{allcanada} OHL roundup: Othmann nets playoff winner as Petes edge Wolves

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PETERBOROUGH, Ont. — Brennan Othmann scored 14 seconds into the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and the goal stood as the winner as the Peterborough Petes opened their Ontario Hockey League playoff series on Friday with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Sudbury Wolves.

Tucker Robertson also scored for the Petes, who trailed 1-0 after the first period. The Petes outshot the Wolves 53-41.

Petes' goaltender Michael Simpson stopped 40 of 41 shots.

Evan Konyen scored for the Wolves. Goaltender Kevyn Brassard kicked out 51 of 53 shots for the visitors.

Elsewhere in the OHL:

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BATTALION 5 STEELHEADS 1

North Bay leads best-of-seven series 1-0

NORTH BAY, Ont. — Anthony Romani scored twice as the North Bay Battalion defeated the Mississauga Steelheads 5-1 in the opening game of their best-of-seven playoff series.

Dalyn Wakely, Josh Bloom and Ty Nelson also scored for the Battalion.

James Hardie scored for the Steelheads.

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KNIGHTS 7 ATTACK 0

London leads best-of-seven series 1-0

LONDON, Ont. — Sean McGurn scored three goals and Max McCue scored twice as the London Knights crushed the visiting Owen Sound Attack in the opening game of their best-of-seven playoff series.

Knights goaltender Brett Brochu stopped all 25 shots to record the shutout.

Attack goaltender Corbin Votary kicked out 35 of 42 shots.

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STING 5 STORM 0

Sarnia leads best-of-seven series 1-0

SARNIA, Ont. — Benjamin Gaudreau earned a shutout as the Sarnia Sting blanked the visiting Guelph Storm 5-0 in the first game of their best-of-seven playoff series.

Sandis Vilmanis, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Nolan Burke, Nolan Dillingham and Marcus Limpar-Lantz also scored for the Sting.

Storm netminder Patrick Leaver stopped 32 of 37 shots.

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SPIRIT 4 FIREBIRDS 1

Saginaw leads best-of-seven series 2-0

SAGINAW, Mich. — Matyas Sapovaliv scored three goals as the Saginaw Spirit defeated the visiting Flint Firebirds 4-1 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series.

Hunter Haight also scored for the Spirit, who won Game 1 on Thursday 7-1.

Nolan Dann scored for the Firebirds.

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{allcanada} Maple Leafs' Noel Acciari out with neck injury, Radim Zohorna recalled

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The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to deal with the injury bug as Noel Acciari remains sidelined with a neck injury.

Wayne Simmonds was also absent from practice Friday with an illness, while Acciari was on the ice before departing at the start of the main session.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe said the team will make a decision later in the day on Simmonds' status for the upcoming back-to-back against the Senators and Red Wings. Acciari is dealing with whiplash to his neck.

On Friday, the Leafs recalled forward Radim Zohorna from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis.

Toronto acquired the 26-year-old from the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline for Dryden Hunt. In 46 games in the AHL with the Marlies and Calgary Wranglers, the Czech forward has 31 points while also appearing in eight games with the Flames.

Ryan O'Reilly also took part in practice but wore a non-contact red jersey.

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{allcanada} Canucks' Hronek shut down for the season with shoulder injury

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Defenceman Filip Hronek will miss the remainder of the season to properly heal his shoulder injury, Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet told reporters on Friday.

While making the announcement, Tocchet said "we're not concerned about anything" and that the team wants "him to get his shoulder stronger."

Hronek was acquired in a trade-deadline trade with the Detroit Red Wings but has been nursing an upper-body injury for most of March.

In four games since his trade from Detroit, Hronek had a lone assist.

The 25-year-old right-shooting blue-liner is intended to give the Canucks another offensive weapon from the back end, while providing responsible play away from the puck.

Hronek has nine goals and 39 points in 64 games this season, both totals matching his career highs.

