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Canucks’ MacEwen making good on Benning’s belief in his potential – Sportsnet.ca

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VANCOUVER — It was a little ironic when Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning said after the Tyler Toffoli trade that minor-league call-up Zack MacEwen had become a full-time NHL player. Because MacEwen was shoved back out of the lineup as soon as Toffoli arrived nearly three weeks ago.

But Friday, in one of the few games in which Toffoli didn’t score for his new team, MacEwen scored two as the Canucks, frantic to stay above the playoff cut line, beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 to end a costly four-game losing streak.

People at Rogers Arena got so carried away, a couple of fans tossed hats on to the ice when the 23-year-old undrafted forward from Prince Edward Island and the Quebec League chipped in his second of the game from an Antoine Roussel pass to give the Canucks some breathing room at 16:43 of the third period.

Two goals, three goals, whatever. It may as well have been five for the impact MacEwen made in the 19th game of his National Hockey League career.

“It’s a good feeling,” he said. “I can’t say I’ve had many like it so far in my career. It’s definitely a night I’m going to remember, and I think it will help my confidence that my game is trending in the right direction.”

It was just MacEwen’s third game back in coach Travis Green’s lineup after sitting out five. Full-time work sure looked part-time for the six-foot-three forward earning a living on hard work, physicality and promise.

“I saw the quote,” he said of Benning’s praise. “It was definitely a vote of confidence for me to know that they feel that way about me. It’s just good to know my game is progressing to the NHL level. I just want to keep proving that though with each game, each chance I get to play.”

Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, who won Friday for just the second time in five starts since Jacob Markstrom underwent knee surgery, was MacEwen’s teammate and roommate with the Utica Comets the last two seasons.

“I’ve been with him every step of the way,” Demko said. “He comes to the rink every day and (is) a good pro. I’m just really happy for him.

“He’s been in and out of the lineup all year, called up and sent down. For him to rise to the occasion tonight and get those two is huge. I think his game has come a long way. He’s a big strong kid. He goes out there and wears his heart on his sleeve. He’ll do anything for the team.”

The trio of MacEwen, Roussel and Adam Gaudette was probably the Canucks’ best line against Colorado.

It also produced what turned out to be the game-winner when Roussel converted a goalmouth pass from Gaudette, who spun away from Avalanche defenceman Ian Cole, to break a 3-3 tie at 12:17 of the second period.

The Canucks have looked a lot more comfortable lately chasing a lead than actually playing with one, which is understandable given the amount of practise they’ve had at the former and lack of success at the latter.

During their four-game dive, the Canucks had a late lead in two games, were tied in the third period of another and came out with zero points. So, yeah, they look a little nervy with the lead. Lobsters in the fish tank at a busy seafood restaurant are more comfortable than the Canucks with a lead, because the crustaceans don’t know what’s coming.

But on Friday, after a porous first period in which they led 2-1 despite getting outshot 18-7 and forced Demko to make a pile of difficult saves, the Canucks held the Avalanche to 14 shots over the final 40 minutes.

They still blew a lead, of course, as Colorado goals by Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin less than five minutes apart early in the second period vaporized a 3-1 Vancouver advantage.

But the Canucks defended competently, if not comfortably, and were happy to see Colorado’s Matt Nieto miss an open net early in the third period when the score was still 4-3.

Troy Stecher, J.T. Miller and Tanner Pearson, into an empty net, had the other goals for Vancouver, which needed the win to retain a playoff position they’ve held all winter in the Western Conference.

The Canucks used Bo Horvat head-to-head against Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon, who had two assists and 12 shot attempts for the Avalanche and was still easily the game’s most dangerous player.

Vancouver’s shutdown defenceman, Chris Tanev, said MacKinnon is the probably the toughest player in the league to defend.

“He’s extremely tough, especially since he’s got that new move where it looks like he’s going to shoot it, but basically spins and gets a lot on his backhand,” Tanev said. “I don’t know if there’s another player in the league who can do it like that.

“I thought after the first, we sort of played a little better. The first, we were fortunate to be up 2-1. We were very opportunistic… but they controlled most of the play. After that, I thought it was a pretty even game.”

