NHL

An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t wear themed warmup jerseys for the team’s annual Pride night celebration Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Maple Leafs won’t wear themed jerseys for team’s Pride night Tuesday

NHL’s Pride nights collide with LGBTQ+ political climate

An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t wear themed warmup jerseys for the team’s annual Pride night celebration Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
New Jersey Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) and Damon Severson celebrate after defeating the Edmonton Oilers. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

PODCAST: Damon Severson on the Devils’ blueline for 8+ seasons

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New Jersey Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) and Damon Severson celebrate after defeating the Edmonton Oilers. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko celebrates after scoring during third period NHL hockey action against the St. Louis Blues Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in St. Louis. Coach Rick Tocchet says Canucks forward Kuzmenko won’t wear a themed warm-up jersey when Vancouver hosts its annual Pride night on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson

Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko won’t wear Pride warm-up jersey: coach

NHLPA: Whether a player wears the themed jersey comes down to individual rights,

Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko celebrates after scoring during third period NHL hockey action against the St. Louis Blues Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in St. Louis. Coach Rick Tocchet says Canucks forward Kuzmenko won’t wear a themed warm-up jersey when Vancouver hosts its annual Pride night on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson
An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow coloured hockey tape as part of a #HockeyIsForEveryone campaign prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The Vancouver Canucks will wear themed warm-up jerseys when they host the Calgary Flames for their annual Pride celebration game Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Vancouver Canucks to wear themed warm-up jerseys for annual Pride night

Jerseys will be designed by a local artist, and a $20,000 donation will be made to QMUNITY

An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow coloured hockey tape as part of a #HockeyIsForEveryone campaign prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The Vancouver Canucks will wear themed warm-up jerseys when they host the Calgary Flames for their annual Pride celebration game Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Minnesota State’s Akito Hirose (2) and St. Cloud State’s Kevin Fitzgerald (28) watch the puck during the third period of an NCAA men’s Frozen Four hockey semifinal in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 8, 2021. The Vancouver Canucks have signed free-agent defenceman Hirose to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Keith Srakocic
Minnesota State’s Akito Hirose (2) and St. Cloud State’s Kevin Fitzgerald (28) watch the puck during the third period of an NCAA men’s Frozen Four hockey semifinal in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 8, 2021. The Vancouver Canucks have signed free-agent defenceman Hirose to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Keith Srakocic
Zac Jones of the New York Rangers skates with a stick decorated for “Pride Night” in warm-ups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals, in New York City, Monday, May 3, 2021.NHL players refusing to participate in Pride nights around the league shows hockey still isn’t safe for a number of LGBTQ people, says one of the first male professional players to publicly come out as gay. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Bruce Bennett, POOL

More work needed to make hockey safe for LGBTQ people: former pro player

NHL Pride nights to promote inclusivity have seen players refusing to take part.

Zac Jones of the New York Rangers skates with a stick decorated for “Pride Night” in warm-ups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals, in New York City, Monday, May 3, 2021.NHL players refusing to participate in Pride nights around the league shows hockey still isn’t safe for a number of LGBTQ people, says one of the first male professional players to publicly come out as gay. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Bruce Bennett, POOL
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, front left, and general manager Patrik Allvin listen during a news conference after the NHL hockey team announced Tocchet’s hiring, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

THE MOJ: Of course, the worst has (predictably) happened, the Canucks are good again

Is management going to buy into this late-season resurgence, or is major surgery still on the way?

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, front left, and general manager Patrik Allvin listen during a news conference after the NHL hockey team announced Tocchet’s hiring, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - The Stanley Cup makes an appearance during the Gay Pride Parade in Chicago, Sunday June 27, 2010. At least one National Hockey League team with a Russian player on its roster has decided against wearing special warmup jerseys to commemorate Pride Night because of a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights. (AP Photo/Chicago Tribune, William DeShazer, File)

Unwelcome spotlight falls on NHL team Pride night events

All 32 NHL teams hold a Pride night, though many do so without themed jerseys

FILE - The Stanley Cup makes an appearance during the Gay Pride Parade in Chicago, Sunday June 27, 2010. At least one National Hockey League team with a Russian player on its roster has decided against wearing special warmup jerseys to commemorate Pride Night because of a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights. (AP Photo/Chicago Tribune, William DeShazer, File)
FILE - The ice is lit in rainbow light for Pride Night before an NHL hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

NHL’s Blackhawks won’t wear Pride jerseys, cite Russian law

Chicago coach Luke Richardson he and his players were disappointed in the decision

FILE - The ice is lit in rainbow light for Pride Night before an NHL hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jason Zucker (16) is checked to the ice by Ottawa Senators’ Jakob Chychrun (6) in front of goaltender Dylan Ferguson (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, March 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Goalie from Vancouver Island makes 48 saves to earn his first NHL win