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{allcanada} Habs ink OSU's Dobes to two-year, entry-level deal

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The Montreal Canadiens announced the signing of goaltender Jakub Dobes to a two-year, entry-level deal on Friday.

A fifth-round pick of the team in 2020, the 21-year-old Dobes spent the past two seasons with Ohio State.

Dobes has also signed a deal with the Laval Rocket to finish the current season in the American Hockey League.

A native of Ostrava, Czechia, Dobes appeared in 40 games for the Buckeyes this season. He posted a mark of 21-16-3 with a goals against average of 2.31 and a .918 save percentage along with three shutouts.

In 2022, Dobes was named Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year, as well as to the All-Big Ten First Team and All-Big Ten Rookie Team.

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{allcanada} Canucks sign goaltender Nikita Tolopilo to two-year, entry-level contract

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The Vancouver Canucks have agreed to terms with goaltender Nikita Tolopilo on a two-year, entry-level contract.

Tolopilo finished his second season in Sweden's second-division league with Södertälje SK leading all goaltenders with 48 games played and 28 wins. The 22-year-old also had a .910 save percentage and a 2.10 goals-against average.

"We are excited to have agreed to terms with Nikita as we continue to build out our prospect pool and add to our organization's depth in goal," said Canucks GM Patrik Allvin. "He provides a combination of tremendous size and skill and has developed well at the professional level the past two seasons in Sweden, serving as one of the more accomplished goaltenders in his league this year."

Before moving to HockeyAllsvenskan, the undrafted goaltender played nine games in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk where he had a 2-5 record with a 3.30 GAA.

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{allcanada} NHL, NHLPA, alumni donate $100,000 to Borje Salming ALS Foundation

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NEW YORK/TORONTO - The National Hockey League, National Hockey League Players' Association and NHL Alumni Association announced today a joint donation of $100,000 to the Borje Salming ALS Foundation.

Founded in honor of Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Borje Salming, the purpose of the foundation is to promote medical scientific research to increase understanding and improve treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The foundation also creates initiatives aimed at facilitating and providing support for those suffering from ALS and their families.

Salming, who passed away on Nov. 24, 2022, accumulated 150 goals and 637 assists during his trailblazing 17-season NHL career, the first 16 of which were all played with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was named to the First or Second All-Star Team for six consecutive seasons from 1974-75 through 1979-80, played in three All-Star Games (1975-76, 1976-77 and 1977-78) and was voted one of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players in 2017. The NHL Alumni Association also honored Salming, alongside fellow Swedish hockey greats Mats Sundin and Nicklas Lidstrom, as their Keith Magnuson Man of the Year at the 2018 NHL Alumni Awards Gala Celebration in Toronto. A pioneer who paved the way for future generations of NHL talent, Borje's legacy will live on forever through the tremendous work of the Borje Salming ALS Foundation.

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{allcanada} Stanley Cup Playoff clinching scenario for March 31

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Here is the Stanley Cup Playoffs clinching scenario for March 31:

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Edmonton Oilers (idle) will clinch a playoff berth:

If the Winnipeg Jets lose to the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW).

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{allcanada} Lions to add Buono, Waterboys founders to their Wall of Fame

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VANCOUVER — Wally Buono, the CFL's all-time leader in coaching wins, and Waterboys founders Dennis Skulsky, Moray Keith, Jamie Pitblado and Tom Malone will be added to the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame this summer.

In a statement, the Lions said the inductions will be made Aug. 12 when the Lions host the Calgary Stampeders.

"Being recognized is always about the people around you," Buono said. "I was blessed with great ownership, a great staff and many, many great players in my 16 seasons with the club.

"The fan support was also a great difference maker, especially at B.C. Place."

Skulsky also served as Lions president from 2010 to 2016.

"This is a special honour and it's really about more people than just us founders of The Waterboys," he said.

Buono joined the Lions in 2003 following 13 seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. He served as both B.C.'s head coach and GM, compiling a 129-86 regular-season record and guiding the franchise to Grey Cup victories in 2006 and 2011.

