National Hockey League Playoffs
Montreal Canadiens 4 Vegas Golden Knights 1
Former Owen Sound Attack captain Nick Suzuki scored and had 3 point night for Montreal
Netminder Carey Price stopped 26 shots to post the victory
The Canadiens lead the best of 7 semifinal series 3-2
Montreal will host Game 6 tomorrow night
Tonight
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders
( The Lightning lead the best of 7 semifinal 3-2 )
8 pm
Sting Land Letang
The Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League officially introduced former Owen Sound Attack coach Al Letang as their new Head Coach yesterday.
Letang was with the Attack organization for 4 years and is 10th all time on the franchise coaching victory list
Last week, Letang stepped down as Attack Head Coach citing a desire to be closer to his home and family in Sarnia.
Sarnia Sting Release
During a press conference at the Sarnia Golf & Curling Club Tuesday morning, Sarnia Sting General Manager Dylan Seca announced that Alan Letang will serve as the next head coach of the Hockey Club.
Letang, 45 was an original member of the Sarnia Sting when the team moved to the city form Newmarket in 1994. Fans can remember the 6’2” defenseman tallying 41 points in 62 regular season games at Sarnia Arena, the original home of the Sting.
After being selected in the 8th round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, the Renfrew, Ontario native went on to have a 20-year professional hockey playing career. In 2014, Letang handed in his skates in exchange for a whistle and began coaching as an Assistant Coach of the Medvescak Zagreb in Russia’s Kontinetial Hockey League (KHL). Alan returned to North America and the Ontario Hockey League in 2016 as an Assistant Coach with the Owen Sound Attack. Following three seasons in the Assistant Coach role, Letang was promoted to Head Coach of the Attack during the 2018-2019 season.
Despite his hockey career taking him around the world, Alan with his wife Krystie, children Ayden and Aiva have called Sarnia home for over 20 years.
“I am extremely humbled and excited for the opportunity to be back with the Sting organization. I have called Sarnia home for 20 plus years and know the steep hockey history and passion this city and franchise has. “Comments Letang on returning to the Sting as Head Coach.
“I would like to thank Derian [Hatcher], David [Legwand], Dylan [Seca} and the entire Sting organization for welcoming me and my family, there are exciting times ahead here in Sarnia and I can’t wait to get started.” Letang adds.
Adding to his wealth of hockey experience, Letang has also served on the international stage with Hockey Canada. In 2018 he was named Assistant Coach for Team Canada Black at the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge. He also played a big part in Team Canada’s World Junior Hockey Championship in 2020, serving as the team’s pre-scout coach, analyzing game footage, and developing strategy on Team Canada’s upcoming opponents.
“On behalf of Derian, Dylan and the entire Sarnia Sting Hockey Club I want to welcome Alan and his family to the Sting organization.” Comments Co-Owner David Legwand.
“As a group it was an easy decision. To have the opportunity to bring Alan, his work ethic, passion, and experience to our team is one we are very grateful for. We look forward to continuing to work together to provide our players the best opportunity for development and our fans an exciting team to watch as we continue to work towards an Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup Championship.”
Letang will begin preparations alongside Associate Head Coach Brad Staubitz and Assistant Coach Mark Mancari for the 2021-22 OHL season, set to kick off October 7th.
National Basketball Association Playoffs
Western Conference Final
Phoenix Suns 104 Los Angeles Clippers 103
Deandre Ayton jammed an alley-oop pass into the basket with 0.7 seconds remaining to win it for Phoenix
Cameron Payne scored 29 points for the Suns who have won a franchise record 9 straight playoff games
Phoenix leads the best of 7 series; 2-0
The Clippers will host game 3 tomorrow night.
Tonight
Eastern Conference Final
Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks
( Game 1 of a best of 7 series )
8:30 pm
The NBA draft lottery was conducted last night.
The Detroit Pistons won the lottery & will pick 1st overall
The Toronto Raptors will have the 4th selection in the 1st round.
The NBA Draft will take place on July 29th.
