Latest news with #Rodrigue
Hamilton Spectator
25-05-2025
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Snowy owl's threatened status an 'alarm bell' for a changing Arctic, scientist says
MONTREAL - A scientific committee's decision to assess the snowy owl as threatened is yet another concerning sign of the changes shaping Canada's Arctic, two experts say. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada, an advisory body to the federal government, announced earlier this month it was recommending a change of status for the emblematic northern species, which is also Quebec's official bird. That recommendation has been passed on to the federal government, which will decide whether to list the snowy owl as threatened under the Species at Risk Act. Louise Blight, co-chair of the subcommittee overseeing birds, said snowy owl observations have declined about 40 per cent over the last three generations, or 24 years. She says climate change — as well as direct threats such as vehicle strikes and poisoning — are to blame. 'Not only does this species nest in a region with one of the fastest-changing climates on the planet, but when it heads south for the winter it faces additional threats — collisions, electrocution, rodenticide poisoning, and diseases like avian influenza,' she wrote in a news release. Blight, who is also an adjunct associate professor at the University of Victoria's School of Environmental Studies, said in a phone interview that climate change reduces sea ice, which the birds use for resting and hunting. It has also led to increased shrub cover in the wide-open tundra habitat where the owl breeds, and there have been suggestions the population cycles of lemmings — its main prey — are being affected, she said. She said it's hard to measure the specific impacts of climate change on the owls, in part because the habitat changes are happening so quickly. 'I talked to a colleague a couple of years ago who works in the comment was, 'the Arctic is changing so fast we can't even keep track of it,'' Blight said. The owl, she said, is one of many species that are declining at 'really concerning rates' for a number of different reasons, including habitat change, invasive species and climate change. 'I find them all alarming comments on the state of nature,' she said. David Rodrigue, biologist and Executive Director of the Ecomuseum Zoo west of Montreal, said the committee's recommendation should be a 'rallying cry' to accelerate efforts to protect Canada's biodiversity. He says Quebec has yet to begin its own formal process to assess the status of its official bird. Rodrigue says a government decision to designate the species as threatened would trigger measures to help it, including an obligation to create a recovery plan and some habitat protection. He said more can also be done to help the birds when they migrate south, including limiting the use of certain rodent poisons. In Canada, 'threatened' means a species is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its disappearance. Rodrigue said the Ecomuseum has had snowy owls in its care, and visitors are always drawn to the beautiful snow-white birds that shot to global fame when they were featured in the 'Harry Potter' franchise. 'They're extremely striking,' he said. Rodrigue believes the snowy owl's population decline sends a 'huge signal' about the vulnerability of the Arctic, and believes everyone should take notice. 'The Arctic in many ways is extremely important for, literally, human survival as well,' he said. 'And we don't see what's happening there. People don't realize that things are so bad there that you've got species like that that are crashing.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
25-05-2025
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Snowy owl's threatened status an 'alarm bell' for a changing Arctic, scientist says
MONTREAL – A scientific committee's decision to assess the snowy owl as threatened is yet another concerning sign of the changes shaping Canada's Arctic, two experts say. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada, an advisory body to the federal government, announced earlier this month it was recommending a change of status for the emblematic northern species, which is also Quebec's official bird. That recommendation has been passed on to the federal government, which will decide whether to list the snowy owl as threatened under the Species at Risk Act. Louise Blight, co-chair of the subcommittee overseeing birds, said snowy owl observations have declined about 40 per cent over the last three generations, or 24 years. She says climate change — as well as direct threats such as vehicle strikes and poisoning — are to blame. 'Not only does this species nest in a region with one of the fastest-changing climates on the planet, but when it heads south for the winter it faces additional threats — collisions, electrocution, rodenticide poisoning, and diseases like avian influenza,' she wrote in a news release. Blight, who is also an adjunct associate professor at the University of Victoria's School of Environmental Studies, said in a phone interview that climate change reduces sea ice, which the birds use for resting and hunting. It has also led to increased shrub cover in the wide-open tundra habitat where the owl breeds, and there have been suggestions the population cycles of lemmings — its main prey — are being affected, she said. She said it's hard to measure the specific impacts of climate change on the owls, in part because the habitat changes are happening so quickly. 'I talked to a colleague a couple of years ago who works in the Arctic…her comment was, 'the Arctic is changing so fast we can't even keep track of it,'' Blight said. The owl, she said, is one of many species that are declining at 'really concerning rates' for a number of different reasons, including habitat change, invasive species and climate change. 'I find them all alarming comments on the state of nature,' she said. David Rodrigue, biologist and Executive Director of the Ecomuseum Zoo west of Montreal, said the committee's recommendation should be a 'rallying cry' to accelerate efforts to protect Canada's biodiversity. He says Quebec has yet to begin its own formal process to assess the status of its official bird. Rodrigue says a government decision to designate the species as threatened would trigger measures to help it, including an obligation to create a recovery plan and some habitat protection. He said more can also be done to help the birds when they migrate south, including limiting the use of certain rodent poisons. In Canada, 'threatened' means a species is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its disappearance. Rodrigue said the Ecomuseum has had snowy owls in its care, and visitors are always drawn to the beautiful snow-white birds that shot to global fame when they were featured in the 'Harry Potter' franchise. 'They're extremely striking,' he said. Rodrigue believes the snowy owl's population decline sends a 'huge signal' about the vulnerability of the Arctic, and believes everyone should take notice. 'The Arctic in many ways is extremely important for, literally, human survival as well,' he said. 'And we don't see what's happening there. People don't realize that things are so bad there that you've got species like that that are crashing.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2025.
