Latest news with #DeMelo
West Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Reuben De Melo: WA singer's journey from FIFO dad to touring family man after winning The Voice 2024
Unlike most emerging musical stars, former FIFO dad Reuben De Melo's life-changing victory on The Voice 2024 has afforded him more time at home with his family than ever. Removing the familiar high-vis from his wardrobe following years as a mine site rigger, the doting WA father has admitted 'life's changed heaps' as he balances time in the studio with simply being present for his three young kids and wife Olivia. 'We have actually bought a house closer to the kids' school, so a lot of positives have come out of this,' he told The West Australian. 'Obviously (I'm) not flying out to work, but I'm spending time with the kids a bit more and getting used to that sort of life being in the studio, using my time wisely, recording songs and just basically having everything in the bank to release.' With his soulful vocals striking a chord with viewers nationwide, De Melo says his newly released debut single Slow brings a 'commercial' edge to his very human sound. Ironically, it was written two years ago during his UK travels with family when he felt 'everything had become monotonous'. While the temptation might now be to trade his rawness for record sales by conforming to industry pressures, the 'father figure' is conscious of staying true to himself. 'I don't know if the world's going to change me, and if it does, I'm going to reassess,' he said. 'I think I'm going to stay true to my music, which comes from the heart and mental health, and that mining story.' What has changed, is De Melo's profile — which has seen his billing upgraded from modest Perth bars to the likes of Thursday night's Western Australian of the Year Awards. Copping second glances from strangers at the airport has become the singer's new normal, along with random photos with fans, and even messages of support from public figures such as Ben Cousins who the singer described as 'an absolute legend'. 'I have to pinch myself and go, 'You're just human mate'. But it's surreal,' De Melo said. Building a team over the past three months to propel him into the next chapter of his career, the talent is set to release additional tracks to feature on his upcoming EP which will be he'll perform on his first Australian tour this July and August. However, perhaps a sweeter reward will be his reunion with beloved The Voice coach and pop star LeAnn Rimes during her national run of shows in September. And if he's lucky, the duo's dynamic might shift from master-and-apprentice to that of equals when Rimes returns to Australia. 'She's asked me to get in the studio with her to work on a track as well, which is quite exciting. Not sure when that that will be released or anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it,' De Melo said.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
How Perth FIFO dad's life changed after winning The Voice
Unlike most emerging musical stars, former FIFO dad Reuben De Melo's life-changing victory on The Voice 2024 has afforded him more time at home with his family than ever. Removing the familiar high-vis from his wardrobe following years as a mine site rigger, the doting WA father has admitted 'life's changed heaps' as he balances time in the studio with simply being present for his three young kids and wife Olivia. 'We have actually bought a house closer to the kids' school, so a lot of positives have come out of this,' he told The West Australian. 'Obviously (I'm) not flying out to work, but I'm spending time with the kids a bit more and getting used to that sort of life being in the studio, using my time wisely, recording songs and just basically having everything in the bank to release.' With his soulful vocals striking a chord with viewers nationwide, De Melo says his newly released debut single Slow brings a 'commercial' edge to his very human sound. Ironically, it was written two years ago during his UK travels with family when he felt 'everything had become monotonous'. While the temptation might now be to trade his rawness for record sales by conforming to industry pressures, the 'father figure' is conscious of staying true to himself. Reuben De Melo. Credit: Jarryd West / Jarryd West 'I don't know if the world's going to change me, and if it does, I'm going to reassess,' he said. 'I think I'm going to stay true to my music, which comes from the heart and mental health, and that mining story.' What has changed, is De Melo's profile — which has seen his billing upgraded from modest Perth bars to the likes of Thursday night's Western Australian of the Year Awards. Copping second glances from strangers at the airport has become the singer's new normal, along with random photos with fans, and even messages of support from public figures such as Ben Cousins who the singer described as 'an absolute legend'. 'I have to pinch myself and go, 'You're just human mate'. But it's surreal,' De Melo said. Reuben De Melo. Credit: Unknown / Supplied Building a team over the past three months to propel him into the next chapter of his career, the talent is set to release additional tracks to feature on his upcoming EP which will be he'll perform on his first Australian tour this July and August. However, perhaps a sweeter reward will be his reunion with beloved The Voice coach and pop star LeAnn Rimes during her national run of shows in September. And if he's lucky, the duo's dynamic might shift from master-and-apprentice to that of equals when Rimes returns to Australia. 'She's asked me to get in the studio with her to work on a track as well, which is quite exciting. Not sure when that that will be released or anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it,' De Melo said.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Getting the band back together
