Latest from Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton Spectator
11 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Reds RHP Nick Martinez has no-hitter through 8 innings against the Padres
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Nick Martinez has a no-hitter through eight innings of Friday night's game against the San Diego Padres. The 34-year-old Martinez has walked one and struck out six. He has thrown 105 pitches thru seven innings, 72 for strikes. Martinez's previous season high for pitches was 102. His career high for pitches is 112. He has never pitched a complete game in the major leagues. The Reds are leading 8-0. Cincinnati's Spencer Steer has homered three times for the first time in his career. The closest the Padres have come to a hit was in the fifth inning, but Will Benson made a sliding catch on a line drive by Gavin Sheets. Martinez's last two appearances came in relief, in which he tossed a combined three shutout innings. San Diego has been no-hit 11 times in franchise history. The last no-hitter thrown against the Padres came on Aug. 14, 2001, when Diamondbacks left-hander Tyler Gilbert held them hitless in his first MLB start. Martinez is trying to record the 18th no-hitter by a Reds pitcher and the first since Wade Miley on May 7, 2021, in a 3-0 win at Cleveland. There have been three no-hitters thrown at Great American Ball Park since it opened in 2003 by Reds right-hander Homer Bailey in 2013, Jake Arrietta of the Cubs in 2016, and the Giants' Blake Snell last season. ___ AP MLB:
Hamilton Spectator
11 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Emotional tribute to `Johnny Hockey' as Meredith Gaudreau announces Blue Jackets' first draft pick
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Meredith Gaudreau announced the Columbus Blue Jackets' first pick in the NHL draft Friday night, 10 months after her husband, John, was killed along with his brother while riding bicycles on the eve of their sister's wedding. Fans at the Peacock Theater chanted 'Johnny! Johnny!' in honor of the late player nicknamed 'Johnny Hockey' and cheered Meredith as she spoke. 'I just wanted to take this time to thank every single team and every single fan base for your support for my family this past season,' Gaudreau said. 'It's truly an honor to be here, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.' Gaudreau then said the Blue Jackets were taking Jackson Smith, who later called it a surreal experience. Smith on a video call with reporters added he was grateful to be part of the poignant scene. 'It was incredible,' Smith said. 'Just to see the support in the stands, in the crowd, for the Gaudreau family, it was an incredible moment, so to be picked right after that felt even extra special for me.' ___ AP NHL:
Hamilton Spectator
13 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
New York Islanders select defenceman Matthew Schaefer first overall at NHL draft
LOS ANGELES - Matthew Schaefer stood up after his name was called. The emotion of moment was too much. Thinking about the person he wished more than anything could be by his side overwhelmed the 17-year-old defenceman. His tears flowed soon after. The New York Islanders did the expected Friday, selecting Schaefer with the first pick at the 2025 NHL draft. His big moment just steps from Arena — home of the Los Angeles Kings — was also tinged with a level of sadness. The teenager's mother, Jennifer, died of breast cancer in February 2024. Schaefer, who spent two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters, kissed the cancer awareness ribbon on his Islanders jersey after pulling it on, pointed to the sky and then broke down. 'I couldn't control the tears … thinking about my mom a little extra today,' said the Hamilton native. 'I know she'd be very proud. I'd love her to be here in person. But obviously cancer sucks, so she's with me in spirit. 'I know she's not suffering and she's happy, smiling down and always with me.' Schaefer had been viewed as the slam-dunk top selection for months despite not playing since December after suffering a broken collar bone while suiting up for Canada at the world junior hockey championship. His mother's passing came three months after his billet mom was struck and killed by a train in what was ruled death by suicide. Schaefer then was rocked during the world juniors when mentor and Otters owner Jim Waters died of a heart attack in December. The six-foot-two, 186-pound blueliner with elite skill at both ends of the rink joins an organization that was busy in the hours before calling his name first inside the Peacock Theater. The Islanders traded defenceman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and the 16th and 17th overall picks. The San Jose Sharks then took forward Michael Misa second overall. Once the hands-down presumptive first pick in 2025, the six-foot-one, 182-pound centre from Oakville, Ont., led the entire Canadian Hockey League in goals (62) and points (134) in 2024-25 playing for the OHL's Saginaw Spirit. 