Looking like an extra in a horror movie, Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron said the reaction to his new-look forehead has been varied.
“Some guys have told me it looks better than they expected and some guys look at me like I’m a science project,” he said Thursday. “So I’m kind of getting both ends of the spectrum. But it feels pretty good actually.
“I think it feels better than it looks.”
Barron needed over 75 stitches to repair a nasty gash after taking a skate to the face in Game 1 of Winnipeg’s first-round NHL playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.
Sitting down at his stall after the Jets’ optional skate ahead of Game 2 at T-Mobile Arena, Barron looked like a boxer who’d been through a 15-round war the day before.
He was sporting bandages and a vertical stitch line to go with bruising, swelling and a shiner.
“The guys have been awesome about it,” Barron said. “I feel like I may as well make light of it. Obviously it was pretty fortunate the way things ended up.”
Goaltender Laurent Brossoit’s skate blade was briefly stuck between Barron’s head and visor during a goalmouth scramble that had several players sprawled on the ice.
After getting stitched up, Barron wore a full facial cage on his helmet when he returned in the second period of Winnipeg’s 5-1 victory.
“You talk about all in, man, that’s all in,” said Jets head coach Rick Bowness.
Barron said he was available for Game 2 on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena. He skipped Wednesday’s off-day practice to meet with training staff and watch some video.
The blade caught him near his eyebrow and along the side of the forehead, missing his right eye by a few centimetres.
“He’s used to the cage (from college hockey) but I don’t think anybody is used to playing with the cut he received the other night,” Bowness said. “Athletes take a lot of pride in their ability to overcome injury. Hockey players are really good at that.
“You see guys freezing hands, and ankles, elbows and everything else just to play in the playoffs. Morgan, he missed as many shifts as he was willing to miss. I give him full marks.”
Barron said some of his stitches will be taken out after a week and others will dissolve.
Goaltender blades tend to be sharper than other skates because netminders usually like more push power than gliding ability. Brossoit’s blade was wedged along Barron’s face for about a second or two.
“I remember kind of seeing it there but I didn’t want to panic because I figured jerking my head around would maybe make it worse,” he said. “I think I pushed it down with my glove.”
The six-foot-four 220-pound Halifax native immediately left the ice to get medical attention in the locker-room area.
“Honestly, coming off, I had no idea how deep it was or anything,” he said. “I thought it was just a little nick. Then once you get in there, their reactions (told me otherwise).”
Game 3 in the best-of-seven series was set for Saturday in Winnipeg.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2023.
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.
