Latest news with #Predators
CTV News
15 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Southern hockey surge: NHL teams thrive in non-traditional markets, from Texas to Florida
Florida Panthers fans wave towels during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) Popeye Jones was an NBA rookie with the Mavericks the same season that Dallas debuted its new NHL team, and he decided to go to a Stars game after meeting future Hall of Fame player Mike Modano. 'I couldn't figure out hockey. They were jumping over and off the ice … I'm like, 'what's going on with this sport?'" Jones said. 'The puck flew up, I remember it hit somebody in the nose, blood was all over the ice and they kept playing.' Back during that 1993-94 season, before he became a hockey dad, the 6-foot-8 Tennessee native who had grown up playing basketball, football and baseball was like many people in the South: He knew nothing about hockey even as the NHL was making a push into non-traditional markets. Those days are long gone. NHL teams in the South are playing for and winning the Stanley Cup in packed arenas and there is steady growth when it comes to youth participation. Football may still be king in many Sun Belt locales, but hockey has been welcomed from Las Vegas to Texas to Nashville to North Carolina — and certainly in Florida. Catfish In this June 5, 2017, file photo, Nashville Predators fan Anna Claire Massey kisses a catfish as fans celebrate before Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) Jones has two sons who are now NHL players. Seth Jones, a defenseman for the Florida Panthers, is playing in the Stanley Cup Final after the 12-season veteran, the fourth overall pick by Nashville in the 2013 draft, was traded from Chicago to the defending champions in March. Caleb Jones played for the Los Angeles Kings, his fourth team the past seven years. The expansion Panthers came into the league with Anaheim in 1993-94, at the same time the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators were expansion teams the previous season, and the Hartford Whalers moved to Carolina and became the Hurricanes in 1997. Shane Willis remembers playing with the Hurricanes following the NHL's arrival in North Carolina — a process featuring a two-year transition to Greensboro before moving to Raleigh — and sometimes noticing a sparse home crowd during warmups. 'I'm like, 'Is anybody coming?'' said Willis, now Carolina's manager of youth and amateur hockey after five seasons as an NHL player. That isn't the case now, with Carolina having won a Stanley Cup in 2006 and currently on a seven-year run of winning at least one postseason series, including this year's run to the East final. Winter Classic Dallas Stars fans cheer during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic hockey game against the Nashville Predators at the Cotton Bowl, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) Southern success This is the sixth season in a row a team from Florida has reached the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers are there for the third year in a row, this time in a rematch against Edmonton. Tampa Bay also made it to the final three straight seasons, winning the Cup the first two. The Lightning's run began by beating Dallas in 2020 in what is still the the 'southernmost' Stanley Cup Final — except that entire postseason was played in Canada after the regular season was shortened because of the pandemic. Tampa Bay Lightning Members of the Tampa Bay Lightning make their way down the Hillsborough River as they are greeted by fans during the NHL hockey Stanley Cup champions' boat parade, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP) Dallas made its third West final in a row this year, coming up short of another Cup chance. But they were the first Sun Belt team to hoist the Stanley Cup in 1999, followed by Tampa Bay in 2004. Every game in the conference finals in 2023 was played in the Sun Belt, a first. The Panthers beat Carolina in the East like they did this year, and Dallas lost to Vegas in the West. Popeye, Mo and Sakic Popeye Jones met Modano after getting invited to do an appearance during a Dallas Cowboys game. 'Not being a hockey fan, I really didn't know who he was and he didn't who I was. But we just struck up a conversation and started talking,' Jones said. 