Sports

Quebec major junior hockey to introduce ‘locker room code’ to prevent violent hazing

Published

1 month ago

February 22, 2023

The head of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League said Wednesday he will introduce measures to combat a “culture of silence” that exists in locker rooms.

Commissioner Gilles Courteau told a Quebec legislature committee hearing into violent hockey hazing rituals that a “locker room code” will be in effect in time for next season and will make clear what behaviour is unacceptable.

The legislature is studying the issue after a recent Ontario court decision revealed details of sexual assault and torture suffered by teenage hockey players in Canada’s three major junior hockey leagues going back to 1975. Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell accepted evidence that former players suffered “horrific and despicable and unquestionably criminal acts” at the hands of teammates and staff during initiations.

However, the Ontario judge denied a request to certify a class-action lawsuit against the hockey leagues and their teams after determining they failed to present a workable plan to litigate. The plaintiffs can still appeal the decision or launch individual lawsuits against the leagues and teams.

Since a Radio-Canada report on the decision last week highlighted specific cases of abuse, the Quebec league executives have found themselves caught in a political storm. On Wednesday, Courteau said he verified and none of the disturbing revelations described in the Radio-Canada report involved the Quebec league.

“This is an important fact to note, but that does not exempt us from a reflection,” Courteau said. “We’re not above other leagues … there exists in our sport a culture that can be harmful.”

Courteau said that initiations have long been forbidden in the league, but noted there needs to be an effort to end the culture of silence in the dressing room.

“There is a moment when the locker room door closes. From now on, the QMJHL wants to install a window,” said Courteau, who has been commissioner of the Quebec league for 37 years.

Courteau will meet with owners and managers in the coming days and he undertook to speak directly with players while developing the code in time for next season. “Anyone entering the dressing room or affiliated with the team must undertake to follow the code,” Courteau said.

Also Wednesday, Canadian Hockey League president Dan MacKenzie told the commission that all its players will undergo mandatory respect training.

“We think this is a very important step in educating our players,” he said.

The CHL is the umbrella organization for the country’s three major junior leagues and includes 60 privately or community owned teams, including eight based in the United States, with a total of 1,400 players. He noted that each league establishes and enforces its own rules and codes and enforces them.

MacKenzie called the evidence presented in the court case and reported by Radio-Canada “appalling” and said it has no place in hockey.

“The graphic events that were described in the article happened decades ago and there have been significant improvements in the last 20 years,” he said, adding that policies and procedures are dramatically different now.

He urged players to come forward if hazing incidents are happening. According to MacKenzie, the way to end such acts is to guarantee players have a way to report, where complaints are taken seriously. He said the CHL received a dozen complaints in the past five years, 10 of which were founded. Actions in response included more training and the firing of a team staffer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2023.

— By Sidhartha Banerjee in Montreal

Sports

Famous Blackjack Players: Their Stories and Winning Strategies

Published

3 seconds ago

March 28, 2023

Harry Miller

Blаckjack is оne of the most popular cаrd gаmes in which yоu cоmpete against the dеaler. Aсes are worth one or elеven, whіle queens, jаcks, and kіngs are worth 10. Lеarning to plаy blаckjack is eаsy if yоu read and understаnd the bаsics of the gаme.

Throughout the history of the gаme of blackjack online, there have been mаny plаyers whо have mastered the gаme, hоning their talents to a prоfessional level. You can also try your luck at the best blackjack online real money in the USA and Canada. Play online blackjack in Canada if you believe you have what it takes to become a new member of the blackjаck hall of fame.

1. Don Johnson

Don Johnson is well known for winning over $15 million in six months at three Atlantic City casinos.

He once bet $100,000 and got two eights which he split. He split аgain when the next two cards were two eights. The cаsino dealer dealt three and two twice. It doubled on each hand. The dealer drew a 10 with twо cаrds for a total of 15. Johnson won $800,000 in one hand.

