TORONTO — It’s the image that resonates most in the wake of news that Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien was rushed to the hospital with chest pains Wednesday night after his team’s 2-1 loss in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers: a trimmed-down Julien, seated at the podium of the media room inside the Canadiens’ practice facility on the second day of Phase 3 training camp, smiling and eventually joking with several journalists as the questions poured in via Zoom.
He appeared as though the rest from March to July had done him well, like he had enjoyed quality time with family but also taken some for himself to do what the hectic schedule of an NHL coach doesn’t always permit. Julien spoke on that day about how excited he was for the opportunity the Canadiens were given to participate in this tournament for the Stanley Cup — especially after a gruelling season that saw them resting in 24th place in the 31-team league when life as we knew it was halted due to COVID-19.
“We have a chance to prove we’re a better hockey team than what we showed,” he said.
And then he arrived in Toronto 11 days later and helped the Canadiens shock the hockey world with a monumental upset over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round of these playoffs.
Julien had them prepared for Game 1 against the Flyers, he coached them through an impressive performance that fell just short of a stunning win, and then he calmly went through his media availability without any indication something was wrong.
But something was.
“I’m here to you inform you of a situation that explains the absence of our head coach, Claude Julien, from our practice this morning,” said Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin in an impromptu statement just before 2 p.m. ET on Thursday. “Claude experienced pain in his chest overnight. We immediately consulted with our doctors and decided to rush him to the hospital by ambulance. He went through tests to determine the nature of his condition. This situation has nothing to do with COVID.
“We don’t foresee him being back with us before the end of this series against the Flyers.”
In a year of the unexpected becoming reality so frequently that it’s seemingly turned into the only constant we can rely on, this was still unthinkable. Even with Julien turning 60 this past April.
A hockey lifer — first as a professional player from 1980-92 and then as a coach who worked his way up from the QMJHL to the NHL in just four years — going from the bench to the hospital for reasons unrelated to this global pandemic was a jarring bit of news. For everyone.
Especially the Canadiens.
“A little shock and concern,” said Bergevin. “But after talking to [Canadiens head physician] Dr. David Mulder there is some good news early this afternoon.”
He explained that Julien was “in good hands” at a Toronto-area hospital, that he spoke with him this morning, that there was hope he’d be out of the hospital within days and that he’d return home — whether it was to Montreal to be with his family, or to Toronto to be with his Canadiens family.
Either way, Julien may be out of sight for some time. But he certainly won’t be out of mind.
As the Canadiens forge on, with Kirk Muller assuming head coaching duties and Dominque Ducharme and Luke Richardson sharing the rest of the responsibilities, Julien will be in their hearts, too.
“I think in these situations there’s always a little bit of an emotional factor and, like Marc said, a shock factor,” said Canadiens captain Shea Weber. “Obviously, everyone learned about this this morning and the biggest concern is his health. We want to make sure he’s healthy first. But I think that’s something, for sure, we can draw upon and use it as… not as if we weren’t motivated in the first place, [but] this can maybe draw even more out of that.”
This situation, though shocking, is not without precedent.
It was during the 1992-93 Canadiens season, when Muller was a player with the organization, that head coach Jacques Demers was hospitalized after experiencing chest pains. He was dismissed after all tests came back clear, and he ended up coaching the team to a Cup win months later.
It was back in 2002, incidentally the same year that Julien began his NHL coaching career, that Pat Quinn (who was 59 at the time) missed Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final due to a “chest condition.” Without him on their bench, the Toronto Maple Leafs fell in overtime by a score of 2-1 and, upon his return, went on to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.
The hockey is secondary when things like this happen. You think about the man, his family, his friends, and the members of his young team, for whom he is both coach and father figure.
You think about the stress of this work, particularly at this time — when the stakes are so high and the lights so bright.
Geoff Ward knows. The Calgary Flames coach has been through two cardiac episodes himself.
“It’s stressful,” he told Sportsnet. “When you do it for as many years as Claude has… I can’t speak to how the extended stress affects a coach. It certainly is very stressful, especially at this time of year, because it’s so short between games. You spend an awful lot of time away from the game, preparing so your sleep is not as good, you’re eating at different times.
“The stakes are high this time of year – you have to find ways to get away from the game and relax a bit but that’s not always possible. Important things for your health can get neglected at this time of year, when the stakes are high.”
You can only imagine how Ward felt when hearing the news about Julien, whom he worked for as an assistant coach — first in Hamilton as part of Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Bulldogs, and then in Boston, with the Bruins from 2007-2014.
“I was shocked,” Ward said. “My thoughts and prayers are with Claude and his family. Not only do I feel for Claude and his family, but the organization and the team. It has ripples when something like this happens. He’s such a great person and he’s a great coach. I’m sure his presence around that team will be missed.
