Sports

Abbotsford’s Jake Virtanen (red jersey) has irritated his teammates who now want him off the roster. (EHC Visp Instagram)

Swiss League team forces management to remove Abbotsford’s Jake Virtanen ahead of playoffs

Former Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick is reportedly very unpopular with EHC Visp players

Bob Marjanovich podcasts from Phoenix, the site of Super Bowl 57. (Nik Kowalski photo)

PODCAST: Bob Marjanovich podcasts from Super Bowl 57 in Phoenix

MOJ on Sports: Day one guests include Erik Kramer, David Tyree and Jim Everett

Abbotsford’s Jake Virtanen (red jersey) will compete in the Swiss League playoffs starting next week. (EHC Visp Instagram)

Abbotsford’s Jake Virtanen set to compete in the Swiss League playoffs

Former Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick collects 25 points in 21 games for Visp EHC

Kansas City Chiefs fans cheer during the NFL football Super Bowl 57 opening night, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Phoenix. The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt York)

THE MOJ: Super Bowl week all about the schmooze

Thinking of heading to Phoenix? Better have some deep pockets

Kansas City Chiefs fans cheer during the NFL football Super Bowl 57 opening night, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Phoenix. The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Large advertisements adorn buildings and electronic billboards leading up to the NFL Super Bowl LVII football game in Phoenix, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

For Super Bowl ads this year, it’s crypto out, booze in, and the spaces are all sold

Fox Sports says most ads sold between $6 million and $7 million

Large advertisements adorn buildings and electronic billboards leading up to the NFL Super Bowl LVII football game in Phoenix, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Canada’s Markus Thormeyer (left) huddles with Brent Hayden, Yuri Kisil and Joshua Liendo following a fourth place finish in the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay during the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, July 26, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn photo)

B.C. Olympian Markus Thormeyer banned 12 months for doping violation

Sanction stems from unintentionally ingesting a banned agent in his partner’s water bottle last year

Canada’s Markus Thormeyer (left) huddles with Brent Hayden, Yuri Kisil and Joshua Liendo following a fourth place finish in the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay during the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, July 26, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn photo)
Then-Vancouver Canuck Bo Horvat prepares to take a faceoff during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Vancouver, on Friday, January 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Islanders sign Horvat to 8-year deal after trading for him

Deal is worth $68 million and runs in to the 2030-31 season

Then-Vancouver Canuck Bo Horvat prepares to take a faceoff during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Vancouver, on Friday, January 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Rupert Rampage fans and players celebrate the first goal of the night against the Terrace River Kings Jan. 28 at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre. (Thom Barker photo)

Rampage hang on to west division with wins against Kitimat, Smithers

Prince Rupert finishes season with 12-4-0-0 record going into playoffs

Rupert Rampage fans and players celebrate the first goal of the night against the Terrace River Kings Jan. 28 at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre. (Thom Barker photo)
Diego Ferreira, right, fights Kyle (The Monster) Nelson, left, during the UFC Lightweight bout in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. Nelson fought (The Korean Superboy) Doo-ho Choi to a majority draw Sunday on a UFC Fight Night card. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadian Kyle Nelson fights to a controversial draw on UFC Fight Night card

The judges scored the bout 29-27, 28-28 and 28-28, resulting in the majority draw

Diego Ferreira, right, fights Kyle (The Monster) Nelson, left, during the UFC Lightweight bout in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. Nelson fought (The Korean Superboy) Doo-ho Choi to a majority draw Sunday on a UFC Fight Night card. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A shot from Central Division’s Seth Jones, of the Chicago Blackhawks (4) gets past Pacific Division’s goaltender Logan Thompson, of the Las Vegas Knights (36) during the NHL All Star hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Rivals Crosby and Ovechkin relish being All-Star teammates

‘I think we have fun to play together, not against each other’

A shot from Central Division’s Seth Jones, of the Chicago Blackhawks (4) gets past Pacific Division’s goaltender Logan Thompson, of the Las Vegas Knights (36) during the NHL All Star hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Janet Pacey from Yellowknife poses with some of the Arctic Winter Games pins that she has collected over the years in this Friday, February 3, 2023 handout photo. New and seasoned pin traders, affectionately known as “pinheads” can often be found at the biennial sporting event swapping pins from across the circumpolar north or on the hunt for rare ones to add to their trove. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Janet Pacey *MANDATORY CREDIT*

‘Thrill of the chase’: Pin swapping a sport of its own at the Arctic Winter Games

‘I always say it’s the raven effect. Everything’s quite shiny’

