Latest from Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Flames take lightning-quick Potter with 32nd overall pick
Any conversation about Cullen Potter is going to start with his speed. That's inevitable. Article content Drafted by the Calgary Flames with the final pick of the first round, 32nd overall, Potter might just be faster than any other player whose name got called on Friday night. Article content 'His speed is electric,' said Flames GM Craig Conroy. 'He's fast, quick, electric, he's got hockey sense.' Article content Article content Article content Article content But they say you can't teach speed, and Potter's got it. Article content The son of four-time U.S. Olympian Jenny Potter – who won a gold, two silvers and a bronze medal with the Americans – the newest member of the Flames might have the 'fastest skater' title locked up if the organization ever brings their Super Skills Competition back. Article content 'I think my strongest asset is definitely my speed,' said Potter, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 183 lbs and is a leftie. 'Speed and skill and tenacity and compete are what I do best. Article content 'I think the best players in the world have a lot of speed. Just looking at McDavid and MacKinnon and those guys, just being able to use my speed and hands at the same time is really important, and I think that's what the best players in the NHL do.' Article content Article content Article content Nobody is expecting Potter to be one of the best players in the world right away, but the early returns on his college career have been extremely encouraging. Article content Despite being only 17-years-old for a good chunk of his freshman year at Arizona State – he turned 18 on January 10 – Potter netted 13 goals and added nine assists in 35 games. He also put up four goals and four assists while playing for the U.S. under-18 team. Article content Conroy and the Flames scouting staff watched it all, and were thrilled about getting a player with his upside so late in the first round. Article content 'When you look at him, you think 'Where is he going to be?' ' Conroy said about playing against older competition in the NCAA. 'It would be like stepping into the American League right away, you're playing against me. That's what I think is so impressive for him. To see him play with the U18s, I thought he was noticeable every shift and it was the speed that caught my attention.'
Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Ottawa Senators get their man, defenceman Logan Hensler, at No. 23 in NHL draft
Article content It was worth the wait for the Ottawa Senators and Logan Hensler. Article content Steve Staios did a little wheeling and dealing before making the club's first-round pick on Friday night. Article content Article content Scheduled to select No. 21 in the first round of the National Hockey League draft, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager delivered on the possibility of moving the selection to get another asset in return. Article content Article content Minutes after the Senators were put on the clock, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman pressed the big red 'Trade Alert' button to confirm Ottawa had traded its pick to the Nashville Predators for the No. 23 overall selection and the No. 67 pick in the third round. Article content Article content Staios had indicated he was willing to move back if he was able to get another selection, and it was clear the club felt it could get Hensler, a right-shot defenceman who attends Wisconsin University. Article content Hensler, 18, a 6-foot-2 blueliner, had two goals and 32 points last season at Wisconsin. His responsibilities grew over the year. He is strong at both ends of the ice. Article content 'It's a dream come true,' Hensler said. 'I'm happy to go to a great organization. I'm really happy with where I landed, and I'm super excited to get started.' Article content Comedian and actor Tom Green, an Ottawa native, made the selection on behalf of the Senators. He was in the bowels of the rink to make the pick, and Green will host the Canadian Country Music Awards in September. Article content Article content The league opted to go with a decentralized draft this year. The Senators had their draft table set up in the club's dressing room. That's where Staios was surrounded by his closest advisors to make the pick. Article content Chief scout Don Boyd was confident heading into this night that the Senators would get a strong prospect who would play in the league down the road.
Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary talents Ben Kindel, Jackson Smith chosen 11th and 14th in NHL Draft
Article content Ben Kindel listed his dream linemate as the legendary Maurice Richard. Article content But how about playing alongside Sid Crosby, Ben? Article content It's in the cards for the Calgary Hitmen forward after the Pittsburgh Penguins shocked many — including Kindel himself — by making him the 11th selection Friday night in the 2025 NHL Draft. Article content 'Yeah … you always kind of dreamed about this day,' said Kindel, who was visibly surprised at being drafted so high — 10 picks better than his final rating of 21 among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. Article content Article content 'I guess I never knew if it would become a reality or not,' continued Kindel, the third Western Hockey League talent selected on the evening. 'I think just if you put enough work into it, anything can happen.' Article content Article content Jackson Smith, a graduate of the Glenlake Hawks and product of Edge School, was chosen 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Article content 'I'm gonna be honest … I don't really have much of a clue what's down in Columbus,' Jackson told reporters, with a laugh, at the prospects party in Los Angeles. 'I've never been there before.' Article content But the Jackets have more than a clue about Smith. Article content They chose the 6-foot-4, 199-lb. defenceman — a 54-point-getter with the Tri-City Americans last WHL season — because he's big and strong and has got a smooth set of wheels. Article content Article content 'What we really like is he's one of the best skaters in the draft,' said Blue Jackets GM/president of hockey operations Don Waddell. 'And he can transport the puck — get you out of trouble really easy. Article content Article content 'You need puck-moving defencemen in this game today, because the games are played very fast. And we're very fortunate to be able to add Jackson to our lineup.' Article content The Smith selection was announced by Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Calgary Flames legend Johnny Gaudreau, making for an emotional moment at L.A.'s Peacock Theatre. Article content 'My greatest honour is representing (Johnny),' Meredith told the crowd at the draft. 'So just really happy to be here.' Article content For Smith, going to the Blue Jackets means a chance to hang out on the same blue-line as one of the game's top defencemen in Zach Werenski. Article content 'He's an incredible hockey player,' said Smith, who was rated 13th among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. 'Going to the same team as (Werenski), it's pretty cool.'
Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Groups secure injunction pausing Alberta government's transgender health-care legislation
Alberta government legislation preventing doctors in the province from providing gender-affirming care to minors has been paused under a court judgment released Friday. Article content The Court of King's Bench of Alberta decision granted an injunction application led by Egale Canada and the Skipping Stone Foundation. Article content Article content Justice Allison Kuntz, in her written decision granting the temporary injunction, said Charter challenges raised by the applicants over Bill 26, the Health Statues Amendment Act, warrant further legal argument. Article content Article content 'The evidence shows that singling out health care for gender diverse youth and making it subject to government control will cause irreparable harm to gender diverse youth by reinforcing the discrimination and prejudice that they are already subjected to,' Kuntz wrote. Article content Article content The bill, introduced last October but not yet in full effect, restricted certain treatments and surgeries for gender dysphoria for individuals under 18, including a ban on puberty blocker and hormone therapies for individuals under the age of 16, and gender reassignment surgeries for people under 18. Article content The applicants included five gender-diverse young Albertans, aged six to 12, and their parents, in addition to the two LGBTQ advocacy groups. Article content They challenged the constitutionality of the amended provisions, arguing the changes violate rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Bill of Rights. Article content 'This is an historic win, affirming that young people in Alberta and across Canada deserve to live authentically in safety and freedom,' Skipping Stone founders Lindsay Peace and Amelia Newbert said in a statement. Article content 'As we have long argued, the government should never interfere in the medical decisions of doctors and patients or prevent parents and youth from deciding what medical care is right for them.' Article content The province had argued preventing access to puberty blocking drugs for trans children and other measures in the bill is based on evidence suggesting such treatments may be harmful. Article content 'Alberta . . . does not doubt the value of providing care to children facing (gender dysphoria or gender incongruence), but that care must be safe and evidence based,' government lawyer David Madsen told Kuntz at a March hearing. Article content 'That is what the legislation is about. Protecting the safety and long-term choice of children and youth from a risky and experimental medical intervention, for which there is little evidence of benefit and evidence of significant harm in some cases.'
Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Calgary Herald
NHL Entry Draft: A return to Disneyland, it is, for Ducks pick Roger McQueen
A return to Disneyland is in the cards for Roger McQueen and his family. Article content The 6-foot-5 forward from Saskatoon — whose family made a point of taking in Disneyland prior to the National Hockey League Entry Draft — ended up getting selected by the Anaheim Ducks at 10th overall Friday in Los Angeles. Article content Just as fittingly, McQueen lists former Ducks great and fellow Saskatchewan-born forward Ryan Getzlaf as the one player he has patterned his game while playing for the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings. Article content Article content 'What we really liked — obviously he has size — but what goes along with that is the skill and skating ability and basically a really hard player to play against,' said Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek. 'We're looking forward to him being a power forward for our organization. Article content Article content 'We can't be more happy. You'll just being coming up down the road (from L.A.), Rog. We'll see you soon.' Article content McQueen entered the draft as a bit of a question mark following a fracture in his lower back that sidelined him for much of last season. Article content 'I'm so grateful for this,' McQueen told the Ducks brass, led by Verbeek. Article content 'It's unbelievable, especially being to close here (to Los Angeles) and all the fans in the background. It's such a great feeling. I couldn't be more happy.' Article content McQueen played in 20 games, regular season and playoffs, during his shortened season while recovering from a fracture in his lower back. Some NHL teams threw out the caution flag, but not the Ducks and, for that, McQueen is grateful. Article content Article content 'It's unbelievable,' said McQueen. 'It's just one of those thing you've been working towards your entire life. It's kind of crazy. There's no real emotion. It's just shock at this point, but I'm so grateful to be with them and it's unbelievable.' Article content Article content Members of the Sportsnet's NHL Draft panel appeared to like the pick and are pulling for the pride of Saskatoon. Article content 'It's really hard to check people like this and he's not an easy out,' said scout Jason Bukala. Article content 'He'll drop the flippers if things get hard. Ryan Getzlaf, back in the day when Anaheim started to get good, what did they have? They had that meat in the middle of the ice. I'm really pulling for this guy because he worked so hard ot get ready in his draft year and then was set back by injury. You know he was stressed, right? But he tested during the (NHL) combine. He came there 100 per cent healthy, put himself through the paces and I'm hoping for good things for Roger McQueen.'
