Alan Letang was taken aback when told of the move.
Solely focused on preparing Canada for the world junior hockey championship an ocean away, the country’s head coach hadn’t heard one of its provinces had banned post-game handshakes in minor hockey due to a string of altercations.
“Disappointing,” said Letang, who played 19 professional seasons in both Europe and North America. “There’s a respect and camaraderie in sports. You can go out and compete hard against someone, but at the end of the game it’s, ‘Great game, great job.’
Respect goes both ways.
“If I was coaching a team and stuff like that happened, you wouldn’t put up with it.”
Hockey N.L., the sport’s amateur governing body in Newfoundland and Labrador, announced last week it is ending the post-game handshake tradition.
Gonzo Bennett, chair of Hockey N.L.’s minor council executive committee, wrote in the memo the organization has had “issues” following games that led to suspensions of both players and coaches.
Instead of handshakes, officials will now direct teams off the ice at the final buzzer. The visiting squad will instead skate by the home team’s bench and offer a glove tap or handshake before games.
“It’s a level of respect,” Canada forward Matthew Poitras, who’s played 27 times with the NHL’s Boston Bruins this season, said of post-game handshakes. “You don’t cause any shenanigans. You take your glove off, you shake hands.
“People get riled up. There’s a lot of emotion on the ice, but you should be able to contain yourself in a handshake line.”
Sweden head coach Magnus Havelid was also surprised by the move in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Tough to hear … it’s sad,” he said. “It’s important for coaches of young players to say, ‘What happens when you play those 60 minutes, that’s one thing. But after, it’s finished.”‘
The handshake ban does not include women’s divisions. (Curtis Hicks/CBC)
Teams at the world juniors, which features players 19 years of age and younger, shake hands after every game.
Canada got into a handshake argument at the 2020 tournament when captain Barrett Hayton failed to remove his helmet during Russia’s national anthem following a disastrous 6-0 loss.
Hayton later apologized, adding he was “lost in the moment” and meant no disrespect.
NHL teams shake hands at the conclusion of playoff series — even after the most bitter encounters between heated rivals.
Canada captain Fraser Minten called post-game handshakes a “cool, classy” part of hockey.
“At a younger age, it’s good to promote sportsmanship,” said the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect.
The move by Hockey N.L. came as coach, parent and player conduct in amateur hockey is under increasing scrutiny. RCMP in Nova Scotia last month charged a coach for allegedly assaulting a referee during a game involving players as young as nine years old.
Amateur hockey associations across Canada, meanwhile, have elected to put green armbands on teenage referees in hopes parents and coaches think twice before hurling verbal abuse.
Canada forward Owen Allard said he remembers seeing disagreements in minor hockey handshake lines.
“Especially tournaments — finals — the losing team, they’re kind of moping and some guys don’t take off their gloves,” he said.
“It’s kind of sad. Once the whistle blows, you’ve got to show that respect to the opposition.”
Tobias Abstreiter, head coach of Germany’s world juniors, said he wishes hockey followed rugby’s lead when it comes to post-match respect.
“During the game, it’s a big battle,” he said. “And this is a hard battle, if you watch rugby games. It should be in hockey like this, too. A hard-fought battle in those 60 minutes.
“Afterwards there should be respect.”
Sweden defenceman Tom Willander called the Hockey N.L. move “a bit crazy.”
“I haven’t had too many handshake fights in my day,” he said.
“Players should be able to put aside what happened on the ice and shake hands after. We’re all playing the same game.”
Canada blueliner Oliver Bonk, whose father Radek played 14 NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, said the message to him growing when it came to the opposition was always clear.
“You battle all game,” he said. “And you respect them afterwards.”
Letang said it’s “100 per cent” on adults to set the tone.
“As coaches we want to be intense, and as coaches it’s about winning,” he said. “But it’s also about developing kids and teaching them those little life lessons. You can compete hard, but at the end of the day, respect your opponent and be humble.”
Letang lamented the fact Hockey N.L. felt the need to take such a drastic step.
“Something’s changed or something’s turned,” he added. “We’ve got to find a way to get it back.”
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.
