🧵#2: What is daily life like in Ukraine?

I spent five days visiting the country, spending three days in Kyiv, while also visiting Kremenchuk and Lviv. The only way to describe it is that life appears to be simultaneously very normal and extremely horrifying. 1/9 In the cities I visited, the sidewalk cafes are open, shops are busy, children are playing outside, people are going to work and there is heavy traffic. (This might be one of the few places on earth where people view the return of bumper to bumper traffic as a welcome sign). 2/9

Two hot topics of conversation during the NHL All-Star Break were 1) declining TV ratings and 2) Sidney Crosby (and others) calling for a return to the 1-8 conference playoff format. Is that format compatible with the growing calls for a schedule with more divisional games? As it stands now, teams play clubs from the other conference twice (32 games), the other division in their conference three times (24) and their own conference 3 or 4 times (26). Under this format, 1-8 conference playoffs make sense, as teams are playing very similar schedules.

The story of how this tour came together is an amazing example of kindness and generosity on multiple levels. A 🧵 on how people and groups have pitched in, a remarkable, accidental meeting in Ottawa and how the Ukrainian representatives have persevered through the process: The Ukrainian Men qualified for the Winter University Games in Lake Placid but there were serious hurdles in the way: With their country at war, where would they train? How could they get to North America? How could they get game experience to prepare for the Winter Universiade?

Some thoughts on Mike Bossy:

There’s never been a player whose career was so consistently brilliant. Bossy played 10 seasons, and scored 50+ goals in the first nine. In his 10th season, hampered by the back injury that would end his career, he scored 38 goals in 63 GP.

1/6 The longest Bossy ever went without scoring in the regular season or playoffs was seven games, and it only happened once: in Nov/Dec 1982.

Who else can claim a slump-free career? (Including his four years in junior, where he averaged more than a goal a game every season.)

2/6

NHL officials usually only get noticed when people are mad at them for making mistakes, but this has been an especially difficult year for them as a group. A large number of officials contracted Covid early in the season, forcing those remaining to work even heavier schedules /1 In addition, there has been a rash of injuries. Referees Jean Hebert (shoulder) and Marc Joannette (broken leg) missed most of the first half of the season, and several linesmen have been out as well. Officiating hockey is a very physical job, and it takes a toll. /2

This decision by @IIHFHockey to cancel six January tournaments (four women’s U18 and two men’s U20) has caused some outrage, which is understandable. What follows is a detailed (and unfortunately long-winded) explanation of how things have unfolded and how tournaments are run.

https://twitter.com/iihfhockey/status/1474395225397215236

While @IIHFHockey provides logistic, organizing and staff support, the bulk of the costs of hosting and running an international tournament are borne by the host federation. This season, more than thirty tournaments are scheduled in various divisions for men and women.

My comment today about not wanting to associate with Barstool Sports has prompted a lot of texts/emails/calls. The response has been incredibly positive, especially from female/BIPOC colleagues who have been afraid to speak out about their issues with Barstool (and sites like it) My problem with Barstool is the history of unapologetic misogyny, racism, xenophobia and the repeated condoning of non-consensual sex. If not wanting to associate with that makes me part of “cancel culture”, or constitutes “virtue signalling” or being “woke”, I’m OK with that.