Latest news with #McAvoy
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
New Rangers boss Russell Martin was our captain and leader, I knew right away he's someone you want in trenches with you
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GREAT player. Great captain. But mostly a great leader. Frankie McAvoy knows what he likes in a football player and a person — and found all those qualities and more in Russell Martin a decade ago. 5 Russell Martin will be appointed the new Rangers manager Credit: Alamy 5 Russell Martin and Frankie McAvoy go back a long way Credit: Alamy 5 Martin was Norwich captain during McAvoy's time win the Canaries Credit: Reuters The man who looks certain to be named the new Rangers boss was skipper at Norwich when McAvoy went into Carrow Road as Alex Neil's No 2 at the start of 2015. And the 57-year-old has nothing but praise for the former Scotland international. McAvoy told SunSport: 'He was captain the whole time Alex and I were at Norwich. 'Right away the thing that stood out was what a leader Russell was. Good speaker, good communicator, could get the message across in the dressing room. 'He knew exactly what he wanted players to do, and he let them know if they needed to do more. 'I was at Hamilton with Alex Neil and he was a natural leader too. Russ has the same characteristics. 'Right away you knew he was a guy you wanted in the trenches with you. 'The season we went down to Norwich, the team were in the Championship and Russ was desperate for us to do well. 'He had played three seasons in the Premier League, and you saw the hunger he had to get back up to that level. 'I'd have classed him as a role model for that Norwich side — and after Alex won 17 games out of 25 at the end of that campaign we reached the play-offs and got back up. Inside Russell Martin's amazing journey from living at bookies with an abusive dad to Premier League manager 'Russ and Alex had a great relationship from the start and it was imperative they did. But that wasn't a surprise. 'They both had real drive and energy, they were similar characters. 'Russ wasn't your usual centre-half who was big and strong. He loved getting on the ball, playing it, breaking the lines. He was quick as well. 'I loved him and I enjoyed working with him. In training he gave everything, he was a real heart-and-soul type, a very intelligent boy. 'Because we'd worked with him I then always watched him when he went into management too. I remember watching his MK Dons team scoring a goal against Gillingham after 56 passes, which was a British record. 'Alex and I went to Preston and when he left I took over as interim manager, and we played against Russell's Southampton team. 'They were fantastic. They loved to dominate the ball, and you could see that was his style as a manager. 'When they didn't have it, they were real high pressure to get it back. 5 McAvoy recently worked at Hearts Credit: Kenny Ramsay 'Knowing him, he thinks the more time you've got the ball, the less time the other team have got to damage you. 'Preston beat them 3-1 but we shouldn't have. They were miles better than us. 'Even though we were at home and we won, we had 33 per cent possession of the ball. 'If Southampton had better finishers it would have been a different result. 'His teams are fantastic in terms of how he wants to play. If he goes to Rangers you'll see a big difference in how they play. He'll be a breath of fresh air. 'I could imagine when Rangers spoke to him he'd come across brilliantly in a interview situation. You'd be drawn in by him, because he's very intelligent. 'Matty Gill was with him at MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton so you'd think he might go with him too. 'And with Scotland, Steven Naismith and Russ were good friends so that might be an option.' The criticism Martin received in the Premier League with Southampton was a reluctance to change his beliefs, and a system that saw them lose 36 goals in 16 games, winning just once before he was axed last December. But McAvoy says that's NOT the case. He added: 'Russ did a Continuing Professional Development day for the SFA, and he spoke really well about styles. 'He likes playing 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1, but he'll change to a back four if he needs to. His teams will always be about movement, energy, trying to find the spare player. 'I know people say he needed a Plan B, but he changes within games — it's not a case of, 'This is my way'. He adapts. 'But he does stick to his principles and that's a good thing, something he deserves a lot of plaudits for. 5 'It will be intriguing seeing him go up against Brendan Rodgers' Celtic, another team who want to dominate the ball. That will be really exciting for Scottish football because it will be two teams trying to play really well. 'The one thing I guarantee is that players will like playing for Russ. They will respond to how he wants to play and he'll be a really good appointment by Rangers. 'He's very good at man-management and building and maintaining relationships.' Martin was already vegan when Neil and McAvoy arrived at Norwich — but the former Hamilton and Hearts coach says that was just one example of his dedication. He also believes the fact he made 17 appearances for Gers in 2018 will benefit him. McAvoy said: 'Russ was vegan at Norwich, but his daily approach was that of a model professional, in terms of training, diet, looking after himself, recovery, everything. 'The fact he was at Ibrox before will help him because he'll know he's going into a massive club with a fanatical support. It wasn't the best time to play there, but he'll know the club's an institution, a team fighting to play in Europe every season. 'It would be a fantastic move for him and a great move for Rangers too. 'There would have been a few clubs in England looking at him because he's got out of the Championship as a player and manager, and also played at the top level. 'Russell ticks a lot of boxes, and I believe Rangers and him will be a great fit for each other.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Charlie McAvoy honors Bruins tradition by giving back to Boston in big ways
