The release of the 2022-2023 schedule usually signals a moment where hockey fans break out the pen and calendar to mark the games worthy of clearing the schedule.
In an attempt to ease that process, Sportsnet has gone ahead and flagged some must-watch games for the campaign.
From Stanley Cup Final rematches to the Battle of Alberta, brother against brother to All-Star clashes, here are seven games you won’t want to miss:
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens
Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, Sportsnet
It seems fitting that two Original Six teams play their regular-season opener against each other.
Despite Montreal’s less-than-stellar record last season, the rivalry between the Leafs and the Habs — spanning over a century — will not soon be squashed. In 16 post-season meetings, Montreal has emerged victorious in nine, including the come-from-behind series in 2021 that saw the Habs upset the Leafs in seven games.
Over a year later, both teams are still hungry to beat each other. The Leafs want payback. The Habs want to prove their record against Toronto stands up — and could have the No. 1 overall pick from this year’s Draft making his NHL debut. All of that adds up to must-watch hockey.
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers
Saturday, Oct. 15 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, Hockey Night in Canada
Does the Battle of Alberta ever disappoint?
It certainly didn’t in last season’s playoffs, where the second-round series started with the historic 9-6 victory for the Flames and ended with the Oilers winning four straight to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were next-to-unstoppable against Calgary’s defence, putting up a historic performance that saw Draisaitl tally 17 points in five games and McDavid with 16, including the overtime winner to send the Oilers to round three.
With no love lost between Matthew Tkachuk and the Flames and Connor McDavid and the Oilers, the Flames will undoubtably be looking for revenge in the first match-up of this (often testy) rivalry.
New Jersey Devils at Vancouver Canucks
Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
It’s a match-up the Hughes family likely takes note of every year.
Devils and Canucks fans alike can get excited to see their respective Hughes brother take the ice in opposition — Vancouver defenceman Quinn and New Jersey centre Jack.
“I think I’m 0-3 against him and 0-2 against him in the NHL,” older brother Quinn said ahead of their February 2022 game. “So that’s kind of a problem.”
The Canucks fell 7-2 in that game. In fact, before their 6-3 victory at home in March, the Canucks hadn’t won a game against the Devils since 2014.
Adding more to the mix, youngest brother Luke was drafted fourth overall by the Devils in the 2021 draft. While it’s not known if Luke will join the Devils this upcoming season, the prospect of a complete battle of the Hughes brothers will entertain both fanbases for years to come.
Vegas Golden Knights at Buffalo Sabres
Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Until his trade to the Golden Knights on Nov. 4, 2021, the Jack Eichel sweepstakes dominated the hockey news cycle for months.
Eichel confirmed that he had requested a trade from Buffalo following the COVID-shortened 2019-2020 season. Relations seemed to sour between both parties throughout the long and arduous process, including amongst some Sabres fans.
When he made his long-awaited return to Buffalo as a member of the Golden Knights last March, attendance at KeyBank Arena was higher than it had been in years.
The game saw the Golden Knights fall to the Sabres thanks to goals from key trade pieces Alex Tuch, who grew up not far from Buffalo, and Peyton Krebs.
Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning
Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Perhaps no game is more exciting than the first rematch of the Stanley Cup Final.
The last time the Avalanche were at Amalie Arena, they were hoisting the Cup after defeating the two-time defending champion Lightning in six games.
Tensions rose to a peak in Game 4, when Nazem Kadri scored a controversial overtime winner to put the Avalanche up 3-1 in the series. Coach Jon Cooper questioned in his post-game interview if the goal should have counted at all because of a possible too-many-men-on-the-ice issue.
The typically dominant Lightning struggled to generate offence against the Avalanche. It was a series in which many were questioning how the Lightning would fare against an offensively gifted team like the Avalanche.
With the winning culture that exists within the Lightning, it’s a safe bet to assume they’re going to come out swinging in their first game against the Avalanche.
Calgary Flames at Ottawa Senators
Monday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT, Sportsnet
In yet another family affair, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will square off against his brother Matthew of the Flames on home-ice.
The brothers made headlines during the Flames’ playoff run in 2022, where Brady was seen supporting his brother throughout the first two rounds in a red “Matthew Tkachuk Friendship Tour” shirt.
While many have already commented on the bizarre reality of the captain of one NHL team openly supporting another, Brady made it clear that he would not be sporting any Flames attire in his quest to cheer on his brother.
But the playoffs are over, and the two sons of Keith Tkachuk will shove aside brotherly love and replace it with fierce competition, as they have done in each of their meetings in the NHL.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers
Wednesday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, Sportsnet
With two Hart Trophy winners going head-to-head, expect plenty of entertainment
Hockey fans around Canada have the privilege of watching two generational talents in Auston Matthews and McDavid.
While Edmonton enjoyed a deeper playoff run than the Leafs, Toronto came out victorious in both meetings between the two teams last season. The Oilers are likely not satisfied and will be hungry for the chance to beat the Leafs for the first time since March of 2021.
With Matthews fresh off his Hart Trophy victory and McDavid putting on a playoff performance of the ages, Oilers, Leafs and hockey fans alike should mark this game on the calendar.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
