WEDNESDAY SPORTS: BACK AT IT!
Photo: Winnipeg Jets
NHL
After a short Christmas break, the NHL resumes Wednesday night with 14 games on the schedule and four Canadian teams in action. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Ottawa Senators; the Winnipeg Jets visit the Chicago Blackhawks looking for their third straight win; and the Calgary Flames host the Seattle Kraken, who have won two straight. The first Battle of Florida – or Sunshine State Derby – clash of the season faces off in Tampa Bay as the Lightning host the Florida Panthers.
INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY
Canada will be aiming to improve to 2-0 when it plays Latvia Wednesday at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. Canada opened pool play yesterday with a 5-2 win over Finland, while Latvia lost 6-0 to Sweden. Mathis Rousseau stopped 24 of 26 shots for Canada, which has won the last two world titles.
Canada has the day off today at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Canada opened the six-team international hockey tournament yesterday with a 4-0 win over Frolunda Gothenburg. Jonathan Hazen had two goals and an assist for Canada, while netminder Aaron Dell made 30 saves to post the shutout. Canada’s next action is Thursday against host H-C Davos.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
DETROIT – Freshman Darius Taylor returned from a leg injury to rush for a career-high 208 yards, and Minnesota beat Bowling Green 30-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl on Tuesday. Conor Bazelak threw for two scores and ran for one for Bowling Green (7-6), which lost the Quick Lane Bowl for the second year in a row.
PHOENIX – Jason Bean threw for 449 yards and all six of his touchdown passes to two receivers, and penalty-plagued Kansas outlasted UNLV 49-36 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Jayhawks (9-4), ranked 14th nationally for fewest penalties with 55 during the regular season, were flagged 18 times for 210 yards, including four personal fouls.
DALLAS (AP) – Linebacker Brian Holloway returned two interceptions for touchdowns, Jahmyl Jeter ran for three scores, and Texas State beat Rice 45-21 in the First Responder Bowl. It was the Bobcats’ first bowl appearance as an FBS program.
NBA
There are six games in the NBA tonight, including the Washington Wizards hosting the Toronto Raptors. The Wizards, who lost 127-119 last night to the visiting Orlando Magic, have lost two in a row. The Raptors have lost three straight.
(Canadian Press/Associated Press)
Speaking of the NBA, Detroit Pistons have now hit 27 consecutive losses and counting making the Edmonton Elks losing streak seem piddly. Edmonton Elks good to go 2024 and will vye for 1st place in the CFL West Division. You read that here first, Edmonton Elks will be in 1st place 2024.
Young NHL teenage hockey phenom Connor Bedard personally beat they’re just not ready winnipeg jets all by himself on behalf of the Chicago Blackhawks by scoring 2 goals against the jets so called world class goaltender [Not even close] connor hellebuyck. Winnipeg’s starter looked like an emergency call up from a made up Manitoba bush pond hockey game as young Connor Bedard made the jets goalie look like a amateur. Replying for the jets one goal was a guy name morgan wheelbarrow.