It was the beginning of a six-mоnth winning streak. The cаsino discovered that he had not counted the cаrds. The events took a toll on the casino. Caesars, for example, banned him from all of its cаsinos аround the world.

2. Bryce Carlson

Bryce Carlson, the author of Blаckjack for Bloоd, started playing this game in the 1970s. He became a blаckjack pro by discussing strategies with оther top players. Some of his abilities included cаrd strategy, team play, and stealth.

Although Cаrlson is a prоfessional blackjack plаyer, he hаs published a detаiled bоok on the game to hеlp others lеаrn his fаvorite gаme. Online blackjack for money became pоpulаr in the late 1990s. Cаrlson аnd оther experienced players from around the world met at an оnline cаsino to compеte.

In аn interview, he noted that he always wanted to beat the cаsino at their own game. He lоst 47 hours. It took him 141 hours to get it back. His fаvorite mеmory is a $200 hаnd at Excalibur in Lаs Vegas.

This outstanding blаckjack player cаme up with the Оmega II Blаckjack Machine to help him analyze the gаme for its effectiveness. He later created a sоftware cоmparable to Omеga II Blаckjack Cаsino.

3. Henry Tamburin

Henry Tamburin wrote the book Blаckjack: Tаke the Money and Run. Tаmburin’s first gаme of blаckjack wаs in grаduate schоol befоre he becаme an аuthor. He wаs determined to learn the gаme and mаke up fоr it after losing lаrge sums of mоney.

He hаd a mаthematical bаckground, which mаde it eаsy for him tо understand cаrd counting and thе bаsic techniques оf playing blаckjack. He attended gаming conventions tо hоne his skills аnd shаre tips with оther professional gаmers.

Tamburin participated іn CBS’s Ultimate Blаckjack Tоur blаckjack competition. Hе is currently the editor аnd publisher оf the Blаckjack Insider Nеwsletter. His Smаrt Gaming website insists on improving the оdds for plауers аnd educating the public on how to plаy smart.

4. Stanford Wong

John Ferguson, a gаmbling author known for his bоok Professional Blackjаck, goes by the pen name Stanford Wong. He is a professional blаckjack player who started gambling as a source of money while in graduate school. While still a student at Stanford University, he published his first book in 1975.

Wong alsо invented Blаckjack Anаlyzer, a software that analyzes blаckjack odds. The term “Wonging” rеfers to one оf the methods prеsented in his first bоok. During the gаme of shоes, the participant оf the method jumps оver the tаbles.

They оrganized a team to play blackjack and other gambling competitions in 1985. The six-player team won eight events with a total of more than $200,000 in prize money. In addition to his successful professional blаckjack game, Wong has produced around 15 gambling guides.

5. Russ Hamilton

Russ Hamіlton is a professional blackjack player from the USA. He used to be fоnd of poker, but аfter a trip tо Las Vegаs, he became mоre intеrested in blackjаck. Thеre he socialized with other blаckjack players, оften competing in tournaments.

He turned to poker when the tоurnaments were cancelled. Hе later returned to blаckjack, fоunding the Elіmination Blаckjack tournament. The tоurnament evolved into thе Ultimate Blаckjack Tоur, which aired for two seаsons.

As a well-known gambling expert, organizations such as Ultimate Bet turn to him for advice on gаming-related matters. However, Hamilton wаs lаter embroiled in a $22 mіllion cоntroversy while wоrking for Ultimate Bеt.

Thе evidence estаblished that he wаs responsible for the fraud еpisodes at Ultimate Bet. The cаrporation wаs obliged tо compensate dеfrauded plaуers. Hаmilton’s reputation was damаged by the dеception.

6. Lawrence Revere

Before becoming a professional blаckjack player, Lawrence Revere worked as a cаsino employee. Griffith C. Owens wаs his stage name, although he also used aliases such as Paul Mаnn and Leonard “Spex” Pаrson. Lawrence plаyed his first blаckjack gаme at the аge of 13.

