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Ontario hoping to keep Sens, Leafs in Canada for upcoming season – TSN

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On Thursday, multiple reports confirmed that the NHL’s seven Canadian teams might have to play in the United States to start the upcoming season due to restrictions amid surging COVID-19 cases, meaning the proposed all-Canadian division could get the axe.

However, Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture, confirmed to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun on Friday that she is in talks with the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs with the hope of keeping those teams in Canada for 2020-21.

The problem the NHL seems to be having is getting approval from various health authorities in Canada.

“I had a good conversation with the Leafs and the Senators this morning,” MacLeod said. “I think the option that they would prefer is to have the Canadian division. The complications with that are you’re not just dealing with provincial health units, you’re also dealing with the local municipalities, and their health units.

“In Ottawa and Toronto, we’re dealing with the local public health units, but at the same time, the chief medical health officer of Ontario. The same thing would happen with Calgary and the other provinces. The preference would be to have that division and we’re going to continue to work with them.”

Getting health units in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia and Quebec as well as the seven cities on the same page is one of the major hurdles to get over, says MacLeod.

“If one Canadian city was unable to proceed then that would probably be a game-changer for an all-Canadian division,” MacLeod said. “It’s important that we all understand where everybody else is at. That’s kind of an important conversation. For example, if six of the seven teams were in agreement, but the seventh wasn’t, that’s a concern for the league.”

The fact COVID-19 cases are at an all-time high in Ontario and across most of Canada could make things more complex, says MacLeod.

“We’re now in a very different period with COVID-19 with the second wave coming on far stronger than the first. The other challenge is, just even within Ontario, Ottawa’s public health unit is in orange while Toronto is grey lockdown. It’s very complex when you’re dealing with all the public health units,” she said. “We’re going to continue the dialogue with them but, again, the health and safety of Ontarians is our No. 1 concern, especially with the second wave coming on very strong.”

Furthermore, the NHL has had discussions with Edmonton over the past several weeks to extend the city’s role as a hockey hub, according to a report from TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger on Friday. Dreger added there is no official plan to use Edmonton but the city is ready if needed. Dreger also said Toronto is under consideration by the league.

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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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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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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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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