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Canadiens game against Boston Saturday night at Bell Centre postponed – Montreal Gazette

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Bruins were missing seven players who are on NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list when they lost 3-1 to New York Islanders Thursday night.

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Saturday night’s game between the Canadiens and Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre has been postponed.

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The NHL made the announcement Friday morning. A make-up date for the game has yet to be determined.

The Canadiens’ next game is scheduled for Monday in New York against the Islanders (7 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

The Canadiens beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in a shootout Thursday night at the Bell Centre with no fans in the building. Less than two hours before puck drop, the Canadiens announced there would be no fans allowed following a request from public health officials that was received late in the afternoon due to the latest COVID-19 Omicron variant outbreak.

The provincial government announced earlier Thursday that Quebec recorded 2,736 new cases of COVID-19 — the highest one-day case count since Jan. 3. Five new deaths were also reported Thursday. On Friday, Quebec reported 3,768 new cases — the most since the start of the pandemic — along with seven more deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, Quebec has reported 478,246 cases and 11,634 deaths linked to COVID-19.

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The Canadiens’ next home game isn’t until Jan. 4 against the Washington Capitals and the team has received assurances from the government that 50 per cent capacity will be allowed at the Bell Centre. The Toronto Maple Leafs will also be limited to 50 per cent capacity at Scotiabank Arena, complying with new restrictions issued Wednesday by the Ontario government.

The Bruins lost 3-1 to the Islanders Thursday night in New York without seven players in their lineup who have been placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list since Monday. That list for the Bruins includes star players Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

Oskar Steen was added to the Bruins list just 25 minutes before puck drop Thursday, joining Bergeron, Marchand, Craig Smith, Trent Frederic, Anton Blidh and Jeremy Swayman.

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The Bruins were forced to play the game with only 11 forwards, one fewer than normal.

“Were we given the option to play? I don’t believe so,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said after the game. “Again, that’s a question for (general manager Don Sweeney). It was not discussed with me. I was assuming we’re playing all along, even with being down one guy. My guess is if there was a few more positives than that option probably would have been on the table but to my knowledge it wasn’t on the table. We were here to play.”

The Bruins’ outbreak came after they beat the Flames 4-2 last Saturday in Calgary. The Flames added a 19th player (Mikael Backlund) to the COVID-19 protocol list on Friday and after that the NHL announced Calgary’s games will be postponed through Dec. 23. The Flames have now confirmed 32 positive cases of COVID-19 since last Saturday, including coaches and support staff.

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The NHL also announced Friday that the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche will have their games postponed through Dec. 26.

The Panthers were missing seven players who are on the protocol list when they lost 4-1 to the Los Angeles Kings Thursday night.

The Avalanche lost 5-2 to the Nashville Predators Thursday night after being given the option not to play. Colorado defenceman Cale Makar and goalie Darcy Kuemper entered the league’s COVID protocol just before puck drop, forcing the Avalanche to play two skaters short and with an emergency backup goalie behind Paval Francouz. The Avalanche have seven players and five members of the coaching staff in the protocol.

“I just went to our players and said, ‘Hey, what do you guys want to do?’” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said after the game. “Like I said, We’re here to play a game.’ They were shorthanded, we were shorthanded. We’re not using COVID as an excuse. We’re here to win a hockey game. We had plenty of capable bodies in the lineup.”

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The Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher and Sami Niku were placed in the protocol on Dec. 2, but were taken off this week. There are currently no Canadiens players on the list. Earlier this season, former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin tested positive for COVID-19.

“For sure, today was a wake-up call with no fans in the stands,” the Canadiens’ Jonathan Drouin said after Thursday’s game in an empty Bell Centre. “We weren’t expecting that this year with the vaccines. We were told it wouldn’t happen, so to see that tonight, it’s tough to see. There was no ambience, no energy. But again, I think people’s health is more important than a hockey game.”

When asked if he would be comfortable playing against the Bruins Saturday, Drouin said: “That’s a tough question to answer, but I wouldn’t be that comfortable playing with guys who might have COVID or against a team that’s had seven cases. Tomorrow morning, there might be three more or two more, we don’t know. I don’t feel comfortable playing with that. It’s not what we were told this year with the vaccines and all that. For sure, things change in times like this, but it’s really not ideal.”

More than 140 NHL players have been on the COVID-19 protocol list this season.

scowan@postmedia.com

twitter.com/StuCowan1

  1. Because of the short notice, the red and blue tarps that were used to cover up the empty seats last season weren't in place Thursday night, making the Bell Centre really look empty.

    Stu Cowan: Empty Bell Centre a sad sign that pandemic is far from over

  2. Canadiens' Jesse Ylônen celebrates teammate Laurent Dauphin's game-tying goal during the third period Thursday night at an empty Bell Centre.

    In the Habs’ Room: Young guns working hard to make an impression

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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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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:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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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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