Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
It’s been a minute since The Canuck Way put out its last mailbag, so we’ve decided it’s time for another one! And why not? The Vancouver Canucks have won four of their last five games, and look determined to scratch and claw their way back into a playoff spot.
The impressive thing about it all is the team is winning without their star player, Elias Petterson. Without him, the Canucks have had to come together as a team, and for the most part — minus their 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens — they have done a quality job.
The team’s most recent win came last night against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers. Thatcher Demko was the first star of the game, playing lights out for a full 60 minutes — just like he did against the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs on back-to-back occasions last week.
It’s the type of hockey you want to see from the Canucks. You know, when they’re actually winning? It’s brought new light to the season and hope that maybe — just maybe — the Canucks can pull off a comeback. Now, I’m not saying it will be easy because it won’t be. It’s a long shot at this point but it’s got Canucks fans excited and asking questions. So let’s jump right into it!
Can Thatcher Demko single-handedly bring the Canucks into the playoffs?
With the way he has been playing lately, why the heck not? No bias here, Demko has looked like one of the best goaltenders the National Hockey League has to offer. Forget separating himself from Braden Holtby to grab the starting spot. He’s gone from a potential 1B netminder for the Canucks to their legit starter to the goaltender with the most saves in the NHL (608).
Realistically, it’ll take a full team effort to climb out of the hole that the Canucks have created for themselves, but none of it will be possible if Demko isn’t playing the way he has been. His save percentage keeps climbing, from well below average to a respectable 0.917SV%.
Want your voice heard? Join the The Canuck Way team!
With Vancouver facing a lighter schedule through the back half of the season, Demko could see the net a whole lot more moving forward. And he should. “Bubble” Demko has returned, and it’s time to remove the name completely. It’s just Demko now, and this is the level of goaltending that should be expected of him moving forward.
Sure, he’ll have his hiccups now and again, but Demko is proving to be the right long-term choice for the Canucks. He’s their most important player when it comes to making the playoffs this year.
Shouldn’t the #Canucks play Juolevi and Chatfield more? Playoffs chances are slim anyways so might as well let them develop.
If it was up to me, Olli Juolevi would be a regular in the Canucks lineup. He’s played better than most people expected and he looks like he’ll be able to turn his injury-riddled past into a bright future.
Jalen Chatfield has been a nice surprise as well. He’s leaped other defenders on the depth chart and has solidified himself as an extra skater for the Canucks. With a completely healthy roster, he’s the eighth defenceman on the squad, I just don’t see Travis Green selecting two rookies like Juolevi and Chatfield over Jordie Benn and Travis Hamonic. It’s just not going to happen, especially when the playoffs are still a possibility.
However — for a couple of different reasons — I think it would be smart for Green to start rotating Juolevi and Benn. First of all, Juolevi has played well enough to claim a top-six spot. Secondly, he’s going to be the guy to fill the boots of this team’s defensive future, and it would be wise to get him playing more games while he still has a quality veteran presence in Alex Edler watching over him.
But with the way Benn has been playing this year, he might just be good enough to start quiet rumblings of a trade at this year’s deadline. It wouldn’t be much of anything in return, but a late-round selection is better than nothing, especially if the Canucks fall out of favour in the playoff race.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.”
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.
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.
