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William Nylander's improved play the key as he looks to best brother Alex, Chicago Blackhawks – TSN

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5 years ago

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TORONTO – It’s a rare occasion now that William Nylander gets to play against his younger brother Alex in the NHL, but as the Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks prepare to clash on Saturday, the elder Nylander can’t help laughing over the many heated competitions dotting their past.

“Whatever we were doing, if it was soccer, baseball or whatever, it was always a battle,” Nylander said after the Leafs’ team meeting on Saturday. “In ping-pong we would end up in fights. But that was just part of it growing up. Every time I play him now, it’s very special and lots of fun. We went out to dinner last night, and we were joking about it. We’re looking forward to today.”

The Nylander boys come from athletic stock, sons of former NHLer Michael (who will be in attendance at Saturday’s game) and siblings to aspiring tennis pro Jacqueline. Nylander freely admits to “getting [my] butt kicked” when taking the court against his sister, but is less jovial about Alex holding this season’s bragging rights after Chicago topped Toronto 5-4 in their first meeting on Nov. 10.

William scored twice in that game while Alex didn’t make it onto the scoresheet, but those details hardly matter compared to the final score.

“I mean, winning is what counts,” Nylander shrugged. “He’s had them since the last game so we got to get that back.”

Should that happen, Nylander is primed to be very involved. Since the calendar turned to 2020, Nylander has seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven games, adding to his full season total of 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists).

Recently the winger has been finding his way even more to the middle of the ice, and now leads the NHL in goals scored from the net-front area with 17. But while the shift has influenced his output, it’s not something Nylander was particularly focused on changing.

“I haven’t really thought about that part of my game,” he admitted. “It’s just that you know where most of the goals are scored, so the more you’re around that area, the higher the chances are you’ll end up scoring. So you try to find your way there.”

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe thinks there’s a bit more to his success around the net than Nylander cops to, so much so he’s had the winger take over as the net-front presence on the team’s top power play unit.

“His timing is right on,” Keefe said. “He hangs around in those spaces, so I think his intelligence and his instincts with reading the play and when it’s going to come [are strong]. The [goal] that stands out for me recently was that pass from [Pierre] Engvall the other day; on the backside it looked like the puck was going to leave the zone, but he just kind of hangs back and reads that he might get it back.”

Still, there’s a certain balance to be struck there for the instances where Nylander doesn’t get the puck back, and then isn’t in a great spot as the play moves the other way, but that’s just one part of a learning curve that Nylander is otherwise appearing to ace.

“He’s figuring out that [spot is] where a lot of goals come from and he’s in a really good area to get there,” said Zach Hyman. “And he’s being strong [on the puck] and putting the puck in the net so he’s been great.”

Nylander has also embraced his new position on the power play, in part because it allows for him to be versatile, and even switch around occasionally with John Tavares in the middle of the ice.

“You don’t have to really be stuck in front of the net,” he insisted. “You can also be an outlet down low, so it’s been good.”

When the puck drops on Saturday’s game, Nylander will no doubt try to spy his brother on the other side of the ice, but Alex isn’t the only Blackhawk that’s pulling his attention. Nylander admits to being a long-time fan of Chicago winger Patrick Kane, and still finds new things about him to admire.

“The way he played the game, the way he saw the game; he’s the best scoring player of the last decade,” Nylander said. “You know the level [he’s on] right there. There are obviously things that you notice more playing against him versus on TV, just small little things, but he’s got that elite skill level.”

Now 48 games into his own season, Nylander is just one goal away from matching his career-high of 22, tallied through 82 games as a rookie in 2016-17. He’s also one game away from the Leafs’ bye week and the NHL All-Star Break, seven days away from hockey that will start with a trip for Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Frederik Andersen and Jake Muzzin to play golf at Augusta National.

“Muzz is probably the best out of all of us, but we’ll try to beat him there, it’ll be fun,” Nylander said. “We haven’t played in a while so it’ll be fun to get away and play a course like that.”

And when he returns to the ice, Nylander’s hoping not to have skipped a beat. While this year hasn’t been without a few bumps in the road for him, including a second period benching from Keefe on Dec. 21 after one too many defensive lapses, Nylander has seemingly found his way now to a comfortable consistency.

“He’s a good player, and he’s putting himself in good spots,” Keefe said. “I think we’ve had the puck a lot as a team too, and when we do that I feel like it benefits a player like William, and he seems to be confident in that sense that he’s going to have the puck a lot.”

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

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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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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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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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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