TORONTO — Joe Thornton was just five games into his Maple Leafs’ career when a collision with Edmonton’s Josh Archibald caused a fractured rib that’s kept the veteran sidelined for the last month. It was hardly the start Thornton was looking for in Toronto, and coming off his first full practice since the injury on Sunday, he’s more ready than ever to get back to work.
“It was unfortunate, but I feel really good now and I can’t wait to play [Monday versus Ottawa],” Thornton told reporters on a Zoom call Sunday. “I got the proper pads in and I’ve been taking some light hits and some big hits and medium hits, so right now I feel really good. I’ve got no restrictions. The hardest part is over, the rehab is pretty much over, and now I can just go out and focus on playing.”
Thornton’s missed 10 games for the Leafs since exiting in the third period of that Jan. 20 tilt against Edmonton. At that point the forward was just beginning to find a rhythm with his new team, and having pocketed one goal and two points in his first five outings.
Despite the short time frame, Thornton had also begun developing strong chemistry with linemates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and was a fixture on the team’s top power play. Thornton was back on his previous perch on the Leafs’ top line during Sunday’s practice, and was looking forward to adding onto what his two young teammates have recently accomplished. In the 10 games Thornton’s been absent, Matthews tallied nine goals and three assists while Marner had four goals and 12 assists.
“[They’re] two very talented players that are playing really well right now so just hoping to keep the good play going,” Thornton said. “The way they see the ice is very rare and I think they play off each other very nicely. Mitch has added a new element to his game with his shooting so I think they’re both dangerous threats when they have the puck, and they just see each other very nicely.”
Based on what head coach Sheldon Keefe saw from that trio early prior to Thornton’s injury, he had no hesitation about reuniting them, and believes there’s plenty more potential they can tap into.
“I just thought they had good chemistry,” Keefe explained. “I thought a lot of the things that I was hoping would happen with the line were happening and that Joe with his skill set and the way that he moves the puck complemented those guys very well, and also that Joe would be a presence down below the hashmarks in the offensive zone, and he did that very well for them.”
In fact, Keefe admitted to being somewhat surprised even at how well the line operated. Per Natural Stat Trick, over that five-game sample as a unit they registered nearly 74 per cent possession and 34 scoring chances for, compared to just nine against.
“Probably the area that I had maybe underestimated a little bit is Joe’s ability to win the puck back,” Keefe said. “He was tracking guys from behind and with is his reach got a stick on pucks and created so many loose pucks and turnovers and opportunities for Mitch and Auston going the other way. Those kinds of things really stood out to me and I think the line had enough success and did enough good things in that short window that I didn’t want an unfortunate injury to Joe to disrupt what was our plan to go with to start the season.”
To make room for Thornton’s return, Keefe had to do some shuffling elsewhere.
Ironically, the Leafs just posted on Saturday their first regulation loss since the game Thornton was injured, a 2-1 defeat against Montreal. That outcome alone was likely to spark some further lineup changes that Keefe ultimately tinkered with during Sunday’s practice: Nic Petan and Travis Boyd were both moved down to the taxi squad, while Scott Sabourin was promoted and is now poised to make his Leafs’ debut Monday on the fourth line with newly-demoted Jimmy Vesey and stalwart Jason Spezza. Toronto just signed Sabourin to a one-year, two-way $700,000 contract last week.
Meanwhile, with Thornton occupying the wing alongside Matthews and Marner again, Zach Hyman slid down to skate with John Tavares and William Nylander, while Ilya Mikheyev and Pierre Engvall flank Alex Kerfoot on the third unit.
It made for a lot of moving parts, but Keefe claimed not to be committed to anything before Toronto faces Ottawa for the first of three meetings against one another in four nights.
“We haven’t made any final determinations,” Keefe insisted. “I wouldn’t assume anything based on today’s practice.”
What was clear from the session though was how much the Leafs enjoy having Thornton in their midst again on the ice.
“I think it’ll be a big boost [having him back], especially with just the vibe in the room, the team morale,” said Morgan Rielly. “When he’s around, everyone is a bit more upbeat, a bit more happy if you will and I think that he just brings a lot. He’s a great player obviously, his career speaks for itself, but I think he’s got great leadership [skills] and we’re looking forward to having him back.”
Thornton has been pleased with what the Leafs have shown in these weeks without him though, from weathering another key injury to Wayne Simmonds on Feb. 6 to finding ways to win tight games. Toronto’s already sitting atop the North Division at 11-3-1 on the season, and Thornton only sees them going higher.
“I like a lot of things,” he said. “I think the powerplay has been great [at 34.1 per cent], five-on-five looks strong. I think Frederik Andersen‘s been unbelievable. I really didn’t know too much about Freddy coming in here but seeing him play [so far], this guy’s a stud. So things are going real good right now.”
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.
