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Tortorella has Blue Jackets in killer mindset for Maple Leafs – Sportsnet.ca

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4 years ago

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TORONTO – Let’s begin with a John Tortorella anecdote from eight years ago that echoes in my mind whenever the coach goes Full Torts.

Ottawa, January 2012: Reporting on my first major event for this website, NHL All-Star weekend, I decided to gather quotes for a Scott Hartnell profile during media day.

Hartnell is an unlikely all-star in the midst of the best year of his hockey life, exploding for 37 goals on a line with Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr. He plays his shifts with an edge and a joy and is loved by virtually every teammate he’s had.

Thing is, he’s also a Philadelphia Flyer. Tortorella coaches the New York Rangers.

Now, I was aware that Tortorella isn’t big on publicly discussing his opposition, but you have to understand the tone of all-star weekend. It’s a party, a schmoozefest. Pressure is all the way off. Everyone’s in a cheery mood. Players and coaches answer an array of off-topic, lighthearted and, sometimes, ridiculous questions lobbed their way on media day.

Further, Tortorella will be “coaching” Hartnell in Sunday’s “game,” so technically he’s one of his players.

I pipe up in the scrum and volley some generic question about Hartnell’s game Tortorella’s way.

He swats it away like the LeBron block: I don’t talk about other teams. I coach New York. A glare burns from his eyes through my soul.

“Well, considering you’ll be on the same bench this—”

Next!

Fearing my “Brooksie” moment, I button my rookie mouth up.

I relay this tale not as condemnation of the five-time Jack Adams finalist’s approach to media relations. He has blessed us with yards of fantastic quotes and insights on his own players and his perspective of the game over the years, and the league is more interesting with him in it. Rather, I write this as a reminder that Tortorella’s teams have been operating inside a bubble long before bubbles became cool.

He defends his own and demands the same of his charges, often at a profane volume. (Sportsnet’s Anthony Stewart dropped this gem on-air today: “I don’t think they flew into the bubble from Columbus. I think Tortorella had them marching or bag-skating underground to get here.”)

As the small-market Columbus Blue Jackets sharpen their blades for a do-or-die series versus the headline-hoarding Toronto Maple Leafs, the casual hockey fan might not know that Zach Werenski was the only defenceman to snipe 20 goals this season.

Or that Leafs defender Justin Holl is concerned about the havoc Cam Atkinson can wreak in the offensive zone.

Or that Oliver Bjorkstrand might be one of the game’s most underrated forwards.

Or that the Jackets dressed two goalies with a better save percentage than Frederik Andersen.

But they know Torts. And they should know the forcefield he installs is akin to the one he expects his players to construct around the slot.

Tortorella instigated a five-second rule for play-in reporters to get their questions off during Zoom calls. Fumble with the “unmute” button, and it’s “Next!” Sigh.

“What could you possibly ask me today?” is how Tortorella began Tuesday’s Zoom conference with the press.

“None of your business what I’m saying to the players,” Tortorella snapped early at one of his club’s beat reporters Wednesday.

Cuddle time is over. Tortorella wants his squad to strap on its game face.

Social distancing suits the coach and this group just fine. They entered the hub wearing fun, identical “Let’s Play Bubble Hockey” T-shirts (organized by captain Nick Foligno) and carrying a collective chip on their shoulder.

Last spring’s stunner over the Lightning injected belief but not arrogance. Hunkering down for day after day of eat-sleep-hockey “fits with our mentality,” said Tortorella, who feels a surge of pride when he spots his leadership group hanging out with his young guys after practice.

“We’re not built with game-breakers. We’re not,” Tortorella said. “We’ve really bought into playing as a team.”

Sergei Bobrovsky got his payday in the sun. Artemi Panarin chose to spin his magic on Broadway.

Livestream the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, plus every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet NOW.

“The core of their team, really, has remained the same. Players who make up who they are and how they want to play, they remain there,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, who scouted Thursday’s game inside Scotiabank Arena with his staff. “That leadership is clearly there, and they had great success this season as a team, despite a pile of injuries.”

Tortorella’s great task is making everyone in his bubble understand they’ll only slay giants if they pull on the slingshot together.

To a man, they must buy into a rigid and ugly (but effective) system that hinges on board battles and boxouts. It requires flinging your shinpads into the line of fire and driving north as fast as your legs will take you. Forcing and then pouncing on mistakes.

When it comes to outwitting the Maple Leafs, Tortorella’s cards are on the table.

“I don’t want you (media) guys to overthink it. There’s nothing special going on. We’re going to play as a team,” the coach insisted. “So, there’s nothing tricky going on here at all.”

At 11 a.m. the day before Thursday’s decisive 4-1 exhibition victory over the Presidents’ Trophy–winning Boston Bruins, Tortorella called a team meeting.

The lone item on the agenda: mindset.

From the Stanley Cup Qualifiers to the Stanley Cup Final, livestream every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, blackout-free, on Sportsnet NOW.

Details of that discussion will remain guarded inside a bubble locked inside another bubble.

What followed was an on-ice workout the coach describes as the “best practice” all camp, a sharp development from the motivational wrist-slapping of Phase 3. And then a superb showing against Boston.

Tortorella is steeling himself to protect his guys at all costs. That’s the example.

“They want to play some games that mean something, and you can see the focus building up as we’re getting closer to that,” Tortorella said. “Everybody’s just sick of practising.

“These guys want to play against another uniform.”

The Maple Leafs — next uniform up — are in for a test.

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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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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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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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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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