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No Debate, Jack Campbell is the Maple Leafs' Starting Goaltender – Spartan Nation

Published

3 years ago

April 3, 2021

The debate is over, if not moot.

With goaltender Frederik Andersen missing in action due to a lower-body injury and no clear timetable to return, Jack Campbell has stepped in and continued to help the Toronto Maple Leafs pile up victories.

On Friday, Campbell made 31 saves as his team defeated the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in a shootout and improved to 8-0-0 this season with a .951 save percentage.

With the game tied 1-1 in the third period, Campbell made several game-saving stops as the Jets pressured for the go-ahead goal.

The first difficult save came on a 3-on-2 after Mitch Marner turned the puck over in his own zone. The Jets collapsed toward the net before getting the puck to Pierre-Luc Dubois on the right side. But Campbell slid across to make a pad save.

A couple of minutes later, Campbell made a couple of saves. The latter, a rebound as he robbed Andrew Copp

The barrage of hell from the Jets concluded moments later when Kyle Connor attempted another shot from the glove side of Campbell. The goaltender came across for the save.

There was some concern as he appeared to favor the same leg that kept him out of the lineup for multiple stretches this season. And that concern is warranted as the team continues to manage the goaltender’s health. Campbell finished the game, although it’s something to keep an eye on.

But it’s clear his teammates are thrilled to be playing in front of a goaltender who has, at times, snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.

“Hockey is about confidence and I think he gives us confidence right now,” Jason Spezza said. “We’re trying to give him confidence by keeping things to the outside and (he’s) just a guy that’s really benefitting getting a little momentum here.”

Spezza scored the only goal in the shootout, Toronto’s first of the season.

Unlike the team’s first game in the two-game set, the Leafs got off to a slow start against the Jets, who had 17 scoring chances in the opening period compared to seven from Toronto.

“They had a lot of opportunities, if it wasn’t for Soup, we’d be down early in the game,” Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin said. “Both goalies had some big saves and they kept everyone in it here.”

Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott eventually opened the scoring at 5:16 of the second period. His shot from the point went through a sea of humanity before the puck sailed past Connor Hellebuyck.

Winnipeg’s lone goal came off a 2-on-1 that Copp cashed in on at 11:50.

From there, both goaltenders dueled and it’s in these games where Campbell’s game went to a different level.

In two consecutive games against the defending Vezina Trophy winner, Campbell outperformed Hellebuyck.

There is no better measuring stick than that.

“When he has that steadiness and that calmness, he just calms everyone down,” Marner said of Campbell. “I think we relied on him a bit too much, but I mean, he was unbelievable in both these games and that’s a big reason why we won both.”

Of course, it wasn’t always this way for Campbell.

The 11th overall pick from the 2010 NHL Draft took a long road to get here. During his time with the Dallas Stars organization, he struggled with confidence issues. In 2015, Campbell and Hellebucyk were teammates when they both represented Team USA at the IIHF World Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic.

“When I was struggling early in my career, he was always right there texting me and kind of coached me a little bit,” Campbell said of Hellebuyck. “He’s always been there so I appreciate his friendship so much.”

Hellebucyk was equally thrilled for his Campbell, even though it came at his expense. His comments also reflected how different this season is.

After games, you’d often see players from opposing teams mingling before boarding the team bus or going home. With COVID-19 protocols in full effect, many of the human interactions have been taken away.

You know, I wish I could say hi to him after the game or talk to him more after the game because he’s such a great guy on and off the ice,” Hellebuyck said of Campbell. “I think a good rivalry is happening and I’m excited to see the success he’s having.”

Campbell’s eight straight victories put him one back of tying the Leafs’ record of nine held by Felix Potvin, Jacques Plante and John Ross Roach.

As long as the injury issues can be managed (and that’s still a big if), Campbell is the guy.

There’s no debate. He’s the team’s starting goaltender until his performance dictates otherwise.

“You can just see his confidence growing and you can see the team’s confidence in him growing as well,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He was playing in a game tonight with virtually no room for error and he was there on all the breakdowns we had today, which I thought we had too many.”

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

Published

5 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

6 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

6 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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