'They're Stanley Cup champions back to back for a good reason': Connor McDavid
Edmonton Watch
Oilers captain Connor McDavid says the Florida Panthers were great on the forecheck, kept on top of the Oilers and kept Edmonton from generating momentum.
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National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Cizzle Brands Announces the Launch of Celly Freeze™, A New Flavour of CWENCH Hydration™ Developed in Collaboration with Austen Alexander, Coach Chippy, Coach Jeremy, Nasher, Pavel Barber, and Swaggy P
Article content At launch, Celly Freeze will be sold in Canadian grocery stores including Fortinos and Metro (Ontario) as well as sporting goods retailers including Pro Hockey Life, Source for Sports, Sports Excellence, FGL Quebec and Pure Hockey. Article content TORONTO — Cizzle Brands Corporation (Cboe Canada: CZZL) (OTCQB: CZZLF) (Frankfurt: 8YF) (the 'Company' or 'Cizzle Brands'), is pleased to announce the launch of Celly Freeze ™, a limited-time ready-to-drink flavour of CWENCH Hydration™. The name Celly Freeze ™ along with its flavour profile was developed by Cizzle Brands in collaboration with well-known hockey influencers and content creators Austen Alexander, Coach Chippy, Coach Jeremy, Nasher, Pavel Barber and Swaggy P (Pete Lenes) (collectively, the ' Creators '). In addition to having a direct influence on the name and flavour, all six Creators are featured on the packaging for Celly Freeze ™ and will be actively promoting the new flavour of CWENCH Hydration™ through their social media channels. Article content The taste for Celly Freeze ™ was selected because of its nostalgic profile, which 'hits cold' on a hot day, with a flavour that feels light, icy and crisp on the palette. Article content Regarding the collaboration with Cizzle Brands in launching Celly Freeze ™, Coach Jeremy of How To Hockey said 'My whole mission is to help players fall in love with the game and keep levelling-up, whether they're ripping shots on a backyard rink or under the lights at the barn. Celly Freeze ™ captures that post-goal excitement in a crisp, hydrating hit that keeps you looking good, playing good, and ready for the next snipe. Partnering with CWENCH Hydration™ and Cizzle Brands and the other Creators helps us hydrate the hockey community with the same passion we bring to every drill. Let's go!' Article content Creator Nasher added 'I've always believed the best plays deserve an ice-cold celly, and now we've bottled that moment. Celly Freeze ™ delivers the same crisp excitement you feel when the red light flicks on – clean, refreshing, absolutely electric. Working with Cizzle Brands and the other Creators enables me to share that with every player and fan, from pickup games to the big stage. I'm proud to work with a team that understands the hockey lifestyle and pushes innovation just as hard as we push the pace on the ice. Open one after your next snipe and feel the freeze.' Article content Cizzle Brands recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of CWENCH Hydration™ following its launch in May 2024. In the brand's first year on the market, it established a presence in more than 3,000 points of distribution across North America and Europe, has been endorsed by NHL MVP Nathan MacKinnon, NBA All-star Andrew Wiggins, Montreal Canadien Cole Caufield, Canadian Olympian Adriana Leon as well as other athletes and trainers, became the Official Hydration Partner of USA Hockey and gained distributorship with Van Houtte Coffee Services (a subsidiary of Keurig Dr Pepper Canada). Article content Cizzle Brands' Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer John Celenza commented, 'Every hockey player knows how special of a moment a 'celly' is… whether that's after a big goal or a big win, celebrating with your teammates is a sacred ritual in hockey and all sports. Working the Creators to bring Celly Freeze ™ to life, we wanted to capture the spirit of that moment and I think we nailed it. The excitement we're seeing from retailers eager to carry Celly Freeze ™ is a great early indication we got it right. Get it while you can as it's only going to be around for a limited time.' Article content About Cizzle Brands Corporation Article content Cizzle Brands Corporation is a sports nutrition company that is elevating the game in health and wellness. Through extensive collaboration and testing with leading athletes and trainers across several elite sports, Cizzle Brands has launched two leading product lines in the sports nutrition category: (i) CWENCH Hydration™, a better-for-you sports drink that is now carried in over 3,000 locations in Canada, the United States, and Europe; and (ii) Spoken Nutrition, a premium brand of athlete-grade nutraceuticals that carry the prestigious NSF Certified for Sport® qualification. All Cizzle Brands products are designed to help people achieve their best in both competitive sports and in living a healthy, vibrant, active lifestyle. Article content This news release contains 'forward-looking information' which may include, but is not limited to, information with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as, but not limited to: new products of the Company and potential sales and distribution opportunities. