Sports

Suspension for Oilers’ Kassian proves unpredictability of bans

Published

5 years ago

January 13, 2020

EDMONTON — As a bettor, you’d have a better chance wagering nightly on NHL games than trying to predict the various bans handed down by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

We’re not saying George Parros’ people are always wrong. We are saying, however, that those who try to predict the length of the suspensions that the DoPS metes out usually are. (Including me.)

So it was with the two-game ban handed to Zack Kassian on Monday night, a suspension that we were instructed would mirror the three games that Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse received when he straightened out an unwilling combatant in Roman Polak four seasons ago.

Or perhaps a one-game bit, considering that it was Tkachuk’s old school body checks — but new school fighting protocol — that played a major role in the whole thing. If Tkachuk drops his gloves like most guys who hit that hard, we’d have stopped talking about this whole affair two days ago.

In the end, the DoPS gave Kassian two games for rag-dolling Tkachuk, who they correctly deemed to be an “unwilling combatant.” It is a fair and accurate suspension to these eyes, and Kassian will miss games this week against Nashville and Arizona.

The good news?

When Tkachuk and the Flames arrive in Edmonton for a Feb. 29 rematch, Kassian will be back in the Edmonton Oilers’ lineup. And assuming nothing crazy happens, they’ll both line up again in their Feb. 1 meeting in Calgary (rubs hands together.)

The league gets its discipline, but fans in both cities get to see a renewed Battle of Alberta that is fully staffed. So we’re all good, and we even get a video to watch that explains the call.

The video tweeted out by DoPS is informative, as it walks us through the altercation on Saturday night in Calgary — for which Tkachuk was not penalized, while Kassian got a double-minor and a 10-minute misconduct.

It showed us a hard hit by Tkachuk on an unaware Kassian, who had the puck behind Calgary’s net and was being checked/engaged by Calgary defenceman Mark Giordano. In an earlier piece, we explained why some current and former NHL players didn’t like the hit, as Tkachuk saw a vulnerable Kassian and unloaded on him.

It was the second such hit of the night, and when Kassian rose from the ice, he was madder than a hornet. Tkachuk might have gotten away, but Connor McDavid — of all people — gave him a guiding shoulder, directing Tkachuk back toward Kassian.

From here, the commentary on the video becomes bizarre.

“Kassian attempts to grab Tkachuk, who is focused on following the puck up the ice for an offensive chance,” the video says.

Focused on following the puck? How about focused on anything or anybody other than the guy he just steamrolled?

Focused on getting the heck out of there.

“Kassian…throws a series of forceful punches, that are directed at Tkachuk, who is an unwilling combatant.”

This much is true, and for raining punches on a player who made the choice not to fight back — Tkachuk literally buried his head in his gloved hands — Kassian received a two-game suspension.

The reality is that Tkachuk couldn’t quite get away, much thanks to McDavid. Unwilling to find a willing partner, Kassian fought anyhow. That qualifies Tkachuk as an “unwilling opponent.”

At Monday’s morning skate in Montreal, Tkachuk was asked if he should have fought Kassian.

“If it was a different type of player, maybe. Maybe somebody closer to me out there, maybe,” Tkachuk said. “But it wasn’t the right time to do it, against the right person.”

Someone “closer to me?” We wonder what that means.

Tkachuk puts few restrictions on who he will hit, how hard he’ll hit them, or how vulnerable they are. When it comes to fighting however, he seems to have an arm’s length of boxes to be checked off before engaging.

He’s old school when he has the advantage, new school when he thinks he may not.

“I have a feeling half the people in this league wouldn’t go with that guy,” he said. “I just think I’d rather be out there, than in the box with him. And I’m sure if you ask the rest of my teammates, they’d rather me be out there, instead of taken off the ice for however long with him. They’d rather keep me on the ice, that’s for sure.”

When it comes to scoring goals? Unquestionably.

When it comes to finishing what Tkachuk starts?

We’re not so sure.

“It is important to note,” the video concludes, “that at no point does Tkachuk have an opportunity to square up, drop his gloves, or do anything other than protect himself from the punches being thrown.”

Like we said, trying to predict these bans is bad business.

And trying to understand the reasoning can be even more difficult.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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