Latest news with #PacificColiseum
National Post
02-08-2025
- Sport
- National Post
'A responsibility, a privilege': Sarah Nurse does her part to grow PWHL in Vancouver
Article content Get used to seeing Sarah Nurse more and more. Article content The expansion PWHL Vancouver club had the Canadian national team veteran forward doing the media rounds Friday, with both individual interviews as well as a press conference with forward Jenn Gardiner and goaltender Kristen Campbell. Article content Article content PWHL Vancouver will begin to play sometime in the fall, and will be based out of the Pacific Coliseum. The now eight-team league — Seattle is coming on board as well — hasn't announced its schedule for its upcoming third season, but this past campaign began on Nov. 30. Article content Nurse was one of PWHL Vancouver's first players, signing on after playing the league's initial two years with the Toronto Sceptres. She will undoubtedly continue to be front and centre in the new club's bid to add to its profile and fan base. Article content She remains one of the more recognizable players in the sport. Her picture has appeared on boxes of Cheerios cereal. She was on the cover of the NHL 23 video game alongside then Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras. Article content She appreciates the promotion piece is part of the gig for her. She's obviously aided by her marketing degree from Wisconsin, and she also has a big-picture view of things as vice-president of the PWHL players union. Article content 'It's a responsibility but it's also a privilege,' Nurse, 30, said over a quick breakfast at the Hard Bean Brunch Co. downtown on Friday. 'I look at it more as we get to share what we love and what we're doing and it's not necessarily just for us. It's for us, but it's also for the next generation of women's hockey players. Article content Article content 'That clicked for me a very long time ago. I look at the women who played before me. They were playing for nothing (financially). You see the sacrifices they made and what they accomplished, and now we get a league to play in, we get some media coverage. We have so many more opportunities. Article content 'It really struck me, having people on the street stopping us and saying, 'We're going to the game. We can't wait for you guys to be here. We love women's hockey.'' — #PWHLVancouver forward Sarah Nurse on what has been so exciting about joining the new expansion franchise. — Izzy 🪿 (@izzycheung37) August 1, 2025
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canucks: Who is the real Evander Kane? His former WHL head coach knows the whole story
Two early career developments framed NHL promise and problems for Evander Kane. He is now a key offensive component for the Vancouver Canucks, and in a much better personal place. But the long road the imposing left winger travelled to get back home was full of potholes that often drove him into the ditch. It didn't start that way. At age 15, Kane was inserted into the Vancouver Giants' juggernaut lineup at the 2007 Memorial Cup in the Pacific Coliseum. Head coach Don Hay reasoned the blossoming dynamo was simply too effective to be a spectator on a club that would claim its first title. 'I took out an older player to play Evander because I just really liked his game,' Hay told Postmedia on Wednesday. 'He was really competitive and we needed that. And then he played really well as a 16-year-old, scored 24 goals, and would go head-to-head with top defencemen like Tyler Myers of Kelowna. 'They had some great battles. He just finds a way to get to the net and doesn't make it comfortable for the other team.' In his second WHL season, Kane exploded for 96 points (48-48) in 61 games, and his stubbornness was an attribute. It drove him to 617 NHL points (326-291) in 930 games with five teams, twice hitting the 30-goal mark. 'As a coach, you have to be stubborn, and he was coachable. But I was firm and direct with him and he responded to that,' recalled Hay. 'He was suited for me and I was suited for him at that stage of his career. He believes in himself and what he brings. That's the biggest thing. He might rub some people the wrong way, but I really admire his competitiveness.' Kane became the fourth-overall selection in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. The hype was huge and so was the pressure. He responded with a credible 14 rookie goals in 66 games. But the East Vancouver native not only found himself in a big city and on a bad team, he lived by himself. He didn't have a billet family — which is really beyond belief — or that key roster veteran to lean on for instruction and direction. That's a recipe for distractions … and there were plenty. 'He made some bad decisions at that time. The stubbornness took over, and he would just do whatever he wanted,' said Hay. 'Social media was just out at that time and all the other nonsense that goes on. He did bizarre and stupid things, but did it when he was younger. And it's hard to shake that reputation. 