CALGARY — Prefacing his hopes that the Calgary Flames return to the ice soon with the acknowledgment that pro hockey is not a societal priority right now, general manager Brad Treliving remains optimistic.
“We remain hopeful that at some point we’ll be able to see what this team can accomplish if and when we get back together,” Treliving said Tuesday on a video conference call with reporters.
When the NHL suspended operations March 12 because of the oncoming COVID-19 pandemic, the Flames were in playoff position with a 36-27-7 record.
Calgary was third in the Pacific Division and four points back of the Edmonton Oilers.
The Alberta rivals would have concluded their regular seasons against each other Saturday in Calgary.
“It’s not lost on us Saturday night would have been a big night, the conclusion of the regular season and the final Battle of Alberta,” Treliving said.
“I’m sure there would have been lots of implications with that game and certainly leading up to start this week with the playoffs.”
Calgary Sport and Entertainment, which also owns the Western Hockey League’s Hitmen, National Lacrosse League’s Roughnecks and CFL’s Stampeders, awaits the rebooting of the sports world and the day it can continue pursuit of a Stanley Cup.
For an energy city hit by both the pandemic — over 800 cases — and basement oil prices, a distraction might be welcome.
“What we’re doing is way down on the list of important things,” Treliving pointed out. “I’ve got family members, nieces and aunts that are in the medical community.
“The people on the front lines, we want to recognize them both in our city, our province, throughout the country and globally.”
Calgary took slings and arrows to get to a playoff position. Defenceman T.J. Brodie collapsed in a mid-November practice to the alarm of his teammates.
Within days of Brodie returning to the lineup, head coach Bill Peters resigned following allegations he directed racial slurs at a minor league player almost a decade ago. Geoff Ward was promoted to interim head coach.
Assistant general manager Chris Snow revealed in December that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and was undergoing gene therapy treatment.
“Snowy is doing unbelievable,” Treliving said. “He’s an example to all of us when we think we’re having a tough day that others have other challenges in their lives that they’re not only meeting but exceeding.”
Captain Mark Giordano was sidelined for 10 games in February with a hamstring injury.
On the same day the NHL hit pause on the season, the Flames announced the death of longtime executive Ken King.
“Adversity doesn’t build character. It reveals it,” Treliving said. “I think we’ve been through a lot.”
Treliving says there have been no reports of Flames staff or players contracting the virus, nor is any testing being done.
Eight NHL players, from the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators organizations, have tested positive for COVID-19.
In his interrupted sixth season as Calgary’s GM, Treliving stays occupied with tasks that give him a feeling of accomplishment and regularly talks with players, staff, friends and family.
“The fact that you check in and see how they’re doing and you’re ready to help wherever possible, I think that’s really important,” Treliving said.
Preparing for an entry draft that will happen at some point, strategizing for the possibility the NHL will resume this summer, as well as planning for the 2020-21 season are Treliving’s three files these days.
“At some point it’s going to turn into a sprint and you can’t be in a situation where you’re just opening up the file for the first time,” he said.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman raised the possibility Tuesday of not completing the regular season in order to squeeze in time to award the Stanley Cup.
He also said during an interview with NBCSN the league is considering playing games at neutral sites in the event not all teams will be allowed into their home rinks.
Calgary has banned all public events, which would include Flames games, until June 30.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.”
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.
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.
