| | | | | | | Presented By Upside | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker · Oct 12, 2022 | | 👋 Good morning! Happy Hump Day to all. Today's word count: 1,705 words (6 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: 🇨🇦 Hockey Canada cleans house |  | | | Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios | | | | As the NHL season gets underway, the most hockey-obsessed country on Earth is facing a reckoning at its core. Driving the news: Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith and the entire board of directors stepped down on Tuesday amid the fallout from the organization's handling of sexual assault allegations against players. Catch up quick: The downward spiral began in May when TSN reported that Hockey Canada had paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman who filed a $3.55 million lawsuit accusing players on Canada's world junior team of sexual assault after a 2018 Hockey Canada gala. - Then came another bombshell: Hockey Canada maintained two secret funds to pay out settlements for sexual assault and abuse claims, with some of the money coming from children's hockey registration fees.
- In July, a Hockey Canada official testified that the organization had paid C$7.6 million in nine settlements since 1989. It was also revealed that players on the 2003 men's world junior team were under investigation for sexual assault.
State of play: Hockey Canada had its federal funding cut off in June, and politicians and corporate sponsors have applied increased pressure on the organization in recent weeks, demanding sweeping changes. - Smith, who spent nearly three decades climbing the ladder at Hockey Canada, lasted just three months in the top job.
- An interim management committee will now be put in place until a new board is elected (election scheduled for Dec. 17) and appoints a new CEO.
What they're saying: Bauer paused its partnership as Hockey Canada's official equipment provider on Tuesday and sent a clear message that management changes aren't enough. The entire amateur hockey system, as Bauer sees it, is broken. "It's really the policy and strategy [change] and a revised charter and focus that we believe needs to evolve before we would feel comfortable jumping back in." "If Hockey Canada were a business, they would be failing. The number of kids getting involved in hockey in Canada is spiraling downward ... but nobody's talking about that. Instead, people are pointing to national team victories." — Bauer CEO Ed Kinnaly, via AP |     | | | | | | 2. ⚾️ Álvarez walks it off in Houston |  | | | Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images | | | | All four MLB playoff games delivered on Tuesday, but there was nothing quite like the Astros' 8-7 win over the Mariners, courtesy of a historic walk-off blast, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. ICYMI: Seattle jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, chasing Justin Verlander after just four innings in the worst postseason start of his career. But ultimately, his stumble just added to the night's drama. - In the eighth, Alex Bregman's two-run shot cut Houston's deficit to 7-5 in front of a raucous home crowd.
- In the ninth, with two on and two outs, Seattle brought in 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to get a lefty-lefty matchup against slugger Yordan Álvarez. Whoops.
The homer: Yordan's titanic blast went 438 feet and left his bat at 116.7 mph. Not a bad way to end the first playoff game his parents got to see him play in person. - It was the fourth walk-off HR hit when trailing in postseason history, and just the second hit when down to the final out (Kirk Gibson, 1988).
- It was also the first time ever that a postseason walk-off homer was hit when trailing by multiple runs.
The other games: - Phillies 7, Braves 6: Atlanta nearly came all the way back from a 7-1 deficit, but Nick Castellanos' bat (3 hits, 3 RBI) and glove (diving grab in the ninth) led Philly to victory.
- Yankees 4, Guardians 1: Gerrit Cole pitched a gem (6.1 IP, 8 K, 4 H, 1 ER), lifelong Yankee fan Harrison Bader hit his first homer in pinstripes, and Anthony Rizzo's two-run jack provided the insurance.
- Dodgers 5, Padres 3: San Diego's bullpen kept them in the game with 5.1 no-hit innings after Mike Clevinger's rocky start, but the comeback was thwarted by L.A.'s own stellar pen, which closed things out with four scoreless frames.
Of note: Tuesday was the final day of the year with more than two MLB games guaranteed. It didn't disappoint. | | | | | | | | 3. ⚽️ USWNT loses again |  | | | A dejected Megan Rapinoe walks away as Spain celebrates. Photo: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images | | | | The USWNT fell 2-0 to Spain in a friendly on Tuesday, four days after losing 2-1 to England. Why it matters: This is the first time the U.S. women have lost consecutive matches since 2017, and just the third time in the last 20 years. Context: The USWNT is without many of its top players on this quick trip to Europe, including Alex Morgan, Mallory Pugh, Catarina Macario, Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis. - Yes, but: Spain was even more short-handed, with 15 of its top players blackballed after threatening to quit unless their coach Jorge Vilda was fired.
- In other words, the Americans just lost to Spain's B team, while recording two shots on goal and being exposed in the midfield.
The big picture: The U.S. is still ranked No. 1 by a wide margin and will be favored in next summer's World Cup. But the gap that once existed between them and the best European teams is closing in a hurry. | | | | | | | | A message from Upside | | This app is helping users treat themselves | | |  | | | | Upside is on a mission to make sure that, even during expensive times, people still have a little extra money for a rainy day fund. The free app gets users cash back on: - Gas.
- Groceries.
- Convenience stores.
- Restaurants.
