Pro Sports News

Vancouver Canucks move Thatcher Demko to LTIR, recall Bains

SportsNets - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 12:15

The Vancouver Canucks have placed all-star goalie Thatcher Demko on the long-term injured reserve list retroactively.

“It’s just cap related,” coach Rick Tocchet said after practice Wednesday. “We get some cap relief, that’s all it is.” 

The 28-year-old netminder has been considered week to week since being sidelined with a lower-body injury midway through Vancouver’s 5-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on March 9.

That injury designation hasn’t changed, Tocchet said.

Demko boasts a 34-18-2 record this season, with a .917 save percentage, a 2.47 goals-against average and five shutouts.

Casey DeSmith has taken over the starting job for Vancouver, going 3-2-1 since Demko’s injury. He has a .899 save percentage on the season with a 2.73 goals-against average and one shutout. 

The earliest Demko could be back in the Canucks’ lineup is April 6 against the Kings in Los Angeles.

He’s expected to be a key piece as Vancouver (45-19-8) prepares for its first playoff appearance since the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign. 

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin also announced Wednesday that the club has called up forward Arshdeep Bains from the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League. 

“I’d like to see where (Bains is) at,” Tocchet said, noting he isn’t sure whether the 23-year-old winger will slot into the lineup when the Canucks host the Dallas Stars on Thursday. 

Bains played five games for the NHL team in February before being sent back to Abbotsford. 

“He went down, he’s done a couple of things that we like, and he’s got some speed,” Tocchet said. 

Vancouver may get another forward back in the lineup Thursday. 

Dakota Joshua practised in a full-contact jersey on Wednesday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury in Vancouver’s 4-2 win over the Blackhawks in Chicago on Feb. 13. 

The physical winger, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has a career-high 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) this season.

Sitting out injured “hasn’t been fun,” Joshua said.

“It feels like forever,” he said. “But at this point, that’s behind me and I’m moving forward.”

With files from Sportsnet Staff.

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Sunrisers hit highest total in IPL history

BBC Sports - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 12:06
Sunrisers Hyderabad smash 277-3 - the highest total in Indian Premier League history - in a 31-run victory against Mumbai Indians.

Ontario’s gaming commission monitoring Jontay Porter investigation

SportsNets - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 11:45

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says it’s closely monitoring an investigation of Toronto Raptors backup centre Jontay Porter.

The NBA confirmed Monday that it’s investigating Porter after irregularities in bets surrounding his performances in two recent Raptors games.

Ontario is currently the only province where registered private vendors can offer online sports betting.

AGCO is responsible for regulating betting in the province including safeguarding against odds manipulation, match-fixing and other sports betting integrity issues. 

A spokesman says AGCO is currently engaged with all relevant parties on the Porter investigation, including registered gaming operators, independent integrity monitors and the Ontario Provincial Police.

Since the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits cheating while playing a game or betting with intent to defraud someone, provincial police will determine if any criminal investigation is warranted.

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Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner won’t return this week, Rielly questionable

SportsNets - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 11:40

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe on Wednesday ruled Mitch Marner out for the remainder of this week’s schedule, meaning the star winger will miss a minimum of 10 games with his ankle injury.

Marner participated in Wednesday’s skills session in a grey extras jersey. Keefe told reporters that Marner will be a full participant in Friday’s practice. Marner has not played since March 7.

The Maple Leafs host Washington on Thursday and play in Buffalo on Saturday.

In other Maple Leafs news, defenceman Morgan Rielly is considered questionable for the game against the Capitals. The top-pair defenceman missed Tuesday’s loss to the Devils with an upper-body injury.

Keefe also announced that Joseph Woll will start in net against the Capitals, his third-straight start. Ilya Samsonov, who left Saturday’s win over the Oilers with an injury, did skate on Wednesday and told reporters he is good to go.

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NWSL's Alozie balances soccer with cancer research

ESPN Latest Sport News - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 11:31
When Michelle Alozie isn't immersed in pediatric cancer research, she's starring for the Houston Dash and leading Nigeria on a quest for the Olympics.

