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The Butterfield breakdown
Rumours, news, and outcomes
ethan butterfield
sports editor
Returning once again to breakdown the latest in big sporting developments, this month held a lot of interesting things to look at. Not to give too much of what’s below away, but with the NHL landscape continuing to come into focus, the MLB moving ever closer to opening day, and the Daytona 500 having an absolutely crazy day, there’s definitely no shortage of excitement. So, without further ado, here’s what the major leagues of sports had to offer:
MLB
Opening day in MLB is scheduled for April 1. Poorly timed April Fools’ joke?
NHL
The NHL has definitely offered some interesting developments. The first of which is the Toronto Maple Leafs dropping a huge lead to the Ottawa Senators.
Normally a team collapsing a lead in the NHL is no big deal, but in the case of the Toronto Maple Leafs (a team well-known for its collapses), they had a rather historic one in their match against the Senators. Via Evolving Hockey, a statistics-based hockey group, the Leafs had a 99.9 per cent chance to win, and blew the lead.
Digging through the past 13 seasons of the game, Evolving Hockey found it to the second worst blown lead loss in the game, only behind the Chicago Blackhawks, who blew a 5-1 lead against the Minnesota Wild during the 2009-2010 season.
Evolving Hockey: “Their peak win % was 99.9117%. The Leafs [...] peaked at 99.9113%.”
The Maple Leafs weren’t the team with struggles as of late, as the Buffalo Sabres also found franchise misery. For the first time in 10 years, the Buffalo Sabres were held shotless in the third period of a game. NOT. ONE. SHOT.
Listen. Breaking the flow of news for a second. I just need everyone out there to understand that, in a game that featured Taylor Hall, Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson for Buffalo. Not a one could record a shot for an entire period. Look, if the Sabres didn’t want to compete for a Stanley
– Ethan Butterfield
Cup this year, they could just say so.
On the bright side, the New York Islanders, for the first time in their long franchise history, were able to hold an opponent shotless for an entire period.
In other hockey related news, sports media won’t stop talking about Connor McDavid, so we’re gonna skip right over that. In other, other hockey related news, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins was able to enjoy his 1,000th game as a Penguin with a win over the New York Islanders.
And, finally, the NHL had their Outdoor games at Lake Tahoe in what was a stunning sight to behold (seriously, if you get a chance, check out some photos. It’s really cool).
NFL
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Super Bowl Champions. Moving right along.
Big things have already begun in the trading department of the NFL as former Philadelphia Eagles QB (quarterback) Carson Wentz becomes the field general for the Indianapolis Colts, filling the role of now retired QB Phillip Rivers.
As well, mega defensive star
J.J. Watt is no longer a Houston Texan and has entered the free agent market. Some of the top contenders for receiving Watt (at the time of writing) are the Pittsburgh Steelers (where Watt’s brother plays), the Buffalo Bills, and the Green Bay Packers. QB Deshaun Watson is also looking to make an exit from the Texans’ franchise. Unlike Watt however, the Texans seem to be less interested in letting Watson go from the team. That being said, there has been some trade interest for Watson coming out of the Dolphins organization, which may lead to a trade involving current QB Tua Tagovailoa and Watson.
The Carolina Panthers are also looking to benefit from the Waston-Texan situation should the QB become available.
As far as new entrees into the league, the NFL draft is fast-approaching and shows some promise in being one worth watching. Two quarterbacks, Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawernce look set to go in the first round with the New York Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars primed to receive them. As things become clearer, it looks as those Wilson will be making his way to the Jets and Lawrence will
be heading towards the Jaguars.
NASCAR
In a very rare appearance, NASCAR has taken a spot within the breakdown.
This is, of course, due to the Daytona 500 and the massive crash that occurred during the event. For those who don’t know, a huge wreck caused the race to be delayed for a significant amount of time. After things resumed, Michael McDowell ended up as the victor in his first ever major event win.
NBA
With the NBA in full stride, the playing field is becoming more and more clear.
Ethan Butterfield
A laptop being activated.
Fortunately, as opposed to the last breakdown, the Toronto Raptors have been gaining ground in the standings. Now sitting at 6th overall in the Eastern Conference, Toronto has accumulated a 15 win and 15 loss record, this being a far cry from their 8 win and 12 loss record during my last update. Now settled at .500, the Raptors can continue developing their game and move even further along, providing a challenge for any opponents along the way. That being said, the Raptors aside and looking at the current number one ranked teams in each conference, the Philadelphia 76ers continue to hold first in the East with 20 wins and 10 losses (so far), certainly making their case as the team to beat. However, teams like the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks are certainly trying. Moving along, in the West, the Utah Jazz are in the top spot as a result of a 24 win and 6 loss record. Although, they shouldn’t get too comfortable with both Los Angeles teams (the Clippers and the Lakers) hot on their trail.
