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NHL’s top draft prospect Lafreniere staying patient amid uncertainty – Sportsnet.ca

Published

5 years ago

March 25, 2020

When he isn’t lifting weights in his parents’ garage, Alexis Lafreniere spends time playing games, watching movies and sharing meals with family.

The projected No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL draft should be on the ice battling in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs and looking forward to the biggest moment of his young career at the end of June.

But in an era of social distancing and self-isolation brought on by the crippling COVID-19 pandemic, Lafreniere’s daily routine looks a lot like those of millions of other people across North America and around the world.

“I don’t have much to do,” Lafreniere said on a conference call with reporters Wednesday. “I didn’t spend that much time with my family this year. I lived with billets. It’s good for us to spend time together.”

That’s perhaps the only silver lining for the Rimouski Oceanic’s star winger.

The Canadian Hockey League cancelled the playoffs and the Memorial Cup this week due to the novel coronavirus outbreak after previously scratching the end of the regular season.

The NHL draft, meanwhile, was scheduled for June 26 and 27 at the Bell Centre in Montreal — a short distance from the 18-year-old Lafreniere’s hometown of Saint-Eustache, Que. — but the event, along with the scouting combine in Buffalo and the league’s award show in Las Vegas, were all postponed Wednesday.

That could mean no announcement of his name to an adoring crowd, no walk across the stage, no big party.

And if he does indeed go No. 1 in an unusual draft, Lafreniere will have something else in common with Pittsburgh Penguins captain and fellow Rimouski alumni Sidney Crosby, who went first overall in a hotel ballroom in the middle of the summer following the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season.

“It would be a little bit different, but it’s still an honour to get drafted by an NHL team,” Lafreniere said before news of the draft’s postponement broke. “It’s really special.”

Lafreniere, who helped lead Canada to gold at the world junior hockey championship in January, said he’s learned to not worry about things outside his tight circle.

“I just try to focus on myself and going through it day by day,” Lafreniere said. “One important thing is to control what you can control. There’s some things that you cannot really control.

“You’ve got to stay focused on yourself and try to do your stuff.”

That includes working out a few hours a day by himself using a program set up by his off-season trainer.

“I have all the equipment that I need to get stronger and stay in shape,” Lafreniere said. “For sure it’s different, but I think I can I can get stronger even if I train at my house.”

He also lamented the abrupt end to the season — and most likely his junior career — due to the coronavirus.

“It went by really quick,” he said of his three years in the QMJHL. “I enjoyed a lot of good times, good memories with my teammates. It’s sad that you won’t get to play with these guys again.

“The most important thing is that everyone stays healthy.”

NHL Central Scouting’s top-rated North American skater, Lafreniere registered 35 goals and 112 points in just 52 games in 2019-20 despite missing nine QMJHL contests while away at the world juniors and three more due to suspension. He finished second in CHL scoring behind Ottawa 67’s centre and fellow 2020 draft prospect Marco Rossi, who racked up with 120 points in 56 games.

Lafreniere’s season started with sky-high expectations and a ridiculous offensive tear to begin the QMJHL schedule before a knee injury at the world juniors had the country holding its collective breath.

The CHL Player of the Year in 2018-19 would miss two round-robin games, but returned for the medal round and was a key contributor in Canada’s dramatic march to gold in the Czech Republic after being part of the team that finished a disappointing seventh on home soil 12 months earlier.

“It was a really big moment for me,” said the six-foot-one, 196-pound Lafreniere, who was named tournament MVP with 10 points in five games. “Growing up, you dream about it.”

Lafreniere wouldn’t bite when asked if he’s done enough to cement the No. 1 slot, but he did touch on the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators — the teams with the best odds of winning the NHL’s draft lottery based on the current standings.

“Great organization,” he said of Detroit, before adding later of Ottawa, which is less than a two-hour drive from Saint-Eustache: “It would be special. It’s a great place to play.

“We’ll see what happens.”

For now, though, all he can do is train, wait and cherish some family time.

“It’s always fun to be able to be home and spend time with them,” Lafreniere said. “It’s easier for sure that I’m with them and can stay here until everything’s done.”

That’s likely a long ways off. It also can’t come soon enough.

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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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AP cricket:

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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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