BC has received the NHL’s plan, and now they’re going to take some time to make a decision.
That was the messaging from BC Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry Monday, in a conversation with Global BC’s Richard Zussman on Facebook Live.
On Sunday, the NHL revealed plans for a shortened 56-game season, beginning on January 13. The plan is to play games in home arenas, with all games being played between divisional opponents. The Vancouver Canucks will be part of the newly-formed all-Canadian North Division, meaning it will play 9-10 games against each of the other six teams from Canada.
The NHL still needs the provincial governments to sign off on their proposal, which calls for regular testing of players for COVID-19, but won’t include a strict bubble like the summer. Teams will reportedly restrict visiting teams to the hotel and rink though, while traveling in and out of cities on private planes.
“The NHL presented its plan over the weekend to everybody. Obviously, like we do everything, we’re going to look at that plan seriously and respond to it in the coming day or so,” said Dix, who spoke highly of the Canucks’ help with public health messaging during the pandemic as well as the NHL bubble last summer.
“Dr. Henry, our provincial health officers, our medical health officers, are extraordinarily busy right now. This is an intense time, the NHL has provided what they’re proposing to do. Now we’ll take a look at it and we’ll see.”
Dix denied being “frustrated” by the process with the NHL, but he was noticeably stern in his language.
“I think it’s reasonable, having received a plan over the weekend, that we reflect on that for more than a few hours,” he said.
Vancouver was the NHL’s first choice to be a hub city for games last summer, but in the end, the league went to Edmonton and Toronto because of BC’s stricter health regulations.
If the NHL can’t satisfy the requirements of the BC government this time around, the Canucks could be off to Edmonton again, or elsewhere in Canada, to find a new temporary home rink.
“We just received the plan in the last few days. We’re considering it. It’s not my only priority right now,” said Dr. Henry, who once again added that she is a hockey fan.
“There is of course that extra pressure, and I think some of the public messaging from the NHL gives the impression of pressure. We’re doing what we do with everything. We’re looking at the evidence, we’re looking at the plans, we’re having discussions about what the impacts of those will be.”
Henry added that BC isn’t the only province that has expressed concerns, and that she’s working together with her counterparts in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Training camp is less than two weeks away, scheduled to begin on January 3. The Canucks are expected to be allowed to hold camp at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
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.
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.
