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Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans Moved by Islanders' Meaningful Gesture Toward Matthew Schaefer
Fans Moved by Islanders' Meaningful Gesture Toward Matthew Schaefer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Islanders got their man in the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, as they used their No. 1 pick on defenseman Matthew Schaefer. It has been quite a ride to "The Show" for the 17-year-old Schaefer. Advertisement Back in December, he suffered a broken clavicle injury while representing Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Months before, Schaefer lost his mother to breast cancer. It would have been a greater night for Schaefer if his mom were around to witness him become just the fifth defenseman taken first overall in the NHL draft since 2000. Matthew Schaefer is selected as the first overall pick by the Islanders in the first round of the 2025 NHL Lee-Imagn Images For their part, the Islanders put a pink ribbon on the jersey that was presented to Schaefer on the stage after the pick was announced. The pink ribbon symbolizes awareness for breast cancer, and its appearance on Schaefer's Isles uniform struck an emotional chord with fans. "#isles ensuring there was a hockey fights cancer ribbon on the sweater was a first class gesture," said a fan on X. Advertisement Another one said: "The #Isles not only put a cancer ribbon on Schaefer's jersey, but also embroidered the inside of his collar with his mother's initials 'JS'. Amazing touch. 💜' From an X user: "The #Isles putting a cancer ribbon on Schaefer's jersey was an incredible touch. There are a lot more than Islanders fans rooting for him already.' 'Man- that ribbon got me 🙏,' a social media user posted. Via a different commenter: 'The breast cancer ribbon on the sweater is an amazing touch by @NYIslanders.' Said another: 'Him kissing the breast cancer awareness ribbon broke my heart 💔 What a beautiful moment. 🥺' Advertisement Schaefer joins the Islanders, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2024-25 NHL season after going 35-35-12 for 82 points. Before New York took him as its first pick overall since John Tavares in 2009, Schaefer played for 17 games with the Erie Otters and gathered seven goals with 15 assists for 22 points. Related: Matthew Schaefer's Immediate Reaction to Being Drafted No. 1 Overall This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Evan Carter's leaping grab
14 Teams Confirmed For 2025-26 Continental Cup The IIHF Continental Cup has announced its field of competitors for the 2025-26 season. The tournament will include 14 teams – down from 20 in each of the last three seasons – and will be staged in three rounds instead of four. 2:38 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
NHL Draft primer: Hitmen, Calgary draft-eligibles set for annual pick-em
Article content And internationally, the Hitmen forward won gold with Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, in which he had a goal and an assist, and the 2025 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, in which he scored once and added six helpers. Article content 'What it is, it's hockey sense with Ben,' Davidson said. 'He's got outstanding hockey sense. He sees and thinks the game so well. And he was undersized, and he's obviously growing now a little bit and gotten stronger, and he's still got a ways to go in that department, which also translates that strength with core and legs to taking his skating to another level. Article content 'But it's all about his head and his sense that's really high.' Article content Kindel was also a monster presence in the playoffs, with eight goals and 15 points — both team-highs — in just 11 games. Article content Two of those tallies were overtime winners — back-to-back — in Games 4 and 5 of their second-round series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Article content 'Certainly Ben has risen to the occasion when it's needed and seems to embrace that, for sure,' Kindel said. 'It reinforces why we took him in the second round of the bantam draft, and we were actually pretty shocked he was still there. Article content 'So … yeah … it's gratifying for us. But more importantly, it's all about the player, and you're excited for the player and his family.' Article content Hitmen teammate Brandon Gorzynski is ranked 50th in the rankings, rising high from his 81st rating midway through the season. Article content The 6-foot-2, 181-lb. forward racked up 17 goals and 42 points in 68 WHL games this past season — his second with the Hitmen. Article content 'As the season went along, he just really started, I believe, to believe in himself and how good he was,' said Davidson, of the native of Scottsdale, Ariz. 'This guy gets around the ice real well. He's 6-foot-2 — he's got that pro frame. And he's probably a guy, I think, with a little more development would be able to play up and down in the lineup. Article content 'Early in the year, Brandon had very little special-teams opportunity,' continued Davidson. 