and they did.

For the record, the Jays showed no mercy in handing the Red Sox a 9-0 loss Friday night, the first of a three-game series that will wrap up their final home stand before the post-season begins.

Article content

When the assembled media was allowed access to the jubilant clubhouse, the strains of Lil’ Wayne were being belted out. On the field, the Jays belted three home runs in support of Alek Manoah, who didn’t need much help on this night.

After the initial celebration in the clubhouse, the players gathered on the field for group pictures, to soak in the moment and swill more of the bubbly.

Advertisement 3

Article content

Given the recent history of the team and its itinerant existence during the onslaught of COVID, the scene was expected and justified. The Jays needed to exhale and they left no bottle unopened.

The Jays, however, still have games to be played — two more against the Bosox, then three in Baltimore — which will determine where they begin their wild-card series.

For fans of the team, they may have seen the last of Manoah, for the time being anyway.

What has been made abundantly clear is that the big right-hander must be on the mound when the playoffs begin. However, Manoah is lined up to pitch in the season’s final game — with the operative word being ‘needed.’ If Wednesday’s finale in Baltimore carries any home-field repercussions, turning to Manoah is a no-brainer.

Advertisement 4

Article content

The hope, however, is that home field will already be clinched with Manoah being a tabbed to start baseball’s second season. Heading into Saturday’s action, the Jays lead the Seattle Mariners by a game and a half, and the Tampa Bay Rays by two in the chase for wild-card seeding. The top WC team gets home field for the entire best-of-three series.

Manoah was marvelous Friday night against the Red Sox. He didn’t exactly steal the show, but he did show why he’s the ace of Toronto’s staff.

In the sixth, leadoff hitter Jarren Duran hit a broken-bat single to centre. Manoah then got Rafael Devers to ground into a double play and ended the inning ended with a  meekly hit ground out by Xander Bogaerts.

Turns out it was the end of the line for Manoah, who was met with well-deserved congratulatory handshakes in the dugout.

Advertisement 5

Article content

Boston didn’t get its first base-runner in scoring position until in the top half of the fourth inning, when Devers and advanced to second on a wild pitch. But he would be left stranded after J.D. Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning.

With out in the fifth, Manoah induced a grounder behind first base to Abraham Almonte  but was slow coming off the mound and wasn’t able to even take the throw. Almonte easily reached base as Boston recorded its first hit off Manoah.

VLAD THE IMPALER

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. belted one of his patented no-doubters in the third inning, a two-run blast that gave the home side a 4-0 lead.

For Vlad, it was his 31st long ball of the season to drive in his 94th and 95th runs of the season.

While he’s nowhere near last year’s 48-homer campaign, a hot-hitting Guerrero heading into the playoffs will go a long way in determining how deep Toronto can make a run.

Advertisement 6

Article content

Friday’s bomb was his first homer since Sept. 21 when the Jays were in Philly.

He ended the month of September with just four homers.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

George Springer didn’t waste much time in getting on base. On the first pitch he saw from Boston starter Nick Pivetta, Toronto’s leadoff hitter hit a shot to centre for a single.

Up stepped Bo Bichette. On the second pitch Bichette saw, he stroked a single to left.

Springer and Bichette both advanced on a passed ball.

Springer would come around to score the game’s first run on a groundout by
Alejandro Kirk, who batted cleanup.

In the eighth inning, Bichette knocked in his 47th run of September to tie Tony Fernandez and Lloyd Moseby for the most in any calendar month in franchise history.

Advertisement 7

Article content

TO CELEBRATE IS GREAT

The Jays took to the field knowing they had already clinched a berth in the post-season when Boston defeated Baltimore on Thursday night.

The plan, according to interim manager John Schneider, was for the team to celebrate its accomplishment regardless of Friday night’s outcome.

“I think whenever you have a chance to do that you have to embrace it,” said Schneider prior to opening pitch. ”That doesn’t happen all the time and I can’t wait to have a good time with that group.”

For Bichette, who watched the Red Sox defeat the Orioles with teammate Santiago Espinal, the Jays have every right to bask in the glow of a playoff appearance.

“All the hard work paid off,’’ he said. “We put a lot in and we had high expectations of ourselves and we were able to accomplish it.

Advertisement 8

Article content

“There’s still more work to do, obviously, and we expect more but we definitely need to enjoy this.”

SOBERING MOMENT

As part of the team’s recognition and acknowledgments to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a moment of silence was held.

The Survivors’ Flag was featured throughout Rogers Centre to honour survivors and all the lives impacted by the residential school system.

The anthem was performed in Blackfoot, English and French.

CATCH-22

Kirk was behind the plate in the series opener serving as Manoah’s unofficial personal catcher.

In fact, only once hasn’t Kirk been Manoah’s battery-mate this season when the big right-hander was on the mound.

The pitcher-catcher combo seems to be working and there appears to be no discernible reason why the Blue Jays would deviate from this pattern once the post-season begins.

Danny Jansen, Toronto’s other catcher, was also in the lineup in the rare role as DH, batting eighth in the order.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

Share this article in your social network

Advertisement 1

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMie2h0dHBzOi8vdG9yb250b3N1bi5jb20vc3BvcnRzL2Jhc2ViYWxsL3Rvcm9udG8tYmx1ZS1qYXlzL2JsdWUtamF5cy1hbGVrLW1hbm9haC1zaW1wbHktbW91bmQtbWFydmVsb3VzLWluLWJlYXRkb3duLW9mLWJvc3RvbtIBAA?oc=5

2022-10-01 13:39:22Z
1586664015