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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 3/23/2020 1181425 NHL observations: Players try to stay busy at home during coronavirus pandemic 1181426 Could Tuukka Rask retire after his current deal is up? 1181427 Canes’ , symptom-free for coronavirus, eager to end self-quarantine 1181428 View from John Forslund’s bunker | Bucky Dent HR still punch to gut to Red Sox fan 1181429 Fox Sports Detroit freelancers getting no financial help or answers from parent company Oilers 1181430 Raphael Lavoie is richer now but staying close to home in light of COVID-19 1181431 Lowetide: Oilers get good news from the farm as second-half performances spike Senators 1181432 After a second Ottawa Senator tests positive for COVID-19, others awaiting results 1181433 A growing number of women are NHL executives, and the Flyers’ commitment to inclusion stands out. But few wome 1181434 Flyers-Rangers Game 2 in 1995 was The Best Game I Ever Saw Live 1181435 Flyers prospect Wyatt Kalynuk has developed into 'elite offensive defenseman' at Wisconsin 1181436 Sharks' Mario Ferraro posts home workout to do while social distancing St Louis Blues 1181437 Relative of Blues employee tests positive for coronavirus 1181438 Second NHL player tests positive for coronavirus Maple Leafs 1181439 In the NHL, the hunt for the next Tyler Bozak is the only game in town Canucks 1181444 Willes' Musings: pulling out of the 2020 Olympics was the only choice to make 1181445 Canucks at 50: Who really lit the fuse for infamous Torts Tunnel Tirade? 1181446 Canucks at 50: Stormin' Torts resorts to getting in Flames' faces in epic 'throwdown' 1181440 Golden Knights sign Zach Whitecloud to 2-year extension 1181441 Zach Whitecloud used winding path to NHL to gain poise that makes him effective 1181442 Alex Ovechkin posts Nike message on Instagram urging people to stay inside 1181443 Beltway March Madness: Crowning a champion athlete from our local pro teams Websites 1181447 .ca / NHL's top 20 UFAs of 2020: Latest rumours, reports 1181448 Sportsnet.ca / Brainstorming six Playoff format ideas for 2020 1181449 Sportsnet.ca / Report: Bruins' Tuukka Rask says retiring after next season 'a possibility' 1181450 Sportsnet.ca / A starting lineup of NHL players having surprisingly good seasons World Leagues News 1181451 Canada, pulling out of Olympics because of coronavirus 1181452 Coronavirus updates, sports timeline: IOC sets deadline for 2020 Tokyo Olympics postponement decision; NFL, NB 1181453 With coronavirus putting sports on hold, how are we coping? 1181454 Coronavirus cancellations and reactions in sports 1181455 Sports go virtual after coronavirus postponements 1181456 Long Beach shuts down sports facilities amid growing concern about coronavirus spread 1181457 Two ESPN employees test positive for coronavirus 1181458 US sports-betting companies are planning a resurgence around the NFL season and its delay would be a 'worst ca 1181459 Timeline of sport’s response to coronavirus on Sunday, March 22 1181460 Giving NCAA athletes another year of eligibility for coronavirus cancellations is costly 1181461 Sport-by-sport look at the impact of the coronavirus outbreak SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1181425 Anaheim Ducks competitively, if we’re going to complete this current season, it has to have integrity. It has to be respectful of the well over 100-year history of the Stanley Cup.”

NHL observations: Players try to stay busy at home during coronavirus Those two factors clash. The regular-season schedule was about 85 pandemic percent completed, and to finish it would push the into July or August and create a too-quick turnaround to start training camp in September for 2020-21. To keep next season semi-normal, the rest of By HELENE ELLIOTT this season would have to be scrapped or the playoffs would have to be condensed. Ice conditions are bad enough in May and June in many MARCH 22, 20203:15 PM rinks. In July or August, the ice would be slush. “I don’t think anyone has a magic potion as to what is the right thing to do,” Bettman said.

The last three days should have been busy for the NHL, with 24 games A few good things have happened during this bad time. NHL teams have Friday, Saturday and Sunday involving teams jockeying for division titles, pledged to pay game-day employees, at least for a while, and a handful playoff position, or better draft lottery odds. With the season paused of players have chipped in to help. Teams are keeping fans engaged by because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, players who were advised staging simulated games or producing custom wallpapers for fans’ by the league to self-isolate are finding creative ways to stay in shape phones. Players have donated gear to be auctioned for charity, and the while offering a peek at their homes and their humor via social media. Vegas Golden Knights started a digital book club, with Ken Dryden’s landmark “The Game” being the first selection. Players have posted videos of themselves trying to work out in their living rooms, basements and kitchens only to be interrupted by their adorable aired hockey-themed movies last Saturday, and kids or equally adorable dogs. Some filmed themselves stickhandling NBCSN this week will air replays of memorable outdoor games, decisive through obstacle courses comprised of rolls of toilet paper. A few worked playoff contests and great Olympic moments, including the U.S. women’s on their soccer skills by juggling toilet paper rolls, with uneven results. hockey team’s gold medal victory over Canada at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson and his brother Joey, a forward for the , competed in a series of contests in their family’s All to be viewed alone, with immediate family, or at a socially responsible Minnesota garage for — you guessed it — a four-roll pack of toilet paper. distance from others until the trail of the Stanley Cup becomes safe for In a world turned upside down and essential goods being hoarded, the everyone to follow. Stanley Cup might no longer be hockey’s biggest prize. LA Times: LOADED: 03.23.2020 Half of NBA and NHL coronavirus cases are linked to . What happened?

Over the weekend the count of known positive coronavirus tests among NHL players reached two when the announced a second member of the team had tested positive after returning from a trip to play the Sharks at San Jose on March 7, the Ducks at on March 10, and the Kings at Staples Center on March 11. The number of positives could grow: Of the Senators’ 52-member traveling party — including staff, media, guests and the flight crew — eight people were tested after showing symptoms. Two were positive and results weren’t in for other tests administered last week, the Senators said.

In addition, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said via email that results were pending on a number of tests performed league-wide. A spokesman for the Sharks told the San Jose Mercury News no players had shown symptoms related to COVID-19 and, as a result, no players had been tested. Representatives of the Kings and the Ducks have said their players haven’t shown symptoms.

“Everyone who took part in the Ottawa Senators trip to was instructed to self-quarantine on Friday, March 13th and remain so,” the Senators’ statement said Saturday. “The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater community.”

The NHL is staying in touch with teams regularly by email or conference calls, but there isn’t much Daly or Commissioner Gary Bettman can say in the face of so many unknowns. “We told them to self-quarantine on the day we paused the season: March 12. There has been no real change in advice or direction,” Daly said.

Bettman, interviewed Thursday on ESPN’s “Get Up,” hasn’t given up on resuming the season in a way that would allow the Cup to be awarded. Despite his many achievements in boosting the NHL’s scope and revenues, he always will be remembered as the first commissioner of a major North American professional sports league — and so far the only one — to cancel an entire season. He killed the 2004-05 season to get a , but that was his choice. The decision on whether this season can finish might be out of his hands if local and federal governments don’t declare it safe to play, even in empty arenas.

“I believe that, under the current circumstances, we can go later than we’ve ever gone. How late is a good question,” Bettman said. “What we want to make sure of is that we don’t do anything from this season that might impact next season having the normalcy it’s supposed to have.

“So, the two factors are timing, relative to how late we can go without impacting next season, and making sure that whatever we do 1181426 Boston Bruins Boston Globe LOADED: 03.23.2020

Could Tuukka Rask retire after his current deal is up?

By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated March 22, 2020, 4:34 p.m.

I was there in Carolina on Dec. 23, 2018, when an unfocused bunch of Bruins gave the Hurricanes a sackful of early Christmas presents. In that 5-3 loss, few Bruins were more generous than Tuukka Rask, whose lackadaisical puck play gifted Sebastian Aho a shorthanded .

Afterward, Bruce Cassidy ripped his starter for not fulfilling that part of the job. Down the hall, Rask muttered his displeasure with his coach’s analysis.

I thought of that game several times this season when watching Rask play dump-ins and rims. He charged out, stopped the puck, and moved it. Quick, clean, decisive.

The most improved area of Rask’s game this season (26-8-6) has been his puck play. It has gone from shaky to solid, and is one of the reasons he is a Vezina Trophy favorite. Rask himself said he changed nothing over the summer.

“I think it’s mostly our D getting to spots and getting open,” he said late last month, in a one-on-one conversation in the Warrior Ice Arena dressing room. He said his rotation with Jaroslav Halak, which has kept him fresh, was more of a factor.

“That’s pretty much it, yeah,” said Rask, who logged 41 starts before the NHL paused. That was tied for 15th-most in the league. “I have the energy to go stop it more times and go move it quick. That’s it.”

Rask, who missed three games because of a concussion after a Jan. 14 knock from Columbus’s Emil Bemstrom, was feeling fresh.

“It’s been kind of like last year,” he said, “which worked out for us.”

When I asked Rask his expectation for his future workload, the conversation shifted.

“I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play,” he replied.

Is that a real possibility?

“We’ll see,” he said. “Always a possibility.”

Rask’s eight-year, $56 million contract expires after the 2020-21 season. It’s unclear how much the Bruins will be willing to commit to Halak, a pending unrestricted free agent. Halak’s age (35 in May) means his salary and bonuses will count against the cap. The Bruins are likely to let youngsters Dan Vladar, Jeremy Swayman, and Kyle Keyser vie for the Providence net this fall. They may have a great need to sign Rask, who would be 34 in the fall of ‘21, to another deal.

If Rask doesn't want one, would he return to play in his native Finland?

“No. No, I wouldn’t,” he said.

Just be done with his career?

“Yeah. Family time.”

Rask’s two young daughters are in school here. He and his wife, Jasmiina, are expecting another.

“Just be home,” he said. “The wear and tear of the travel with two, almost three kids now, makes you think. I love to do it. But it’s tough.”

Rask, who makes his home in the suburbs, is likely finding time to crash around on that -themed drum set his teammates got him for playing his 500th game. As of late February, he had used it “a couple” of times.

“It’s in my basement,” he said. “It’s not soundproof. But quiet enough. At least I don’t bug the neighbors. I try to play if they’re in school. I don’t want to [tick]anyone off. Just whatever, bang away.”

Maybe he’ll have a second act in a heavy metal band.

“No. Not a chance,” he said, smiling. “Well, there’s always a chance.” 1181427 Carolina Hurricanes Forslund, the Canes’ television announcer for 25 years, had been a man on the move this season, calling Canes games while sprinkling in several national games for the NBC Sports network. The air miles and hours were adding up. It was hockey, hockey, hockey. Canes’ John Forslund, symptom-free for coronavirus, eager to end self- quarantine “Then,” he said, “a screeching halt. It has been a weird change. It’s not like the offseason, when the season ends and now you’re done. You’re not prepared for this and all of a sudden there’s nothing. It comes to an abrupt end, and with all this gray area of where it’s headed.” BY CHIP ALEXANDER Several people have called and texted. Canes forward Justin Williams MARCH 22, 2020 11:25 AM has checked in on him. Tripp Tracy, the Canes’ TV analyst, checks in daily on his close friend and colleague.

Carolina Hurricanes TV announcer John Forslund does the pregame Fox Sports Carolinas has begin re-airing Canes games from this season show in the booth before an NHL game at PNC Arena. and had the David Ayres game — the emergency backup goalie coming to the rescue Feb. 22 in Toronto — on Saturday. Forslund has passed on At 8 p.m. Sunday, John Forslund was to leave the basement of his Apex it, just as he has the online simulations of Canes games that have been home, rejoining his family, symptom-free for the coronavirus, his self- canceled. quarantine at an end. “I just don’t have an appetite for that,” he said. “It does fill a void for the “It’s been an ordeal,” Forslund said Saturday, thankful that a 10-day fans, which is terrific.” period filled with uncertainty and mind games would be coming to a close. Forslund, a New native and Boston Red Sox fan, said Saturday he was watching some of the replay of the 1978 American League Forslund, the Carolina Hurricanes’ longtime broadcaster, also quickly playoff game between the Sox and Yankees on the MLB Network. He qualified that comment. Others, he said, face grave health challenges knows how that one ended — Bucky Dent’s homer over the Green from COVID-19 during a global pandemic that has made life as we know Monster at Fenway Park keying the Yanks’ victory — but was watching to it far from the life we once knew. And there are other life-threatening help pass the time. diseases. A friend, on St. Patrick’s Day, also dropped off the book “A Course Called “This is something totally different, where you have to sacrifice for the Ireland.” Written by Tom Coyne, it describes him playing his way, good of yourself and everyone around you, so that’s basically what I did,” hole by golf hole, around the Irish coastline while learning about this Forslund said. “I do have to be honest. It has been harder than I thought family’s roots. it would be.” Forslund said he’s trying to stay optimistic that the NHL season can Forslind has stayed put in his basement since returning with the resume at some point, that the health crisis will ease and the threat will Hurricanes from New Jersey on March 12, the day the NHL announced it pass and there’s a chance of playing games, perhaps the Stanley Cup was suspending — the league called it “pausing” — the season because playoffs. Then again, he understands the timing of it may preclude any of the threat and spread of the novel virus. Another Canes employee, more hockey in the 2019-20 season. video producer Zackary Brame, also went into self-quarantine. “ I just don’t know if it’s do-able if we keep pushing things back,” he said. The NBA was the first major professional league to suspend play, that “If they keep pushing things back I don’t know it makes much sense for after one of its players, Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, tested positive for hockey. the virus. The Jazz had just been in Detroit to play the Pistons, using the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit as its team hotel. When the Jazz left the “At some point we’re going to have to get back to normalcy. I think all Westin, the Canes then moved in for their March 10 game against the sports will play a role in boosting the morale of the country and the Red Wings. economic state of the country. Everyone will be so hungry for it.”

Forslund’s hotel room had previously been occupied by Gobert. Think News Observer LOADED: 03.23.2020 about getting that startling news — the same room. That’s a lot to process.

“Unbelievable,” Forslund said.

For the past 10 days since returning home, Forslund could only sit and wait in his basement, with any sneeze or cough a bit unsettling. Without displaying any symptoms, he was told he could not be tested for coronavirus, even as the Jazz players, coaches and media were being tested.

At the same time, Forslund was extremely thankful his family — wife Natalie and three children — was at home, safe. He said he has been able to hear some of them laughing at times and their mood upbeat, which is reassuring.

“I can’t wait to get fully engaged with the family again. That’s been the part,” he said.

Forslund said he has watched little TV other than tuning in to the press conferences by President Trump and the coronavirus task force. Like many, he has gained an appreciation and admiration for Dr. Anthony Fauci, trusting the information provided by the immunologist and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease..

“And even when you’re not paying attention you’re thinking about it,” Forslund said. “You think about the kids’ lives being turned upside down and how’s that going to play out. How is the season going to play out and professionally what’s going to happen. There’s a lot of things to think about and I’ve had too much time to think about it.

“It hasn’t been ‘relax, put your feet up and nobody’s going to bother you in the solitude.’ It has been anything but that.” 1181428 Columbus Blue Jackets

View from John Forslund’s bunker | Bucky Dent HR still punch to gut to Red Sox fan

Michael Arace

Mar 22, 2020 at 4:15 PM

On March 8, John Forslund, the television voice of the Carolina Hurricanes, checked into the Detroit hotel room that was vacated by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert — patient zero in American professional sports. Forslund was placed in self-quarantine in the finished basement of his Apex, N.C., home until Sunday night, March 22. He has displayed no symptoms of COVID-19, known as novel coronavirus. The Dispatch made daily checks on Forslund, a featured play-by-play telecaster for NHL games on NBC Sports. Here’s the penultimate installment of Johnny’s Bunker Report:

Through the weekend, the Forslund family discussed — via text, phone or with an overabundance of social distancing — how Dad might emerge from exile. Sunday marked 14 days since he may have been exposed to the virus, and the 12th day since he bunkered in his basement.

Symptom-free, he was free to walk upstairs at 8 p.m.

"We’ve been talking about an exit strategy," Forslund said. "We did some polling. There were some votes for me to come up right away. There were some votes for me to stay down another night. And there was one vote to never come up. I’m not going to say who cast that last ballot."

>> This story is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. You can find more stories on coronavirus here. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Columbus Dispatch at subscribe.dispatch.com.

At the very moment Forslund said this Saturday, he was watching the MLB Network — which was airing the one-game playoff that determined the 1978 American League East champion. Forslund, who grew up a hardcore Red Sox fan (and Yankee hater) in Springfield, Massachusetts, was 16 years old again.

"You know what’s on right now?" he barked. "Oct. 2, 1978, Game 163. Buckey Dent is about to hit a home run. It’s on right now. Mike Torrez pitching for the Sox. I can’t believe this. I don’t want to see it.

"I remember the day vividly. I know exactly where I was and who was watching with me. My best friend, he was a Yankee fan. Can you believe it? My father banned him from the house after that game — he was joking, but not totally joking. My friend had been coming over every night for a month saying, ‘They’re going to come back. Look out.’ "

The Red Sox blew a 10-game lead in the AL East. The Yankees came from 14 back. The teams were tied on the last day of the regular season, and their one-game playoff was at Fenway Park. Oct. 2, 1978.

Forslund: "There it goes. Holy cow. It looks like a popup but it’s in the screen. My God ... Why did I watch this? ...

"I remember 1986, too, like it was yesterday."

At the time, Forslund handled PR and did radio play-by-play for the AHL Springfield Indians. On Oct. 25, 1986 ...

"I did an Indians game at the Springfield Civic Center," Forslund said. "I finished with my postgame responsibilities — teletyped the box score to the league office, cleaned up the press box — and I drove home, turned on the TV, sat down on the couch — and before my posterior hit the cushions Mookie Wilson’s grounder is going through Bill Buckner’s legs. OK, thanks for coming.

"Those were great years for Red Sox fans. All this winning, it just isn’t the same."

Sports — which are, quite literally, Forslund’s livelihood — have faded into the shadows of a pandemic. In his particular case, 300-plus hours of isolation have completely rejiggered his thinking. "We’ve got bigger things to worry about," he has said, over and over.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181429 Detroit Red Wings however, he said telling freelancers to “go stock shelves” didn’t help the situation.

“What people don’t understand is if you do that work, you’re going to get Fox Sports Detroit freelancers getting no financial help or answers from less unemployment,” he said. “That’s me understanding both sides of it.” parent company Abdella first learned of his release at 5 p.m. March 12. The email of release received by freelancers did not detail anything about COVID-19 nor that Utah Jazz all-stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell tested Evan Petzold, Special to Detroit Free PressPublished 6:00 a.m. ET positive for the coronavirus. The Jazz and Pistons played March 7 at March 22, 2020 | Updated 9:40 p.m. ET March 22, 2020 . By March 14, it became known Pistons forward Christian Wood also tested positive.

“Due to the recent suspension of games, you are released from all Freelancers at Fox Sports Detroit are searching for answers. events on the FOX Sports Detroit schedule until further notice,” the Almost every FSD employee working home games for the Detroit March 12 email stated. Pistons, Red Wings and Tigers is a freelancer — stage managers, The Ilitch family announced March 13 it had set up a $1 million fund to camera operators, audio technicians, editors, among others. help workers with the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers, Little Caesars Those are the people Michael Abdella, an EVS operator at Fox Sports for Arena, the Fox Theatre and 313 Presents. 14 years, is fighting for. With the cancellation or postponement of The Pistons are paying LCA employees during this time, and forward sporting events because of the coronavirus pandemic, his self-described Blake Griffin has donated $100,000 as well. family members within the Sinclair Broadcast Group freelance industry are out of jobs. Freelancers feel like the forgotten bunch.

There are more than 100 freelancers who work for FSD — 35 to 40 are “All of a sudden, we get nothing,” Abdella said. “We are all in the same needed to produce each game — and right now, they have no source of boat.” income, or any information coming from the corporate office. He said that in conversations with freelancers from other Fox regional “This feels like there’s no coming back from,” said Abdella, who networks, they would consider any deal Sinclair offered, including a specializes in instant replay. “That is the real punch in the gut for a lot of weekly stipend. us. You preach teamwork, have meetings, send information out, then when the times get the hardest, you’re radio silent. That is devastating to Anything is better than nothing, and Abdella is begging Sinclair us.” Broadcast Group for help in a time of need.

Sinclair, which purchased 21 Fox regional sports networks (including “Pay us for all the lost gigs,” he said, “and if they play these games, we FSD) in August 2019 from The Walt Disney Co. for $9.6 billion, released will work for free. If they don’t, then we keep the money and stay booked all of its freelancers on March 12 and has yet to provide details on if they for future gigs. Just get us through.” will ever be paid for games they had been scheduled to work. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.23.2020 Other companies are paying freelancers for previously planned events.

CBS Sports announced March 13 it would compensate all freelancers who had been scheduled to work the NCAA men's tournament and four PGA Tour events, all of them canceled.

Turner Sports, responsible for broadcasts on TBS, TNT, AT&T SportsNet and TruTV, are providing the same relief for freelancers who planned to work March Madness.

FSD declined interview requests for general manager Greg Hammaren and executive producer Jeff Byle, but the umbrella Fox Regional Sports Networks released a statement:

“The health of our employees and communities is of paramount importance. We are monitoring the situation and we will continue to have dialogue with our partners. Until live sports return, we’ll be airing memorable games from the past, which we hope serve as a diversion and remind us of teams and moments that bring our communities together.”

Representatives from Sinclair Broadcast Group have yet to respond to an interview request.

“Information is not being conveyed from the corporate level to our bosses in order for them to provide it to us,” Abdella said. “We are all extremely disappointed.”

Abdella took it upon himself to figure out what would happen to the freelancers. Even with the understanding that his coworkers are not contractually bound as full-time staffers, he believes it’s unethical for Sinclair to not communicate in a time of crisis.

“We just need to know that there is relief, that they are trying,” Abdella said, “especially when the precedent has been set elsewhere. We need a plan in place beyond just sending unemployment out. What if this happens until August?”

FSD freelancers did not receive unemployment information from Sinclair until March 19, two days after Fox Sports reached out to them via email to offer temporary employment at Meijer as overnight grocery clerks.

When Abdella got the email, he first recognized it as a positive attempt to help freelancers who need to make money. Upon further thought, 1181430 He saw a few familiar faces in Chicoutimi with world junior teammate Dawson Mercer there after his trade from Drummondville.

“Pretty pleased with that after getting acquainted on the world junior Raphael Lavoie is richer now but staying close to home in light of team, nice coincidence and Patrick Kyte was with Halifax and got traded COVID-19 as well,” Lavioe said of the defenceman, who is nephew to former NHLer Jim Kyte.

Winning gold at the world juniors was his career highlight, with Lavoie Jim Matheson, uncharacteristically in a support role as they made up the four lines. That was fine with him, all for the greater good.

“Everybody takes different roles on a team and we all have to put our Edmonton Oilers prospect winger Raphael Lavoie signed a three-year egos aside to win, and that’s what I did and what we all did. That’s why contract for $2.6 million Saturday, with a $92,000 signing bonus. we came out on top,” he said. But apart from a big smile and maybe an elbow bump with his dad, But he’s biding his time now. No hockey, at all. Denis, the former mayor of Chambly outside , there was no big party. “This is difficult for me,” he admitted. “I’ve never been at home this early. We wanted to go deep in the playoffs and we felt we could make a good “You get an NHL contract and you want to celebrate a little bit at the bar, run.” but you can’t go see your friends. I’m just staying home,” said the 19- year-old Canadian world junior team forward currently with the Chicoutimi Instead, he’s hanging around the family house, very appreciative of the Sagueneens in the Major Junior Hockey League. “It’s very new contract with salaries of $700,000, $800,000 and $832,500 in his boring to stay inside. I’m working out in the backyard without equipment, first NHL seasons along with signing and performance bonuses, or stuff my junior team sent me to stay in shape in case the playoffs start. $70,000 in the AHL. No extravagant purchases, no Porsche. But that’s it.” “The money is going into the bank,” he said, joking he will have $20 for a He’s not scared about COVID-19, but he is very aware of the precautions haircut now. “I would like to help my parents out but they don’t really needed. His mother, Martine Bouchard, is a hospital administrator in need my help (financially). Winnipeg. “But there is a lot of gratitude for what they’ve done for me, taking me “It’s a big health concern, people are dying from this. It’s not because I’m everywhere, helped me follow my passion. That gratitude will be there for young I should go around and act like I don’t care, and maybe give it to the rest of my life.” someone who will be affected a lot. My parents are older, you have to be respectful that older people are more at risk. I can’t go and see my Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.23.2020 friends with this contract,” he said.

Lavoie, who is in his fourth year playing junior with 82 points in 55 games — spending the first half of the season with Halifax before he was traded to Chicoutimi for four draft picks — will likely be in Bakersfield next season as a rookie pro. He’s got terrific tools with soft hands and an NHL frame at six-foot-four, 198 pounds, with things to work on like most juniors, unless your name is Connor McDavid.