'As the season went along, his role grew to where he was on power plays and he was killing penalties, and I just think there's a lot more there yet. I think he'd be a good pick for his NHL team.' Article content Article content Article content Goaltender Anders Miller isn't ranked but has also risen in the eyes of scouts. Article content His clutch play when called upon in the playoffs was a big reason for the shift in his stock. Miller came on for injured starter Daniel Hauser from the drop of the puck in the post-season and posted a 2.55 goals-against-average and a .902 save percentage in 10 games played for the Hitmen. His 7-3 record anchored two-round success — they fell one win short of Round 3 — in the WHL playoffs. Article content 'He's a sleeper,' said Davidson of Miller, a product of Anchorage, Alaska. 'Teams are already talking about him going to their camps, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's picked later in the draft. I look at him as a 6-foot-2 strong kid. He obviously needs more experience, but he's just trending in such a positive way.' Article content Davidson will grab a pizza and a comfy spot with family and friends to take in the draft. Article content With Kindel a possible top-20 pick, it's a chance for the longtime WHL GM and scout to reap the rewards from the development of another successful player.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipegger Jennifer Botterill gets the call from Hockey Hall of Fame
That Jennifer Botterill found herself enjoying a beautiful summer day at the family cottage at West Hawk Lake when the call from the Hockey Hall of Fame came seems rather appropriate. As Botterill returned from a boat ride, the Winnipegger noticed that someone was trying to get in touch with her. 'I got back and checked my phone and I had all of these misssed calls. I was looking at my phone and the same number came through, moments after I got off the boat. I answered it and it was Lanny McDonald and Ron Francis,' Botterill said Tuesday afternoon after the news became official that she was part of the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame induction class. Other inductees include Winnipeg-born and Fort Frances, Ont. raised Duncan Keith, Brianna Decker, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Alexander Mogilny, Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau. 'They shared the news and we had a good chat.' Jeff Vinnick / Hockey Canada Jennifer Botterill was on the Canadian women's hockey team for the 2006 and 2010 Olympics. Jeff Vinnick / Hockey Canada Jennifer Botterill was on the Canadian women's hockey team for the 2006 and 2010 Olympics. The induction ceremony will take place on Nov. 10 in Toronto, where Botterill and Decker will become the 13th and 14th women's players to enter the hallowed hall. Botterill is the first Manitoba woman to receive the distinction and having the chance to share the news with her biggest supporters is something Botterill won't soon forget. 'Lots of tears of joy,' said Botterill, who was joined by her mother Doreen, father Cal, husband Adrian Lomonaco and her three girls, Maya, Brooklynn and Wyllow. 'My girls were jumping up and down next to the water. Just so fitting for me that I am here with my family and get this phone call with the most incredible news. A really fun moment.' Botterill was a multisport athlete who grew up in Wildwood Park and ended up winning provincial championships in five sports: hockey, ringette, volleyball, badminton and basketball. Ultimately, Botterill was drawn to the sport of hockey. 'The one story I often tell is that when I first started playing (hockey), both of my parents said they knew it was something special because they could see my smile through my cage every time I was on the ice,' said Botterill, whose brother Jason played in the NHL and was recently named general manager of the Seattle Kraken. 'They knew pretty early on that this was something I was passionate about, that I absolutely loved playing the game.' Botterill's passion never waned, and by the time she retired from the national team in 2011, her resume included three Olympic gold medals and one silver to go along with five gold medals and another three silvers from the IIHF women's world championship. 'Early on … this was something I was passionate about, that I absolutely loved playing the game.'–Jennifer Botterill Individually, the smooth-skating centre captured most valuable player honours twice (2001 and 2004) at the IIHF women's world championship and she was a prolific scorer for the Harvard Crimson during her four seasons, while earning the Patty Kazmeier award as the top player in women's NCAA hockey twice (2001, 2003). In her final game with the Canadian national team, Botterill set up the game-winning goal from Marie-Philip Poulin in a 2-0 victory over the United States at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Many pundits have wondered why it's taken so long for Botterill to be inducted, given her sparkling resume and all that she's done for the game. That's not something Botterill ever got bogged down with, which is probably one of the reasons she earned an honours degree in psychology from Harvard. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Although Botterill had received messages of support in recent days from friends and colleagues that this call might come, she didn't feel a heightened sense of anticipation. 'It really wasn't on my radar,' said Botterill. 'You're not sure if it's going to happen or it's not, in terms of the timing. I didn't even think about bringing the phone with me on the boat ride. It wasn't where my thought process was.' In recent years, Botterill had chosen to focus on her teammates and friends who had received the call from the Hockey Hall of Fame rather than wonder when — or if — her time would come. 'It's been so much fun to share that with them and to follow along,' said Botterill. 'I was just so authentically happy and surprised to receive that call today. I'm filled with gratitude.' During a conference call Tuesday afternoon, Botterill reminisced about walking to the two outdoor rinks at Wildwood Community Club before her teenage years arrived. Julie Jacobson / The Associated Press files Botterill (centre) leaps over the boards to celebrate Canada winning the gold medal in women's hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Julie Jacobson / The Associated Press files Botterill (centre) leaps over the boards to celebrate Canada winning the gold medal in women's hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics. 'I would literally pack a bag of pucks and put it over your shoulder with your hockey sticks and your skates,' she said. 'Many days were fresh and cool in Winnipeg, but it made for great outdoor rinks. That's where I first fell in love with the sport. Whether it was shooting pucks on my own or a game of pickup hockey. In terms of how far the sport has come and in terms of this amazing honour, I don't think that little girl growing up in Wildwood Park could have imagined this coming to life one day.' When it was first announced that women's hockey was becoming an Olympic sport, Botterill began dreaming of representing her country one day. Her hard work and determination helped Botterill realize that goal at the age of 18, when she was the youngest player suiting up for Canada in Nagano in 1998. Before she was done, Botterill had played 184 international games. 'I still smile as I think back to those conversations expressing my goals and my dreams to my parents and sharing that with them,' said Botterill. 'They provided an environment where Jason and I felt encouraged. And they taught us to believe in ourselves. 'I'm extremely thankful for the family environment I had and the support I had — and the incredible life journey that hockey has provided to me.' A post shared by Jennifer Botterill (@jenbotterill) Botterill has been involved in television broadcasting of the NHL since 2018 when she covered the New York Islanders for MSG. She is currently an analyst on Hockey Night in Canada and Rogers Sportsnet and also covers hockey for the NHL on TNT with Turner Sports / Warner Bros. She's also been heavily involved in broadcasting the women's game and is happy to see the growth of the PWHL. 'It's exciting to see all of the choices for women in the game now,' said Botterill, who was previously inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2024 and Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. 'To have three girls that have chosen to play the sport and seem to love it — and now, just seeing it through their eyes, is something that's really fulfilling. PHIL HOSSACK/ Free Press files Botterill during the 2010 Olympic Gold medal ceremonies in Vancouver. PHIL HOSSACK/ Free Press files Botterill during the 2010 Olympic Gold medal ceremonies in Vancouver. 'It's fun to reflect on that little girl walking down Section C of Wildwood Park and (see) how far the game has come.' Parker and Sauvageau got in as builders, while the six others were chosen in the player category. Sauvageau shared some thoughts on Botterill's best qualities during Tuesday's conference call. 'There was always a great discussion. It was not just to do things to do them, but why and what is the best way to do it,' said Sauvageau. 'Whenever I have the occasion to see her speak with her hockey analysis, I recognize the young hockey player that put in so much work trying to be the best that she could be. 'She talked about appreciating her teammates and we often say that to be one of the greatest hockey players, you have to also be one of the greatest teammates and that's basically what she has been. And I'm sure that she continues to be in every field that she has touched in her life.' Decker, who played her college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers and was a star with the U.S. national team, has an immense appreciation for Botterill. 'I looked up to her quite a bit, even though she was always the opponent,' said Decker. 'It's incredible to be part of a class with her. She's done so much for the game and obviously, I'm a little bit younger but at the same time, I tried to pave the way as much as possible — just (like) she has. 'She's a great role model.' X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