Charlie McAvoy honors Bruins tradition by giving back to Boston in big ways (Image Source: Getty Images) Charlie McAvoy is certainly a strong man on defense for the Bruins and when it comes to off-the-ice activities, an important leader. Charlie McAvoy is the Bruins' nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy , an NHL award recognizing leadership and community service, which he embraced in the Boston Bruins 's long heritage of philanthropy. Not far from giving at Christmas to major charity initiatives, he follows in the footsteps of legends, creating a difference in Boston. Charlie McAvoy rises to carry on Boston Bruins' charitable means Charlie McAvoy grew up with a blue-collar family in Long Beach, New York. When he came to Boston University and later became a member of the Bruins, he brought those values with him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo And when Boston Bruins legend Zdeno Chara departed the team, Charlie McAvoy took up his tradition of delivering pies to shelters every Thanksgiving. Now, it's a family tradition he gets to do every year. That's just one example of how McAvoy connects with the community. He's not doing it for attention. He does it because it matters to him. Being a Bruin, in his mind, is something more than just playing hockey. It's being in the city and giving back where you can. Charlie McAvoy's initiatives get job done from hospital visits to hero assistance Charlie McAvoy is partnering with Service Credit Union to launch "73 Reasons to Defend Those Who Serve." For each Bruins blocked shot or shutout, funds are donated to help local police and firefighters receive health screenings. What McAvoy and his teammates accomplish on the ice saves lives off of it. He also participates in Bruins theme nights like Military Appreciation Night. McAvoy donates game tickets to veterans and personally thanks them after games. He's involved with initiatives that benefit children from Make-A-Wish , patients from hospitals, and athletes from Special Olympics Massachusetts , sometimes with help from Bruins Foundation leader Johnny Dunleavy, who McAvoy describes as the "coolest guy ever." Even Charlie McAvoy's pet, Otto, is helping out. Otto has a treat from a Boston-area dog bakery, whose proceeds from every sale go toward helping animals in need. Charlie McAvoy is proud to wear the Bruins jersey, but he knows it doesn't come cheap. He'd like to continue the tradition of the team by doing his part for society. Whether it's helping families, first responders, or children in need, McAvoy is showing that real leadership goes far beyond the ice. Also Read: Boston Bruins Coaching Search Heats Up With Big Names And Familiar Faces In Mix Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Mike Sullivan makes sense as Bruins coach after parting ways with Penguins
You could make the case that in 2005-06, Mike Sullivan was not ready to coach the Boston Bruins. He was 38 years old when the season concluded. He had yet to experience the NHL's peaks and valleys. Sullivan, now 57, has that experience — from serving as John Tortorella's assistant, to leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to two Stanley Cups, to coaching Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He is more than ready for the challenge of helping his hometown team than he could have been 19 years ago. The Marshfield, Mass., native and Boston University graduate concluded his run with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins on Monday. In an ideal world for the Bruins, Sullivan would join forces with son-in-law Charlie McAvoy on Tuesday. His résumé and fit are seamless for the team. Sullivan was delighted to coach McAvoy for the first time at the 4 Nations. That run was interrupted following McAvoy's shoulder injury against Finland and the infection that landed him in Massachusetts General Hospital. Advertisement Personally, Sullivan would be close to McAvoy, his daughter, Kylie, and grandson, Rhys. The McAvoys live in Boston year-round. Professionally, Sullivan would be an ideal match. As a collegian, Sullivan was teammates at BU with current interim coach Joe Sacco for three seasons. It's possible Sacco would consider remaining in the organization to work with Sullivan for the first time professionally. Sullivan also played with general manager Don Sweeney for one season in 1997-98. Sullivan was an assistant coach in 2002-03, Sweeney's last year as an on-ice Bruins player before he signed with the Dallas Stars. As head coach, Sullivan had Patrice Bergeron for his first two NHL seasons. Sullivan helped Bergeron break in as a right wing, then oversaw his transition to center. Bergeron remains close with the organization. His input on the coaching search would be taken seriously. In 2015-16, as head coach of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins' AHL