Latest news with #LightTheLamp
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chris Kreider's trade to Ducks comes with hint of Rangers blue, reuniting with 3 ex-teammates
Chris Kreider won't have to search far for a new carpool buddy in Anaheim — his favorite one is already there. Years after sharing rides to and from New York Rangers games and practices, Kreider and Ryan Strome are teammates once again, this time with the Ducks. On a recent episode of Light The Lamp with Ducks reporter Alexis Downie, Kreider was asked who his favorite carpool companion was with the Rangers. It was a bit of a set-up because Strome sent the question in. Advertisement 'I think first person I drove with was Mats Zuccarello, and then there was a time period with Cam Talbot and Adam McQuaid, and then it was Fil Chytil and Ryan Strome. So, I mean, recency bias, obviously 'Stromer'.' Kreider was traded to the Ducks last week for 20-year-old center prospect Carey Terrance and a swap of mid-round draft picks. He arrives after spending all 13 seasons of his NHL career on Broadway. The 34-year-old is changing teams, uniforms and coasts, but he's not walking into a completely unfamiliar locker room. Anaheim's roster features familiarity from his time in New York — players he shared the ice with, road trips, and yes, carpools. Related: Rangers rumors: Mika Zibanejad trade speculation picks up after Chris Kreider deal Chris Kreider joins former Rangers teammates in Anaheim Jacob Trouba Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Danny Wild-Imagn Images Among the familiar faces Kreider will see in Anaheim is Jacob Trouba, his longtime teammate and former Rangers captain. The two shared six seasons together with the Rangers — Kreider as an alternate and Trouba wearing the 'C' — before the latter was traded to the Ducks in December for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick. Advertisement 'Jacob's [got to be] one of the best teammates I've ever played with,' Kreider said. 'Everything that he brings, you know, as a player and as a leader … that's a guy that you want on your team, that's a guy that you want to play with.' And there's more to their relationship than hockey. 'He's a terrific friend, too. Super easy guy to talk to,' Kreider added. 'He's been such a good friend, such a good teammate to me for such a long time. So being able to play with him again — it's amazing.' Both Kreider and Trouba bring years of experience and veteran leadership to a young Ducks roster still in the midst of a rebuild. Their long-standing chemistry could help stabilize a young core while also setting the tone for a more competitive environment in Anaheim. Advertisement 'When I reflect on being a leader, my style would be being genuine,' Kreider said. 'It's more one-on-one … I really like working with people individually, coming at it from a place of humility.' Ryan Strome Ryan Sun-Imagn Images Tom Horak-Imagn Images Kreider's reunion with Strome might be the most personal of all. The duo didn't just share shifts — they shared playlists, routines, and a passenger seat. Their bond took shape over four seasons with the Rangers from 2018-22, when Strome and Kreider were two of their top producers offensively. But it was the drives to and from Madison Square Garden that helped deepen their connection. 'Stromer was terrific,' Kreider said. 'We had some really good times, driving in and out to practice, talking hockey, talking about life, talking music … giving Fil Chytil a hard time. Those are great memories. And hopefully, maybe we can revisit that and keep it going.' Advertisement With Strome and Trouba waiting to welcome him to a new city, new life and new team, Kreider's in good hands with people he trusts. Related: Top 10 players chosen 12th overall this century ahead of Rangers pick in 2025 NHL Draft Frank Vatrano Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Danny Wild-Imagn Images Although Kreider didn't mention him directly on the podcast, Frank Vatrano is another former teammate in the Ducks locker room. They spent the back half of the 2021-22 season together with the Rangers, when Vatrano made an immediate impact after the forward was acquired ahead the trade deadline. The line of Mika Zibanejad, Kreider, and Vatrano helped lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final that spring, with Vatrano notching 13 points in 20 playoff games. Though their time as teammates was brief, the connection was clearly there — and with Vatrano one of Anaheim's best offensive weapons, it wouldn't be surprising to see the two reconnect on a line once again. Don't forget Trevor Zegras Zegras shared via Instagram @trevorzegras While Kreider's most well-known connections in Anaheim are with former Rangers teammates, his bond with Trevor Zegras is something a little different. Advertisement The two have spent recent offseasons training at Prentiss Hockey Performance in Stamford, Connecticut, a well-known gym that brings in NHL players from across the League. It was there, just hours after the trade, that Kreider got an early welcome from Zegras. 'I walked in this morning and there was a quack, quack, quack up on my jersey, courtesy of Trevor Zegras,' Kreider shared. 'I think he was keenly aware that there was interest — that it was a possibility I would come to the Ducks — and I just kind of confirmed it for him this morning. He was pretty excited for me. It was really cool. He's such an energetic, happy, friendly kid … it was a great little welcome to the organization.' The two haven't played together at the NHL level, but were teammates on Team USA at the 2022 IIHF Men's World Championship. While the tournament was short-lived in itself, it gave them their first taste of sharing a bench. Now they'll have the opportunity to build that chemistry over the offseason and into next season. Zegras is known for his elite puck skills, creativity on the ice, and outgoing personality. The 24-year-old has also dealt with several injuries, sharp criticism and consistent trade rumors. Advertisement Kreider comes with more than a decade of experience playing in one of hockey's toughest market, and is a respected leader. His mentorship of Zegras could be as valuable as anything Kreider brings to the Ducks on the ice, and if their chemistry carries over on to the ice, that's a real win-win for the Ducks. Related Headlines
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thousands flood Bay Roberts for largest street hockey tournament in N.L.