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as 'plans', 'expects', 'is expected', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates', or 'believes' or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will' be taken, occur or be achieved. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Article content Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risk factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks include risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation, except as otherwise required by law, to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors change. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘It's been incredible': Brad Marchand talks first Stanley Cup win with Florida Panthers
Nova Scotia's Brad Marchand has won another Stanley Cup – this time with the Florida Panthers. Nova Scotia's Brad Marchand has won another Stanley Cup – this time with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers cruised to a 5-1 victory in Game 6 Tuesday night, beating the Edmonton Oilers for a second straight year in the final. Marchand last lifted the Stanley Cup in 2011 when he played for the Boston Bruins. The 37-year-old forward was acquired by the Panthers from the Bruins in March during a mid-season trade. He says he appreciates his second win 'way more' this time around. 'When you win in your first year you don't understand how difficult it is and the trials and tribulations you have to go through to be a part of something like this and I value and embrace every second of this, it's been incredible,' he said during a post-game interview at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fl. With all the changes in Marchand's life this year, he says he's most proud of his family. 'They took on a lot (with) me leaving and just sacrificing being away and there's a lot that goes on at home when you have a wife and kids and you have a whole life that you move away from,' he said. 'And they made sure to take care of all of that so I could just focus on this, even when they got down here, they kind of left me alone and let me focus and prepare and do what I had to do, so I'm grateful for them.' Brad Marchand Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) raises the Stanely Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Marchand added the Panthers have welcomed him into the team and there's no hierarchy in the group. 'Everybody's completely loved in the room and the relationships are incredible. It starts off the ice here and when you're that close, you want to go to war together for each other … it's been fun.' Marchand's 14-year Stanley Cup win gap is the third-longest in league history, just shy of 16 for Chris Chelios from 1986 to 2002 and 15 for Mark Recchi from 1991 to 2006. With files from The Associated Press For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
The Province
2 hours ago
- The Province
Oilers can beat Panthers. But need to go big, bigger, biggest, most bigly
Darnell Nurse #25, Mattias Ekholm #14 and Adam Henrique #19 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate after Nurse scored during the second period against the Florida Panthers in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. Photo by Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Can the Edmonton Oilers beat the Florida Panthers? Of course they can. But they need to go big, bigger, biggest, and most bigly. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors What do I mean by that? This series has been super close with three games going to overtime. Overall Edmonton has had 91 Grade A shots to 80 Grade A shots for Florida. In the subset of the most dangerous shots, the 5-alarmers, Edmonton has had 46, Florida 42. It's the 5-alarm shots — the one-timers off seam-passes, the odd-man rushes and the breakaways — that are critical. In the two games that Florida has dominated (Games 3 and 5), the Panthers had six 5-alarms shots both times to three and four 5-alarmers for the Oilers. The Oilers typically get about six or seven 5-alarm shots per game. How can Edmonton get more of the best shots? How can they win Game 6 in Florida and Game 7 in Edmonton? Again, they need to go big, bigger, biggest, and most bigly. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Panthers have played with more focus, confidence and determination. The Oilers have been thrown off by misplays of the puck, failing to cover off over the slot, and by numerous bad and missed calls by the refs. Instead of playing their positions, they Oilers are either slow to make reads in the d-zone, or they over-react, chase the puck and are out of position. If Edmonton goes big when it comes to defence and play a sound, confident, focused and structured game in their own zone, they will shut down the Panthers enough to bring victory. BIGGER When was the last time the Oilers threw a big hit in this series? Evander Kane nailing Aaron Ekblad in Game 1? Yes, we all know the Oilers miss hit machine Zach Hyman. Whatever. At this point in time, excuses are for losers. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And, yes, we all know the refs appear to have a bizarre proclivity to give the Oilers soft penalties, while letting go hard fouls by the Panthers. But that's just now another self-defeating excuse. Edmonton has to forget all that, keep their sticks low, but charge hard and throw their bodies into oncoming Panthers. How about five hits each in Game 6 from Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman and Mattias Ekholm? Last game they did not have one hit between them. What's that about? How about a five hit game from Leon Draisaitl? He's a bull, an aircraft carrier, a tank, right? It is past time for Draisaitl to start throwing his weight around. He's got all summer to heal up. Evander Kane has got to be all the scary monster he can be. He hasn't been close to that in recent games. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I was good with Connor McDavid, Vasily Podkolzin and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' hustle in Game 5, but to win Game 6 the Oilers need major ferocious physical games out of forwards like Connor Brown, Viktor Arvidsson, Kasperi Kapanen, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Jeff Skinner, and Corey Perry. No Panther puck carrier should be left unhit, unscathed. Just keep your stick down while doing it because those Panthers go down like they've been harpooned if get so much as a fly-by scratch from a blade. BIGGEST When it comes to scoring and goaltending, Edmonton needs its biggest improvement on breakaways. The numbers here in Florida's favour are scary. Simply put, the Oil have been crappy finishing their own breakaways and crappy stopping Florida goals on breakaways against in the first five games. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Before the series started prophetic words came from former NHL goalie and Grade A shots expert Steve Valiquette. Valiquette, TV analyst for MSG and Clear Sight Analytics CEO, said the biggest factor in the series would likely be how the goalies did on stopping breakaway shots. 'I feel like breakaways are a real momentum shift in a game, at least for a goalie. I feel it. I know you guys, if you're on the bench and one of your line mates or teammates rather, gets a breakaway and they score, like there's a lift there… You feel worse as a team giving up a breakaway than, you know, a third bounce opportunity.' The Oilers had success on the breakaway against Bobrovsky in the 2024 Final, especially as the series went along. Edmonton had 10 breakaways and scored six times against Florida in that seven games series. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This year in the first three rounds of the playoffs, Edmonton had 16 breakaways and scored seven goals. But in the five games of the Final, the Panthers have scored on five out of six breakaways. The Oilers have scored on two out of seven. The biggest moment of Game 6 will be the two or three breakaways in the game. Edmonton, for once, must come up biggest in those moments. MOST BIGLY The series hinges on Florida's fast and nasty forecheck vs Edmonton's quick and dangerous break-out passing game. So far the Florida forecheckers have won this fight, especially in Game 5, when the Oilers d-men started to look befuddled and anxious, afraid to make a mistake, throwing the puck up the boards far too often. They were unrecognizable compared to previous games. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When Paul Coffey took over as d-man coach, he insisted that his d-men make plays, not throw away the puck. He instilled confidence in them and they responded. All of them became better passers of the puck. Where has that confidence gone? Has Coffey's message changed? Or is the Florida forecheck simply so good that the Oilers can't beat it. Whatever the case, the Oilers might as well go down trying and flying, pushing themselves to make great passes. This throwing-away-the-puck-up-the-boards strategy has got to end. Why not try to make a play? Move your feet, get your eyes up, evade a forechecker and rip a stretch pass — that's got to how the Oilers d-men roll, correct? It's that passing game that allows the Oilers to get pucks deep in the Florida end, to make the Florida d-men have to race back for the puck and it sets up those same d-men to get bashed hard into the boards. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Oilers have six strong d-men in Evan Bouchard, John Klingberg, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman and Brett Kulak who can all wheel and deal. It's time for them to take over the game with their excellent passing, no? If they go down firing, so be it. If they go down fighting to play their 'A' game, better than going out wastefully and ineffectively blasting the puck up the boards. I think they can succeed. And I bet playing with confidence and determination to make a good pass will be the most bigly factor in the Oilers coming back to win the Cup. At the Cult of Hockey LEAVINS: 9 Things STAPLES: Player grades: Florida Panthers dead puck Edmonton Oilers to death in 5-2 win STAPLES: 'Pure garbage': Panthers fanbase rants about Skinner hold, say it proves refs biased against Florida Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Sports Local News BC Lions
