British Columbia’s junior hockey community is reeling after a vehicle crash took the lives of teenage hockey players Ronin Sharma, Caleb Reimer and Parker Magnuson on Saturday.
The three teens, who were members of the Delta Hockey Academy, were killed after a vehicle crashed into a tree in Surrey, B.C., early Saturday morning.
The National Hockey League issued a tweet on Sunday in support of the teens’ teammates and families.
“The NHL sends its love and deepest condolences to the families of junior hockey players Caleb Reimer, Ronin Sharma and Parker Magnuson,” the professional league wrote on Twitter.
The NHL sends its love and deepest condolences to the families of junior hockey players Caleb Reimer, Ronin Sharma and Parker Magnuson who tragically passed away in a car accident on Saturday. <br><br>Rest in peace boys. ❤️????
Delta Hockey Academy’s head coach for under-15s helped train all three teens.
“The relationships a coach builds with the players is beyond special,” Tim Preston wrote on Facebook. “I will never forget the times spent with these three incredible young men.”
He and fellow coach Shawn McBride started a memorial at Delta’s Planet Ice hockey rinks featuring the victims’ jerseys and candles, “to show our love for Caleb, Ronin and Parker.”
The Edmonton Oil Kings hockey team issued condolences to the teens’ families in a statement on Sunday. General manager Kirt Hill described Reimer, 16, who was drafted to the team, as “a young man with a bright future both on and off the ice. He was a person that you loved to be around, he was a great teammate and a great friend.
“I will never forget the first phone call we had the day we drafted him to the organization and the excitement of Caleb on the other end of the line,” Hill said.
The Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants junior hockey team was one of many in the sports community to send condolences to the three players’ families over the weekend, as did the Kamloops Blazers, Prince Albert Raiders, Powell River Kings and other regional hockey teams.
“The entire Vancouver Giants organization would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families, teammates and friends of Delta Wild Hockey players Caleb Reimer, Ronin Sharma and Parker Magnuson,” the organization tweeted on Sunday morning.
Tali Campbell, general manager of the B.C. Hockey League’s Coquitlam Express Junior “A” Hockey Club, said he met Magnuson and Sharma through training camps, and he expressed his condolences to the families of all three players.
“When I got the news and heard who it was, your heart just breaks for their families, their friends, their teammates and the whole community,” Campbell told CBC News. “The hockey community is small.
“These three young men had a full life ahead of them — a full hockey career and life after hockey. It’s devastating news obviously when any life is lost, especially young people who have bright futures.”
Kevin Gallant’s teenage son played hockey with two of the victims, Reimer and Magnuson, in Cloverdale, and was friends with all three players.
These three young men had a full life ahead of them — a full hockey career and life after hockey– Tali Campbell, general manager, Coquitlam Express Hockey Club
“Such unthinkable tragedy today, the loss of three teenagers is staggering,” Gallant wrote on Facebook on Saturday. “All three went to Delta Hockey Academy and it was certain all three would make a positive mark in this world.”
The Surrey Eagles hockey team tweeted that “even though we play for different teams, the hockey community truly is one big family” and said its members are “heartbroken.”
“Our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to everyone who knows and loves Ronin, Caleb and Parker,” the team tweeted.
Carla Qualtrough, who until the election was called was the member of Parliament for Delta, tweeted her condolences on Saturday.
“I am saddened to hear of the tragic passing of three young, promising team members from the Delta Hockey Academy…. Deepest condolences with the family and friends of Parker Magnuson, Ronin Sharma and Caleb Reimer,” she wrote on Twitter.
In an interview, Surrey RCMP Cpl. Vanessa Munn said the victims were 16 and 17 years old.
“This is just a tragedy, and even more tragic being that it involved three youths,” Munn said. “I’m sure the community as a whole is going to feel a great sense of loss.”
The Langley Rivermen, for whom Sharma played, is a member of the Mainland Division of the British Columbia Hockey League.
Even though we play for different teams, the hockey community truly is one big family. We are heartbroken to learn of the loss of three of our family early this morning.<br><br>Our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to everyone who knows and loves Ronin, Caleb, and Parker. ???????? <a href=”https://t.co/FO0V3FId5s”>https://t.co/FO0V3FId5s</a>
On Twitter, Western Elite Hockey Prospects expressed its “heartfelt condolences” to the teens, stating there are “no words of comfort that can be given,” in the tragedy and adding, “Know that the hockey community is here for you all.”
Officers say they responded to reports of a crash on 104th Avenue near Highway 1 in the Fraser Heights neighbourhood at about 3 a.m. PT.
Surrey RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash near 104th Avenue and Highway 1 early Saturday morning that left three teenagers dead. (Shane MacKichan for CBC)
Cause of crash not yet known
The RCMP and emergency responders determined all three in the vehicle were dead.
Earlier in the day, Munn said it was too early to determine the cause of the single-vehicle crash.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said in a statement on Saturday that city council sends its “deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families.”
Police are asking witnesses to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
