Sports

LET'S GET KRAKEN: Seattle names new NHL team – Toronto Sun

Published

4 years ago

July 23, 2020

Seattle’s search for its NHL team name went deep, all the way down to the home of a mythical sea monster.

Welcome the Kraken, intended to convey ferocity, fantasy and no doubt a small fortune for the league and its newest club via sweaters and hat sales ahead of an on-ice debut in October of 2021.

To the applause of construction workers at the city’s renovated Climate Pledge Arena, the name of the 32nd franchise was announced Thursday, with Kraken a frontrunner from the day the franchise was officially granted for $650 million US late in 2018.

With an accompanying video of the Northwest Pacific’s stormy waters and the city skyline, the name and a stylized ‘S’, in the form of a serpent with a red eye, was unveiled by vice-president of marketing Heidi Dettmer. The team colours have three shades of blue ‘Deep Sea Navy, ‘Ice’ and ‘Shadowy’ with a dash of red and grey.

“As a child growing up here, my grandfathers would entertain my cousins and I with sea voyages and beasts of the deep,” Dettmer said. “As I got older, I learned the largest octopus on Earth lives right here in our waters and about the legend of King Octopus under Tacoma Narrows Bridge. And hockey has always been here, a sleeping giant ready to be awoken.”

Of course, team officials knew there’d be some ridicule about the monicker via social media, with CPA quickly dubbed the ‘Krak House’ and its fans ‘Krak Heads’. But also trending on Twitter was a clip of actor Liam Neeson as Zeus from 2010’s Clash Of The Titans, roaring ‘release the Kraken!’

Merchandise with that motto is already available, though proceeds from the first sales are going to local charities. Many expect that Neeson bit will be shown at the start of a game or during a Seattle power play. A Kraken was also featured in the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, produced by Seattle owner Jerry Bruckheimer.

“I’m really excited about the name,” said Reggie, a cook at Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and bar near Pioneer Square. “It means a lot here in Seattle, because of the giant octopus under the bridge. I’m a hockey fan now and I can’t wait to get the sweater when it comes out. I hope the next stop for Seattle is (getting back) the NBA.”

The Kraken are set to start playing in October of 2021.

Amazon recently bought the naming rights to the rink and intends to feature several green initiatives, such as re-distributing rainwater around the building and in the ice-making process. The city averages 37.5 inches of precipitation a year, hardly any of it snow. Amazon intends to be a fully carbon-neutral company by 2040.

While the city’s sports colours are most famously the blue and green of the NFL’s Seahawks, a direct copy of that would’ve clashed with the Vancouver Canucks, who’ve used variances of those hues for more than 50 years. But at just under 200 kilometres to the north, Vancouver will become the Kraken’s closest and natural rivals.

A significant block of fans did oppose Kraken, whose story roots are actually on the other side of the world in Norse mythology.

Earlier this summer, CEO Tod Leiweke told the Seattle Times newspaper the team had looked at several logo designs, while dealing with a tangled net of trademark restrictions. Times’ readers chose Sockeyes during a 2019 survey, recognizing the red Pacific salmon, the name of many West Coast sports’ teams through the years. With Seattle also known as the ‘Emerald’ City, that was also in consideration.

In 1830, Alfred Tennyson had pumped up the legend with his sonnet to the beast:
‘Below the thunders of the upper deep;
Far, far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee.’

As the new team balances the league’s Eastern and Western conferences at 16 teams each, it’s worth noting the Pacific Coast Hockey Association’s Seattle Metropolitans won the 1917 Stanley Cup, which in those days was a challenge trophy. Two years later, while hosting a final against the newly created NHL and its champions, the Montreal Canadiens, the final series was cancelled by a world-wide pandemic. The Mets folded in 1924, but the Kraken took their symbolic ‘S’ in tribute.

Thursday’s announcement had been hoped for around the NHL all-star break, but COVID-19 and then civil unrest prompted by the death of George Floyd pushed it back.

Ron Francis is already the Seattle general manager and some scouts have been hired. Next step will be a head coach, at some point this calendar year, likely waiting until the 24-team NHL playoff tournament ends in case a big name becomes available.

Among the early field was Mike Babcock, fired in Toronto in November and a former WHL coach of the nearby Spokane Chiefs.

lhornby@postmedia.com

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Sports

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

Published

1 day 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.

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AP cricket:

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Sports

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

Published

1 day 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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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day 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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