On a more personal note, the New York Knicks are now 8th overall in the Eastern Conference and I couldn’t be happier.
So, there you have it, the updates and news from around the league. From the looks of things, it seems as though these updates will become more of a monthly thing, rather than a weekly thing moving forward. That aside though, as always, let’s remember to keep safe and healthy with everything that’s going on in the world today.
NASCAR: Toni Breidinger
A new day for NASCAR
sarah nakonechny
sports writer
It has been an exciting time in the world of NASCAR racing! History was made this Family Day long weekend as Toni Breidinger competed in her first ever debut at Daytona International Speedway. Why is this important? Breidinger is the first ever Arab-American female driver to ever compete in a NASCAR national series!
The first ever time a female athlete competed in a NASCAR race all the way back in 1949 with Sara Christian. Fast forward to present day and we still are watching strong women bust through the gate and onto the scene. So many barriers are continuing to be broken down by racers like Breidinger and her astonishing debut has opened up the conversation for multicultural and female athletes to consider NASCAR as a real opportunity in the present day. This is a lot for a young 21-year-old racer to take on, but it hasn’t been a problem as she continues to keep her eyes on her goal and remains grateful.
During various interviews conducted along with tweets that she sent out from her account @ ToniBreidinger, she was very modest and humble about the situation. Stating that all herself and her team wanted was to finish the race and to stay out of trouble. After completing those two goals, the realization of what she has been able to accomplish began to sink in. The door has now been thrown open for Arab-American females to compete in NASCAR racing and will hopefully continue to translate into other sporting events as well. Breidinger is honoured to be the first of her people to compete and is hopeful that she will not be the last. She is hopeful that she has begun to pave the way for other female Arab-American drivers.
You may be wondering what led her to the Daytona opening. She was able to place 18th overall at the Lucas Oil 200 which is the precursor for the Daytona 500. This is not her only accomplishment, however. At the United States Auto Club she has won 19 times which is the most ever for a woman. As well in 2020 she finished in fourth place at the Carolina Pro Late Model Series with her racing team DLP Motorsports. She now competes in two of NASCAR’s top 4 series and is a force to be reckoned with.
Although, she is continuing to bust down barriers for her culture and for women alike it does not come without its challenges. The majority of her competition are white men, which proves to provide its own set of obstacles to navigate off the track. However, this is something that is easy to ignore once she is in the driver’s seat and ready to hit the track. Once the helmet goes on gender and race are no longer a problem and they are all just drivers after the same goal, to cross that finish line first.
If you are interested in following Beidinger on the rest of her amazing journey you can catch the highlights of her race on the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale where she will be competing in the Arizona Lottery 100 and is hoping to place in the top 15 overall.
COVID restrictions and the Sask Hockey Association
The new restriction date put in place will have little effect on the SHA.
ethan butterfield
sports editor
With the Government of Saskatchewan extending COVID restrictions until March 19th, the sports world continues to wait patiently until things get the all clear to move forward. Until that time arrives, cancellations continue to hold up across the province through various organizations (such as the Regina High School Sports Association).
For Kelly McClintock, General Manager of the SHA (Saskatchewan Hockey Association), this extended restriction date changes little with regards to how the SHA will operate in the coming weeks.
“The Government of Saskatchewan Business Response Team”, said McClintock. “Roughly six weeks ago notified all sports in the province that competition would not be likely until after March 31 at the earliest. But the individual training with eight athletes in a group could continue.”
With that said, even if sports operations were to resume within the province, McClintock feels that the possibility for a salvaged SHA season is closer to concluding, as opposed to starting.
“The opportunity to play games,” said McClintock, “within the winter hockey season that, normally, ceases at the end of March does not look favorable and the SHA has been aware of this for some time.”
While this may come as disheartening news to local hockey fans, it is equally as disheartening to the players that continue to put the work in despite the minimal payoff.
“It is difficult for all hockey players to continue to train,” said McClintock. “But not have the opportunity to transfer that training into a competitive environment of a game.”
With things looking the way they do, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association will continue on as they have throughout the pandemic.
For fans of the game looking to at least take in some hockey viewing during the pandemic, the NHL is currently running at full steam. At the time of writing, the North Division (which features all Canadian NHL teams), has seen a surge in popularity with the current winning ways of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Excluding a nasty loss to Ottawa where Toronto dropped a 4 goal lead to lose 6-5 in overtime, the Leafs have 30 points overall, putting them comfortably above the 22-point Edmonton Oilers.
