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Miami Herald
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Florida Panthers' Physicality And Talent Produced A Cup. Is It A Trend?
Did the 2024-25 Florida Panthers start a trend en route to their second-straight Stanley Cup? Time will tell, but the Panthers were an NHL anomaly – a hard-checking team that was both talented and tough, a rare combination for a champion. Since the days when the Philadelphia Flyers were known as the Broad Street Bullies in the 1970s, few teams have led the league in penalty minutes and won the Stanley Cup. Going back 50-plus years, there have been only five teams that won the Cup after leading the league in penalty minutes during the regular season. Those five teams: This year's Panthers, the 2020-21 Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks and the Flyers in 1973-74 and 1974-75. The Panthers, who were 10th in the NHL with 21 fights this season, didn't get into nearly as many scraps as those Flyers teams, but they didplay with an aggressive, hell-bent style. All five of the aforementioned teams did more than flex their muscles and play with a physical edge. Much more. They all had several standouts to complement their chippy players. Let's take a look: The physical members of the Broad Street Bullies – Dave (Hammer) Schultz, Bob (Hound) Kelly, Andre (Moose) Dupont and Don (Big Bird) Saleski – received most of the publicity, but the Flyers oozed with talent. Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Rick MacLeish and Ross Lonsberry each had 30-plus goals, Bernie Parent was the league's best goalie (1.89 goals-against average, .932 save percentage), and the defense was superb, especially at clearing bodies in front of the net. The defense was anchored by Barry Ashbee (plus-53), Dupont (plus-34), Jimmy Watson (plus-33), Ed Van Impe (plus-31), Joe Watson (plus-28) and Tom Bladon (plus-25). The Flyers had seven players with more than 100 penalty minutes, led by Schultz (348 minutes) and Dupont (216). The Flyers were in the middle of a span in which they led the league in penalty minutes a staggering 11 straight times. But they also topped the NHL in fewest goals allowed and used the same formula as the previous season to win another Cup. Brawn, plus talent, equaled sensational results. In addition, the Flyers added hard-shooting right winger Reggie Leach, and he responded with a team-leading 45 goals. Schultz topped the NHL with 472 penalty minutes, and most of the players, like this year's Panthers, played with an edge and an unparalleled intensity. Anaheim started the year at +1200 to win the Cup, but they overcame the odds with hard-nosed play, timely scoring, and excellent goaltending and defense. Though the Ducks' league-leading 1,457 penalty minutes paled in comparison to the Flyers' total in 1974-75 (1,955), they played with a physical nature that was keyed by Shane O'Brien, George Parros, Travis Moen, Sean O'Donnell, Chris Pronger, Brad May, Shawn Thornton and the Niedermayer brothers, Scott and Rob. Pronger (plus-27), playing in his first season in Anaheim, anchored the defense, ageless Teemu Selanne scored a team-leading 48 goals, and goalies Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2.26 GAA, .918 SP) and Ilya Bryzgalov (2.47 GAA, .907 SP) were terrific. The Ducks also had a strong penalty kill, which was needed because Anaheim was shorthanded 121 times in 21 playoff games that year, killing 86.8 percent of the infractions. In a regular season shortened to 56 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampa Bay won the Cup after a regular season in which it led the NHL with a modest 597 penalty minutes. Pat Maroon (60 minutes), Barclay Goodrow (52) and Luke Schenn (51) were the penalty leaders for the Bolts, who won the Cup more on scoring and goaltending than their physical play. Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.21 GAA, .925 SP) was brilliant in net, and five players scored at least 15 goals, led by Brayden Point (23), Steven Stamkos (17) and Yanni Gourde (17). Nikita Kucherov, who missed the regular season after undergoing hip surgery, had a league-best 32 points in 23 playoff games. In the Finals, the Lightning outscored the Canadiens, 17-8, as they coasted in five games. The Sunshine Bullies topped the NHL with 853 penalty minutes in the regular season, then led the league, by far, with 370 penalty minutes in the playoffs. A punishing, physical style was part of the Panthers' trademark, and the team became even chippier after it acquired Brad Marchand in March, sending Boston a conditional second-round selection in the 2027 draft. In short, the Panthers were hard to play against. They won board battles, outmuscled opponents for pucks, and flourished with their physical style of play. The Panthers were also second in the NHL in penalty minutes in 2023-24, a year in which they won their first Cup. A.J. Greer, Sam Bennett and Niko Mikkola were the Cats' penalty-minute leaders in the regular season, but most of the team played with an edge and gave opponents little time or space on the ice. Sam Reinhart (39 goals, 81 points), Aleksander Barkov (20 goals, 71 points), Matthew Tkachuk (22 goals), Carter Verhaeghe (20 goals) Bennett (25 goals) and Marchand (10 goals in 23 playoff games) led the offense. Meanwhile, the D got strong performances from Gustav Forsling, Dmitry Kulikov, Mikkola, Aaron Ekblad and Nate Schmidt. And, as with all the teams on this list, the goaltending was top-notch. Sergei Bobrovsky, a future Hall of Famer, had a 2.44 GAA and .905 save percentage in the regular season, then was even better in the playoffs (2.20 GAA, .914 SP). It all added up to another Cup, and it will be interesting to see if other teams try to copy their formula. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
France 24
27-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Ex-All Black Kaino's Toulouse not expecting 'walkover' in Top 14 final