It was a sight that made observers do a double take. Wait, is that Nikolaj Ehlers on the ice at Hockey For All Centre? Although it's merely the next step in the recovery process for the Winnipeg Jets winger, the fact the speedy forward was out for a twirl with strength and conditioning coach Jake Wolff was a positive development for Ehlers. After the Jets hit the ice to prepare for a pivotal Game 5 in this deadlocked series with the St. Louis Blues, head coach Scott Arniel revealed that Ehlers had been on the ice multiple times over the past several days, though he wasn't sure how many. 'We were away, so he's been on the ice,' said Arniel. Matt Slocum / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers has been skating while the team was on the road in St. Louis. Matt Slocum / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers has been skating while the team was on the road in St. Louis. Does this mean Ehlers has been upgraded from week-to-week to day-to-day? Not exactly. 'He'll be on the ice (Wednesday) with us, and in a yellow (jersey),' said Arniel. Ehlers has been dealing with a lower-body injury he aggravated in Game 80 against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 12 and his absence has clearly been felt in this series, both at even strength — with the second line still searching for its first goal — and on the power play, where the Jets are two-for-12 (16.7 per cent). While it seems unlikely — though not impossible — that Ehlers could progress enough over the next few days to be an option for Game 6 or Game 7, the fact he's back on the ice suggests he could return to action at some point in the second round if the Jets advance. Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo shed some light on the illness that made him a late scratch for Game 3 of this series in Missouri. 'Pretty sick, pretty sick. I couldn't keep anything down, couldn't keep anything in,' said DeMelo. 'That's the PG version of what I'll give you. It floored me for a few days and I was obviously good enough to play Game 4 and I'm feeling good now.' DeMelo took the morning skate on Thursday and then things got progressively worse over the course of the afternoon. 'I was feeling good in Game 2. It was afterward,' said DeMelo. 'Didn't practice (on Wednesday) and that was why. I was feeling a little under the weather. Tried the morning skate and was feeling OK, but then that afternoon came and went and took me out with it.' DeMelo did his best to catch part of the Jets-Blues Game 3 on TV back at the team hotel but he couldn't make it through its entirety. Connor Hamilton / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg Jets' Dylan DeMelo (2) was back for Game 4 in the series with the St. Louis Blues after missing Game 3 with an illness. Connor Hamilton / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg Jets' Dylan DeMelo (2) was back for Game 4 in the series with the St. Louis Blues after missing Game 3 with an illness. 'I got through a period and a half because obviously it was super late and went right to bed,' said DeMelo. 'As much as I wanted to watch, I wasn't doing any help, watching and staying up late. So, I went to bed and got as much sleep as I could.' DeMelo had to be careful to distance himself from his teammates, for fear of the virus spreading. 'I was treating it like I was in isolation,' he said. 'I didn't leave my room. I would bring what I could eat to the room. That room might be off limits for a little bit for the next people who are coming in there. You just try to stay away and hopefully everyone's in the clear.' During Game 4, DeMelo was back alongside defence partner Josh Morrissey and finished the contest with 30 shifts for just under 22 minutes of ice time. DeMelo finished the game with four hits, four blocked shots, three shots on goal and nine shot attempts in his return. 'I was good enough to play and (my) energy levels were a little low, but I was in so I felt I could contribute in the type of fashion I usually do,' he said. One of the biggest things the Blues were able to do in Games 3 and 4 were to generate goals involving the defence corps, specifically with shots from the point through screens or deflections in front. What can the Jets' wingers do to try and limit the offence that is being generated by the opponent on that front? 'You've got to be aware,' said Jets left-winger Kyle Connor. 'First and foremost, you've got to protect the slot. When it's down low, they like to look there first, so if you're the strong-side or weak-side winger, you've got to have your head on a swivel. You've got to know where your D-man is at. But also be aware of their guy in the slot. Frank Franklin II / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor: "You've got to know where your D-man is at. But also be aware of their guy in the slot." Frank Franklin II / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor: "You've got to know where your D-man is at. But also be aware of their guy in the slot." 'Everybody has kind of got little two-on-one matchups, all throughout the ice in the D-zone. You've got to constantly have your head on a swivel. But once it gets to the point, you've got to be in the shot lane and we don't want to allow them to carry the puck into the high slot. You've got to shut that off as a winger, so that's a big stressing point that we've talked about and watched video on.' In Game 4 alone, the Blues' blue-liners were involved in four of the five goals scored — point shots from Tyler Tucker (on the game-winner) and Justin Faulk (that went in off the pants of Jets defenceman Neal Pionk), Jake Neighbours's tip-in that came off a Colton Parayko knuckle-puck from the point and the goal by Brayden Schenn that came after a nifty rush by Parayko. Nick Leddy and Cam Fowler also chipped in assists, giving the Blues' defence corps six points in Game 4. Combine that with the five-point effort from Fowler in Game 3 and the power-play goal from Parayko, and the Blues got eight points in those two games — after combining for four in the first two games (with two helpers apiece from Fowler and Faulk). The Jets pride themselves on producing offence from the defence corps as well, but they've been limited to two assists for Josh Morrissey, one goal from Pionk and one helper each from Luke Schenn, Dylan Samberg and DeMelo. Increasing that production is one area that could help tip the scales as the Jets try and take momentum back from the Blues. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. The Blues skated in St. Louis before flying to Winnipeg and both Brayden Schenn and Robert Thomas skipped the workout for maintenance, though they're expected to be ready for Game 5. Thomas has generated two goals and six points while anchoring the top line, while Schenn has been a physical force and had a goal and an assist in Game 4 to record his first points of the series. Blues head coach Jim Montgomery confirmed that Tucker wouldn't be available for Game 5 after suffering a lower-body injury during an awkward play in the corner with Jets forward Brandon Tanev. That opens the door for veteran D-man Ryan Suter to return after he was a healthy scratch during the past two games. 'I've got to say it was hard to do when you respect the player so much and what he's done in the league for years, and how much he's helped us this year,' Montgomery told reporters in St. Louis. 'You make a decision and you live with it. He's a pro, and I know he's going to be good for us. It was just a gut feel, and putting him back in, we're getting our No. 1 penalty-killing defenceman back in.' X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
14-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets have sights set on much larger prize
Dylan DeMelo wants to bring Canadian hockey fans more than a Presidents' Trophy. The Winnipeg Jets clinched the franchise's first Presidents' Trophy Sunday for most points in the NHL regular season even though they lost 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers. The achievement gives the Jets home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. The last Canadian team to win the Presidents' Trophy was the Vancouver Canucks in 2011-12, who also won it the previous season. DeMelo, who hails from London, Ont., was asked if he felt more pride in ending that drought. "No, not really, to be honest," he said. "I think we want to be the first Canadian team since '93 to win the cup. That's what we're here for." The Montreal Canadiens are the last club to claim the cup in 1992-93. "To be able to have that ability to have home ice throughout the whole playoffs, and hopefully we can go on a long run and use that to our advantage," DeMelo said. "It's not the trophy we are after, but it's a nice accomplishment." The Jets captured the trophy after Washington lost 4-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier in the night, leaving them unable to catch Winnipeg in the standings. The Capitals (50-21-9) have 109 points and two games left to play. Winnipeg is at 114 points (55-21-4) and has one match left Wednesday at home against the Anaheim Ducks. When the trophy news was announced, 15,225 fans at Canada Life Centre gave the team a standing ovation. It was Winnipeg's seventh consecutive full house and 15th of the season. "It is definitely a great accomplishment," Jets forward Nino Niederreiter said following the game. "After 81 games, being able to get the Presidents' Trophy is a big accomplishment, but it is only the first step as now it is the playoffs that matter most." Winnipeg's first-round opponent isn't known yet. The Oilers will take on the Los Angeles Kings in their opening round. Connor Brown, Adam Henrique, Corey Perry, and Viktor Arvidsson into an empty net, scored for Edmonton (47-28-5), which has won three in a row. Connor McDavid had two assists. Stuart Skinner made 17 saves for the Oilers, who host the Kings on Monday before finishing the regular season Wednesday in San Jose against the Sharks. Alex Iafallo scored for the Jets, who had a three-game win streak snapped. Backup goalie Eric Comrie made 35 saves for Winnipeg, which also ended a four-game win run at home. Winnipeg already clinched top spot in the Western Conference and Central Division for the first time in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers' history. The Thrashers did win the Southeast Division in 2006-07. Jets head coach Scott Arniel said the conference and division top spots were on the team's to-do list this season, but not the Presidents' Trophy. "No, never," Arniel said. "Certainly, it jumped on there over the last month or so. At the end of the day, it's a heck of an accomplishment. Guys should be real proud of it. "Just what we've gone through this year and to be right in the thick of things all year long, as one of the best in the league, it's a heck of an accomplishment. But at the end of the day, it's not the trophy we're after." Brown flipped a backhand past Comrie 59 seconds into the second period for his 13th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead, extending his goal streak to four in three games. Iafallo scored on the power play five minutes later. Henrique made it 2-1 at 12:39, seven seconds after an Edmonton power play ended and with the Jets extra defenceless. Forward Morgan Barron had lost his stick and defenceman Dylan Samberg was lying on the ice grimacing in pain after a hard McDavid shot hit his left leg. He was helped off the ice and went to the dressing room. Arniel said Samberg should be OK. Perry and Arvidsson scored in the third period. Edmonton was without injured defenceman Mattias Ekhom and forward Zach Hyman. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was ill. "Tonight everyone played a really solid game," Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch said. "Whether it was the first or fourth line, all six defence. Obviously, [Skinner] had a solid game. So it was nice to see."