'It was awesome,' Misa said. 'Just a moment of relief, excitement, a little emotional with my family — they've meant so much to me and supported me.' The Chicago Blackhawks selected Swedish forward Anton Frondell at No. 3. The six-foot-one, 204-pound centre had 25 points in 29 regular-season games playing against men in Sweden's second division this season with Djurgardens. Caleb Desnoyers went fourth overall to the Utah Mammoth. The centre for Moncton of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League took home the circuit's playoff MVP honours after putting up nine goals and 21 assists in 19 games, helping the Wildcats reach the Memorial Cup. The St-Hyacinthe, Que., product also won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the league's top professional prospect. 'I had a great feeling with them,' Desnoyers said of the Mammoth. 'Heard a lot of great things.' The Nashville Predators then picked Brady Martin to round out the top-5. Instead of being in Los Angeles for the draft, the centre for the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds was back home working on his family farm in Elora, Ont. The Philadelphia Flyers took forward Porter Martone of the OHL's Brampton Steelheads sixth overall before the Boston Bruins picked Boston College centre James Hagens at No. 7. Jake O'Brien of the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs landed eighth to the Seattle Kraken, Radim Mrtka of the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds went ninth to the Buffalo Sabres and Roger McQueen of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings joined the Anaheim Ducks at No. 10. The 2025 showcase event marks the NHL's first decentralized draft in a non-pandemic environment — a format similar to the NFL and NBA where teams make selections remotely instead of all being in the same venue on-site. No decision has been made on how the draft will look next year, but deputy commissioner Bill Daly said earlier Friday the vote in favour of decentralization among teams this time around was 26-6. Celebrities and special guests named each pick after Schaefer, including actor Adam Sandler, who announced Hagens going to the Bruins. 'One of the coolest moments I've ever had,' Hagens said. 'It's something that doesn't feel real.' There were, however, some hiccups. Players entered the so-called 'NHL Draft Room' after getting picked to speak with their new general managers, but one example of things not going exactly according to plan came when Boston's video feed froze as Hagens was speaking to the team's brass. The Vancouver Canucks owned the highest selection among Canadian clubs at No. 15. The draft continues Saturday with rounds two through seven. The night, however, belonged to Schaefer. 'I don't usually cry as much as my dad and brother,' he said. 'My dad's like, 'Ah, you won't cry.' And then I'm kind of biting my tongue, and my name gets called, and then they start flowing. 'Happy tears … I just wish my mom could be here.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
26 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Emotions are still sky high': Fort St. John Calder Cup champion reflects on postseason run
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John-based hockey player chatted about his Calder Cup victory on the latest episode of Moose FM's This Week in the Peace. Tristen Nielsen plays forward for the Abbotsford Canucks, who recently took the American Hockey League (AHL) championship on Monday, June 23rd in a hard-fought seven-game series against the Charlotte Checkers. As the farm team for the National Hockey League's (NHL) Vancouver Canucks, the championship is the first for the franchise as a whole. For his part, Nielsen had five goals and four assists for nine points in 24 playoff contests. 'The emotions are still sky high,' said Nielsen. 'Every day has been exciting, every day has been some new way to celebrate. 'I've just been fortunate enough to be able to do it here in B.C.' The 25-year-old began his hockey career with Fort St. John Flyers youth teams, and also spent time with the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants prior to playing with Abbotsford. Although the Canucks started off slowly with wins and losses throughout the first two months of the year, they finished the 2024-25 season with a franchise record for wins: 44 wins, 24 losses with three overtime losses and two shootout defeats for 92 points. It was something Nielsen attributed to the team 'finding its way,' with the late-season push a matter of the players 'finding their groove.' 'It's all about hitting your peak at the right time,' said Nielsen. 'As a whole, I think our group did a very good job.' Nielsen added he was 'very proud' of himself for being able to adapt to being moved to different roles throughout the lineup. 'Everybody wants to be the goal scorer or a first liner,' said Nielsen. 'But sometimes you have to be the grinder, the guy getting the job done on the fourth line.' He says he's unsure about what he might want to do with the Calder Cup when he has his day with it, saying he may take a trip to a hospital to visit children or spend time with his family. The full episode of This Week in the Peace is available on Moose Media's YouTube page and on all major podcast platforms. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