Buono stepped away from coaching following the 2011 season to concentrate on his duties as GM but returned to the sidelines in time for the 2016 campaign. Buono relinquished his GM role following the '17 campaign and 2018 was his final year with the franchise.

Over his tenure as a CFL head coach, Buono amassed a 282-165-3 regular-season record and won five Grey Cups. He's the league leader in coaching victories and is tied with Don Matthews, Hugh Campbell, Lew Hayman and Frank Clair for the most championship wins by a head coach.

Upon his return as Lions president in 2002, Bob Ackles created The Waterboys, a group consisting of several B.C. business leaders who engaged in building the Lions brand in the corporate community.

The Waterboys were honoured by the CFL with the 2005 Commissioner's Award, presented annually to the person or group that makes a significant contribution to Canadian football.

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{allcanada} Tkachuk has hat trick in Panthers' 5-2 win over Canadiens

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MONTREAL (AP) Matthew Tkachuk had his fifth career hat trick and one assist to lead the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

With his second goal, Tkachuk became the fourth player in NHL history to have 100 or more points in consecutive seasons after changing teams in the offseason. He joined Wayne Gretzky (1987-88, 1988-89), Jimmy Carson (1987-88, 1988-89) and Mike Rogers (1980-81, 1981-82) in achieving the feat.

Anton Lundell added two goals and one assist and Alex Lyon made 18 saves while helping the Panthers to its second win in a row and a season series sweep of Montreal.

Sean Farrell scored his first career goal and Rafael Harvey-Pinard had a goal for the Canadiens, who dropped their second in a row. Sam Montembeault made 25 saves.

Farrell opened the scoring 1:23 into the first period when the rookie took a shot from along the boards that was mishandled by Lyon and went in.

Lundell tied it at 4:09 with his 11th of the season after Montembeault gave up a rebound off a shot by Tkachuk.

Tkachuk finished off a tic-tac-toe sequence with Brandon Montour and Sam Reinhart to give the Panthers a 2-1 edge 3:59 into the second on the power play.

Just under two minutes later, Tkachuk scored his second, beating Montembeault with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle.

Tkachuk completed his hat trick with 20 seconds remaining with an empty-net goal.

NOTES: The Canadiens announced C Kirby Dach will miss at least one week with an upper-body injury. ... D David Savard (lower body) is day to day. Chris Wideman replaced him in the lineup.

UP NEXT

Panthers: Head to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Canadiens: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

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{allcanada} Walsh introduced as NHLPA executive director

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Martin J. Walsh was officially introduced as the new executive director of the NHL Players' Association at a press conference in Toronto on Thursday.

Walsh, a Boston native, was named NHLPA executive director Feb. 16, replacing Donald Fehr after the NHLPA board voted in April to find a new leader. Fehr spent more than 13 years as the executive director after being hired Dec. 18, 2010.

The 55-year-old Walsh comes to the NHLPA after serving in U.S. President Joe Biden's administration as the Secretary of Labor since March of 2021.

Previously, Walsh was mayor of Boston from 2014-21 after spending 16 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He also spent years as a labor leader in Boston.

"During my early interviews with the NHLPA it was clear to me that this opportunity was one that I wanted to pursue," Walsh said. "Becoming the executive director allows me to join two passions I have: One is hockey and the other one is fighting for working people. Growing up in the city of Boston, you know it's a hockey town and as a kid in my house the Bruins were always on. I continue to love the game and to have the opportunity now to represent the NHLPA is just an amazing opportunity."

Walsh said he is looking forward to working with the NHL players and their families to learn about what is important to them. He said his No. 1 priority in his new role is to get to talk to them and get to know them.

"I made it very clear to the players in all my previous roles in union politics and even politics, you have to know your constituency," Walsh said. "It's important for me to talk to the players, to talk about what their issues are, what their concerns are and what they're thinking moving forward. I represent the players of the NHL and really understanding what's important for them moving forward."