He’s a strong prospect, not a project. He’ll likely need a couple of years in the AHL.

“Raphael’s had another good year …a one-shot scorer with good size and he thinks the game pretty well,” said Scott Howson, the Oilers head of player development, who’s about to become the new president of the AHL.

“He needs to get stronger and more powerful and his skating needs to improve. He’ll need to become a better two-way player, but I thought his world junior experience helped him in that area as he wasn’t necessarily relied on to produce offence. He needed to be a good two-way player. He rose to that challenge.”

Lavoie certainly looks in the mirror and sees stuff he has to work on. Nowadays, it’s a player’s edges, getting a stronger first step to pull away from people. The pace of his game has to be faster.

“I’ve had (Oilers skating coach) David Pelletier down to see me every couple of weeks and I’d go on the ice earlier (before practice). You can always be a better skater, especially looking at Connor,” he laughed.

Rouyn Noranda, has his fingers crossed he gets playoff games with Chicoutimi, the third-ranked Quebec junior team with 96 points, behind Sherbooke and Moncton.

“We live for hope,” said Lavoie.

He got traded from Halifax like most older CHL juniors, as teams load up for a Memorial Cup run, his deal coming down just after the world junior championships. Chicoutimi, a four-hour drive from Montreal, obviously is better for a French-Canadian kid but as he says: “My English was getting pretty good in Halifax, but it’s nice to be so close to Montreal.

“I wasn’t sure I would get traded because I wasn’t sure if we were going for (the (Memorial Cup) or not, but when Benoit-Olivier Groulx went (from Halifax to Moncton), I knew I was going somewhere too but I wasn’t sure where.” 1181431 Edmonton Oilers games. Eric Rodgers has been collecting and sorting stats for Oilers minor-league affiliates since the a decade ago. He estimates McLeod scored those 18 even-strength points in less than 600 minutes. McLeod's speed and two-way acumen are strengths; the Lowetide: Oilers get good news from the farm as second-half worry on draft day was his offence. This is a positive arrow for McLeod performances spike and gives us something to track next season.

Samorukov plays a defence-first game and was mostly slotted as a third- pair option in his rookie campaign. I think he has more to give offensively, By Allan Mitchell Mar 22, 2020 but it's unlikely he'll spend significant time on the power play should he have an NHL career.

The Edmonton Oilers signed prospect Raphael Lavoie on Saturday, and Maksimov is the one down arrow offensively, although he performed well he’ll likely begin his pro career in the AHL with the . If early in the season. His playing time fell off in the second half, and he things break right, one year from now we’ll be talking close to 20 minor- didn't see much of the power play at all this season. For a winger who league goals and a matching number of assists for the 2019 second- scored 16 of his 40 goals in his final junior season, that's likely to curtail round selection. offence. It'll be important for Maksimov to get more playing time at even strength and with the man advantage in 2020-21. The Oilers’ top minor-league pipeline produced a rich payoff in 2019-20, sending Ethan Bear, Kailer Yamamoto, Caleb Jones and others to the Goal differential NHL, where the youngsters flourished. Defencemen are difficult to judge at the AHL level, but even-strength goal What’s more, four rookie pro players performed well in Bakersfield, differential gives us an idea about what's happening when they're on the suggesting the prospect pipeline has more quality on the way. How good ice. Among the forwards, McLeod is known for two-way ability. Here are were the four rookies (Evan Bouchard, Dmitri Samorukov, Ryan McLeod the splits (via Rodgers) in both halves for each player. We're looking for and Kirill Maksimov) in 2019-20? improvement in differential in the second half. (All numbers are at even strength.) After some early struggles, the second half went well for the rookie men — with a major detour in February. Evan Bouchard

The numbers suggest each will be able to take on more responsibility in 21-29 (29) 2020-21. It’s a complicated story involving a difficult end of the season. -8 Offence 20-22 (25) I like to look at splits, creating a first and second half of a rookie season. -2 Rookies often feel their way into the lineup, taking weeks or even months before settling into a regular role with their AHL team. Here are the four Ryan McLeod feature rookies and their 2019-20 scoring splits: 14-13 (29) Evan Bouchard 1 16 (29) 20-21 (27) 0.551 -1 20 (25) Dmitri Samorukov 0.800 17-18 (27) Ryan McLeod -1 12 (29) 13-20 (20) 0.414 -7 11 (27) Kirill Maksimov 0.423 16-16 (26) Dmitri Samorukov 0 6 (27) 15-18 (27) 0.222 -3 4 (20) Bouchard played a feature role, and his improvement in the second half 0.200 (during a difficult period for the team) is a strong tell about his ability to make a difference defensively. Although the offence was flat while he Kirill Maksimov was on the ice in the second half (21 goals for in the first 29 games, 20 in 9 (26) the final 25), the seven-goal improvement defensively is impressive. Defence was the concern entering the fall. He played the AHL at 0.346 (basically) par with a badly undermanned Condors team in the second half. 4 (27) Samorukov played some sheltered minutes in the first half of the season, 0.148 but it became more difficult in the second half with Caleb Jones and Bouchard, who was a top-10 pick in the 2018 NHL draft, improved William Lagesson recalled to the NHL. (Bouchard also spent time in offensively in the second half of what was a difficult season for the Edmonton but did not play.) Condors, when many of the best skill players were injured or had been February blues recalled by Edmonton. In the new year, there were fewer offensive difference-makers. Bouchard stepped up. That brings us to February. The goal-differential split for the Condors in February (10 games) was 22-45. At even strength, those numbers were McLeod looks like he's running in place offensively, but most of his points 18-33, or minus-15. The team was bleeding a goal and a half against at came at even strength. One of the obscure but important indicators for evens per game compared with its opposition in that time. Edmonton's AHL rookies this season is his 18 even-strength points in 56 The four rookie Condors, at even strength, in those games: Bouchard 5- 6, Samorukov 7-14, McLeod 5-11, Maksimov 3-7. There are two points to make here: First, even overwhelmed with a team that lost players to injuries and recall, Bouchard was performing well. The other three men, forced into more prominent roles than their skills and experience warranted, struggled badly. The final season totals were affected negatively.

If we take away the February derailment of the team, the even-strength goal differentials change a great deal:

Bouchard, 36-45 (-9)

Samorukov, 21-20 (+1)

McLeod, 22-16 (+6)

Maksimov, 23-23 (0)

McLeod didn't play a feature role but did play some important minutes. His goal differential was consistent, and that's a positive in light of the fact the Condors gave up so many goals in the second half. Maksimov didn't play the big minutes, but Bakersfield performed well enough while he was on the ice. His presence during even strength was not a drag on his team.

What does it all mean?

Rodgers' numbers give us real insight into a season that is important for the Oilers organization. The goal differentials for defencemen give us some clarity, with the February numbers central to this group.

Based on those numbers, it's safe to say Bouchard is NHL-ready. He may not be on the opening-night roster in 2020-21, but his recall at that time would be measured in days. His emergence in both areas of the game during a most difficult second half would seem to give him extra momentum entering the offseason.

It also gives general manager Ken Holland some offseason trade options. Righty blueliners are very valuable, and if Bouchard can join Ethan Bear as an NHL top-six defender, then it frees the club to deal from strength to address weakness.

Samorukov's numbers tell us he needs more time. He is still learning the game at this level and may need some shelter in the first half of next season with the Condors. A recall to Edmonton in 2020-21 seems unlikely right now.

McLeod's season gives the Oilers a chance to look at options. He can play a feature role with the Condors in 2020-21, or the team can have him return to the same situations he faced this season (on a stronger team). The offence he delivered at even strength is a solid positive.

Maksimov, like Samorukov, is likely to return and should be expected to push his way up the depth chart. The talent is there — we saw it in the first half of the season. The Condors ran out of capable centres during the season. It's difficult to blame that on the rookie.

Bouchard is likely headed to the NHL. The other three are headed to Bakersfield, to take on bigger roles and to continue their development. All four men made progress during the season, although some of it was obscured by a very difficult February.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.23.2020

1181432 Ottawa Senators Everybody aboard the plane was told to self-isolate when the Senators returned from California. The Sharks had been warned by the Santa Clara health commission not to allow fans in the stands but went ahead with games against the Senators and anyway After a second Ottawa Senator tests positive for COVID-19, others because it was a warning and not an order. awaiting results Octagon Hockey’s Andy Scott, an Ottawa-based lawyer, agrees with Macrammalla’s assessment.

Bruce Garrioch “Employers need to balance out protecting confidentiality of patient health information with laws relating to the protection of their employees Published:March 22, 2020 (occupational health and safety),” Scott said in a text message. “In the Updated:March 22, 2020 5:15 PM EDT sports industry there is the added protection that must be considered for the public health.

“They should provide enough information to ensure everyone is aware of A group of people that were aboard the Ottawa Senators flight to the risk of exposure while ensuring confidentiality is respected.” California are playing the waiting game to find out if they have the novel coronavirus. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly noted in an interview with TSN Radio in Vancouver Thursday tests are co-ordinated through the local public While the club announced Saturday a second unnamed player has been health officials and only those displaying symptoms are going through the diagnosed with COVID-19 after confirming the first positive test in the regime to see if they have COVID-19. NHL late Tuesday night, the Senators indicated eight of the 52 people aboard the club’s Air Canada Jetz charter that returned from Los Angeles Anyone from the flight with symptoms is being told to contact the club, on March 12 had undergone testing conducted by public health officials and that’s why eight people who were on the plane have undergone the to see if they had the virus as well. testing.

So far there’s only been two positive tests amongst NHL players and “The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and both have been in the club’s dressing room, though, the St. Louis Blues staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help issued a news release Sunday afternoon that indicated “a relative of a ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater team employee” has tested positive as well. The Senators stated if there community,” the statement added. “To be fully transparent with our fans, are more positive results from the group that was tested Wednesday, and stakeholders we will continue to provide periodic updates as Thursday and Friday they will be announced. appropriate, while maintaining the privacy of the individuals impacted.”

The Senators are currently waiting on the results of the other people that Maybe no news is good news. were tested that were aboard the flight that left Ottawa on March 6 for Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.23.2020 San Jose as the club prepared to face the Sharks on March 7 before the making stops in Anaheim on March 10 and Los Angeles on March 11. The Senators were scheduled to fly to on March 12 when the decision was made the NHL season would be put on pause.

The charter was on the runway for a couple of hours while the Senators were waiting for the final decision from the NHL’s board of governors that the schedule was being postponed while the players also had two days off in Anaheim before taking on the Ducks.

“The total number of people that travelled with the club is 52, including players, staff, media, guests and flight crew, the club said in its statement Saturday. “Of those on the trip, 44 have shown no symptoms, eight people have been tested, and two positive results were received. We are awaiting the results from tests that took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”

Publicly, there seems to be confusion because the players haven’t been named, but Ottawa lawyer Eric Macramalla noted people need to understand the players diagnosed have the right to privacy under the law, just like anybody else would where health is concerned.

If the player chooses to go public with the fact they’ve got the virus that’s up to them but the club has informed everybody involved who came in contact with the two individuals.

“Individuals have an expectation of privacy with respect to their personal information and personal health information is generally considered the most confidential,” said Macramalla, a partner at Gowling WLG and a legal analyst for TSN/Forbes, in an email Sunday.

“It’s a fundamental principle of privacy law is that an organization should only collect, use, and disclose an individual’s personal information based upon consent. Therefore, personal information (including COVID-19 test results) should not be disclosed without the player’s consent.”

Macramalla added the organization and the media need to respect those rights.

“Where a team has intentionally decided not to disclose the test results of its players to respect their privacy, then other organizations, including media, should maintain the privacy of player,” Macramalla said. “As well, as per the ethics guidelines of the Canadian Association of Journalists, there is an argument that unless there is a public health basis to disclose that information, which there is not, journalists should not be sharing the positive test results of players with the public.” 1181433 Philadelphia Flyers NHL’s hesitance to fully throw their support behind a professional women’s league.

But from where the Flyers’ top executives sit, there’s reason to be A growing number of women are NHL executives, and the Flyers’ optimistic, they said. commitment to inclusion stands out. But few women around the league “It’s a really exciting time for women’s hockey,” said Cynthia Punsalan, hold hockey operations jobs. vice president of business administration and the Flyers’ main point of contact with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association. “There’s definite growth and focus on it, and I think as franchises like the by Erin McCarthy, Flyers, as well as the hockey community in general, focus on this initiative, we’re definitely on the path for growing the sport for girls for

future generations.” Editor’s note: This story was reported before the coronavirus outbreak Cindy Stutman, senior vice president of ticket operations and fan and the suspension of the NHL season. While these women’s jobs may experience, said the gender equality on the business side is a testament look different now, they are still working. In a recent email advising Flyers to how committed the Flyers are to inclusion, something that she hopes employees to work from home, president Valerie Camillo wrote: “We translates into a fan experience that appeals to men and women of all appreciate everything you do for our organization and ask that you now ages and backgrounds. prioritize staying healthy and taking care of yourself and loved ones.” When hockey returns, these women will still be leaders who play a role in “We have women up and down in every department, which is awesome,” the experiences of thousands of Flyers fans at the Wells Fargo Center. she said. “There’s really a culture here that’s active in not only bringing women in but creating paths for them to grow.” Flyers president Valerie Camillo is easy to spot. She wears bright colors on purpose, a subtle nod to a time in her career when women were only Meet some of those women: permitted to wear neutral tones in the workplace. As she chats with some of her staff during a rare relaxed moment in the hours before a game, Valerie Camillo, president of business operations she pauses from hockey talk to ask a colleague about a new reality TV Age: 47. show. Hometown: Washington, D.C. Camillo, a 47-year-old former executive, has been with the Flyers more than a year. She has big goals, which include a Path to the Flyers: She wanted to be in sports from the time she was 5. Stanley Cup and a “world-class fan experience.” But she has smaller She worked in financial analysis for Price Waterhouse, now aspirations, too, that are also of critical importance, she said. PricewaterhouseCoopers, then went back to her alma mater, the University of Virginia, and got her MBA. From there, she got involved with As the first woman hired as the president of an NHL team (others have a grassroots lobbying effort to bring back to D.C. in the mid-to- inherited the job, or also own the team), she wants to create a space late 1990s. She went on to work as Senior Vice President in the NBA’s where her colleagues can be 100 percent authentic. On the business Team Marketing and Business Operations group, and then become Chief side of the Flyers, she said, the voices of men and women carry equal Revenue and Marketing Officer for the Washington Nationals. weight. Joined the Flyers in: January 2019. “When I came into the work force [in the 1990s], there were all these subtle pressures,” she said. “Where the people went after work, it was Warm welcome: “My first team photo was the first time a woman had the steak house. It was conforming to this view. Yes, women were appeared in a team photo in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers. allowed inside the tent now, but that tent was exactly the same. They’re like, ‘Wear dark colors. Wear this. Wear that.’ I put on my favorite Everything was wood-paneled. So yeah, there was definitely a time I felt boots, which happen to be black, power Louboutins, and I go down to like I couldn’t talk about watching reality television.” where they’re taking the photo and it’s on the ice. No carpet. You have to walk. I was like, ‘I’m going to die.’ Well, Paul Holmgren [former president, Of the seven executives who report directly to Camillo, four are women. now senior adviser], he comes over and he offers me an arm. And I was Since her arrival, women have taken on the roles of chief financial officer like, ‘This is welcoming.’ ” and vice president of business administration. On the lack of women in hockey operations roles: “I don’t think it’s only Flyers executives (from left) Mandy Bauer, director of hospitality; Blair hockey operations. It’s all of sports operations, as it was in baseball. I Listino, chief financial officer; Cynthia Punsalan, vice president of think the NBA has probably gone the farthest. I think having a robust, business administration; Valerie Camillo, president of business healthy professional league for women will be central to that pperations; Christine Mina, senior manager of digital media; Cindy advancement.” Stutman, senior vice president of business operations; and Betsy McGill, vice president of legal and deputy general counsel. What’s on the wall in her office: A poster of the 1990s movie, The Cutting Edge. “When I first got the job, my husband said, ‘What’s your favorite Also women: the vice president of legal, the senior vice president of ticket hockey movie?’ and I said, ‘Cutting Edge.’ He said, ‘That’s not a hockey operations and fan experience, the director of hospitality (also known as movie.’ I said, ‘Yes it is.’ There’s a lot of women who love The Cutting the brains behind the Assembly Room and the Rage Room), and the Edge, and it was a hockey and figure skating movie, certainly, and so I senior manager of digital media, who is also Gritty’s boss. wanted to just show people my favorite hockey movie is a romantic Their rise comes at a time when professional sports league are under comedy. I try to let people see who I truly am.” intense scrutiny for their inclusion of women, particularly in jobs that Most challenging part of the job: “The hours. We have over 270 events involve close interaction with or coaching of players. here. Even when there’s a dark night, which we call a night when there’s In the NFL, offensive assistant Katie Sowers no event, we may be on the road playing, so I oversee sort of broadcast, recently made history as the first female coach to be on the sidelines at what’s being said about us on social media. Our marketing platform is the Super Bowl. She is one of only a handful of women to coach in the never silent. In some ways, it’s really a 365 [days a year] engagement of league, and most don’t last more than a season. The NBA got its first full- your mind and your energy. So you have to love it, and thankfully I do.” time female coach in 2014, when the San Antonio Spurs hired former Nightly ritual: “Even with that schedule, I need an hour per night that is WNBA player Becky Hammon, and today there are eight women who for myself to kind of empty my brain and not jump right to bed and then coach from the bench and an additional 18 who have basketball be thinking of everything, so every night my husband and I will watch at operations jobs in the front office. In January, least an hour or so of some program.” assistant Alyssa Nakken became the first female coach in the MLB. Goals for the Flyers: “First and foremost is to win a Stanley Cup for the In the NHL, an increasing number of women have become executives on city of Philadelphia. Second, is to deliver a world-class fan experience, the business side, but few women hold hockey operations jobs. The and also to make a lasting impact in the community.” hired Dawn Braid as a skating coach in 2016, and the Seattle expansion franchise recently brought on as the Mandy Bauer, director of hospitality league’s first female pro scout. There’s also been scrutiny, too, of the Age: 33. Hometown: Baltimore. Blair Listino, chief financial officer

Path to the Flyers: She taught Spanish out of college, then worked for an Age: 38. entertainment company where she was responsible for the VIP experiences at music festivals across the country. She was first hired by Hometown: Denver. Comcast Spectacor, the Flyers’ parent company, as fan engagement Path to the Flyers: She competed in sports management in high school. manager for concerts and other events. As a professional, she worked in external auditing, then did due diligence Joined Comcast Spectacor in: 2016 for Comcast when it acquired NBC. She took on the corporate controllership role for Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers, and Job responsibilities: She oversaw part of the $265 million Wells Fargo then became CFO of the Wells Fargo Center. Center renovation, and was the brains behind the Assembly Room, a new millennial-centric general-admission seating area, and the Joined the Flyers in: May 2019 Disassembly Room, or Rage Room, where fans can pay to break stuff. Job responsibilities: She meets with different stakeholders and handles Her experience in the male-dominated music industry: “I was eight times short- and long-range financial plans. out of 10 the only female in the core crew. There were often times I All in the family: Her father, Fred Krebs, works in finance for the Denver would travel across the country for weeks at a time being the only girl.” Broncos.

How she stayed encouraged despite being in the minority: “I think it’s all Best part of the job: “One of the coolest things about my job is I get to about the mind-set that you keep and the attitude that you have. If you meet with every department head around the Flyers and the Wells Fargo act like you’re supposed to be there, and you know what you’re doing Center, to talk about what they’re doing, forecasting for this fiscal year and you want to be there, and you have a positive attitude, what can they and five years from now.” say to that?” The challenge: “Work-life balance,” which she admits is a concept she MONICA HERNDON didn’t understand before having children.

Meet Christine Mina and Mandy Bauer, women who work in the Flyers The big picture (literally): “One of the things I notice every single Flyers organization. The Flyers have 88 full-time women accounting for 38% of game is I watch the big screen. Watching the fans, especially the all full-time staff. children, watching their faces light up when they’re on camera or when How she came up with the Rage Room concept: “We wanted something they meet Gritty. It’s so rewarding to me. I find myself smiling from ear to a little edgy almost, kind of like our awesome fan base. So I actually was ear when people are on the big screen.” able to get into a meeting with Valerie [Camillo]. And I was like, I’m just What fans would be surprised to know: “How thoughtful we are and gonna throw out the craziest idea that I could think of and see what she careful we are in exploring what our fans want and reacting to even one- thinks. As soon as I was finished talking about it, she said, ‘OK that’s it.’ ” off fan requests.”

Advice for success: “Sit down and think about where you want to go. Cynthia Punsalan, vice president of business administration What do you want your future to look like? And once you decide, just go for it. Age: 46

Christine Mina, senior manager of digital media Path to the Flyers: She worked in the golf industry, then in management consulting and software. Age: 27. Joined the Flyers in: July 2019 Hometown: King of Prussia. Job responsibilities: She works on special projects for the Flyers, and is Path to the Flyers: She previously worked in public relations for the the organization’s main point of contact with the Professional Women’s . Hockey Players Association and its 2020 Dream Gap Tour, which had Joined the Flyers in: 2014 stops in several Northern American cities — it was in South Jersey last month — for exhibition games featuring top women’s players. Job responsibilities: She oversees all of the Flyers digital content, from websites for the team and the Wells Fargo Center to, yes, Gritty’s social Hesitations entering the male-dominated world of hockey: “I feel like I’ve media accounts. She’s also spearheading the Flyers Broadcast Network, always worked in a male-dominated industry, starting in golf. Coming a new suite of podcasts and other audio content to give fans a behind- here, I didn’t have fear. Especially because I came when Valerie was the-scenes look at the team. already on board, one of the few female presidents in the NHL.”

The development of Gritty’s social media voice: “It wasn’t until we saw A lesson learned being a woman in male-dominated field: “When I was a the performer take that costume and bring it to life, that we really got to little bit younger, I felt like I had to be one of the boys in order to be able firsthand see who and what Gritty really was. So then his social voice, to get invited to some of the things that created more opportunity for like any of our social voices, is a way for him to embody what he sees networking. There were a lot of golf outings, where it was men inviting and what he is.” men and you didn’t see a lot of women. I said something, like ‘Hey I came from the golf industry, I play golf.’ I don’t play well, but that Making a Gritty tweet: “Sometimes we come up with something and it’s shouldn’t be a reason to exclude me, because I’m sure the others didn’t so funny, but it’s not right for the moment so we bank it. And other times play well. That was early in my career and I felt like that was what I it’s literally, it just comes to you and you go. What I think is so special needed to do. As I matured and I progressed in my career, I realized I about his social presence is that he really embodies a normal person. He shouldn’t have had to do that.” truly has the personality of just a normal person on Twitter and that is what I think is so relatable to people. If we over-formulate it the way that Advice for success: “The traditional path isn’t the only way to get to your we do with our bigger brand accounts, it’ll lose that authenticity.” dream job.”

On whether people are surprised to hear women are behind the voice of Betsy McGill, vice president of legal, deputy general counsel Gritty: “Yes and no. I think some people are surprised. But honestly our Age: 51 goal at the end of the day is you’re not thinking about who’s behind Gritty. He is a person you feel like you know and that’s how it should be.” Hometown: Lancaster

Do you read the Flyers’ mentions on social media? “Oh yes, if you Path to the Flyers: She briefly clerked after law school, then did a short tweeted it, I saw it.” stint at a law firm before working at QVC.

On how fans’ social media desires have changed: “Now, we’re in this Joined the Flyers in: Early 2000s really cool period of time where the way you’re taking in content has sort Job responsibilities: She handles a wide array of legal issues for the of bounced back from being instantaneous everything to now I feel like Flyers. On a given day, she may work on negotiations, handle employee fans are shifting into, they want a little bit more thought-out, higher- matters, or answer legal questions of other executives. produced content.” Hardest part of the job: “Not necessarily making popular decisions. I always think, we’ve got sales on the offense and I’m back on the defense, making sure everything is in order.”

Gauge on how inclusion of women has improved over the years: “I would say the Flyers have always been progressive. But I’ve gone from oftentimes being in meetings, when I first started, where I was the only women to now being in a meeting and the entire leadership at the table will be women.”

Advice for success: “Don’t be afraid to take chances. I have more regrets about what I didn’t do than what I have done — whether that’s moving, taking a position that pays less money. If it advances what you want to do, do it."

Advice for aspiring sports lawyers: “Find an area of sports, such as , where there isn’t legal expertise at this moment. Learn the business you want to be in, because it’ll give you a hand up every time.”

What fans would be surprised to learn: “How much work goes into presenting a Flyers game.”

Cindy Stutman, senior vice president of ticket operations and fan experience

Age: 43.

Hometown: Bensalem.

Path to the job: She previously worked as an account manager in the Sixers box office, then as the Flyers’ customer service manager, in charge of service team and the box office.