26 minutes ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Prince Albert French Immersion teacher receives Second-Language Champion of the Year Award
Ecole St. Mary High School teacher Rémi Joncas has been recognized for his contributions to French Immersion in the province of Saskatchewan. Canadian Parents for French (CPF-Saskatchewan) recently named Joncas as one of their French-Second-Language Champion of the Year Award winners for 2024-2025. The award recognizes the work of staff members at the school or school division level. Joncas said he was nominated for the work he does behind the scenes. 'We do a lot for French Immersion,' he said. 'In my class and outside, I've done lots of volunteering for CPF and it doesn't seem like I do a lot like in front of the scene, but I do a lot behind the scenes for their organization, getting a lot of their web page and publicity and E-mail and preparing all the documents and all this stuff. It's a lot of work.' The CPF said recepients are positive advocates for and contributors to the French-Second-Language learning environment. They also inspired students of all abilities and backgrounds to learn French. Joncas said he doesn't do the work to win awards, but being recognized is still special. 'It's always really heart-warming to know that people appreciate what you do,' Joncas said. The organization says that Joncas is an outstanding French immersion teacher at École St. Mary High School in Prince Albert. His nominators mentioned his advocacy for all high school students regardless of where they attend school, whether it is where he teaches, at Carlton Comprehension Public High School or École Valois. As well as his approachability and positive attitude, he is a great mentor and role model for all students, the nominators said. He coordinated French events for French immersion students, particularly for younger students. Joncas continually promotes French in all areas of his life as he proudly shares his Acadian heritage. His passion for French reaches back to his time at university, as he is a former assistant teacher and translator at Unversité de Moncton and worked as a museum guide at Dalhousie University. Sonia Mollison and Jara MacFarlane nominated Joncas for the award. 'We work as a really great team, Jara MacFarlane and Sonia they are the nominators and they were just awesome,' Joncas said. 'They believe in the cause and it (French Immersion) is just something that we want. We want the French kids to have more French opportunities and we're trying really hard.' Joncas said supporting French Immersion is important because French is an official language in Canada and there is a vast French heritage in Saskatchewan. 'When the Metis people came here. That was one of the languages they spoke,' he said. 'Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont, they spoke French and Michif as well. (In) Bellevue and a lot of communities in Saskatchewan, it's tied to the history of our country. 'French is a world language,' he added. 'You'll find French on all five continents of the world.' Joncas himself comes from another French speaking sub group in Canada as he is of Acadian decent. He encourages parents and students to continue on the path of French Immersion, 'I would tell students and parents, 'I know sometimes French it is hard. You don't hear a lot of French in Prince Albert, but keep going, It's worth it totally, this will open the world to you and it creates your identity.' I've seen so many people saying that that even after they have this tie to the French language or even French media, French songs, French movies, it's a whole different world of opportunities and it's so good. Keep going, it's working.' Canadian Parents for French is a nationwide, research-informed, volunteer organization that furthers bilingualism by promoting opportunities to learn and use French for all those who call Canada home. The other winners in Saskatchewan were Danielle Brûlé-Lundgren of École Lakeview School in Saskatoon and Bonnie Pendleton of École St. Michael's School in Yorkton. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