'I really like Evander and have a lot of time for him. He's got a family and is settled in more and did a lot in the community in Edmonton.' In an intriguing way, Hay and Kane remain aligned. The legendary Hay, 71, came out of WHL coaching retirement after compiling a record 750 regular-season victories and four Memorial Cup titles. He will be an associate coach with Kelowna Rockets bench boss Derek Martin to guide that team, who are the 2026 Memorial Cup host. Kane, who turns 34 on Aug. 2, wants to keep playing and is in a contract year, which usually brings out the best in the 6-foot-2, 218-pound winger. He's a salary cap fit at an expiring $5.125 million, and surrendering a fourth-round 2025 pick to the Oilers was palatable. So, what are the Canucks getting? 'A real competitive player who loves to score goals,' stressed Hay. 'I don't think he has changed from when he was young. He plays a hard and physical game and goes to the real tough areas to compete for the puck. And he's a shooter. He's going to really complement their team.' Kane missed the entire 2024-25 regular season recovering from surgery and then produced a dozen points (6-6) in 21 playoff games, but also took 44 minutes in penalties. 'I liked the way he played in the playoffs,' added Hay. 'It showed those competitive juices are still flowing. And coming home in front of family and friends, and a team he watched growning up, he's going to be really motivated to help the Canucks have success. 'He'll be counted on a little more than in Edmonton, and it's good to have those kind of expectations. He's explosive from the blueline in and wants the puck. He can score off the rush, but also get those dirty goals and can pull people into the battle.' Kane can also drive the play and create space with ruggedness, which could mean an alignment with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. That would put Jake DeBrusk with Filip Chytil, if there's not a credible centre addition, and Conor Garland. This isn't the first time Kane has been tied to Vancouver at the NHL level. Nine years ago, there was speculation the struggling Canucks might try to pry Kane from the Buffalo Sabres. They were coming off a brutal season and finished 13 points shy of the final wild-card playoff spot. The aging roster was also getting long in the tooth — Henrik and Daniel Sedin along with Alex Burrows, 34, and Chris Higgins, 32 — and the Canucks needed younger players. They didn't get Kane then. They have him now. bkuzma@ Canucks: Dakota Joshua's very tough year ends with trade to Maple Leafs These are the bets the Canucks are making for the 2025-26 NHL season
National Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Canucks: Who is the real Evander Kane? His former WHL head coach knows the whole story
Two early career developments framed NHL promise and problems for Evander Kane. Article content He is now a key offensive component for the Vancouver Canucks, and in a much better personal place. But the long road the imposing left winger travelled to get back home was full of potholes that often drove him into the ditch. Article content Article content It didn't start that way. Article content At age 15, Kane was inserted into the Vancouver Giants' juggernaut lineup at the 2007 Memorial Cup in the Pacific Coliseum. Head coach Don Hay reasoned the blossoming dynamo was simply too effective to be a spectator on a club that would claim its first title. Article content Article content 'I took out an older player to play Evander because I just really liked his game,' Hay told Postmedia on Wednesday. 'He was really competitive and we needed that. And then he played really well as a 16-year-old, scored 24 goals, and would go head-to-head with top defencemen like Tyler Myers of Kelowna. Article content 'They had some great battles. He just finds a way to get to the net and doesn't make it comfortable for the other team.' Article content In his second WHL season, Kane exploded for 96 points (48-48) in 61 games, and his stubbornness was an attribute. It drove him to 617 NHL points (326-291) in 930 games with five teams, twice hitting the 30-goal mark. Article content 'As a coach, you have to be stubborn, and he was coachable. But I was firm and direct with him and he responded to that,' recalled Hay. 'He was suited for me and I was suited for him at that stage of his career. He believes in himself and what he brings. That's the biggest thing. He might rub some people the wrong way, but I really admire his competitiveness.' Article content Article content Kane became the fourth-overall selection in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. The hype was huge and so was the pressure. He responded with a credible 14 rookie goals in 66 games. Article content Article content But the East Vancouver native not only found himself in a big city and on a bad team, he lived by himself. He didn't have a billet family — which is really beyond belief — or that key roster veteran to lean on for instruction and direction. That's a recipe for distractions … and there were plenty. Article content 'He made some bad decisions at that time. The stubbornness took over, and he would just do whatever he wanted,' said Hay. 'Social media was just out at that time and all the other nonsense that goes on. He did bizarre and stupid things, but did it when he was younger. And it's hard to shake that reputation. Article content 'I really like Evander and have a lot of time for him. He's got a family and is settled in more and did a lot in the community in Edmonton.'
