Saskatchewan NDP continues focus on health care in election campaign

PORTLAND, Ore. – Canadian Karina LeBlanc is stepping down as GM of the Portland Thorns at the end of the NWSL season, the team announced Wednesday.

The former Canadian international goalkeeper will transition to a new role with RAJ Sports, the sports investment platform for the Bhathal family which owns the Thorns and the expansion WNBA team set to begin play in Portland in 2026.

“Karina provided stability for the Thorns during a very tumultuous time, contributed to a NWSL championship in 2022, and has been an integral part of this club’s work in the community,” Lisa Bhathal Merage, co-executive chair of RAJ Sports, said in a statement. “We believe now is a good time to make a change and set the club, and Karina, up for future success.

“Karina will remain with RAJ Sports in a role that will allow her to thrive and drive impact in our community as we build Portland into the global epicentre for women’s sports. We will begin our search for a new general manager immediately.”

LeBlanc, who helped Portland win the NWSL title in 2013, played in five World Cups and two Olympics for Canada. She retired in 2015 after making 110 international appearances andjoined the Thorns’ front office in 2021.

“Having played here and now living and raising my daughter in Portland, I have firsthand experience of how deeply rooted this community is in the success of women’s sports,” said LeBlanc. “I truly believe Portland can become the epicentre of women’s sports, and I’m excited to be part of the team driving that vision forward.”

The Thorns have no shortage of Canadian content with the current roster featuring current and former Canada captains Jessie Fleming and Christine Sinclair, who is retiring at the end of the season.

The team is led by Rob Gale, a former Canadian youth and Valour FC coach. His coaching staff includes Stephen Hart, a former Canada and HFX Wanderers head coach.

The Bhathal family has also invested in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, the NBA G-League’s Stockton Kings and minor-league baseball’s Sacramento RiverCats.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

VANCOUVER – There was a time J.T. Miller struggled to work his way into an NHL lineup.

Now the 31-year-old is a stalwart centre for the Vancouver Canucks — and he’s set to play his 800th regular-season game Wednesday when the team opens the 2024-25 campaign against the Calgary Flames.

“The older I get, the more I respect guys that can play for a long time. And super lucky, fortunate, especially health wise, to play in this many games,” Miller said Wednesday morning.

“There’s a time 10 or 11 years ago when I was just trying to get into the lineup. I feel very, very lucky to be where I’m at. But, obviously, I’ve got a lot of help from coaches and stuff along the way.”

Hailing from East Palestine, Ohio, Miller was picked 15th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2011 draft.

He made his NHL debut back on Feb. 5, 2013 as the Rangers faced the Devils in New Jersey. Asked what he’d say to the player who was preparing for that game, Miller grew reflective.

“Oh, man. Try to enjoy it. It’s a fun job that we get to have, but it is a job,” he said.

“The quicker you can learn, the quicker you’ll stay and quicker you’ll be acclimated. So just try to be a sponge … Try to take in as much as you can, even though it’s very difficult.”

The six-foot-one, 218-pound forward spent parts of six seasons in New York before he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in February 2018.

The Lightning then sent him to the Canucks at the 2019 draft in exchange for goalie Marek Mazanec, Vancouver’s 3rd-round pick in 2019 and a conditional 1st-round selection in 2020.

During five seasons in Vancouver, Miller has grown as a player and a person, said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

“He’s always trying to get better every day, physically and mentally, his approach to the game and how he can be better off the ice and on the ice when it comes to the game,” Tocchet said. “I have a lot of respect for him.”

Miller posted career highs in both goals (37) and points (103) last season as Vancouver finished atop the Pacific Division, then battled through two gritty playoff rounds.

The sometimes gruff centreman was an important part of the team’s success, said captain Quinn Hughes.

“He’s been tremendous,” Hughes said. “Just a great player, great leader for our group. And 800 games is a lot of games. Really excited for him.”

When Canucks winger Conor Garland hit the 400-game mark late last season, Miller organized T-shirts to celebrate the milestone and most players donned the garments — complete with Garland’s face — following the morning skate.

There won’t be a similar tribute for Miller on Wednesday, Hughes said.

“800 is a great milestone, but we’ll wait for him to get 1,000,” he said with a grin.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

SASKATOON – Saskatchewan New Democratic Leader Carla Beck says she has a plan to get overstretched emergency rooms back on track if elected premier on Oct. 28.

Beck says she would hire more full-time staff, extend the hours of Saskatoon City Hospital and modernize legislation to get paramedics out of waiting rooms.

Beck has also promised an online dashboard to inform the public when there are unplanned emergency room closures.

She says the health-care system is at a breaking point, with people dying waiting for care or being left in hallways.

She has pointed to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, which recently violated occupational health and safety rules with patients crammed into hallways and rooms.

Beck says the Saskatchewan Party’s Scott Moe has refused to admit there’s a problem and that it’s time for change.

“We have to get Saskatchewan out of last place. We need to invest in our hospitals, we need to keep our emergency rooms open and we need to support the incredible people who care for us,” Beck said in a statement.

“This is an election with a clear choice. We can change the government and we can deliver better health care right across Saskatchewan.”

Moe has said his plan to hire more health care staff, announced two years ago, is working.

He said 1,300 recent nursing grads have been hired, but added there’s more work to do.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.