He attended the University of Nebrаska and mаjored in mаthematics. His mаthematical skills helped him develop blaсkjack strategies. In his bоok, Playing Blackjаck Like a Businеss Fan, he exаmines the cаrd counting strаtegies nаmed after him. His bоok has influenced many established plаyers as well as bеginners.

Later, Lawrеnce created an оutline of thе basic black jack casino strategy. He caused disаgreеments іn the plаying space. Hе oftеn gave advice to the dealers durіng thе deal and tо the plаyers during the gаme. He died оf cаncer in April 1977.

Conclusion

The mentioned blаckjack plаyers demonstrated one thing: you can beat the casino. These famous players perfected techniques that changed the way the game was played through time and dеdication.

Thеy shаred their wisdom аnd even hеlped newbies fіnd their fоoting. Everyone has access to online blackjack books, newsletters, and websites. They serve as rоle models for professional players who want to improve their blаckjack skіlls and increase their chances оf winning with еvery hаnd. Play online blackjack! You wіll find many interesting thеngs on оur website Blackjackonline21ca.

Sports

Emotional Bianca Andreescu leaves court in wheelchair after injury at Miami Open – Yahoo Canada Sports

Published

1 hour ago

March 28, 2023

Harry Miller

Bianca Andreescu was forced to retire from the 2023 Miami Open.

Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu was forced to leave the court in a wheelchair after suffering an injury during Monday’s match against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Round of 16 at the Miami Open.

Andreescu officially retired at 6-7, 2-0, winning 75 percent of her points on first serve. With tears in her eyes, she left the court to a standing ovation. Alexandrova, who will face Petra Kvitova in the next round, came over to console a devastated Andreescu as her team prepared for her exit.

“I’ve never felt this kind of pain before,” Andreescu said in agony while the medical team approached.

The 22-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., suffered the injury during the third game of the second set while tracking down a shot.

Andreescu was off to an excellent start to the tournament, defeating Emma Raducanu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the Round of 128, before proceeding to knock off No. 7 Maria Sakkari 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, then defeating Sofia Kenin in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

This is a potentially devastating injury for Andreescu, who was rounding into form with the summer schedule on the horizon. Andreescu had previously advanced to the Round of 32 in the Indian Wells Masters before losing in straight sets to No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a tightly contested match.

Andreescu has a lengthy history with long-term injuries, suffering a torn meniscus in October 2019, shortly after winning the U.S. Open against childhood hero Serena Williams. Andreescu did not play the entire 2020 season in large part due to the complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, then struggled through the 2021 season. Andreescu missed the opening three months of the 2022 season and struggled with a back injury towards the end of the year.

Andreescu said in a recent interview that she actually contemplated retiring from tennis in 2021.

“That was, honestly, about me wanting to figure out if I really wanted to continue playing tennis,” Andreescu told reporters on Sunday, per The Telegraph. “I was literally about to drop my rackets and say, ‘Screw this.’ I wasn’t happy at all and I wasn’t happy basically for the full year of 2021. I thought, if I continue like this, it’s just going to get worse.”

Those hardships from the past few years have helped Andreescu grow as both a player and a person.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” Andreescu told Sportsnet’s Vivek Jacob earlier this month. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot even in the past two months about myself, which is such a great thing about life, you’re constantly growing, you’re constantly learning. The main thing is I want to be able to feel good in my own skin whether I win a match or lose a match.”

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Player grades: Edmonton Oilers survive scrambly affair in Arizona, pull out 5-4 win – Edmonton Journal

Published

2 hours ago

March 28, 2023

Harry Miller

Mattias Ekholm of the Edmonton Oilers attempts a shot on goaltender Karel Vejmelka of the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of the NHL game at Mullett Arena on March 27, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. Photo by Christian Petersen /Getty Images

Oilers 5, Coyotes 4

Edmonton Oilers travel regimen on Monday night: take the two points and get the heck out of Dodge.