As well, for fans of the more local hockey circuit, the WHL’s announcement about the upcoming season on top of the news of Regina being the hub city for the East Division has piqued more than a few folks’ interest. Time will tell how the season will unfold, but it’s still interesting to see everything pan out.
Overall, despite no massive changes occurring within the world of the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, it is still good to know where things stand. It’s also beneficial to know that there are other avenues that fans can take if they so choose.
It’s also worth noting that, when things do change, it will likely not be overnight. So let’s remember to continue to take care of those around us by listening to the Saskatchewan Health Authority and following the rules and regulations that are in place.
Discover Moose Jaw Dr. Saqib Shahab attending a press conference.
University of Regina to house WHL
Looking to keep players and students safe while the season gets its start.
ethan butterfield
sports editor
Recent news from the WHL will be impacting the University of Regina moving forward.
The city of Regina will be acting as the hub for the Eastern Division of the WHL, with the University providing the living quarters for players that make their way here. Vice President Dave Button made an announcement regarding the situation, stating the following:
“Seven teams from Saskatchewan and Manitoba will begin a 24-game season starting March 12, with games being held at the Brandt Centre in Regina. The hub centre – or ‘bubble’ model, in conjunction with the implementation of a vigorous list of prevention measures the teams must follow, is considered the best approach to safely resume hockey at this elite level, while preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
In the same statement, Button also made clear that this is a developing situation and how the U of R will adapt as it develops.
“While exact details and logistics are still being confirmed, the University of Regina, in conjunction with Luther College, is working with the WHL to provide the teams with accommodations during their hockey season. It is anticipated that five teams will stay in University of Regina residences and two teams will be housed at the Luther College residence.”
Button noted that student safety was first on the list of priorities and that the University was positive about their capability to deal with the influx of players.
“The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff remain our top priority and we will ensure appropriate measures and monitoring are in place to manage this increase in activity on campus. Together with Luther College, the University has the capacity to house more than 1700 people and currently there are approxi-
“Through our management, we’ve managed to avoid many instances here on campus at all. I’d like to highlight that we have a good plan, we have a safe campus.
– Dave Button
mately 250 students living in residence. Therefore we are able to accommodate these teams while maintaining appropriate physical distancing, cleanliness, and other pandemic requirements.
“We are confident that the comprehensive safety measures established by the WHL and Saskatchewan Health Authority, as well as the University’s own pandemic protocols, will safeguard the players, coaching and other staff, as well as the University members and broader communities.”
The situation was also discussed during the President’s Town Hall meeting, where I was able to ask about the level of responsibility that the University would take should a case arise. Both Dave Button and Darren Cherwaty were able to answer, with Button starting with the following:
“First of all, through our management,” said Button, “we’ve managed to avoid many instances here on campus at all. I’d like to highlight that we have
a good plan, we have a safe campus.
“We are designated. The designated learning institute in the federal sense of the word [in international terms]. And so, to be able to get designated that way, we had to come up with a good solid plan with how we take and prevent these things and how we manage them if they exist.”
Button continued on regarding the effectiveness of the University’s quarantines.
“To date, we’ve done about 250 [quarantines],” continued Button. “Quarantined international people, mainly students, but some other visitors that fulfilled that role as well. And if there were any testing, much like the assumption for someone that’s coming for an international quarantine, is the assumption that they are that they could be sick, it’s no different, really, in terms of a treatment. And if there were someone, if there was a need to take and isolate, of course, we’d follow all of the Health Authority guidelines.”
Darren Cherwaty, Director of Health, Safety and Wellness at the University of Regina,then provided his response with following:
“We’re working with the WHO and the SHA on the protocols that they have in place, which are fairly robust. I will tell you that, obviously, we will work closely with their own medical staff. And we are allocating, if need be particular isolation rooms and residents, just as we have before, so that in essence, if we have any positive cases, we will work with the SHA public health folks and make sure that players are isolated.”
Cherwaty also spoke on Button’s comments, offering a clearer view of what the protocols in place will entail.
“But as Dave mentioned,” continued Cherwaty. “Their protocols, the WHL protocols, currently under review by the SHA are very tight, and you will only see players on campus going to meals. Other than that, they are pretty much sequestered into their residences and will be traveling to and from the arena. But for the most part, other than meals, they will only be on campus, living in their residences.”