Miguel Rojas responds to criticism from former Marlins teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr.

SportsNets - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 11:25

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas says he was upset by criticism from former Miami Marlins teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The 35-year-old Rojas spoke on “The Chris Rose Rotation” podcast released Tuesday and responded to comments Chisholm made on “The Pivot Podcast” released March 19, hosted by former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor.

Chisholm, 26, had said his first three major league seasons from 2020-22 were “the worst three years of probably my life” and discussed how he felt Marlins’ veterans mistreated younger players like himself. Chisholm referred specifically to someone as the “team captain” without mentioning that player by name.

“Even though they suck, they’ve been there for nine, 10 years and the team calls them the team captain, but they’re not a good captain, they’re not a good person,” Chisholm said. “You’re not even a good athlete at this point. You’re just here and you’re bringing down the young guys that are supposed to be good.”

The Marlins didn’t have a captain in those years but Rojas was regarded as an unofficial captain. Rojas played for the Marlins from 2015-22, then was traded to the Dodgers in January 2023.

Rojas said he learned about Chisholm’s comments from media members, his agent and relatives.

“You can think that I suck at baseball, that I’m not a good player, that I’m not a good leader,” Rojas said. “But when you cross a line and say that I’m not a good person and I’m there just because, I guess he’s thinking that I’m telling someone that I’m supposed to be there and, ‘Please keep me here so I can be a major league baseball player for 10 years,’ that’s what kind of bothers me.”

Chisholm, a 2022 All-Star, said he was unhappy during his first three seasons with the Marlins because “you had vets that hate, hate what you do and who you are.” Chisholm, an avid shoe collector, discussed one way in which an unnamed veteran got under his skin.

“My first year in the big leagues, I get to the locker room, I’ve got 20 pairs of cleats,” Chisholm said. “Everybody know I’m a big shoe guy. I’ve got about 20 pairs of cleats, seven or eight pairs of just shoes to go and practice in, and I’ve got like 100 pairs of batting gloves — all custom. Everything is custom. Nothing is normal. Nothing is white. Nothing is black. Everything has color.

“I think within the first week, one of my vets cut up my cleats, poured milk in my cleats and threw them in the trash and said, ‘Those shoes are ugly, bro. Get some new ones.’ I don’t want to say what I did on camera, but definitely I was not the rookie that took that easy. I definitely went and threw his whole locker in the trash. That’s me. You’re not going to come over here and mess with the things that I worked hard to design myself.”

Without referencing that specific incident, Rojas said he was unhappy that Chisholm revealed things that happened in the locker room by noting “that’s our house” and “there’s things that should never leave the clubhouse.”

Rojas said the Marlins’ veterans simply were trying to keep younger players accountable for their actions.

“Do you think they are the first ever players to be rookies in the league and be treated this way?” Rojas said. “You have to know that there’s players before you that have been treated the same way or worse. That doesn’t give them a reason to go on a podcast and talk about the veteran players and what they did to them.”

Chisholm credited Marlins manager Skip Schumaker for changing the culture after arriving last year, helping Miami earn its first playoff berth in a non-pandemic season since its 2003 World Series title.

“He got rid of everybody who didn’t want to do it like that,” Chisholm said. “And that’s how it’s supposed to be. You ain’t supposed to have a vet that’s trying to bring down the rookies.”

Rojas was asked if he’d be willing to sit down and talk with Chisholm to try to work this out sometime down the road.

“As soon as you have the kind of assumption on me and the person that I am, I’m not up to having a person in my life or anything that thinks I’m a bad person or a piece of (trash),” Rojas replied.

'Big things were ahead' of John McCall - Ferris

BBC Sports - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 11:13
Ulster legend Stephen Ferris remembers John McCall as a young man with "the world at his feet" on the 20th anniversary of the Ireland U19 star's death.

MLB owners unanimously approve sale of Baltimore Orioles to group led by David Rubenstein

SportsNets - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 10:59

David Rubenstein’s purchase of the Baltimore Orioles was approved Wednesday by Major League Baseball owners, clearing the way for the Angelos family to finalize the sale after over three decades running the team.