Kaino's side hammered Bordeaux-Begles 59-3 12 months ago but have lost three straight games to the newly-crowned Champions Cup winners. On the way to lifting the continental crown in May, Bordeaux-Begles beat Toulouse in the semi-finals leaving the record 23-time French champions with just the league to play for this season. "We never walk into a finals game thinking that it's going to be a walkover like that one, but if history repeats itself like the semi-final, it's going to be a tough one," Toulouse assistant coach Kaino told AFP. "Bordeaux-Begles have definitely been improving. "They're not the same team as the team that we played in the Top 14 final last year," the 42-year-old added. Kaino joined Toulouse in 2018, a year after winning the last of his 81 Test appearances, which included Rugby World Cup success in 2011 and four years later. He retired from playing in 2021 with a Top 14 and Champions Cup double before transitioning into coaching as a skills specialist with the aristocrats of French and European rugby. "Oh, it's been amazing," Kaino enthusiastically said of the change. "I wouldn't say easy because the coaches definitely put in a lot of work and it's definitely challenging coming from player to coach because when you're a player, you worry about yourself, what's needed for you to be at your best come Saturday or come the weekend. "But as a coach, you've got to worry about 50 to 60 other players for them to be at the best on the weekend and that juggling act is a bit of a challenge sometimes," he added. 'Gnarly' The stand-out name among the 60 or so squad members Kaino works with at Stade Ernest-Wallon is France poster boy Antoine Dupont. Scrum-half Dupont will miss this weekend's blockbuster in Paris however as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury suffered in March. Centre Peato Mauvaka and flying wing Ange Capuozzo are also out of action. Dupont's childhood friend Paul Graou will again stand-in for the 28-year-old, having scored three tries in his past five games including one in last Friday's semi-final win over Bayonne. "He's improving. He works really hard to be able to get out there," Kaino said. "How could you not get out there and work when you're replacing one of the best players ever to lace up rugby boots? "He's driving the team really well and he's been able to put us into another final," he added. Standing in the way of Toulouse and a third-straight title are Bordeaux-Begles' superstar backs, including international wings Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who was pronounced "fit" on Wednesday following time out with concussion, as well as their monstrous set of forwards, led by Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna in the front row. "Big Ben. King of Tonga. He's got a million nicknames," Kaino joked. "They've been building really nicely and obviously they've proven that with their Champions Cup title. "I could sit here all day and talk about their pack, but they've also got some gnarly backs as well which are able to counter-attack with the speed they have. "They've been on fire recently," he added. Fixture © 2025 AFP
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Meet the unsung heroes: How local marshals are trained for Formula E races
Image credit: Formula E Safety and technical knowledge are paramount in Formula E, where the sport involves handling some of the world's fastest electric cars. Now, the FIA has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at how local marshals in each host country are trained before every Formula E race to ensure that operations run swiftly, efficiently, and to the highest standards. Training local marshals at Formula E circuits A video shared on the FIA Official Instagram page features Benoit Dupont, Head of Circuit Operations at FIA Formula E, offering a glimpse into the marshal training process at the Jakarta E-Prix. Speaking about the preparation in Jakarta this year, Dupont explains, 'Before each Formula E race, we make sure that marshals are trained to the correct level to understand how to efficiently remove and recover a car. It's very important to have precise and fast operations. We've been in Indonesia before, but it was two years ago, so the goal here is to bring everyone back up to speed.' He adds that Formula E cars require a specific method of being lifted, particularly using a strap in a defined way. As a result, every post is trained individually to ensure marshals are fully up to date. Dupont also highlights the crucial role of the clerk of the course, who acts as a bridge between FIA officials and local marshals. He says, 'Leaving a legacy is an important part of what the FIA brings to these races. There are international procedures that might not be followed at local races, so we ensure they meet the latest standards. That's why we conduct training sessions like this,' he says. 'The clerk of the course connects with the marshals, all the trackside personnel, and the recovery team. Since they communicate in their local language, the clerk ensures the communication line remains as efficient as possible.' Commenting on the video, one Formula E fan wrote, 'Well done on showcasing these wonderful men and women who keep races going and clear up the mess after an OOPS moment from the drivers.' Also Read: Dan Ticktum shares unfiltered pictures and a note after Jakarta win, mentions losing F1 chance: 'It wasn't down to my attitude' The Jakarta E-Prix was a single-header this year, unlike its double-header format in the 2023 season. With just four more races remaining, the 2024–25 Formula E season is nearing its conclusion. Next up is the Berlin double-header on July 11–12, followed by the season finale in London on July 26–27. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Washington's work zone speed camera program continues rollout