With the information provided, hopefully this will give students some breathing room as players begin to make their way to residences. Also, it looks as though the University is confident in making sure that students will be well taking care of during this time.
As the WHL season moves closer, the positive of having more local hockey will be a welcome return for those that have been patiently waiting. That being said, given how COVID has affected the landscape of the NHL, it is still of concern as to whether or not, when things get going, the WHL will be affected the same way.
Morgan Ortman
The University of Regina sign outside of Riddell.
How the stick became so slick
sarah nakonechny
sports writer
When people talk about Canada, they often utter expressions about our love of hockey. What is more Canadian than a good old fashioned game of hockey? Honestly not a whole lot. This makes it fitting to discover that the origins of the hockey stick came from the Mi’kmaq First Nation, who lived in the Maritimes throughout the 1800’s. These sticks were constructed from birch and hornbeam trees. Surprisingly, the design of these sticks resembled that
of modern day hockey sticks as they were carved out of one continuous piece of wood.
Originally, hockey sticks did not possess the curve that we are so accustomed to seeing now, and were straight sticks that were carved. While trying to figure out how to manufacture the curve that we have grown so used to playing with, manufacturers tried a two-piece method which allowed for a partial curve to be present. Eventually they got the hang of it and were able to carve the ‘banana bend’ into the stick, This has revolutionized how we choose to shoot the puck and without this slight curve the way in which we play the game would have looked very different for us. Many believe that the Chicago Blackhawks player (and now hall of famer) Stan Mikita was the one who came up with the idea of playing with a curved stick. Allegedly, he caught his stick between boards in the arena and the force broke his stick into a V shape. He discovered that he was able to produce faster and more powerful shots with the curved
blade. After this he went on to try and perfect curving the blade of the stick by running it under hot water and bending them in door jams as he was unaware of the work that was being done by manufacturers at the time.
Although we now had the shape that we are used to, by the 1920s we still had a problem. The weight of these sticks was difficult for athletes to maneuver with any kind of agility, which added an extra, unnecessary, challenge to the game. This caused a new challenge for manufactures which led to the use of fiberglass. They would utilize Aspen wood which is overall a lighter type of wood and cover it in fiberglass to help lower the risk of the stick breaking. This helped to significantly lower the weight from the original sticks which helped to improve player performance as well.
Seems as though things were all worked out by the 1960s. We had lighter sticks that allowed for faster and more powerful shots. We had everything we could ever want from this piece of equipment. However, in the 1970’s the
National Hockey League (NHL) had to implement rules involving the amount of curve that the players’ sticks could have. This reduced the curve of sticks to ½ inch limit. The reason for this necessary rule implementation was that the shot velocity was increasing while the control of the shots was rapidly decreasing, which was a risk to those on and off the ice.
It appeared as though manufactures needed to go back to the drawing board as players were complaining that they had lost some of the feel due to the lack of curve in their sticks. This brought the blame around to the overall weight of the stick once more.
Back to the drawing board brought forth the aluminum sticks in the 1980s. 100 per cent aluminum did not last long however as there were massive amounts of complaints about the feel that it provided. Players were after the feel that wooden sticks provided and wanted the weight of the aluminum sticks.
In the 1990s manufacturers finally thought that they found
the winning combination. They developed sticks that had aluminum shafts and wooden blades. This was beneficial as the shafts were strong and durable whereas the blades were cheap and easy to replace if needed. The use of aluminum in the shaft also allowed manufacturers to develop a consistent weight and flex which was not possible with fully wooden sticks. Although this seemed to provide the best of both worlds, this was not the case and many still had complaints.
In the early 2000s, we were introduced to the one-piece composite sticks. These consisted of aluminum and composite shaft and blade combinations. This brought back the feel that so many individuals enjoyed from the wooden sticks while allowing them to be lighter and more durable. This has provided faster and powerful shots once more that allows for the pace of the game to be what we know and enjoy today.
Although many individuals enjoy and still utilize these onepiece sticks, we have to keep pushing forward in our innovation. To
– Sarah Nakonechny
get a better more effective stick manufacturers have been experimenting with other materials. Currently they are looking at carbon fibers and other high strength composites as a way to improve the overall look, feel and effectiveness of future sticks.
A hockey stick may just appear to be a basic form of equipment. But this simple staple is one that has shaped the way in which we play and enjoy the game.
op-ed
The unaddressed issues of the Elisa Lam case
History will repeat itself if we don’t address glaring problems now
Wikipedia Commons A street view of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
The Elisa Lam case has fascinated me for years. Ever since I first watched that grainy elevator footage years ago, I was entranced by what could have potentially happened to the young Canadian tourist, found dead in a hotel water tank in downtown Los Angeles.