Joined Comcast Spectacor, the Flyers parent company, in: 1999.

Job responsibilities: She oversees ticket operations for the Wells Fargo Center and the Flyers, as well as the fan experience for the Flyers and the Wings, Philly’s professional team. She’s responsible for events and other programming for season ticket-holders. Over the years, she was responsible for the implementation of mobile ticketing technology.

How ticketing has changed: “I think from my perspective the fact that there is technology is a change in itself. Some of the things we used to do in the beginning, from a ticket standpoint, were so primitive. There were no bar codes on tickets. If you lost your ticket, I had a pad of paper where I’d write your seat location and I’d rip it out and you’d use that piece of paper to get into the building.”

On whether what fans want has changed over time, too: “I think the general category of things they want hasn’t changed. I think they want to be treated not only the right way but like they’re part of the family, which they are. They want access. I think that kind of stuff has stayed consistent but how we deliver that has certainly changed over time. Philly sports fans are not afraid to tell you what they think, which makes my job a little bit easier.”

Working in a male-dominated space: “There were times I would notice, maybe I was the only woman in the room, but it took me a little while to figure that out honestly. And I think that was a benefit to me, because I never was intimidated.”

Advice to younger women she mentors through the Flyers Womens Network: “When you’re in a meeting, never sit second row. You’re in a meeting for a reason. Be visible."

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181434 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers-Rangers Game 2 in 1995 was The Best Game I Ever Saw Live

By Joe Fordyce March 22, 2020 10:35 AM

This Philly sports title game from 25 years ago is The Best Game I Ever Saw...

The best game I ever saw in person was Game 2 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Flyers and Rangers. It was the last year of the , emotions were high, the peak of the era teams.

The Flyers, on their first playoff run after a long drought, took a 2-0 lead in the series that night, but this was much bigger. Lindros wheeled out in front of the net to score a game-tying goal which set the stage for the most dramatic finish I’ve ever seen in person.

In OT, the lesser-known of the legion of doom line, Mikael Renberg, picked up the puck in the defensive zone and set sail on a 2-on-1 break. As they crossed the blue line he slid a perfect pass over to defenseman Kevin Haller for a one-timer that beat Rangers goalie Mike Richter and sent the Spectrum into a frenzy.

It was the last Flyers game I ever saw in the Spectrum, and it felt like the building was going to come down that night from the shaking inside. My ears were ringing until the next day. My dad and I were in the first row of the upper deck behind the net where the goal was scored. He taught me about the Flyers and that, by far, was our best memory together.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181435 Philadelphia Flyers season. "Philly has had lots of people here and been very instrumental in his growth as a player. I think when they drafted him, they recognized out of the gate that this guy could be a big part of their organization moving forward. They’ve been hands on, they’ve been here a lot, they’ve done it Flyers prospect Wyatt Kalynuk has developed into 'elite offensive respectfully in a way that they’ve helped him a ton in preparing to get defenseman' at Wisconsin ready for the next step.”

Granato, who has played and coached in the NHL, knows both sides of the coin with his gig and Kalynuk's decision. By Jordan Hall March 22, 2020 3:20 PM "It’s your job to hopefully present them or give them opportunities to be

ready for a chance to play in the NHL," Granato said. "And when they are Kjell Samuelsson had just finished watching a bunch of slick-skating ready, you certainly don’t want to hold them back. defensemen compete in a 5-on-5 scrimmage at Flyers development "He has positioned himself to be very, very close to being ready for that camp. opportunity. I’m one to understand that situation and respect it and not try The towering Swede, a 6-foot-6 blueliner during his playing days from to interfere with it. If he made the decision to come back to go to school, 1985 to 1999, was fully aware of the game's trends. it would obviously be great for our program and it’s not going to hurt his development. Also, on the other side of things, if the situation is right for "Mobile defensemen," the Flyers' player development coach said last him to leave, I think he’s in a really good spot to have a chance for a long summer, "that's today's hockey." career. I respect that and whichever way it turns out, I will be a big fan of Wyatt Kalynuk." And it's right up Wyatt Kalynuk's alley, a reason why there's excitement brewing about the prospect's ceiling at the pro level. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.23.2020 “I think that’s the right way to think because he’s got special offensive ability that other defensemen don’t have," Wisconsin head coach said March 13 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. "He’s confident, his skating ability allows him to be able to have opportunities offensively that other players won’t have and he can beat the first forechecker."

Over 36 games this season as a junior captain for the Badgers, Kalynuk led the team in assists (21) and unassisted goals (three), was second in points (28) and shots (112), and fifth in blocked shots (46). At development camp last summer, the 6-foot-1, 189-pound Kalynuk said skating was his biggest strength. He is advanced in that area and possesses the puck-moving skills the Flyers covet for their hard-on-the- attack, pin-you-in-deep system.

"Great skating ability and he's a young player that looks like he's got a real good pro career," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said Jan. 14.

On a young but talented Wisconsin team, Kalynuk was given hefty responsibilities by Granato.

“He was our go-to offensive defenseman, he got the most minutes on the power play, he was the guy we wanted the puck to go through," Granato said. "He’s an elite offensive defenseman that has the ability to run a power play. We asked a lot of him.

"The good thing about him is he knows his responsibilities defensively to take care of that end. So you don’t like saying offensive defenseman because a lot of times you say that and you think players that don’t take pride in the defensive part of the game. That’s certainly not the case with him.

"Defensively, his game was very solid, very responsible. He’s not an overpowering defenseman that’s going to run people over, but positionally, he’s going to be in great position, he’s smart, he makes a great first pass and I think he’s got great potential for a real high-exciting NHL career.”

Kalynuk, who was selected during the seventh round of the 2017 draft as a USHL product, is now considered a top-20 prospect within the Flyers' system.

"I think the dropping so far in the draft had a lot to do with physically he just hadn’t grown into his body yet, so he looked weaker against players his age in his first year," Granato said. "The commitment and work he puts into it is of a professional status, he trains like a professional and puts the work in. It was just a matter of time before he caught up physically with the skill that he has.”

Kalynuk turns 23 years old in April. He has a decision to make of whether he wants to return to Madison for his senior season or sign his entry-level contract with the Flyers and turn pro in 2020-21 with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. As of right now, Kalynuk is still in school and undecided, according to Granato. For the Flyers, Kalynuk's rights don't expire until the summer of 2021. They'll be open to either choice.

“Kjell Samuelsson has been around a lot, Chuck Fletcher I talk to quite a bit," Granato said of his communication with the Flyers during the 1181436 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Mario Ferraro posts home workout to do while social distancing

By Marcus White March 22, 2020 2:33 PM

If you're looking for a workout while sheltering in place during the coronavirus pandemic, Mario Ferraro is your man.

The Sharks rookie defenseman -- and aspiring YouTuber -- posted a home routine to his YouTube page Saturday. All you need are a couple of chairs and some space, and you, too, can work out like an NHL player.

Well, like one practicing social distancing, at least.

Ferraro's at-home workout calls for three sets of the following, resting after you reach three sets of each group of exercises:

"Depending on what you're capable of doing, you can make tweaks and changes to the workout slightly or the number of reps," Ferraro said in the video. "But, I'm gassed! It was a good little workout for staying at home."

Whatever workout regimen Ferraro sticks to during the season, it has helped his play. Had the NHL season not been paused by the coronavirus pandemic, the 21-year-old was just under 22 minutes away from becoming the fourth Sharks rookie defenseman to play at least 1,000 minutes. Ferraro has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 61 games this season, emerging as one of San Jose's few bright spots in a challenging season.

Whenever the Sharks play next, Ferraro will be a key part of their success. So if a workout is good enough for a bonafide NHL player, chances are it's decent enough for anyone reading this blog.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181437 St Louis Blues

Relative of Blues employee tests positive for coronavirus

Jim Thomas 15 hrs ago

A relative of a Blues employee has tested positive for the coronavirus, the team announced Sunday afternoon.

The team did not name the individual. The diagnosed individual is in self- isolation along with members of the person’s family according to the Blues, and all Blues employees who may have come into close contact with the employee have been notified.

As previously directed, the team asks all members of the Blues’ organization to remain isolated, monitor their health and seek advice from the team’s medical staff.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181438 Tampa Bay Lightning

Second NHL player tests positive for coronavirus

By Times news services

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

Stories about the coronavirus pandemic are free to read as a public service at tampabay.com/coronavirus. Sign up for our DayStarter newsletter to receive updates weekday mornings. If this coverage is important to you, consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Tampa Bay Times at tampabay.com/subscribe.

A second player from the NHL’s Ottawa Senators has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, the team announced Saturday.

The player, who wasn’t named, was part of a March 7-11 trip for games in San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles before the season was paused March 12 because of the pandemic.

The Senators are the only NHL team that has announced positive tests.

The total number of people on the California trip was 52, including staff, media, guests and flight crew. Of those, 44 have shown no symptoms, eight have been tested, and the two positive results were received, the Senators said.

They are awaiting more results from tests given over the past three days.

The other player who tested positive also hasn’t been named.

Everyone on the California trip was instructed to self-quarantine March 13.

The last time the Lightning faced the Senators was Jan. 4.

RELATED: Could we see August and September hockey?

In other hockey virus news:

•The owners of the Bruins said they have established a $1.5 million fund for employees of the team and TD Garden who have lost work because of the season’s suspension. The Bruins were the last team in the league to commit to taking care of part-time and game-day employees. The Jacobs family will help workers “who will be financially burdened if the six remaining regular season Bruins games are not played,” a team statement said.

•The men’s scheduled for May 8-24 in Zurich and was cancelled by the International Federation.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181439 Brodie, Derek Forbort and Travis Hamonic headed for unrestricted free agency, this could be a useful depth signing. The Flames also signed another blueliner, 24-year-old Colton Poolman out of North Dakota.

In the NHL, the hunt for the next Tyler Bozak is the only game in town Pittsburgh had success in the past with Aston-Reese and Conor Sheary, and they’ve been active again this year with six-foot-three Dartmouth forward Drew O’Connor and Cam Lee, a 23-year-old Western Michigan defenceman who grew up not far from Sidney Crosby’s Nova Scotia By Damien Cox home town. Sun., March 22, 2020 The Rangers signed 21-year-old Californian Patrick Khodorenko, a centre who was part of the U.S. national development program at the same time as Auston Matthews. Khodorenko played at Michigan State, Few elements of the NHL’s business are proceeding on schedule as we and already played an AHL game before that season was shut down. wait to find out whether the league will be able to finish the 2019-20 Vancouver signed another Minnesota State player, centre Marc regular season or crown a Stanley Cup champion. Michaelis.

One area, however, that is essentially on schedule, or even ahead, is the Other intriguing collegians are still out there waiting to be signed, NHL’s fevered pursuit of U.S. college free agents. These are the including -born defenceman Brinson Pasichnuk, who played at late bloomers, the young men who were never drafted, went to American Arizona State with Mario Lemieux’s son Austin. schools with high hopes and emerged a few years later as bona fide prospects, usually having added a few pounds and developed their If history is our guide, one or two of these unrestricted college players will games. make it. Then again, Seattle will soon become the NHL’s 32nd team, which means more jobs. Getting players on NHL rosters at salaries It’s not like this harvest yields elite talent every year, or even very often. below $1 million is now a priority for many teams, and these players, Hitting a grand slam home run in this competition is signing Tyler Bozak. because they’re older, sometimes fit the bill. Or Torey Krug. These days, all players get seen when they are teenagers. So to go the Those guys are very good. Not all-stars, but B-plus players. In the U.S. long route and earn an NHL contract without having been drafted is a college free agency market, however, they are hall of famers. They are noteworthy feat. Becoming a full-time NHL player, however, is a much also by far the exception. greater one.

This signing period usually extends from March into April. This year, the Toronto Star LOADED: 03.23.2020 cancellation of the college playoffs and the Frozen Four because of COVID-19 has accelerated the process. Before, once a player signed he forfeited any remaining college eligibility and had to leave school immediately, even if his team was still playing. Now, there’s no reason to wait because there is no season.

It’s a market that often attracts far more attention than it really should because teams get hugely excited in the pursuit of these players. Why? Well, mostly because anything that costs just money always intrigues teams. To sign one of these NCAA players you don’t need to sacrifice a draft pick or another asset. In some ways, it’s even less risky than drafting a U.S. collegian because — as we’ve seen in recent years with the likes of Jimmy Vesey, Alex Kerfoot, Will Butcher and Mike Reilly — drafted college players can just outwait their NHL teams and use that avenue to become unrestricted free agents at the end of their school years. So that draft pick is essentially wasted.

The danger is that the value of previously undrafted college free agents at this time of year gets a little exaggerated. Most are older prospects, and some have been to multiple NHL development camps. Not surprisingly, the results are inconsistent.

The Leafs, for example, got great value out of signing Bozak from the University of Denver back in April 2009, and almost no value from signing Notre Dame forward Christian Hanson. The Leafs got some decent mileage out of Cornell free-agent goalie in 2010, while Ottawa’s hopes that Boston University netminder Matt O’Connor might be their goalie of the future proved to be misplaced when he was signed in 2015.

After two or three years, you generally know what these players are going to become. If we look back to the Class of 2017, you get a pretty good idea what a strong crop looks like. Zach Aston-Reese signed out of Northeastern with the Pittsburgh Penguins and has become a useful bottom-six forward. Alex Iafallo signed with the Kings out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth and has 17 goals this season, his third NHL campaign. The same school produced defenceman Neal Pionk, who was signed by the New Rangers and is now a regular for Winnipeg.

Last year, the signed Clarkson forward Nico Sturm, who played two NHL games last season and six more this season. The Leafs signed offensive-minded Mercyhurst defenceman Joseph Duszak and he split the season between Newfoundland (ECHL) and the AHL Marlies. The Senators recruited Princeton forward Max Véronneau and he played a few NHL games last year and this season before a trade to the Leafs.

At this point, this year’s group doesn’t look like it contains a front-line NHLer. Calgary may have signed the best of the lot in 23-year-old defenceman Connor Mackey out of Minnesota State University. With T.J. 1181440 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights sign Zach Whitecloud to 2-year extension

By Ben Gotz

March 22, 2020 - 11:18 am

Updated March 22, 2020 - 5:26 PM

The NHL season has been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Golden Knights rookie Zach Whitecloud still received some job security Sunday during his self-quarantine.

The defenseman signed a two-year extension with the Knights, the team he selected as a college free agent in 2018. The 23-year-old’s new deal carries an annual average value of $725,000.

“It’s very humbling to be able to sign an extension with them and keep working toward that goal (of winning a Stanley Cup),” Whitecloud said.

The contract prevents Whitecloud from reaching restricted free agency this offseason, where he would have been without arbitration rights and ineligible for an offer sheet. It also locks down a promising young player for the Knights.

Whitecloud made his season debut Feb. 1 against the — 667 days after his NHL debut — and quickly became a Knights regular on the third pair. He appeared in 16 of the team’s last 18 games before the coronavirus outbreak halted the NHL season.

His poise and maturity impressed coach Pete DeBoer and his teammates.

“Coming in, he’s done a great job,” defense partner said. “(He’s) poised with the puck. Going back on pucks, he makes great plays. He’s vocal for a young guy.”

Whitecloud developed those skills on a slow climb up the hockey ladder. By his own admission, he “sucked” until he was 18. He didn’t play in a prestigious junior league and went to Bemidji State University in 2016 expecting to stay for the entirety of his four-year degree.

Instead, he improved rapidly enough to leave after his sophomore season as a promising NHL prospect.

“Zach’s a late bloomer,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “But what Zach has done is soak up every experience that’s been put in front of him.”

Those experiences include his NHL debut in 2018, his run to the ’s Calder Cup Final with the in 2019 and his first extended opportunity with the Knights in 2020.

There’s still plenty of room for improvement. Whitecloud always will be more steady than flashy, but his offense — one point in 16 games — has yet to develop at the NHL level.

“Zach has shown the ability to settle in, adjust to his surroundings and play a very efficient, quiet game,” McCrimmon said. “That’s really what the makeup of Zach’s game looks like, and that’s what he’s continued to work on and continued to perfect and now is doing at a level that has made himself an NHL player.”

The extension gives the Knights a projected salary cap hit of $72,625,000 for the 2020-21 season. The team’s remaining restricted free agents are forwards Chandler Stephenson, Nick Cousins and Nicolas Roy, and its remaining unrestricted free agents are forwards Ryan Reaves and Tomas Nosek, defensemen Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland and goaltender Robin Lehner.

It’s unknown how much next season’s salary cap limit will be affected by the NHL’s stoppage. This year’s limit was $81.5 million.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181441 Vegas Golden Knights “Those were the main talking points that I had with my parents,” he said. “I was leaving college, and the main focus for us was finding a place that I could go and eventually help in the NHL. Go to a team that I could develop my skills, develop as a person, become a true professional and Zach Whitecloud used winding path to NHL to gain poise that makes him keep working towards that goal of winning a Stanley Cup.” effective This was all part of Whitecloud’s plan.

“When I had spoke to George (McPhee) and Kelly (McCrimmon) at the By Jesse Granger Mar 22, 2020 time, and the rest of their staff as well, they laid out a plan for me that made sense for my development path,” he said. “I wasn’t the kid that was

going to jump right into the NHL, and I knew that. I knew that I needed Hockey is currently on pause, but that doesn’t mean the business of some seasoning in the American Hockey League. They have a great hockey is. coach there in Rocky Thompson. Obviously, when I stepped into Chicago my first year, we had a terrific team that created a good atmosphere for The Golden Knights made their first transaction during the NHL’s developing and getting better. For all of us young guys, even some of the stoppage Sunday morning, signing rookie defenseman Zach Whitecloud older guys, to be true pros and learn how to do that at that level. When I to a two-year extension worth $725,000 per year. Whitecloud was set to signed, I knew that I was going into a good situation there and I knew for become a restricted free agent this summer, so this contract keeps him in myself, I could help myself and help the team to do their best and Vegas through the 2021-22 season. accomplish goals.”

It’s been a long and winding road to this point for Whitecloud, with more The Wolves nearly accomplished the ultimate goal of winning a Calder hurdles and years put in than most at this point in their careers. When his Cup Championship but fell just short in the finals. Whitecloud played 74 collegiate career ended in 2018, he signed with the Golden Knights as an games and led the entire league with a +39 rating while on the ice. undrafted free agent. He was in that position because it took him longer than most to show he could play hockey at an elite level. He encountered another hurdle in his journey to the NHL this summer when he suffered an injury late in camp that would hold him out for a long “Zach’s a late bloomer,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly period. He eventually worked his way back onto the ice in the AHL, and McCrimmon said. “He didn’t go to college until he was 20 years old. He eventually to the NHL. played two years of Junior A hockey in Manitoba so he’s a little bit later, even before he began his junior career. But what Zach has done is soak “Zach has shown the ability to settle in, adjust to his surroundings and up every experience that’s been put in front of him.” play a very efficient, quiet game,” McCrimmon said. “That’s really what the makeup of Zach’s game looks like and that’s what he’s continued to When Whitecloud joined Vegas late in the 2017-18 season, the quality work on and continued to perfect and now is doing it at a level that has that stood out immediately — above any on-ice skills — was his genuine made himself an NHL player.” curiosity for the game of hockey, and how to improve at it. Whitecloud recorded only one this season, but his defensive “He’s a student of the game,” teammate Jon Merrill said in February. metrics are fantastic. He leads all Vegas defenders in goals against per “You can tell that right away from talking to him. He wants to get better 60 minutes at even strength (1.43). That’s largely due to his excellent job and wants to learn. He’s eager and ready to go.” suppressing shots from high-danger areas on the ice.

The phrase “student of the game” is a cliche that gets thrown around far Whitecloud has allowed the fewest shots against (20.58), scoring too often in sports, but in Whitecloud’s case, it describes him perfectly. At chances against (16.01) and high-danger chances against (5.14) per 60 practice, he’s usually glued to Brayden McNabb’s hip, constantly asking minutes of any player on the Golden Knights. questions. And that’s great news for his future because his success on the ice is predicated heavily on his hockey IQ. “He’s clearly demonstrated to us that he’ll do whatever it takes and because of that, we project that he will continue to improve,” McCrimmon Whitecloud is a very good skater, but aside from that, his physical said. attributes don’t jump off the page. But his on-ice vision, calm demeanor with the puck and fantastic decision-making skills are all exemplary. It’s a great contract for the Golden Knights. They lock up a young defenseman they’re confident putting on the ice in any situation, for less “He does a real good job of making the easy play, he communicates real than a million-dollar cap hit. Considering how tightly they’re pressed well with his partner and when he’s at the top of his game, he’s not a against the cap, having Whitecloud on the blue line at that price for the player you’re going to notice a lot, but neither is there going to be chaos next two seasons should help tremendously. when he’s on the ice,” McCrimmon said. “He’s a really intelligent player that does a good job of defending and breaking pucks out.” Plus, he’s only 17 games into his NHL career and Whitecloud is still searching for ways to improve his game. The 23-year-old blueliner stepped into Vegas’ lineup in February and played extremely well during his 16 appearances. Even when he first “I ask myself that all the time,” he said. “I ask other people all the time joined the lineup, McNabb was impressed with Whitecloud’s poise, too: What are things I can do? I think it’d be wrong of me to focus on one saying, “He doesn’t look like a rookie. He looks like he’s been playing for thing specifically as I’ve never done that throughout my hockey career. a while.” I’ve focused on rounding out myself as a good hockey player, a good person and a good community member. If I can keep doing all of those That’s because Whitecloud absorbs information at an impressive rate, things away from the rink, the things at the rink eventually take care of and his extended journey to the NHL has afforded him more knowledge themselves. The habits that I’ve been creating over the past five years, in than most when they first enter the league. college and a little bit in junior have prepared me for what I’m going through. To be able to contribute and, not only just come in, but “He’s done everything he can to hold up his end of the bargain and contribute to helping the team win and get two points every night. I want improve every way possible,” McCrimmon said, “whether that was initially to do my part, I want to execute, do my job and be a good person in the working with (director of player development) Wil Nichol on the organization that people can rely on. I think if I focus on rounding out development side, playing under (Chicago Wolves coach) Rocky myself as a good player, person and community member, I’m starting Thompson in the AHL or the time that he’s now had with the big team things off on the right foot and doing the right things. To focus in on one under Peter DeBoer and Ryan McGill. He wants to get better. He’s thing would be wrong of me, but I think all of those things take care of clearly demonstrated to us that he’ll do whatever it takes and because of themselves when you try to do them all the best you can.” that, we project that he will continue to improve. He’s only just scratching the surface as far as his time as an NHL player.” The Athletic LOADED: 03.23.2020 Whitecloud played all of last season in the AHL, serving as the Wolves’ No. 1 shutdown defender. At that point, he was already older than most players when they sign their entry-level deals, and it would be easy for him to be frustrated with a full season in the AHL, but not Whitecloud.

He views his career with a refreshing sense of clarity, and every situation as an opportunity to learn. 1181442 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin posts Nike message on Instagram urging people to stay inside

By J.J. Regan March 22, 2020 7:00 AM

With medical experts urging people to practice social distancing to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Alex Ovechkin chimed in on Saturday with an Instagram message from Nike.

It has been just 10 days since the NHL season was paused due to the coronavirus outbreak, though it feels much longer than that. Hopefully we will have hockey back soon, but not until the coronavirus is finally in check and that won't happen without people heeding Ovechkin and Nike's message.

Stay at home and stay safe.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181443 Washington Capitals 2. Darrell Green: Small in size, the NFL’s fastest man and 4-time All-Pro cornerback delivered massive impact during his 20-year Hall of Fame career in Washington.

Beltway March Madness: Crowning a champion athlete from our local pro 3. : Perhaps the greatest player in Bullets/Wizards franchise teams history. Unseld is one of just two players to win Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the same season (1969). The other is . Known for his brutal picks, floor-length outlet passes and relentless rebounding, Unseld was a one-man culture setter for a franchise that Dan Connolly Mar 22, 2020 made four Finals appearances in the 1970s and won its only championship in 1978.