New York Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
PWHL Expansion Draft: How to watch, who's already off the board and players to keep an eye on
Six weeks after announcing its first expansion franchise, the Professional Women's Hockey League Expansion Draft is here. The league, which launched in January 2024 with six teams, is adding franchises in Seattle and Vancouver for the 2025-26 season. PWHL Seattle will play at Climate Pledge Arena, with the NHL's Seattle Kraken acting in a supporting role. The Vancouver team will play at Pacific Coliseum, the former home of the WHL's Vancouver Giants. Advertisement A pre-draft signing window allowed the new teams to kick-start their roster building with five signings each before making any selections on Monday night. The draft, which begins at 8:30 p.m. ET, will get each team to a 12-player roster. Here's everything you need to know about the PWHL Expansion Draft before Seattle and Vancouver are on the clock. Each of the league's six existing franchises — in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, New York and Minnesota — were able to initially protect three players from being selected in the draft or signing during the pre-draft window. Only players under contract or team control through 2026 could be protected. Once teams lose two players, either through the signing window or the draft, general managers are permitted to protect one additional player, increasing their protected list to four. As of Monday morning, the protection lists are as follows: Vancouver and Seattle will each select seven players in the draft from the pool of unprotected players. The draft order has not been announced and will be revealed at the start of the league's draft broadcast. Throughout the roster-building process, each existing team will lose four players total from their 2024-25 roster. With the signing window now closed, the 14 players taken in the draft will come from: Boston (3), Toronto (3), Minnesota (2), Montreal (2), New York (2) and Ottawa (2). Free agents — such as Natalie Spooner, Tereza Vanišová, Michela Cava, Susanna Tapani and Jesse Compher — are not eligible to be selected in the draft. Vancouver and Seattle each signed their maximum of five players during the signing window. Pending free agents and players left unprotected were eligible to sign during the five-day window, which officially closed on Sunday night. Advertisement None of the signings were free agents, with both general managers opting to sign top players from teams' unprotected lists. U.S. star Hilary Knight was not protected by the Boston Fleet and signed a one-year contract with Seattle on Wednesday night. GM Meghan Turner later added 2024 second-overall pick Danielle Serdachny and Knight's longtime U.S. teammate Alex Carpenter. No. 1 defender Cayla Barnes and starting goalie Corinne Schroeder rounded out Seattle's initial roster build. Vancouver signed a pair of elite defenders from the Minnesota Frost in Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, then added star forward Sarah Nurse and No. 1 goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. The final signing of Jennifer Gardiner, from Surrey, B.C., added a local player — and excellent young forward — to the mix. There are 59 players eligible to be selected over the seven-round draft, including 36 forwards, 19 defenders and four goalies. Given each team was only able to initially protect three players, there's a lot of top-end talent available to Seattle and Vancouver, even after the signing window took 10 players off the board. The expansion teams will need to keep the salary cap, which will go up to $1.34 million next season, in mind. So we can reasonably expect some role players with value on their contracts to be selected over some bigger names with higher salaries. With that in mind, here are some names to keep an eye on: Hannah Bilka, 24, forward (Boston Fleet) The No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, Bilka is a creative winger with elite vision and playmaking ability. She spent most of her rookie season on long-term injured reserve, but still finished fifth in team scoring. She would bring legitimate top-line talent to either expansion team, but would look great in Seattle beside U.S. teammates in Knight and Carpenter. Advertisement Jessie Eldridge, 27, forward (New York Sirens) Eldridge has been one of the top scoring