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Lowry named Jets captain, replaces Wheeler

Published

1 year ago

September 12, 2023

Adam Lowry was named captain of the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old forward was selected by the Jets in the third round (No. 67) of the 2011 NHL Draft and has played his entire nine-season NHL career with Winnipeg.

“It’s extremely special to get the opportunity to lead an NHL franchise, and a Canadian market for that matter,” Lowry said. “It’s a huge honor to know that management, coaching staff and your teammates have the belief in you that you are the right guy and you’re going to be the guy to steady the ship when things don’t necessarily go our way, or when we hit some difficult patches throughout the season. I am really looking forward to taking on that challenge.”

Lowry replaces Blake Wheeler, who was removed as captain Sept. 16, 2022, and signed with the New York Rangers after having his contract bought out this offseason. The Jets opted for three alternate captains last season; Lowry, forward Mark Scheifele and defenseman Josh Morrissey. Coach Rick Bowness said Scheifele and Morrissey will remain alternate captains.

“When we took the [captaincy] away from Blake, we wanted to open up the room,” Bowness said. “So, we achieved that. Mark, ‘Mo’ and ‘Low’ did a great job last year taking over the room, and the communication within the room, which we were trying to achieve, it worked. So there were a couple of really good candidates. And sometimes there’s no wrong answer. So this is the right choice for us right now. And was it a difficult decision? Absolutely. It wasn’t one where we said at the end of the year, ‘OK, Adam’s our captain.’ That wasn’t the case at all. We had a lot of conversations over the summer with the staff, with management and everyone involved. So, ultimately we came to this conclusion.”

Morrissey, a teammate of Lowry’s in the American Hockey League before playing the last eight seasons together in Winnipeg, said he was excited for Lowry to have the role.

“He’s a great leader, I’ve played with him my whole career,” Morrissey said. “I think the main theme with him is that he’s a great person, he’s a great guy, he comes to work every day. He’s such a professional. He’s an unselfish guy and commands a lot of respect. He’s certainly willing to stand up for his teammates and just everything he does you respect as a teammate, and I think as an opponent as well, and he’s going to do a great job.”

Bowness said Lowry’s leadership ability is reminiscent of players he’s coached previously.

“I had Ray (Bourque) in Boston,” Bowness said. “Ray was very quiet. Didn’t say a whole lot. But man when the game was on the line and the complexion of the game had to change, Ray went out and did that. We had (Roberto) Luongo in Vancouver for a while, and we had [Henrik Sedin] take over there. Adam’s different than all those guys because Adam is more of a physical presence out there. His role is different. He’s not the top-line center. But regardless of his minutes and role, he’s dominant in what he brings to the table in terms of a competitor and sticking up for his teammates. So, those other guys were all the best players on the team. Adam, you wouldn’t put him in that category. But his importance to the team is at that level of your best players.”

Lowry had an NHL career-high 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 82 regular-season games and five points (four goals, one assist) in five Stanley Cup Playoff games last season. He has 204 points (93 goals, 111 assists) in 621 regular-season games, sixth in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history.

“I’ve had the fortune of watching Adam play since we drafted him in 2011,” general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. “He was our second pick in that year. I’ve seen him grow and I’ve seen him play at many different levels, both in junior and at the American (Hockey) League level. I saw the level of leadership and what he provided at both of those levels. You could tell at that point in time that he had some special qualities.

“He’s a guy that’s earned his right to be in the National Hockey League. He’d be the first to tell you he’s not the most skilled, he’s not going to break the bank on the point side of it, but what he brings to a team, what he brings to a locker room, what he brings to a franchise, and what he brings to a city, those are all the things that you want. He leads by example and he drags people along with him when he plays and how he plays.”

Lowry said he’s learned from the captains he’s played with in Winnipeg, Wheeler and Andrew Ladd, and believes the important thing is staying true to the player he’s always been.

“I think the big thing is, as cliché as it sounds, is don’t change who you are just because the letter on your jersey changes,” he said. “I think part of what makes me a successful hockey player is playing hard, is competing, is trying to drag my teammates into the fight and sticking up for them and standing up for them on the ice and in the room. … I think just trying to find ways to impact the game, trying to find ways to kind of influence the game in a positive manner is the way I’m going to continue to try and play. Stand up for my teammates and make them play a little bigger.”

