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Kenney pushes Edmonton as NHL hub with video showing off Alberta’s Rocky Mountains – Global News

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Premier Jason Kenney tweeted out a video showcasing Alberta’s Rocky Mountains on Monday in an effort to promote Edmonton as an ideal location as a potential NHL hub city should the hockey league resume play this season.

“It’s the obvious choice to bring the @NHL to #Edmonton,” Kenney wrote in a tweet that included a 1:03-minute video that comes across as a promotional vehicle for Alberta’s mountain attractions.

“We look forward to welcoming the league and players here to Alberta to take in the beautiful province we have to offer.”

READ MORE: Banff ‘ready to welcome visitors back’ as Alberta eases COVID-19 restrictions

The first four seconds of the video shows the skyline of Alberta’s capital, which the Alberta government, the Oilers Entertainment Group and the City of Edmonton is pushing to be one of two hubs for NHL playoff games, should play resume amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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The video, which Kenney’s office said was put together by Travel Alberta, was quickly lampooned by some Twitter users for having so little of Edmonton in the video.

“The players can run the stairs in the river valley for training!” tweeted a user with the handle @JDEye, attaching a photo of Machu Picchu in Peru while referencing a popular Edmonton activity for local fitness enthusiasts.


A video promoting Edmonton as a potential NHL hub city, but which mostly showed scenes from Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, was quickly lampooned by some Twitter users for having so little of Edmonton in the video.


CREDIT: Twitter/JDEye

Another Twitter user with the handle @iconicec tweeted photos of majestic mountain scenery with captions like “scenic drive on the Anthony Henday (Edmonton’s ring road).”


A video promoting Edmonton as a potential NHL hub city, but which mostly showed scenes from Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, was quickly lampooned by some Twitter users for having so little of Edmonton in the video.


CREDIT: Twitter/@iconicec

Matt Wolf, Kenney’s executive director of issues management, took to Twitter to better explain to people why Edmonton is barely featured in a video aimed at bringing the world’s premier hockey league to the city.

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“For those unable to figure out: Should Edmonton be chosen as a playoff hub city, players’ *and their families* will be looking to do other things to keep busy,” Wolf tweeted. “Yes, the Government is showcasing all our province has to offer. #ableg”

When asked for comment about why Edmonton played such a small role in a video aimed at promoting the city, the premier’s deputy director of communications said showing everything the province has to offer makes sense as part of a pitch to sell the NHL on the “overall appeal” of Edmonton as a potential hub city.

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“Given that playoffs could last as long as two months, and players won’t be able to freely return home for the duration, it’s anticipated that many players’ families will come with to live out of the hub cities,” Christine Myatt wrote in an email.

“It is our expectation that players’ families, after completing the required 14-day quarantine, will want to explore Alberta’s many attractions — including those outside Edmonton.”

Colin Babiuk, a professor of media relations at MacEwan University, believes the message the video was trying to convey may have gotten lost.

“When we talk about welcoming the players to Edmonton and then showing the Rockies and everything you can do if you’re family of the players, that message didn’t get through at all,” he said. “We’re talking about inviting the NHL here to Edmonton and then the video shows locations that, at a bare minimum, are four hours away.

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“It’s kind of like a comedian telling jokes. If you have to explain the punchline, you’ve lost the show at that point.”

Tim Shipton, senior vice-president of communications with OEG, acknowledged that based on the initial response on Twitter, “maybe the intent of the video has been misconstrued on social media.”

“We’ve worked closely with both governments (City of Edmonton and government of Alberta) and their tourism agencies,” he told Global News.

“This piece specifically was produced after a meeting we had with tourism operators across the province — Travel Alberta, Edmonton Tourism and others — in order to talk about some opportunities for travel that exist outside the city of Edmonton.”

Shipton said the tourism aspect of the Edmonton hub bid is a small part of an extensive campaign. He said it is meant to address the possibility that players’ families could eventually be allowed into the province at some point in the playoffs and may want to explore parts of the province outside of Edmonton.

“We wanted to say [to players and NHL personnel], ‘We’re thinking about your families,’” he said.

Tom McMillan, a spokesperson for Alberta Health, told The Canadian Press that the players’ families won’t be exempt from medical checks and follow-ups that the province currently has in place for all international travellers.

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“Any families of NHL players visiting Alberta would have to present a self-isolation plan and self-isolate for 14 days, just like any other traveller entering the province from outside of the country,” McMillan said in a statement.

“Families of NHL players could not travel within the province until this mandatory self-isolation was complete.”

