Latest news with #BruceBennett
Toronto Sun
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Defending champion Panthers head back to Cup final with 5-3 win over Hurricanes
Published May 28, 2025 • 2 minute read Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers looks on during the presentation of the Prince of Wales Trophy after his team' defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 28, 2025 in Raleigh, N.C. Photo by Bruce Bennett / Getty Images RALEIGH, N.C. — Carter Verhaeghe broke a tie off a feed from Aleksander Barkov with 7:39 left and the defending champion Florida Panthers advanced to their third straight Stanley Cup Final, beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 on Wednesday night in Game 5. 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. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. 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 Don't have an account? Create Account Florida beat the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final for the second time in three seasons. The Panthers will face the winner of the Western final between Dallas and Edmonton, with the Oilers up 3-1 in that best-of-seven series to put them within a win of a rematch with Florida for the Cup. Sam Bennett added an empty-net goal with 54 seconds left by skating down a loose puck straight out of the penalty box after Florida had held up against a critical late power play for the Hurricanes. That capped a wild night that saw the Hurricanes jump to a 2-0 lead, and Florida answer with three second-period goals, only to see Carolina's Seth Jarvis beat Sergei Bobrovsky midway through the third to tie it at 3. When it was over, the Panthers posed for pictures on Carolina's home ice during the presentation of the Prince of Wales Trophy for the conference winner. Some Hurricanes fans remained defiant, offering scattered 'Let's go, Oilers!' chants. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. 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. The angst is appropriate considering how Florida has now twice ended Carolina's push to its first Cup Final since winning the franchise's lone title in 2006 when now-coach Rod Brind'Amour was captain. Florida had won the first three games of this series but lost 3-0 at home Monday night as the Hurricanes averted a second straight sweep against Florida. But by the final horn Wednesday, the Panthers had won all three games in Raleigh in the series, pushed their road winning streak in these playoffs to five games and earned an eighth postseason road win overall. Matthew Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues and Anton Lundell scored on consecutive shots during Florida's second-period flurry, while Bobrovsky finished with 20 saves. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Barkov's assist on Verhaeghe's winner also stood out as its own terrific individual effort. Florida's captain was jostling with Carolina's Dmitry Orlov in a battle near the boards on the left side when he turned toward the crease, stepped inside of Eric Robinson and sent the puck over to Verhaeghe for the finish that silenced a Hurricanes home crowd in full-throated roar after Jarvis' tying score. Sebastian Aho scored twice in the first period for Carolina, both on neutral-zone giveaways — the first being one from Gustav Forsling that hit Aho in stride for a a breakaway chance that ended up in the net. Aho added another off a giveaway from Niko Mikkola with little more than a minute left in the first for a 2-0 lead. Carolina has won at least one postseason series in its current run of seven straight playoff appearances, though three have now ended in the Eastern final. Toronto & GTA Toronto Raptors Canada Columnists Tennis
Toronto Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Did Brad Marchand really have a Blizzard between periods of Game 3?
He said he did, though it's possible he was telling a frozen fib Published May 26, 2025 • 2 minute read Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 24, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. Photo by Bruce Bennett / Getty Images North America FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A controversy — a creamy, delicious one — is brewing in the Florida Panthers locker room, surrounding some potentially decadent behaviour on the part of Brad Marchand during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. 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. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. 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 Don't have an account? Create Account The issue: Did he REALLY have ice cream after the second period Saturday night? He said he did, though it's possible he was telling a frozen fib. 'I know he said it,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. 'I'm just not sure that makes it a fact.' This sugary story started to hit the spot soon after the game. Marchand did an interview with Sportsnet following Florida's 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and reporter Kyle Bukauskas asked the Panthers forward about a video of him eating something off a spoon between periods. Mindful that the Panthers had gotten some notoriety for visiting a Dairy Queen last week in North Carolina — one was near the hotel where Florida was staying for Games 1 and 2 against the Hurricanes, and a fan's social media posts about seeing the Panthers having some sweet treats went viral — Bukauskas wondered if Marchand was still getting his dessert fix. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. 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. 'No chance you were fueling with a Blizzard there, were you?' Bukauskas asked. 'Yeah, that's a little chocolate chip cookie dough Blizzard right there,' Marchand said. Now, there is a Dairy Queen about 2.4 miles away from the Panthers' home arena — and it was still open when the game was in its second intermission Saturday. So, is it possible that ice cream could have been sent to the arena? Yes. Is it likely? No. The Panthers, like all teams, have a slew of high-protein snacks available for refueling between periods. It's not uncommon for players to enjoy a spoonful or two of peanut butter, which some suspect was Marchand's actual snack item Saturday night. Maurice didn't debunk the story — but cast some doubt on it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There are cameras everywhere, man. We can't get away with anything anymore,' Maurice said. 'But that would be a good story.' As it turns out, Marchand may have had a bit of a motive for telling Bukauskas that it was a Blizzard. The TV-savvy Marchand looked directly into the camera afterward — and hinted he might want to add a DQ sponsorship to his endorsement portfolio. 'You can't beat it. It's the best dessert in the world,' Marchand said. 'So, I better get a lifetime free supply of Dairy Queen now. Thank you, fellas.' It should be noted that whatever Marchand ate between periods worked. He scored a goal in the third period, a few minutes after the snack — part of a five-goal, um, blizzard by the Panthers to seal the win. Ontario Music Sunshine Girls World Opinion
