Sports

Olympics-Scary times ahead for China hockey team at Beijing Games, warn coaches

Published

3 years ago

November 9, 2021

China should brace for a string of blowout losses at the 2022 Beijing Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament unless the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) steps in and throws the hosts a lifeline, warned two international coaches.

Dave King, one of the most respected names in international hockey who was head coach of the Canadian men’s national team for three Olympics and worked with Japan to prepare them for the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, told Reuters scores could be “scary” with China in a group alongside powerhouses Canada and the United States.

Jim Paek, who coached and prepared South Korea for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, voiced similar concerns particularly with the world’s top player returning to the Olympics stage after the NHL sat out the showcase four years ago.

“When you have host countries that are allowed to automatically qualify this is what you get,” warned King, who has also coached in the NHL, Russia, Sweden and Germany. “What is very important is to have a plan and stay with it and I don’t think the Chinese did a very good job with that, they have been all over the map.

“To me there is nothing a coach can do at this point, there is no magic wand.

“It’s scary, it really is. They are in way over their head for sure.”

As the host nation, China is guaranteed a spot in every event at the 2022 Games but IIHF president Luc Tardif said in September that the men’s team could be prevented from playing due to its “insufficient sporting standard”.

With China apparently determined to take part in the men’s tournament, the IIHF Council confirmed earlier this month it would not seek to block the hosts from competing.

China’s plans to ice a competitive team have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictive nationality rules that largely prevent them from pursuing players with dual citizenship as South Korea, Italy and Japan did when they hosted the Winter Games.

The Kunlun Red Star, a China based team stocked with Olympic hopefuls competing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), was designed to be the base on which a program was built.

But through 26 games Red Star sits bottom of the 24 team league.

“The situation with COVID and not being able to play international competitions… their preparation time has shortened,” said Paek, the first Korean-born hockey player to play in the NHL and member of the Pittsburgh Penguins 1991 Stanley Cup winning team. “We had four years of proper preparation but China does not have that luxury and that time is coming to an end very quickly.

“Those are a lot of things against them right now.”

The IIHF said it is working with the CIHA (Chinese Ice Hockey Association) but with the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Games just 12 weeks away there are limited fixes available.

There will be no game for China to look forward to in what can only be described as Group of Death.

Along with geopolitical rivals Canada and the U.S., which will be stocked top to bottom with NHL all-stars, the pool also includes Germany, silver medallists from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Adding to the potential for embarrassment, goal differential is a tie-breaker in Olympic hockey, hence providing incentive for teams to run up the score.

“The potential for embarrassment is there,” said King. “I don’t know what you can do. I don’t have a solution.

“I think the IIHF has to find a way to rectify this.

“They (IIHF) might have to get some sort of agreement with Canada, U.S. and Germany that at some point in the game they are up so much can you call it off.

“But they are competitors they play every game to win every game.

“Goal differential is an important point as well, it puts added incentive to pump up and score.

“It has the possibility to be not a very good experience for the Chinese or for the Olympic Games for that matter.”

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto)

Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Sports

Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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