We know you’re missing the NCAA hoops tournaments. We are, too. 4. Frank Robinson: The Hall-of-Fame outfielder’s presence in 1966 made a good Orioles team a champion. COVID-19 has changed all of our lives, and we wanted to try and bring at least a little normalcy back to your March. 5. John Riggins: Went from bored and broke to running away with the Redskins’ all-time rushing yards record and Super Bowl XVII MVP. Take So, we’ve created our own “field” of 64: The best or most influential a bow, Riggo. players who have played on pro teams in Washington D.C. and Baltimore. 6. Art Monk: Quiet by nature, the three-time Super Bowl champion with the Redskins became the first player in NFL history with at least 900 Call it Beltway March Madness. And we want you to help us pick the receptions. champion, the best or most influential player who has donned a pro uniform for a significant period in either Charm City or the District. 7. Jonathan Ogden: He was the Ravens’ first-ever draft pick and he didn’t disappoint, establishing himself as one of the top offensive linemen of his We tried to pick a cross-section of players and sports, and we had to set era and getting in the Hall of Fame on his first try. some rules: 8. Anthony Rendon: A career WAR over 30, and a guy who never got as •No coaches. That’s why there’s no Joe Gibbs or Earl Weaver in the much credit as he should while with the Nationals. bracket. 9. Joe Theismann: Theismann, who led Washington to two Super Bowl •No superstars who just barely passed through the region. So Reggie appearances, remains the team’s all-time passing leader (25,206 yards) Jackson’s 1976 cameo for the Birds doesn’t make the cut, nor does after a 12-season run in the nation’s capital. He led Washington to its Deion Sanders’ one year in burgundy and gold in 2000. first-ever Super Bowl victory, with the team’s 27-17 win over Miami, and its first championship in 40 years. •No Olympics or individual sports. That’s why you won’t see or Katie Ledecky. 10. Jud “Boojum” Wilson: The Baseball Hall of Famer played for the Baltimore Black Sox and Homestead Grays, and had a career batting •Nor does being a native of this area or playing college here alone get average of .351. you into our dance. So while Kevin Durant is from here, and played here at Georgetown, they don’t make the list. 11. Peter Bondra: Before Ovi there was Bonzai, who has the most shorthanded goals in franchise history (32), ranks second to Ovechkin in Our entrants had to play for a D.C. or Baltimore team as a pro. Period. goals (472) and power play tallies (137), and sits third behind to We received input from our writers and tried to put together proper Ovechkin and Backstrom in points (825) with the Capitals. The Slovakian seedings and interesting first-round matchups: For instance, Redskins sniper is also third in games played (961). Hall-of-Famer Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, a QB known for his passing in the 12. Gilbert Arenas: It didn’t end well for Agent Zero in D.C., but he was ’30s and ’40s, faces reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, a QB known for electric his first four seasons with the Wizards after signing as a free his running. Former teammates Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman agent in 2003. He made three straight All-Star games, was second-team battle in the first round. So do Lenny Moore, the former Colt, and Joe all-NBA in 2006-07 and was must-see TV as he led Washington from Flacco, the former Raven. also-ran status into a yearly playoff participant with multiple game- Even with those limits, we know some Hall-of-Famers didn’t make the winning shots and well-earned swag. cut, whether they weren’t in the area long enough – or, maybe, they were 13. Marco Etcheverry: El Diablo is something approaching a cult hero overshadowed by tremendous teammates. We didn’t want to overload amongst D.C. United fans, maybe the greatest No. 10 in the club’s the bracket too much with players from one team. We had a healthy history. He was an integral part of the club’s first three MLS Cups, was group that could advance to our NIT tourney, that’s for sure: names like the league’s MVP in 1998 and was an icon to the club’s earliest Boog Powell, Russ Grimm, Roy Campanella, Buddy Jeannette, Jack supporters, many of them hailing from D.C.’s sizable Central American Marin, Johan Cruyff and Alana Beard, among others. diaspora. Here’s our bracket. Have fun. And argue. You can vote here to 14. Emma Meesseman: “Playoff Emma” became the 2019 Finals MVP participate. for the Mystics with her scoring knack and bullseye shooting stroke from Voting instructions. Each round is assigned a voting period. You can not all angles. vote in one setting. Every round resets with athletes winning the most 15. Stan Stamenkovic: The Magician was the star of the old Baltimore votes in the previous round. Blast and is the only player in the history of Baltimore’s Round 1: March 22-24 league to have his number retired.

Round 2: March 25-27 16. Ben Olsen: A fixture for D.C. United since 1998, Olsen’s résumé as a player includes a pair of MLS Cups, a U.S. Open Cup and a continental Round 3: March 28-30 title as well. Despite chronic injuries, Olsen was also a regular of the U.S. Round 4: March 31-April 2 men’s national team, including an appearance in the 2006 .

Final Four: April 3-5 I-95 Region

Title Game: April 6-7 1. Alex Ovechkin: Ovi gets the top seed for leading the franchise in goals (706), points (1,278), games (1,152), shots (5,545), power-play goals Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. ET. (260), hat tricks (27) and, of course, for ending decades of futility by finally doing that thing on June 7, 2018 for the Capitals. I-495 Region 2. Brooks Robinson: The Hall-of-Fame third baseman was the original 1. Cal Ripken Jr.: The Iron Man gets the top seed here because of what Mr. Oriole. he meant to the Orioles’ organization, baseball, and the state of . 3. Jim Palmer: The greatest pitcher in club history and only person to appear in all of the Orioles’ World Series appearances. 4. Sammy Baugh: The quarterback/safety/punter became one of the by two nicknames — “The Pearl” and “Jesus”? His spin moves and other NFL’s original stars and still holds the Washington franchise record for offensive weapons were unstoppable. touchdown passes. 8. : “The Honeycomb” was shattering backboards in the 5. Lenny Moore: The Hall-of-Fame running back/flanker made seven NBA long before Darryl Dawkins and Shaq. A five-time All-Star, Johnson Pro Bowls, rushed for more than 5,000 yards and had more than 6,000 dominated at power forward despite only going 6-6 or so. Johnson was receiving yards with the Colts. first-team all-defense twice and an all-NBA second-team selection four times. 6. Ed Reed: Reed took on a supporting role to Ray Lewis, but he was much more than that. The Ravens’ ballhawk is one of the best safeties in 9. Mike Mussina: The only Oriole on this list who didn’t go into the Hall of the history of the NFL. Fame as an Oriole. But he is still in there despite no logo on his cap.

7. Max Scherzer: The Nationals pitcher is a three-time Cy Young award 10. Buck Leonard: A key part of the Homestead Grays dynasty of the winner, he’s a surefire Hall of Famer. 1930s and 1940s. The first baseman spent his entire 17-year career with the Grays, the longest term of service for a player with one team in Negro 8. Charley Taylor: We round out the Hall of Famers with the shifty league history. receiver who retired as the NFL’s all-time leader with 649 receptions. 11. Ryan Zimmerman: Mr. National. He’s been an All-Star, Gold Glove 9. John Mackey: Considered one of the greatest tight ends to ever play winner and one of the most consistent players in baseball over the years. the game, he was named NFL’s the 42nd best player ever in its Top 100 rankings. 12. Frank Howard: The 6-7, 275-pound “Hondo” mashed at RFK Stadium for seven seasons, hitting 236 of his career 382 homers in D.C. 10. Jaime Moreno: For years, Moreno was ’s all- time leading goal scorer. Without a doubt, he was the greatest player in 13. Rose Lavelle: Though Lavelle’s stay with the has the early history of the league: 133 goals, 102 assists. Four MLS Cups. been hampered by injury — she’s only managed 17 appearances in a With Jaime, the C.V. speaks for itself. pair of seasons — Lavelle has raised the profile of the team dramatically during that timespan. She was a standout for the USWNT at the 2018 11. Chris Hanburger: The Hall of Fame linebacker played his entire 14- World Cup and seems a lock to be among the club’s elite players for year career with the Redskins, where he was a nine-time Pro Bowler and years to come. five-time first team All-Pro. 14. Gary Gait: This can’t be a complete list of Baltimore-Washington pro 12. Joe Flacco: It wasn’t always pretty, but Flacco won big in Baltimore sports without at least one lacrosse player, and Gait is arguably the and put together one of the best Super Bowl runs for any quarterback in greatest, especially when you throw pro criteria in. He played indoor for NFL history. the Baltimore Thunder and Washington Power and outdoor for the 13. Lamar Jackson: OK, Marshal Yanda or Haloti Ngata are more Baltimore Bayhawks. deserving of this spot, but this is supposed to be fun and was there every 15. Olie Kolzig: Olie the Goalie leads the franchise in games played by a a more entertaining Baltimore athlete to watch than Jackson during his netminder (711), wins (301), saves (18,013) and goals saved above 2019 MVP season? average (109). He’s also tied for most shutouts (35) with Braden Holtby.

14. John Wall: For once, the Wizards got lucky in a Lottery, winning the 16. Mickey Vernon: The first baseman made five of his seven All-Star first pick overall in 2010 and taking Wall. He hasn’t disappointed when he appearances and won his two American League batting titles during two has been able to stay on the court, with five All-Star appearances. stints with the Senators, including hitting .337 and leading the AL in Injuries have limited him, but he’s still the franchise’s leader in assists doubles (43) in 1953, at age 35. and steals, and has led Washington further in the postseason than anyone since the franchise’s heyday in the ’70s. I-695 Region

15. Ali Krieger: Krieger’s roots in the DMV run deep — the Dumfries-born 1. Johnny Unitas: So many amazing players have come through defender was a staple for the Spirit in the mid-2010’s, and started her pro Baltimore, but it all started with Johnny U, the Hall-of-Fame QB with the career with their predecessor, the Washington Freedom. flattop ‘do, black hightops and ice in the veins.

16. Dexter Manley: The “Secretary of Defense” earned that nickname 2. Walter Johnson: “The Big Train” put up cartoonish numbers: 417 wins, thanks to 18.5 sacks in 1986 — a single-season record for Washington second in MLB history only to Cy Young’s 511, 110 career shutouts, still — and his franchise-record 91 sacks en route to two of Washington’s the MLB record, more than 3,500 strikeouts, which was the MLB record three Super Bowl titles. for 56 years, and one of the first five members of Baseball’s Hall of Fame, along with Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Christy BW Parkway Region Mathewson.

1. : Acquired from Houston in 1972, Hayes is the franchise’s 3. Josh Gibson: Known as the “Black Babe Ruth,” he played for the all-time leading scorer, a Hall of Famer, a member of the NBA’s 50th Homestead Grays on three different occasions, and hit almost 800 home anniversary team and a 12-time All-Star. He led the franchise to three of runs in the Negro Leagues and independent baseball teams during his its four Finals appearances along with Wes Unseld, and is still fourth all- 17-year career. time in league history in rebounds and ninth all-time in points. 4. Raymond Berry: The greatest wide receiver in Baltimore football 2. Ray Lewis: The first-ballot Hall of Famer was the face of the franchise history was Unitas’ go-to target all the way to the Hall. for the better part of two decades, providing it with an identity and leading it to two Super Bowls. 5. Elena Delle Donne: Where to begin? Three seasons in Washington. Three All-Star selections. 2019 WNBA MVP. Two finals appearances. 3. Gino Marchetti: The Hall-of-Fame defensive end made 11 Pro Bowls, 2019 Champion. was a two-time NFL champ and made a heck of a burger. 6. Jim Parker: NFL.com ranked the Hall-of-Fame offensive lineman as 4. Mike Gartner: The Caps’ fourth overall pick in 1979 and a Hockey Hall the 32nd greatest player of all-time, four spots ahead of Raymond Berry of Fame selection. Garts, whose No. 11 jersey hangs from the rafters, did and seven ahead of Marchetti. not score all of his 708 career goals in Washington but he did score a bunch (397) in his 10 seasons with them. 7. Sonny Jurgensen: Before his legendary broadcasting career, Washington fans loved this passer for his gunslinging style throughout 5. Eddie Murray: The Hall-of-Fame first baseman was integral to the the ’60s and early ’70s. Orioles’ success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 8. Nicklas Backstrom: The perfect Robin to Ovechkin’s Batman, Backy 6. Bryce Harper: A former NL MVP for the Nationals and one of the most leads the franchise in assists (684), plus-minus (plus 119) and is second hyped prospects of all time. to you-know-who in points (927).

7. : The superstar guard from Winston-Salem State was the 9. Rod Langway: The Caps had never made the playoffs before show at the Baltimore Civic Center for years, and one of the greatest Langway’s arrival from Montreal. Once the two-time Norris Trophy winner performers in NBA history. What other superstar do you know who went got here, though, they became a postseason mainstay, qualifying for the tournament in all 11 seasons No. 5 played in Washington.

10. Terrell Suggs: Suggs played for the Ravens for 16 years and set numerous franchise records, including most sacks.

11. Art Donovan: Old Fatso wasn’t just a loudmouth character, he’s a Hall-of-Famer and was a legendary run stuffer on the Baltimore Colts’ D line.

12. Chamique Holdsclaw: The first selection in the 1999 WNBA Draft became the Mystics’ first star.

13. Stephen Strasburg: If a World Series MVP didn’t solidify his spot on here for the Nationals’ co-ace, what could?

14. Paul Cannell: “The mayor of Georgetown’s” exploits on the field for the Diplomats were legendary — he was a prolific striker in the NASL in the ’70s. But his off-field exploits — well, let’s just say he stored a change of clothing at nearly every bar on M Street.

15. Bradley Beal: The third pick overall in 2012 has become one of the Wizard’s all-time best players, especially as Wall has been limited the past few years. Beal has made two All-Star teams and is the Wizards’ all- time leader in three-pointers made and attempted.

16. Kristi Toliver: The steely-eyed guard’s arrival as a free agent came the same week the Mystics acquired Delle Donne in a trade with Chicago in 2017, and pushed the Mystics into contender status.

Beltway NIT

These players were all seriously considered, but the Selection Committee looked elsewhere. Many have great résumés, but some didn’t play long enough in D.C. or Baltimore. Others were overshadowed by better teammates, and we wanted to spread the wealth throughout various sports. Here is a partial list of those who got busted on the bubble: Sonny Askew (Diplomats), Alana Beard (Mystics), Cool Papa Bell (Homestead Grays), Kelvin Bryant (Baltimore Stars of the USFL/Redskins), Denison Cabral (Washington Warthogs, Baltimore Bays and of indoor soccer), Roy Campanella (Grays), Oscar Charleston (Grays), Johan Cruyff (Diplomats), Irv Eatman (Stars), William Fuller (Stars), Russ Grimm (Redskins), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Ashlyn Harris (Washington Freedom/Spirit), Pat Healey (Baltimore Blast), Buddy Jeannette (Baltimore Bullets), Judy Johnson (Grays), (Maryland Pride, Washington Freedom, D.C. United Women, Washington Spirit), Jack Marin (Baltimore Bullets), Mark Moseley (Redskins), Sam Mills (Stars), Mike Pringle (Baltimore Stallions, CFL), Boog Powell (Orioles), Roy Sievers (Senators), Jimmy Steele (Diplomats), Justin Tucker (Ravens), Timmy Wittman (Blast, Baltimore Spirit), Marshal Yanda (Ravens).

The Athletic LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181444 • It’s been 11 days since the NHL announced it’s suspending its season and it feels like 11 months.

Now think of what it’s going to feel like two months from now. Willes' Musings: Canada pulling out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was the You’d love to think the NHL can hold a Stanley Cup tournament only choice to make beginning in June and, at this point, few would care what it looks like. But with everything going on in our world, it just doesn’t seem possible.

ED WILLES • This is better. While we’re all in lockdown mode, here’s a list of one columnists 10 favourite sports books. In the interests of objectivity I’m Published:March 22, 2020 disqualifying my own even though all three would make any reputable top-10 list Updated:March 22, 2020 7:45 PM PDT 1. Loose Balls, Terry Pluto

The oral history of the American Basketball Association and the best This will make those long hours of self-isolation seem even longer: the writer on his best day couldn’t create the characters which the rebel Monday morning musings and meditations on the world of sports. basketball league churned out. Come for Wendell Ladner. Stay for • On Sunday, Canada became the first country to pull out of the Tokyo Marvin Barnes. Olympics. But even as the International Olympics Committee contorts 2. Ball Four, Jim Bouton itself into a pretzel trying to escape the inevitable, there is only one ending for this story. The Sgt. Pepper of sports books. Bouton’s diary of the 1969 baseball season remains as vital and hilarious as the day it was published. The Canadian Olympic Committee, apparently tired of watching the IOC dither, announced it wouldn’t send teams to either the Olympic or 3. The Historical Baseball Abstract. Bill James. Paralympic Games in this summer. More will likely follow in the upcoming days, forcing the IOC into a position it’s done its best to avoid. The godfather of analytics, this is the most comprehensive history of baseball and the best part? Dude can write. On Friday IOC president Thomas Bach said different scenarios are being considered with regards to the Summer Games set for Tokyo without 4. The Game. Ken Dryden. identifying what those scenarios might be. When that position was met Going to limit the hockey books to just one and this is the gold standard. with howls from every corner of the globe, Bach came back earlier on Sunday with a new statement. 5. Fever Pitch. Nick Hornby.

The IOC will now take a month to consider all possibilities, including Same rule for soccer. Hornby’s account of his tortured relationship with postponing the Tokyo Games but cancellation still isn’t on the table. Arsenal is universal.

Fine. Whatever. The opening ceremonies for the 2020 Games are set for 5. Stengel: HIs Life and Times. Robert Creamer. July 24 and I have a better chance of medalling in the marathon than the Games have of starting on time. They will be postponed. The only Leigh Montville on Ted Williams, Richard Ben Cramer on Joe DiMaggio question is will they be held later, much later, in 2020 or put off to the or Jane Levy on Sandy Koufax could have make the list but Creamer’s summer of 2021 when a full training and qualification cycle can be held. bio of Casey Stengel is a personal favourite.

That would be the sane thing to do here. But, remember, this is the IOC. 6. Heart of a Goof. P.G. Wodehouse. The mere fact that they’re still contemplating inviting some 10,000 A collection of short stories with golf as the subject matter by one of athletes from all over the world to live and compete in close quarters is literature’s great humorists. one thing. The mere fact that they’re considering holding their 17-day sports festival in front of, literally, millions of spectators and 100,000 7. Friday Night Lights. H.G. Bissinger. volunteers (the number from ) is an obscenity. Hard to believe it’s set in 1988. Still packs a punch after all these years. In an open letter Bach wrote on Sunday: “We have made our leading principle to safeguard the health of everyone involved and to contribute 8. Instant Replay. Jerry Kramer. to containing the virus.” One of the first books to take readers behind the scenes. The scene, in If that’s the case, there’s only one decision. They’ll eventually get to this case, was Vince Lombardi’s Packers in the 1967 season. If you’re a postponement because they really don’t have a choice in the matter. Lombardi fan David Maraniss’s bio — When Pride Still Mattered — is superb. The COC, meanwhile, should be commended for making a stand that might not be popular with the IOC but is unquestionably the right thing to 9. The Book of Basketball. Bill Simmons. do. There’s a complicated history between our country and the IOC – You have to get by his annoying Celtics uber-fan persona but it’s a Dick Pound has long been a dissenting voice on the committee, Beckie rollicking account of the game’s history. Scott has been a leading figure in the anti-doping movement, Hayley Wickenheiser has gone public with her criticism of the IOC’s stance on 10. Wheelman. Vanessa O’Connell, Reed Albergotti. the pandemic. But this is about something else. We were the first. We won’t be the last. The Lance Armstrong blood-doping scandal spawned a couple of great books — notably The Secret Race by American cyclist Tyler Hamilton — A giant watch for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is pictured in Tokyo. but this account by two Wall Street Journal reporters is the place to start.

• On a related note, called Dr. Doug Clement to get a comment on the • First started watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 1971 cancellation of the Harry Jerome track meet, an event he and his wife when UCLA (Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe) beat an underdog Villanova Diane have helped organize and run for five decades. The good doctor, team led by Howard Porter. Of all the events which have been cancelled who competed in the 1952 Olympics, wasn’t particularly interested in by the spread of COVID-19, it’s the one which hits the hardest. exploring that subject. • And finally, Twitter can be a cesspool but, these days, it’s also the On the subject of COVID-19 and the IOC, he was a little more expansive. repository of hope and inspiration.

“I’m exposed to both worlds, as a medical person and the athletes,” In the last week or so I’ve watched a flash mob perform Beethoven’s Ode Clement said. “And I understand (the IOC) is very reluctant to focus on to Joy at a public square in — it’s from 2012 but who cares; The the reality. Band’s Robbie Robertson lead musicians from all over the world in a performance of The Weight; the celebrity rendition of John Lennon’s ˚But from the medical point of view, this thing (the pandemic) won’t be Imagine; impersonator Conor Moore’s rendition of golf stars performing blunted. There’s no chance the Olympics will take place. It’s not going to Imagine; and Al Foran, another impersonator, doing DeNiro, Pesci and happen. This thing is coming like a freight train.” Pacino watching The Irishman for the first time while discussing social distancing.

The clip is just over 90 seconds long. Watch it. Watch any of them. For a few moments they take you to a different place.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181445 Vancouver Canucks McGrattan in the brawl for it all when the puck was dropped, is convinced that was Hartley’s rationale. Others weren’t so sure.

We do know it took just two seconds for Lain to enter the NHL record Canucks at 50: Who really lit the fuse for infamous Torts Tunnel Tirade? books for the fastest fight and game misconduct to start a career. The previous mark of 12 seconds was set by legendary John Ferguson in a scrap with of the Boston Bruins on Oct. 8, 1963. BEN KUZMA When all hell broke loose at Arena, Kevin Bieksa initially took on Published:March 22, 2020 Westgarth and then went after Ladislav Smid. Sestito fought McGrattan, Updated:March 22, 2020 4:34 PM PDT Dale Weise took on Jones and Jason Garrison squared off with Chris Butler. The melee resulted in 39 penalties, including eight game misconducts, and 204 minutes. Only Sestito and McGrattan weren’t tossed from the game. John Tortorella and Bob Hartley had a hotheaded history that came to a head on January 18, 2014 Ironically, Jones signed a one-year, free-agent deal with the Canucks for the 2015-16 season, but didn’t crack the roster. He played 36 games with John Tortorella was the story. Kellan Lain became the curiosity. the Comets before being loaned to the . Lain’s parents and brother flew into Vancouver for his anticipated NHL At end of the Rogers Arena rumble, it was left to Tortorella to explain his debut, and for the towering forward, it was a night he would never forget. rationale and it was part bite and part remorse. Lain became a fascinating footnote in what would be dubbed The Torts “I see the starting lineup and I know the other guy across the bench,” he Tunnel Tirade on Jan. 18, 2014 at Rogers Arena. In a bizarre opening said. “It’s easy for people to say: ‘Oh, put the Sedins out there and it faceoff, 5-on-5 fourth-line fracas against Calgary — something right out (potential line brawl) is deflated.’ I can’t put our players at risk that way. of a SlapShot script — the 6-foot-6, 222 pound Lain took his lumps and With the lineup he had, I’m not going to put those type of players at risk. Tortorella took out this rage. And that’s what ensues. The Canucks coach had to be physically restrained from getting to “I’m not proud of it. I apologized to every one of the players involved in it. Flames bench boss Bob Hartley after storming down the visiting team I don’t feel great about it at all. My biggest mistake was putting Lainer hallway following the first period. Amid all the anarchy, it was easy to (Lain) in the lineup. I’ll kick myself forever for not having someone else forget the Canucks rallied for a 3-2 shootout victory in a sorry season that there. was already off the rails. “I thought my players responded tremendously. Listen. It shouldn’t be in Tortorella was suspended for 15 days without pay — he missed six the game, that stuff. But I have to protect my team, too. So all the games and wasn’t allowed any interaction with his club before, during or pundits, all the people pissing and moaning, they don’t have a clue about after games — while Hartley was fined $25,000 for his starting lineup. what a locker-room is all about. They don’t understand the whole Mike Sullivan ran the bench in Tortorella’s absence, but the hallway circumstance involved in that type of situation.” pursuit personified Tortorella’s mantra. Tortorella was lauded by his players for letting them know what was “You do some stupid things with intensity and certainly I am a model for about to unfold and to do what they could to keep a powder keg from that,” said Tortorella. “But I also think you do some real good things with exploding. And as much as the bombastic coach was rightly vilified for it. And I think I can be associated with that, also. Athletes, I think, need to his intermission indifference, his pre-game preaching resonated. know you’re just as invested in what’s going on as they are. “I don’t know how this embarrasses him,” said Bieksa. “At the start of the “I am never going to be a coach with my arms folded and not involved. game, he told us to defuse the situation if we could, but once you see five I’m not built that way. Sometimes it puts me in a bad spot, sometimes, it guys coming at you it’s hard to turn the other cheek. You respect a coach helps me.” more when he has your back and we’re not just pawns he’s sending out And in saying that, who actually lit the fuse that crazy night — an there to fight. He cares and everyone appreciates that. emotional explosion in Tortorella’s erratic and entertaining one-year reign “I don’t think we ever questioned him. There’s the tough love and all that, of error — remains a source of speculation and fascination. He and but he cares about this team and it shows in how passionate he is.” Hartley had a hotheaded history. Lain had a past with 6-foot-3, 215 pound Flames forward Blair Jones. As for the actual tunnel tirade, Bieksa was also caught on camera when he poked his head from the medical room that bridges the respective Tortorella was guiding the Rochester Americans in their 1995-96 AHL hallways. There were a lot of players and coaches trying to keep season opener against the Cornwall Aces, who were coached by Hartley. Tortorella from getting to the room and getting at Hartley. Bieksa went The game was already getting ugly when Cornwall defenceman Aaron nose-to-nose with winger Lance Bouma before security got in the way. Miller drove winger Dixon Ward to the ice with a high stick and punch. Alex Burrows was about to conduct a first-period intermission interview, It sparked a brawl and coaching venom. Only a glass partition between but couldn’t restrain himself and started making his way to the Flames the benches separated Tortorella and Hartley as they screamed at each hallway before being pulled back by Chris Tanev. other. It took the morning after the night before for Lain to finally attempt to sum Fast forward to raucous Rogers Arena and that underlining disdain it all up. probably played a role. And if Hartley was still worked up, why not submit a fourth-line starting lineup and see if Tortorella would take the bait? Lain “Realized my life long dream of playing in the NHL,” he said. “It was a was the fourth-line centre and would be up against Kevin Westgarth, a 6- short debut, but I won’t ever forget it. It’s been a long road and I could not foot-4, 234 pound enforcer, who would amass 115 pro bouts, including have done it without the support of my family and friends.” 46 at the NHL level. Lain would score his first and only NHL goal in his second career outing Lain could hold his own when push came to shove. He fought 11 times in on Jan. 22 — a 2-1 win over the Oilers in Edmonton. He deposited a his five-year pro career — once in the ECHL, nine times in the AHL and and his nine games that season would be his only taste of the one in the NHL — and an Oct. 30, 2013 minor-league exchange with bigs, but just playing in The Show meant everything. Jones may have been lodged in Hartley’s memory bank. “Just excitement,” he said. “And to be able to score a goal, it’s an Lain was with the when the came calling. accomplishment.” He was assessed an instigator and misconduct in the second period for going after Jones, who received a boarding minor. Lain would Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.23.2020 pile up 129 penalty minutes with the Comets that season.