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
‘Negative Bias': American Airlines Pulls 2025 Guidance, Citing ‘Significant Weakness' In Domestic Travel Demand
American is the second U.S. legacy airline to withdraw its financial guidance for 2025, dropping its prediction for how the company will perform this year amid economic uncertainty is bringing turbulence to the industry. American Airlines joined Delta in withdrawing its full-year guidance, citing uncertainty in the ... More economy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett) 'We're taking a very cautious, even a negative, approach to growth as we take a look out to the rest of the year,' American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told investors on the company's first-quarter earnings call Thursday, explaining how economic uncertainty impacted the carrier's ability to forecast for the full year. Even so, American said it expected to eke out a profit in 2025, while reporting a narrower-than-expected loss of 59 cents per share in the first three months of the year and quarterly revenue of $12.55 billion that was just above estimates. American Airlines stock–which is down 45% year to date–rose a little more than 1% after the earnings call. Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines became the first legacy airline to withdraw its full-year forecast and United Airlines offered two competing 2025 outlooks—one if the economy stabilizes and another if there is a recession. The Dow Jones Airlines Index has tumbled 30% since the beginning of the year. Shares of low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines are down 56% year to date. As recently as January, American was expecting 2025 to be a good year, forecasting 4.5% to 7.5% in revenue growth compared to 2024. But a shaky economy, exacerbated by President Donald Trump's tariffs, has introduced 'significant weakness in our main cabin demand, significant weakness among our most discretionary travelers,' American Airlines chief financial officer Devon May told investors. 'Right now there's uncertainty in the marketplace,' echoed Isom. 'What does that mean? It means that we don't hire as much. It means we don't bring out as many planes. Potentially, it means a reduction in overall economic activity. It's the same thing for the customer that's planning a vacation. Nobody relishes uncertainty.' 'Certainly this is not something we would intend to absorb, and I'll tell you, it's not something that I would expect our customers to welcome,' Isom said in response to a question of the impact of tariffs levied on aircraft. American Airlines' fleet is split nearly evenly between aircraft from Boeing and French manufacturer Airbus. $1.3 trillion. That's how much the U.S. travel industry generates in direct spending while supporting one in every 11 U.S. jobs. 'Anything that spurs demand for travel, both domestically and abroad, is something we will support,' Isom said. 'This starts with making America a welcoming destination for international travelers, especially in advance of major events like FIFA World Cup '26, of which we're a sponsor, and later the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.' It could mean lower fares on many domestic routes, as airlines adjust supply to align with demand. 'I'll tell you right now, we have a negative bias to all capacity,' Isom told investors. Acknowledging 'pretty significant weakness in the part of our business that's very sensitive to economic conditions,' American's chief strategy officer Steve Johnson added, 'In those circumstances, you do see prices that are lower….I think that's going to continue to be the case until we understand which direction the economy is going and we remove some of this uncertainty and some of that demand comes off the sidelines.' Whether the weak U.S. dollar will keep Americans from traveling overseas this year. American and other airlines have repeatedly cited the strength of the long-haul international market. But American travelers' appetite for foreign destinations could soon wane, given the greenback has tumbled more than 8% year to date, according to the DXY, an index that measures the dollar against a basket of foreign currencies. That means Americans are paying noticeably more when visiting abroad this year. The dollar is down 9% versus the euro, down 6% against the pound sterling and down 10% versus the Japanese yen since the beginning of the year. Even in North America, the U.S. dollar is down 4% and 6% against the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso, respectively. Airlines are bracing for disruption to domestic flying when the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) begins enforcing REAL IDs on May 7. Currently, up to 19% of passengers arrive at airports without REAL ID-compliant identification, according to TSA data. That means potentially between 400,000 and 513,000 passengers could be subject to additional screening every day in the first weeks of enforcement. Trump's Tariffs Sent U.S. Airline Bookings Into A Tailspin, New Data Show (Forbes)
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
St. George Musical Theater gets $500K donation for new venue
A generous donation from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation is helping the St. George Musical Theater gear up for the opening of its first official venue. St. George Musical Theater has been around for over 25 years, making it the oldest community theater in southern Utah. Surprisingly, it has never had a venue of its own and has hosted productions at the St. George Opera House, which was built in 1875. In 2024, the city approached the theater about redeveloping an area of town to create an arts district. The development includes a new theater of over 20,000 square feet that can accommodate almost 400 patrons — a big jump from the 125-person capacity at the opera house. Additionally, the new theater is across the street from an old Cinema 6 at 905 S. Main that was repurposed into the now-operating Performing Arts Campus. As of last year, the theater had raised more than half the funds for both construction projects, but the total price tag is expected to be $16 million. On