'Just general talk about sports and whatever, and he was such a nice guy and I enjoyed sitting there and talking to him.' That helped Jones become a Stars fan. They both played home games at the since-demolished Reunion Arena before Jones was traded to Toronto and later Boston, homes of two of the NHL's Original Six teams. His only season playing in Denver was 1999-2000, when the Avalanche lost to the Stars in consecutive West finals before winning the Cup in 2001. It was there that he got to know Avs star Joe Sakic, another future Hall of Fame hockey player and now the team's president of hockey operations. Oilers vs. Panthers Florida Panthers' Seth Jones (3) and Edmonton Oilers' Vasily Podkolzin (92) battle for the puck during the second period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Jones' oldest son, Justin, came home from school one day in the Denver area and said he wanted to play hockey, which had a significant influence on Seth, who was five or six at the time. With his sons interested in playing an unfamiliar sport , Jones sought advice from Sakic, who said the boys needed to take skating lessons. Seth Jones started playing hockey in Colorado, but was born in Texas and was on some Stars-affiliated youth teams after his dad later returned to the Mavericks. 'When I was there, you could see more and more kids starting to play in Texas,' the 30-year-old Panthers defenseman said. 'And then really the past eight to 10 years, you see kids actually moving from the northern cities down to Texas because the hockey has really grown. Where before, all the good kids out of the southern cities would move up north to Chicago and Michigan and New York and these places.' More and more players The number of players registered with USA Hockey has grown significantly in Southern states over the past 20 seasons. USA Hockey said 4,793 players registered in North Carolina for the 2005-06 season, with roughly 2,400 of those being 18 or younger. That overall number of players jumped 19.5 per cent (to 5,728) for the season following their 2006 Cup run. By the 2024-25 season, the state had 8,698 players (up 81.5 per cent from 2005-06) with 5,608 being 18 or younger (up 135.5 per cent), though Willis noted the actual number is likely higher since not all players register with USA Hockey. The total number of registrations have increased even more in Florida and Texas over the past two decades. In Florida, the total number of players has gone from 9,363 in 2005-06 to 22,888 (a 144.5 per cent increase), with the number in the 18 or younger age groups nearly doubling to 10,277. Texas went from 7,017 to 17,346 total registrations (147.2 per cent) in that same span, with those 18 and under going from 5,457 to 7,199 (31.9 per cent). Pete DeBoer, the Stars coach the past three seasons, had his first NHL head coaching job with Florida from 2008-11. He recalls the Lightning and Panthers then playing before sparse crowds with questions about whether those teams would even stay in those markets. Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer looks on during the third period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer looks on during the third period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) 'To see where they're at now is really impressive,' DeBoer said (before the team fired him this past week). 'Dallas for me is a perfect example of coming into a place and, you know, getting a foothold at the grassroots level, and that the amount of rinks, ice surfaces and facilities and kids playing minor hockey here in Dallas is way bigger than I ever anticipated.' Much of that came as a result of the 1999 Stanley Cup for the Stars. 'They won, they captured the city's attention and all this stuff got done. Rinks got built,' DeBoer said. 'I think Florida didn't get that done early, but is doing it now and they're going to reap the benefits of that. I think when you get a team that wins and it's in a non-traditional market, I think the benefits roll out for decades.' Introducing the game For the Hurricanes, early outreach included going to area schools and essentially running PE classes as an introduction to the sport. The team, aided by grant money from the NHL, has more recently purchased equipment such as balls, sticks and Hurricanes-logo apparel to donate to more than 100 schools. The team this year partnered with Raleigh suburb Apex to open two public street hockey rinks. Carolina, Dallas and Florida all have tie-ins to to the 'Learn to Play' umbrella program created by the NHL and NHL Players' Association to introduce boys and girls, and even adults, to the sport. Those programs include variations of providing hockey equipment and instruction, and on-ice workouts at multiple rinks in their areas. Hurricanes Panthers Hockey A young Florida Panthers fan watches during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky/AP) 'What you have to do is not only introduce the game of hockey to people, you have to introduce your brand. You have to make both things very attractive to parents to want to get involved,' Willis said. 