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Mendes: Senators' Bobby Ryan delivers powerful performance in return to Ottawa – TSN

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5 years ago

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As the media walked away from Bobby Ryan’s locker stall at 10:20 p.m. ET on Thursday night, the Senators forward was exhausted. 

After two live television interviews and a lengthy scrum with reporters, Ryan had just spent the last 15 minutes trying to articulate his feelings about a night that was – in so many ways – indescribable. 

“I need to take a deep breath,” Ryan said aloud, as the assembled crowd headed for the locker room exit. 

If movie studios were cautious about buying the rights to a film about a 42-year-old Zamboni driver beating the Toronto Maple Leafs on a Saturday night because it seemed implausible, they might express a similar skepticism about purchasing the Bobby Ryan story. 

Consider that a week ago, Ryan stood in the exact same spot in front of the glaring lights of television cameras and admitted that his three-month absence from the Ottawa Senators was due to an ongoing battle with alcohol abuse.

He alluded to unresolved childhood issues from an unstable upbringing as a potential root cause for his issues. Ryan – who is still actively receiving therapy – was sheepish about admitting his missteps in public, but understood it was a necessary step if he wanted to return to the NHL. 

The 32-year-old Ryan talked about hitting a “reset” button and getting one more chance to fulfill his dream of playing in the NHL.  He vowed to not take his professional career for granted any longer. 

Against this backdrop, not even the most clichéd scriptwriter from Disney would suggest a plot where the main character as described above, would come back and score a hat trick in his first home game six days later. 

And yet, we all witnessed that very storyline unfold in front of our eyes Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.

“You can’t write that, right?” Ryan said incredulously after his three-goal performance. “The way that went, it was just an incredible evening.”

Ryan’s hat trick – his first in 1,886 days – left many with the impression that hockey gods are a real entity, doling out good fortune and luck to those who are deserving. Ryan admitted that he does subscribe to the theory of a higher power in hockey, but he never imagined it would cast any good fortune in his direction. 

“Yeah I do,” Ryan said. “But I didn’t think I’d be on their good side for everything that’s gone on in my personal life for the last little while. But I guess they granted me some reprieve and gave me a good night.”

Thursday night in Ottawa was also a reminder that the most genuine and visceral sports moments can come without a trace of forewarning. There was no palpable electricity surrounding this game in the hours leading into it. A major winter storm blanketed the city with a heavy, wet snow several hours before the game, leaving many to wonder how many fans would actually show up to the arena. 

The announced attendance ended up being 12, 166 – an excellent indicator for the lack of voltage around the contest. 

But 10 years from now, twice as many fans are going to claim they were inside the building in Ottawa to witness the improbable heroics from Ryan. It certainly felt like a capacity crowd when the chants of “Bobby, Bobby!” rained down. 

The last time that chant was heard inside the Canadian Tire Centre was during Ryan’s unexpected surge during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, when he became Ottawa’s most dangerous forward during a remarkable run to the Eastern Conference Final. 

It was so captivating inside the building Thursday that even the other players and coaches – who are often laser-focused on the game unfolding on the ice – were paying attention to the repeated chanting. The Sens players were even getting in on the fun. 

“For sure I did,” said head coach D.J. Smith, when asked if he could hear the chanting of Bobby’s name. “It was going on – on our bench.” 

One of the drawbacks of the salary cap era is that fans in rabid hockey markets often view NHL players through the singular lens of their salary. It’s often an impossible task to separate the contract from human being.

Ryan’s $7 million dollar salary, coupled with his disappointing production in a Senators jersey, creates the perfect recipe for the prototypical whipping boy in a Canadian market. But the fans were able to park their cynicism about a multi-million dollar contract on Thursday night and simply look at Ryan as a vulnerable human being.  It was a refreshing moment that was not lost on Ryan. 

“I knew that Ottawa, being the community that it is, that the reception would be good,” Ryan said.

As the chants grew louder – and Ryan clinched his night with the hat trick – he appeared to be overcome with emotion on the bench as the game clock expired. The television cameras appeared to show him wiping away tears from his eyes as he soaked in the moment. 

“It just got harder to keep the emotions down throughout the game. It was incredible they supported me,” Ryan added. “Thank you to all of them.”

The biggest thanks from the veteran forward, however, was saved for his wife Danielle, who was sitting close to where all three of Ryan’s goals went in.

While Ryan received a tremendous amount of support from the hockey world – including frequent texts from the likes of Sheldon Souray and Nate Thompson who also battled addiction issues – it was the care from his wife that was ultimately a catalyst in his recovery. Danielle served as a guest telephone operator for the Senators Foundation telethon on Thursday night, allowing her to get a close vantage point for her husband’s signature performance. 

“I’m glad my wife was here. I’m glad I was able to do it at home,” he said to TSN’s Brent Wallace during his live post-game interview. “It’s been a long 100 days. And a lot of that unfortunately fell on her. She carried the slack and she allowed me to go away and address things. If she hadn’t helped me recognize it, then I don’t know where I’d be. She was the first star.”

Ryan’s comeback performance on Thursday may have essentially engraved his name on the Bill Masterton Trophy for the 2019-20 campaign, the award handed out to the player who demonstrates the most dedication and perseverance towards the game. 

There will certainly be other worthy candidates, but none will have a redemption story quite like the one Ryan has authored.  

“I set the bar too high tonight, because you guys are going to give it to me unfortunately next week,” Ryan said with a laugh. 

When it comes to redemption stories in a single NHL game, Ryan may have set the bar so high that nobody else can reach it. 

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

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November 8, 2024

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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

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November 8, 2024

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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

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November 8, 2024

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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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