Was all that really the foundation for the fisticuffs and the Torts Tunnel Tirade? Canucks winger Tom Sestito, who took on behemoth Brian 1181446 Vancouver Canucks Olympic break to change that perception — six without their head coach — and when that stretch is concluded we’ll have a better idea if the brawl with the Flames had the desired effect.

Canucks at 50: Stormin' Torts resorts to getting in Flames' faces in epic “We were planning on playing hockey (Saturday night) and we went back 'throwdown' to playing hockey after everything happened,” Kevin Bieksa said. “We made a stand and everyone knows we’re going to stick up for each other. We’re going to try to win games now.”

STAFF REPORTER As for Tortorella‘s role in all this, that’s another one of those questions that still hangs in the air. Published:March 22, 2020 Since his arrival in Vancouver, the coach has talked about changing the Updated:March 22, 2020 12:18 PM PDT makeup of this team. There have been moments when it looks like the Canucks are being remade in his image. But, for the most part, they still look like the team that relies on great goaltending, team defence and As the team prepared to fly to Edmonton, the Canucks players opined it scoring by the Sedin twins and Kesler, which is what they’ve been, more is a big moment for this team, that the Canucks of Tortorella have served or less, for the last two seasons. notice and, henceforth, they will be a mean piece of business It’s been suggested in this space and elsewhere that Tortorella used It was one of the most surreal moments in Vancouver Canucks history. Saturday to accelerate that change, to create a watershed moment that Aggravated by the actions of Calgary coach Bob Hartley, mercurial would spark the Canucks. Alex Burrows was asked about that on Canucks coach John Tortorella stormed the Flames’ locker-room and Monday. confusion and hilarity ensued. Ed Willes wrote on the aftermath: “Maybe, maybe not,” Burrows said with a laugh. “I still don’t have a grasp At least some of the questions have been answered from the Throwdown on what he’s thinking. I was around (Alain Vigneault) for seven years and in Yaletown. you knew what he was feeling and what he was thinking.

Canucks head coach John Tortorella, a serial offender in the eyes of the “But I still haven’t figured out Torts. Not even close. Have you?” NHL, was suspended 15 days (six games) on Monday for his aborted charge to the ’ dressing room. Flames coach Bob Hell no. Burr, what we think isn’t important. It’s what the Canucks players Hartley, for his part, was allowed to skate — which was more than you think and, more importantly, if they’re buying what Tortorella is selling. could say for three-fifths of the players he started against the Canucks — Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.23.2020 but was still fined $25,000 by the league for his transparent lineup selection.

As for Kellan Lain, we will find out Tuesday in Edmonton if his second NHL game lasts longer than two seconds. By then, we might even know if the Canucks seize on a golden marketing opportunity and unveil a line of Boxing Hobos sporting apparel.

Other than that, the NHL would like to see this case closed and the conversation about the Canucks-Flames’ goon show come to an end.

But there is one issue that is unresolved from Saturday night and for Canucks fans, it’s a doozy. The other stuff is amusing, even halfway entertaining, but for the faithful the big question is this: Where do the Canucks go from here? Was Saturday night at the fights a galvanizing moment for this team, a tipping point in the creation of a new identity, or was it simply an empty act of machismo that served no real purpose?

On Monday, as the team prepared to fly to Edmonton, the Canucks players opined it is a big moment for this team, that the Canucks of Tortorella have served notice and, henceforth, they will be a mean piece of business.

We’ll know soon enough if that’s the case. In the meantime, it seems the Canucks are at a crossroads in their season. If Saturday really was a game-changer, they picked a good time to turn things around.

“We want to play in-your-face hockey,” said . “I personally like what went on Saturday night.”

“We’ll rally behind it,” said Tom Sestito, who’s had a busy time of it the last week. “When Torts came in he wanted to change the identity. He didn’t want to be the team that other teams walk all over. The last four games showed that’s not going to happen anymore.

“I think it brought us closer together, whether we win the next game or not. It’s more of a long term thing.”

Ah yes. Winning the next game.

There’s always that catch.

While the Canucks have made headlines for their new, more Darwinian approach to the game, they also find themselves in the worst stretch of the season. Before Saturday, they’d gone 1-5-3 over their previous nine games and while the 3-2 shootout win on Saturday was hailed as a significant achievement, come on, it was the Flames.

The larger impression created by the Canucks, in fact, is a team that still struggles mightily to produce offence, that appears to be undermanned at several key positions and that isn’t good enough to hang with the best teams in the Western Conference. They now have 10 games before the 1181447 Websites When we last checked, it appeared the Capitals were prepared to wait until after the season to negotiate with the netminder who could very well cash in on a Sergei Bobrovsky-like contract — though, that particular deal hasn’t looked good on Florida’s books thus far which could make Sportsnet.ca / NHL's top 20 UFAs of 2020: Latest rumours, reports other clubs wary should Holtby hit free agency.

4. Torey Krug, D, Boston Bruins

Emily Sadler | March 22, 2020, 9:15 AM Age: 28

2019-20 cap hit: $5.25 million

A lot has changed on the UFA front since we last checked in – and that’s He’s one of the league’s best offensive defencemen with plenty of just on the roster and contract front. sandpaper in his game. In other words, should Krug hit the open market, there would be a mile-long lineup of GMs vying for his services. Some of the league’s top pending unrestricted free agents have been moved (Robin Lehner, Tyler Toffoli, Erik Haula, to name a few) while Even with Boston’s cap-clearing moves around the deadline, they could others (Jake Muzzin, Chris Kreider) stayed put and removed their free find themselves hard pressed to re-sign the rearguard. Speculation agency bids by re-signing with their current clubs. Jean-Gabriel Pageau around the Michigan native’s desire to head home has had many seeing did both, signing a six-year pact with the Islanders upon being dealt to Red Wings red in his future. New York from Ottawa. For now, though, we wait. Here’s an updated (and re-ranked) look at the top 20 pending UFAs of 2020, which we’ll continue to update as the season (hopefully) continues. 5. Tyson Barrie, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

1. Taylor Hall, LW, Arizona Coyotes Age: 28

Age: 28 2019-20 cap hit: $5.5 million (this AAV is split between Colorado and Toronto) 2019-20 cap hit: $6 million Barrie’s Toronto tenure hasn’t gone how he or Maple Leafs brass Back in the fall, the big question in New Jersey was whether Taylor Hall intended. GM Kyle Dubas explored the possibility of trading Barrie at the would be traded. It didn’t take long for that question to catch up with him deadline but ultimately didn’t get a return offer to his liking. A slew of after he was dealt to the desert in December, though both Hall and the injuries on Toronto’s blue line made him less dispensable, too. Coyotes quickly made it clear that he’d be finishing the season in Arizona. 6. Jacob Markstrom, G, Vancouver Canucks

Now, the conversation shifts to what he might earn on his next contract, Age: 30 and where that might be. Trade rumours featured the Colorado 2019-20 cap hit: $3.67 million Avalanche as potential suitors, and the Montreal Canadiens were floated around among other intriguing options as well. Markstrom has been putting up MVP-worthy numbers in Vancouver behind a surprising Canucks club, and his strong play couldn’t come at a Hall scored 10 goals and added 17 assists for 27 points through 35 better time — for both the team and his own outlook. While age could games with the Coyotes. Add that to his totals with the Devils this work against him, Markstrom’s next paycheque should be a pretty big season, and he’s got 52 points in 65 games. We know what Hall is increase from his current modest cap hit. A mid-term deal – say, three or capable of – his 39-goal, 93-point, Hart-winning 2017-18 season showed four years – would make a lot of sense here, as would an AAV of his ability to single-handedly pull a team into the playoffs — but might perhaps up to $6 million. injury fears and slower production prevent him from hitting a double-digit cap hit? 7. Evgenii Dadonov, RW,

2. , D, St. Louis Blues Age: 30

Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $4 million

2019-20 cap hit: $6.5 million Dadonov quietly put up back-to-back 28-goal campaigns down in Florida, tallying 65 and 70 points in his past two seasons, and a scoring spree in One season after leading St. Louis to the Stanley Cup, the Blues captain January has him just three markers shy of that total through 69 games. has scored a career-high 16 goals and was just two points shy of his He’s one of the league’s most underrated sharp shooters and his highest total ever before the season was put on hold. If that doesn’t earn production over the past three years all but guarantees he won’t be you a sizeable raise, I don’t know what will. underpaid come free agency – though age may deter clubs from offering Early-season reports projected the AAV on Pietrangelo’s next deal to long-term pacts. come in at around $8 million per, and that would turn out to be a bargain 8. Mike Hoffman, RW/LW, Florida Panthers at this point. The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford pointed out recently that Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said he’ll wait to talk contract Age: 30 with his captain until after the season, though you can’t help but wonder if that changes over the course of this current hiatus. 2019-20 cap hit: $5.1875 million

3. Braden Holtby, G, Washington Capitals Florida has been one of the most intriguing teams to watch down the stretch, considering their position in the standings straddling the line Age: 30 between contention and, ultimately, not.

2019-20 cap hit: $6.1 million Hoffman is coming off the best season of his career (by a pretty wide margin) in 2018-19, leading the Panthers in goals (36) and tallying 70 The emergence of rookie Ilya Samsonov made us all question the future points in his first year with the club. The Panthers’ goals leader (he’s third of veteran netminder Braden Holtby. So have Holtby’s career-low in overall points, with 59) looked like an intriguing rental candidate at the numbers nearing the end of an up-and-down season in the crease. But deadline but wasn’t moved. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan put that to rest back in January. 9. Robin Lehner, G, Vegas Golden Knights “Holtby’s our guy. I mean, he’s got a Cup, he has a history, he’s been a huge part of our organization,” MacLellan said during a radio Age: 28 appearance. “I think what we’ve been trying to do is develop Samsonov and he’s handled everything we’ve thrown at him very well. He’s 2019-20 cap hit: $5 million continually gotten better, he works at his game, he’s calm under Last year’s Masterton Trophy winner thrived as part of an excellent pressure.” tandem with the New York Islanders and then completely stole the show in Round 1 of the . Paired with veteran (and fellow pending UFA) Corey Crawford through much of this season with the the contending Capitals for a profit at the deadline. It feels likely this Blackhawks, he brought that same game-saving consistency to wasn’t the last we’ve seen of Kovalchuk in le bleu, blanc, et rouge, as he Chicago’s crease. Now as part of the NHL’s best goalie tandem, could be a strong candidate to return to Montreal as a free agent. alongside Marc-Andre Fleury, Lehner has a chance to prove to a team that’s he’s worthy of a long-term pact. Will that team be Vegas? “This group of guys is special,” he said in February (before being traded), Considering Fleury’s still under contract as the undisputed starter for two via Sportsnet’s Eric Engels. “They all care, they want to win, they want to more seasons, it would be difficult to see Lehner signing there long-term be better. And all the young guys like (Nick) Suzuki … and (Jesperi without a guarantee of more starts. For now, his time in Vegas feels like Kotkaniemi) and (Cale) Fleury — they sent them down, but they’re all a rental-only situation. ready to play. This team has a bright future, and if I can be part of it that would be really good.” 10. Tyler Toffoli, RW/LW, Vancouver Canucks 17. Alex Galchenyuk, LW/C/RW, Minnesota Wild Age: 27 Age: 25 2019-20 cap hit: $4.6 million 2019-20 cap hit: $4.9 million Toffoli had a down year in 2018-19 with 13 goals and 34 points on a floundering Kings squad. Considering how early the trade rumours Things didn’t exactly work out in Pittsburgh. A lot is now riding on his began, it’s a bit surprising it took until one week before the trade deadline performance with the Wild. Three goals and seven points through 14 for the Kings to finally move him. He’s gotten off to a strong start in games prior to the season hiatus suggests he might be a candidate to Vancouver, posting six goals and 10 points in 10 games with the sign a one-year, show-me deal in Minnesota to get back on his feet. Canucks prior to the season being put on hold. 18. Wayne Simmonds, RW,

11. Mikael Granlund, C/RW, Nashville Predators Age: 31

Age: 27 2019-20 cap hit: $5 million

2019-20 cap hit: $5.75 million The past year hasn’t been kind to Simmonds, who has struggled to find Granlund was a deadline acquisition for the Predators a year ago, and his stride since landing in Nashville at the 2018-19 deadline. Since then, his status with the club felt very much up in the air as we looked at this he’s scored just nine goals and 28 points in 85 games split between the year’s deadline. He’ll be an intriguing name to watch – despite not Predators, Devils, and Sabres. He’s just three seasons removed from striking great success in Nashville, it feels like it’s only a matter of time back-to-back 30-plus goal campaigns and is a top candidate for a one- before he heats up again, likely with a different team. year deal on a team that can help revive his career.

12. Travis Hamonic, D, Calgary Flames 19. Sami Vatanen, D, Carolina Hurricanes

Age: 29 Age: 28

2019-20 cap hit: $3.857 million 2019-20 cap hit: $4.875 million

Hamonic reportedly wanted to leave negotiations until after the season Vatanen has yet to suit up for a game with the Hurricanes, the team that was through, but the stay-at-home d-man looks like a safe bet to stay in acquired from the Devils at the deadline, due to the lower-body injury Calgary long-term. that’s kept him sidelined since Feb. 1. Injuries have prevented the rearguard from ever being able to play a full season, and will affect what 13. T.J. Brodie, D, Calgary Flames he’s able to earn on the open market, too.

Age: 29 20. Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks

2019-20 cap hit: $4.65 million Age: 40

Brodie’s name has been in trade rumours before, but injuries to fellow 2019-20 cap hit: $2 million blue liners Travis Hamonic and Mark Giordano made him in pretty indispensable as far as any possible deadline deals went. The veteran forward expressed disappointment that he wasn’t dealt at the deadline. 14. Jaroslav Halak, G, Boston Bruins “It would have been nice to at least have a chance,” he told The Athletic’s Age: 34 Kevin Kurz. “I wanted a shot, you know? Believe it or not. I’ve been hunting this thing down for 22 years, so I wanted another shot at it. I 2019-20 cap hit: $2.75 million wanted to get something (for the Sharks) in return. It just didn’t work out. Signing Halak to a two-year, $5.5-million deal in July 2018 proved to be Back to the grind, and that’s how it is.” GM Don Sweeney’s best move of the off-season, as his presence He’ll be back in an NHL sweater next year – and probably a few more brought load management to the Bruins’ crease and has other teams after that – but might it be teal? Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested attempting to build similar one-two punches in net. Re-signing him this after the deadline that Toronto could be his next destination if he chooses year could be just as smart. to leave San Jose.

15. Erik Haula, LW, Florida Panthers Other notable pending UFAs to keep an eye on: Corey Crawford (CHI), Age: 28 Kevin Shattenkirk (TB), Thomas Greiss (NYI) Cody Eakin (VGK), Chris Tanev (VAN), Cody Ceci (TOR), Justin Schultz (PIT), Michael Frolik 2019-20 cap hit: $2.75 million (CGY), Vladislav Namestnikov (OTT), Marco Scandella (BUF), Erik Gustafsson (CHI), Pat Maroon (TB), Zach Bogosian (BUF), Haula was part of a head-scratching deal made between the Hurricanes (LA), Radko Gudas (WSH), Anton Khudobin (DAL) and Panthers at the deadline, which saw Florida deal away Vincent Trocheck for a package that included Haula. A string of injuries have Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.23.2020 hindered Haula’s ability to match the success he had with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18. Health will be a factor in his next deal, too.

16. Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Montreal Canadiens

Age: 36

2019-20 cap hit: $700,000

Montreal’s Kovalchuk experiment got off to a great start — the veteran proved he’s still got a little magic left in him, and his success looks even better with a $700,000 price tag attached — and saw the club flip him to 1181448 Websites the final a winner-take-all affair? Could. You. Imagine! Nothing trumps the vibe of a for-all-the-marbles match, so if we’re trying to squeeze this thing in, why not have three rounds of best-of-five or seven, give everyone a few days off to rest — we, the media, will take care of the Sportsnet.ca / Brainstorming six Stanley Cup Playoff format ideas for hype — and then have them meet in a Super Bowl-style event. We could 2020 even do it in a neutral site, assuming travel restrictions have loosened and fans of both teams can make the trip. It would be a great note to go

out on after all this craziness. Ryan Dixon | March 22, 2020, 10:22 AM Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.23.2020

It’s a rare moment in time when the people who run a billion-dollar professional league really don’t know much more than those who cover and follow it, but here we are.

About all we can say in terms of possible playoff formats should the NHL resume play this season is the same thing deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Good Show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Thursday morning: Essentially, anything is possible.

Asked if he could at least rule out a scenario where all 31 teams compete in some kind of mega post-season, Daly couldn’t commit. “I guess I’m not even willing to say that at this point.”

If commissioner Gary Bettman’s righthand man is racking his brain for every possible setup —Daly said he was mentally running different scenarios, including one that could see an under-the-gun structure with fewer than the usual 16 teams in the playoffs, during his morning shower — then we’d like to follow suit, highlighting a few ideas that fall at various points along the hair-brained spectrum.

The notion of a 24-team playoff is already out there, as are a number of other possibilities. Allow us, then, to jump in on the fun and present some unique paths to the most beautiful trophy in sports.

• Lets’ get this one out of the way. As fun as a March Madness-style, win- and-advance tournament would be, I don’t think you can do a 16-team, single-elimination format that would require four wins in total for a team to win the Stanley Cup. Maybe you could do best two-of-three at every stage or make the final a real series, but even that doesn’t feel quite right.

• Rank the teams by points percentage, the top seven in each conference get in, leaving one spot open on each side of the draw. Now have your single-elimination bracket, as the next eight teams — seeds eight through 15 — compete for that final playoff spot in both the East and West. Naturally, you rank the competing teams one through eight in each conference. Sorry, Detroit, you’re the only one sitting this out.

• There are all kinds of variations you could do with the above. It just depends how many spots you want to reserve and how many you want to leave up for grabs in a bracket-style competition.

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game.

• Take the top eight teams in each conference and rank them by points percentage. Now, have the first and final rounds be best-of-nine series. That allows teams more time to find their footing when they come back from a long layoff and gives us an elongated showcase series at the end. In the middle, you can whittle down to best-of-three or five to save some time. Can’t you just see the headline: “Game 9: It’s all on the line!” (If you’re wondering, has used best-of-nine series before, including the infamous 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” Series won by the Cincinnati Reds.)

• Speaking of hardball, if there’s a real time crunch to get this thing in, why not follow MLB’s October formula? Since there are only two divisions in each NHL conference as opposed to the three in both the American and National Leagues, you would once again rank the squads by points percentage in the East and West. Seeds four and five have a one-game play in to leave four clubs on either side of the ledger. Now, if time allows, you do best-of-seven series the rest of the way with an option to do a best-of-five first round if required. It takes three series wins to make the Cup final under normal circumstances and teams usually hang a banner to mark that achievement. Handing out rings for three series wins would be legit.

• Okay, I know I said you couldn’t do single-game elimination all the way through, but forget that and the best-of-nine chat: What if we made just 1181449 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Report: Bruins' Tuukka Rask says retiring after next season 'a possibility'

Sportsnet Staff | March 22, 2020, 7:52 PM

While the hockey world awaits a return to normalcy, it seems clear to all that even when the league does return from its hiatus, it won’t be until next season at the earliest that we see a normal NHL campaign.

As it turns out, that 2020-21 season could also be the last bit of normalcy at TD Garden for quite some time, as there’s a chance it could be the final NHL campaign for veteran Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask.

The 33-year-old, speaking to Matt Porter of The Boston Globe last month, said retirement after 2020-21 remains on the table.

“I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play,” he told Porter. Asked if that was a “real possibility,” Rask replied: “We’ll see. Always a possibility.”

The Savonlinna, Finland native is in the midst of the second-last season of the eight-year, $56-million deal he signed with Boston in 2013, carrying a $7-million annual cap hit.

He won the Vezina Trophy in the first year of that contract, and led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final last year, where they lost to the St. Louis Blues in seven games.

Asked if he’d return to Finland following the conclusion of his NHL career to continue his career where it began, Rask told Porter he’d prefer to simply move on to the next phase of his life.

“No. No, I wouldn’t,” he told Porter, adding the focus would be on “family time.”

“Just be home,” he continued. “The wear and tear of the travel with two, almost three kids now, makes you think. I love to do it. But it’s tough.”

Rask has logged a total of 536 games in the big leagues over his 13-year career, all with the Bruins, after Boston famously acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for netminder Andrew Raycroft.

He’s twice led the league in shutouts over the course of his career (2013, 2014), though his finest campaign arguably came as a rookie in 2009-10, wherein he led the league with a .931 save percentage and a 1.97 goals- against average.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181450 Websites Slavin is the type of defenceman who always fly under the radar due to his style of play and the fact his point production doesn’t jump off the page. He has a career-high 36 points in 68 games this season, although 32 of which have come at even strength which ranks sixth among back Sportsnet.ca / A starting lineup of NHL players having surprisingly good end talent. The defensive stalwart notably tops the NHL in takeaways, a seasons category almost always led by a forward.

Pavel Francouz, G, Colorado Avalanche

Mike Johnston | March 22, 2020, 9:58 AM With a 21-7-4 record, a .923 save percentage and 2.41 goals-against average, Francouz has been terrific in the Colorado crease. Tristan Jarry,

Elvis Merzlikins and Darcy Kuemper are also thriving on their respective There are plenty of reasons to be disappointed the NHL regular season teams but their success didn’t come out of the blue like Francouz’s. He was indefinitely put on pause — some far more serious than others. put up great numbers with Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL before moving to the AHL last season. The Avs were two points behind the Blues for Before the stoppage, hockey fans got their usual fix of superstars lighting first place in the West with a game in hand and the undrafted 29-year-old up the league, but like every season there were also many pleasant is a major reason. surprises. Francouz has been such a pleasant surprise for the Avs that he was Since we don’t yet know when or if hockey might return, we thought of rewarded with a two-year, $4-million extension in February. putting together a starting lineup (three forwards, two defencemen and a goalie) of players who were in the midst of surprising seasons. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.23.2020

Mika Zibanejad, RW,

With 11 goals and 13 points in his six most recent games, there weren’t many players hotter than Zibanejad before the NHL suspended play.

The 26-year-old Swede — acquired along with a seventh-rounder in 2016 from Ottawa in exchange for Derrick Brassard and a second-round pick — has improved in each year since arriving on Broadway. He had a career year in 2018-19 with 30 goals and 74 points but had been operating on a different level this season with 41 goals and 75 points through only 57 games, putting him seventh in the NHL in points per game.

Zibanejad began the season with back-to-back four-point outings and it was a sign of things to come. With 22 multi-point performances, including a five-goal game in early March, when Zibanejad’s on he’s really on.

J.T. Miller, C, Vancouver Canucks

There were more than a few skeptical eyebrows raised when sent a first- and third-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in order to acquire Miller prior to the 2019 NHL Draft, but Miller’s performance this season has been worth the price.

All indications are that in addition to his presence on the ice he’s been a positive, calming influence in the locker room.

The 27-year-old had more of a depth role on a stacked Tampa Bay squad one season ago and has taken full advantage of his increased role and ice-time with the Canucks. Miller has already set new career highs with 27 goals and 72 points in 69 games with Vancouver, while boasting strong possession numbers. He had also been outstanding in the face-off circle, winning 59.2 per cent of his draws, which is the second-best in the NHL with only faring better.

