WINNIPEG – Dave Lowry is a first-time NHL head coach by definition only.
He doesn’t lack experience on the ice or behind the bench.
Perhaps most importantly, he doesn’t lack the conviction required to make bold decisions.
The only thing that’s truly been missing is the opportunity, which changed on Thursday night when he received a phone call from Kevin Cheveldayoff about a potential vacancy that was both sudden and unexpected.
You could easily make the argument that the interim head coach of the Winnipeg Jets has been on this path since late in his NHL playing career, which spanned 1,084 regular season games and another 111 in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Lowry has run his own teams in the Western Hockey League (Brandon Wheat Kings, Victoria Royals and Calgary Hitmen) and served as an assistant in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames, handling a variety of roles in those stops.
He also brings some international experience to the table as both a head coach and an assistant with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
It’s true that his one shot as a head coach produced a disappointing quarterfinal loss to Finland in 2016, but the year earlier he was on the staff that helped Canada deliver a gold medal.
This isn’t about dictating the lines on Lowry’s resume, but if you’re wondering about whether he’s qualified, move along to the next topic.
That’s not to suggest the hiring for the remainder of the season is a slam dunk or doesn’t have any risk attached to it.
There’s never a guarantee that a move is going to work out, whether the individual has coached in the NHL for decades or worked his first game as the bench boss in Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.
When you’ve been working toward a moment like this one, even if it doesn’t come under the circumstances you might expect, preparation is essential.
Much like Dom Ducharme said in Winnipeg after he was promoted to interim coach of the Montreal Canadiens last season, Lowry has been studying for this exam for quite some time and when you’ve put in the work, you’re not nervous when the chance comes.
Now it’s time to see what Lowry can do with the responsibility of trying to get the Jets turned around.
Lowry is looking for the Jets to play faster, but he also wasn’t about to unveil a 10-step plan or detail all of the previous shortcomings during his first official day of his new job.
He knows this isn’t an overnight fix and that he’s not going to have all the answers or the ability to implement all of them immediately.
One of Lowry’s biggest influences in the game was the late Roger Neilson and he imparted some valuable lessons.
“I was fortunate enough to play for him in Florida and the biggest thing I always took away was the care and respect he had for his players and how he wanted to create that family environment,” said Lowry. “I really believe that’s something we have here now, and we’d like to continue with that moving forward. I think I’m a direct communicator. I’m a firm believer in honesty. I’m not going to tell them what they always want to hear but I’m going to tell them what they need to hear. I understand the athlete today.
“I understand how you have to communicate with them. And that goes to formulating relationships. I’m fortunate that I was able to be a part of this group last year, albeit in a different role. I built some very strong connections with these players and I look forward to working with them moving forward.”
The inability to meet the increased expectations is part of the reason Maurice chose to step aside.
And in a rare look behind the curtain, Cheveldayoff stood at the podium during his media address and openly discussed challenging his players privately early that morning after Maurice informed them he was done.
“I challenged them to hold each other accountable. I challenged them to hold themselves accountable,” said Cheveldayoff. “Again, we can be fine with where we’re at or we can get to where we think we all should be but it’s got to be done a certain way and it’s got to be done with a different voice.”
Some folks might argue that since Lowry was on the staff of the departing Paul Maurice that he’s too close to the situation, that if a new voice needed to be heard, why not go outside the organization?
How can a voice that’s already been part of the coaching staff be viewed as different?
Not to discredit the theory entirely, but it’s important to remember that Lowry joined the Jets in November of 2020.
Although the backdrop of the pandemic can sometimes make things feel like forever, Lowry was part of one condensed season and just over a quarter of another.
Part of the reason he was brought in originally was to deliver some fresh ideas to the table.
He’s been around long enough to identify some of the areas to attack surrounding this Jets team and not too long that an established pecking order on the depth chart is not in danger of being challenged.
Of course there are certain players that have a built-in advantage based on prior performance, but the slate has essentially been wiped clean.
“Dave has been around the game a long time. He comes prepared,” said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey, who was part of the Canadian world junior team that captured the gold medal. “There are no grey areas with him. You know where you stand, what’s expected of you. That’s something as a player, especially mid-season, it’s important to have that transparency. He’s going to be transparent with us on what he expects and is looking for. As a player that’s all you can want.”
What the players also want as a collective group is to start digging themselves out of this rut.
Following a 9-3-3 start where the Jets were competing for top spot in the Central Division, they’ve gone 4-8-1 since and have dropped below the playoff line.
That’s not where the Jets plan to be when the end of the season arrives.
“The expectations, it’s not just playoffs. We want to push past that,” said Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon. “And I think (with) where we’re at, we’re not in a playoff spot, so there’s a sense of urgency.”
Although he went out of his way to say it would be a collaborative effort with the rest of the coaching staff, Lowry fully realizes the gravity of the task at hand.
He also knows full well what’s at stake, for both himself and the entire organization.
This is a shot Lowry has been waiting for and the best way to force himself to the front of the line and have the interim label removed when a more thorough coaching search is expected to be conducted during the offseason is to do his part to bring the best out of a Jets team that needs a boost.
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.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