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Here's how the Rams dig deeper on NFL Draft prospects without hosting them for visits
Here's how the Rams dig deeper on NFL Draft prospects without hosting them for visits The Los Angeles Rams have proven to be one of the best scouting teams in the NFL. How else could you explain their young core of Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young and Kobie Turner? Only one of those players is a first-round pick, while most of them were picked in the third round or later. According to The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue, the Rams do their pre-draft scouting a little differently. For one, Les Snead's crew doesn't conduct the allowed 30 in-person visits or private workouts, which are allowed by the NFL. Instead, Snead sends scouts to a visit a player at his college or high school, which doesn't need to be reported to the league as an official visit. This is why the Rams' interest rarely leaks, per Rodrigue. The other big difference is the Rams don't send top decision-makers to big events but instead gather answers on player personality surveys they use for their internal scouting system, JAARS (Joint After-Action Review System). This is why you'll never see Snead or head coach Sean McVay at the NFL combine or the Senior Bowl. Finally, Snead has a "call sheet" on draft night (Rodrigue describes it similarly to how a coach uses a call sheet during a game to call plays) that "split players by position into four overall tiers and nine different buckets." Snead uses this digital sheet to determine when to take which players.
New York Times
11-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What did the Edmonton Oilers' minor-league system accomplish in 2024-25?
The primary role of a minor-league team is to develop NHL players. It's a high-stress job for AHL managers and coaches. No blue-chip prospects this year? So what. Find players, develop them for NHL recall and then do it again. Winning is important to the AHL Bakersfield Condors, but the club is at the mercy of the parent Edmonton Oilers when it comes to recalls. The hockey Gods have mercilessly rained blows down on the 2024-25 Bakersfield club with myriad injuries and subsequent recalls. Advertisement Ran out of players? So what. Find players, develop them for NHL recall and then do it again. What did the Oilers' minor-league system accomplish this season? How many Condors saw the light of day in the NHL? Here's the list, starting with the players classified as NHL rookies by the league. The young winger played his first full pro season in the AHL at age 20. It was quality. His 0.79 points per game reflects a successful season, and represents the highest points-per-game total by a Condors rookie at 20 since Cooper Marody and Tyler Benson delivered career seasons in 2018-19. Savoie played sparingly in Edmonton (0-1-1 in four games), proving he could match the NHL speed and make plays in a small window of opportunity. He should be a legit option for a call-up during the postseason. The Condors coaching staff developed him well, as Savoie has thrived in all areas. The organization may want to slow-play Savoie after the Kailer Yamamoto experience, but he's NHL-ready. He's a rare top-end skill player to spend an entire year in the minors; Savoie is a prohibitive favourite to be an NHL regular on a feature line next year. Before being returned to Bakersfield on Thursday afternoon, Rodrigue played in two games, including a start this week. His totals (.862 save percentage, 3.10 GAA) aren't strong, but he made some big saves and played in front of a badly undermanned Edmonton club. Rodrigue is the latest goaltender to make it to the NHL through Edmonton's system. He joins Stuart Skinner (Oilers starter), Laurent Brossoit and Dylan Wells as Condors prospect goalies who have appeared in an NHL game. The NHL experience moves Rodrigue into an area that allows him more prominence as a recall option, either in Edmonton or another NHL city. The NHL rules exclude players who are technically rookies but have aged out of the restrictions stated in the Calder Trophy guidelines. A key Oilers player development piece is part of this group in 2024-25. Advertisement There are very few players in the AHL with the skills of Savoie, so the league's most commonly successful players are the ones who can refine their abilities, iron out the mistakes and offer the parent NHL team a low-risk, inexpensive option in a complementary role. Condors coach Colin Chaulk and his staff can have the most impact on the Oilers roster by helping develop players like Philp. Like previous AHL-to-NHL successes who have made the grade with the Oilers, Philp's AHL performances include impact-level play at even strength, the heart of the game. He's a bigger player, a centre, he's fast enough to disrupt play, strong enough to win battles and smart enough to be in good places on the ice defensively. His 29 even-strength points in 2024-25 in 52 games reflect his success offensively. Although he's not a similar player-type, the intelligent two-way ability displayed by Philp recalls another Alberta Golden Bears grad who has played for the Oilers recently, Derek Ryan. Philp is