Major League Baseball
Interleague
Toronto Blue Jays 2 Miami Marlins 1
Cavan Biggio & Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled on consecutive pitches to break a 9th-inning tie
Toronto starter Ross Stripling allowed 1 run in 6 innings of work
The Jays have won 3 in a row and will send Robbie Ray to the mound tonight for the 2nd game of the set against the Marlins.
Detroit Tigers 8 St.Louis Cardinals 2
Pittsburgh Pirates 6 Chicago White Sox 3
Chicago Cubs 7 Cleveland Indians 1
Cincinnati Reds 10 Minnesota Twins 7
San Francisco Giants 5 Los Angeles Angels 0
Seattle Mariners 2 Colorado Rockies 1
American League
Boston Red Sox 9 Tampa Bay Rays 5 ( 11 innings )
Kansas City Royals 6 New York Yankees 5
Houston Astros 3 Baltimore Orioles 1
Oakland Athletics 13 Texas Rangers 6
National League
Atlanta Braves 3 New York Mets 0
Washington Nationals 3 Philadelphia Phillies 2
Milwaukee Brewers 5 Arizona Diamondbacks 0
San Diego Padres 3 Los Angeles Dodgers 2
Today
Toronto Blue Jays at Miami Marlins
Robbie Ray ( 4 & 3 ) vs Trevor Rogers ( 7 & 3 )
7:10 pm
Chicago White Sox at Pittsburgh Pirates 12:35 pm
Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 pm
St.Louis Cardinals at Detroit Tigers 1:10 pm
Milwaukee Brewers at Arizona Diamondbacks 3:40 pm
San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Angels 4:07 pm
Colorado Rockies at Seattle Mariners 4:10 pm
Houston Astros at Baltimore Orioles 7:05 pm
Kansas City Royals at New York Yankees 7:05 pm
Atlanta Braves at New York Mets 7:10 pm
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays 7:10 pm
Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers 8:05 pm
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres 10:10 pm
Euro 2020
England 1 Czech Republic 0
Croatia 3 Scotland 1
Today
noon
Slovakia ( 1 & 1 ) vs Spain ( 0-0- & 2 )
Sweden ( 1-0 & 1 ) vs Poland ( 0-1 & 1 )
3 pm
Germany ( 1 & 1 ) vs Hungary ( 0-1 & 1 )
Portugal ( 1 & 1 ) vs France ( 1-0 & 1 )
Major League Soccer
Toronto FC at Nashville SC 8:30 pm
D.C. United at Montréal Impact 8:00 pm
LA Galaxy at Vancouver Whitecaps 10:30 pm
New York Red Bull at New England Revolution 7:00 pm
Atlanta United FC at New York City 7:30 pm
Columbus Crew at Philadelphia Union 7:30 pm
FC Cincinnati at Chicago Fire FC 8:00 pm
Austin FC at Minnesota United FC 8:00 pm
Portland Timbers at Houston Dynamo FC 8:30 pm
Colorado Rapids at Sporting Kansas City 8:30 pm
Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders 10:00 pm
FC Dallas at LAFC 10:30 pm
ATP
at Eastbourne, England
Vasek Pospisil defeated James Ward 6-4 & 6-4.
This morning at 9 am, Pospisil will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
WTA
at Eastbourne, England
Bianca Andreescu defeated Christina McHale 6-4, 2-6 & 6-2
Andreescu also plays at 9 this morning when she faces Anett Kontaveit
Golf Ontario
Today is Day 2 at the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship being hosted at the Taboo Muskoka Golf Course
in Gravenhurst
Yesterday, 32 opening round matches were conducted.
The Round of 16 will be staged today which is the 2nd day of the 4 day event.
The Ontario Women’s match Play Championship commences tomorrow also at Taboo Muskoka Golf Course.
Finally……
Bill C-218, a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code legalizing single-game sports betting in Canada has passed.
The Bill will go before the Chief Justice of Canada to be granted royal assent.
Once that happens it will be up to each Provincial government to determine how to implement the gambling format.