The Edmonton Oilers came out sleepy and sloppy and paid the iron price. They repeatedly forgot they were supposed to cover Florida attackers in the defensive slot early on, thus allowing three unmolested Panther shooters to thump in goals in the first.
Edmonton battled back but Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky outplayed Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard for the remainder of the game, with Florida eventually winning 5-1.
Connor McDavid, 6. A solid game on the attack without results, a tough game on defence where his one major mistake cost the Oilers. He set up RNH for two dangerous shots early on. But neither he nor RNH figured out who was supposed to be the main man in the defensive slot and allowed Brandon Montour to thump in a goal unmolested. The blame was mostly on RNH, but McD shared in it. He came alive in the second, twisting and charging to fire two wicked shots on Sergei Bobrovsky in one quick span. A moment later he was part of the gorgeous 5-man passing play on Edmonton’s first goal. He almost set up Hyman for a goal but Alex Barkov made a goal-line stop, demonstrating to all how a brilliant defensive centre gets it done. Contributions to Grade A Shots (GAS): Even Strength +6/-1; Special Teams +1/-0.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 3. He got the first 5-alarm shot of the game, dropping a pass to McDavid, then charging the net and almost driving in McD’s rebound. A moment later he broke in for another Grade but couldn’t score. He was the primary culprit on the second Florida goal, failing to cover Brandon Mountour heading into the slot. He made a gorgeous pass to Hyman on the first and only Oiler goal. He missed a pass to McD on two-man breakaway early in the third, then cruised a bit on the backcheck on Florida’s fifth goal, which ending up allowing the scoring snipe. GAS: ES +3/-2; ST +0/-0.
Leon Draisaitl, 2. The big man was a statue in his own zone in the first and his team paid for it. Drai was the major culprit on two goals against. He was a few steps to slow to move to cover his man Carter Verhaege in the defensive slot and Florida got its first goal. He gave up the puck, then was caught flat-footed, not covering anyone in front of the net on the third Florida goal. He set up Cody Ceci for a great chance in the second. GAS: ES +1/-3; ST +0/-0.
Warren Foegele, 5. Some good, some bad. Made a sharp stop at the blueline, then fed Nurse for Edmonton’s first Grade A shot of the game. He failed to cover for Draisaitl on the first goal when Drai blew his own coverage. He got a rebound shot off an Evan Bouchard wrister but failed to drain it late in the second. GAS: ES +2/-1; ST +0/-0.
Mattias Janmark, 3. Likely his worst game of the year, with some uncharacteristic mistakes on defence. He allowed the outside shot on the third Florida goal. He got beat on the rush on the fourth Florida goal. On the plus side, he set up Gagner on the rush leading to his penalty shot. GAS: ES +2/-2; ST +0/-1.
Ryan McLeod, 4. He’s not having much impact just now. He failed to clear the puck on the PK in the first, but no harm was done. His one major plus was he won 14 out of 16 faceoffs. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
Evander Kane, 6. He had an impact here, but not enough of one. He crashed Florid’s Nick Cousins into the boards for the game’s first nasty hit. He won a faceoff, leading to Kulak’s great chance early in the second. He and Ekholm led the team with five hits each. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Connor Brown, 5. Good hustle, improving speed, no major positive results. He blocked a shot on the PK in the first. He put the puck on net on Kulak’s 5-alarmer. GAS: ES +1/-0; ST +0/-0.
Sam Gagner, 6. Hustled but no major success until early in the third. He got a breakaway but was fouled, earning a penalty shot. He failed to drain it. Next he almost slammed in Nurse’s rebound. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
Derek Ryan, 6. He was at least willing to pay the price. Some good work with RNH on a first period Florida power play. He took a few hard and painful-looking hits in the second. GAS: ES +0/-0; ST +0/-0.
James Hamblin, 6. He sent in Ekholm on a breakaway with a gorgeous stretch pass. Nothing bad from him this game, which is more than we can say of most Oilers.