Shipton pointed out that if players’ families are eventually allowed into Alberta should Edmonton become a hub city, as teams get knocked out of the playoffs, players and their families may choose to stay in Alberta for some time after, which “creates a tremendous opportunity” for the province’s tourism sector.

He also said Edmonton Tourism has been consulted during the bid process to ensure Edmonton’s attractions are also highlighted.






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Edmonton prompted as NHL hub with video showing off Rocky Mountains


Edmonton prompted as NHL hub with video showing off Rocky Mountains

In an email to Global News, Edmonton Tourism said Alberta’s capital “would be an amazing host city for the NHL playoffs.”

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“[The city] serves up the perfect blend of big city vibes and exhilarating outdoor adventure,” the email said. “Edmontonians and visitors alike get to experience our family-friendly activities, exploding culinary scene, world-class arts and culture venues, outdoor activities and our amazing river valley.

“We know many people are working hard to bring the NHL playoffs to our city, and along with that comes the additional adventures outside of Edmonton.

“We all need to Explore Edmonton and Travel Alberta.”

“But of course you have to remember that from a player’s perspective, the No. 1 thing that’s most important [about a potential hub city] is the quarantine zone,” Shipton said, noting the key criteria there is health protocols in place and some logistical issues.

Edmonton is one of three Canadian cities vying to become one of the NHL’s two potential hub cities. The other Canadian cities bidding are Toronto and Vancouver. Several American cities are also vying to be a hub.

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If the NHL’s plan — to play a 24-team playoff for the Stanley Cup in two different cities this summer — comes to fruition, the first puck to drop at a real game would still be some time away. The league is currently aiming for July 10 as a start date for teams’ training camps.

Just last week, the federal government approved the “cohort quarantine” proposal put forth by the NHL for players entering Canada should the country have a city selected as a hub.

READ MORE: NHL cohort quarantine plan approved by feds, removing an obstacle for hub cities

The plan would keep players away from the general public so that the NHL can bypass the 14-day quarantine that is normally requred for anyone entering Canada amid the ongoing pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said NHL players would be required to undergo regular coronavirus testing and that teams would be expected to closely follow advice and orders from local health officials in a Canadian hub city.

READ MORE: Tampa Bay Lightning close facilities after three players test positive for COVID-19

On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning closed their team’s facilities after three players and some staff tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The development unfolded about two weeks after NHL players were allowed to return to their facilities for voluntary on-and off-ice workouts. Players were allowed to skate in groups of up to six at a time.

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–With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press

Watch below: Some recent Global News videos about the NHL.

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Washington Capitals 3-2 win ends Dallas Stars’ winning streak

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome and Taylor Raddysh scored to help the Washington Capitals end the Dallas Stars’ season-opening winning streak at four with a 3-2 victory Thursday night.

Wilson’s goal was his third in three games, Strome his second of the season and Raddysh his first since joining the team in free agency last summer. Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves as the Capitals wrapped up this early homestand with back-to-back wins.

The Stars fell from the ranks of the league’s unbeaten teams despite a short-handed goal by Colin Blackwell and one at even strength from Jason Robertson. Rookie Oskar Bäck set up Blackwell for his first NHL point.

Casey DeSmith was screened on two of the three goals he allowed on 26 shots.

LIGHTNING 4, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nikita Kucherov scored the winning goal with less than a minute to play just 1:27 after Brandon Hagel had tied it and Tampa Bay rallied to beat Vegas.

Kucherov’s second goal of the game with 55 seconds left was his sixth of the season.

Janis Moser had a goal and two assists for the Lightning, who remain unbeaten. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves.

Brayden McNabb, Pavel Dorofeyev and Ivan Barbashev had goals for Vegas. Adin Hill turned aside 21 shots.

Jack Eichel, with two assists on Thursday, now has 10 points this season in five games and reached reached double-digit points faster than any other player in Vegas history. He is the 10th U.S.-born player to accomplish the feat.

After Barbashev put Vegas up 3-2 early in the second, Hagel pulled Tampa Bay even at 3 with 2:22 remaining in the third.

BLUE JACKETS 6, SABRES 4

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Kirill Marchenko and Mathieu Olivier each had a goal and an assist and Daniil Tarasov made 21 saves to help Columbus to a win over Buffalo.

Yegor Chinakhov, Adam Fantilli, Zachary Aston-Reese and Damon Severson also scored for Columbus, and Zach Werenski added two assists.

