Adam Van Koeverden, Canada's Secretary for Sport, confirms that Russian players will not be allowed to compete at next month's world junior tournament even if they already hold visas to Canada:

"The (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) Minister will take measures to individually assess and prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada to compete, regardless of whether they already hold valid visas.

These measures are not directed at the Russian and Belarusian people. Rather, they are intended to prevent the governments of Russia and Belarus from using international sporting events hosted in Canada as platforms for state representation, political legitimacy and propaganda. Canada’s consistent position also acknowledges that only individual athletes competing in a neutral capacity will continue to be able to participate in international sport events hosted by Canada.

Canada’s position is unequivocal: as long as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, there can be no return to business as usual. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine."
TV providers say Rogers’ Monday hockey move inflates prices, ‘erodes’ sports viewing
A trio of television providers are accusing Rogers Communications Inc. of violating competition rules and inflating Canadian sports fans’ bills by moving Monday night hockey broadcasts exclusively to its Sportsnet Plus streaming service for the current NHL season.
CP24The Canadian Press

Don't mistake this for deep concern about the consumer. It's simply a question of competition and Rogers leveraging their control over content to get an edge on other TV providers.

Yesterday at worlds, Canada did their job with a workmanlike win over Finland to take first place. The knot of teams below the USA in Group A sorted themselves out in a fairly unexpected order. Czechia ended up fourth and will face Canada in the quarterfinals. USA will play Denmark. Which is a very, very different sort of situation.

This year's surprise fall was Japan, dropping to last in their group with one point in four games. Since both groups second- and third-placed teams were switched from the expected order, those two quarterfinals are pretty much as expected.

The quarterfinals are tomorrow.

‘You just can’t have it’: Hiller blasts Maple Leafs as mistakes continue to cost them

Maple Leafs have problems, but aren’t this bad
The Toronto Maple Leafs playoff hopes appear to be toast. But are they? Justin Bourne analyzes why he thinks they have a chance.
Sportsnet.caJustin Bourne
Flyers GM Briere says report Michkov wants out 'not correct' | NHL.com
Amid 5-10-5 start, forward says he’s happy playing for Philadelphia, can be restricted free agent after season
NHL logoNHLMedia

Too late! It was in a tweet, and that's the same thing as being true these days.

The Leafs practiced yesterday without Zack MacEwen, but he may be ready to go tonight. As of now, no roster moves have been made and the practice lines were unchanged from the last game.

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