The Vancouver Canucks’ much-lauded series of warm-up jerseys has come to an end.
Sports
NHL bans Canucks from wearing special warm-up jerseys, including for Pride
“What I can say is if this is the case, what is very disappointing is that over 95 per cent of the NHL players who proudly wore (Pride jerseys) to show support and their values to the community will not get an opportunity to do so again. Of course pride should be 365 and we will continue to work toward that with everyone involved,” Palumbo said.
The Canucks led the way with acknowledging Pride, first wearing sweaters with rainbow numbers on them for warm-up in 2017, eventually designing full warm-up jerseys in recent seasons for their players to wear.
The Canucks expanded their warm-up jersey program in recent seasons to recognize a number of cultural events, including First Nations Night, Diwali and Lunar New Year. Other teams have created similar campaigns.
Every team in the NHL hosted a Pride night last season, though not every team wore a Pride jersey.
An NHL spokesperson confirmed the ban applies to all specialty warm-up jerseys, including those previously worn as part of leaguewide campaigns, such as Hockey Fights Cancer, military appreciation and St. Patrick’s Day.
Bettman acknowledged that the news of ending the warm-up jersey campaign wouldn’t be well received in many quarters, especially since June is Pride month.
“In the final analysis, all of the efforts and emphasis on the importance of these various causes have been undermined by the distraction in terms of which team, which players,” Bettman went on, nodding to the handful of players and a couple teams who chose at the last minute not to wear Pride warm-up jerseys this past season, including the Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko.
The players who skipped out on wearing the jerseys, citing either family or religious reasons, were heavily criticized.
“This way we’re keeping the focus on the game and on these specialty nights,” Bettman insisted.
Other Canucks players were outspoken in their support of wearing Pride jerseys.
“I think every year we’ve worn it since I’ve been here. I think it’s a great night and I’m glad we’re doing it and I don’t think there’s ever been any discussion for doing it or not doing it,” Quinn Hughes said before the Canucks’ March 30 Pride game.
“Every time we’ve done Pride night, I’ve worn the jersey and celebrated the night.”
“It’s important for everyone to be included. No matter whatever your gender, your sexuality, your race, it doesn’t matter. Everyone’s welcome in the game,” Ethan Bear told Sportsnet in late March.
“It’s important,” he said, emphatically.
Bettman acknowledged that the jerseys associated with these theme nights have become very popular for many teams.
“All of those nights will continue, the only difference will be we’re not going to change jerseys for warm-up,” he said.
Teams can still sell specialty jerseys, Bettman said.
Requests for comment have been made to both the Canucks and the NHLPA.
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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Sports
Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere
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:
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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