India women's ice hockey: They fought ice with fire
India women's ice hockey team in action (Image by Tarun Rawat) It was a rollercoaster game. The lead kept switching sides, like a politician changing parties. The India-UAE women's ice hockey match was deep into overtime with the score poised at 4-4. That's when Stanzin Dolkar, a 29-year-old constable with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), took charge of the puck — the carrom-shaped disc used to score goals in the sport — in her own half. Fast and furious, she tore her way ahead on the right, leaving the UAE defender chasing a shadow. The UAE goalie saw her coming but wasn't ready for what followed. Stanzin feigned a shot towards the near post, made a diagonal run, before whipping a sneaky backhand that found the net, giving India its first-ever win over hosts UAE in the 2025 women's Asia Cup. It was even more thrilling three days later. India and Kyrgyzstan were locked 2-2 after overtime. In the nerve-jangling shootout, 12 attempts — six each by the two sides — were either missed or saved. It was Stanzin time again. The farmer's daughter stepped up and delivered again with another deceptive backhand. 'I asked her to repeat the move,' says Darrin Harold, the team's head coach. That conversion — and goalie Dolma Dorjay's sterling saves — earned India's women's ice hockey team its first-ever international bronze. Stanzin Dolkar, a 29-year-old constable with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) (Image by Tarun Rawat) The medal run was largely ignored by newspapers and television channels but widely celebrated on social media. A congratulatory post by 'The Better India' received over 1,000 reposts on X. International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)'s website exulted, 'India makes its own history.' The tournament didn't host any of the top Asian teams: Japan (world No.8), Korea (No.19) or Kazakhstan (23). Even the winner (Philippines) is not among the top 46 countries ranked on the IIHF website. But the magnitude of the achievement is more than what statistics suggest. This is the story of a bunch of women who learnt their craft on makeshift or borrowed equipment on the frozen lakes of Ladakh, who crowd-funded many of their tours, who broke barriers of entrenched gender bias and yet never stopped either dreaming or believing. 'The bronze medal is a reflection of the incredible dedication shown by these athletes,' says Harold, who comes from Calgary, Canada. Like cricket and football, ice hockey in India has colonial origins. The first ice skating rink was built by one Mr Blessington, a hotel owner, in Shimla in 1920, a Times of India article noted in 1972. The sport was later patronised by the Army. 'As the units started moving to Ladakh and Siachen, so did the game,' says Harjinder Singh, general secretary, Ice Hockey Association of India. Locals picked up the game by watching the jawans. They improvised on equipment; sticks were carved out of wood, flat stones placed in shoe polish cans to act as pucks. 'The game in Ladakh is as popular as gully cricket in the plains,' says Singh. Ice hockey is widely considered the fastest sport on the planet. A marriage of speed and rhythm, strength and skill, it needs courage, too. The region is tailored for the sport. Local tournaments are hosted all through winter, when Ladakh becomes an empire of snow. Leh, the region's largest city, is the game's ground zero. 'Jan is the peak month of the season,' says defender Diskit Angmo, a post-graduate in English and the team's spokesperson. Defender Diskit Angmo, a post-graduate in English and the team's spokesperson (Image by Tarun Rawat) Nineteen of the 20-member team that won the bronze hail from Ladakh, Tanzin Saldon from Himachal Pradesh being the sole exception. 'We don't have to do high-altitude training. Our lungs are bigger than the rest of the country's,' says Stanzin. The rugged terrain abounds in ponds and lakes. 'During winter, they freeze into natural rinks,' says Tsewang Chuskit, the 31-year-old India captain. She wanted to play the game after watching soldiers play in one such rink in her village. Tsewang Chuskit (Image by Tarun Rawat) It helped that winter meant a three-month holiday. 'The teachers who came from Srinagar would go back home. My father had made me a wooden stick and rubber puck. We would play for fun,' she says. Even a generation ago, ice hockey was a men-only sport in Ladakh. 