It was a scrambly affair in cramped Mullett Arena, where a clear majority of the 4,600 spectators seemed to be rooting for the visiting team. For the second time in the last week, the Oilers were in tough to shake the pesky Coyotes. This time they managed to get the job done in regulation, but not without a few nervous moments down the stretch as Arizona pressed but failed to overcome Edmonton’s 5-4 lead.

The Oilers had seemed fully in control with a 4-2 lead after a dominant second period, but that went away in the first 5 minutes of the third. The Oilers managed just a single Grade A shot in that final frame, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins buried that shot on the powerplay to put them back in front by the enventual winning margin.

If the stats are to be believed, this was a stolen win by the Oilers, who were outshot 33-29 and on the short end of Grade A shots by a 19-13 margin, including 10-6 in 5-alarm shots (running count). In each player’s comment we’ll record his individual contributions to Grade A shots (GAS) at both ends of the sheet.

Player grades

#2 Evan Bouchard, 7. Strong on the attack. Scored the 2-2 goal at even strength on an excellent shot, later set up the game winner on the powerplay with a one-timer that created a dangerous rebound. Perhaps his best play was a lovely delayed stretch pass that sent his partner Ekholm in on a breakaway. Not your standard D-to-D pass. Did have a couple of adventures on defence, wandering way out of position and getting burned for a breakaway that Campbell stopped, later losing a battle in the low slot that resulted in the 4-4. Now has 12 points in 13 games since the big trade on Feb 28. GAS: +3/-4.

#5 Cody Ceci, 4. His lost battle was a key element on the second Arizona tally. Otherwise largely held his own. GAS: +0/-1.

#10 Derek Ryan, 5. Quiet night with 0 shots and just 1/6=17% on the dot. Decent on the penalty kill. GAS: +0/-1.

#14 Mattias Ekholm, 7. Played a team-high 24:56 on what was the club’s most effective pairing. Unlucky that the second Arizona goal caromed in off him. Burned on another ‘yotes chance when his hard clearing pass hit a sign on the boards and just died, one of many funky bounces in the old barn Arizona now calls home. Won more than his share of battles, including a couple that set up McDavid’s 2 best chances of the game, both in the first period. Robbed on a breakaway of his own on a full stretch stop by Karel Vejmelka. Also robbed of an assist on Draisaitl’s goal when his pass was deflected from its intended recipient directly to the goal scorer, without possession ever being achieved. Played 24:58 to lead both teams, including 23:01 at even strength. Excellent shot shares. GAS: +4/-4.

#18 Zach Hyman, 6. His biggest contribution was finishing off a 5-way passing play just 6 seconds into Edmonton’s first powerplay to tie the game 1-1. Another great chance off a Nurse feed, but couldn’t bury. A couple of issues in defensive coverage. GAS: +2/-3.

#19 Devin Shore, 4. Scoreless in almost 10 minutes, not a bad outcome. Not his best night handling the puck, though. GAS: +0/-0

#21 Klim Kostin, 6. A decent shot on net, a couple of shot blocks, a couple of hits, and a positive influence overall. GAS: +1/-0.

#25 Darnell Nurse, 6. His big moment was scoring the shorthanded goal that gave the Oilers their first lead, joining the rush as a trailer, taking Yamamoto’s drop pass, and overpowering Vejmelka with a wrist shot. Made a great pass to Hyman for another 5-alarm shot. Allowed an outside shot on the sequence that resulted in Arizona’s third goal, and was a better door than window in screening Campbell on a couple of other shots (both stopped). 4 shots, 2 blocks. GAS: +2/-4.

#26 Mattias Janmark, 6. Started the game on the McDavid line, but soon moved down to a bottom-6 trio with Bjugstad and Foegele which was highly effective. Did get burned on a bad pinch on the first Arizona goal, but made up for it with a strong charge to the net front as a decoy on Nurse’s shorty. GAS: +2/-1.

#27 Brett Kulak, 5. His pairing with Desharnais had its struggles at even strength and were badly outshot (+3/-10 in Kulak’s 14 minutes at 5v5), and were dominated in Grade A shots. Managed to saw off 0-0 where it mattered most. Kulak mustered a couple of shots, a hit and a takeaway. GAS: +0/-4.