'I see so many parents now, they come to games and we talk about it: if you can create a hockey player, whether it's street hockey or ice hockey, you're creating three fans. Because that kid is going to come to a game with Dad, Dad and Mom, maybe a sibling. So then you're in the range of three to four fans you're creating.' Popeye Jones knows how that can go, recalling a time when Seth Jones was 11 or 12 and the family wanted him to find something else to do in the summertime. 'A kid called and said hey they had some ice, you want to come and, you know, play some pickup hockey. At first I didn't want him to, but I saw he was moping around the house,' the elder Jones said. 'I told him to get his stuff. I'll never forget it, he got this bag together so fast and got in that car and I was driving him to the rink and I looked at him and I saw this big grin and I said, 'Well, I guess I got a hockey player.'' --Stephen Hawkins The Associated Press ___ AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard, Pat Graham and Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Get to da choppa! 'Predator' movies ranked (including 'Killer of Killers')
Get to da choppa! 'Predator' movies ranked (including 'Killer of Killers') Show Caption Hide Caption 'Predator: Badlands' movie trailer: Predator meets android A young outcast Predator (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) befriends an android (Elle Fanning) on a remote planet in sci-fi film "Predator: Badlands." Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids. If "I ain't got time to bleed" is part of your daily vernacular, you're probably a "Predator" fan. (Or maybe just really into Jesse "The Body" Ventura.) Since Arnold Schwarzenegger threw down with an intergalactic alien super-hunter in the jungle back in 1987, the franchise has churned out a sci-fi action flick every so often to keep the Predators alive and kicking in pop culture. Those guys even crossed over with the "Alien" universe in the 2000s. But we're in a bit of an interesting time for all things "Predator." Director Dan Trachtenberg's 2022 prequel "Prey" was a popular streaming hit, and he's got two new franchise projects this year. The animated "Predator: Killer of Killers" movie (streaming now on Hulu) is an anthology movie showing three periods in Earth history where the Predator took on the fiercest of human warriors. And "Predator: Badlands" (in theaters Nov. 7) features a young Predator partnering with an android (Elle Fanning) to seek out a shared adversary on a remote planet. So to borrow from Arnie, let's get to "da choppa" and rank all the "Predator" movies so far. (Like "Killers," the past franchise films are available on Hulu.) 8. 'Alien vs. Predator' (2004) The Predators have always been about hunting the biggest game, and in the first "AvP" outing, that's not Earthlings – it's those pesky Xenomorphs. The silly B-movie features a science team exploring a pyramid (!) underneath Antarctica and finding a mess of Facehuggers and a Xenomorph queen, but it doesn't get interesting until a Predator and Xenomorph have an epic staredown. 7. 'Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem' (2007) The "AvP" sequel is only nominally better, taking the extraterrestrial rumble to Colorado. A ship crashes, unleashing Xenomorphs on an unsuspecting town and bringing a craft of Predators to Earth to kill them. Humans and their dramas – from shady government shenanigans to teen love – just slow down the sci-fi brawls we all want to witness. That said, extra points for having the guts to show a Chestburster gruesomely pop out of a young boy. 6. 'The Predator' (2018) Shane Black, who actually played one of Arnie's commandos in the original "Predator," directs this goofy and gory reboot that dares to have Jacob Tremblay wear a Predator battle helmet out trick-or-treating. (Is nothing sacred?!) This kid is mailed alien tech by his mercenary dad (Boyd Holbrook), he turns it on, and the situation gets bonkers as a beefy Super Predator and some Predator dogs cause a bunch of suburban chaos. 5. 'Predators' (2010) This post-"AvP" revisit has a lot going for it, including an impressive cast (Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne and Walton Goggins) and a pretty nifty premise. The worst killers on Earth are captured and taken to an alien planet/game preserve where they're hunted by two warring Predator factions. The character development is atrocious but the action's pretty cool as it tries to capture the first movie's jungle-tastic kill-or-be-killed vibe. 4. 'Predator 2' (1990) How do you make a sweltering summer and a brewing gang war in LA worse? You got it, throw in a Predator! Our heavily armored alien menace starts taking out drug cartel goons and making a mess, and a couple of cops (Danny Glover and Bill Paxton) plus an unhinged DEA agent (Gary Busey) are on the case to investigate. Outside of the first "Lethal Weapon," it's one of Glover's top action flicks. 3. 