the type of player who finds his way in the AHL. He's a trusted forward who will cheat for defence. He had several NHL looks this year, playing in 13 games (two assists) with the Oilers. He's a probable for next season's roster, representing successful development for the AHL club. Brown was signed as an 'NHL 7th/AHL 1st' option and has played that role in eight NHL and 37 AHL games this season. His struggles in coverage while in Edmonton opened up the options to other defenders (Travis Dermott, an example). Brown has been an effective AHL blueliner, and at 31, has great value in a mentor role. The veteran winger had a strong AHL season (23-28-51 in 59 games) and got into seven NHL games for Edmonton. He's one of the best scorers in the minors, but a depth winger with some grit and two-way ability for the NHL team. A rugged veteran at 30, there may be NHL games in his future next season as a recall option. Advertisement He has played in just one game with the Oilers this season, but his Thursday recall suggests he could see more NHL action as the season draws to a close. Dineen is a quality puck-moving defender in the AHL (9-34-43 in 59 games with the Condors this year) but will be deployed in a support role with the Oilers. Third pair, depth minutes and crisp outlets will be the ask from Oilers coaches. He's 26, and a good enough player to have an NHL career (currently at 35 games in the league). The Condors have had seasons where the recalls had more impact, but the Oilers are a veteran group trying to win a championship. The hesitation to play Savoie (who looked impressive in his audition) or Philp (who's an NHL player, he just needs a chance) this season should be viewed as more delay than a failure in development. The Condors did a fine job with both of the still-developing forwards. Savoie was deployed heavily at even strength and on special teams, with the coaching staff making certain a veteran centre with skill and two-way ability was on his line. That wasn't easy, as injuries (specifically to Lane Pederson) made a strong centre depth chart less able as the season wore along. Philp commanded more playing time when injuries hit through his own fine play, and delivered (15-15-30 in 52 games) while outscoring opponents at even strength. His season represents exactly the type of campaign that earned a ticket to the NHL for minor leaguers over many years. What wasn't accomplished? The biggest disappointments this season involve Roby Jarventie not getting a recall, but that was due to injury. It's also unfortunate Phil Kemp didn't get another NHL look in what will be his walk year. Bottom line? The Condors didn't screw up Savoie's development, in fact he had a strong year. Philp found his game again and his foot speed returned as the new year arrived. The Oilers have another goaltender to ponder in Rodrigue and are already signing pieces for next year's team. Will the Condors management and coaches return for 2025-26? Too soon to know. The development staff can point to successes, though, even if those players didn't see much time in the NHL in 2024-25. (Photo of Olivier Rodrigue: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images)
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
After slow start, Ducks take down Oilers
April 8 - Mason McTavish scored the game-winner and Lukas Dostal tied his season high with 45 saves as the Anaheim Ducks edged the visiting Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Monday night. Cutter Gauthier scored twice for the Ducks (34-35-8, 76 points), who avoided a third straight loss. Adam Henrique had a goal and an assist and Jeff Skinner also tallied for the Oilers (44-28-5, 93 points), who have lost back-to-back games and dropped to 7-4-1 over their past 12. Olivier Rodrigue, who made his first NHL start, stopped 18 shots in the loss. Anaheim took a 3-1 lead at 5:33 of the third as McTavish stripped Kasperi Kapanen of the puck in the Ducks' zone and beat Rodrigue with a wrist shot on a breakaway for his team-leading 21st of the season. Edmonton pulled to 3-2 at 16:29 of the third as Skinner tipped an Evan Bouchard shot past Dostal for his 16th of the season. Gauthier scored twice in the second period to erase Anaheim's 1-0 deficit. The Ducks tied it 1-1 at 2:20 of the middle frame as Gauthier one-timed a Leo Carlsson feed past Rodrigue for his 16th. The Ducks forward added his second of the period at 7:10, cutting around Bouchard and putting a backhand shot up and over Rodrigue's glove. Monday was Gauthier's third two-goal game of the season. The 21-year-old has three goals and four assists in four career games against the Oilers. Edmonton outshot Anaheim 14-6 in the first period and led 1-0 after 20 minutes. Henrique opened the scoring with 2:09 remaining in the first frame, deflecting Jake Walman's point shot past an out-of-position Dostal for his 11th of the season. Trent Frederic, who made his Oilers debut on Saturday, missed the Monday game due to an ankle injury. Monday was the fourth and final meeting between the Ducks and Oilers. Anaheim won two of previous meetings between the Pacific Division rivals, taking a 5-3 decision on Dec. 29 and a 6-2 victory on March 4. Edmonton edged Anaheim 3-2 on Jan. 3.
