The Winnipeg Jets defenceman knows all too well just how dangerous a puck to the groin can be, given it was his slapper that ruptured the testicle of teammate Blake Wheeler last season.
So, when a hard drive caught him below the belt Wednesday night in Toronto, there was immediate concern about just how serious things might be — along with a frightening flashback to the friendly-fire incident.
“It did cross my mind, for sure,” said Morrissey, who left the game in the first period and didn’t return. “I don’t know if that’s the universe and karma or what.”
Ryan Sun / The Associated Press files
Jets blue-liner Josh Morrissey left Wednesday’s game against the Leafs after taking a puck in a sensitive area.
Fortunately for Morrissey and the Jets, no serious damage was done and he was a full participant in Friday’s practice. He expects to be in the lineup on Saturday night as the Jets (30-11-5) try to avenge the 1-0 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs (24-14-8) in a rematch at Canada Life Centre. (6 p.m., Sportsnet).
“Obviously it’s an uncomfortable place to get hit for a guy,” said Morrissey, who has 33 points through 46 games this year. “At the end of the day, the medical team does a great job. Thankfully, I got all cleared and am feeling great and ready to roll.”
The Jets received some other good news as they head into their final game before a league-mandated player break and all-star break. Forward Gabe Vilardi, who missed the last two contests with a lower-body injury, is optimistic he can be in the lineup.
“Came up during the Ottawa game (last Saturday). Just everyone’s got different things that they have to manage throughout the year. Just kind of tweaked something and gotta take care of those types of things,” said Vilardi, who also missed 16 games earlier this year with a knee injury.
“You don’t want a weeklong thing to be a monthlong thing or rest-of-the-season kind of thing. It’s just be a little smarter about that, I think.”
Jets’ leading scorer Mark Scheifele (41 points in 41 games), who has missed the last five games with a suspected groin injury, also skated and was doing line rushes with Vilardi and Kyle Connor. However, when time came to work on the power play, Scheifele was a spectator on the bench.
“We’ve got a break coming up. Give him (Scheifele) that extra time. If he needs it, he needs it.”–Head coach Rick Bowness
“He just felt it was bothering him. Still a little bit there. It needs a little more time,” said head coach Rick Bowness. “Did he make it worse in practice? No. But it’s still there. We’ve got a break coming up. Give him that extra time. If he needs it, he needs it.”
Translation: Scheifele will not play Saturday, remaining on injured reserve along with forward David Gustafsson, who has been out since late December but is also nearing a return. That will mean nobody on the active roster has to be placed on waivers just yet to make room for them.
Vilardi, who has 20 points in 26 games, said there is growing excitement over how good a 100 per cent healthy Jets team could be.
“Obviously, we haven’t had a full, healthy roster, I don’t think, since the first few games of the season,” he said. “The good thing about having the depth we have is guys are interchangeable, and you look at our lineup. Anybody can play anywhere.”
After facing the Maple Leafs, the Jets will part ways for seven days. They’ll hit the ice Sunday and Monday for practices, then face the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Bowness will be looking to find a bit more offence out of his group, which went 1-1-1 on the road trip but only scored three goals against the Senators, Boston Bruins and Maple Leafs. Missing Scheifele for all three, Vilardi for two and Morrissey for most of one didn’t help, of course.
“We had lots of good looks and he (Samsonov) made lots of good saves. Hopefully those go in for us (Saturday) night.”–Josh Morrissey
“We went over it (Friday) morning with them. In Toronto, specifically in Toronto… we didn’t play well at all in the first two periods of Boston, so you don’t worry about that, that was just bad hockey… but in Toronto, there were offensive plays that we could have made but we didn’t. So that’s on us,” said Bowness.
“It wasn’t so much what Toronto was doing. We made bad decisions with the puck. So, we cleaned that up in video. We addressed it on the ice in practice. We created enough chances to score, obviously, one or two goals, but we still left offensive opportunities out there that we didn’t make the right play.”
Although goalie Ilya Samsonov was sensational in stopping all 32 shots he faced, Morrissey thinks the Jets could do more to make his life miserable.
“The biggest cliché I suppose is the goalie can’t stop what he can’t see. So get in front of him and make it harder for him to see some pucks from distance,” he said.
“Those second and third opportunities around the net, winning those little battles, goals that are scored the dirty way, I suppose, the greasy way in front of the net. We had lots of good looks and he made lots of good saves. Hopefully those go in for us (Saturday) night.”
Samsonov will be in net once again, while the Jets will counter with their all-star starter Connor Hellebuyck.
No contract? No problem
Bowness, who celebrated his 69th birthday on Thursday, was asked about his contract status. He signed a two-year deal in the summer of 2022, although there is reportedly a club option for a third year.
“I think the last time I thought about my contract was the day I signed it. I’m not worried about it,” said Bowness, who joked his only concern is “tomorrow.”
“It’s like I told the players last year. I’m not here trying to extend my career or go somewhere else. I’m not worried about that stuff anymore. I’m good.”
Fred Greenslade / The Candian Press filesHead coach Rick Bowness is headed to his first-ever all-star game next weekend.
That said, Bowness admits he’s not viewing this season as a potential swan song given how much fun he’s having.
“Absolutely. It’s a great group. I love working with these guys. They’re good guys and their hearts are in the right place,” he said
“They’re committed. You challenge them after the Boston game? They respond. They responded going into the third period and they responded going into Toronto. So yeah. We’ve got a good rapport and I’m having fun with it. Absolutely.”
Bowness is headed to his first-ever all-star game next weekend as one of the four coaches selected based on having the best divisional winning percentage.
“I know with my age, I get it. But like I told Judy (his wife), as long as we still love it. And I still love coming to the rink, I still love the challenges of dealing with you guys,” he said.
“I still love the game. The game’s on the line in the third period? I love that stuff. That’s the exciting part. Where we are in the standings, that gets the adrenaline going, so yeah. I’ve got lots to give yet.”
mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
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Mike McIntyre Sports reporter
Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.
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.