'Predator: Killer of Killers' (2025) A deeper "Predator" mythology comes to life in stylistically violent fashion with the animated movie, which features three tales – of a Viking raider queen, a ninja in feudal Japan and a hotshot American World War II pilot – who all have a run-in with a Predator. But what's really cool is how the movie brings those story lines together in a narrative filled with intriguing twists, gnarly kills, heroic sacrifices and a slew of nifty new Predator designs. 2. 'Prey' (2022) The prequel that finally brought needed respect to the franchise was an 18th-century period piece that finds a Predator meeting his match in a young Comanche woman hungry for battle. Amber Midthunder had a breakout role as Naru, who yearns for the "big hunt" to prove herself to the men of her tribe, and she gets a great character arc that involves insanely bloody kills and cool Predator gadgets. 1. 'Predator' (1987) The '80s were the height of macho cinema, and the OG "Predator" was definitely one of the highlights. Schwarzenegger's team of soldiers goes into a Central American jungle for a rescue and ends up needing help themselves when hunted down one by one by a Predator. From the tobacco spitting to the bicep popping – what action-movie fan hasn't used that handshake GIF with Arnie and the inimitable Carl Weathers? – the bonkers adventure is so full of testosterone that you can't dispute its hallowed place in the annals of dude movies.
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Movie review: 'Predator: Killer of Killers' a visceral animated trio
1 of 5 | The animated "Predator: Killer of Killers," on Hulu Friday, features new Predators. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios LOS ANGELES, June 5 (UPI) -- Predator: Killer of Killers, on Hulu Friday, is a worthy addition to the Predator franchise. The animated film takes advantage of the format to explore aspects only hinted at in the live-action movies. Killer of Killers is an anthology of three stories in different time periods. In 841, the Viking queen Ursa (voice of Lindsay LaVanchy) encounters a Predator during a battle against an enemy clan, while in 1629 Japan, two samurai brothers come across a Predator in a mostly dialogue-free segment. Later, in 1942, World War II mechanic John Torres (Rick Gonzalez) leads a dogfight against a Predator ship. Predator 2 seeded the idea that the Predators have been visiting Earth throughout human history, but it wasn't until 2022's Prey that the live-action franchise explored the past. While live-action period pieces would be welcome, a single period piece is cost-prohibitive, let alone three in one movie. The animation directed by Dan Trachtenberg, director of the live-action Prey and upcoming Predator: Badlands, feels like a legitimate Predator movie from the moment the score plays. The Predator's invisible ship ripples against the backdrop, and the creature turns on heat vision to stalk its prey. The Predator that Ursa faces is taller and more hulking than any of the human actors who wore the suit, even the late 7-foot-2 Kevin Peter Hall in the first two films. The Japanese brothers face a leaner Predator, and the WWII Predator, sitting in his cockpit, has interesting horns and scars. Details show the thought put into crafting an alien encounter, such as a leaf sticking to an invisible Predator or a spark from a fire rippling the Predator's invisible cloak. The humans prove as vicious as the Predators, committing graphic decapitations. The setup has always been that the Predators sought the most worthy warriors, hence elite soldiers in the original, Native American warriors in Prey and even the xenomorph in the Alien vs. Predator films. The dynamic action shows the steadiness of a long take is as effective in animation as live action, letting the viewer absorb extended, unedited combat. Recognizable and more obscure Easter eggs add connections to the rest of the Predator series. The three stories connect in surprising ways that make it more than just an anthology. Still, Killer of Killers would already be cool as a collection of Predator minisodes. Fred Topel, who attended film school at Ithaca College, is a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Read more of his work in Entertainment.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Jonathan Marchessault trade rumors: Nashville Predators could part ways with the all-star as part of offseason rebuild