Ryan McLeod, Owen Power and JJ Peterka scored for Buffalo, and Jiri Kulich added his first NHL goal. Devon Lev stopped 19 shots for the Sabres (1-5-1), who have lost two straight road games and five of their first six overall.

CANUCKS 3, FLORIDA 2, OT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — J.T. Miller scored 2:09 into overtime and Vancouver got their first win of the season, beating Florida.

Teddy Blueger and Quinn Hughes had goals for Vancouver, with Kevin Lankinen stopping 26 shots.

Anton Lundell got his fourth goal in the last three games for Florida and Jesper Boqvist also scored for the Panthers, who got 30 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky.

Florida remained without forwards Aleksander Barkov (lower body) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness).

DEVILS 3, SENATORS 1

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Jacob Markstrom stopped 30 shots and lost his shutout bid in the final minutes as New Jersey beat Ottawa.

Erik Haula, Nathan Bastian and Paul Cotter scored for the Devils, who won for the third time in four games and improved to 5-2-0.

The Senators, who were coming off an 8-7 overtime victory against Los Angeles on Monday, struggled to beat Markstrom.

Brady Tkachuk was the only scorer for the Senators, beating Markstrom, with a power-play goal with 65 seconds remaining in the third period.

Anton Forsberg, making his second straight start and hoping to rebound after getting pulled Monday, made 32 saves in the loss.

Haula opened the scoring early in the second period and Bastian added a short-handed goal, giving New Jersey a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. Cotter scored midway through the third.

RANGERS 5, RED WING 2

DETROIT (AP) — Artemi Panarin had his eighth career hat trick and New York rolled to a victory over Detroit.

Panarin became the first Rangers player to have multiple points in the first four games of a season. He scored twice on the power play. Vincent Trocheck also had a power- play goal and assisted on all of Panarin’s goals.

Jonathan Quick made 29 saves in his season debut. Victor Mancini also scored.

The Rangers have won the last five meetings, including twice this week. New York had a 4-1 home victory over Detroit on Monday night.

Moritz Seider and J.T. Compher scored for Detroit. Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals.

KINGS 4, CANADIENS 1

MONTREAL (AP) — David Rittich made 26 saves a night after being benched in the second period in Toronto, helping road-weary Los Angeles snap a three-game losing streak with a victory over Montreal.

Los Angeles improved to 2-1-2 on a season-opening, seven-game trip necessitated by arena renovations.

Rittich rebounded after allowing four goals on 14 shots in a 6-2 loss to the Maple Leafs. Alex Laferriere, Mikey Anderson, Andreas Englund and Adrian Kempe scored.

Justin Barron scored for Montreal (2-3-0). Sam Montembeault stopped 28 shots. He made a save on Kevin Fiala on a penalty shot.

BLUES 1, ISLANDERS 0, OT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Joel Hofer made 34 saves and assisted on Jake Neighbours’ goal at 2:04 of overtime in St. Louis victory over New York.

Hofer had his second career shutout in his and the team’s second overtime victory of the season.

Philip Broberg carried the puck into the New York zone and made a centering pass to Neighbours for the winner.

Islanders goalie Ilya Sorkin made 29 saves.

Blues defenseman Nick Leddy sat out because of a lower-body injury, the first game he has missed this season. Leddy played in all 82 games last season.

OILERS 4, PREDATORS 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brett Kulak scored twice and Connor McDavid added his first goal of the season to lead Edmonton to a victory over reeling Nashville.

Jeff Skinner also scored and Calvin Pickard made 25 saves for the defending Western Conference champion Oilers, who have won consecutive games after beginning the season with a three-game skid.

Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault scored and Juuse Saros made 32 saves for Nashville (0-4).

Forsberg’s goal midway through the first period gave Nashville its first lead of the season. That lasted less than six minutes before Kulak tied it.

Kulak sealed it with an empty-netter in the final minute for the defenseman’s first career two-goal game.

BLACKHAWKS 4, SHARKS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Bertuzzi and Nick Foligno each scored a power-play goal, and Chicago beat San Jose.

Taylor Hall and Jason Dickinson also scored for Chicago. Connor Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen each had two assists.

Hall, who missed most of last season because of right knee surgery, put the Blackhawks in front 4:20 into the first period. It was Hall’s first goal since Nov. 5 and No. 267 for his career.

Tyler Toffoli and Fabian Zetterlund scored for San Jose, which trailed 3-0 early in the second. William Eklund and Mikael Granlund had two assists each.

