Sports

Fleury poised to pass Roy for second on NHL’s all-time wins list

Published

11 months ago

December 28, 2023

Harry Miller

Marc-Andre Fleury never dreamt of seeing his name alongside hockey’s goaltending greats.

He just wanted to play. And play Fleury did, both on and off the ice.

The kid from Sorel, Que., known for his competitive fire and infectious personality, including the odd well-timed prank on a teammate, adored Patrick Roy growing up.

“Oh yeah,” Fleury said. “Big Montreal Canadiens fan.”

Decades later, Fleury is poised to pass the four-time Stanley Cup champion for No. 2 on the NHL’s all-time wins list.

He might have laughed off the notion all those years ago skating on the outdoor rinks northeast of Montreal, along with a colourful response.

“Would have said you were (expletive) nuts … no way,” Fleury said back in the fall of eclipsing Roy’s 551 regular-season victories. “Never even thought I’d make it to the NHL.”

Make it he did. Then he flourished.

The last goalie taken first overall at the draft when the Pittsburgh Penguins selected him No. 1 in 2003, Fleury sits just one win shy of Roy.

“Very fortunate to play this long and with many good teams,” said the 39-year-old Minnesota Wild netminder.

The three-time Cup winner owns a record of 550-320-91 along with two ties in 998 career regular-season games.

And while Fleury, who could be playing out his final season, is on the brink of catching Roy, the top spot occupied by Martin Brodeur and his 691 victories remains secure.

“So many years of consistency,” Fleury said of Quebec’s goalie giants. “They always found a way.”

In between Pittsburgh and Minnesota, Fleury also had a memorable stretch with the Vegas Golden Knights, leading the franchise to the Cup final in its expansion season before a brief stop with the Chicago Blackhawks.

He left an impression at every stop.

“One of the best guys I’ve ever met,” said Toronto Maple Leafs winger Ryan Reaves, who played with Fleury in Pittsburgh, Vegas and Minnesota. “So humble. Sometimes I wonder how I’m such good friends with him.”

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was with Fleury as an assistant when the Penguins won back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017.

“One of my top players to be around,” Tocchet said. “Unreal human being.”

Blackhawks defenceman Seth Jones said Fleury, who also won the Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, left a mark during his half-season stint in the Windy City.

“You hear stories of him lighting up a locker room, how hard of a worker he is,” Jones said. “To see it first-hand … natural-born leader.”

The blueliner added the 2021 Vezina Trophy winner’s practice habits never wavered.

“Never quit on a puck — second, third, fourth rebound — he’s fighting for it,” Jones said. “Just a competitor.”

Wild forward Matt Boldy tried to not be star-struck when Fleury first arrived in Minnesota.

“I’m not really like that where my jaw drops,” said the 22-year-old. “But that was a pretty cool moment.”

Fleury also sits in high regard among opponents.

“Pretty rare for a goalie to be a first overall pick,” Toronto captain John Tavares said. “A lot of pressure. Amazing how well he handled it.”

Fleury also endured tough times. He struggled in a couple series with the Penguins, and even lost the net to Matt Murray in the 2016 playoffs, but came back stronger.

“Intense competitor, awesome guy off the ice,” Wild defenceman Alex Goligoski said. “He doesn’t care if he lets in four or five goals, as long as he wins.

“And if he gives up one and has 50 saves, but we lose, he’s pissed.”

Fleury has found himself behind Filip Gustavsson in Minnesota’s crease pecking order as he’s slowly inched towards Roy’s mark.

Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau — a fellow Quebecer — said it’s been special to share space with a hero in both the game and their home province.

“Born with that aura, that positive energy,” Gaudreau said. “I feel very grateful.”

He added Fleury has offered fresh perspective simply by how he goes about his day.

“Very important for professional athletes to keep your heart young,” Gaudreau said. “We started playing because it was fun to shoot or save a puck. It should stay that way.

“There’s a business involved, but the core of everything should be always the fun.”

While Brodeur leads NHL’s all-time wins list, Roy is tops when it comes to playoff victories with 151. Brodeur is second with 113, followed by Fleury and Grant Fuhr, who both have 92.

“My main focus is always just trying to win that game,” Fleury said. “I always think about that first.

“Whatever I can get afterwards, well, that’s pretty cool.”

Those victories have piled up to the point where he’s on the cusp of claiming the No. 2 spot — and passing his childhood idol.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2023.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

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.

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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