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Eddie Lack reflects on time with Canucks after announcing retirement | Offside – Daily Hive

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5 years ago

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Eddie Lack wasn’t a member of the Vancouver Canucks for long — just two NHL seasons in fact — but the smiling Swedish netminder left a memorable mark.

On Monday, the 32-year-old announced his retirement from professional hockey, after taking this season off to try to get healthy.

“The body’s just not there,” Lack told Daily Hive in a phone interview from Arizona. “To be able to play professional hockey it takes such a toll.”

Lack says he rehabbed on a daily basis until Christmas, but still only feels about 85-90% of where he needs to be to play again.

“I haven’t played a lot of games in the NHL where I have not been battling something.”

The good times

One of Lack’s most fond memories from his playing career was when he won a gold medal with Sweden at the 2017 IIHF World Championships. But as the team’s third goaltender, he appeared in just one game.

He played a much bigger role during his most fond NHL memory: leading the Canucks to their last playoff appearance in 2015.

“That was such a fun experience for me,” he said.

Lack was arguably the Canucks’ MVP down the stretch, posting a .927 save percentage in 20 games after Ryan Miller was hurt on February 22. In 41 games that season, Lack posted a .921 save percentage, tying him with the recently departed Roberto Luongo.

After winning over the hearts of Canucks fans who regularly chanted his name, Lack was traded to Carolina the following offseason in a controversial deal.

“I’m not sure why we got that special bond, but somehow it kind of just happened,” Lack said of his relationship with Canucks fans. “I’m extremely grateful for what I was able to experience during my time in Vancouver. It’s definitely something that I’m going to remember and cherish for the rest of my life.”

On getting the start in the Heritage Classic

Lack was a central figure in the lead up to Luongo getting traded to Florida in 2014, through no fault of his own.

Riding a seven-game losing streak heading into the Olympic break, Eddie Lack started the first game back after the NHL resumed its schedule, which was logical given Luongo had just travelled back from Sochi.

Lack earned a 20-save shutout in a 1-0 Canucks victory, so head coach John Tortorella started him in the next game against Minnesota. The Canucks lost 2-1 in a shootout, but Lack made 22 saves, plus six of seven shots faced in the shootout.

So Tortorella started Lack in the Heritage Classic too, meaning not only would Luongo sit on the bench for a third consecutive game; the future Hall of Famer wouldn’t get to play in the marquee game at BC Place.

Luongo later requested a trade and never played for the Canucks again.

Lack recalled Tortorella telling him that he would be starting the Heritage Classic the day before the game, during a family skate at BC Place.

“I was 100% sure that I wasn’t playing the next day,” Lack said. “And then Torts came up to me on the ice. He was like, ‘Hey, you’re starting tomorrow.’ I’m like, ‘What? Like, are you sure?’”

“The biggest thing was, like, I was really happy for myself, but seeing Lui on the ice with his kids skating around and everything, it was a very weird feeling because I felt very sad for him. That would have been a very special game for him to play.”

Torts the best NHL coach he ever had

It may surprise fans to know that Lack is among the players who really liked playing for Tortorella.

“From the coaches that I had playing in the NHL, [Tortorella] was for sure the best, and I’m not saying that [just] because I played a lot. I actually thought that he was the best when I didn’t play either. The thing that I liked about him was that he always kept you in the loop.”

When Luongo got a string of games in a row, Torts would communicate that too, Lack says.

“The nice thing was that he would always talk to you … explaining his decisions and I loved that.”

How hockey culture embraced Lack’s personality

In a sport that regularly keeps all signs of personality buried beneath cliche answers, Lack stood out.

Known for his love of tacos, Lack didn’t hide his sense of humour at the rink or on Twitter.

“In Vancouver, they kind of embraced that [personality] more, and liked that I was my own [person]. I would say when I went to Carolina they kind of wanted me to be more quiet and just kind of put me back in my shell a little bit more. And I totally get that too.

“But that wasn’t me. So I tried a little bit to be more quiet and not so outspoken and outgoing and everything, but I wasn’t feeling like myself when I did that.”

“It’s weird because somehow I think that being outspoken and everything helped my career, but in some part I definitely think that it hurt it too.”

What’s next?

Apart from binge-watching Ozark on Netflix, Lack’s new career in real estate is keeping him busy these days.

“It’s a lot of paperwork and talking on the phone.”

It’s a natural progression for Lack, whose family owns hotels in Sweden. But not wanting to return home yet, he’s setting out to do his own thing.

“It’s for sure been an adjustment not waking up at 8:30 for morning skate and just relaxing the rest of the day. It’s actually work, but it’s been fun so far.”

The now-retired goalie is also partnering with Vancouver company Alpha North and GamerzArena on a yet-to-be announced esports project.

“We’ve got a few cool things coming up now with the tournaments… it’s going to be something that we can give back to charity,” he said. “Playing video games is definitely something that I’ve been doing my whole life just to kind of relax. I feel like now is a good time to do something about it when everyone is sitting home being bored.”

Lack says he still plans to help Arizona State University as a part-time goalie coach, as he did this season, wanting to keep one foot in the game.

“I don’t want to close that door completely,” Lack said. “This is going to sound weird but coaching and stuff doesn’t challenge me that much as a person because it’s hockey and I’ve done hockey for so long… I wanted to get into something brand new for me to really challenge myself as a person to grow.”

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

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18 hours ago

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November 8, 2024

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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.

___

AP cricket:

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

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18 hours ago

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November 8, 2024

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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

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18 hours ago

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November 8, 2024

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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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