It took three days, a torrent of public criticism on social media and a fundraising campaign by an embarrassed fan, but the Winnipeg Jets are finally doing the right thing.
Perhaps being linked to Ottawa owner Eugene Melnyk was what finally pushed the Jets to reach the land of common sense.
On Thursday when the NHL announced its coronavirus shutdown, Jets chairman Mark Chipman said part-time arena employees were simply out of luck with the lost hockey games and other events.
Meanwhile, other NHL and NBA owners were devising and announcing ways to compensate their workers.
By Sunday afternoon, Winnipeg and Ottawa were the only two Canadian NHL teams taking that stubborn, miserly stand. The others had all announced compensation packages to help part-time workers who’ll lose hours and pay.
In a late-Sunday letter to employees, obtained by the Winnipeg Sun, Chipman and chief operating officer John Olfert of True North Sports and Entertainment did a financial flip-flop, promising workers full pay for missed events.
“Regardless of whether we resume play in either the NHL or AHL, True North casual and part-time employees will be paid in full… to the end of March 31, 2020, as though the games occurred,” the letter read, in part. “We sincerely apologize for any concern that our original position may have caused.”
The reversal caps a dreadful three days for the Jets ownership, a public relations nightmare that will linger around this organization like a bad smell for a long time.
On Thursday, the day after the NHL announced it was putting the season on “pause,” Chipman said at a news conference more than 1,000 part-time employees would simply lose their shifts.
“Those people are on part-time agreements,” he said. “They work when we work. So, regrettably, to the extent that we’re not putting on shows and games, those people obviously would not have a call to work.”
Remember, True North is co-owned by Chipman, a native Winnipegger, and Toronto’s David Thomson, ranked Canada’s wealthiest man with an estimated worth of $34.1 billion US, according to Forbes.
True North attempted damage control of sorts with its employees in a letter to them on Saturday, also obtained by the Sun, in which the company pointed out how rushed its response to the crisis had been.
Incredibly, the letter reiterated the company’s position on the vast majority of part-timers.
It claimed that for 97% of the 1,050 staff, True North events are not their primary source of income. Rather, it is “supplemental income” to other full- or part-time work or for full- or part-time students.
For the remaining three percent, some 30 workers, the Saturday letter said “other arrangements have or are being explored.”
The letter did not say how True North arrived at the calculations or how it defined a “primary source of income.”
One former True North employee who contacted the Sun but didn’t want his name used said he was disgusted by the letter.
“I think it is complete crap for the employees,” he wrote in an early Sunday email. “Just because they aren’t using their employment as primary income does not mean that the 97% do not rely on their income from Jets games/ entertainment dates. There are single parents, semi-retired professionals, and young students who need this income to support their livelihoods.”
The former worker says they left the company by choice, had no axe to grind and keeps in touch with friends who still work there, adding those workers weren’t happy but don’t speak out for fear of losing their jobs.
As criticism mounted on social media, a lifelong Jets fan, originally from Winnipeg but living in Calgary, grew so disappointed in True North, he started a GoFundMe page to help the workers.
Dick McDougall, a 55-year-old high-school teacher who grew up in Crestview, decided if the Jets wouldn’t take care of the workers here in Winnipeg, he and hopefully other Jets fans would.
“So shocked and disappointed,” McDougall said, kicking off the campaign with a $400 donation and setting a goal of $100,000.
By the end of the day his disappointment had turned to relief.
“I am so pleased to see TNSE step up for their employees,” McDougall said. “We are entering such a challenging time and we have to have each other’s backs over the next months.”
For a community-oriented organization like the Jets, that should have been automatic.
Two Ice players tested, in isolation
Two members of the Western Hockey League’s Winnipeg Ice are in isolation after being tested for COVID-19.
The Ice played in Regina on Wednesday, and the players began reporting symptoms the next day, says Ice GM Matt Cockell.
“It was a decision our doctors made,” Cockell said, Sunday. “I would describe it as precautionary. They saw our medical team and then they were referred to the testing locations and that’s where they were tested.”
Cockell wouldn’t identify the players and didn’t know when they would receive the test results.
The WHL put its season on hold, Thursday, and on Sunday all teams were instructed to let their players return to their homes.
“Those two players have been in self-isolation for a few days,” Cockell said. “And the remaining players did the same for a few days and they were cleared to go home. They’re all on their way.”
Cockell says no players took flights. Some, like forwards Jackson Leppard and Michael Milne, had to drive as far as Vancouver.
“We’re following the recommendations… trying to do whatever we can to suport our staff, our players, our billet families, as well as our communities at large,” he said. “It’s been certainly an unprecedented time. What’s important for our team is to behave in the same way the medical community is asking the rest of the community to behave.”
The Ice were to host Saskatoon and Regina on the weekend, two of their final three home games of the regular season.
Cockell says part-time game staff are paid through annual honourariums and won’t lose paycheques from lost games.
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.
The letter did not say how True North arrived at the calculations or how it defined a “primary source of income.”
