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BEIJING – Not that long ago, there were concerns that China’s men’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics would be routinely smashed. Humiliated. Embarrassed.
China and hockey always looked like it might be an awkward fit here, and on the evidence of one game it is exactly that
BEIJING – Not that long ago, there were concerns that China’s men’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics would be routinely smashed. Humiliated. Embarrassed.
Placed in a group against Canada and the United States, teams expected to be led by Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and a host of NHL All-Stars, the Chinese team, only in the hockey competition because the host country gets a slot, and comprised almost entirely of North American pro-hockey journeyman, looked like it would be on the receiving end of some 10-0 blowouts. Scoring a goal would have been an accomplishment.
Team China got an unexpected reprieve, though, when the NHL pulled out of Beijing 2022 amid a rash of COVID-related disruptions to its schedule. Now the Chinese team of journeymen would face everyone else’s journeymen-heavy roster. Was it crazy to imagine that the hosts, a team that has largely played as a unit for years in preparation for this event, might even contend for a medal?
It’s probably crazy to imagine that.
China’s debut in Olympic men’s hockey wasn’t a complete disaster, but after managing a respectable first frame against the United States, they surrendered three second-period goals on the way to a 8-0 loss to open preliminary-round play. A largely quiet Beijing crowd did not have much to cheer for, but nor did it really try. China and hockey always looked like it might be an awkward fit here, and on the evidence of one game it is exactly that. It was all part of a surreal scene at an Olympics that certainly hasn’t lacked for those.
Before the on-ice warm-ups began, the house lights at National Indoor Stadium dimmed and pairs of cheerleaders came out, armed with glowing thundersticks, to perform a choreographed dance routine. “Cheerleaders” is not quite the right word here, as the stands were still completely empty so there was no one to lead in cheers, but they were clearly performing a cheerleading-type function.
Soon enough, the stands did start to fill, with an audience that was very keen to wave mini flags even if it wasn’t entirely sure when to make any noise. Even with a crowd of what looked to be a couple of thousand spectators in the building — the audience total was not announced — most of the noise came from players hollering at each other on the ice and especially from the benches, which could be heard easily, even in press seats on the other side of the arena.
This is not a criticism of the domestic audience; there is no professional hockey league in China so the locals can be excused for not understanding the rhythms of the game. Other than rare moments when pockets of the crowd offered up a chant, they mostly seemed to appreciate when someone on Team China managed a little spin move. This, they could tell instinctively, required some skill.
Unfortunately for the home team, one of those spin moves, courtesy of Fu Jiang — otherwise known as Canadian Spencer Foo — resulted in the forward bumping into American goaltender Drew Commesso, and a penalty for China about halfway through the opening period. Brendan Brisson of the United States jumped on a loose puck in the slot on the ensuing power play and ripped it past Jieruimi Shimisi — otherwise known as American Jeremy Smith — for a 1-0 lead. Still, China finished the period trailing by the lone goal. They hadn’t really threatened Commesso, but they hadn’t been overwhelmed.
That part came in the second period. The Americans outshot China 16-6 in the frame, capitalizing on turnovers and turning quick passes into goals. Smith, a former NHL goaltender, was unable to stop the onslaught.
The crowd wasn’t about to help Team China back into the game, either. At one point, down by a score of 4-0, the host side had what must have been the world’s quietest power play, when even decent scoring chances passed in silence. You know how hockey crowds yell “SHOOOOOOT” when the puck goes back to the point with the man advantage? There was no such anticipation among this bunch. The audience members did stand up and enjoy the intermission entertainment, though, when chubby Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen helped lead a dance number to the tune of Canadian Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe. A timeless classic.
Perhaps the lopsided result should not have been unexpected. Even though the Americans were only modest 2.5-goal favourites before puck drop, the Chinese team is not exactly brimming with firepower. Yes, it has played together as the Kunlun Red Star in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League for a few seasons now, but it is also in last place in that league. KRS has won nine of its 48 games in the current campaign.
By the time the third period wore on, the Americans were starting to look like a hockey version of the Harlem Globetrotters. They stretched the lead again and again, peppering the American in the Chinese goal with 55 shots on the night and just generally delivering the kind of thumping that Team China might have briefly thought it was going to avoid at these Games.
It led to two questions: Is this the best the Chinese team could manage here? And, my stars, what would this bunch have looked like against Auston Matthews, Adam Fox, and Patrick Kane?
sstinson@postmedia.com
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.”
Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.
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.
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AP cricket:
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
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