12 | April 4­5, 2020 CHINA DAILY HOLIDAYSPORTS

ASIAN GAMES ICE HOCKEY Edmonton aces hopeful of ‘full and fair’ season

By MURRAY GREIG [email protected]

The Edmonton Oilers’ dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are holding out hope that the National Hockey League’s “paused” season will resume in time to crown a Stanley Cup champion. McDavid, who last week was named the league’s top forward in a poll of members of the NHL Play­ ers Association, said in a video conference call he favors playing Edmonton’s final 11 games of the regular season rather than going Edmonton Oilers star straight into the playoffs if and Connor McDavid would when hockey returns from a like to see the NHL season lengthy hiatus due to the COVID­ completed in its entirety. 19 pandemic. “A fair season is a full season,” said Edmonton’s 23­year­old cap­ season was put on hold the Oilers tain. “That’s what we’d obviously sat second in the Pacific division prefer. I don’t think we can just with 83 points through 71 games. Xixi National Wetland Park, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is seen in a photo this month. Outstanding features of Hangzhou, host of the step into playoffs and in Game 1 Ovechkin’s Capitals topped the 2022 Asian Games, are represented by Games’ mascots Lianlian, Congcong and Chenchen, who were unveiled on Friday. WENG XINYANG / XINHUA have guys running around killing Metropolitan division with 90 each other when we haven’t played points from 69 games, while Cros­ in two months. We want to keep by’s Penguins were four points guys healthy and we want to make back of Washington. sure everyone’s up and ready for Every team in the NHL has Hangzhou’s marvelous mascots playoff hockey.” played at least 68 of 82 regular­sea­ McDavid closed his portion of son games, which deputy commis­ the video conference by saluting sioner Bill Daly said constitutes “a frontline healthcare professionals meaningful season” in the league’s battling the coronavirus. eyes. Daly said on Friday there is “a ‘extend warm invitation to world’ “What they’re doing is amazing,” bigger window than originally he said. “The numbers that they’re thought” to finish the regular sea­ dealing with are just crazy. A big son and playoffs, and has asked Trio of cutesy characters for 2022 Games inspired by host city’s rich heritage thanks to all of them.” teams for arena availability into Draisaitl, leading the scoring August. By MA ZHENHUAN renowned jade cong artifacts that shared future for mankind. In a letter of congratulation to race with 110 points (43 goals, 67 Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan [email protected] were excavated from the Liangzhu Chenchen, derived from the organizers, Sheikh Ahmad al­Fahad assists) in 71 games, said: “We all Getzlaf, who won the Stanley Cup site, is decorated with ancient tao tie Gongchen Bridge over the al­Sabah, president of the Olympic want to get back to playing as soon in 2007, said the NHL must be The mascots for the 2022 Asian patterns, which symbolize indomi­ Hangzhou section of the Grand Council of Asia, described the mas­ as possible, but right now there’s careful with whatever it ultimately Games in Hangzhou, the capital of table courage and self­transcen­ Canal, is colored blue to represent cots as vibrant and rich in content. more important things going on in decides. Zhejiang province, were officially dence, according to the Games’ science and technology. This mascot He added that they “integrate Chi­ the world and we have to accept “You hear all these different sce­ unveiled at an online ceremony on organizing committee. Yellow is the embodies courage, optimism and nese culture, characteristics of the that.” narios,” said Getzlaf. “It would be a Friday. color of the earth and the harvest, inclusiveness, according to the orga­ city of Hangzhou, the spirit of the The 24­year­old sniper added he great thing to be able to finish the The three mascots — named and Congcong represents the nizing committee. Asian Games and the Asian conti­ is doing his best to work out at season out properly and make sure Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen embodiment of perseverance and “Epitomizing the city’s culture nent”, and expected them to bring home. we protect the integrity of the — represent the Liangzhu Archaeo­ the aspiration for a better life. and economy, the mascots will joy and health to Asia and the world. “We’re obviously a little bit limit­ game. You can’t just throw out logical Ruins, the West Lake and the The green­colored Lianlian is extend our warm invitation to The mascots, designed by two ed, but I have a gym in my house some weird playoff format.” Grand Canal in Hangzhou respec­ inspired by lotus leaves, which are friends throughout the world,” said teachers at the Hangzhou­based here in Edmonton so I try to do tively, all of which have been symbolic of Hangzhou’s West Lake. Chen Weiqiang, deputy secretary­ China Academy of Art, were select­ something different every day to NHL notes: inscribed on the UNESCO World Lianlian represents purity, hospital­ general of the Games’ organizing ed from over 4,600 submissions stay in shape. I go for runs, do * The Ottawa Senators are mak­ Heritage List. ity and opening­up. Lianlian also committee and vice­mayor of from home and abroad since April stairs, all kinds of different stuff. ing temporary layoffs and salary Congcong, named after the conveys the wish of building a Hangzhou. 2019. Hopefully we can all get back to reductions because of COVID­19. playing soon and bring this into The team’s parent company says the playoffs.” the full­time workforce will be Meanwhile, two other super­ reduced starting on Sunday. Those National Games reveal volunteer recruitment details stars — Pittsburgh Penguins cap­ not laid off could be placed on fur­ tain Sidney Crosby and lough. Others could have their sal­ By XINHUA Olympics by a year due to the coro­ teers, 80,000 city volunteers and venue operators for the opening and Washington Capitals captain Alex aries reduced. Health benefits will navirus pandemic. 200,000 social volunteers will be closing ceremonies, competitions Ovechkin — said they favor going continue uninterrupted. The organizing committee of the Organizers of the 14th National needed. and other events at the Games. straight into the playoffs. * San Jose Sharks general man­ 2021 National Games has Games say 15,000 volunteers will be The Games­time volunteers will The city volunteers will work at “You try to get in as many games ager Doug Wilson isn’t ready to announced it will begin its volun­ needed for the able­bodied event, be divided into three groups — gen­ airports, railway stations, main as you can, but I wouldn’t mind remove the interim head coach tag teer recruitment process on Sept 1 with another 10,000 required for eral volunteers, the competition ser­ streets, places of interests and starting right at the playoffs,” said from Bob Boughner’s title yet. this year. the National Disabled Games and vice volunteers, and the volunteers major shopping centers, while the Crosby, who topped the NHLPA Wilson believes Boughner has China’s 14th National Games are China’s Paralympics. Most of the who will work in the media center social volunteers will help the gov­ poll in two categories, being the edge in taking over the job on a slated to take place in various cities volunteers of the National Disabled and the organizing committee. ernment with voluntary work in named the league’s most complete permanent basis. “Does Bob know in Shaanxi province in August and Games and Paralympics will be The first two types of Games­time Shaanxi’s various host cities. player and best clutch performer. our group and have the upper September next year. The dates have selected from the same pool as the volunteers will encompass 22 roles, The Games’ organizing commit­ Ovechkin didn’t mince his hand in this process? Absolutely,” not been confirmed yet due to the 14th National Games. including athlete/referee guides, tee says the recruitment process will words: “Sorry, guys. We don’t want Wilson said during a conference postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Besides the Games­time volun­ competition operator assistants, be completed by May 31, 2021. to play extra games.” When the call on Thursday.

