The emotional farewell is still a couple weeks away, but Sam Wheeler has already shared a heartfelt suggestion with her hockey-playing husband.
“When we’ve talked about it, basically what we came down to is she says, ‘Don’t just leave and play just three games. That would be a waste of time,’” Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler said during a video conference with reporters after completing Day 1 of training camp on Monday. “At least give me something to entertain me.’ So, that’s kind of where we’ve left it for now and hopefully we can go on a little bit of a run and give everyone back home something to cheer about.”
Wheeler is the father of three young children and the prospect of being away from his family for an extended period of time in the middle of what would otherwise be the offseason isn’t considered to be an optimal circumstance.
But in the midst of a pandemic, sacrifices are being made by every player in the NHL that is about to participate in the 24-team tournament in the chase for the Stanley Cup.
So as the Jets returned to the ice on Monday, there was Wheeler holding court on a zoom call, discussing what it was like to be back on the ice with his teammates for the first time as the real preparations for a best-of-five series with the Calgary Flames began in earnest.
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Wheeler is a devoted family man, but he’s also passionate about the pursuit of the Stanley Cup — and that’s why he’s done everything in his power to stay ready for what could be one of the wildest rides of his 12-year NHL career.
Prior to the pause in March, this season had already been a roller-coaster of emotions for Wheeler and company.
Never mind the bitter taste of being bounced in the opening round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Jets entered the post-season with high expectations after reaching the Western Conference final the previous spring.
On the eve of training camp, Dustin Byfuglien asked for and received a personal leave of absence from Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, citing a lack of desire to play hockey.
Byfuglien never returned and his contract was mutually terminated in April, meaning the Jets had to replace their entire right side of the blue line and five regulars total on the back end.
Injuries are a fact of life for all teams, but the Jets lost 324 man games this season.
Veteran centre Bryan Little suffered a concussion in the final exhibition game, then suffered a perforated ear drum (and another suspected concussion) when he was hit by a slapshot in a game against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 5.
Little didn’t come back to play either, and while there was some thought he might be healthy enough to return in July, he’s not part of the Jets return-to-play roster — and can’t be added.
“We’ve been through a lot this year already, (with) the amount of injuries we had, the amount of adversity we’ve gone through,” Wheeler said. “Buff retiring. Losing Bryan Little to a serious injury earlier this season. These are all things you can’t account for before a season.
“Our group has been really tight-knit through all that all year. We’ve had to kind of fight as a team to make it to this point, to even be playing in a playoff position. But I think we’re going to have to lean on each other, certainly. Everyone’s going to be homesick, everyone’s going to miss their families. We’re really only going to have each other to have that face-to-face and quality time.”
Wheeler has been a teammate of Little’s since he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers by the Boston Bruins in February 2011 and tried to put Little’s absence into words.
“Of course it’s hard not to have Bryan around. He’s been here from Day 1 and one of our best players and the guy everyone looks forward to seeing every day, and one of our hardest workers,” Wheeler said. “Everything you’d want in a pro hockey player, that’s what Bryan Little’s been here for nine years. We’ve missed him all year, we miss him now. More importantly we’re just hoping for the best for him. That’s really all that matters, that he’s taking care of himself and his health first.”
The long-term health of Little remains the priority and the questions surrounding his future will linger until next season’s training camp — and possibly beyond, though optimism remains the additional time off will allow him to resume his career eventually.
Like all of the 24 teams participating in the tournament, the ultimate goal for the Jets is easy to identify, even if sizing up the competition after a four-month break makes things a bit more difficult to predict.
“Every team has a chance,” Jets left winger Mathieu Perreault said. “And we’re healthy right now, so we like our chances. We’re strong in every aspect of the game, so we see this challenge as a good chance for us to win a Stanley Cup. This is how I see it.”
It will take 19 wins for that dream to become a reality for the Jets.
Despite all the challenges the Jets have endured this season, for them to reach the pinnacle, they’ll surely have to overcome a number of additional obstacles.
“It’s a good idea because I’m a hockey fan and I’m going nuts,” said Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice, when asked why it’s a good idea for hockey to return in the middle of a pandemic. “It’s in the middle of July and we get to see the playoffs. I want to see it. I think it’s a good idea because we have a responsibility also first to our health, I get that, but also we’re entertainers, right? So this is prime time. People want to watch hockey. They want to see it. That’s our job and we have a responsibility to do our job.
“There’s so many things you don’t know. If you can go in with a positive frame of mind, if you can go in and look at this as a challenge that’s exciting, have a little fun with this, get a little wired up for it, it could be a great thing. I don’t even know what those hardships are yet, to be honest with you. I know they’re coming, but I haven’t seen it yet. All of the difficulties that you’re going to have to win the Stanley Cup this year will be the best part of the memories.”
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.