Tuesday, the organization announced the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation would give $500,000 to the theater. "Projects like these are a critical component to our mission of enriching the spaces where life takes place," said Don Stirling, executive director of the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation. "The St. George Community Theater will serve as a vibrant hub for creativity and local talent, bringing the community together through the power of the arts." The theater organization broke ground on the new theater last July, which is "the first brand new performing arts venue that will be community-centered and community-run since the opera house was built in 1875," St. George Musical Theater CEO Bruce Bennett said. The venues will provide "much-needed" community space to the city and include a children's theater, arts education facility, rehearsal space, dance studio, tribute band performance venue and recording studio. "Great artistic projects like this don't happen without the generous support of patrons like the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation," Bennett said. "We are deeply appreciative of this gift and the underlying values of the Miller Family Foundation aimed at uplifting and enriching our St. George community." The donation reflects the Miller Foundation's "ongoing commitment" to strengthening communities through cultural and educational initiatives, said a joint statement from the theater and foundation. "The Miller Family Foundation aims to create meaningful impact statewide by investing in projects that enhance art education and community engagement, ensuring that vibrant cultural spaces are accessible to more Utahns," the statement said. The new facilities are anticipated to attract around 80,000 patrons a year from nearby cities. The theater — which is expected to open in 2026 — aims to help students, actors, technical support staff and instructors thrive in a performing arts campus that fits the arts community's needs, St. George Musical Theater said.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canada Thwarts U.S.—and Trump—in 4 Nations Hockey Final
Canada celebrates after beating the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship in Boston on Feb. 20, 2025. Credit - Bruce Bennett—Getty Images Connor McDavid broke America's heart. The Canadian hockey superstar, a three-time NHL MVP who also won the NFL playoff MVP last season even though he played for the losing Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals, took a centering pass and beat American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with a laser shot to give Canada a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the U.S. in the final of the inaugural—and highly successful—4 Nations Face-Off. The tournament—which pitted teams from the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden against each other as a replacement for the NHL's usually low-wattage All-Star festivities—drew record viewership, in large part due to a burgeoning U.S.-Canada geopolitical rivalry that spilled out onto the ice. The last time the U.S. and Canada met in a best-in-class world final that required an overtime session was the gold medal game of the 2010 Olympics, when Sidney Crosby scored an overtime goal in Vancouver that sent the home nation into hysterics. McDavid, just like Crosby 15 years ago, shows that Canadian hockey icons know how to deliver in the biggest moments on the biggest of stages. It was an edge-of-your-seat match for viewers. The teams traded goals in the first period; Nathan McKinnon of Canada struck first, before American Brady Tkachuck evened things up with a little more than three minutes left in the period, after an Austin Matthews wraparound instigated the action. The U.S. started to sense victory potential in the second, when Jake Sanderson gave the Americans a 2-1 advantage. But a Sam Bennett goal equalized the affair, before a scoreless third period sent the game into sudden-death. The politically-tinged tension of this championship game was unmistakable. Canada has taken exception to U.S. President Donald Trump's pronouncement that the country could soon be America's 51st state: during previous games in the tournament that took place in Montreal, fans booed the 'Star Spangled Banner.' The atmosphere felt much different Thursday night, in Boston: red 'Make America Great Again' hats dotted the crowd. 'USA! USA!' chants were particularly fervent. Last Saturday's meeting between the neighbors, in round-robin play, saw three fights between the teams in nine seconds. Team USA won that round, and the rivalry matchup drew 10.1 million North American viewers, the highest number recorded outside the Stanley Cup Final since 2014, according to the NHL. Trump has adopted the U.S. team as his own. He posted on Truth Social Thursday that, although he wouldn't be able to attend the game because of a prior commitment, he wanted to 'to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State.' He's taken to calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'governor'—and relished another chance to get under his skin. Trump wrote that 'he'd be watching and that if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome.' Later, the President shared a video showing that he indeed called the U.S. team before the game. 'I just want to wish you a lot of luck. You really are a skilled group of people. It's an honor to talk to you,' he said over a phone held by U.S. coach Mike Sullivan. 'There's no pressure whatsoever.' The players in the locker room laughed. 'I can tell you honestly, every person in here—players, staff, management, coaches—we are all proud Americans and we want to represent the country the best way we can,' Sullivan responded. 'Just go out and have a good time,' Trump said. 'You're going to win, and we love America, we love you guys. We'll be watching tonight, bring it home.' The U.S. failed to do so this time around, giving Canada some well-deserved gratification. 'You can't take our country,' Trudeau gloated on X. 'And you can't take our game.' But Trump may take some satisfaction: While U.S. national teams competing on the world stage tended to distance themselves from him in his first term—the U.S. women's soccer team in 2019 relished trolling him—this hockey team seemed to embrace the attention Trump lavished upon them. A victory could have given Trump and his supporters a sort of first MAGA world title. There will be other chances. These teams can meet again in the upcoming Winter Olympics, next year in Milan. Sports fans around the world will be watching. The President very much among them. Write to Sean Gregory at