forwards in the PWHL the last two years. She's top-10 in all-time scoring with 38 points in 54 games, the most of any available player. Eldridge has shown she can slot in beside elite talent (like with Sarah Fillier and Carpenter) in New York, but has remained productive when put on her own line, too. Emma Maltais, 25, forward (Toronto Sceptres) It will be interesting to see which Sceptres forward gets taken first between Maltais and rookie Julia Gosling. In our mock draft, I took Gosling as the Vancouver general manager after a strong postseason. But Maltais is a strong 200-foot player who can scale the lineup and be a reliable penalty killer. Teams could see a lot of value in her two-way play, and there's some offensive upside still, despite a down year with only nine points in 30 games. Grace Zumwinkle, 26, forward (Minnesota Frost) Zumwinkle was seventh in league scoring last season, third in goals, and won the 2024 Rookie of the Year award. She wasn't as productive this season (10 points in 22 games), but she was also hindered by injury. At her best, Zumwinkle is a strong power forward who can score goals in the toughest areas of the ice. Ashton Bell, 25, defender (Ottawa Charge) Bell — along with Jocelyne Larocque — was one of Ottawa's best defenders in the playoffs, logging big minutes against top competition. Anna Wilgren, 25, defender (Montreal Victoire) Wilgren is a solid defender who makes smart decisions in her own zone. She was second in blocked shots (57) in the PWHL as a rookie and has proved to be a steady partner beside a more offensively gifted defender like Barnes in Montreal, which could make her a great fit for Seattle or Vancouver beside Jaques or Thompson. Brooke McQuigge, 25, forward (Minnesota Frost) McQuigge plays a physical, hard-nosed game, which made her a solid contributing depth forward in Minnesota this season. She finished fourth in rookie scoring, and her eight goals ranked third behind only New York star Fillier (13) and teammate Britta Curl-Salemme (9). That her contract is likely cheaper than other top available players like Kelly Pannek should make her a savvy selection. Savannah Harmon, 29, defender (Toronto Sceptres) A team like Seattle might look at Harmon for more offense on the blue line — and given her familiarity with Barnes, the pick would make sense. She didn't score a single goal this season, but paired well with MVP and Defender of the Year finalist Renata Fast in Toronto, where she averaged over 22 minutes a night, most among available defenders. Advertisement If either team is looking for a young shutdown defender, Megan Carter could be a strong alternative from Toronto. She uses her size well to play a physical game and has an active stick, which makes her disruptive against opposing forwards. Aneta Tejralová, 29, defender (Ottawa Charge) It wouldn't be surprising to see defenders taken early and often in the expansion draft. If that happens, Tejralová is likely in the mix. She scored the most points among defenders who are still available and logged around 20 minutes per game on a strong Ottawa blue line. Kayle Osborne, 23, goalie (New York Sirens) Osborne would be a solid backup goalie for either team. She's young and had a strong rookie season (.916 save percentage) behind Schroeder in New York. Nicole Hensley could make a solid tandem in an expansion market, but she's older than Osborne and posted a .900 save percentage this season. Toronto starter Kristen Campbell has been inconsistent throughout her career, but could perhaps find her footing with a fresh start in a tandem. Toronto's No. 2 goalie, Raygan Kirk, would also be a great backup option, but there may be better options to take from Toronto's remaining three spots. Other top available players include forwards Kristin O'Neill, Shay Maloney, Abby Boreen, Kelly Pannek, Abby Roque and Brianne Jenner, and defenders Jaime Bourbonnais and Emily Brown. The PWHL Expansion Draft will be live on the league's website and YouTube channel starting at 8:30 p.m. ET. The coverage will be hosted by Jocks in Jills podcast hosts Julia Tocheri and Tessa Bonhomme, who left TSN to work with the PWHL in November 2024.
CTV News
07-06-2025
- CTV News
Driver arrested after Pacific Coliseum crash
Vancouver Watch There is heightened concern about safety after a man rammed a car into the Pacific Coliseum Thursday night during a Cirque de Soleil performance.
