Detroit News staff and wires
Former Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan will lead a review of men’s junior hockey in Ontario and deliver recommendations to Hockey Canada and three of its Ontario members.
Shanahan, who won three Stanley Cups and scored 309 goals in nine years with Detroit, will report to a six-person governance committee, Hockey Canada said in a release.
“Playing hockey for Team Canada was one of the greatest honours of my career, so to work on this project with Hockey Canada and its three Ontario members to help give back to the game in my home province is an opportunity that I am very grateful for,” Shanahan said in a release.
“Throughout this review, I’m looking forward to learning from those involved in junior hockey in Ontario and better understanding their visions for how we can build a stronger system for everyone participating in our great game.”
The provincial members include Hockey Eastern Ontario, Hockey Northwestern Ontario and the Ontario Hockey Federation.
Hockey Canada plans to publish the interim paper and final report once it’s delivered to the Ontario governance committee.
Sweden captures world junior title
St. Paul, Minn. – Casper Juustovaara and Viktor Eklund scored first-period goals and Sweden won its third world junior hockey title, beating Czechia 4-2 on Monday night in the first all-European final since 2016.
“It was time for a gold, and we did it,” said forward Antron Frodell, drafted third overall by Chicago last summer. “It’s amazing. We’re a big family. We love each other. We did the right things for the team to win.”
Sweden also won in 1981 and 2012. Czechia won its lone titles in 2000 and 2001.
Adam Jiricek and Matej Kubiesa scored for Czechia, with Kubiesa striking with 24 seconds left. Ivar Stenberg capped the scoring with an empty-netter with eight seconds left.
“I think Sweden played better from the beginning,” Czechia coach Patrik Augusta. “Our legs weren’t going and the game against Canada last night took a lot of energy from us, not just physically but mentally. We were looking for a little spark, and it didn’t come until the last couple of minutes, which was too late.”
In the third-place game, Sam O’Reilly scored twice, Gavin McKenna and Wolverines forward Michael Hage each had four points to help Canada beat Finland 6-3.
McKenna had a goal and three assists, and Hage had four assists. Zayne Parekh had a goal and an assist to break the Canadian record for points by a defenseman with 13 on six goals and seven assists. Alex Pietrangelo had 12 in 2010.
Monday NHL
(At) Washington 7, Anaheim 4: Justin Sourdif scored his first NHL hat trick and added two assists for the Capitals.
Alex Ovechkin scored twice, Ryan Leonard had a goal and an assist, John Carlson also scored and Connor McMichael had four assists for the Capitals, who ended a two-game slide.
Chris Kreider, Alex Killorn, Jacob Trouba and Beckett Sennecke scored for the Ducks, who have lost six straight. Petr Mrazek stopped 19 of 24 through two periods.
Utah 3, (at) N.Y. Rangers 2 (OT): Sean Durzi scored 1:06 into overtime and Utah beat New York for their second win in three games.
Dylan Guenther and Michael Carcone scored for Utah, and Karel Vejmelka had 22 saves.
Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière scored goals, and Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad each had two assists for the Rangers, who lost for the fourth time in five games (1-2-2). Igor Shesterkin stopped all nine shots he faced before he left with an apparent injury with 7 minutes remaining in the first period.
Flyers sign Dvorak to $25.75M extension
Philadelphia – The Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward Christian Dvorak to a five-year contract extension worth $25.75 million.
General manager Daniel Briere announced the deal Monday night. Dvorak will count $5.15 million annually against the salary cap from when the deal kicks in next NHL season through 2030-31.
“We’re very happy to have Christian be a part of the Philadelphia Flyers for the foreseeable future,” Briere said. “He has played a pivotal role in our team’s success this season and proven to be a reliable, two-way center that can be trusted in all situations. More importantly, he plays a big role in our locker room and has fit in seamlessly to our group and what we are building.”
Dvorak, 29, has been a revelation in his first half-season in Philadelphia after signing as a free agent in July. He is taking a slight pay cut from the $5.4 million he’s making this season but gets long-term security with a contract through age 35.
The Palos Heights, Illinois, native has nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 39 games, tied for third on the Flyers. He’s on pace to set a new career high in scoring, having previously gotten to 38 with Arizona in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season.
Hockey Hall of Famer Pulford dies at 89
Bob Pulford, a Hockey Hall of Fame player who went on to a lengthy career in the NHL as a coach and general manager, has died. He was 89.
A spokesperson for the NHL Alumni Association said Monday the organization learned of Pulford’s death from his family. No other details were provided.
