In the past month, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Ottawa Senators have made headlines for a slew of undesirable reasons. One of the sources of controversy involving the club was forward Shane Pinto’s 41-game suspension for sports wagering activities, announced on Oct. 26. This came as a surprise[Read More…]
Tag: NHL
The NHL needs to stop embarrassing itself
On Oct. 24, the National Hockey League (NHL) reversed its draconian decision to ban Pride tape after months of public outcry from fans and players alike, concluding one of the most embarrassing months of public relations for a professional sports league to date. The entire endeavour was a lost cause[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Zach Gallant
For many USPORTS hockey players, their dreams of playing professionally ended upon their enrolment in post-secondary education. However, for McGill’s Zach Gallant, the dream is still alive. Hailing from Oakville, Ontario, the Redbirds’ forward had a rather unorthodox path to McGill. Prior to being picked fifth overall in the 2015[Read More…]
Sorry Canadiens fans––the Bruins are poised to take the cup
This might offend some Habs fans, but let’s be honest, the Bruins rock. Sitting at the top of the power rankings with 105 points and having played fewer games than many of their division opponents, the Bruins have dominated the NHL 2022-23 season—they could be coming for the Habs’ all-time[Read More…]
No more Pride: The slow erosion of 2SLGBTQIA+ initiatives across the NHL
Pride night at hockey games always presents itself as somewhat of an oxymoron. Like all major men’s professional sports leagues, homophobia courses through the veins of hockey from youth leagues all the way up to the National Hockey League (NHL). So often, players, coaches, and analysts not only fail as[Read More…]
Dear Buffalo Sabres: A letter from an aggrieved fan
When I tell people I’m a Buffalo Sabres fan, I get one of two extreme reactions: A look of shock, or one of disappointment. Everyone knows that being a Sabres fan is a merciless and unforgiving job, one that breaks you down until you find yourself cheering for any ounce[Read More…]
Mitchell Miller and hockey culture’s continued failure
Content warning: Racism, ableism, physical assault, bullying What comes to mind when you think of hockey culture? Sexual assault? Hazing? Racism? There is no doubt that the culture of Canada’s game is a travesty to all those it touches. The recent Hockey Canada scandal has provoked an unprecedented level of[Read More…]
Nick Suzuki’s captaincy transcends Quebec language politics
On Sept. 12, the Montreal Canadiens announced the appointment of 23-year-old Nick Suzuki as the 31st captain in franchise history. The standout centre from London, Ontario, joins a decorated list of Habs captains, including hockey legends Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau. Chosen over his more veteran teammates like Brendan Gallagher, [Read More…]
How the NHL failed Nazem Kadri
With the Stanley Cup Finals kicking off late last week, the hockey world is already beginning to reflect on the narratives of the playoffs: Another first-round Leafs exit, a historic Connor McDavid performance, the brick wall of Jake Oettinger, and stand-out defence from Cale Makar. As fun as these narratives[Read More…]
Making sense of the Montreal Canadiens’ front office shakeup
On Nov. 29, the Montreal Canadiens announced that after nearly 10 years as general manager (GM), Marc Bergevin had been relieved of his duties. Coming into the season off of a hot streak, such a drastic turn of events seemed unlikely. Last season, the Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Final[Read More…]
