Sports

Goaltenders are feeling the pain of NHL rule, equipment changes – The Globe and Mail

Published

5 years ago

March 2, 2020

Florida Panthers centre Denis Malgin (62) moves in on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Feb.3, 2020.

Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press

Frederik Andersen feared the worst.

On Feb. 3, the starting goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs endured the unintentional wrath of speeding Florida Panthers forward Frank Vatrano. The skater was rushing toward the net to recover a pass, but he couldn’t quite catch up to the puck and instead barrelled full speed into Andersen and the Toronto net.

The goaltender was slow to get up. He stayed in for the remainder of the first period before he was pulled and back-up Michael Hutchinson took over.

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Andersen and the Leafs were fortunate. He passed concussion protocol and ended up missing just three starts before making his return against the Dallas Stars on Feb. 13.

But the experience has made him nervous and he now questions his safety on the ice. Knowing it could easily happen again, he isn’t keen on players policing themselves on the issue.

“I’m not that confident in it,” Andersen says of the officiating of players crashing the net. The NHL has “taken a really good step in putting the onus on [preventing] players hitting other players, especially in a vulnerable position, but I think the same could be done for the goalies and making sure nothing bad like that happens too often.”

The NHL has been making a concerted effort to increase goal scoring across the board for some time now, but some observers and players – such as Andersen – are wondering if the moves are coming at the expense of safety.

Goaltender concussions are on the rise. Just two NHL goalies were concussed in 2016-17, missing a total of 15 games, the Associated Press reported in September. In comparison, 14 different goalies have missed a total of 276 games with a concussion over the past two seasons.

The increase in injuries, observers say, is the product of a host of changes going back to at least the 2005-06 season, when officials removed the two-line pass and added penalties for obstruction, both of which resulted in more power-play opportunities. In recent years, the NHL added faceoffs in the attack zone to start even more power plays.

Equipment reform also came into effect in 2017, when goalie pants were slimmed down, followed by reductions in the size of chest and leg pads. Equipment advancements for skaters, meanwhile, have helped them move faster and shoot harder.

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Another issue, experts say, is the inconsistency and subjectivity surrounding interference calls. A lack of clarity is resulting in skaters being more willing to risk crashing the net, with the intent that any goal call will be upheld on review.

“I think it’s one of the worst questions asked,” says former NHL goaltender and TSN analyst Jamie McLennan about the current definition of interference. “You understand the letter of the law of it, but the interpretation of it is still subject to the individual [referee].”

The collective changes appear to be working in improving scoring, with the number of goals per team steadily increasing in recent seasons, according to hockey-reference.com. Through 971 out of 1271 regular season games played this year, the number had increased to an average of 3.03. Should that pace hold steady, it will be the highest total since the 2005-06 season, when it was 3.08.

The byproduct of the increase, observers and some players say, looks to be more situations such as the one endured by Andersen. The collision in early February wasn’t his first – he has had at least two other serious injury near-misses.

Others haven’t been as lucky. Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Tim Thomas recently made his first public appearance since walking away from the game in 2014, where he detailed how a concussion suffered in his final season changed his life.

“I woke up the next morning after [the hit] and I couldn’t decide what I wanted to eat, where I wanted to go,” he told reporters ahead of his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in December. “I survived following the team schedule the rest of the year and just made it through that season.”

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Thomas revealed that two-thirds of his brain was receiving less than five per cent blood flow, meaning he suffered significant head trauma over the course of his career. The reveal reverberated within the goaltending community.

Hutchinson, one of the Leafs’ backups, says the NHL hasn’t taken a serious look at protection for goaltenders since 2005-06, which is when the Edmonton Oilers lost Dwayne Roloson to injury in the playoffs after a collision.

As the recent hit to his teammate Andersen illustrates, goalies need extra protection given how they play the game.

“I think the league has gone away from goalie safety,” he says. “A lot of times as goaltenders you are on your knees and you are already in a vulnerable spot. Your head is usually in the way if you get hit.”

Experts say analytics could help narrow the problem, with an important step happening in this year’s playoffs. The NHL is implementing puck- and player-tracking technology for the first time, so the actual speed of players crashing the net will soon be known.

Armed with data, officials will at least be able to take a fresh look at the issue and determine if new rules or protections are needed.

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“I think there is something there to be honest,” McLennan says. “Goaltending safety has to at least be considered. I don’t think it’s not [considered], but I don’t think it’s the worst thing to shine a light on.”

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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