Dylan Ferguson and his Ottawa Senators defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jason Zucker (16) is checked to the ice by Ottawa Senators’ Jakob Chychrun (6) in front of goaltender Dylan Ferguson (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, March 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Toronto Blue Jays announcer Ben Wagner sits in the broadcast booth in Toronto, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Sportsnet, the Blue Jays’ radio rightsholder, will not resume on-site radio broadcasts for the 2023 regular season and will instead use remote coverage from its downtown Toronto studio for road games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

THE MOJ: Leaving the broadcasters at home a sad and baffling decision

Radio crew not joining the team on the road leads to an inferior product without much of a saving

Toronto Blue Jays announcer Ben Wagner sits in the broadcast booth in Toronto, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Sportsnet, the Blue Jays’ radio rightsholder, will not resume on-site radio broadcasts for the 2023 regular season and will instead use remote coverage from its downtown Toronto studio for road games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Linesman Lonnie Cameron, who was honoured before the game for working his 1,500th NHL game laughs as the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks play during first period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, on Monday February 25, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

PODCAST: Lonnie Cameron officiated more than 1500 NHL games

MOJ on Sports: Islander worked the Olympics and 19 Stanley Cup Finals

Linesman Lonnie Cameron, who was honoured before the game for working his 1,500th NHL game laughs as the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks play during first period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, on Monday February 25, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser tosses a stick into the crowd after being named the first star of the game after Vancouver defeated the Dallas Stars during an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser tosses a stick into the crowd after being named the first star of the game after Vancouver defeated the Dallas Stars during an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Northeastern Huskies forward Aidan McDonough (25) during an NCAA hockey game against the Merrimack Warriors on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Vancouver Canucks have signed McDonough to a two-year entry-level contract. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Adam Glanzman

Canucks sign forward Aidan McDonough to two-year entry-level contract

Former 7th-round draft pick inks deal after completing his college career

Northeastern Huskies forward Aidan McDonough (25) during an NCAA hockey game against the Merrimack Warriors on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Vancouver Canucks have signed McDonough to a two-year entry-level contract. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Adam Glanzman
Germany's Marcel Noebels, left, challenges for the puck with Canada's Troy Stecher during the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championships group B match between Germany and Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Sergei Grits)

PODCAST: Richmond’s Troy Stecher, former Canuck

MOJ on Sports: The defenseman now a Calgary Flame after recent trade with Arizona

Germany's Marcel Noebels, left, challenges for the puck with Canada's Troy Stecher during the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championships group B match between Germany and Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Sergei Grits)
Vernon’s Larry Kwong is given his 2011 Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame induction plaque by Vernon student Gavin Donald. A push to have Kwong inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame continues. (Morning Star - file photo)

75 years ago today: B.C. player makes hockey history

Larry Kwong became first person of Asian descent to play in NHL when he suited up for the NY Rangers

Vernon’s Larry Kwong is given his 2011 Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame induction plaque by Vernon student Gavin Donald. A push to have Kwong inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame continues. (Morning Star - file photo)
Vancouver Canucks’ JT Miller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

THE MOJ: For Canucks to dig themselves out of this mess, sacrifices have to be made

Big, long-term contracts need to be offloaded, even if you have to pay to do it

Vancouver Canucks’ JT Miller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Vancouver Canucks’ Curtis Lazar, left, and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Alex Killorn vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. The Canucks dealt forward Lazar to the New Jersey Devils for a fourth-round pick at the 2024 draft on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Work still to be done revamping Vancouver Canucks roster: Allvin

‘I believe there is more to do here, we’re not happy where we are’

Vancouver Canucks’ Curtis Lazar, left, and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Alex Killorn vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. The Canucks dealt forward Lazar to the New Jersey Devils for a fourth-round pick at the 2024 draft on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Nelson’s Dryden Hunt, seen here playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was traded to the Calgary Flames on Friday. Photo: David Zalubowski/AP

Nelson’s Dryden Hunt to join 4th NHL franchise in single season

Hunt was traded by Toronto to Calgary at the deadline

Nelson’s Dryden Hunt, seen here playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was traded to the Calgary Flames on Friday. Photo: David Zalubowski/AP
New York Rangers right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates up the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in New York. NHL general managers got to work early this year. And it could make for a quiet trade deadline day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, John Minchillo

NHL trade deadline day quiet after chaotic buildup: ‘Maybe it’s an abnormal year’

NHL’s two-week stretch ahead of Friday included 43 trades involving 85 players and 55 draft picks

New York Rangers right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates up the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in New York. NHL general managers got to work early this year. And it could make for a quiet trade deadline day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, John Minchillo