NASHVILLE – Minutes after Easton Cowan stepped off the draft stage in Nashville, he received an incoming FaceTime request from the last London Knight to get drafted in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Mitch Marner wanted to be among the first to welcome his fellow forward to the club.
“That was pretty cool,” beamed Easton, his aquamarine tie poking out the top of his brand-new blue No. 23 Leafs sweater.
“He was just really happy. He’s like, ‘Can’t wait to meet you. Happy you’re part of the Buds.’ And obviously talking about London there, so it was awesome. I was kind of in shock, really.”
As a native of Mount Brydges, Ont., who grew up to play for his local OHL team and now get drafted by his boyhood NHL team, Cowan was riding a high Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena.
“Kind of a loss for words right now,” Cowan said, his phone buzzing persistently in his pocket. “I played for my hometown there in London. So, to get drafted by another hometown team, it’s pretty cool. And it’s a moment I’ll never forget. I’m really excited that my family and friends are here to celebrate with me.”
Cowan’s parents and sister, joined by a posse of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends erupted in cheers when Maple Leafs head scout Wes Clark announced his name as the 28th-overall pick — Toronto’s first Round 1 selection since Rodion Amirov in 2020.
“I can’t wait to see their smiles,” Cowan said.
The 18-year-old looks up to Knights icon Marner and tries to model his game after Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk, whose net-front play Cowan admires. (“He’s got that JVR play everyone knows,” Cowan says.)
Scouts describe the 5-foot-11, 170-pound left shot as a high-energy playmaker who plays with an edge and is willing to dig in the corners.
Clark targeted the 18-year-old for his hockey sense and competitiveness.
Cowan believes his “hounding mentality” made him an attractive pick. He prides himself on leadership and hard work.
“I really hound pucks. My 200-foot game. And using my skating ability and hockey sense,” he said. “I want to work on getting bigger, work on my shot, and you can always get better.”
A mild surprise to go off the board in Round 1, Cowan was the 51st-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.
But the Maple Leafs don’t pick Thursday until the fifth round, and there’s no way he would’ve been available so late.
Because his conversations with Toronto’s brass at the Buffalo combine went so well, Cowan has a hunch the Leafs were interested.
Though he put up impressive regular season numbers in 2022-23 — 20 goals, 33 assists and a plus-10 rating in 68 games — Cowan figures his explosive postseason (21 points in 20 games) and being surrounded by winners upped his stock.
“A bit of surprise, but I’m really thankful to be drafted by the Leafs. I can’t wait to get down there and see what it’s all about,” Cowan said.
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.