affiliate, Sullivan hired Jay Leach as his assistant. Leach took over when Sullivan was promoted to the Penguins that season. Leach is currently one of Sacco's assistants. Leach has spoken highly of his AHL experience working with Sullivan. At their peak, when Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were at their best, the Penguins played an up-tempo, puck-possession game under Sullivan. He demanded prompt movement out of the defensive zone in front of Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray, his primary goalies during their Cup runs. Sweeney's priority in searching for a coach is an appreciation for defensive accountability. He also wants a coach who will evolve offensively as the league's skill and speed increase. Sullivan was one year into a 3-year extension. That contract pays him the second highest salary (around $5.5M) behind only Jon Cooper. He will be in high demand. Rangers and Bruins especially jump out as possibilities. But how the teams figure out the rest of his contract with… — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 28, 2025 The trouble is, the Bruins have competition. Two other Original Six clubs are searching for a full-time coach. The New York Rangers, where Sullivan served as an assistant for four seasons, are looking for Peter Laviolette's replacement. General manager Chris Drury has wanted to hire Sullivan in the past. The Chicago Blackhawks currently have Anders Sorensen on an interim basis. Advertisement The Philadelphia Flyers are also searching for a full-time coach to replace Tortorella, Sullivan's former boss. The Seattle Kraken dismissed Dan Bylsma, also a former Penguins coach. The Anaheim Ducks are another team looking for a coach after firing Greg Cronin.
Boston Globe
17-04-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy reveals how the season took a physical, mental toll on him
'I don't even feel like I played hockey this year,' said McAvoy, whose troubles cascaded in the aftermath of the 4 Nations tournament. 'At times it has felt like that was last season — something separate in my head — because it's been so long.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up After Advertisement Less than 48 hours after helping back a thrilling Team USA win on Feb. 15, McAvoy entered Massachusetts General Hospital with a 'rare' staph infection radiating excruciating pain in the shoulder. It turned into a three-day stay aimed at eradicating the infection and repairing the severely damaged AC. Advertisement 'Mentally, emotionally, physically, I've gone through so much, because of that damn experience,' said McAvoy, pausing as he deliberately chose his words. 'Like, it cost me my season. It cost me my sanity in a lot of ways, like, none of this has been easy. I get emotional when I talk about it. Look, yeah, it was an incredible experience and I waited my whole life to be part of something like that … but the way that it ended, and the aftermath of it, and what I had to go through, it cost me a lot more than I was willing to give. And that's unfortunate.' Related : As McAvoy spoke, surrounded by a gaggle of reporters, photographers, and videographers at Warrior Arena in Brighton, a tone of anger was readily apparent in his voice. When asked about it, he acknowledged the anger was part of his myriad emotions attached to the situation and noted it was not directed at an individual. 'I feel about every emotion you can have,' said the ex-Boston University standout, now with eight years of NHL service. 'I'm not angry at any one individual. I'm angry about what happened. I'm sad about what happened, a little of the 'Why me?' ... as I am sure anyone would ask with what happened. So it's a lot of different emotions. I wouldn't say it's just angry. 'I'm certainly not angry at individuals or anything. It's just anger over the situation — it cost me my season. It cost me a lot. I've spent a lot of time, emotionally, just sitting with it because that was the reality of it. I am sitting at home with my PICC line [to treat the infection] and this and that, I can't play and I can't help my team. Like I said, it was like a whole other season. I can't even remember anything before that, honestly, because I only remember what the last two months have felt like and it just hasn't been fun.' Advertisement The source of the infection, widely speculated in the media to be connected to the pain-numbing injection, remains unknown, according to McAvoy. 'I had a rare staph infection that could have been introduced in a couple of different ways,' he said. 'Obviously, it was documented that we did an injection to try and numb it. That's not unfamiliar. It's something all teams do and something doctors are comfortable doing. What happened to me was simply bad luck. There's always a risk of that happening, but you don't ever hear about it. And it happened to me. So if you want to talk about the perfect storm, and the 'Why me?' ... it's not necessarily that anyone did anything wrong.' McAvoy dismissed a reporter's question about whether it was the needle itself that introduced the infection. 'It could have been my Under Armour, or my gear, or this or that, even the pillow at the hotel,' he mused. 