
Brad Marchand rejects his new nickname: 'Maple Leafs Executioner'
Tkachuk also spoke in support of his friend Auston Matthews, the Leafs' star centre.
'I think he's been playing really well this whole series. He's a force at both ends. And I got to see his leadership at the 4 Nations and how he leads by example,' said Tkachuk, as reported in The Leafs Nation.
Justin Bieber believes in Leafs: 'I know this is the team to do it'
The Toronto Maple Leafs might have been eliminated from their Stanley Cup run, but they still have one fan who believes in them.
Life-long Leafs fan Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Bieber attended the Sunday night game. Despite the stinging loss, the 31-year-old remained steadfast in his loyalty towards the team.
The Ontario native said in an Instagram post that he doesn't remember a time in his life when he wasn't obsessed with the 'leafsssss.' 'This year we made it farther than we have in so long and im happy about that I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it,' Bieber wrote.
With this win, the Panthers will now face Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals.
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Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Chicago hosts Golden State following Burton's 30-point showing
Golden State Valkyries (17-15, 7-10 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (8-24, 2-14 Eastern Conference) Chicago; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Golden State Valkyries visits the Chicago Sky after Veronica Burton scored 30 points in the Valkyries' 88-83 win against the Washington Mystics. The Sky are 5-11 on their home court. Chicago is second in the WNBA with 36.1 rebounds led by Angel Reese averaging 12.6. The Valkyries are 7-10 in road games. Golden State leads the WNBA averaging 9.7 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 32.1% from downtown. Tiffany Hayes leads the team averaging 1.6 makes while shooting 41.1% from 3-point range. Chicago is shooting 41.9% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 40.7% Golden State allows to opponents. Golden State averages 9.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 more makes per game than Chicago allows. The teams play for the third time this season. The Valkyries won the last meeting 73-66 on Aug. 1. Burton scored 18 points to help lead the Valkyries to the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Elizabeth Williams is averaging 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Sky. Kamilla Cardoso is averaging 14.0 points over the last 10 games. Burton is averaging 11.2 points and 5.2 assists for the Valkyries. Cecilia Zandalasini is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sky: 1-9, averaging 69.7 points, 34.9 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 4.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 41.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.1 points per game. Valkyries: 7-3, averaging 75.1 points, 33.6 rebounds, 18.3 assists, 6.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 40.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points. INJURIES: Sky: Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl), Angel Reese: out (back). Valkyries: Kayla Thornton: out for season (knee), Monique Billings: out (ankle). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.


Global News
7 hours ago
- Global News
Müller-mania grips YVR as Whitecaps' new German superstar touches down
The arrival area at Vancouver International Airport was packed with excited fans on Wednesday, as German soccer superstar Thomas Müller touched down for the first time. The 35-year-old is slated to officially ink his contract with the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday, in one of the city's largest-ever professional sports signings. '(I'm here) to play soccer. Football, but now I play soccer,' he quipped. 5:13 Whitecaps officially sign Thomas Müller The star was greeted by delegates from the Musqueam First Nation who gave him a ceremonial escort and blanket, before heading out to sign autographs for throngs of supporters. Story continues below advertisement He then moved on to the airport's White Spot, where he surprised hundreds of 'Caps fans who had gathered for a watch party for the club's Canadian Championship semifinal draw against Forge FC in Hamilton. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Among those gathered at the airport — decked out in Whitecaps kit and a Germany hat — was Manfred Bartel, former consul at Germany's Vancouver consulate. 'It is something very special. For as long as I know what soccer means, Thomas Muller is on the top. And I see him here after 22 years coming to Canada in Vancouver, I'm just excited,' he said. 'He helped us win the World Cup in 2014,' young Germany fan Sebastian Konkobor said. 'I had a feeling when they said he was coming to MLS I had a slight feeling (he would come to Vancouver), but I wasn't sure. I saw it, and I was like refreshing the Instagram every day.' 2:54 German soccer legend Thomas Müller brings star power to Vancouver Whitecaps The excitement began growing earlier Wednesday when Müller posted to Instagram from his plane. Story continues below advertisement 'I'm on my flight to Vancouver. I'm looking for the GOAT. Can you help me? I cannot find him anywhere,' Müller wrote. 'It's my first flight without Manuel Neuer since maybe 15 years, I don't know. I'm very excited to come to Vancouver to play for the Whitecaps. Fingers crossed for my first games. See you there.' The Whitecaps will be Müller's first ever assignment with a team other than Bayern Munich. The star signed with the club's academy at just 10 years old, and went on to become one of its biggest names, racking up 1e Bundesliga titles and two champions leagues along the way, in addition to a World Cup win with Germany in 2014. Vancouver said last week Müller will join the Whitecaps for the remainder of the season in an open roster spot, with a Designated Player option for 2026. He is expected to make his debut at BC Place on Sunday when the Whitecaps host the Houston Dynamo.


