One day into the Olympic women’s hockey tournament and the top two teams already are dealing with injury concerns.
After Canada lost veteran forward Melodie Daoust in a 12-1 win against Switzerland on Thursday, American forward Brianna Decker was carried off the ice on a stretcher with a leg injury after getting tangled up with Finland’s Ronja Savolainen.
It appears Decker’s tournament is over.
Brianna Decker’s Olympics are done. She was on crutches and her left foot was in a boot.
Hockey Canada update on Melodie Daoust: “She is resting and continues to be assessed by our medical teams. No further details as to her status for the next game.”@CBCOlympics
While skating the puck into the offensive zone, Daoust was hit by Swiss defence Sarah Forster. Daoust was slow to get up and skated slowly to the bench, holding her right arm while making her way to the locker room.
Daoust is in her third Olympics and was tournament MVP in 2018 when Canada lost in the final against the U.S.
Decker, 30, also is at the Games for a third time.
Depth could be more of a concern for the Americans. CBC reported Canada has a taxi squad in Beijing, while the U.S. does not.
Canada lights up scoreboard
Canada didn’t take long to regain its scoring touch.
Playing their first game since December after having two friendlies against the United States cancelled because of COVID-19, the Canadians enjoyed their biggest offensive output in a game since 2013.
Several new Olympians played key roles for Canada, including Sarah Filler, who scored the first two goals of the game, and Claire Thompson, who had a goal and four assists.
“We were all so excited to play after taking so much time off,” Thompson said. “The girls came out of the gate flying and never let our foot off the gas. I think I was definitely a bit nervous at the start of the game, but the veteran players gave us some advice and we can always look to them at any point because they are just so calm. I was able to settle into the game pretty quick and had a lot of fun out there.”
Coach Troy Ryan also was happy with his team’s effort after Canada outshot the Swiss 70-15.
“I think there were a lot of good things in the game. I thought offensively we were deliberate and intentional with everything we did,” he said. “We stuck to our systems and concepts and had some success with it. It was nice to see some of the young ones score their first Olympic goal, and it was fun. I think early on everybody just wants to get a shift or two under their belts, but once they did, everyone, including the rookies, settled in.”
Fillier was one of four two-goal scorers for Canada, joining Natalie Spooner, who also had three assists, Laura Stacey and Blayre Turnbull.
Canada, which captured the world title last year after losing to the United States in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, had little trouble with the Swiss, who finished fourth at last year’s worlds.
Things figure to get tougher on Saturday (Friday at 11:10 p.m. ET) when Canada faces Finland, bronze winners at last year’s worlds.
All five teams from the top-ranked Group A — featuring Canada, the United States, Finland, Switzerland and the Russians — advance to the quarterfinals. The top three teams in five-team Group B also move on.
United States 5, Finland 2
Kendall Coyne Schofield and Alex Carpenter each had a pair of goals as the Americans faced little resistance from Finland. Shots were 52-12 in favour of the Americans. Susanna Tapani had both of Finland’s goals.
Czech Republic 3, China 1
The Czechs got to celebrate a win after their Olympic debut in the sport. The Czechs outshot the hosts 36-14 and got goals from Michaela Pejzlova, Tereza Radova and Denisa Krizova.
Japan 3, Sweden 1
Haruna Yoneyama’s empty-netter with 1:01 left sealed Japan’s win over a short-handed Swedish roster (because of COVID-19 issues). Japan outshot the Swedes 40-27.
Friday schedule
Russia vs. Switzerland, 11:10 p.m. ET (Thursday) Denmark vs. China, 11:10 p.m. ET (Thursday)
Friday spotlight
The Russians could be short-handed for their tournament opener. Stephen Wyyno of The Associated Press reported that Russia was missing five players from its roster on Thursday for practice because of COVID-19 problems.
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.
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.
