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Maple Leafs’ Dubas sees signs of sophistication in team following pause – Sportsnet.ca

Published

4 years ago

July 27, 2020

Harry Miller

TORONTO — The world has changed since the Toronto Maple Leafs last played a hockey game.

Kyle Dubas believes something has shifted inside his team’s dressing room as well.

It’s been 140 days that featured inactivity and uncertainty. A mix of fear, existential longing and boredom. And in the more recent gallop towards something approaching normalcy the Leafs general manager is seeing signs of sophistication.

“The talent level of the group, there’s never been a question,” Dubas said Monday. “It’s been the maturing and the mindset of the group that we know we have to take some strides in.”

They have arrived inside a bubble in their own city talking about taking those steps now. The Leafs are days away from jumping into a best-of-five Stanley Cup qualifier against Columbus, with only Tuesday’s exhibition game versus Montreal to sharpen their competitive spirit.

But Dubas is encouraged by the preparations made throughout the NHL’s COVID-19 pause. The Leafs dove head-first into voluntary Phase 2 workouts, getting over 20 players back skating together in small groups in early June while many rivals left practice facilities closed due to a lack of demand.

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They had a leg-up because of the number of guys who live year-round in the area but they also saw Kasperi Kapanen, William Nylander and Jack Campbell return early from the United States to serve quarantines in advance. Morgan Rielly and Alexander Kerfoot had ice to skate on in British Columbia and still chose to fly back to Toronto and join their teammates well before the NHL’s return-to-play agreement was finalized.

Rasmus Sandin, who enters the playoffs as the Leafs seventh defenceman, spent 14 days in a hotel room after returning from Sweden earlier than many of his countrymen.

That team-wide buy-in came with extra reps together long before the mandatory two-week training camp started earlier this month. It also allowed for some bonding on the golf course and in cottage country, where Mitch Marner hosted a small gathering at one point.

“The effort that the players put into it, and their focus on their on- and off-ice, even during that [voluntary] phase and what they were doing away from the rink with how careful they were being and how they were holding each other accountable was a really strong sign for me about the growth that we’re going through as a group,” said Dubas.

This will be the fourth crack at the post-season for this Leafs core. They have played highly competitive series while losing to the Presidents’ Trophy winners (Washington, 2017) and the NHL’s fourth- and third-overall finisher from the regular season (Boston, 2018 and 2019).

Last year’s seven-game loss to the Bruins was particularly disappointing since Toronto held 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads in the series — missing the chance to close things out at Scotiabank Arena in Game 6. The focus on maturity stems from the fact the Leafs actually finished with a slight edge in shot attempts and expected goals at even strength in that series, but still let it slip through their fingers in large part due to specialty teams.

They were lacking a killer instinct.

What remains to be seen is if the Leafs can emerge from this pause as a better version of themselves. They had a roller-coaster 2019-20 campaign and have placed a huge premium on reducing the number of chances and goals against. Only Florida allowed more goals among the 24 teams invited back for this summer restart.

“The root cause of that is just our mindset and becoming an elite team that really values how we’re performing defensively,” said Dubas. “Why I say it’s a mindset thing and not a skill thing on the defensive side, or a personnel thing, is that we’ve shown in various different games and different stretches that we can be a very good defensive team.”

This is where the commitment throughout the break comes in. It’s being viewed internally as a sign the core is ready to make the sacrifices needed to grind out tight games.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe certainly isn’t shy about discussing defensive faults — or, as he more optimistically labelled them, the team’s “biggest area of opportunity.” He spent months bingeing on the Leafs and then shared unflattering metrics with players during training camp.

The message resonated with Marner, who said “we’re hungry to prove ourselves out here.”

Dubas, who has moved downtown into the Royal York hotel alongside his players, doesn’t mind that kind of talk emanating from his group.

That’s a sign of understanding in his eyes.

“I think it’s great that the players talk about it. I think the players know the doubts that are on them, whether it’s from media or from other teams,” said Dubas. “And so they know what they have to prove and I think them acknowledging it and talking about it is a good sign because they’re not negative about it and they’re not upset that people say that about them.

“They know that we have to prove it and that’s what we’ll get to in the coming weeks and years.”

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Sports

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

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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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