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Canada’s win might come with a loss, as Dach’s status remains uncertain – Sportsnet.ca

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EDMONTON — The win means nothing. But the loss?

Ooooh, it could be a killer.

Team Canada captain Kirby Dach left Canada’s only pre-tournament game at the 2021 World Juniors midway through the third period after a harmless looking collision with a Russian player. Canada won the game, 1-0, on a goal by defenceman Jamie Drysdale, but now may have lost its best player and captain.

“We don’t have an update. We will need an x-ray later on,” Canadian head coach Andre Tourigny said in his postgame address.

The injury cast a pall on the victory, a game in which Dach had been dominant.

“He really tries to bring everyone into the fight, play the right way,” Tourigny noted. “He does not force things — he’s the ultimate team player out there.”

In a tournament that is completed inside two weeks, it is entirely possible that Canada would not include its captain on its final roster, to be submitted on Friday. They can not, however, replace Dach with a player who is not already residing inside the Edmonton bubble.

“That’s why you have 25 players,” Tourigny said. “If you could, the Germans would have brought in a lot of players. If they can’t, we can’t.”

You’ve seen the video by now: Dach instigates a small collision with Russian forward Ilya Safonov. Dach bounces off the hit, turns away and immediately removes his right glove to look at his wrist and hand area. He spins and goes straight to the bench, and right down the hallway to the Team Canada dressing room. The trip ended on the X-ray table at Rogers Place.

“You don’t like to see it,” Drysdale said. “He’s one of our teammates, one of your brothers. He’s a really special player, an important guy in the locker room. He’s really talkative, a guy you can lean on. A special player. We just hope for a speedy recovery from whatever it is. Hopefully all is good and he can get back on the ice.”

Levi at the Helm

OK — now some good news.

After the morning skate Tourigny announced that Devin Levi would be his No. 1 goalie, Dylan Garland would be the backup, and Calgary native Taylor Gauthier would be the No. 3. Levi went the distance Wednesday for a 23-save shutout.

Levi, who plays at Northeastern University, was awestruck to be in the Canadian crease, even though he looked cool as a cucumber.

“As a kid I always pictured myself playing in this tournament, and here it was, coming true,” said the Canadian goalie, who stopped Yegor Chinakhov on a third-period break, his toughest save of a relatively easy game. “It was a partial breakaway. The read I made was he was going to shoot it, and he did. He didn’t have enough time to make a deke because one of our D was on him.”

Levi didn’t see much action but was in total control when the Russians pressed.

“What I liked about his game,” Tourigny said, “was that he was composed, confident. He did not make it look tougher than it was. He was in control. Did not complicate his game, and made our team play with confidence.”

No Question About Askarov

Canada was excellent defensively, giving up almost nothing despite the fact most of these kids haven’t played a real game in months. Most of the Russian players are playing in leagues back home, and as a team they travelled to Finland and won the Karjala Cup earlier this winter.

“What I saw was, the effort was there but the technical part of the game was straggling,” Russian head coach Igor Larionov said. “That’s what (pre-tournament) games are for. It’s not the best hockey, but I am pleased with the way we played.

“Our game is based on puck possession and attacking. We should be better. We’re going to be better.”

The one thing this Russian team may well have is the best goalie in the tournament in returning netminder Yaroslav Askarov. The six-foot-four Nashville draftee shut Canada out through 40 minutes, before Drysdale drifted a long wrister past backup Artur Akhtyamov in the third period.

“We’re pleased with the way he’s developed,” Larionov said of Askarov. “It’s nice to have a goalie like that, who can make the crucial saves, be solid the whole game, and give us some confidence.

“Askarov played fantastic for us, but we expect more from the boys and they know that. We can play much better.”

•••

After the morning skate, Dach was talking about how things have changed for him at Rogers Place, where he was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks team that eliminated the Edmonton Oilers before losing out to the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL playoffs. Dach was the youngest member of the Chicago Blackhawks, playing under captain — and legendary World Junior performer — Jonathan Toews.

Strange?

“Yes,” admitted Dach. “ Last time I was walkin’ in here I was the young guy on the team, looking up to great leaders like Toews, (Patrick) Kane, Duncs (Duncan Keith) and Crow (Corey Crawford) … Now I’m expected to lead this group, but I’m not doing it alone. There are other guys who are great leaders.”

We’ll see when or if Dach returns, but if he does his role as captain will have been influenced by the time he spent around Toews.

“He kind of knows what to say — and how to say it — at important times in games, and in the dressing room,” Dach said. “I have that confidence, being around my own age group, to say those things. Whereas in Chicago I didn’t have the confidence to speak up in the dressing room. That comes with maturity.

“I feel pretty confident right now, and when there’s a moment like that when something needs to be said, I’m not going to be afraid to say it.”

He can only hope.

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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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November 8, 2024

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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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November 8, 2024

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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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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

—

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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