Lowry also can rely on his father, Dave Lowry, who was captain of the Calgary Flames from 2000-02.

“I think at that age I was just happy to be hanging around the rink, being in the locker room, going on the ice at practice and things like that,” said Lowry, who was 7 when his father was named Flames captain. “Now, being older, being able to talk to him, he’s a great sounding board. I know he’s with a different organization (Seattle Kraken assistant coach), but he certainly has some great advice for me. He’ll be someone I’ll certainly lean on and try to soak up as much of his wisdom as I can in dealing with the positives, the negatives that go along with the added responsibility and things like that. It certainly helps to know that he’s been through it in a Canadian market as well, just the ups and downs that go with it.”

Eight NHL teams are without a captain: the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues.

The Vancouver Canucks named defenseman Quinn Hughes captain Monday.

NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest and independent correspondent Darrin Bauming contributed to this report

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Red Wings sign Moritz Seider to 7-year deal worth nearly $60M

Published

7 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.

The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.

Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.

He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.

Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.

Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.

The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.

Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.

Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.

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Veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Karen Paquin lead Canada’s team at WXV rugby tournament

Published

7 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

Veterans Tyson Beukeboom and Karen Paquin will lead Canada at the WXV 1 women’s rugby tournament starting later this month in the Vancouver area.

WXV 1 includes the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations (England, France and Ireland) and the top three teams from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States).

Third-ranked Canada faces No. 4 France, No. 7 Ireland and No. 1 England in the elite division of the three-tiered WXV tournament that runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 12 in Vancouver and Langley, B.C. No. 2 New Zealand and the eighth-ranked U.S. make up the six-team WVX 1 field.

“Our preparation time was short but efficient. This will be a strong team,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “All the players have worked very hard for the last couple of weeks to prepare for WXV and we are excited for these next three matches and for the chance to play on home soil here in Vancouver against the best rugby teams in the world.

“France, Ireland and England will each challenge us in different ways but it’s another opportunity to test ourselves and another step in our journey to the Rugby World Cup next year.”

Beukeboom serves as captain in the injury absence of Sophie de Goede. The 33-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., earned her Canadian-record 68th international cap in Canada’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in May at the Pacific Four Series.

Twenty three of the 30 Canadian players selected for WXV 1 were part of that Pacific Four Series squad.

Rouet’s roster includes the uncapped Asia Hogan-Rochester, Caroline Crossley and Rori Wood.

Hogan-Rochester and Crossley were part of the Canadian team that won rugby sevens silver at the Paris Olympics, along with WXV teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry. Wood is a veteran of five seasons at UBC.

The 37-year-old Paquin, who has 38 caps for Canada including the 2014 Rugby World Cup, returns to the team for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.

Canada opens the tournament Sept. 29 against France at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver before facing Ireland on Oct. 5 at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre, and England on Oct. 12 at B.C. Place.

The second-tier WXV 2 and third-tier WXV 3 are slated to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 12, in South Africa and Dubai, respectively.

WXV 2 features Australia, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales while WXV 3 is made up of Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain.

The tournament has 2025 World Cup qualification implications, although Canada, New Zealand and France, like host England, had already qualified by reaching the semifinals of the last tournament.

Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Japan, Fiji and Brazil have also booked their ticket, with the final six berths going to the highest-finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through regional tournaments.

Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team WXV 1 Squad

Forwards

Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., College Rifles RFC; Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);

Backs

Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que, Stade Bordelais (France); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ont., Westshore RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.

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Vancouver Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko working through rare muscle injury

Published

7 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

PENTICTON, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko says he’s been working his way back from a rare lower-body muscle injury since being sidelined in last season’s playoffs.

The 28-year-old all star says the rehabilitation process has been frustrating, but he has made good progress in recent weeks and is confident he’ll be able to return to playing.

He says he and his medical team have spent the last few months talking to specialists around the world, and have not found a single other hockey player who has dealt with the same injury.

Demko missed several weeks of the last season with a knee ailment and played just one game in Vancouver’s playoff run last spring before going down with the current injury.

He was not on the ice with his teammates as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, but skated on his own before the sessions began.

Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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