Approval of 75% of all owners was required, and MLB said the vote was unanimous. It came the day before the team is scheduled to open the season at home against the Los Angeles Angels. Rubenstein and his investor group were expected to close the purchase later Wednesday.

“To own the Orioles is a great civic duty,” Rubenstein, a Carlyle Group Inc. co-founder, said in a statement. “On behalf of my fellow owners, I want the Baltimore community and Orioles fans everywhere to know that we will work our hardest to deliver for you with professionalism, integrity, excellence, and a fierce desire to win games.”

The Orioles scheduled a news conference for Thursday morning with Rubenstein and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

Angelos and his family took control of the Orioles in 1993, when Peter Angelos purchased the team for $173 million. Angelos’ health took a turn for the worse in recent years — he died Saturday at age 94 — and his son John has been the team’s chairman, CEO and control person since 2019.

“I thank John Angelos and his family for all they have done to bring us to this point,” Rubenstein said. “John led a dramatic overhaul of the team’s management, roster, recruitment strategy, and farm system in recent years. Our job is to build on these accomplishments to advance a world-class professional sports agenda — with eyes on returning a World Series trophy to Baltimore.”

Rubenstein’s group, which includes Cal Ripken Jr. and Grant Hill, reached an agreement in January to buy the Orioles for an evaluation worth $1.725 billion.

Rubenstein, a Baltimore native, formed Carlyle in 1987. Before that, he practiced law in Washington. From 1977-81, he was a deputy assistant for domestic policy to President Jimmy Carter.

The Orioles are coming off a 101-win season and their first AL East title since 2014. Hopes are high after the team acquired ace right-hander Corbin Burnes in a trade with Milwaukee. Young stars Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson have performed like franchise cornerstones, and Baltimore has another top prospect still in the minors in Jackson Holliday.

With all of that cost-controlled talent, the team’s payroll remains meager, and the question is whether Rubenstein will be a more aggressive spender as the Orioles try to make the most of their opportunity to win a World Series for the first time since 1983.

Before the sale, the big off-season story for the Orioles was securing a long-term lease to stay at Camden Yards. That happened in December with a deal extending the lease for 30 years, with an option to end it after 15 if the team does not receive approval from state officials for development plans next to the stadium.

“Capping our organizational turnaround with a championship in perhaps the toughest division in sports, while fulfilling my pledge that the O’s would forever play ball in Charm City, dovetails perfectly with the privilege to now pass stewardship of Baltimore’s iconic team to a Baltimore native, passionate American, and celebrated philanthropist in David Rubenstein,” John Angelos said Wednesday. “The Orioles are in great hands, and the club, as well as the city and state that it calls home, are well positioned for success into the future.”

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Report: City of Toronto approves BMO Field expansion for 2026 World Cup

SportsNets - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 10:54

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just a couple of years away, the City of Toronto has approved a $37-million contract to temporarily expand the capacity at BMO Field, The Toronto Star reported Wednesday.

City council voted in favour of a temporary expansion contract in order for the stadium to meet FIFA’s capacity requirements of more than 45,000 fans.

Along with the installation of 17,500 seats that will be dismantled after the games are over, the work also includes installing broadcast studios, staircases and an elevator.

The winning bid for the project went to Arena Event Services, a United Arab Emirates-based firm that will work with local suppliers.

City councillor Paul Ainslie, who is the chair of the committee, believes the economic benefits the World Cup will provide justifies the city paying for the expansion. 

“I’m hoping we’re going to have lots of tourists, they’re going to come Toronto, spend their money, make our investment worthwhile,” Ainslie told reporters via The Toronto Star.

The Ontario government had conditionally committed to giving Toronto up to $97 million for the city’s FIFA World Cup hosting duties.

Toronto is set to host five games in the 2026 World Cup that will also see games in Vancouver, in addition to games in both the U.S. and Mexico.

Deputy Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Sarah Harrison wrote to Toronto’s city manager in early December to confirm Ontario’s support for the event.

BMO Field is owned by the City of Toronto, but Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment operates and manages the facility that the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and MLS club Toronto FC play out of.

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