Canadian Karina LeBlanc to step down as Thorns GM, take new role with team ownership

VANCOUVER – There was a time J.T. Miller struggled to work his way into an NHL lineup.

Now the 31-year-old is a stalwart centre for the Vancouver Canucks — and he’s set to play his 800th regular-season game Wednesday when the team opens the 2024-25 campaign against the Calgary Flames.

“The older I get, the more I respect guys that can play for a long time. And super lucky, fortunate, especially health wise, to play in this many games,” Miller said Wednesday morning.

“There’s a time 10 or 11 years ago when I was just trying to get into the lineup. I feel very, very lucky to be where I’m at. But, obviously, I’ve got a lot of help from coaches and stuff along the way.”

Hailing from East Palestine, Ohio, Miller was picked 15th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2011 draft.

He made his NHL debut back on Feb. 5, 2013 as the Rangers faced the Devils in New Jersey. Asked what he’d say to the player who was preparing for that game, Miller grew reflective.

“Oh, man. Try to enjoy it. It’s a fun job that we get to have, but it is a job,” he said.

“The quicker you can learn, the quicker you’ll stay and quicker you’ll be acclimated. So just try to be a sponge … Try to take in as much as you can, even though it’s very difficult.”

The six-foot-one, 218-pound forward spent parts of six seasons in New York before he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in February 2018.

The Lightning then sent him to the Canucks at the 2019 draft in exchange for goalie Marek Mazanec, Vancouver’s 3rd-round pick in 2019 and a conditional 1st-round selection in 2020.

During five seasons in Vancouver, Miller has grown as a player and a person, said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

“He’s always trying to get better every day, physically and mentally, his approach to the game and how he can be better off the ice and on the ice when it comes to the game,” Tocchet said. “I have a lot of respect for him.”

Miller posted career highs in both goals (37) and points (103) last season as Vancouver finished atop the Pacific Division, then battled through two gritty playoff rounds.

The sometimes gruff centreman was an important part of the team’s success, said captain Quinn Hughes.

“He’s been tremendous,” Hughes said. “Just a great player, great leader for our group. And 800 games is a lot of games. Really excited for him.”

When Canucks winger Conor Garland hit the 400-game mark late last season, Miller organized T-shirts to celebrate the milestone and most players donned the garments — complete with Garland’s face — following the morning skate.

There won’t be a similar tribute for Miller on Wednesday, Hughes said.

“800 is a great milestone, but we’ll wait for him to get 1,000,” he said with a grin.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

SASKATOON – Saskatchewan New Democratic Leader Carla Beck says she has a plan to get overstretched emergency rooms back on track if elected premier on Oct. 28.

Beck says she would hire more full-time staff, extend the hours of Saskatoon City Hospital and modernize legislation to get paramedics out of waiting rooms.

Beck has also promised an online dashboard to inform the public when there are unplanned emergency room closures.

She says the health-care system is at a breaking point, with people dying waiting for care or being left in hallways.

She has pointed to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, which recently violated occupational health and safety rules with patients crammed into hallways and rooms.

Beck says the Saskatchewan Party’s Scott Moe has refused to admit there’s a problem and that it’s time for change.

“We have to get Saskatchewan out of last place. We need to invest in our hospitals, we need to keep our emergency rooms open and we need to support the incredible people who care for us,” Beck said in a statement.

“This is an election with a clear choice. We can change the government and we can deliver better health care right across Saskatchewan.”

Moe has said his plan to hire more health care staff, announced two years ago, is working.

He said 1,300 recent nursing grads have been hired, but added there’s more work to do.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

RICHMOND, B.C. – British Columbia New Democrat Leader David Eby says he was “wired” and had trouble falling asleep after the televised election debate, adding that he would see his performance as successful if those watching at home felt he was focused on their priorities.

But Eby says he didn’t think he spoke enough about all the ways his “team is committed to supporting British Columbians with the cost of daily life.”

He says his government is “finally making progress” and that the province “can’t turn back now,” pointing to decreasing rental costs and that there is a realistic future where every resident has a family doctor by 2025.

Eby focused part of his debate time on BC Conservative Leader John Rustad, calling him an “anti-vaxxer” who is “embarrassing” the province, and at a stop in Richmond today he said it’s “critical” that people know where Rustad stands on issues.

Rustad has no scheduled campaign or media events today, while B.C. Green leader Sonia Furstenau will make a public safety announcement and hold a rally later today.

Eby says he shares several views with Furstenau, including environment goals, but cited differences including “disagreements about drug policy.”

He says Rustad is “vague” about his plans, and pointed out again that the B.C. Conservatives have not released their costed platform.

“Your vote really matters this election,” Eby said Wednesday. “There is a pretty stark choice between the two parties that are running a full set of candidates, and that choice is going to make a difference for the future of our province.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.