Walsh said he is looking forward to building a relationship with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the League's 32 owners.

He said he met with Bettman in New York after accepting the job, but it was brief. He had some encounters with Bettman during his time as Boston's mayor.

"We're in a very early stage of the relationship, but my approach is collaborative," Walsh said. "As long as you mutually respect each other there will be a great opportunity here moving forward on behalf of the players and on behalf of the League."

Walsh talked about capitalizing on opportunities to continue to make the players available and accessible on the world stage, including bringing back the World Cup of Hockey, having NHL players return to play in the Olympics and continuing to hold the NHL Global Series.

The NHL and NHLPA have not held a World Cup of Hockey since 2016, though there are plans for its renewal, perhaps as soon as the 2024-25 season. The NHL has not attended the Olympics since 2014 but has committed to sending players to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games in Italy provided the IOC, IIHF and local organizing committee fulfill certain long-standing obligations.

The Global Series returned this season after it wasn't played in 2019-20 and 2020-21 because of COVID-19 concerns.

"We've had a couple conversations over the last couple of weeks about the World Cup of Hockey and we've talked a little bit about the Olympics as well coming up in 2026," Walsh said. "At first what I would like to do is, let's establish the World Cup of Hockey back and let's have a forward-looking schedule to see so people can be consistent with it. Fans love it. Players love it. It's important for us to do it."

Walsh said it's premature to talk about hot-button topics that could come up in the next round of collective bargaining, particularly because he's new on the job and the current NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement is not scheduled to expire until Sept. 15, 2026.

"There's a lot we can do between now and the CBA," Walsh said. "Talking to the players and asking them what they want out of us, I think that's key. I can't speak to how the past was here, but this is the players' union. I made it very clear to them, I represent the players in the union and their family, we represent the players and their families, and we're going to continue to do everything we can to build strong relationships and let them know the PA is here on their behalf."

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{allcanada} OHL found no evidence of tampering with draft, commissioner says

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TORONTO — The Ontario Hockey League confirmed Wednesday the league conducted an independent third-party investigation to probe allegations of parents paying for their sons to be selected in the 2022 OHL draft.

David Branch says the league conducted the investigation last year.

Following a report by TSN's Rick Westhead detailing the allegations, OHL commissioner David Branch said in a statement to The Canadian Press the investigation found no evidence of any team tampering with the draft.

TSN reported three Greater Toronto Hockey League coaches said they have seen text-message evidence of parents paying upwards of $30,000 to have their son drafted.

Branch called the allegations serious and invited people with evidence to provide it to the OHL for review before the league determines if further investigation is required.

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{allcanada} Canucks will wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys for team's annual celebration

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The Vancouver Canucks announced they will be celebrating their annual Pride Night in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community this Friday when they host the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, star defenceman Quinn Hughes said the players were looking forward to the celebration.

"In our organization, everyone is welcome," said Hughes. "Every time we've done the Pride Night, I've worn the jersey and celebrated the night ... We're looking forward to it."

"We've worn it every year," Hughes continued. "At least since I've been here — even the year as the Canadian Division when we had no fans here… I think it's a great night, I'm glad we're doing it, and I don't think there was ever any discussion about doing it or not doing it."

According to a media release from the organization, the team will be wearing Pride-themed jerseys during warmup that were designed by a local artist.

The organization will also be making a $20,000 donation on behalf of the Canucks for Kids Fund to Vancouver-based QMUNITY, a non-profit that "supports and assists 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their allies."

"The opportunity to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is very important to our entire organization," said Canucks president of business operations Michael Doyle in the team's release.

"Pride night and all the incredible activities that highlight this evening, is special for a number of reasons. Besides raising awareness and understanding, it also lets our fan base know that everyone is welcome here at Rogers Arena. Our club believes strongly in diversity and inclusion, and we look forward to celebrating these core values with our community."

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