One point up in the wild-card race, the Canucks play the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday at Rogers Arena.

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Montreal police make arrest in Presidents Cup golf apparel theft

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Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars in golf merchandise tied to the Presidents Cup PGA Tour being held this week in the city.

Police say that on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 a person entered a downtown Montreal hotel and stole numerous official items and clothing “from a major golf tournament.”

The tournament is taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in the city’s L’Île-Bizard–Ste-Geneviève’s borough through Sunday.

Police say a 46-year-old man was arrested in downtown Montreal on Thursday and was arraigned Friday on a number of charges including theft.

The accused remains detained until his next court appearance.

Police say the investigation is ongoing to locate the stolen golf items and apparel, adding that anyone with information is invited to come forward.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Toronto Raptors expected to confirm plans to retire Vince Carter’s No. 15

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TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are expected to confirm today that Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be the first number to be retired by the NBA franchise.

Carter will attend an MLSE Foundation event this afternoon at the renovated Vince Carter Court at a park in the city’s northwest end.

Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri will also be on hand along with some current players and city officials.

Reports this week said that Canada’s lone NBA team would honour Carter on Nov. 2 when Toronto plays the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.

Carter, an eight-time all-star, played parts of seven seasons with the Raptors. He was named NBA rookie of the year in 1999 and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.

He was the Raptors’ first superstar and is credited for raising the profile of the team and igniting enthusiasm for basketball across Canada.

Carter guided the Raptors to the Eastern Conference semifinal in 2001. Toronto had a chance to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 but Carter’s shot at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced out.

He asked for a trade in 2004 and was dealt to New Jersey in a mid-season deal that saw the Raptors receive little in return. The Nets, who are now based in Brooklyn, plan to retire Carter’s number in January.

Carter played 22 seasons in the NBA before retiring after the 2019-20 season. He’ll be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame next month.

The Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Yankees wrap up AL East with 10-1 win over Orioles, with Judge hitting 58th homer

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NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 58th home run, going deep for the fifth straight game to help the New York Yankees wrap up their second AL East title in three years with a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

Giancarlo Stanton had four RBIs that included his 27th homer, Alex Verdugo also homered and Gerrit Cole outpitched Corbin Burnes in a possible postseason preview. Judge and Stanton homered in the same game for the 14th time this year, tying Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961 for the most in Yankees history.

New York assured itself a first-round bye and home-field advantage in a best-of-five AL Division Series starting Oct. 5.

Baltimore, which clinched a postseason berth by winning Tuesday night’s opener of the three-game series, will be in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.

Stanton homered in the second to put the Yankees ahead and hit a three-run double in a six-run sixth.

Judge hit a two-run homer in the seventh against Bryan Baker and has 144 RBIs, the most in the major leagues since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. Judge matched his career best by homering in five consecutive games.

Making his last start before the playoffs, Cole (8-5) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.41. He struck out Anthony Santander with a 98.1 mph fastball that ended the eighth after plate umpire David Rackley called a ball on the previous pitch, a knuckle-curve that appeared to be just above the strike zone. Cole glared as the umpire as the pitcher walked back to the dugout.

Cole was given a standing ovation when he walked to the dugout with two outs in the seventh and tipped his cap to the crowd of 42,022.

Burnes (15-9) allowed two hits in five innings, one walk and nine strikeouts — including eight on cutters. Burnes came out after 69 pitches and is likely to start the Orioles’ postseason opener on Tuesday. He had a 1.20 ERA in five September starts.

Stanton lofted a slider at the bottom of the strike zone into the left-field seats after missing badly at a slider on the prior pitch.

Austin Wells, in a 4-for-42 slide, forced in a run when he walked with the bases loaded against Cionel Pérez. Stanton drove the next pitch on one hop to the wall in right-center for a 5-1 lead. Stanton has 72 RBIs after hitting 6 for 18 with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his last five games.

Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single against Baker.

Emmanuel Rivera hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly for the Orioles.

UP NEXT

Orioles: LHP Cade Povich (2-9, 5.59) starts a series opener at Minnesota on Friday, when LHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will be on the mound for the Twins.

Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98), 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA since the All-Star break. starts Friday’s series opener against Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14).

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