Predators could reportedly trade Jonathan Marchessault this offseason (Image via AP) The Nashville Predators are expected to enter a pivotal offseason after a disappointing 2024–25 campaign, and that could mean some big names on the move. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, one of those names could be veteran forward Jonathan Marchessault, whose future in Music City is uncertain after just one season. Jonathan Marchessault's short Nashville stint could end this summer The Predators were among the NHL's worst teams this past season, struggling mightily in the scoring department. A stagnant offense, coupled with an aging roster and lack of speed, exposed the team's need for a reset. As a result, the front office may be gearing up for a roster shake-up that focuses on getting younger and faster—potentially at the expense of proven veterans. Jonathan Marchessault, a former All-Star and Stanley Cup champion, joined the Predators with hopes of being a veteran sparkplug. While he still managed to produce 21 goals and 35 assists, the overall dip in team performance impacted his effectiveness. Seravalli suggests Marchessault may not be part of the Predators' long-term vision: "And they'd be smart to also shed one of their long-term commitments to older players, too. The belief is Marchessault is open to moving on after one year in the Music City. His production dipped, like everyone's, as Nashville struggled to score. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See List) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo But he's eminently capable of bouncing back with a 30-goal season with strong value to cap. " At 34, Marchessault remains a skilled winger with a scorer's touch and playoff pedigree. Teams with postseason ambitions could view him as an immediate upgrade. Given his experience and leadership qualities, his availability might draw interest from contenders looking for offensive depth. The Predators' management appears committed to reshaping the team's identity. With Marchessault potentially on the trade block, Nashville could open up cap space while accumulating assets for the future. This offseason may be less about tweaking the roster and more about initiating a bold new direction. Also Read: Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith's emotional response to Team USA honoring him after historic IIHF win melts hearts For fans, it signals a changing of the guard in Nashville—and possibly the end of Marchessault's brief but noteworthy tenure in gold. 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.
National Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Canucks: Arturs Silovs playoff acclaim means much more in big picture
We have seen this movie play out before on the biggest stage to critical acclaim. Article content Article content Arturs Silovs has always had a flair for the dramatic, and his performance in a 1-0 blanking of the Nashville Predators last May sent the Vancouver Canucks to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Article content It also sent a message because at 23 years and 42 days, the lanky Latvian became the youngest franchise stopper to post a shutout. And even though the Canucks then fell in seven games to the Edmonton Oilers — overshadowing a 42-save win by Silovs in Game 3 — it was a sign of encouraging times. Article content Article content He became just the fourth AHL goalie to post four post-season shutouts in a 5-0 victory over the Colorado Eagles to advance to the Western Conference final for the first time in franchise history. The best-of-seven series against the Texas Stars opens Thursday at the Abbotsford Centre. Article content What really stands out is that Silovs equalled the shutout record in only a dozen games. It took Frederic Cassivi of the Hershey Bears 21 games in 2006 to hit that mark. Michal Neuvirth of the Bears needed 22 games in 2009, and Petr Mrazek of the Grand Rapids Griffins required 24 games in 2013. Article content If that isn't enough, three of the playoff blankings by Silovs this spring were series clinchers against the Tucson Roadrunners, Coachella Valley Firebirds and Colorado Eagles. Is this a product of the player, coaching, or the club playing better defensively in front of Silovs? Article content Article content 'He's always been a big-moment goalie,' Kevin Woodley of InGoal Magazine told Postmedia on Tuesday. 'He's always had high skill on in-tight stuff and laterals, but I'm not sure how much AHL teams would go after the elements he had struggled with (screens especially). Article content Silovs rode a rollercoaster of NHL struggles and AHL success this season in a rite of passage for the demanding position. He appears on the right trajectory because his demeanour has always matched determination. Article content The parent club's pecking order of Thatcher Demko, 29, and Kevin Lankinen, 30, splitting the cage next season is a foundation to get the Canucks back to the playoffs. Demko must stay healthy on his expiring five-year $25-million US extension to give management the confidence that the pending unrestricted free agent is worthy of reasonable salary and term.
