Habs bring out Céline Dion in Las Vegas to announce Ivan Demidov as the No. 5 overall pick and add more offence with Michael Hage at No. 21.
The Canadiens stole the show during the first round of the NHL Draft Friday night in Las Vegas — even before they made the No. 5 overall pick.
“Bonsoir, Las Vegas,” Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said after taking to the stage at the stunning Sphere, before thanking Montreal fans in French for their support.
Switching to English, Hughes then said: “To make our 2024 first selection, I’m pleased to invite on stage our No. 1 fan — the one and only Céline Dion!”
“With the fifth overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens are proud to select … Ivan Demidov,” Dion announced.
It was a smart pick by the Canadiens, who must get more offence from their forwards and Demidov can bring that.
It was a brilliant move to have Dion make the announcement.
Demidov, a 6-foot, 192-pound Russian winger, was ranked No. 2 among international skaters by NHL Central Scouting behind defenceman Anton Silayev, who went to the New Jersey Devils with the No. 10 pick. TSN draft guru Bob McKenzie had Demidov ranked No. 2 overall behind forward Macklin Celebrini, who as expected went to the San Jose Sharks with the No. 1 overall pick. The Chicago Blackhawks took defenceman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick, the Anaheim Ducks took winger Beckett Sennecke at No. 3 and the Columbus Blue Jackets took centre Cayden Lindstrom at No. 4 before the Canadiens and Céline took the stage.
Demidov posted 23-37-60 totals in 30 games last season with the St. Petersburg junior team in Russia. He was held pointless in four games with the St. Petersburg KHL team and has one year remaining on his contract with that club. That means the 18-year-old won’t be able to join the Canadiens before the 2025-26 season. Demidov doesn’t have a Canadian visa — only an American one — so he won’t be able to attend the Canadiens’ development camp, which opens next Tuesday in Brossard.
Last year, the Canadiens took a pass on Russian forward Matvei Michkov with the No. 5 overall pick, opting for Austrian defenceman David Reinbacher instead. The Philadelphia Flyers ended up taking Michkov at No. 7.
“I think (Demidov’s) a better player than Michkov,” TSN director of scouting and NHL analyst Craig Button said on the league website. “He’s (Nikita) Kucherov to me. He can pass, he can shoot. He’s brilliant. Like Kucherov, they (both) step out onto the ice and they’re immediately dangerous. The puck ends up on their stick and it’s like, buckle up, pay attention, you’re going for a ride.”
The Canadiens also had the No. 21 overall pick after making a trade earlier in the day with the Los Angeles Kings to move up from No. 26. The Canadiens used the No. 21 pick to select 6-foot-1, 188-pound centre Michael Hage, who had 33-42-75 totals in 54 games last season with the USHL’s Chicago Steel and is headed to the University of Michigan next season. He was ranked 10th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and 24th overall by TSN’s McKenzie.
Hage’s father, Alain, died last July in a freak swimming pool accident.
“Growing up as a kid, he did everything for me and I couldn’t be happier,” Hage said while holding back tears in an interview with Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek after getting drafted. “Honestly, grew up as Habs fans. Both my parents are from Montreal. My dad would be so happy right now. It’s a dream come true for me, honestly.”
Hage played his minor youth hockey with the Toronto Junior Canadiens and posted 46-70-116 totals in 57 games with the triple-A U16 team in 2021-22. Hage was born in Oakville, Ont., but speaks very good French after going to French school from age 4-12. He still speaks French with his grandparents, who live on Nuns’ Island. Most of his extended family also lives in Montreal.
“This is a team I dreamed of playing for as a kid and I’m going to do everything I can to be as impactful as I possibly could be when I get there,” Hage said about getting drafted by the Canadiens.
Demidov was the player the Canadiens were hoping to get with the No. 5 pick. Hughes told reporters in Las Vegas they had him ranked No. 2 behind Celebrini.
The Canadiens did their homework on Demidov with Nick Bobrov, the team’s co-director of amateur scouting, visiting with the player throughout last season in Russia. Hughes said the Canadiens were already interested in Demidov last year, looking ahead to this year’s draft.
The Canadiens scouts were also high on Hage.
“The guys love his speed, his skill set, character, the fact that he’s going to get a couple of years in college to keep getting bigger and stronger and they think he’s going to be a really good player for us,” Hughes told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman after picking Hage.
Demidov considers himself to be more of a playmaker than a scorer. He shoots left and is listed as a right-winger, but he can also play left wing and centre. Six of his 23 goals last season in the Russian junior league were game-winners and he averaged 4.8 shots on goal per game in the regular season. He added 11-17-28 totals in 17 playoff games.
Demidov said he’s “very happy to be with Habs” and added he needs to start learning French now. He isn’t concerned about the pressure of playing in the Montreal market.
“I think it’s good because (Montreal) fans really love hockey and I, too, love hockey,” he said. “That’s why it’s not a problem for me.”
The Canadiens need more forwards who can produce offence if this rebuild is going to work and Demidov and Hage definitely have the potential to do that. Céline was the icing on the cake on this night.
“It’s unbelievable,” Demidov said about Dion announcing his name. “It’s like a book, like a movie. It’s me! It’s cool.”
It sure was.
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.
___
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).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Freeland says she’s ready to deal with Trump |
NASA astronauts won’t say which one of them got sick after almost eight months in space
43 monkeys remain on the run from South Carolina lab. CEO thinks they’re having an adventure
Freeland rallies a united front ahead of Trump’s return to White House
Deputy minister appointed interim CEO of AIMCo after Alberta government fires board
Montreal says Quebec-Canada dispute stalling much-needed funding to help homeless
S&P/TSX composite index down Friday, Wall St. extends post-election gains
Mitch Marner powers Matthews-less Maple Leafs over Red Wings