'It could have been anything. That's why there's no ill-will with anybody involved. And guess what, we can sit here and talk about it and the head of infectious diseases at Advertisement McAvoy, his shoulder to this day not game-ready, returned to skating a few weeks ago. Had the club's playoff chances come down to having to win the final three or four games, he noted, there would have been 'a serious discussion' about his availability to play. He would have his hand up, but the call ultimately would have been left for the club's medical staff to make. He only came off antibiotics last week. Meanwhile, in part for sanity's sake, he has turned his focus and energy to his summer workout schedule and getting down to business again in September. 'What an opportunity that is, right?' he said with enthusiasm. 'What an exciting challenge.' Less than a year from now, despite what happened when wearing that Team USA sweater, McAvoy 'absolutely' awaits the chance to be among the proud Yanks to ship off for the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy. 'That is my dream of dreams to play in an Olympics,' he said. 'Every part of that 4 Nations was a dream come true. There's a reason why I played that [Canada] game, because I'm not missing the game that I've dreamt of my whole life — it's the aftermath of that, that cost me my year. There's a lot of, I don't want to say regret, but an acceptance of what happened. And it sucks that I am still coming to grips with it. But I wouldn't trade it, the experiences, the friendships. I mean, that's what you dream of and I've dreamt of that on a broader scale of being in the Olympics.' Advertisement Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at
Boston Globe
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The Bruins failed to reach the playoffs, but teammates appreciated the way David Pastrnak stepped up as a leader
Hampus Lindholm was hurt and lost for the season in November. Ditto Charlie McAvoy, who was done in February. Trent Frederic, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, and the captain, Brad Marchand, were dealt away in the days and hours before the March 7 deadline. When the dust settled, Pastrnak was left standing. Much the way he's consistently taken his game to new levels throughout his 11-year career, took his leadership to a new level, as well. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Pastrnak was productive on the ice and a guiding force off it. Advertisement 'He has been awesome ... He is really passionate,' said defenseman Nikita Zadorov as the Bruins gathered to clean out their lockers at Warrior Arena on Thursday. 'He cares and that's what you want to see from guys like that. When you go on the ice, when you go to battle with him, he's going to die for you. So, I mean, I knew that. I was close with him. We went for so many dinners; we talked a lot. We had a lot of long talks and everything, but I mean, you guys see it, as well. He's a big part of this team and he is a big part of the future and it's up to us now how to raise this level everywhere and then lead by example.' Related : Advertisement McAvoy, whose season was cut short by a shoulder injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off and a subsequent staph infection that required a hospital stay, marveled at how his fellow alternate captain stepped up. 'I thought David was the best player in the NHL down the stretch and I don't think I'm stepping out of line saying that. He was incredible,' said McAvoy. 'He led by example. He led by being, from what I've gathered, more vocal than he's normally been. He did everything he could have possibly done to help this team, and he did it and it was a joy to watch every night.' With a roster constantly in flux because of injuries and trades, as well a steady stream of fresh faces making the Providence shuttle, Pastrnak did his best to keep playoff hopes alive. He preached to one and all that playing hard and with pride is nonnegotiable. The goal of a postseason berth was not achieved, but that shouldn't take away from the efforts of Pastrnak, according to McAvoy. 'I think he's to be commended for the way that he handled himself post-deadline at a time when we all were feeling a certain way like everybody,' said McAvoy. 'Well, he had a hockey game the next day, as well as another 15 or 20 after, whatever it was, and he did exceptional in all of them while being asked to do more than he's had to do. So yeah, I can't say enough good things about what Pasta did for this team down the stretch.' Advertisement Pastrnak said he just did what would be expected of any team leader. 'I'm confident enough, obviously, as one of the leaders, to lead the team. Obviously, we have a lot to do as a corps of leaders,' he said. 'Unfortunately, a couple of them were injured like Hampus, and Charlie was injured for a long time. So, obviously those are two big keys of our [leadership] corps that you kind of missed on and off the ice ... It's been tough ... I tried to do my best.' Related : The Bruins likely will name a new captain before the 2025-26 season. Pastrnak proved during a de facto audition for the job that he is worthy. When asked if he'd like to succeed Marchand, Pastrnak gave a captain-like response. 'The leaders I had around me, it was never about who wears the 'C' or who wears the 'A'. Everybody in the room is equal here and we need to make sure that that's one of the things that we have to [find] — a group that is willing to put the work in,' said Pastrnak. 'It's not about one guy, it's going to be multiple of us and we need to be working together, and it doesn't matter who's going to end up wearing any letter, but it starts with a group. Everybody's equal here no matter if you're young, older, and that's what it's always been like, and we have to keep it going.' Jim McBride can be reached at
