The Toronto Raptors face some significant questions with regards to free agency and the upcoming draft, but there’s an even bigger question looming over everything they do this off-season: with the second wave of COVID-19 in full swing and border restrictions still in effect, will the Raptors be permitted to play in Toronto?
“That’s what we’re hoping. That’s our goal, is to play here in Toronto,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said during an appearance on CBC Radio’s The Current Thursday morning. “We understand how difficult this is, we understand that we have to be very sensitive to the pandemic and we respect public health. But we’re also a team that is passionate about our community. We’re passionate about where we come from, we’re passionate about our fans. We’re passionate about winning, we’re passionate about giving people a sense of hope, and that’s what the game does. That’s what the Raptors have done the last couple years, and we feel we are somewhat therapeutic to the community.”
The Raptors last played on their home court on Feb. 28. The NBA’s season stoppage shortly after came during a road trip for the Raptors, and the continuation of the season after a long hiatus took place in a quarantined bubble in Orlando. Every NBA club faced those same hurdles of being away from home, but now with the 2020-21 season on the horizon and the league preparing to have teams in their own (empty) stadiums, the Raptors face a unique set of challenges as the only team north of the border — a border that remains closed to non-essential traffic, with a 14-day quarantine awaiting those who are permitted to cross.
The Toronto Blue Jays were barred by the federal government from hosting home games in Toronto over the summer, as a rotation of visiting teams from the United States (including several COVID-19 hot spots) was deemed too high-risk to lift border restrictions for the league, even with visiting teams bubbling-up upon entry.
Asked Thursday if he believes the NBA and its athletes should be exempt from the ongoing border restrictions, Ujiri pointed to the NBA’s responsible track record and leadership during the pandemic — “We were the first to set the example for the world,” he said — and a strong desire to lead the way into the new normal we’re all facing.
“There’s a sense of responsibility for us. Public health and the safety of every individual in this world matters to us. So, I don’t think it’s a case of athletes or privilege or anything like that. We are trying to lead. We are trying to beat this pandemic. We are trying to come back in the best possible way because there’s going to be a new normal one way or the other,” he explained.
“We want to set an example that gives people a sense of hope. We don’t want to take our team to another city, carry families, carry workers, carry other people to another place,” Ujiri continued. “Let us learn here, let us figure it out here. Yes, we are very sensitive to the pandemic. Trust me — we play by the rules we have, and we will establish those rules, those protocols, I think that will be safe for the public first.”
Time is tight, as the 2020-21 season is set to begin Dec. 22, with training camps opening Dec. 1. That leaves limited time for the Raptors to sort out their home court, while also wading into free agency — a tough task already in these unprecedented times, and that’s without the added uncertainty of where they’ll call home.
According to the latest from Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, who noted Wednesday that the Raptors’ decision-makers had already descended upon Toronto in preparation for Draft Day on Nov. 18, Tampa Bay has emerged as “the most likely temporary home” if it’s determined the Raptors cannot play in Canada.
“Ideally, the Raptors are able to play their upcoming season in Toronto,” Rob Higgins, executive director of Tampa Bay Sports Commission, told Grange via email Wednesday. “But should that not be possible, we would have a strong interest in working to successfully meet and exceed their expectations as an alternative host. We’ve enjoyed our preliminary conversations with their organization and stand ready to assist if needed.”
Ujiri addressed that possibility Thursday, indicating the organization has “many options.”
“We have many options, to be honest. We’re lucky that the Raptors have become a darling, I think — hopefully — globally. We’re proud of that. You can name them, whether it’s Tampa, Nashville, Louisville, Kansas City, Buffalo, Newark, Fort Lauderdale. Everybody wants us to come play,” Ujiri said. “And we are honoured, we are humbled, and we are appreciative that everybody wants us to come play in their city, but honestly our main goal is to stay home. We really want to stay home.”
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