Dominik Kubalik, LW,

If you were to look at a list of Calder Trophy contenders at the start of the season you’d probably have to do quite a bit of scrolling before you got to Kubalik. After all, he was 23 and hadn’t skated in a regular-season NHL game after being selected in the seventh round of the 2013 draft.

The versatile Czech forward had performed well with Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss league the past two seasons and a strong showing at the 2019 IIHF world championship helped land him a one-year deal with the Blackhawks. He leads all rookies with 30 goals and all rookie forwards with 46 points.

Tony DeAngelo, D, New York Rangers

Tied for third in goals and fourth in points among all blueliners, and doing so while averaging less than 20 minutes per game, DeAngelo has provided the Rangers with unexpected production in his third year with the team and isn’t afraid to mix it up when things get physical despite being listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds. DeAngelo, a first-round pick from 2014, has finally found his footing in the NHL after a pair of early- career trades. The only negative aspect of this for the Rangers is the 24- year-old pending restricted free agent is potentially playing himself into a big contract.

Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes 1181451 World Leagues News

Canada, Australia pulling out of Olympics because of coronavirus

March 23, 2020, 2:53 AM

By Tim Stelloh

Canada and Australia will not send athletes to the Summer Olympic Games this year if the games aren't delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Sunday.

In a statement, the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committee said it was "urgently" calling on the organizations that organize the games to postpone the event for one year. "This is not solely about athlete health — this is about public health," the group said.

In Australia, the country's Olympic Committee also unanimously agreed that its team couldn't be assembled with the virus continuing to spread around the planet.

Earlier Sunday, the International Olympic Committee said it was still evaluating whether the games, scheduled to begin July 24 in Tokyo, would go forward as planned.

"A decision about a postponement today could not determine a new date for the Olympic Games because of the uncertain developments in both directions," the committee's president, Thomas Bach, wrote Sunday. "An improvement, as we are seeing in a number of countries thanks to the severe measures being taken, or a deteriorating situation in other countries."

Bach added that canceling the games would "destroy" the dreams of 11,000 athletes from around the world.

"Cancellation would not solve any problem and would help nobody," he said. "Therefore it is not on our agenda."

In a separate statement, the International Paralympic Committee said it "fully supported" the IOC's decision to further assess the outbreak's impact on the games.

The IOC said it would begin "detailed" discussions with local officials to assess the coronavirus' impact on the games. A resolution is expected within four weeks.

NBC UNIVERSAL LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181452 World Leagues News Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League’s aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so.

Coronavirus updates, sports timeline: IOC sets deadline for 2020 Tokyo In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when Olympics postponement decision; NFL, NBA, MLB, PL, NHL affected by appropriate. COVID-19 has been postponed

The stunning announcement from Augusta National came down Friday By NBC Sports StaffMar 22, 2020, 3:40 PM EDT morning, about 12 hours after the PGA Tour canceled its flagship event, The Players Championship, and the next three events on the schedule because of the spread of the coronavirus.

As much of the world deals with outbreaks of COVID-19 (quarantines, Augusta National hopes to play the Masters – and the other amateur event cancellations among them), sports leagues are dealing with their events – at a later date this year. —Ryan Lavner own coronavirus sports impact. NCAA cancels men’s and women’s basketball tournaments Read on for the latest on sports and the coronavirus and check back for more updates. The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments became the latest sporting events to get erased from the American sports calendar. 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics The NCAA’s decision to cancel was officially announced on Thursday afternoon. The global world of sports has been flipped upside down the As Olympic Flame arrives in Japan, IOC considers scenarios for Tokyo past 24 hours in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. Games. The IOC and Japanese officials will take up to four weeks to assess the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the Olympics, but All other remaining winter and spring NCAA championships were also cancellation is not on the agenda. canceled in the NCAA’s decision.

2020 Scripps National Spelling Bee The 2020 NCAA tournament getting canceled is one of the more shocking sports decisions in recent memory. Major League Baseball The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been called off because of the (1994) and the (2005) have gone seasons coronavirus. without crowning champions. But those were due to work stoppages and NFL labor disagreements. Major sports championships being canceled due to a global pandemic is uncharted territory. It’ll be fascinating to see what New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton told ESPN that he has comes next in college basketball. — Scott Phillips tested positive for the coronavirus. NASCAR postpones Atlanta, Homestead races Premier League NASCAR announced Friday that it has postponed this weekend’s races The 2019-20 Premier League season has been postponed until April 30 at and next weekend’s races at Homestead- at the earliest and ‘extended indefinitely.’ Miami Speedway because of COVID-19.

MLS NASCAR stated: “NASCAR has decided to postpone the race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend and Homestead-Miami Speedway The suspension of the 2020 MLS season has been extended for the next next weekend. We believe this decision is in the best interest of the eight weeks, meaning the season will not resume until May at the safety and well-being of our fans, competitors, officials and everyone earliest. associated with our sport. We will continue to monitor this dynamic NHL situation as we assess future race events.” —Dustin Long

The Ottawa Senators announced that an unnamed player on the roster NHL decides to ‘pause’ regular season due to coronavirus has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The league made this announcement on Thursday after the NBA decided NBA to suspend its own season on Wednesday. Initially, it looked like teams would play in arenas without fans (starting with the Blue Jackets and Kevin Durant one of four Nets who tested positive for coronavirus, with Sharks). Instead, they’re hitting the pause button. only one of them reportedly showing the symptoms of COVID-19. At this time, it’s unclear when the NHL season may resume. It’s possible Horse Racing that the NHL would jump right to the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs after The 146th running of the Kentucky Derby postponed to first Saturday in things are no longer on hold, and there’s also a scenario where the September, September 5, due to coronavirus concerns. Stanley Cup isn’t awarded at all for the 2019-20 season. Would play resume, but still not for fans? Tennis Plenty of questions swirl around the season being suspended. Could this The French Open tennis Grand Slam has been postponed from a May 24 process disrupt the 2020 NHL Draft and/or combine and other activities? start to September 20-October 4 schedule due to the coronavirus Pierre LeBrun speculated on TSN that a draft could theoretically be held pandemic. via telephone.

Premier League suspends play until at least April 3 Long story short, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. One thing we know for sure, though, is that the NHL did indeed put its The Premier League suspended its season until at least April 3 because 2019-20 season on hold in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic. — of the coronavirus outbreak. All other English soccer leagues will do the James O’Brien same. NFL cancels its annual meeting The League issued the statement on Friday morning: In a move that is surprising only in that it took so long for it to happen, the Following a meeting of Shareholders today, it was unanimously decided NFL has canceled its annual meeting. to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time. The yearly get-together, scheduled this year for The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, consists of various sessions that ultimately produce rule Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “Above all, we changes for the coming year. The league has delayed possible rule wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and changes and other agenda items until the next meeting, set for May 19- everyone else affected by COVID-19. 20. — Mike Florio

“In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, Major League Baseball to ‘suspend baseball operations indefinitely’ Government, The FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.” Major League Baseball has decided to “suspend baseball operations Man City v. Real and Juventus v. Lyon will not take place next indefinitely” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That means it will week in and respectively as players from both Real suspend spring training, effective tomorrow, and will almost certainly and Juve have been placed in self-isolation. delay to the start of the 2020 regular season. The decision was made on a conference call which concluded moments ago. An official Real Madrid players and staff have been placed in self-isolation for 15 announcement is expected to come shortly. days due to fears over coronavirus as a player on Real’s basketball team tested positive for coronavirus and therefore the entire soccer team could The move comes after the NBA, NHL, and Major League Soccer all have come into contact at team venues. suspended their in-progress seasons and after multiple major college basketball conferences canceled their conference tournaments. It also Notre Dame stops all recruiting, postpones spring practice due to comes in the wake of multiple mayors and governors either Coronavirus recommending the cancelation of public gatherings or issuing outright Add Notre Dame to the list of schools who are halting football activities in bans on them, including professional sporting events. — Craig Calcaterra the wake of the growing Coronavirus pandemic.

ATP, ITF tennis tours halted 6 weeks due to coronavirus In a statement released via Brian Kelly’s twitter account on Thursday The ATP suspended all men’s professional tennis tournaments for six afternoon, the Irish confirmed they would be suspending any recruiting weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the WTA said on campus until further notice and have asked the current to remain at Thursday it was calling off one event in April and would decide on any home or away from campus while on spring break. further changes to the women’s tour schedule within a week. The university has already announced they were moving classes online After the men’s tour said it would halt ATP Tour and ATP Challenger going forward and away from campus through at least the Easter holiday. Tour competition until late April, WTA spokeswoman Amy Binder told Notre Dame also extended spring break through March 20. — Bryan The Associated Press the women’s tour was not immediately prepared to Fischer do the same. PGA Tour will continue without fans, beginning Friday through Texas “At this point in time,” Binder wrote in an email, “we are not looking to put Open in a 6 week suspension.” — AP PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced on Thursday that the ACC suspends all athletics activities, including spring football practice Tour would continue to host tournaments, but not allow fans to attend, beginning on Friday. The ACC became the latest — and so far the most powerful — to suspend all athletic events on their campuses in order to combat the The fan ban, which is in relation to coronavirus concerns, will continue spreading Coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the and through the Valero Texas Open, the event prior to the Masters the world. Tournament.

While others Power Five conferences like the SEC and Pac-12 have Monahan also announced that the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club taken steps to cancel or postpone spring sporting events, the ACC took Championship will be postponed. The event was to be contested March the extra step of ensuring practices and other gatherings will be 26-29 in the Dominican Republic. suspended as well. — Bryan Fischer USMNT, USWNT cancel upcoming games

Major conferences cancel their basketball tournaments Shortly after Major League Soccer announced that the 2020 season will Most of college basketball’s major conference tournaments that were be suspended for at least 30 days, U.S. Soccer released a statement scheduled to be played have been cancelled. confirming national team games were called off for both the USMNT and USWNT. The American, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and the SEC all announced they won’t be playing events. The leagues made the decision within the final Gregg Berhalter’s side were due to play away to the and hour before tips were scheduled to begin this afternoon. The Big East on Mar. 26 and 30 respectively but both friendlies will not go played the first half of its quarterfinal matchup between Creighton and St. ahead due to the situation in Europe. John’s and cancelled the tournament at halftime. USWNT games against Australia and , scheduled for April 10 in With the NCAA banning fans from the 2020 men’s and women’s NCAA Sandy, Utah and April 14 in San Jose California have also been called tournament yesterday, it set in motion changes across the sport. — Rob off. Dauster MLS season suspended due to coronavirus

NFL has “no plans” to move start of league year MLS games across the U.S. and Canada will be postponed due to the Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, the NFL has “no plans” to move the start of coronavirus outbreak. The suspension will be for 30 days. the league year. This means that free agency will begin as scheduled on Major League Soccer have joined the NBA in postponing the season on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, and that as a practical matter free agency the coronavirus outbreak as the COVID-19 virus has now been deemed will start at 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, when teams may begin making a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). — Joe Prince- offers and reaching agreements in principle with impending free agents. Wright

The key phrase is “no plans.” The league used that same phrase a week Report: Donovan Mitchell tests positive for coronavirus ago, regarding the potential adjustment of the franchise-tag deadline. And then the league adjusted the franchise-tag deadline. Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.

NASCAR to race at Atlanta, Homestead without fans THE PLAYER WHO WANTONLY DEFIED THE NBA’S MEASURES FOR CURBING CORONAVIRUS TESTED POSITIVE FOR NASCAR announced Thursday that upcoming races at Atlanta Motor CORONAVIRUS. Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway will be held without fans. That was a big warning signing about how far this might have spread NASCAR stated: “At this time, NASCAR will hold its race events at within the league. Now, Gobert’s Jazz teammate, Donovan Mitchell, has Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway without fans also tested positive for coronavirus. — Dan Feldman in attendance. These events will be restricted to competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race. We will work IMSA postpones 12 Hours of Sebring to November with public health officials as we determine future scheduling beyond In a statement, IMSA said: “IMSA has announced the postponement of these events.” — Dustin Long the Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend, originally scheduled for March 18- UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg games have been 21, due to the recent United States ban on travel from Europe, which will postponed prevent a number of drivers, teams, and key personnel from participation.” UEFA have confirmed that two UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg games have been postponed due to coronavirus. The Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend has been rescheduled for Nov. 11-14, and will now serve as the season finale for the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the sanctioning body added. “With the uncertainty surrounding the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Also to be run on that weekend is the rescheduled IMSA Michelin Pilot Skate Canada and the International Skating Union (ISU), were informed Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge season-ending races. — today by the Government of Quebec that they have cancelled the ISU Jerry Bonkowski World Figure Skating Championships 2020,” Skate Canada said in an email statement. “Any fan who has purchased tickets directly from the Leicester: Players showing coronavirus symptoms official ticket provider Evenko will receive details on the refund process in Leicester City have confirmed that three unnamed players are in self- due course.” isolation after showing symptoms of coronavirus. The ISU left open the possibility of scheduling world championships this These players are the first in the Premier League to have been fall. — OlympicTalk mentioned as showing symptoms of COVID-19 but it has been reported Final women’s Alpine World Cup races canceled, spoiling Mikaela they are showing symptoms and are yet to be tested. — Joe Prince- Shiffrin’s planned return Wright The international ski federation (FIS) announced plans to hold the races Real Madrid players in isolation, La Liga suspended without spectators, largely rendering moot Shiffrin’s statement that she All La Liga games have been suspended for the next two matchweeks, at would limit interactions with fans and media to maintain her privacy and least, as Real Madrid players and staff have been placed in self-isolation prevent the spread of the coronavirus. for 15 days due to fears over coronavirus Shortly thereafter, FIS announced that the races wouldn’t be held at all.

A player on Real’s basketball team has tested positive for coronavirus “We are so sorry that we have to cancel the competitions that we have and therefore the entire soccer team could have come into contact at prepared for for so long,” said World Cup manager Fredrik Broman. “The team venues. current situation give us no other option than to cancel.”

Previously La Liga had decided to keep games going and across the next A tweet from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team said the races had been two matchweeks would be played behind closed doors but this situation canceled “after new recommendations from the Public Health Agency of with Real Madrid has forced them to put the league in lockdown. — Joe .” — Beau Dure Prince-Wright Warriors to host game without fans NBA suspends season indefinitely after player tests positive for coronavirus The Warriors are scheduled to play the Nets Thursday night at Chase Center and that appears to be the first NBA game played without a crowd An hour after the Jazz-Thunder game was called off in Oklahoma City, due to the coronavirus. The Warriors have confirmed the news. the NBA has announced they will suspend the season indefinitely after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier in the The Warriors aren’t the only team potentially facing these challenges. day, Gobert had ignored guidelines from the NBA about staying 6-8 feet Tuesday, Ohio governor Mike DeWine requested there be a pause in away from media, making a point of touching every reporter’s recorder. mass indoor gatherings to watch sporting events, which would impact the Cavaliers when they return from their current road trip. The mayor of Gobert was later ruled out due to illness, and not long after, the team’s Washington, D.C., made the same request, as did the mayor of Houston. doctor ran onto the court and spoke with officials moments before tipoff. Other cities and states are expected to follow suit.

“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s The idea of pausing the league is not off the table. — Kurt Helin schedule of games until further notice,” the NBA said in a statement. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward San Francisco bans gatherings of 1,000 or more people, sporting events in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.” — Dan Feldman included

NASCAR announces procedural changes due to coronavirus The Giants have canceled their March 24 exhibition game with the in San Francisco. NASCAR announced Wednesday a series of changes at the track because of the novel coronavirus outbreak. They open their home schedule on April 3 against the Dodgers and play their first six regular season games on the road in Los Angeles and The changes will take place this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Arizona. – Bill Baer which will host the Cup, Xfinity and Gander and RV Outdoors Truck Series and remain in effect indefinitely. Expert says sporting events should not be held in front of crowds

Among the changes: Anthony Fauci, the head of the infectious diseases division at the National Institutes of Health, testified in front of Congress today about the NASCAR will hold driver/crew chief meetings in open air locations and spread of COVID-19. will limit the meeting to drivers, crew chiefs, team owners and select officials and dignitaries. Fauci said this: “We would recommend that there not be large crowds. If that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, Driver appearances should be structured to ensure that drivers are so be it. But as a public health official, anything that has large crowds is visible to fans in an open-air setting, such as Q&A sessions. something that would give a risk to spread.”

NASCAR will provide a 6-foot buffer around the grid and driver Manchester City v. Arsenal postponed introduction stage. After several Arsenal players made contact with Olympiacos owner The NCAA tournaments will be played without fans Evangelos Marinakis, who has contracted Coronavirus, the March 11 The news became official in a statement released on Wednesday Premier League match between Man City and Arsenal has been afternoon. postponed. The fixture, which was set to begin on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, had already been rescheduled due to the FA Cup and no “I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship new date has been announced yet. events,” NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement, “including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential “The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing staff and limited family attendance.” Covid-19 at extremely low,” Arsenal said in a statement. “However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that The COVID-19 Advisory Panel put in place by the NCAA also released a anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should statement on the matter, saying that they “recognize the fluidity” of the self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact.” situation and they “recommend against sporting events open to the public.” — Rob Dauster The Arsenal players were in contact with Marinakis 13 days ago, so their self-isolation is almost up. — Nicholas Mendola World figure skating championships canceled Ivy League cancels tournament without playing any games The world figure skating championships, scheduled for next week in Montreal, will not be held due to the coronavirus. The Ivy League is cancelling their conference tournament due to the More MotoGP schedule adjustments spread of coronavirus, the conference announced on Tuesday morning. MotoGP announced Tuesday morning that its April 5 race in Austin, “We understand and share the disappointment with student-athletes, Texas, has been rescheduled to November because of the coronavirus coaches and fans who will not be able to participate in these outbreak. tournaments,” Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris said. “Regrettably, the information and recommendations presented to us from The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas will be moved to Nov. 13-15. public health authorities and medical professionals have convinced us The season finale at Valencia, Spain, will be moved a week later to Nov. that this is the most prudent decision.” 20-22 as a result of the Austin reschedulement.

Yale, the league’s regular season men’s champion, will be heading to the The race at becomes the third MotoGP event to men’s NCAA tournament. Harvard, Penn and Brown will see their season be affected this season. The premier class canceled its season opener at come to an end. Qatar because of coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The season’s second race in Thailand also has been postponed indefinitely. — Nate Princeton will receive the automatic bid to the women’s NCAA Ryan tournament. — Rob Dauster Olympic flame lighting ceremony to be held without spectators NFL league meetings, draft “remain in place” for now Greece’s Olympic committee made the decision after a Monday meeting, The ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the United States has led to the taking into account the coronavirus situation in Greece. cancellation of events like the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California in recent The flame lighting ceremony, always held in the ancient Olympic site of days, but the NFL has not altered its plans for two upcoming events at Olympia, will be attended by 100 accredited guests from the International this point. Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, according to a press release. — Nick Zaccardi The first of those events is the league meetings scheduled for March 29 – April 1 in Palm Beach Florida and the second is the draft in Serie A schedule emerges after coronavirus outbreak from April 23-25. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said, via Adam The next two rounds of the Italian soccer schedule have been pushed Schefter of ESPN, that plans for both of those events to go forward back by a week due to the coronavirus outbreak, the league announced “remain in place” for now. – Josh Alper on Friday

NBA will limit locker room access The governing body of Serie A announced the changes Friday, coming Effective on Tuesday, the NBA will restrict locker room access to players on the heels of other coronavirus sports issues. and essential team personnel only. On Thursday, it was decided that the matches postponed last weekend – The current NBA policy allows media into locker rooms both pre- and including the potential title decider between Juventus and Inter Milan – postgame. Most players do their game-day interviews in the locker room would be played this weekend. — Associated Press area. This process often involves many media members crowded around Cincinnati announces first FBS spring game cancellation due to a single player for an interview. There are often invited guests in the coronavirus locker rooms as well. Just hours after the governor of Ohio released recommendations for In an attempt to try and keep players, coaches and staff as healthy as handling sporting events in the wake of coronavirus, Cincinnati football possible, the NBA will limit access and attempt to control the crowding canceled its annual spring football game, making it the first FBS program around players and coaches. This means more interviews are likely to to cancel a spring game because of coronavirus. conducted in interview rooms with a podium setting, similar to the NBA playoffs. — Keith Smith The game was scheduled for April 10, and its cancellation is part of a broader plan to limit outdoor events across the university to crowds of MLB limits access ahead of season openers 150 spectators or less until May 1. As of now, Cincinnati’s spring practice Major League Baseball followed suit with the NBA, NHL and Major will continue as previously scheduled. Ohio State, which is located less League Soccer to limit access to its locker rooms. than two hours away from Cincinnati, is still scheduled to play its spring game on April 11. — John Taylor ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that MLB will monitor local markets and will consider its options if health authorities recommend games not to be NBC Universal LOADED: 03.23.2020 played. A potential option is for teams to play games at other locations.

Baseball players will be available in “press conference settings” as well as outside the clubhouse, but will be asked to conform to the CDC’s recommendation of keeping a six-foot distance from reporters, per Passan.

Sharks contemplating home options

The San Jose Sharks must mull over playing home games in front of an empty arena, or other options, as Santa Clara announced a ban of large events following the first coronavirus-related death in the area.

Santa Clara County officials announced that there will be a ban regarding meetings of people of 1,000 or more. It’s a three-week ban scheduled to go into effect at midnight on Wednesday.

Such a ban would affect the Sharks … eventually, as their next home game at the SAP Center takes place on March 17. (San Jose is beginning a four-game road trip in Chicago on Wednesday [March 11].) — James O’Brien

European soccer leagues adjusting schedules, postponing games

France has issued Europe’s next strongest response to the increased coronavirus sports fears as Ligue 1 on Monday has moved to limit all league games through mid-April to 1,000 fans in attendance. Meanwhile, Man United will play in an empty stadium at LASK Linz in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday due to fears over the spread of coronavirus. — Kyle Bonn 1181453 World Leagues News “People often refer to it as a social lubricant, and it is,” he said. “I can sit there and talk to you about the game and should the Bengals trade Andy Dalton and whatever it might be. And we can agree to disagree, but we’re not going to come to blows, whereas if we start talking politics or With coronavirus putting sports on hold, how are we coping? something, then we may be equally as knowledgeable about it but it seems like there’s greater potential for conflict.

“I think it is going to be interesting to see how that plays out. But I do By JIM ALEXANDER | PUBLISHED: March 22, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. | think … another consequence is that people will say, ‘Well, why the heck UPDATED: March 22, 2020 at 8:17 p.m. have I been so worried about sports over time. This has been occupying my time. I’ve been wasting money doing it. I’m done with it.’ Kind of like what people experience when leagues go on strike and they sort of It has been two weeks since the BNP Paribas tennis extravaganza in realize, ‘You know, it was nice doing something constructive with my Indian Wells was canceled, and it’s been a week and a half since the rest Sunday instead of spending seven hours in front of three NFL games or of the world of sports essentially shut down. whatever it might be.”

Doesn’t it feel like a couple of months? Of that, I’m not so sure. People say they’re done with sports, or at least a particular sport, following a labor dispute. But eventually, the vast You know the saying about how life comes at you fast? It has come at us majority come back with renewed enthusiasm. It is too hard to walk in big, crashing waves in just two weeks. We went from a state of relative away. normalcy, albeit one where we worried about germs and hand washing and crowded venues and handshakes, to hauntingly quiet isolation (or at So how do we cope? least a 6-foot buffer zone). Sports video games might satisfy those cravings in ways we hadn’t Sports, in this case, was the forerunner of our locked-down society. anticipated. NASCAR and IndyCar both ran simulations of their Seasons were postponed. March Madness was canceled. School sports’ scheduled weekend events this weekend. NASCAR’s iRacing was aired springtime seasons have been scrubbed. Sportscasts have been on FS1, replacing what would have been the real race, and NASCAR reduced to looking for highlights from the past, and sports channels are public relations and individual teams were sending out press releases filling time with old – OK, classic – games from their archives. Leagues during the week as if their drivers were racing for real rather than in wonder when it will be safe to resume and how much of their schedules simulators. can be accommodated. (The “race” itself turned out to be a fun finish, sort of weird but The worst part? The future is still so uncertain. Nobody really knows how competitive, with Denny Hamlin nudging Dale Earnhardt Jr. out of the bad this will be, or how long it will linger. And a method we historically way to cross the finish line first.) have used to cope with tough times – losing ourselves in the games and doing so with fellow members of our communities – is no longer Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns (on Twitch) and and available. Capitals (on the NBC Sports Washington regional network) are running game simulations on NBA2K20 and NHL 20, presumably for as long as “Obviously, there are a lot of people who are anxious, rightfully so, about the real schedule is quiet. what’s going on,” said Christian End, a sociology professor at Cincinnati’s Xavier University. “Sports might have served as a way to maybe just give The Kings, likewise, are using the Twitch platform for their own virtual them a release for a couple of hours a day or whatever it might be. games, including one Sunday night against the Coyotes. (These wins won’t affect their lottery odds, will they?) “… Sports gave you some sort of excitement from just doing your normal routine. And I think right now a lot of things are going to be routine and And beyond the old … er, classic games running on just about every (will) become self-contained. Sports, in a way, could have been a means sports network, YouTube has a huge supply of full game broadcasts from to help people break out of that.” the past. (Pro tip: Check out Game 5 of the 1972 Lakers-Knicks NBA Finals, which clinched the Lakers’ first L.A. championship. You will be There are small pockets of normalcy. The NFL free agency frenzy last shocked at how different the game was then.) week provided a release of sorts, allowing fans to banter, argue and speculate. After all, the NFL hasn’t canceled a game yet. Hopefully, you’ll find something similar to at least make the stay-at-home mandate a bit more bearable. And feel free to email me and let me know (Technically, it hasn’t scheduled any yet, either.) your own method for coping.

