Sports

‘Wearing people down’: Why Oilers are targeting Knights’ Stone

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2023

LAS VEGAS — Evander Kane has lugged a recovering wrist through most of the season and into the playoffs after Pat Maroon stepped on it back in November. Kane wears special protection over it in games, armour that both safeguards and advertises his compromised wrist.

You see, National Hockey League players have subtle, injurious ways of targeting an injury come playoff time. And they do it, in every series of every playoff season, since the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association beat the Montreal Victorias in the first NHL Playoff game back in 1894.

“In the L.A. series, on faceoffs,” began Kane. “As soon as they dropped the puck (the Kings) were slashing my wrist. I was telling the referee, ‘It’s happening every time.’”

Kane didn’t get any calls, because it is common hockey practice for a winger to bring his stick down over the opposing winger’s stick on a faceoff, preparing to win the puck battle that might ensue. The Kings were just a tad more diligent when Kane was involved — making sure to hack the proper wrist — just as the Oilers were consistent in laying the lumber on Mark Stone’s back in Game 1.

‘It hurts to win’: Golden Knights’ Cassidy on Oilers targeting Mark Stone after the whistle

Especially after seeing a pre-series video of Stone leaving the practice ice with a wonky back.

“We did see it,” admitted Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “But it’s not something that we talked about (before the game) or anything. I mean, he is a net-front guy, and a bigger guy. So the way that you move him is by getting your stick in there and (pushing him).

“I know if I stand in front of the net, I’m getting it. I don’t think he’s changing his game to avoid that.”

Do NHL players target injuries?

Yes, NHL players target injuries.

Do NHL players hit to hurt?

Well, they don’t hit not to hurt. Not in the playoffs.

“Jacob Trouba on Timo Meier,” said Kane. “Yes, the result isn’t great. But Timo Meier, who I’ve played with, knows that he shouldn’t have had his head down. That’s why he doesn’t have a problem with that hit either.

“Jacob Trouba, is he going to hurt somebody? Probably. But that’s a clean hit,” Kane said. “Everyone likes to use terms like ‘wearing people down.’ Well, what does that really mean?”

Kane saw nothing out of the ordinary when it came to Stone, who has missed major parts of the last two seasons and had two back surgeries. Every player in the NHL knows Stone’s back is punched.

“In my experience, when you go to the front of the net, usually you’re going to take quite a few cross-checks that go uncalled, because that’s just what is allowed to happen in the game hockey,” Kane reasoned. “If the storyline is out there, or people are thinking that we’re targeting Mark Stone’s back by cross checking him, I would disagree with that and say we’re just playing hockey like he’s any other player out there. As he is.”

Kane is right. Those cross-checks are as much a “hockey play” as clamping down on a winger’s stick off a faceoff.

Golden Knights’ Stone tips home powerplay goal to increase lead vs. Oilers

A year ago, however, it was harder for the Calgary Flames to disguise their intentions as they went after Leon Draisaitl’s injured ankle. “After the whistle, skating by and just whacking at his leg. I mean, that’s pretty obvious,” said Nugent-Hopkins.

Last year Hockey Night in Canada aired a series of clips showing Flames players slashing Draisaitl’s injured ankle. During Game 1, our panel aired several Oilers cross checks to Stone’s back.

Everything is caught on camera now, which only increases that age-old practice of (cough) wearing the opponent down.

“I don’t think the video increases people’s awareness,” Kane said. “We live in a social media day and age, and hockey players are paying attention. Just like (a recent video) posted about Connor McDavid. It’s the same thing. Guys pay attention.”

That video showed McDavid at an Oilers practice, fussing over what looked like a painful left knee or leg. But before the video went viral, Kings defenceman Drew Doughty “kind of kneed him in that series,” Kane said. “Guys take notice of who that was, and the next thing you know his face ends up in the glass.”

For the record, we believe McDavid is nursing something. He lacks his usual explosiveness, and his signature ability to stop and start.

The Golden Knights, we will guarantee you, will pound McDavid, Draisaitl, Kane and every other Oilers player every chance they get. It’s the NHL playoffs — no place for a low pain threshold.

“Everybody’s dealing with something, and you want to be hard on guys at all times,” concluded Kane. “I don’t expect anything to change because of a video.

“Mark Stone is one of the best players on their team. We’re going to be hard on him.”

And hitters like Trouba will be free to throw clean, hard hits — whether or not the opponents have their heads up or not.

Personally, I kind of like that about our game.

Said Kane: “I think it’s a necessity.”

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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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