Vancouver Sun
11 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
What the Whitecaps can expect from new superstar Thomas Müller
The Thomas Müller who was to step off the plane Vancouver International Airport late Wednesday afternoon will be a very fit Thomas Müller. After a summer run at the Club World Cup with Bayern Munich, the only club he has known — since he was 10 years old — he has kept training with his old club. That has been very evident from his energetic social media presence. It's something to understand about Herr Raumdeuter — he's not a shy man. While most of Vancouver's current crop of male sporting stars are more reserved — Quinn Hughes , Elias Pettersson , Brock Boeser , Ryan Gauld, Nathan Rourke, none are known for a vibrant public presence — Müller is very conscious of putting his personality, and his best foot, forward at all times. This is a guy who was a thrilling young star at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And a key veteran in Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. That his image rights were a mildly complicated part of his contract negotiation really shouldn't come as a surprise when you realize he has his own website — not to mention his active use of social media to promote his causes and just general day-to-day good humour. 'Where is Manuel Neuer,' he joked on his Instagram for a post he made just after boarding his Lufthansa flight from Munich to Vancouver on Wednesday. Neuer, a goalie and his legendary teammate for Bayern and Munich, was his seatmate for flights during their time together. You can subscribe to a monthly newsletter from his website where he shares thoughts on what has being going on in his world. In his latest missive, sent out last week, he talked about how Vancouver and its environs intrigue him. He loves golf, he pointed out, something you can easily gather from his Instagram, and there's no doubt he will quickly come to appreciate the quality local courses. He's also been told he will love Vancouver Island. 'Water, forest and mountains,' he wrote. 'You can be at the beach … and go to the mountains right after.' It's clear he knows where he is headed. This is a city and a region that loves to get out into nature, and he is a fan of activity like that. He's on an adventure, he has said. He's here to win titles. The Whitecaps know very well the player they are getting. Sporting director axel Schuster told German news site Bild that Müller is coming to be a player for them, to help this smaller club win the championship. They weren't after someone just to be a brand ambassador — although there's little doubt the club knows Muller is going to be mean big things for the club's bottom line, assuming all goes well. On the pitch, his utility will be obvious. It's hard to imagine him popping straight into the starting lineup on Sunday vs. Houston, given his first training session with his new teammates won't be until Friday. (He is meeting the media for the first time on Thursday, with the bulk of the Whitecaps squad playing in Hamilton on Wednesday evening for the first leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal against Forge FC, and thus getting Thursday off from training.) Caps head coach Jesper Sorensen admitted on CKNW last week that Ryan Gauld, the Whitecaps' erstwhile best player, could miss the rest of the season because of his knee capsule problem that first sidelined him in March. That opens the door wide to Müller playing as a creator right behind striker Brian White. That is a role that Müller has filled with aplomb for much of the last decade. He was once primarily a finisher, but the 35-year-old has become much more of a creator in his later years. The Whitecaps already play a highly creative, highly attacking style. Müller will fit that perfectly. Like his arrival at YVR, with a slew of fans and reporters in attendance, this is surely going to be fun. pjohnston@