The Brief Washington's "Work Zone Speed Camera Program" aims to reduce speeding and crashes in highway work zones. Since April, over 2,600 infractions have been issued, with most being first-time violations without fines. More cameras will be deployed next month, with the program running until June 2030. DUPONT, Wash. - Less than two months after launching, transportation officials are liking what they are seeing so far when it comes to the state's "Work Zone Speed Camera Program." Though some confusion exists among drivers through one work zone about the initiative. Created by a 2023 law, the WSDOT campaign rotates trailer-mounted cameras in various active highway work zones across the state to catch speeding drivers in hopes of slowing them down. WSDOT data shows an average of over 1,300 crashes have taken place annually around work zones over the past five years, with speeding being one of the main causes of those accidents. "Work zones are dangerous places in themselves, right? And then obviously having people drive through those work zones at a very high rate of speed also increases the danger for the workers and also the traveling public that goes through those work zones," said Kyle Miller, Program Manager for the camera project. The first camera launched in April, and another one rolled out this past week. Miller said the mobile cameras have moved around numerous work zones across Western Washington, including the Interstate 90/State Route 18 interchange project, fish passage work on U.S. Highway 12 in Grays Harbor County and work on Interstate 5 along Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "Anywhere where there's a worker – WSDOT, construction, some sort of project – we are able to use this solution," Miller said. "This tool is allowed to be used in any type of work zone – whether it's maintenance, whether it's an emergency, whether it's a big construction project you see on I-5 or I-90." According to Washington State Patrol data, 2,618 infractions have been issued since the program started. 2,504 of them were first-time violations that have no fine, while the remaining 114 infractions were second-time violations with a fine of $248. WSDOT is still compiling and analyzing data as the program is in its beginning phases, but Miller said work crews are reporting a difference in driver behavior. "When people see those signs, they appear to be slowing down from the feedback that I'm getting from the field itself – which is great, great news," he said. Many drivers through the Interstate 5 work zone said they support the idea of having a camera to slow people down for safety. Though a lot of them did not even know a camera could be there. "It's the first I've heard of it," said driver Tyler Hays from Chehalis. "I could see it being a good cause for the construction workers so people aren't exceeding the speed limit. It just keeps it safer for the construction workers who are just trying to do their jobs." "I've never seen it before," said DuPont resident Jinnori Serino. "It kinda just looks like part of the construction that is every day." Commuters through the area said while it is important to follow speed limits regardless of a camera, they would want to see more clear signage where one could be. "If your regular speed on the freeway, you're gonna keep going 70 – and especially if there's nothing that is significantly to show you that there's construction and a speed camera and whatnot," Serino said. "I think the speed cameras are okay, but only if people know that they're there," said Tacoma resident James King. "It should be to help people keep the speed limit so they'll keep themselves safe and those around them safe." WSDOT said they put up as many signs as possible alerting drivers to the camera's presence, as they want people to know to slow down. "This is not a gotcha in any way," said Assistant Communications Manager Amy Moreno. "We're actually happy when we don't generate infractions because people slowed down and that's a pretty successful deployment for us." As the rollout continues, Miller said more cameras will be launched next month, with work zones all across the state being discussed as new deployment locations. And as summer travel coincides with more road maintenance, it is in everyone's best interest to slow down. "This is not just about the worker's safety, it's also about the traveling public that goes through," he said. "Because ultimately, we really do want to make sure that everybody can come home safe." Miller said the program should have 15 cameras available to rotate across work zones within the next few years. The program is set to expire at the end of June 2030. The Source Information in this story came from Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. Travis Decker manhunt: 'Remote' areas of 5 WA counties told to lock doors Former Army squadmate shares insight into Travis Decker's military past Miles Hudson found guilty on 2 counts of reckless driving in Seattle Key figures from Bryan Kohberger's youth summoned to Idaho for student murders trial Rochester dog training facility owner accused of killing employee during video shoot To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Local France
06-06-2025
- General
- Local France
French Word of the Day: RDC
Why do I need to know RDC? Because this acronym might help you find your way out of a French building if you are lost. What does it mean? RDC - roughly pronounced RDC - may be the acronym for the central African country, known as 'DRC' or Democratic Republic of Congo in English. But it has a more common meaning in French too, and you might see it on an invitation, an address, or when riding in an elevator. RDC is the acronym for rez-de-chaussée , meaning the part of the building on the ground level, though you might occasionally also see people refer to this as the rez-de-cour or rez-de-jardin. Americans should beware that in Europe, the ground floor is either RDZ or '0' on elevators and staircases. The first floor, instead, is the first floor above the ground floor. Advertisement For example, if you are visiting a new friend in France, they might leave instructions saying Sonnez pour Dupont, première porte à droite, RDC (Ring for Dupont, first door on the right on the ground level). The word rez-de-chaussée has existed since the 14th century, according to the Académie Française . The old preposition rez comes from the Latin rasus , the past participle of radere , meaning to shave or polish. As for chaussée , linguists say that it likely came from the Latin calciata , referring to roads made of limestone. Use it like this Suivez les panneaux indiquant le bâtiment C. Le cabinet se trouve au numéro 12, RDC. - Follow the signs to Building C. The office is located at number 12, ground floor. J'étais perdue en cherchant sa place partout au premier étage, mais après j'ai compris qu'il avait dit RDC. - I was lost looking for his place anywhere on the first floor, but then I realised he'd said RDC.