CBC
09-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
League-leading Winnipeg Jets shrug off lukewarm reception from Stanley Cup bettors
Social Sharing Mark Scheifele is known as a "hockey nerd," whose understanding of the game has turned him into an elite NHL player. But the Winnipeg Jets star centre isn't losing sleep trying to figure out why his league-leading team is being snubbed by betting sites as Stanley Cup favourites. Many popular outlets don't even have the Jets (53-21-4) in the top four. "I don't really think about it at all," Scheifele told The Canadian Press before Monday's game against the red-hot St. Louis Blues. "Honestly, it's not in our brains at all. "We're just going to go out there and play no matter what and it doesn't matter what all that says." Winnipeg defeated St. Louis 3-1 to not only notch its club-record 53rd victory of the season but snap the Blues' 12-game win streak. However, that didn't appear to move the needle on the DraftKings betting site. On Tuesday, it had Winnipeg tied for fifth with Toronto at +1200 (12/1 odds). Dallas was favoured to hoist the Cup at +600, followed by defending-champion Florida and Colorado (both at +800). Tampa Bay and Edmonton were both at +900, while Washington (second overall in the league), Vegas and Carolina each came in at +1100. BetMGM's latest odds last week are similar. The Jets, Capitals and Lightning are tied for sixth at +1100 while the Maple Leafs were seventh at +1200. Dallas topped the odds at +600 and the Panthers were next at +650. The Avalanche sat at +750 while the Oilers were at +850. The Hurricanes and Golden Knights were both at +1000. "I don't know how they do it," veteran Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo said when asked if he could explain the odds. But he shrugged off any lack of respect for what the Jets have accomplished so far this season. "No matter what the betting odds are, we just want to win," DeMelo said. "We just want to put ourselves in the position where we're in the playoffs and give ourselves a good chance to hopefully make a long run. "We're not too worried about everybody else's perception of us." Maybe it has something to do with being a Canadian team playing in the league's smallest market? "It may," DeMelo said. "I don't know. "I like our chances." 'I don't know a thing about betting': Jets GM Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was asked during Monday's game on Prime TV about a lack of respect. "If I knew what betting was all about, maybe I'd be upset, but I don't know a thing about betting," he said. "That's fine. "You know, we're Winnipeg, we have to punch above our weight and we're looking forward to keep on playing the way we're playing." Heading into their final four regular-season games — including a showdown in Dallas Thursday that could swing the odds in Winnipeg's favour — the Jets are poised to set more franchise records. Winnipeg has never won the Presidents' Trophy for finishing atop the league standings. They're currently three points ahead of Washington. Winnipeg has topped the Western Conference standings since Jan. 14 and has never achieved that milestone, either. Same with winning the Central Division, which the Jets led by five points over Dallas, who hosted the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Even if the oddsmakers aren't respecting the Jets, the same can't be said for their league counterparts. Vancouver defenceman Tyler Myers, who played for Winnipeg from February 2015 through the 2018-19 season, dismissed betting odds. "I don't know who makes those odds, but it's usually people who don't know much about hockey," Myers said following Vancouver's 3-1 loss to Winnipeg on March 30. "I wouldn't put too much stock in any team's odds at any time of the year." Winnipeg is in a good spot heading into the playoffs and could make some noise, he added. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet agreed. "That's a good hockey team that has a chance to win a Cup and I thought we went head-to-head on them really well," Tocchet said. 'They're a hard team to play' Robert Thomas, St. Louis's leading scorer, weighed in on the Jets before Monday's loss. "I don't really follow too much on the betting sites and all that crap, but they're a hard team to play," he said. Thomas, of Aurora, Ont., didn't correlate Winnipeg's playoff odds with competing in Canada and the smallest market. "I think a lot of people know how dangerous this team is," Thomas said. "They've got the offence, they've got the defence, they've got the goalie." Winnipeg netminder Connor Hellebuyck is on his way to capturing his second consecutive Vezina Trophy and third of his career. He tied his franchise record for wins (44-12-3) against the Blues and leads the league in save percentage (.924) and goals-against average (2.02) Winnipeg was tied with Colorado for third-most goals in the league with 265, behind Washington (277) and Tampa Bay (276) before Tuesday's league action. The Jets also have the lowest goals-against average (2.32). "They're very committed defensively, one of the best teams," St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery said. "And then … [Hellebuyck is] going to win the Vezina this year.