You can still bet on horse racing, which has become the equivalent of a The Press-Enterprise LOADED: 03.23.2020 studio show anyway because of off-track betting. But that’s it.

Otherwise, for those who care about the games and the teams – and, admittedly, for those of us who make a living either in the sports industry itself or as part of the media covering it – the prospect is of a long dry spell with no end in sight. We had hoped seasons could begin/resume in April. Now we hope it might be May, but we have to steel ourselves for the possibility that the games might not start again until June, July or even later.

The absence of fellowship around the games is just as keenly felt. Fantasy sports are popular in large part because they give people something to talk about. Beyond that, games bring families and friends together.

End, in our phone conversation a few days ago, recalled growing up in Wisconsin and having autumn Sunday afternoons become family time centered around one particular ritual.

“We knew wherever we were, whatever we had going on, from 12 to 3 we were going to be at Mom and Dad’s watching the (Packers) game,” he said. “It fulfills some of those family needs.”

Now, he said, the longtime buddies who make up his fantasy football league have talked about doing a weekly FaceTime or Zoom group call just to maintain those bonds, or even creating a video game league of their own. 1181454 World Leagues News The Philadelphia 76ers announced Thursday that three members of its organization have tested positive for the coronavirus, hours after the Denver Nuggets confirmed one positive test. Then on Thursday night, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart announced he had tested positive for Coronavirus cancellations and reactions in sports COVID-19. And two players also have tested positive, the team said.

Here's how the NBA was so quick to test teams. Mar 19, 2020 NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a SportsCenter interview on ESPN Wednesday that one potential option for bringing back the sport would be some kind of charity competition. Silver said he isn't sure what the NBA schedule will look like if play resumes this season and isn't ready to think As COVID-19, a strain of the coronavirus, has spread around the globe in the league will have to cancel its season. recent months, tournaments, games and other sporting events have been canceled, while others have been modified. The NBA season was Here's a look inside the NBA coronavirus shutdown -- how a few tense suspended, and the NCAA canceled all remaining spring and winter hours changed everything. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson championships, including the men's and women's basketball joined other NBA stars and team front offices to make donations to aid tournaments. MLB has canceled the remainder of spring training, and arena staff that will be unable to work while the season is suspended. Opening Day has been delayed at least two weeks. The NHL also has Here's how the NBA coronavirus suspension impacts every team in the suspended play and golf's first major tournament of the year, the Western Conference, and here's how it impacts every team in the Masters, has been postponed. The Boston Marathon will delay its race Eastern Conference. until Sept. 14, the Marathon has been postponed from April 26 to Oct. 4 and the 2020 Invictus Games have been postponed, as well. MLB Scripps said it will not be holding the Scripps National Spelling Bee as scheduled on May 24 outside Washington, D.C. On Thursday, Major League Baseball announced it was delaying the start of the 2020 regular season by at least two weeks and that spring Here's a look at how the coronavirus is affecting sports in the U.S. and training games had been suspended immediately. around the world: After the federal government recommended restricting events of more List of sporting events canceled because of coronavirus than 50 people for the next eight weeks, the MLB on Monday pushed back Opening Day until mid-May at the earliest. From FiveThirtyEight: How sports leagues are reacting to coronavirus Here's the latest we're hearing on when MLB could actually return, and What to watch while sports are on hiatus here's how MLB players, execs and others are facing coronavirus How athletes are spending their downtime uncertainty.

NCAA MLB had been scheduled to open its season March 26, with all 30 teams in action -- and in the meantime, here are six creative ways the MLB can are removed after the Big Ten announced that the remainder make the best of a tough situation, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. of its men's basketball tournament was canceled. AP Photo/Michael Conroy In the downtime, all 30 MLB teams on Tuesday pledged $30 million total to help cover the lost wages of ballpark employees who have been The NCAA has called off its men's and women's basketball tournaments affected. Minor league players also will be paid through April 8, and a as part of a complete cancellation of all remaining spring and winter plan is underway to compensate those players during the postponed championships. The announcement is an abrupt end to a basketball portion of the regular season season that had less than a month to go before champions were to be crowned. Here's everything we know and don't know after the A series scheduled in April in both City and San Juan, Puerto cancellations, and some of the possible storylines we'll miss in the 2020 Rico, has also been canceled by MLB because of the pandemic. NCAA tournament. But brackets will not be released. NHL On what would have been Selection Sunday, in a wide-ranging interview An Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for the coronavirus, the with ESPN, NCAA president Mark Emmert detailed how the decision was team announced. It is the first known coronavirus case in the NHL. ultimately made to cancel this year's NCAA tournament. Go inside the 48 hours that shutdown college sports. On Thursday, the NHL suspended play immediately. But sources told ESPN the NHL hopes to resume its schedule in the future. There are 189 In college football, Michigan and Penn State have become two of the first games and 3½ weeks remaining in the NHL's regular season. There had major programs to cancel or postpone their pro days. And Michigan and been 10 games on the NHL slate on Thursday before the suspension. Ohio State are among the programs that have canceled their annual spring games. The SEC and ACC also have both canceled all spring Here's what a pause on the NHL season means going forward. football games and pro days, along with all other regular-season conference and nonconference competitions for the rest of the 2019-20 NFL athletic year. The NFL still plans to hold the 2020 draft as scheduled in April, but public Could seniors get another year of eligibility? Some suggested as much draft events in Las Vegas will not take place. on social media, as the college sports world grappled with the Last week, the league said it had "no plans to move the start of the cancellations. The NCAA Division I Council Committee has league year," but it canceled its annual meeting scheduled for March 29 recommended that student-athletes who participate in spring sports through April 1 in West Palm Beach, Florida. should be provided eligibility relief. On Thursday, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton announced NBA he had tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first person in Fans leave after being told the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz the NFL world known to test positive for the virus. Payton said he came game had been canceled. Alonzo Adams/USA TODAY Sports forward with the diagnosis because he wants all people to heed the warnings of government officials, stay inside and behave responsibly. Two Utah Jazz players -- Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert -- were the first to test positive for the coronavirus. Almost immediately on the night World football of March 11, the NBA announced it was suspending the season "until World football has been decimated, with the Turkish Super Lig and the further notice." Australian A-League the only significant professional leagues still to be On Tuesday, the Brooklyn Nets announced four of their players had playing globally, albeit behind closed doors. tested positive for coronavirus. Among the four is star Kevin Durant, who Euro 2020 will be postponed until 2021 after UEFA reached an was asymptomatic. agreement with key governing bodies on Tuesday. On the same day, CONMEBOL announced that the Copa America has been postponed After other sports leagues postponed their seasons, the XFL followed suit until 2021. on Thursday. The XFL completed only half of its scheduled 10-week season before being canceled. The league was in its first season since it UEFA took the unprecedented step of suspending the Champions folded in 2011, and there was no word on what would happen with League and Europa League. UEFA intends to complete all domestic and playoffs. All players will be paid their base pay and benefits for the European club competitions by June 30, 2020, at the latest -- if regular season, and players also are now able to sign with an NFL team. conditions allow. It hopes to play the Europa League final on June 24, with the Champions League final three days later. However, the esports governing body also is considering staging one-legged knockout ties, then playing the semifinals and finals over two weekends. Many esports tournaments and events have been postponed or canceled, while some events will still go forward, but without public entry In England, Premier League bosses have underlined their commitment to or a live audience. One major example: All remaining finish the season during a coronavirus summit on Thursday, and they events in March and April have been canceled. said games in the division will be further postponed until April 30. England's football authorities will delay the start of the 2020-21 season MMA until the last ball has been kicked in the 2019-20 campaign, with sources The UFC postponed its next three events, which were scheduled for telling ESPN that this year's Premier League and EFL seasons will March 21, March 28 and April 11. UFC president Dan White made the "absolutely finish before the next one begins." announcement Monday via an email to all staff. The UFC also has closed In the United States, Major League Soccer has pushed back the restart its executive offices in Las Vegas. of its season to May 10. The UFC's next pay-per-view event is scheduled to take place April 18 at La Liga in Spain is now suspended, as is Serie A in and Ligue 1 and Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. According to the email, the UFC Ligue 2 in . The Football Association in Wales and the Scottish still plans to promote that event for now, with it taking place in New York Football Association both suspended all domestic activity on Friday. or perhaps elsewhere.

The top two divisions of football in and France also have been WWE suspended. The French Football Federation (FFF) and the Professional The biggest WWE event of the year, WrestleMania, is still on. However, it Football League (LFP) suspended all football from the men's will be without fans on April 5. It is no longer set to be staged at semiprofessional third tier downward -- as well as all three women's Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, but rather at the WWE leagues. training facility in Orlando, Florida. Other events scheduled in Tampa The African soccer federation has paused all games in African around WrestleMania also have been canceled. competition, including qualifiers for next year's African Cup of Nations. WWE also has temporarily moved its television shows to the WWE A friendly between Germany and Italy due to be held in Nuremberg, Performance Center facility, including Raw on Mondays and SmackDown Germany, on March 31 has been cancelled. on Fridays, without spectators.

Mexico has canceled friendlies scheduled to take place in the U.S. Liga MX has now suspended play until further notice. All CONCACAF Monaco Grand Prix organizers have confirmed the famous race will not competitions have been suspended, including the Champions League take place in 2020. Formula One already had postponed the three races and Olympic qualifying. scheduled to take place in May -- the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Also, the National Women's has suspended its preseason, grands prix. The first four races of F1's season -- Australia, Bahrain, with its opening weekend -- scheduled to begin April 18 -- still set to go Vietnam and -- were postponed, as well. ahead. Golf

Tennis The PGA Tour originally said Tuesday it had no plans to cancel events, The French Open has been postponed, and will now run from Sept. 20 to but late Thursday, tour officials canceled the Players Championship after Oct. 4. It is the first Grand Slam tennis tournament affected by the the first round. The tour also announced it would be canceling the next COVID-19 outbreak. three events on the PGA Tour schedule: the Vaspar Championship, the WGC-Dell Technologies Championship and the Valero Texas Open. And The ATP and WTA have suspended play on both tours until June 7, a on Friday, the Masters -- the first major tournament of the year -- was decision that eliminates the entire clay-court swing through Europe. officially postponed.

Serena Williams said she will be spending six weeks in "solitude." Could the Masters actually be canceled? Here's what the postponement of the year's first major golf championship means. Horse racing On Monday, the PGA Tour postponed the year's second major Churchill Downs has announced that the 146th Kentucky Derby will be championship, the PGA Championship, which was scheduled for May moved from May 2 to Sept 5. However, house racing is still going on to 14-17, saying they will look for a new date later in 2020. The RCB some capacity at roughly two dozen horse racetracks around the U.S. -- Heritage, Zurich Classic, Wells Fargo Championship and AT&T Byron just without spectators. The racing offers a bit of relief to sports fans. Nelson also were postponed by the PGA Tour.

Olympic sports NASCAR

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were one of the first big sporting events NASCAR will be off for the next two weekends after postponing the thrown into question due to the coronavirus outbreak. The leader of the Atlanta and Homestead races because of concerns over the coronavirus IOC's coordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics said there is no outbreak. May deadline to cancel the games, and he remains confident the event will go ahead. Some countries said they would not partake in any Boxing qualifying events, including the International Judo Federation. FINA postponed Olympic water sports qualifying events, including the Diving World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's title defense against World Series and the Water Polo World League. The Olympic torch was Kubrat Pulev has been postponed by several months due to the lit in Athens, Greece, with no spectators. Organizers announced that the coronavirus pandemic, Pulev, the IBF's mandatory challenger, said on Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 20, would be postponed until Thursday. September. Also, the British Boxing Board of Control has cancelled all public boxing XFL under its jurisdiction until at least early April, meaning that the heavyweight showdown between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce, set for A stadium employee who worked at the XFL's Seattle Dragons home April 11 at the O2 Arena in London has been rescheduled for July 11. game on Feb. 22 at CenturyLink Field tested positive for the coronavirus, Other fights also have been affected by the ruling, including a bout King County health officials announced on March 5. between 's David Avanesyan and England's Josh Kelly.

Rugby Domestic rugby leagues across Europe have been ground to a halt. The European and quarterfinals have been postponed, while the Gallagher Premiership and TOP 14 have been suspended. The PRO14 league has been suspended indefinitely, and its final scheduled for June has been cancelled.

A number of domestic rugby governing bodies, including Ireland, Italy and England, have suspended all professional activity.

France vs. Ireland, Italy vs. England and Wales vs. Scotland have been postponed in the Six Nations. The organizers of the PRO14 have suspended the competition indefinitely while the Irish Union and the French Rugby Federation have both suspended all domestic activity as of Friday.

ESPN LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181455 World Leagues News

Sports go virtual after coronavirus postponements

Author: Jake Garegnani

Published: 7:33 PM PDT March 22, 2020

Updated: 7:33 PM PDT March 22, 2020

SAN DIEGO — While sports all over the country are on hiatus due to the coronavirus quarantine some sports have decided to go virtual!

Both NASCAR and have decided to take their sport into the digital realm. Each one is hosting its own style tournament online with the actual players competing through different platforms.

NASCAR used iRacing, an online eSports simulator for their 100-lap race Sunday. Here is an example of seven-time NASCAR Champion and El Cajon native Jimmie Johnson's setup.

For those die-hard fans wondering, Denny Hamlin won the virtual race. Hamlin pledged before the race to donate $100 per lap led plus $5,000 for winning the race. That totaled out to $6,400 after his victory. He is donating to The NASCAR Foundation to assist Miami-area families affected by the virus.

As for Major League Rugby (MLR) they too are taking the virtual approach using the game Rugby 20 and the streaming platform Twitch. Their tournament consisted of five rounds and a playoff.

The Legion got off to a hot start in the real world with a perfect 5-0 record before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19 but dropped their opening virtual match to Utah. The next chance to see the online battle for the Legion will be Tuesday as they take on Houston in the online world.

LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181456 World Leagues News Also on Sunday, the city announced free alternative off-street parking options and increasing on-street parking meter courtesy times.

On Saturday, the city issued an update on how it will enforce the March Long Beach shuts down sports facilities amid growing concern about 19 “Safer at Home” order. coronavirus spread Businesses that violate or fail to comply with the Long Beach Health Officer’s order may be subject to civil enforcement, which includes but is not limited to, administrative penalties and revocation of a business By MIKE SPRAGUE | PUBLISHED: March 22, 2020 at 12:45 p.m. | and/or health permit. UPDATED: March 22, 2020 at 5:16 p.m. Whittier Daily News LOADED: 03.23.2020

Bringing to a close a weekend of concern over people ignoring coronavirus-spurred social-distancing rules in public places amid the city’s “Safer at Home” orders, the City of Long Beach closed sports facilities in parks and beaches and urged residents not to gather in open spaces.

Earlier on Sunday, March 22, the city announced that two additional people reported testing positive for the novel coronavirus, raising the total at 17 in the city, with another 140 either currently or having been monitored, health officials said in their daily update. Four people so far have recovered.

“We continue to see large groups of people gathering in our parks playing team sports and at the beach — and that is a problem,” said Mayor Robert Garcia on Sunday. “We are in the midst of a public health emergency and people of all ages can be affected by COVID-19. For the sake of our hospitals, first responders and loved ones it is critical that everyone follow our Safer at Home order.”

This measures were set in motion by City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis, using emergency powers granted to the city manager through Long Beach’s declaration of a local emergency.

Long Beach has its own health department, separate from Los Angeles County.

Still allowed in parks and along the beach: Walking, hiking, biking and runnig — just so long as residents maintain at least six feet of physical distance between one another.

Officials also asked people to avoid touching handrails, water fountains and crosswalk buttons with their hands, suggesting elbows as alternatives.

The novel coronavirus disease — also known as COVID-19 — can thrive on some surfaces for up to 72 hours, experts have said since the worldwide pandemic began.

Closed immediately in the city will be:

Basketball courts

Tennis courts

Volleyball courts

Dog parks

Playgrounds

Skate parks

Picnic areas

And group exercise in parks is also discouraged.

A clearly concerned Garcia posted on Facebook and on Twitter Saturday and Sunday about the need to social distance.

“Seriously people, you need to practice social distancing,” Garcia tweeted. “I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there’s no crisis. You could be carrying the virus, have no symptoms and be responsible for the illness or worse of others.”

On Facebook, Garcia wrote that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s and the city’s order does allow people to go for a walk or visit a park or beach.

“However, you must still use social distancing, he wrote. “You can’t play team sports, and you must stay 6 feet apart from anyone else. We need the public to take self responsibility and remember that our doctors, nurses, and medical personnel are counting on us.” 1181457 World Leagues News

Two ESPN employees test positive for coronavirus

Steve Gardner

Two employees based in ESPN's office in New York City have tested positive for the coronavirus and are recovering at home.

In a company-wide memo to staff obtained by USA TODAY Sports, ESPN says the two employees were last in the office on March 11 and 12 -- and it believes all employees who may have come in close contact with them have been working from home since then.

The memo does not name the employees, citing privacy concerns.

CORONAVIRUS & SPORTS: Get the latest news and information right in your inbox. Sign up here.

In addition to its main campus in Bristol, , ESPN has an office on West 66th Street in New York City. ESPN says the areas where the employees work have been disinfected and deep cleaned repeatedly since March 12.

USA TODAY LOADED: 03.23.2020 1181458 World Leagues News agents like Tom Brady have given sports companies topics to cover or take bets on. The NFL Draft is still set for April 23 to 25, though it will not include a public event.

US sports-betting companies are planning a resurgence around the NFL When live sports do return, betting companies going to get behind it in a season and its delay would be a 'worst case scenario' big way to make up for lost time and reconnect with sports fans.

"I don't think anything is ever going to be the way it was," said Chad Millman, chief content officer at The Action Network, which provides Ashley Rodriguez 2020-03-19T18:00:50Z sports news and analysis for bettors. "But I do think sports betting is uniquely positioned to accelerate. When sports do come back there's

going to be so much pent-up interest. It's once of those space where'd I'd With no March Madness, and NBA, NHL, and MLB seasons in limbo, only expect to get much much bigger." US sports-media and betting companies are very ready for football. businessinsider.com LOADED: 03.23.2020 Insiders are hoping that the fall NFL season, which has been a launchpad for sports-betting products and marketing campaigns over the last two years, will still kick off as planned in September.

"The worst case scenario is it delays the beginning of the NFL season," one sports-industry advisor said. "People are going to have to make some difficult decisions about their businesses."

Currently, sports-betting and media companies are finding some solace amid the lack of live sports in the NFL free-agent discussions that started this week around players like Tom Brady.

With no March Madness, and the current and upcoming NBA, NHL, and MLB seasons in limbo, US sports-betting companies are hanging their hopes on the fall NFL season kicking off as planned.

Sports-betting and media companies businesses are in a bit of a holding pattern right now as many major live-sporting events have been canceled amid coronavirus concerns.

Some are biding their time, cutting costs and focusing on smaller sports like horse racing, rugby, local soccer matches, and even politics. Everyone in the industry is eagerly watching to see if the NBA and NHL championships will still be played, even if played to empty venues.

But numerous people Business Insider spoke with said it would be catastrophic for the US sports-betting industry if the fall NFL and college football seasons are delayed.

"The optimistic view is in two to three weeks, we're getting to the other side of this and we have a sense of how long this will last," one sports- industry advisor told Business Insider. "The worst case scenario is it delays the beginning of the NFL season ... People are going to have to make some difficult decisions about their businesses."

Football is the most gambled on sport in the US.

In New Jersey, where the most money is legally wagered on sports outside of Nevada, $939 million was wagered on football in 2019. It made up 20% of all the money bet on sports that year.

Over the past two years, companies like FanDuel, theScore, and Fox Bet have launched sportsbooks around the start of football season, and run major marketing and promotional campaigns.

More US states, including Indiana and Colorado, were expected to bring legal betting online this year, making sports betting an even bigger opportunity in the US.

However, US president Donald Trump has also said the global coronavirus pandemic could continue to affect the country through August or longer. No one knows for sure at this moment.

Currently, the NFL pre-season is scheduled to start in August, with the regular season kicking off on September 10.

If sports return the air by then, even if they're played to empty stadiums, some insiders expect it will be a reawakening for the industry.

It'll be the moment to push out product launches or marketing campaigns that have been delayed.

"Hopefully in the fall with the NFL season, you'll have new, innovative next-gen looking sports-betting platforms," said Wayne Kimmel, at venture-capital firm SeventySix Capital, which invests in sports and technology companies. "It all depends upon if everyone can stay healthy and if we have a season. There's a lot of question marks."

Already, the NFL has provided sports-media companies and betting platforms with some fodder to fill the lack of live sports. News around free 1181459 World Leagues News described as “scenario-planning”, considering how the Games could be modified in light of changing conditions relating to Covid-19.

18.42 – Hearts captain Steven Naismith pledged to accept a 50 per cent Timeline of sport’s response to coronavirus on Sunday, March 22 pay cut in order to save jobs and help the club survive during the coronavirus crisis. Players have been asked to halve their wages by the struggling Edinburgh side following the suspension of the Ladbrokes Premiership. by Press Association 21.45 – Guanyu Zhou won Formula One’s first official Virtual Grand Prix 22/03/2020, 11:11 am as the Renault test driver took the chequered flag in Bahrain. After the start of the F1 season decimated by the coronavirus outbreak, the sport took the decision to entertain fans with a stream of online races taking Steven Naismith, Tony Adams and Toby Alderweireld are all doing their place on the date and time that the corresponding grands prix would bit to help during the coronavirus crisis (Steve Welsh/Chris Radburn/Nick have been held, with race drivers past and present joined by eSports Potts/PA) stars and celebrities.

The coronavirus pandemic continued to affect the world of sport on 22.30 – was forced to delay plans to create a domestic Sunday. competition for the teams affected by the suspension of Super Rugby. The Reds, Rebels, Waratahs and Brumbies, along with former Super Here, the PA news agency recaps the day’s main developments. Rugby side Western Force, had been invited to form a new event after 6.45 – The National vowed to continue with the current the five-nation competition was put on hold. A statement from RA read: season until the Australian government advises otherwise. The NRL “The remodelled competition, which was in the final stages of approvals, began its season behind closed doors last week and ARL chairman Peter had a planned start date of April 3 but has been suspended until at least V’landys stated the intention is to proceed with the competition until it is May 1.” encouraged to shut down matches. Evening Express LOADED: 03.23.2020 9.00 – Global Athlete added its voice to those calling for the Tokyo Olympics to be postponed. The athlete-led group said pushing ahead with the planned start date of July 24 was incompatible with the action needed to combat the virus.

9.23 – Former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has tested positive for coronavirus, his Chinese club Shandong Luneng announced. Fellaini tweeted: “Dear friends, I have been tested for coronavirus and my test result is positive. I will follow the treatment and hope to return to the game as soon as possible. Please everyone stay safe.”

11.11– Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said the Premier League leaders’ stewards were volunteering to help with crowd control and assisting the elderly with their shopping at supermarkets. Over the past few days Images have been shared of chaotic scenes at supermarkets as long queues form for groceries, with restrictions brought in at some to prevent panic buying, so the stewards are on hand to help manage the situation.

13.15 – The prestigious Dubai World Cup meeting, scheduled to take place at Meydan on Saturday, was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It had been expected to take place behind closed doors, with appropriate measures in place. However, despite many of the participants taking part in routine exercise on the Meydan track as normal on Sunday morning, it was announced in the early afternoon that the card had been postponed.

13.28 – Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld revealed he will donate tablets to hospitals and nursing homes to help sick people stay in touch with family and friends. The centre-back is planning to buy dozens of electronic devices so those who are ill do not feel alone during the coronavirus pandemic.

14.00 – president Tony Adams urged fans to look after their mental health. The former England and Arsenal defender wrote on rugby-league.com: “I am concerned that these uncertain times and increased fear and anxiety are impacting on many people’s mental fitness. As well as taking responsibility for reducing the spread of the virus by following all the NHS advice, we can all do a few things to help our own mental fitness. And to support family or mates who might be struggling.”