Digest

SOCCER Infantino says crisis BASKETBALL NBA considering Vegas MOTOR SPORTS AMERICAN FOOTBALL Suarez ‘hurt’ by criticism is a game­changer Teenager LaMelo in as venue for playoffs McLaren star’s charity NFL weighing up two of Barca pay­cut process FIFA boss Gianni Infantino admit­ talks to buy Aussie club NBA officials are studying the pos­ shave is shear class options for April draft Uruguay star ted on Thursday that “nobody LaMelo Ball’s bid sibility of staging the entire playoffs in McLaren F1 As the NFL maintains its plan to Luis Suarez com­ knows” when soccer can resume to be a club owner Las Vegas but nothing is close to being driver Lando Nor­ hold the draft April 23­25, the origi­ plained on Thurs­ around the world, and that when it before making his settled, Sports Illustrated reported on ris fulfilled a fund­ nally scheduled dates, the league day that he has does return it will be “different”. NBA debut isn’t a Thursday. raising pledge by reportedly issued a memo on Thurs­ been “hurt” by Infantino said that because of the done deal, yet. According to a story on the maga­ shaving his head day outlining two options it is consid­ criticism of him deadly coronavirus pandemic, for Australia’s zine website, unnamed sources said live on his Twitch ering as to how teams would and fellow mil­ once soccer “is not the most impor­ National Basket­ the league is exploring what it would streaming channel participate in the event. lionaire Barcelona Luis Suarez tant thing”. ball League issued LaMelo take to stage games and house players on Thursday, even Lando According to a report by NFL.com, players for the “We all wish that we could have a statement on Fri­ Ball’s in Vegas hotels and that while nothing if he stopped short Norris a memo sent to all clubs said the time it took to agree to pay cuts to football tomorrow but unfortunately day in response to is near being completed, there is also of becoming “Bal­ league is considering either allowing help out other club employees. it’s not possible and nobody in the reports that Ball had bought the Illa­ nothing off the table. do Norris”. each team to work out of its own Argentine superstar Lionel Messi world today knows when we will be warra Hawks, the club south of Syd­ The report also cited several league “It doesn’t suit me, it just doesn’t,” facility (subject to medical approval) announced on Monday that Barca’s able to play like before,” Infantino ney where he played 12 games last and club sources saying there is no the previously curly haired 20­year­ or to work remotely, but only at a pri­ players had agreed to a 70 percent told South American soccer chiefs via season. chance of staging a typical NBA play­ old complained after inspecting the vate residence and while adhering to pay cut and to make contributions to video link. The 18­year­old American is expect­ offs involving travel between cities self­inflicted buzz cut. limits on the number of team person­ ensure the club’s non­playing staff “Our world and our sport is going ed to be a first­round pick in the NBA due to different impacts of the deadly An appreciative audience of more nel gathering in one spot. could be paid in full during the state to be different when we return to draft. His business manager, Jermaine disease in different areas as well as than 36,000 watched him wield the The NFL last week shut down all of alarm in Spain caused by the coro­ normality. We have to make sure that Jackson, on Thursday said: “We own potential travel issues. electric clippers. club facilities for at least two weeks navirus pandemic. football survives and that it can pros­ the team. It’s a done deal.” However, Quarantines for teams in one loca­ Norris, who has 1.3 million followers due to the coronavirus pandemic. Players across Europe’s top leagues per once again.” the NBL said discussions were under­ tion and playing in an empty arena on Instagram and is a regular on While the league has scrapped have come under fire as some clubs Like most other sports, soccer has way but not completed “on a number are seen as the only answer, with Las e­sports platforms in the absence of plans to hold the draft along the Las have made cuts to their non­playing been largely halted by the pandemic, of options for what we hope will be a Vegas being the only city the league is real racing, made the pledge in raising Vegas Strip because of the COVID­19 staff or their salaries while many which to date has infected over a mil­ fruitful outcome” for Illawarra and the seriously considering, an NBA source more than $12,000 in online racing for outbreak, it has remained steadfast wealthy players have yet to see their lion people and killed more than league. told Sports Illustrated. the fight against the coronavirus. in holding the draft on its scheduled wages affected. 53,000. In his message, Infantino “Melo loves the Illawarra fans. He A CNBC report last week said the The Briton, who is self­isolating, dates. Multiple reports have suggest­ “It hurts because we were the first said that “these are times of respect loves that community. They opened NBA has considered many scenarios had earlier referred to himself on ed the draft could resemble the way it to want to reach an agreement,” said for those who suffer and for those their arms to him. They made us feel but was not near finalizing any one­ Twitter as “Baldo Norris” in the build­ was conducted in the mid­1980s, Suarez. who are helping”. like we are at home,” Jackson told site plan, including a tournament idea up to the shearing. with teams calling in their picks rath­ “We know the situation the club is “For the first time, football is not ESPN. “When we started hearing that would send 16 teams in a reduced “To be honest, if I had hair as bad as er than the televised spectacle it has in, the situation the world is in right the most important thing! Health about the issues they were going best­of­five first round, then two that I‘d probably shave it off as well,” become. now and it was a minimal detail comes first and must continue until through, we talked about it and decid­ knockout stages to decide which teams joked compatriot and Williams rival (holding up the agreement). this disease is defeated.” ed, ‘Let’s own the team.’” would play a best­of­seven Finals. George Russell. XINHUA — AGENCIES