A tough, dependable forward, Pulford helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup four times during his 14-year stretch with them from 1956-70. The Newton Robinson, Ontario, native was part of the 1967 team that remains the organization’s last to win a championship.
He was picked for five All-Star games and led the league in short-handed goals three times. After recording 694 points in 1,168 regular-season and playoff games, Pulford was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
Off the ice, Pulford was the first president of the players union, taking part in early collective bargaining and laying the foundation for the modern NHLPA.
Pulford spent his final two playing seasons with the Los Angeles Kings in the early ‘70s before coaching them for the following five years. He then ran the Chicago Blackhawks’ front office as general manager or senior vice president of hockey operations for three decades from 1977-2007, going behind the bench to coach four times during that span.
“Whether coach, general manager, senior executive, or even multiple at the same time, Bob wasn’t afraid to serve in whatever role was most needed at the time and take on the different challenges associated with each that seem unthinkable by today’s standards,” said Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz, whose grandfather Bill employed Pulford. “We are grateful for his leadership and devotion to the sport, which will forever be part of our club’s history.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Pulford “left an indelible mark on the game,” especially given the various roles he filled.
“Bob became a friend, counselor and confidant to me – particularly in my early years as commissioner – and I had enormous respect for him and all he gave the game,” Bettman said.
The NHL Alumni Association in a post memorializing Pulford called him “one of the most respected figures in the history of hockey.”
“Rest in peace, Bob,” the NHLAA said. “Your impact on hockey and on all who had the privilege of knowing you will never be forgotten.”
Ex-CHL president Branch dies at 77
David Branch, the former Canadian Hockey League president and longtime commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League, died at the age of 77 on Sunday.
Branch was commissioner of the OHL from 1979 until his retirement in 2024. He served as president of the CHL from 1996 to 2019.
“David Branch devoted his life’s work to major junior hockey in Canada, always prioritizing the development, education and well-being of its players,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.
“Throughout his nearly 50 years serving as president of both the Ontario Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League, David combined his passion for the game and visionary leadership to guide tremendous growth and modernization for the leagues that have long been the greatest source of players who make the NHL.”
Branch was considered a pioneer in prioritizing player welfare, introducing initiatives to address player safety, mental health support and education. He introduced the OHL scholarship program to ensure players who played in the league had access to post-secondary education.
“The CHL would not be the top development hockey league in the world without David Branch,” CHL president Dan MacKenzie said. “His relentless focus on the player experience, both on and off the ice, will be his greatest legacy, as the game is safer, faster, and more skilled because of his influence and leadership.
“David had both the vision and the will to do big things, and he brought people together to get them done. He was a true builder, and his rightful place should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.”
In 2019-20, the CHL’s most outstanding player award was renamed the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award. The OHL also presents the David Branch Leader of the Year Award annually to the league’s top executive.
Local schedules
Monday
▶ Red Wings 5, Ottawa 3
World Junior Championship
▶ Sweden 4, Czechia 2
Wednesday
▶ Texas at Grand Rapids, 7
Thursday
▶ Vancouver at Red Wings, 7
Friday
▶ Texas at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Notre Dame at Michigan, 7
▶ Michigan State at Ohio State, 6:30
▶ Western Michigan at Denver, 9
▶ Michigan Tech at Bemidji State, 8:07
▶ Augustana at Northern Michigan, 7:07
▶ Adrian College at NTDP U18, 7
▶ NTDP U17 at Dubuque, 8:05
Saturday
▶ Red Wings at Montreal, 7
▶ Notre Dame at Michigan, 7
▶ Michigan State at Ohio State, 5
▶ Western Michigan at Denver, 8
▶ Michigan Tech at Bemidji State, 7:07
▶ Augustana at Northern Michigan, 6:07
▶ Trine University at NTDP U18, 7
▶ NTDP U17 at Dubuque, 8:05
Monday
▶ Carolina at Red Wings, 7
Tuesday, Jan. 13
▶ Red Wings at Boston, 7:30
▶ Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 8
Wednesday, Jan. 14
▶ NTDP 17 at Youngstown, 7:05
Thursday, Jan. 15
▶ Michigan State at Wisconsin, 9
Friday, Jan. 16
▶ San Jose at Red Wings, 7
▶ Rockford at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Michigan at Minnesota, 8
▶ Michigan State at Wisconsin, 8
▶ Minnesota State at Michigan Tech, 7:07
Saturday, Jan. 17
▶ Ottawa at Red Wings, 5
▶ Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Michigan at Minnesota, 7
▶ Minnesota State at Michigan Tech, 6:07
▶ Green Bay at NTDP U17, 7
Sunday, Jan. 18
▶ Green Bay at NTDP U18, 4
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