EDMONTON —
If Boxing Day typically (though not this year) marks the start of the World Juniors, then New Year’s Eve represents when the tournament starts to get real.
The last day of December signals the end of the preliminary part of the preliminary round and the point when the tournament’s stakes are raised significantly.
Canada has played on Dec. 31 every tournament since 2006 save for a one-year exception for the 2018 event.
Tonight, or more precisely late this afternoon at 4 p.m., this year’s editions of Teams Canada and Finland will renew that tradition, as the last two undefeated teams meet to determine the winner of Pool A (and secure an easier quarterfinal opponent).
“There’s going to be lots of people watching from all over the country, The New Year’s Eve game is always a big one,” said Team Canada forward Dylan Cozens.
On the one hand tonight’s game is just another group game between two teams already assured of making the quarterfinals.
On the other it’s when the tournament starts to get interesting, as contenders collide and teams look to round into form ahead of the elimination games.
“It’s going to be a huge game. Without it being the New Year’s Eve game, it’s for first place,” said Cozens.
A WORLD JUNIORS TRADITION
Today’s game will be the 30th time Canada has played on Dec. 31 at the World Juniors (though some were afternoon games).
Canada has won 17 of those contests, lost 6, tied 4 and won one game in a shootout and lost one as well.
Canada’s most frequent Dec. 31 opponent, by far, is the United States with 11 matchups, many of them memorable.
At the 2012 tournament, Canada fended off a late American comeback to win 3-2 at Rexall Place.
On Dec. 31 2009, Canada scored a shootout victory over the U.S. in front of a raucous crowd in Saskatoon.
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A year before, a John Tavares hat trick, including two goals in less than a minute, helped Canada overcome an early 3-0 deficit and beat the United States 7-4 in Ottawa.
“It was kind of a crazy game. And then Tavares is just took it over,” said Team Canada’s Zach Boychuk who scored in the 2008 game.
“Those are definitely the funnest ones to be a part of.”
Today’s game against Finland will be the fourth Dec. 31 meeting between the teams, tied with Sweden for second-most NYE matchups against Canada.
Last year, Canada beat the host Czech Republic team 7-2 in Ostrava on Dec. 31.
‘EXCITED I GET TO BE A PART OF THAT’
New Year’s Eve international hockey catches the attention of more than just sports fans, and has drawn audiences of more than three million Canadians.
“We’d always have people over in a normal year for New Year’s Eve,” said Canadian defenceman Kaiden Guhle of his family in Sherwood Park.
“Having Canadian hockey on is just another great time to get together.”
While there won’t be fans there, the fact the game is in Canada and remains destination viewing for millions across the country keeps the tradition alive.
It’s a spectacle Guhle and his teammates are ready to embrace ahead of what will be their toughest test of the tournament so far.
“I’m excited I get to be a part of that this year.”
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