Thousands of people rolled into Bay Roberts over the weekend for the largest street hockey tournament in Newfoundland and Labrador. It marked the seventh annual running of the Light the Lamp tournament, with nearly 270 teams from all over the province hitting the street to play hundreds of games over two days. Eddie Russell, the town's recreation director, said the first day saw 400 games alone. He estimates that at least 8,000 people passed through the tournament grounds. "It's a pretty massive event for sure," said Russell. The event grounds had 20 courts, with 18 kids playing at a time and two referees each. "It's organized chaos," said Russell. "There's so many moving pieces and it all comes together." While most of the players come for the competition, Russell said it's also a time for people to come together. "Everybody likes to win, but you make new friends, you spend time with your teammates, parents, all that stuff," he said. The championship games were gearing up when Russell spoke to CBC on Sunday. He said he was relieved that everything had gone so smoothly. "[I'm] proud to be a part of this event, part of the team and the committee, the staff, the town itself, that we could pull off such a major event," he said. Jack Norman, Ava Parsons and Mason Akerman rounded out a hometown team called the Bay Roberts Mini Stix. They said the weekend was all about the competition — but also about taking in some of the off-court activities. "[I was] trying to go hard and focusing in," Norman said. "We just played a lot of games and I had a lot of slushies," said Akerman. The squad remained focused and motivated heading into the championship games and were appreciative that the event drew so many people to their town. "It's really nice that they're coming to Bay Roberts to experience Light the Lamp," said Norman. Mayor Geoff Seymour, said the event was a great boost for his community, describing it as a "first class event." "It's an opportunity for 2,000 to 3,000 kids to get out there and enjoy two days of outdoor activity, fresh air, and exercise. That's perhaps the most important thing," he said. Not only was the tournament a hit among kids, it also brought with it an economic boost. "All these people coming into town for two days, hotels are filled, Airbnbs are filled, restaurants, takeouts, convenience stores, shopping — there is an economic spinoff that comes from it," said Seymour. Next to the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games, which took place in Bay Roberts last year, Seymour said the annual street hockey tournament is the busiest event of the year. "It's an amazing event. We've been doing this for seven years and I think it just gets better," he said. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ducks' Chris Kreider breaks silence on Rangers trade
The post Ducks' Chris Kreider breaks silence on Rangers trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Anaheim Ducks completed a trade for veteran forward Chris Kreider on Thursday. This ended his 13-year tenure with the New York Rangers. New York needed cap space, and the Ducks were willing to absorb Kreider's contract. As a result, he is taking his talents to Orange County for the foreseeable future. Advertisement The newest Ducks star did not waste time introducing himself to his new fan base. He spoke with Alexis Downie on an episode of Light The Lamp for Anaheim's on-demand audio service, Ducks Stream. During this episode, the veteran forward discussed his side of the process and how aware he was of a deal coming together. 'It's something we kind of talked about, going back and forth for the last couple of weeks, so I guess it wasn't actually a surprise or a shock, but I think more surprised just with the number of people that reached out,' Kreider said of the trade. 'Whether it be from earlier in my hockey career, my time with the Rangers … just how welcoming everyone's been within the Anaheim organization, the players and some of the staff, it's hard not be super excited to be joining that group.' Ducks' Chris Kreider reunites with familiar faces © James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports Kreider heads to an unfamiliar situation playing for a team other than the Rangers. However, his transition to playing for the Ducks could be somewhat streamlined. The veteran forward is reuniting with defenseman Jacob Trouba, who spent parts of six seasons on Broadway together with the Blueshirts. Advertisement 'Jacob … has to be one of the best teammates I've ever played with,' Kreider told Downie. 'Everything that he brings as a player and a leader. That's a guy that you want on your team … and he's a terrific friend, too, so that's certainly a massive plus. Super easy guy to talk to. He's been such a good friend, such a good teammate to me for such a long time, so being able to play with him again, it's amazing.' Trouba is not the only former Ranger on the roster, either. Forwards Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome both crossed paths with Kreider in New York. This familiarity could certainly help the 34-year-old settle into his new team and city before the 2025-26 season begins. 'I think obviously there's some familiarity with some of the players on the roster having played with a bunch of those guys in New York,' Kreider said. 'I mean, everyone just has such glowing things to say about not only the organization, but the staff, the living situation, and the direction the team's going in. Related: Ducks' Chris Kreider signs off on trade from Rangers Related: Ducks rumors: Chris Kreider trade is done, but there's one last hurdle
