Canucks Skate: NHL Scandal, Surprise Surgery, Thornton a Cat

Expect some news from the Vancouver Canucks shortly on a contract for third-line centre Jason Dickinson with his arbitration date coming up on the calendar August 20th. Meanwhile, for a Saturday in mid-August, quite the busy day around the NHL newsroom.

Let’s Skate! …

Rick Westhead of TSN has continued his reporting on the alleged sexual abuse of players by a former Chicago Blackhawks video coach and the subsequent cover-up by the team. He’s also published a copy of the complaint from court.

An old guy retired to Florida … well, not quite. But 42-year-old veteran centre Joe Thornton signed with the Florida Panthers on Friday for the NHL minimum. One last kick at the Cup so to speak.

For fans of international hockey tournaments and fans of women’s hockey, you have the perfect combination coming up, also on August 20th. It’s the start of the Womens World Championship in Calgary. There are no gals from BC on the Team Canada roster but there are definitely some stars to watch. Melodie Daoust’s profile is just one in a series.

Meanwhile, my pal and sometimes cohort Paul Graham, a TSN executive who has been running remote hockey productions for that network all over the world for decades, points out that this summer TSN is covering all 31 tournament games, plus two pre-competition games on the 18th of August. Quite a difference from 1990 when “PG” produced the first WCC tournament games in Ottawa and they broadcast a grand total of five.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews underwent wrist surgery. That was a big surprise piece of medical news on Friday.

More to come …

Stay hydrated folks, it’s hot out there. The energy drains way more quickly in this weather – I noticed it yesterday while biking. Be well Vancouver Canucks fans.