18.00 – UK Sport, the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association announced they are to hold a conference call on Tuesday with sporting bodies to discuss the impact of the coronavirus on their sports. Training schedules of teams and individual athletes have been severely affected by stoppages in all sports. Tuesday’s call will also help inform the BOA and BPA of their positions with regard to feedback requested by the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee on this summer’s Games in Tokyo.

18.16 – The IOC announced it is to step up its contingency planning for a potential postponement of the Tokyo Games, but insisted full cancellation is not on the agenda. The IOC’s executive board will undertake what it 1181460 World Leagues News athletes the option of regaining lost eligibility during the 2020-21 academic year. It is possible that not all schools offer, or would offer, scholarships based on the full cost of attendance.

Giving NCAA athletes another year of eligibility for coronavirus USA TODAY Sports' model adjusted for composition of rosters by class cancellations is costly year by estimating that one fifth of each school’s scholarship outlay would be going to athletes who are losing what would have been their final season of eligibility. This accounts for the possibility that each senior on the 2019-20 roster had redshirted. Steve Berkowitz The model attempted to account for differentials between in-state and Paul Myerberg out-of-state costs by estimating that half of schools’ scholarship recipients are in-state students. At some public schools, the percentage of in-state scholarship recipients is greater, or athletic departments are NCAA Division I schools’ plan to preserve an additional year of eligibility charged in-state rates for out-of-state. But in addition to increases in the for athletes in spring sports whose seasons were lost due to the cost of tuition and other components of a scholarship, there likely would coronavirus pandemic could place a significant additional cost on be other expenses involved with athletes staying for an extra season, athletics departments that will be facing declining revenue. such as additional food and equipment while roster sizes potentially increase at least temporarily. Giving an additional season of eligibility just to seniors on spring-sports teams could cost public schools in the Power Five conferences anywhere The major unknown in all of this is the number of athletes who would from $500,000 to $900,000, a USA TODAY analysis of schools’ financial actually choose to remain in school and play an extra season. reports to the NCAA shows. "I think we all know and are preparing for some sort of a budget impact, Schools outside the Power Five would face lower amounts, but FCS but there’s still a lot to unfold," said Auburn athletics director Allen schools that have relatively robust spring sports offerings could be Greene. looking at a cost of around $400,000. However, for the schools that would be facing amounts much lower than that, the additional revenue "It’s one of those circumstances where you want to do what’s in the best needed — even in the best circumstances — is hard to come by. interests of the athletes, understanding that we don’t have financial clarity. You want to make that decision without thinking about finances, And the outlay involved would grow dramatically if the option for a but you also have to recognize that there is a financial impact." replacement season of eligibility were to be permitted for more than one class. By USA TODAY Sports' estimate, Auburn would need about $480,000 to cover only one year of eligibility for this year's senior class, when "I do believe it’s the right thing to talk about it and see what the spreading those scholarships across five seasons and splitting the costs possibilities are," said Eastern Washington athletics director Lynn Hickey, of attendance for each scholarship between the in-state rate ($27,398) whose program has five spring sports teams and in 2018-19 provided and the out-of-state rate ($48,112). That’s based on Auburn fielding eight less than the Division I-maximum number of scholarships in all of them. spring teams and awarding the equivalent of just under 60 scholarships “In our situation, how do we come up with the funds for the extra as in 2018-19. scholarships that we weren’t counting on? Quite honestly, I don’t know how we would pay for it. I’m being very honest and transparent. I don’t Ohio State fielded 12 teams and handed out the equivalent of just over know.” 112 scholarships during the 2019 spring season. So, it would need to pay about $8,000 to cover only one year of eligibility for this year's senior On Friday, the NCAA announced that the Division I Council — a panel of class, when spreading those scholarships across five seasons and administrators tasked with making rules affecting programs’ day-to-day splitting the costs of attendance for each scholarship between in-state operations — will vote on March 30 concerning “eligibility relief for ($27,398) and out-of-state ($48,112) athletes. student-athletes whose seasons were impacted by COVID-19 and other related issues.” Citing the “number of variables in play,” Ohio State athletics spokesman Jerry Emig said the school’s athletics officials did not want to comment This came in the wake of the Council’s eight-member leadership group “until we know significantly more about the details of an extra year.” saying on March 13 that “eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports.” A proportionally demanding financial outlay would be called for at universities with FBS programs on the Group of Five level, such as The Council’s decisions are subject to review by the Division I Board of Central Florida ($425,000), Troy ($280,000), and Boise State ($270,000). Directors, a group of school presidents. Even schools without football programs, such as the College of On the revenue side of the equation, it appears likely that distributions Charleston ($385,000) and California-Irvine ($410,000), could need to from the NCAA to Division I schools will be impacted by the cancellation come up with significant funds. UC-Irvine has nine spring teams — half of of the Division I men’s basketball tournament. But those amounts its overall total — including men’s volleyball and women’s water polo. constitute roughly 2% to 5% of athletics departments’ operating revenue. Bigger problems could come in ticket revenue and donations. "It may be the right thing to do," Eastern Washington’s Hickey said, "but realistically, I don’t know how we would pull it off without help." Some schools, including South Carolina and Georgia, already have announced extensions of football season ticket renewal deadlines and a USA TODAY LOADED: 03.23.2020 willingness to work with customers regarding payment plans.

Donations, a substantial source of department revenue, could sharply decline amid the uncertain economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis.

"Philanthropic giving towards higher education, like the rest of the nonprofit sector, typically slows or declines in times of recession," said Noah D. Drezner, Professor of Higher Education, Teachers College, Columbia University.

To assess the potential cost impact of adding the season of eligibility, USA TODAY Sports examined the scholarship costs of NCAA- sanctioned spring sports during the 2018-19 fiscal year at 20 Division I athletics departments. This covered schools in different conferences and regions of the country in each of the division’s sub-classifications: Power Five, Group of Five, FCS and those that do not have football teams.

Identifying the number of spring-sports scholarships awarded by each university and using schools’ self-reported cost-of-attendance figures provided the basis for an estimate of the total investment required to give 1181461 World Leagues News – LaLiga suspended “at least the next two rounds of matches” as a result of a quarantine in place at Real Madrid.

– All domestic sporting action in Italy – including Serie A matches – was Sport-by-sport look at the impact of the coronavirus outbreak suspended until April 3.

– Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, the top two divisions in France, were suspended until further notice. By Press Association 2020 – The German Football League suspended games in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga until at least April 3, with a review to be undertaken on March 30. The coronavirus outbreak has decimated the sporting schedule and affected some of 2020’s biggest events. – Major League Soccer announced the suspension of matches with no set date for the competition to restart. A range of sports have had to take action to prevent the spread of the virus, with Euro 2020 put on hold for 12 months and domestic football in – The South American (CONMEBOL) World Cup qualifiers scheduled for England and Scotland suspended until at least the end of April. March 23-31 were postponed to a later date.

Formula One has seen the Monaco Grand Prix cancelled, golf has – The Northern Premier League announced all fixtures were suspended postponed two of its major championships and the Guinness Six Nations, until further notice. London Marathon, Boat Race and World Snooker Championship have all been affected. – The Scottish Professional Football League postponed all games ‘pending any Government order and/or further direction from the Scottish With the Olympics also on the horizon this summer, the PA news agency FA’. takes a sport-by-sport look at the impact of coronavirus. – The Football Association announced it was “advising that all grassroots UEFA today announced the postponement of UEFA EURO 2020. football in England is postponed for the foreseeable future”.

A working group has been set up with the participation of leagues and – The Professional Footballers’ Association announced it had postponed club representatives to examine calendar solutions that would allow for this year’s awards ceremony, which had been due to take place on April the completion of the current season… 26.

Full statement: – The final Hillsborough memorial service, which was due to take place at Anfield on April 15, was postponed. — UEFA (@UEFA) March 17, 2020 – CONMEBOL confirmed that the Copa Libertadores and Copa – UEFA postponed Euro 2020 until the summer of 2021, with new dates Sudamericana would be suspended until at least May 5. of June 11 to July 11 next year proposed. The official announcement from European football’s governing body also confirmed that the Euro – Major League Soccer announced an extension to its postponement of 2020 play-offs, due to be played later this month, will now take place in matches, confirming a target date of May 10 for a return to action. the June 2020 international break. – The Turkish Football Federation announced it was suspending all – The 2021 Nations League finals, UEFA Under-21 European football activities until further notice. Championship and the Women’s Euro 2021 were also postponed. – The International Olympic Committee remains fully committed to – The 2020 Copa America is to move to 2021 to give South American staging the Tokyo 2020 Games as scheduled this summer, despite players based in Europe the opportunity to finish their league campaigns. Japan’s Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto suggesting it could be postponed until later in the year. – The Premier League, EFL and Football Association announced that professional football in England would not resume until April 30 at the – The British Olympic Association said it would not “endanger the health” earliest, but the season would be extended indefinitely. of athletes by encouraging them to prepare for Tokyo 2020 if it is not safe to do so. – All Scottish football was suspended with immediate effect, with the Scottish Football Association confirming it would not resume until April 30 – The Greek leg of the Olympic Torch Relay was cancelled the day after at the earliest. the first flame-lighting ceremony since 1984 took take place without spectators. – The Football Association of Wales suspended all domestic football until April 30 and indefinitely extended the season for all national leagues, – The Olympic boxing qualifier in London was cancelled having initially national cup competitions and the FAW Futsal League. moved the tournament behind closed doors.

– The Irish Football Association suspended the current season in – The Artistic Gymnastics All-Around World Cup event scheduled to take Northern Ireland until at least April 4. The Football Association of Ireland place in Tokyo next month was cancelled. The competition had been due announced all football activity under its jurisdiction was suspended until to serve as an Olympic test event. March 29. – England’s two friendlies later this month at Wembley against Italy and were cancelled, and were followed by the friendlies with – The Six Nations game between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff was and Romania in June. Wales’ international matches with Austria and the postponed, joining the matches between France and Ireland and Italy United States at the end of March were also called off. against England.

– The Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship were – The RFU ended the season for all league, cup and county rugby in also postponed by the FA. England, with the Gallagher Premiership – which was in a five-week suspension – the only exception. – UEFA announced all Champions League and Europa League fixtures scheduled for the week commencing March 16 were postponed, as well – The Guinness PRO14 was suspended indefinitely. as the quarter-final draws for both competitions. – The Premiership Rugby Cup final between Sale and Harlequins was – FIFA relaxed rules on clubs having to release players for forthcoming originally given the go-ahead, only to be postponed two days prior international fixtures and also recommended that “all international following an individual on staff developing symptoms consistent with matches previously scheduled to take place in March and April should coronavirus. now be postponed until such time that they can take place in a safe and – The Super Rugby season was suspended after the decision of the New secure environment”. Zealand government to quarantine people entering the country for 14 – The Vanarama National League suspended all fixtures until at least days. April 3 on March 16. – Rugby Australia closed its headquarters for an “intensive – The Players Championship was cancelled along with all PGA Tour clean” after two members of its Australian Sevens program showed signs events for the next three weeks. The PGA also cancelled four other and symptoms associated with coronavirus. events in April and May – the RBC Heritage, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Wells Fargo Championship and the AT&T Byron Nelson. – Rugby suspended all competitive matches until April 25 at the earliest and called off all national team training camps and business – Six European Tour tournaments were postponed. The Kenya Open has travel. been joined by April’s Hero , and . The Andalucia Masters, from April 30-May 3, was also – The Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-finals were postponed along with August’s Czech Masters. postponed. – The Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International was – The Melrose Sevens, scheduled for April 9-12, was postponed, while postponed with a view to it being rescheduled later in the year. the Rugby Players’ Association awards were put back from May until September. – Africa’s suspended all activities and will review the situation on April 20 “or as the situation demands”. – Wasps were the first club to impose reductions of 25 per cent to player wages to offset the slump in revenue caused by the suspension of the – The entire PGA EuroPro Tour schedule, due to run from May to Gallagher Premiership, with many more following suit. October and covering 15 events in total, has been cancelled.

– The men’s HSBC Sevens Series tournaments in London – The USGA cancelled first stage qualifying for the US Open and US and Paris, the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament Women’s Open. in Langford and the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series event were all postponed. – The European Tour cancelled the GolfSixes Cascais event, with the tournament postponed. European Tour chief executive – The World Rugby U20 Championship due to take place in Italy over the Keith Pelley said: “We will continue to monitor this global situation in summer was cancelled. relation to Coronavirus and evaluate its impact on all our tournaments, with public health and well-being our absolute priority.” – The Welsh Rugby Union cancelled all league and cup competitions for the 2019-20 season. The decision applied to all competitions currently – The R&A says it is undertaking a “comprehensive evaluation” of its underway, as well as matches between Welsh and Scottish clubs due to plans to stage and AIG Women’s . take place in April. – The LOTTE Championship in Hawaii (April 15-18), the HUGEL-AIR – The Irish , Connacht, Leinster, Munster and PREMIA LA Open in Los Angeles (April 23-26) and the LPGA Ulster agreed a payment deferral model on an equitable sliding scale for MEDIHEAL Championship in California (April 30-May 3) on the LPGA all employees in agreement and partnership with Rugby Players Ireland. Tour were postponed.

– The Scottish Rugby Union scrapped the remainder of the 2019-20 – The first ladies major championship of the season – the ANA domestic season. Murrayfield chiefs decided it is “not a reasonable Inspiration – was moved from April 2-5 to September 10-13. prospect in a safe and practical time frame” to resume the current campaign. Cricket

Motorsport – England’s Test series against Sri Lanka was postponed with the touring players returning home. 2020 season now expected to start at end of May – The England and Wales Cricket Board announced there would be no – The season-opening Australian Grand Prix was called off, with the professional domestic cricket until May 28. races in Bahrain, Vietnam and China postponed. The ECB Board has agreed that no professional cricket will be played in – McLaren had already withdrawn from the Australian race earlier in the England and Wales before 28 May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. day after a member of staff tested positive for the illness. — England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) March 20, 2020 – temporarily suspended its season. – The start of the Indian Premier League was postponed from March 29 – Nascar postponed its race events in Atlanta (March 15) and Miami to April 15 as a precautionary measure. (March 22). All races were postponed until May 3. – The annual Champion County match, regarded as the curtain-raiser to – Formula One’s governing body approved a revised shutdown period – the domestic season, due to be played between the MCC and Essex which had been reserved for August – to enable the possibility for racing between March 24-27 at Galle was called off, as was the MCC World throughout the summer. Team factories would be ordered to close for Cricket Committee meeting in Colombo scheduled for March 28 and 29. three consecutive weeks at an elected time between now and the end of April. – Surrey, Lancashire, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, , Somerset, Sussex, Derbyshire, – The Le Mans 24 hour race in June was postponed, with a provisional Durham and Warwickshire cancelled or decided to return early from pre- new date of September. season trips.

– The FIA announced that the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix – The final two one-day internationals between India and South Africa will had been postponed. The 2020 Monaco Grand Prix was later cancelled. be rescheduled following an agreement between the countries’ governing bodies, while the remaining two ODIs between Australia and New – Formula One replaced races postponed or cancelled due to Zealand were called off. coronavirus with an Esports Virtual Grand Prix series that will see current drivers battle it out online. – Australia Women’s limited-overs tour of South Africa, consisting of three ODIs and as many T20s and due to start on March 22, will not take Motorcycling place.

– The opening four races of the MotoGP season in Qatar, Thailand, the – Cricket cancelled the last two rounds of its domestic first- United States and Argentina were called off. The Qatar race was class competition after taking advice from medical experts. cancelled, while the other three have been moved to later in the season, Firebirds, who finished the truncated season 26 points ahead of Central which is now due to get under way in Spain on May 3. Stags, were awarded the 2019-20 Plunket Shield.

Golf – Pakistan announced the third leg of Bangladesh’s visit, comprising of Statement from Chairman Ridley: one Test and a one-day international, next month will be put back to a later date. – The Masters at Augusta, traditionally regarded as the sport’s blue riband event, became the first golf major to be postponed. The US PGA – Cricket South Africa cancelled all forms of cricket for 60 days. was postponed to a date later in the summer. – Ireland’s limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe next month was postponed. – Surrey sent six players home from training to self-isolate. Not all six Britain would be suspended until the end of April. Racing in France was reported symptoms but had been in close proximity to others who had. suspended until April 15.

– The Pakistan Super League announced on March 17 – the day the – The Grand National, due to take place on April 4, was cancelled. semi-finals were due to take place – that the competition had been postponed. – The Dubai World Cup meeting, scheduled to take place at Meydan on March 28, was cancelled. – The England and Wales Cricket Board recommended all forms of recreational cricket be suspended. Athletics

– Ireland and Bangladesh agreed to postpone the one-day international – The London Marathon was postponed. The 40th edition of the race, and Twenty20 series due to be played in May. due to take place on April 26, will be held on October 4. British Athletics will stage an Olympic trial at a closed location in April. Basketball – The Manchester Marathon, due to take place on April 5 with 26,000 – The NBA season was suspended “until further notice” after Utah Jazz runners, was postponed, with a new date to be set in due course. player Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. – The Paris Marathon, which was due to take place on April 5, was – Basketball England cancelled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on postponed until October 18 and the Rome Marathon, scheduled for March 17. March 29, as well as the Boston Marathon, slated for April 20, were cancelled. Cycling – The World Indoor Championships, which had been due to take place in – The Giro d’Italia, cycling’s first Grand Tour of the season which was Nanjing in China this month, were rearranged for March 2021. due to start on May 9 in , was postponed. The Strade Bianchi, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo and the Giro di Sicilia races in Italy Due to the ongoing challenges presented by the global spread of COVID- have been called off. 19, the first three meetings of the Wanda #DiamondLeague will be suspended. – Fears of two cases of coronavirus at the UAE Tour saw the race cancelled with two stages left. – The first three meetings of the season – scheduled for April 17, in Qatar, and May 9 and 16, in China – have been – Team INEOS were among a host of teams who withdrew from all postponed, likely until after the Olympics. racing until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23. – All athletics activity within the UK, including competitions and leagues, – Cycling’s Women’s Tour, the UK’s WorldTour stage race, was member clubs, running groups and races, was suspended until the end postponed almost three months before it was scheduled to begin in of April, the Home Country Athletics Federations announced on March 17 Oxfordshire on June 8. in cooperation with UK Athletics.

– The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) announced the suspension of – All parkrun events in the UK were suspended until the end of March. its calendar until at least April 3. – The Tour De Romandie – scheduled to take place from April 27 to May 3 – was cancelled outright. – The International Triathlon Union moved the 2020 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships, planned for May 2, from Milan to Montreal. It later – Three more major events – the Paris-Roubaix, the Fleche Wallonne announced that all activities would be suspended until April 30. and Liege-Bastogne-Liege – were postponed on March 17. – The round of the Series, due to take place on As part of the fight against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID19), June 6 and 7, was postponed. Welcome to Yorkshire and Amaury Sport Organisation, co-organizers of @letouryorkshire, have decided to postpone the upcoming sixth edition Rugby League of the annual cycle race. – The Betfred Super League match between and – The Tour de Yorkshire, set to be staged on April 30-May 3, was also Leeds in was postponed after one of the Rhinos’ players was postponed. put into self-isolation after showing symptoms of coronavirus. The club announced on March 17 that eight members of the club’s first-team – British Cycling suspended all sanctioned activities until at least April 30. squad and backroom staff had gone into self-isolation.

Tennis – The Coral Challenge Cup fixture between and Joint Announcement: ATP & @WTA extend suspension of tours. was switched to the Millennium Stadium in Featherstone after York City cancelled the availability of Bootham Due to the continuing outbreak of COVID-19, all ATP and WTA Crescent. tournaments in the Spring clay-court swing will not be held as scheduled. – Canadian club stood down their entire UK-based — ATP Tour (@atptour) March 18, 2020 playing staff after four players presented with “mild possible” coronavirus symptoms and were put into self-isolation. – The high-profile BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, where the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were due to compete, was called off. – announced their Betfred Championship match against Toulouse was postponed. – The Miami Open tennis tournament, due to start on March 23, was cancelled after a ban on mass gatherings in Miami-Dade County. – All rugby league fixtures, from the Betfred Super League to “the community game”, were suspended until at least April 3. – The Volvo Car Open in Charleston (April 4-12) was also called off. Next month’s Fed Cup finals in Budapest and Fed Cup play-offs, due to be – England coach Shaun Wane’s first get-together with his new squad, set held in eight different locations, were postponed, while China’s Xi’an for Old Trafford on March 23, was postponed. Open (April 13-19) and Kunming Open (April 27-May 3) were cancelled. – The Oceania Cup matches scheduled for June 20 between the Kiwis – The French Open moved from its scheduled spring slot to September. and the Tonga Invitational XIII, as well as Samoa’s clash with the Cook Islands, were postponed. – The ATP and WTA announced the tennis season was suspended until June 7. – The has vowed to continue with their season until the Australian government advises them not to. Racing Boxing – Racing in Ireland was closed to the public until March 29. – Top Rank announced the postponement of its shows at Madison – The British Horseracing Authority initially confirmed all meetings would Square Garden on March 14 and 17. Belfast featherweight Michael be staged behind closed doors, but then announced that all racing in Conlan’s bout against Colombian fighter Belmar Preciado at the Hulu – The Players Championship double-headers, European Tour qualifiers Theater on St Patrick’s Day was therefore scrapped. and the PDC Unicorn events planned for April were all postponed, with the PDC saying that rescheduled dates for those events – All events scheduled for March in Japan were cancelled. will be confirmed in due course.

– The British Boxing Board of Control announced that “all public Ice hockey tournaments” under its jurisdiction have been cancelled, and the position will be reviewed in early April. Matchroom Boxing postponed all of its – The NHL was paused with 189 regular-season games remaining. The events in March and April. Stanley Cup play-offs were due to start the week of April 6. Britain’s Elite League cancelled the rest of its season. Snooker – Great Britain’s ice hockey matches against in April have been The 2020 @Betfred World Championship has been postponed due to the cancelled. coronavirus outbreak. – The 2020 Ice Hockey World Championship, scheduled to take place in We intend to host the final stages at the Crucible on rescheduled dates in in May, has been cancelled. July or August. Netball – The Betfred World Snooker Championship was postponed, with the saying in a statement it intends to host the – The Superleague announced that its competition would be postponed tournament at the Crucible in July or August. with immediate effect until at least April 30.

– The £1million China Open, scheduled to start in Beijing at the end of March, was cancelled. The was played behind closed doors, with some players forced to referee their own games. – Public events around the NFL Draft were cancelled, with the league saying it is working on a new format for the event which takes place in – The Coral Tour Championship in Llandudno was postponed as a April. precaution against the spread of the virus. Rowing Swimming/Diving – The Boat Race, scheduled to take place on March 29, was cancelled. – British Swimming confirmed that the Diving World Series event scheduled for London later this month was postponed. – GB Rowing closed down the National Training Centre at Caversham and transitioned their athletes to home-based training programmes. – The British Swimming Championships and the British Para-Swimming International Meet – both scheduled for April – were cancelled. Baseball

– The European Aquatics Championships, due to be held from May 11- – Major League Baseball announced the start of the 2020 season would 24 in Budapest, were postponed, with proposed new dates of August 17- be delayed for eight weeks. 30. President of the governing body LEN Paolo Barelli said that the Australian rules football situation would be reviewed in late May or early June, and if things did not get back to normal in the coming months, LEN should consider – The 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season will be suspended until the staging the championships in 2021. end of May at the earliest.

Equestrian LOADED: 03.23.2020

– British Eventing suspended all fixtures with immediate effect, just a fortnight after the scheduled eight-month season began.

– The Land Rover Kentucky Horse Trials in the United States – due to be held from April 23-26 – was cancelled for the first time in its 42-year history.

– The Royal Windsor Horse Show, which was due to run from May 13- 17, was cancelled. The event, which is one of British equestrian sport’s most prestigious shows, incorporates showjumping, dressage, endurance, showing and driving, in addition to an Edwardian pageant.

– The Badminton Horse Trials – due to take place May 6-10 – was cancelled.

Ice skating

– The World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, scheduled for March 13-15, were called off. The World Figure Skating Championships in Quebec, planned for March 16-22, were also cancelled.

Judo

– The International Judo Federation cancelled all Olympic qualification events on the calendar until April 30.

Darts

The Premier League double-header @rotterdamahoy planned for March 25-26 has been postponed following restrictions put in place in the Netherlands.

We are working to secure new dates and further details will be confirmed once available.

– The Professional Darts Corporation postponed the Premier League double-header in and night seven in Newcastle, rescheduling for September 9-10 and October 1 respectively.

– The European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen and the European Darts Open in Leverkusen, which were all scheduled for later this month, plus next month’s German Darts Grand Prix in Munich were postponed.

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