'We did figure skating, speed skating, both individual sports. Women did not play a team sport like ice hockey,' recalls defender Rigzin Yangdol. For those who wished to play it competitively, there were other barriers. About two decades ago, some women players were asked to perform a traditional dance before a men's game. They resisted. It was the beginning of change. That was also the time when even playing gear, donated by foreigners, mostly Canadians, would go to the men's clubs. 'We all learnt to play on borrowed equipment,' says Rigzin, a 29-year-old post-graduate in political science who works in civil defence. Equipment is fundamental to serious ice hockey. Helmet, neck guard, chest pad, elbow guard, glove, pants, jersey, shin pad, pelvic guard, skates, stick — players must dress up like medieval knights heading into battle. Even a basic kit amounts to Rs 50,000. Quality international equipment costs over three times more. But the women kept the faith. And, in 2015, they set up a sorority: the Ladakh Women Ice Hockey Foundation. The association became a space to talk challenges, voice ideas and create space for harnessing young talent. Poll What do you think is the biggest challenge for women's ice hockey in India? Lack of infrastructure Funding and financial support Societal acceptance Finances remained slim, even after the then Union sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal underlined the need for more 'blue turfs', and means to provide financial assistance to Ice Hockey Association of India in response to a Rajya Sabha question in May 2015. In 2016, India made its international debut in the Asia Women's Challenge Cup in Chinese Taipei. The trip was crowdfunded. Support also came from unlikely sources. Before the tournament, the team trained in Kyrgyzstan. The Indian embassy managed their food and lodging. 'Some players stepped into an artificial rink for the first time. Some players flew out of Ladakh for the first time,' recalls Tsewang, who played in that tournament. One player even skipped her board exams. Since then, finances have relatively improved. 'Even now, we pay for domestic travel,' says Diskit. But challenges remain. Absence of a league, for instance. And it cannot happen until infrastructure improves. But there's positive movement. Last month, aided by Uttarakhand state govt, the upgraded Himadri Ice Rink reopened on the outskirts of Dehradun. With LED lights, bucket seats, solar panels and a capacity of over 2,500, it is India's only artificial, international size (60m x 30m) indoor rink. 'We practised there before leaving for the UAE,' says forward Tashi Dolker. Another all-weather indoor rink is coming up in Leh. 'It is under construction since 2019 and likely to be ready by Sept. One more is being constructed in Kargil,' said Ali Amir, the women's team's assistant coach. Ali Amir is the women's team's assistant coach (Image by Tarun Rawat) But the game is spreading faster than the infrastructure. In the just-concluded nationals, Andhra Pradesh earned a surprise silver in the U18 boys' category. And Haryana became the first non-Himalayan region team to reach the men's final, where it lost to the Army. Haryana's lone indoor rink is located in a Gurgaon mall. 'We play between 10pm and 12pm after paying Rs 900 per hour,' says assistant captain Falak Grover. Defender Sneha Yadav travels 30km from the neighbouring Faridabad district for practice. Most players transitioned to ice from inline hockey, played on dry surface using wheeled skates. The Haryana women's team won two of their four games to finish fourth. 'It is remarkable, considering that they had practiced on ice for only two weeks in Gurgaon before the nationals,' says Nitin Kumar, assistant captain of the men's team. Ironically, at a time when the game is receiving recognition, new challenges are emerging. In Ladakh, global warming has reduced the playing season from three months to less than two. 'The change has happened dramatically in the past 5-6 years. We have to go to a higher altitude in the eastern part of Ladakh to train. Sometimes, the ice cracks. But thankfully nobody has been hurt so far,' says Diskit. Over the years, women's participation in the sport has grown. The women's medal triumph has given wings to a new generation's dream. The Khelo Indian Winter Games has also helped promote ice hockey. 'Hundreds of kids are taking up the sport. With more rinks coming up, you will see major improvements in both men and women in future,' says Amir, a key member of the men's team's historic silver medal triumph at Asia Challenge Cup in 2017. Adds head coach Harold, 'I've also seen a positive shift, where players are beginning to invest in their own equipment, which signifies a deeper personal commitment to the sport.' Singh, also an event manager, feels that the winter sports audience is saturated in Europe and the US. He says, 'There's a reason why South Korea and China hosted the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022. For its sheer size, India will matter in the future.' For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