Cody Ceci, 5. Solid enough game, but not without a major blemish. He allowed the pass into the slot on the second Florida goal. He charged up into the play for a couple dangeroius opportunities in the second, one ow which he got on net. GAS: ES +1/-1; ST +0/-0.
Evan Bouchard, 5. One bad moment but a number of good ones. He wandered far from the net front and was part of the carnage on the third Florida goal. He kicked off the gorgeous five-man rush and passing play that led to Hyman scoring. He did a fine job limiting damage on a 2-on-1 a moment later. GAS: ES +1/-4; ST +0/-0.
Mattias Ekholm, 7. Solid enough game, moving the puck well. He’s been coming on strong. He was out of position on the third Florida goal, though Draisaitl blocking his path to the shooter didn’t help. He won a breakaway but failed to drain his shot in the second. His quick pass kicked off a dangerous rush with Foegele almost scoring late in the second. GAS: ES +5/-3; ST +0/-0.
Brett Kulak, 7. This loss wasn’t on him, which few Oilers players can say. He kept a clean sheet at even strength, with not one major mistake on a Grade A shot against. He moved in to zing a dangerous shot on net early in the second but failed to drain it. He won a puck battle to kick off Ekholm’s breakaway sequence. He took an unfortunate double-minor for high-sticking late in the second. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST +0/-0.
Calvin Pickard, 3. A goalie will on average stop three out of four Grade A shots. Pickard stopped just six out of eleven, though many of them were wicked chances. He had little help from his friends, but the big save eluded him. He had little chance on the first Florida goal, a cross-crease pass and one-timer finish. He did well later in the first to thwart Tkachuk’s break-in chance. The second was also thumped in from the slot, then he was left alone on the third, first to stop a deflection, then zero help on the rebound. A save would have been nice on the fourth Florida goal, a breakaway, but Pickard wasn’t up to Bobrovsky’s level this game. The fifth goal, too, was saveable.
MONTREAL – Canadian National Railway Co. told employees this week it plans to relocate its operations in Jasper to near Hinton, Alta., about 100 kilometres away.
In a memo sent to employees in the fire-ravaged town, the company said it’s aiming to increase efficiency by minimizing train stops between Edmonton and Blue River, B.C., which sits across the Rockies.
CN plans to close its Jasper bunkhouse and build a crew change facility east of Hinton, with workers slated to clock in at the new site starting in September 2025, according to the document obtained by The Canadian Press.
“CN has made the decision to implement operational changes to improve network fluidity,” regional vice-president Nicole James said in the memo.
The union representing rail workers criticized the relocation, which affects about 200 employees, though no layoffs are expected.
“This is another devastating blow to the town of Jasper, after this year’s catastrophic wildfires. Rail is one of the largest industries in Jasper, after tourism, and CN’s move will cripple this community even further,” said Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
“And for the workers who’ve already lost so much — some even their homes — this is a truly cruel blow.”
Union spokesman Christopher Monette noted that most residents or their spouses must work in town to qualify to live there under Jasper National Park’s residency rules. The company has told the union it will apply for an exception for the workers, he said.
CN spokeswoman Ashley Michnowski says the railway is committed to supporting employees through the transition and keeping them updated.
“These types of changes take time to fully plan out and implement. That’s why one of our initial steps was to have this discussion with our employees as well as advising the town of Jasper,” she said in an email.
A wildfire ripped through Jasper in July, destroying a third of the mountain town and displacing many of its 4,800 residents.
The blaze also caused smoke damage to the CN bunkhouse, which the company says it has worked to restore since it was allowed to re-enter the community with contractors on Aug. 16.
Engineers and conductors have been reporting for work in Hinton, roughly an hour away, since the wildfire.
With roots as a fur trade outpost, Jasper launched as a railway town in the early 20th century after tracks built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway — CN’s predecessor — paved the way for the municipality.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:CNR)
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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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The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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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