“But right now everybody’s thoughts are with him, that he’s healthy and doing well. It’s not a good thing to hear and, when it’s a friend, it’s really not a good thing to hear.”
Bergevin said that once he received a first bit of “positive news” from Dr. Mulder in the early hours of the morning, he was able to rest a little easier.
His confidence in the Canadiens’ ability to move on without Julien put his mind at ease, as well.
“Claude is a guy who works closely with his assistants,” Bergevin said. “For our series against the Penguins, and for our game yesterday, I thought, sincerely, our team was ready. And I see no issue. For sure we’ll be missing Claude, but our three coaches have experience as head coaches — Kirk in Carolina, Luke in Binghamton and Dom at the world junior championships. So, we have experienced guys who will work together. And, honestly, after speaking with Shea and the team, we’re ready. I’m eager for the game tomorrow at 3 p.m.”
He added that there’s a possibility that Julien would be back behind the Canadiens’ bench before long, but that it was more probable he’d first return to Montreal to be with his wife and children.
As Julien was transported to a hospital outside of the bubble, he’d have to go through a mandatory quarantine and produce several negative COVID-19 tests before being permitted to rejoin the Canadiens.
But there are much more important things than that right now.
“We’re hoping for the best for him right now,” said Bergevin.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins will bring in another quarterback while starter Tua Tagovailoa deals with his latest concussion, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday.
For now, Skylar Thompson will be considered the Dolphins’ starter while Tagovailoa is sidelined. Tagovailoa left Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo in the third quarter with the third known concussion of his NFL career, all of them coming in the last 24 months.
“The team and the organization are very confident in Skylar,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said the team has not made any decision about whether to place Tagovailoa on injured reserve. Tagovailoa was expected at the team facility on Friday to start the process of being evaluated in earnest.
“We just have to operate in the unknown and be prepared for every situation,” McDaniel said, noting that the only opinions that will matter to the team will be the ones from Tagovailoa and the medical staff.
McDaniel added that he doesn’t see Tagovailoa playing in Miami’s next game at Seattle on Sept. 22.
“I have no idea and I’m not going to all of a sudden start making decisions that I don’t even see myself involved in the most important parts of,” McDaniel added. “All I’m telling Tua is everyone is counting on you to be a dad and be a dad this weekend. And then we’ll move from there. There won’t be any talk about where we’re going in that regard … none of that will happen without doctors’ expertise and the actual player.”
Tagovailoa was 17 for 25 passing for 145 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions — one of which was returned for a Buffalo score — when he got hurt. Thompson completed eight of 14 passes for 80 yards.
Thompson said he feels “fully equipped” to run the Dolphins’ offense.
“What’s going to lie ahead, who knows, but man, I’m confident, though,” Thompson said after Thursday’s game. “I feel like I’m ready for whatever’s to come. I’m going to prepare and work hard and do everything I can to lead this team and do my job.”
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion for the third time in his NFL career, leaving his team’s game Thursday night against Buffalo after running into defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf.
Tagovailoa remained down for about two minutes before getting to his feet and walking to the sideline after the play in the third quarter. He made his way to the tunnel not long afterward, looking into the stands before smiling and departing toward the locker room.
The Dolphins needed almost no time before announcing it was a concussion. The team said he had two during the 2022 season, and Tagovailoa was diagnosed with another concussion when he was a college player at Alabama.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa would get “proper procedural evaluation” and “appropriate care” on Friday.
“The furthest thing from my mind is, ‘What is the timeline?’ We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are,” McDaniel said. “We’ll get more information tomorrow and take it day by day from here.”
Some players saw Tagovailoa in the locker room after the game and said they were encouraged. Tagovailoa spoke with some players and then went home after the game, McDaniel said.
“I have a lot of love for Tua, built a great relationship with him,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who replaced Tagovailoa after the injury. “You care about the person more than the player and everybody in the organization would say the same thing. Just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out all right.”
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension before this season — a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL — and was the NFL’s leading passer in Week 1 this season. Tagovailoa left with the Dolphins trailing 31-10, and that was the final score.
“If you know Tua outside of football, you can’t help but feel for him,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said on Amazon following the game. “He’s a great football player but he’s an even greater human being. He’s one of the best humans on the planet. I’ve got a lot of love for him and I’m just praying for him and his family, hoping everything’s OK. But it’s tough, man. This game of football that we play, it’s got its highs and it’s got its lows — and this is one of the lows.”
Tagovailoa’s college years and first three NFL seasons were marred by injury, though he positioned himself for a big pay bump with an injury-free and productive 2023 as he led the Dolphins into the playoffs. He threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards last year.
When, or if, he can come back this season is anyone’s guess. Tagovailoa said in April 2023 that the concussions he had in the 2022 season left him contemplating his playing future. “I think I considered it for a time,” he said then, when asked if he considered stepping away from the game to protect himself.