Janet Pacey from Yellowknife poses with some of the Arctic Winter Games pins that she has collected over the years in this Friday, February 3, 2023 handout photo. New and seasoned pin traders, affectionately known as “pinheads” can often be found at the biennial sporting event swapping pins from across the circumpolar north or on the hunt for rare ones to add to their trove. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Janet Pacey *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Olympic medalist in swimming and former world record holder Elaine Tanner nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, was awarded the Service Medal in 1969. The government renamed the medal to the Order of Canada medal in 1972. She’s photographed in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Elaine Tanner, 1960s swimming superstar, cherishes rare medal that Canada wanted back

In 1970, Tanner became the youngest Canadian to be awarded the Medal of Service

Olympic medalist in swimming and former world record holder Elaine Tanner nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, was awarded the Service Medal in 1969. The government renamed the medal to the Order of Canada medal in 1972. She’s photographed in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat, left, and Elias Pettersson celebrate Horvat’s goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a pre-season NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday September 20, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson ready for ‘last ride’ together at NHL all-star game

‘Tough to see it happen, but business is business’

Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat, left, and Elias Pettersson celebrate Horvat’s goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a pre-season NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday September 20, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Rich Harden's 949 strikeouts and 17.9 WAR rank sixth all-time among Canadian big league pitchers. (Courtesy of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame)

B.C.-born major-league pitcher Rich Harden headed to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Former Oakland Athletic ranks sixth all-time among Canadian big league pitchers

Rich Harden's 949 strikeouts and 17.9 WAR rank sixth all-time among Canadian big league pitchers. (Courtesy of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame)
The Western Canadian Championships, the biggest event the Kimberley Nordic Club has ever hosted, officially got underway on Friday, Feb. 3. Paul Rodgers photo.

Western Canadian Championships underway at Kimberley Nordic Club

Over 400 athletes registered at biggest event KNC has ever hosted

The Western Canadian Championships, the biggest event the Kimberley Nordic Club has ever hosted, officially got underway on Friday, Feb. 3. Paul Rodgers photo.
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, back, stands behind Ilya Mikheyev, from left to right, Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Vancouver, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

THE MOJ: Playing out the string should give the Canucks plenty of time for evaluation

Situation offers new coach Rick Tocchet a chance to give himself an extended training camp

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, back, stands behind Ilya Mikheyev, from left to right, Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Vancouver, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Canada’s Andrea Neil (5) jogs off the field after the international friendly soccer match against Germany in Burnaby, B.C. Thursday Sept. 1, 2005. A former captain of Canada’s women’s soccer team is calling for the federal government to launch a full judicial inquiry into abuse in sports across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck Stoody

Soccer star Andrea Neil calls for judicial inquiry into sports abuse in Canada

Nothing can change until we turn the lights on and reckon with where we are

Canada’s Andrea Neil (5) jogs off the field after the international friendly soccer match against Germany in Burnaby, B.C. Thursday Sept. 1, 2005. A former captain of Canada’s women’s soccer team is calling for the federal government to launch a full judicial inquiry into abuse in sports across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck Stoody
Regan Yee edges out Abby Nichols at the line as both women get big personal bests of 8:48.53 and 8:48.58. Yee starts the year with two races, two wins, and two personal bests. (Justin Britton/Citius Magazine).

South Hazelton runner selected to represent Canada at World Cross Country Championships

The announcement came in the midst of a winning streak for Regan Yee

Regan Yee edges out Abby Nichols at the line as both women get big personal bests of 8:48.53 and 8:48.58. Yee starts the year with two races, two wins, and two personal bests. (Justin Britton/Citius Magazine).
Ukrainian peewee hockey player Zahar Kovalenko carries his bag as head coach Evgheniy Pysarenko walks behind as they arrive, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The Ukraine team will compete at the Quebec international peewee tournament. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Hockey team of preteen Ukrainian refugees arrives in Quebec City for tournament

Their coach described the team’s presence at noted peewee tourney as ‘almost a miracle’

Ukrainian peewee hockey player Zahar Kovalenko carries his bag as head coach Evgheniy Pysarenko walks behind as they arrive, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The Ukraine team will compete at the Quebec international peewee tournament. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
This image released by Paramount shows Glynn Turman, left, and Rita Moreno in a scene from “80 for Brady.” (Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures via AP)

Review: ‘80 for Brady’ is a sports film fumble for the ages

Talents of Tomlin, Fonda, Moreno and Field sacrificed for cheap laughs and unearned poignancy

This image released by Paramount shows Glynn Turman, left, and Rita Moreno in a scene from “80 for Brady.” (Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures via AP)
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