People close to me know that I adore true crime documentaries. For me, the fascination derives from both wanting to understand how tragedies occur, and in analyzing and hypothesizing what we can do to prevent them from occurring again in the future. With this in mind, me and my roommates sat down to watch The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel.
A brief summary for those who don’t know: Elisa Lam was a 21-year-old Canadian student who went missing during a trip she had taken to Los Angeles. The last footage seen of her was grainy elevator surveillance footage taken from the hotel she was staying in – the infamous Cecil Hotel. Lam was reported missing for 17 days before her body was discovered in one of the water tanks on the hotel’s roof; the same tanks that supply drinking and showering water to the entire hotel.
Elisa Lam was an explorer. She was a lover of literature, including Harry Potter and the Great Gatsby, she loved photography, and was a frequent poster on her Tumblr blog under the username nouvelle-nouveau. Her blog is still up to this day. However, what her social media presence highlighted the most was both her adoration for travel, and her struggles with mental health issues.
Lam was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, reportedly took four different types of medications, and struggled with suicidal thoughts. The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel docuseries implies that Lam’s love of travel stemmed from wanting to prove her mental illness wrong; that no matter what the mental obstacles she faced, she could still explore the world.
While the documentary was phenomenal, and I would recommend the series to any true crime fan, the conclusion it draws is purely speculation. Unfortunately, there is no real way of knowing exactly what happened to Elisa Lam. Suspicion and deduction are all anyone can rely on when it comes to unsolved cases. The documentary proposed that Lam died in an accidental drowning caused, in part, by her not taking her prescribed medications.
But the conclusion the documentary draws isn’t what I want to discuss. Instead,
I wanted to draw attention to the glossed over, underlying problem the docuseries acknowledges but fails to properly address: the homeless, drug addiction, and crime in that neighbourhood of Los Angeles is a recipe for disaster.
The Cecil Hotels lies in the middle of “skid row”, an impoverished community in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Tents that house the homeless line the sidewalks, drugs are widely available for purchase, and crime is rampant. The hotel itself is also unfortunately known for a slew of suicides, murders, and crimes prior to Lam’s disappearance, marking her death as merely one in an unknown number of those who lost their lives in the Cecil Hotel’s walls.
The Cecil Hotel was partially rebranded to “Stay on Main” in 2011, hoping to draw in new crowds of tourists with flashy modern marketing. However, the Cecil Hotel was partially a hostel, and partially a section for low-income housing, which generated problems for many guests that weren’t aware of this prior to booking their stays.
In the days leading up to her body being discovered, police and the public alike wondered if foul play was involved, and almost immediately the drug-ridden and crime-rampant community of skid row had a flashlight pointed directly at them.
This was what I found to be one of the most glaring, undiscussed aspects of the Elisa Lam case: that a society that allows a neighbourhood like skid row is not a society that is functional.
After the coroner’s report ruled that Lam’s death was an ‘accidental drowning’ (whether you agree with such a ruling or not), I don’t understand why no one offered a solution to a neighbourhood that was cause for such strife. Skid rows are everywhere. Saskatchewan itself has a glaring poverty problem, with the Star Phoenix reporting a year ago that “one in four Saskatchewan children lives in poverty”, meaning that the child poverty rate in our province is the “third highest in Canada”.
I’m not implying that the homeless, impoverished, drug-addicted, or struggling in any way caused or assisted in Lam’s death. What I am saying is that the fear of what that community could do – or has done – causes such stress in the community, so why isn’t something done about it?
Why are the homeless not offered appropriate housing so they don’t need to camp out on tents in the sidewalk? Why do we not offer the drug-addicted safe consumption sites for their habits so they can not only consume drugs safely without risk of overdose, but can also receive proper supports that may be needed to separate themselves from their addiction? Why do we not offer proper programs for ex-convicts who have just been released from prison? People who have no money to their name and have no qualifications to work? Why do we not help people get back on their feet?
Why do we blame these people when it’s our system that has been created to force them to reoffend for basic survival? Instead, we look to them every time a crime is committed. The public is distrusting of the neighbourhood, police are regularly patrolling the area, and nothing ever changes. No one ever wins.
Additionally, Lam herself clearly struggled with mental health problems. Her Tumblr blog is only one glimpse into the internal life she lived. If proper mental health support had been more widely available and affordable, people struggling in the same ways Lam was may have received medication, counselling, and treatment.
What needs to be done is plain to see. Now, it’s up to us to make it happen.