McDaniel said it’s not his place to say if Tagovailoa should return to football. “He’ll be evaluated and we’ll have conversations and progress as appropriate,” McDaniel said.
Tagovailoa was hurt Thursday on a fourth-down keeper with about 4:30 left in the third. He went straight ahead into Hamlin and did not slide, leading with his right shoulder instead.
Hamlin was the player who suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Monday night game in January 2023 at Cincinnati, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience.
Tagovailoa wound up on his back, both his hands in the air and Bills players immediately pointed at him as if to suggest there was an injury. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer quickly did the same, waving to the sideline.
Tagovailoa appeared to be making a fist with his right hand as he lay on the ground. It was movement consistent with something that is referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury.
Tagovailoa eventually got to his feet. McDaniel grabbed the side of his quarterback’s head and gave him a kiss on the cheek as Tagovailoa departed. Thompson came into the game to take Tagovailoa’s spot.
“I love Tua on and off the football field,” Bills edge Von Miller said. “I’m a huge fan of him. I can empathize and sympathize with him because I’ve been there. I wish him the best.”
Tagovailoa’s history with concussions — and how he has since worked to avoid them — is a huge part of the story of his career, and now comes to the forefront once again.
He had at least two concussions during the 2022 season. He was hurt in a Week 3 game against Buffalo and cleared concussion protocol, though he appeared disoriented on that play but returned to the game.
The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that if a player shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — he must sit out the rest of the game.
Less than a week later, in a Thursday night game at Cincinnati, Tagovailoa was concussed on a scary hit that briefly knocked him unconscious and led to him being taken off the field on a stretcher.
His second known concussion of that season came in a December game against Green Bay, and he didn’t play for the rest of the 2022 season. After that, Tagovailoa began studying ways where he may be able to fall more safely and protect himself against further injury — including studying jiu-jitsu.
“I’m not worried about anything that’s out of my hands,” McDaniel said. “I’m just worried about the human being.”
TORSBY, Sweden (AP) — David Beckham and former England coach Roy Hodgson were among the soccer dignitaries who attended the funeral of Sven-Goran Eriksson on Friday in the Swedish manager’s small hometown of Torsby.
Eriksson’s wooden coffin was covered in white flowers and surrounded by six tall candles and other floral wreaths as the ceremony began inside the 600-seat Fryksande church.
“It is a day of grief but also a day of thankfulness,” the priest, Ingela Älvskog, told those in attendance.
Beckham, who arrived by private jet on Thursday, greeted Eriksson’s 95-year-old father Sven and other family members with hugs inside the church before the funeral started.
Eriksson became England’s first foreign-born coach when he led the national team from 2001-06, and made Beckham his captain.
Eriksson, who also won trophies at club level in Italy, Portugal and Sweden, died on Aug. 26 at the age of 76, eight months after he revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had at most one year to live.
Some 200 seats in the neo-Gothic church from 1898 were reserved for his family, friends and players from his career in the football world, according to his agent. The remaining seats were open for the public, according to Eriksson’s wish, with a big screen set up outside the church where hundreds more gathered to watch the ceremony. The funeral was also broadcast live on some Swedish media websites.
The wooden coffin was wheeled in by pallbearers at the church Friday morning as fog wrapped Torsby — a town of about 4,000 people located about 310 kilometers (193 miles) west of Stockholm. Next to the casket was a photo of Eriksson on a small table. The floral wreaths included ones sent by FIFA and Lazio, the Italian team that Eriksson led to the Serie A title in 2000.
The ceremony began with somber piano and organ music, but later took on a more upbeat note with Swedish singer Charlotta Birgersson performing Elton John’s song “Candle In The Wind” and then “My Way” in a duet with Johan Birgersson, who later intoned the popular Italian song “Volare” after the family had gathered around the casket to lay flowers.
Beckham also visited Eriksson in Sweden in June to say goodbye. Others attending the funeral included the Swedish coach’s longtime partner Nancy Dell’Olio. Eriksson’s agent had said that guests from England, Italy and Spain were expected.
After the funeral, the casket was carried out of the church by eight men to the hearse. The guests then walked in a procession accompanying the coffin to a nearby museum where speeches and eulogies to the coach fondly known as “Svennis” were planned on an outdoor stage. A brass band played during the procession through Torsby, including the tune “You never walk alone” from the musical “Carousel” which has become the anthem of Liverpool, the club Eriksson supported since childhood.
The local soccer club Torsby IF, where Eriksson started his career in the 1960s, wrote on its webpage that “you also showed your greatness by always being yourself, the caring Svennis who talked to everyone and took the time, for big and small, asking how things were and how the football was going. We will miss you.”