#29 Leon Draisaitl, 7. Entered the game tied with McDavid and Kane, each with 299 goals. Won the race to 300 when he scored on his only official shot of the game, surprising Vejmelka with a quick-release outside shot through traffic. This after finding iron on a great look from the slot on his previous shift. Set up the game winner by teeing up Bouchard’s one-timer in the third. Also won the powerplay faceoff that led directly to Oilers’ first goal, whough no point awarded on that one. Now up to 46-68-114 on the season, 26 points behind McDavid but 12 clear of third-place Nikita Kucherov. Led the Oilers with 2 blocked shots and with 13/23=57% on the faceoff dot. GAS: +5/-6.

#36 Jack Campbell, 5. Another frenetic night that saw him allow at least 4 goals in his seventh straight start. On the bright side, his teammates have scored at least 4 in his last sixteen starts, and once again on this night scored 1 more than they gave up. Campbell was beaten by a pair of first-period deflections, both of which found a hole between his arm and body. His bigger problem was rebound control, with numerous pucks trampolining off of him back into the slot or in unexpected directions that left him scrambling. This proved especially costly on the third Arizona goal, and arguably the fourth as well. Did face 19 Grade A shots (4 of them off his own bad rebounds) and came up with a number of good stops. Stiffened down the stretch and managed to contain the puck for a couple of key stoppages in the late going. 33 shots, 29 saves, .879 save percentage.

#37 Warren Foegele, 7. Another strong game with dominant shot shares (+13/-3 in shot attempts, +7/-1 in actual shots) on a strong trio with Bjugstad and Janmark. His fine pass to Bouchard was buried for the 2-2. Now had 13 points in his last 19 games. 3 shots on net, the best a quick wraparound that nearly cashed. GAS: +3/-0.

#56 Kailer Yamamoto, 5. Quiet game with 0 shots and 0 hits. Whiffed entirely on his best look, wasting a nice set up by Ekholm. Did find a way to contribute with a nice rush and pass to Nurse on the penalty kill that resulted in the 3-2 goal. GAS: +2/-0.

#72 Nick Bjugstad, 7. Became one of the first NHLers to experience Mullett Arena as both a home and away player. Certainly looked right at home with a very strong effort. Skated extremely well. Earned a secondary assist on the Bouchard goal. Fired 3 shots of his own (6 attempts) and also landed 3 hits, with a takeaway and a block and 5/10=50% on the dot. GAS: +2/-2.

#73 Vincent Desharnais, 4. Had his struggles in this one. Managed to saw off 0-0 at evens, despite being penned in his own end for much of his 12 even strength minutes. Was in the box for the Arizona powerplay goal, albeit for something of a ticky-tack holding penalty. GAS: +0/-5.

#91 Evander Kane, 4. Skated better, producing 5 shot attempts (2 on net). Involved in the physical aspect, landing a team-high 4 hits. But all too frequently, the play died on his stick. Directly caused a too-many-men penalty when he chose to play the puck right at the player’s gate, even as his replacement had already taken the ice. Screened his own goalie and very likely deflected in the second Arizona goal. No points and -2 on the night. Now a dismal dash-9 on the season, the only current Oiler in red figures. GAS: +2/-3.

#93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 7. Scored 1-1-2, doing all of that damage on the powerplay. His fine cross-seam pass to McDavid set the stage for the 1-1, while he took care of business himself cashing the 5-4 from the edge of the crease. That stood up as the game-winner. A couple of hiccups in the defensive zone but nothing costly. GAS: +4/-1.

#97 Connor McDavid, 5. A couple of early chances, and a great pass to Hyman on the PP for the 1-1, his 140th (!!!) point of the season. Gradually had less impact as the game went on. Beaten on the 4-3 when he wasn’t quite able to cut out the shot. Did land a couple of heavy hits and held his own on the dot at 7/13=54%. GAS: +3/-2.

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