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GILBERTSON: With Sutter’s return, pressure is on Flames’ core players – Calgary Sun

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Those guys were hard-hatted.

These guys might be hard-headed.

Darryl Sutter, who led the Calgary Flames to within a whisker — or perhaps a pixel — of a Stanley Cup parade in 2004, is now back behind the bench at the Saddledome, tasked with squeezing more out of a talented core that has already churned through several coaches.

Under their new boss, there will be no excuse for falling short of expectations.

The Flames made this surprise move late Thursday, announcing about 75 minutes after a 7-3 rout of the Ottawa Senators that Geoff Ward had been fired and that Sutter is returning to his old stomping grounds.

They are, indeed, going full retro.

Sutter was a staple at the Saddledome for an eight-year span from Dec. 28, 2002, until that exact same date in 2010, serving as skipper and then general manager.

MAY 27, 2004 – Coach Darryl Sutter and the boys are not too happy during the third period of Stanley Cup final game 2 action in Tampa Bay, between Calgary Flames and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Photo by Dean Bicknell /Postmedia file

In his first full season at the helm, he guided two superstars — right-winger Jarome Iginla and netminder Miikka Kiprusoff — and a bunch of relative unknowns on a fairytale run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

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The Red Mile was born that spring, the city rallying around a band of overachievers that was being spurred along by the no-nonsense farm-boy from a few hours to the northeast in Viking, Alta.

Since that stint in Calgary, Sutter has twice had his name engraved on hockey’s ultimate prize. He coached the Los Angeles Kings to the NHL title in 2012 and again in 2014.

The Flames’ current core — now taking their orders from a 62-year-old Sutter, most recently an advisor for the Anaheim Ducks — has barely advanced through a playoff round, let alone stuck around long enough for bushy beards and banner-raisings.

Maybe ‘The Jolly Rancher’ can change that.

That’s what Calgary’s general manager, Brad Treliving, is banking on.

Treliving and Sutter will address the media on Friday at 11 a.m. MT video call. When the team takes the ice for an early-afternoon practice, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk & Co. better be ready to bust their butts.

JANUARY 31, 2010 — Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter spoke on January 31, 2010 about the trade involving Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and prospect Keith Aulie to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday morning. In return the Flames are getting four players including Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers and Ian White. Photo by Colleen De Neve /Postmedia file

Sutter, even if he’s softened a wee bit since his initial stop in Calgary, will demand as much.

Thursday’s late-night coaching switch should squash any talk of a tear-down or rebuild. You don’t bring in a guy with Sutter’s resume — he is No. 17 on the NHL’s all-time wins list with a career mark of 634-467-101-83 — or reputation unless you consider yourselves a contender.

While the new/old boss has reportedly signed a three-year contract, he’s not here to preach patience. He’s back to change the culture, to insist on the same sort of relentless effort that helped him and five of his brothers go from spirited scrimmages in the hayloft to squaring off at the highest level.

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The results, starting with Saturday’s Battle of Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers (8 p.m., CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), will be fascinating.

Ward was ultimately scapegoated for an inconsistent, unpredictable start to this 56-game sprint. The Flames have been a mixed bag so far, with an 11-11-2 record that has featured a few dominant victories and a few too many demoralizing losses.

Thursday’s 7-3 thumping of the last-place Senators was too little too late, to save his job.

“I think the mental readiness of our team was good, I thought the work ethic was good, and I thought our details were a lot better,” Ward praised.

While he was axed shortly after that post-game presser, those same traits — engagement, accountability and a willingness to work — will be priorities under Sutter. He won’t accept anything less.

And if the message doesn’t stick, if wins don’t follow, you can bet the next move will be a farewell to one of the skating stars. Or several of them.

Prior to Ward’s ouster, there seemed to be two trains of thought for a frustrated fan-base — either blame the coach or blame the general manager for not hiring a proven winner.

Ward, as likeable a guy as you’ll ever meet, lasted less than six months after his ‘interim’ tag was removed. Previously, he’d only worked as an assistant or associate at the NHL level.

His predecessor, Bill Peters, never made the Stanley Cup playoffs as a head coach before he arrived in Calgary. (Peters was forced to resign after startling allegations of past misconduct, including a racial slur.)

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Treliving’s first coaching hire, Glen Gulutzan, was also short on experience and profile.

Sutter brings both.

Darryl Sutter instructs players during a practice of the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome. Photo by Tim Fraser /Calgary Herald

The moment he walks through the door, he will be the most accomplished guy in the locker room.

His demanding can style work. He has two Stanley Cup rings as proof of it. If video-review technology was further along in 2004, it might be three.

Which means that the pressure is on the Flames’ players now, especially those core pieces.

You could argue, up until Thursday at 10:50 p.m. MT, that Treliving had assembled all of the ingredients except for an established top-of-his-craft coach.

The Flames have a talented forward cast, although their go-to guys have yet to silence their critics in the spring.

While they don’t necessarily have a premier defenceman, a description that Mark Giordano no longer fits at age 37, they are certainly solid on the blue-line. Giordano has been around so long that he had Sutter as his GM when he was first cutting his teeth at the Saddledome.

They just signed one of the NHL’s elite puck-stoppers, Jacob Markstrom, to a six-year deal.

Can Sutter get this group to play to their capabilities? Or, better yet, beyond?

When they arrive at the rink Friday, Gaudreau and Monahan will be meet-and-greeting with their fifth head coach. That’s a lot of bosses for two guys in their mid-20s. (Treliving has now hired four of them since he inherited Bob Hartley.)

Sutter, however, won’t require a tour of the rink.

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He knows the organization and ownership.

He knows the city.

He knows what buttons to push, and we’ve all seen the evidence of it.

Back in 2004, the Flames were rarely, if ever, outworked. For that reason, the hard hat was a fitting prize for their in-house player-of-the-game nod.

This current cast has worked when they want to. It’s never lasted long-term, and it’s never been more obvious than this season, when they have oh-so-often followed a strong showing with a total stinker.

Can Sutter buck that trend? Can he be the difference?

We’re about to find out.

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/WesGilbertson

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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:

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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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