The Sharks dropped to 0-2-2 under Ryan Warsofsky, who was promoted to head coach in June.

Petr Mrazek had 20 saves for Chicago, and Vitek Vanecek made 23 stops for San Jose.

KRAKEN 6, FLYERS 4

SEATTLE (AP) — Eeli Tolvanen, Jordan Eberle, and Shane Wright scored three goals in less than three minutes in the second period and Seattle held off a Philadelphia rally in a victory.

Tolvanen’s goal broke a 2-2 tie at the 14:57 mark. Eberle made it a two-goal game with a goal at 17:44. Eight seconds later, Wright scored to give Seattle a three-goal lead.

Jared McCann tied the game at 2-2 with the first of Seattle’s four second-period goals.

Cam York and Jamie Drysdale scored to pull Philadelphia within 5-4 in the third period, but Oliver Bjorkstrand responded with a goal to push Seattle’s lead to two with just over five minutes left in the game.

Scott Laughton scored twice for the Flyers in the first period, while Brandon Montour scored one in for the Kraken.

Chandler Stephenson had an assist in his 500th NHL game. Seattle’s Philipp Grubauer had 21 saves.

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Canada’s Dabrowski, New Zealand’s Routliffe out of Japan Women’s Open after walkover

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OSAKA, Japan – Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe are out of the Japan Women’s Open tennis tournament.

Spain’s Cristina Bucsa and Romania’s Monica Niculescu advanced to the final on Thursday by way of walkover.

The fourth seeds were supposed to play the top-seeded Dabrowski and Routliffe in the semifinals.

Bucsa and Niculescu will next face third-seeded Ena Shibahara of Japan and Laura Siegemund of Germany in the final.

Dabrowski and Routliffe defeated Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi in the quarterfinals 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday to advance.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Mountain West commissioner says she’s heartbroken over turmoil surrounding San Jose State volleyball

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said Thursday the forfeitures that volleyball teams are willing to take to avoid playing San Jose State is “not what we celebrate in college athletics” and that she is heartbroken over what has transpired this season surrounding the Spartans and their opponents.

Four teams have canceled games against San Jose State: Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State and Wyoming, with none of the schools explicitly saying why they were forfeiting.

A group of Nevada players issued a statement saying they will not take the floor when the Wolf Pack are scheduled to host the Spartans on Oct. 26. They cited their “right to safety and fair competition,” though their school reaffirmed Thursday that the match is still planned and that state law bars forfeiture “for reasons related to gender identity or expression.”

All those schools, except Southern Utah, are in the Mountain West. New Mexico, also in the MWC, went ahead with its home match on Thursday night, which was won by the Spartans, 3-1, the team’s first victory since Sept. 24.

“It breaks my heart because they’re human beings, young people, student-athletes on both sides of this issue that are getting a lot of national negative attention,” Nevarez said in an interview with The Associated Press at Mountain West basketball media days. “It just doesn’t feel right to me.”

Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the cancellations, citing a need for fairness in women’s sports. Former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee in this year’s presidential race, this week referenced an unidentified volleyball match when he was asked during a Fox News town hall about transgender athletes in women’s sports.

“I saw the slam, it was a slam. I never saw a ball hit so hard, hit the girl in the head,” Trump replied before he was asked what can be done. “You just ban it. The president bans it. You just don’t let it happen.”

After Trump’s comment, San Diego State issued a statement that said “it has been incorrectly reported that an San Diego State University student-athlete was hit in the face with a volleyball during match play with San Jose State University. The ball bounced off the shoulder of the student-athlete, and the athlete was uninjured and did not miss a play.”

San Jose State has not made any direct comments about the politicians’ “fairness” references, and Nevarez did not go into details.

“I’m learning a lot about the issue,” Nevarez said. “I don’t know a lot of the language yet or the science or the understanding nationally of how this issue plays out. The external influences are so far on either side. We have an election year. It’s political, so, yeah, it feels like a no-win based on all the external pressure.”

The cancellations could mean some teams will not qualify for the conference tournament Nov. 27-30 in Las Vegas, where the top six schools are slated to compete for the league championship.

“The student-athlete (in question) meets the eligibility standard, so if a team does not play them, it’s a forfeit, meaning they take a loss,” Nevarez said.

Ahead of the Oct. 26 match in Reno. Nevada released a statement acknowledging that “a majority of the Wolf Pack women’s volleyball team” had decided to forfeit against San Jose State. The school said only the university can take that step but any player who decides not to play would face no punishment.

___

AP college sports:

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