On average, users earn $148 annually. Download the free Upside app to start earning. | | | | | | 4. ⚡️ Lightning round |  | | | Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images | | | | 🏒 Opening night: The Rangers beat the Lightning, 3-1, and the Golden Knights beat the Kings, 4-3, in a Tuesday night doubleheader to kick off the NHL season in North America. ⚾️ Kay sentenced: Former Angels employee Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison Tuesday for providing pitcher Tyler Skaggs the drugs that led to his overdose death in 2019. ⚽️ Paulson steps down: Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Thorns (NWSL) and Timbers (MLS), is stepping down as CEO of both clubs in the wake of the Yates Report. He has not said whether he'll sell the teams. 🏈 Roughing review: The NFL plans to discuss roughing-the-passer penalties amid outrage over two disputed calls in Week 5. Changes to the rule are not expected during the season. ⚽️ TBT does soccer: TBT Enterprises, the group behind The Basketball Tournament, is launching a million-dollar, winner-take-all soccer version. The 7-on-7 tournament will be held next summer in North Carolina. | | | | | | | | 5. 🏈 NFL power rankings: Week 6 |  Table: Axios Visuals The top three spots in our rankings remain unchanged this week, but now absent the top 10 are the Bengals and Rams, who are nursing near-unprecedented Super Bowl hangovers, Jeff writes. State of play: Cincinnati and Los Angeles are both 2-3, marking the first time since 1999 — and just the third time ever — that the previous year's Super Bowl teams are both below .500 through five games. Looking ahead: Sunday features two early game of the year candidates (4-1 Bills at 4-1 Chiefs; 4-1 Cowboys at 5-0 Eagles). Plus: Byes begin this week, with the Lions, Titans, Raiders and Texans all off. | | | | | | | | 6. ⛳️ Name to know: Tom Kim |  | | | Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images | | | | In August, Tom Kim became the first player born in the 2000s to win on the PGA Tour. And that's not even his most impressive accomplishment in recent weeks. Driving the news: On Sunday, the 20-year-old Korean joined Tiger Woods as the only players since World War II to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21. - Kim didn't make a bogey all week at the Shriners Children's Open, where he beat World No. 4 Patrick Cantlay by three strokes. He's ranked No. 15 in the world after playing just 18 PGA Tour events.
- Fun fact: Kim, whose real name is Joohyung, chose the nickname "Tom" because of his love for Thomas the Tank Engine.
What they're saying: Are we witnessing the second coming of Tiger? "Probably not," writes CBS Sports' Kyle Porter. "But when you're part of a statistical category that includes only yourself and a legend of his caliber, it's also not nothing." 🎥 Watch: Every shot from Kim's weekend win (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 7. 📺 Watchlist: NHL back in full swing |  | | | Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios | | | | After a two-game series last weekend in Prague and Tuesday's doubleheader, the puck drops in earnest tonight with the NHL season's first full slate of games. More to watch: | | | | | | | | 8. 🌰 The Ocho: Conkers | | Source: Giphy Competitive nut-swinging sounds like something not suitable for this newsletter, but that's just because you've never heard of conkers, Jeff writes. Driving the news: The 55th annual World Conker Championships took place on Sunday about 100 miles north of London, with roughly 5,000 spectators and over 300 competitors. How it works: The centuries-old English game comprises trying to break your opponent's conker (a chestnut) by swinging your own conker-attached-to-a-string at theirs. - Strikers get three shots to make contact before switching. If the strings tangle, an extra shot is awarded to whomever yells "snags" first.
- The game is over when the first conker breaks, unless they break simultaneously, in which case new conkers are selected and play continues.
Of note: To ensure fairness, organizers provide all conkers, as it was once common practice to harden your conker by baking it, soaking it in vinegar or painting it with clear nail polish. The big picture: The first recorded game of conkers is believed to have taken place in 1848 on the Isle of Wight, according to organizers, and the first World Championships were held in 1965. - At the inaugural event, money was raised for charity by a participant who had a blind relative.
- Since then, all money raised — $464,000 — has gone towards helping the visually impaired.
🎥 Watch: History and highlights (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 9. ⚾️ MLB trivia |  | | | Photo: Adam Hagy | | | | Travis d'Arnaud hit his eighth career playoff homer on Tuesday, sixth-most among catchers in postseason history. - Question: Which two catchers are tied atop the list with 11?
- Hint: Their teams are bitter rivals, and their first names start with the same letter.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🏒 1 fun thing: Zamboni for kids |  | | | Photos: Courtesy of NHL | | | | The Zamboni Company and the NHL are launching the world's first electric Zamboni ride-on-toy, designed for kids ages 3–6. What they're saying: "The Zamboni machine is like a mascot for kids," Paula Coony, brand manager for Zamboni, told ESPN. "They know it's going to come out. It's a routine thing. It's also magical and mysterious. How is it doing what it's doing?" | | | | | | | | A message from Upside | | How to fight inflation with your everyday spending | | |  | | | | The Upside app pays you back a little from each purchase to help offset rising costs. On average, users earn $148 annually. You can get cash back at: - Gas stations.
- Convenience stores.
- Grocery stores.
- Restaurants.
Take back control of your budget and download the free Upside app. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Doesn't get much better than a postseason walk-off" Baker Trivia answer: Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Bryan McBournie for copy edits. |  | | Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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