TORONTO – If you’re still struggling to wrap your head around the full and complete range of Joe Thornton’s living-legend status, consider this.
Thornton called up Joe Montana to pick the iconic quarterback’s mind about whether he should leave the Bay Area and join the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 41-year-old centreman did not take the decision to walk away from the San Jose Sharks after 15 meaningful years lightly.
Thornton had blunt conversations with friends Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau about the pros and cons of leaving what’s comfortable. He spoke with several Maple Leafs and sought the opinions of people outside of hockey before finally making up his mind only four or five days ago.
But his conversation with Montana especially resonated.
“I actually talked to Joe Montana. And I think Joe gave me some good advice. He just talked about leaving San Francisco and going to Kansas City (late in his career),” said Thornton, Zooming in his first meeting with Maple Leafs reporters from Davos, on a football Sunday no less. “It was probably the hardest hockey decision I’ve ever had to make.
“I had so many people I’ve talked to over the last week. I’m just blessed that I had a chance to talk to some great people, but he’s one guy that offered me up some good advice.”
Just a couple of extraordinary Joes.
That Thornton’s parents still reside in St. Thomas, Ont. — a 100-minute drive from his new club and, soon, their cherished grandkids — is certainly a bonus.
But the oldest forward in the NHL wanted to be crystal clear why he’s returning to Ontario and joining the Maple Leafs for $700,000 and ready to take whatever role coach Sheldon Keefe assigns.
“It’s because of the hockey team, honestly,” Thornton said. “I need to win a Stanley Cup.
“This team is ready to win now. I’m ready to win.”
Thornton and his family will remain in Switzerland until NHL camps open; he notched an assist and skated 15:46 in his HC Davos debut Saturday, a 9-2 win over Rapperswil-Jona. And he confirmed that the Leafs had nearly lured him to Canada in the summer of 2017.
“I gave it a long, hard thought, and it just didn’t work out back then,” said Thornton, whose Sharks failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2020.
He rhymes off a roster loaded with Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly and T.J. Brodie, and figures this was the right time to make the leap.
Asked why he believes Toronto has an edge over his other free-agent suitors, Thornton pointed first at Frederik Andersen.
“I love their goalie. I really, really do. I like Freddie a lot. I think he’s a great goalie,” Thornton said. “This is a really good team — and it’s going to be a great team at the end of this.”
General manager Kyle Dubas aggressively pitched Thornton on a homecoming because the organization prioritized boosting the “spirit and energy of the group.” In addition to being a beloved dressing-room character, Thornton can be both a calming and driving influence.
Dubas notes that, on the ice, Thronton is still “high-end playmaker” able to complement the forward group on the power play and one still driving play (52.7 Corsi-for in 2019-20) at even-strength.
“He’s a different type of personality, and he’s got a great spirit to him, and I think adding anybody like that can always be very helpful to a group at any time,” Dubas said.
The young Leafs exec has always been forthcoming in trying to follow the Tampa Bay Lightning’s blueprint for building organizational balance and depth, but for this one, he points to the other 2020 Cup finalist, the Dallas Stars.
Dubas observed Jim Nill’s recruitment and success with past-their-prime Joe Pavelski, Corey Perry and Andrej Sekera, and decided to hunt down “more experience and personality” in his own lineup.
Welcome back Jason Spezza. Enter Wayne Simmonds, Zach Bogosian, and now, Thornton.
The question will linger: Is the guy with Joe Montana on speed dial too old?
Are the Leafs — formerly known for flash and dash throughout the lineup — all of a sudden getting too creaky in the bottom six?
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Dubas said. “It’s up to us to show what we can do.”
While it remains to be seen if Thornton’s legs are up for the challenge, there is no question his spirit is as ready as ever.
“I think I got lots of hockey left in me,” Thornton smiled.
• Thornton is happy he and the second-oldest Maple Leaf, Spezza, are both FaceTime guys. Spezza FaceTimed Thornton to offer up his No. 19 sweater. “Nope, I’m not taking anything from ya,” said Thornton. He appreciates the gesture, but is happy wearing 97, his current number with HC Davos.
• Thornton on making the jump from a mellow hockey town like San Jose to the media spotlight of Toronto: “I don’t mind you guys at all, so I’ll be fine with it.”
• “It doesn’t appear we’ll have to move anybody else out,” said Dubas, who believes the Leafs can be cap compliant without another trade. That sound you hear is Alexander Kerfoot breathing a deep sigh of relief. Prepare for fringe players to dance between the AHL Marlies and the big club all season.
• The GM is “open to anything,” but doesn’t foresee adding any of the remaining free-agent bargains on the market. Names like Sami Vatanen, Travis Hamonic and Andy Greene are out there. UFAs now look at Toronto’s cap picture and crowded roster and don’t see open opportunity for themselves after a week of additions.
• The Maple Leafs plan to address RFA Travis Dermott’s extension once they’ve settled Ilya Mikheyev’s arbitration case, set for Wednesday.
• UFA signing Bogosian — “a big addition,” in Dubas’s mind — will kill penalties and be given a chance to crack the top four. “We haven’t had the success as a group to where anything is owed to anybody based on previous performance,” Dubas said. “So, Zach can challenge anybody is as high up as he wants.” Creating internal competition has been a major priority over the past two weeks.
• Dubas believes signing third-stringer Aaron Dell (another former Shark) and letting Kasimir Kaskisuo walk to the Nashville Predators now gives the Maple Leafs their best one-two-three punch in goal since he joined the organization.
• Thornton, laughing, on what he remembers about crossing paths with 11-year-old Greyhounds employee Kyle Dubas when he played in the Soo: “I don’t remember two weeks ago, to be honest with ya.”
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.
