Led two sides to Challenge Cup glory in long career
‘He was a true rugby league man through and through’
John Kear, the rugby league broadcaster and former Challenge Cup-winning coach, has died at the age of 71. The Rugby Football League announced that Kear died on Sunday on his return from covering Wigan’s Challenge Cup victory at Wembley for the BBC.
Kear led nine clubs in a coaching career lasting more than 700 matches, masterminding the shock Challenge Cup win for Sheffield Eagles in 1998 and then steering Hull FC to Challenge Cup glory in 2005.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 01: Conor Sheary #43 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal to defeat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 during overtime in Game Two of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Consol Energy Center on June 1, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ten years ago today, Conor Sheary scored an overtime goal to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-0 lead in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
Pittsburgh was riding high heading into Game 2 of the Cup Final, having beaten the Sharks in a Game 1 thriller and were looking to defend their home ice and head to California with a 2-0 series lead.
The HBK Line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel teamed up for the game’s opening goal in the second period after a scoreless opening frame.
The Penguins held onto their 1-0 lead as time started ticking away into the third period but with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game, Justin Braun struck for San Jose, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
The overtime period didn’t last all that long however, as Sidney Crosby won an offensive zone faceoff and Kris Letang, almost seemingly catching him off guard, got a pass to Conor Sheary, who took advantage of a screened Martin Jones to pick the corner of the net.
Just like that, it was a 2-0 series lead for Pittsburgh, putting San Jose on the back foot and heading home to California facing a tall task.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Fernando Cruz #63 of the New York Yankees reacts after the Yankees turned a double play to end the seventh inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on May 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
June is here, and with it a summer filled with baseball is about to start. The Yankees are in the thick of a division race that promises to go down to the wire as always, sitting 1.5 games behind the Rays but a comfortable 7.5 games ahead of the rest of Toronto, Boston, and Baltimore. Their record against the AL East hasn’t looked too promising, losing a series and splitting another with Tampa while splitting their lone meeting with the Jays, though they’ve swept Boston in their singular matchup and gone 5-2 against Baltimore thus far.
Sitting 13 games above .500 entering the month is a solid start, but if you’ve been following them day-to-day you’d know that the Yankees have ridden some high highs and some low lows already. It’s a microcosm of the roster that’s delivered their record, with a couple of elite bats trying to pull up a few deadweights in the lineup and a rotation that’s been otherworldly doing their best to keep the ball out of the hands of their shaky bullpen. Consistency is the key to getting back on top for this team, but they’ll likely need to make some tweaks to find it. Luckily, we’re now approaching that time of year where the trade deadline starts weighing on everyone’s minds — and we might even see a couple of moves pop up on the radar.
The question is just how long can the Yankees wait for the market to develop itself. They’re in desperate need of a bullpen remodeling, something that will likely require several trades to address, and they also are looking for a right-handed catching option with the potential for further additions to the lineup should the right opportunity line itself up. We’ve started to see some separation from the pack with a few truly bad AL teams claiming the bottom of the standings, so there are potential sellers now in view, but holding out for the best package is going to incentivize teams to wait it out and let the pressure of the deadline force other teams’ hands. The first offer is rarely going to be good enough to pry a solid reliever away, even if in the grand scheme of things he isn’t going to bring back a king’s ransom.
There’s no doubt that the stove will be lit and pots will be getting stirred in July, but will we see any rumors start to swirl in June? And if we do, could we see any closer to the start or middle of the month? It’d be unconventional, but not totally unheard of — just last year we saw a wildly early trade for the season involving an at-the-time superstar in Rafael Devers (this season may have shifted the narrative on him, but there’s still time for his contract to not be totally underwater). I’m willing to go out on a limb and predict that we’ll see Brian Cashman swing something before the calendar turns again, but I don’t think there’s anything cooking now to warrant an imminent deal.
We’ve got a loaded schedule in store for you today to get through the off-day on the field. Peter leads off with the next poll on Brian Cashman’s approval rating after the team’s performance in May, and then Kevin covers the Rivalry Roundup with the Rays keeping pace slightly ahead of New York. Jonathan has a double-feature, first giving Bud Metheny his flowers on his birthday before starting off our division check-ins with the AL Central, followed by John looking at the AL West and Sam the NL West. Finally, I’ll be back late in the day to open up the mailbag for the next round of questions.
Major League Baseball's 30 stadiums each have their own charms and for good reason, Wrigley Field (1912) and Fenway Park (1914) remain the home ballparks for marquee franchises.
But after the pre-World War I stadiums, baseball's third-oldest venue is nearly 50 years older, Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962. On the other end of the spectrum, the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field is MLB's newest stadium, which opened in 2020. The Atlanta Braves' Truist Park is the only other MLB stadium that has opened in the past decade, welcoming fans in Cobb County since 2017.
There was a major boon after Baltimore's Camden Yards began a retro-classic trend in 1992, with 12 new ballparks opening between 1994 and 2004.
What does the future look like for new MLB stadiums? The next opening will be in Las Vegas, welcoming the formerly-Oakland Athletics to their new home. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays may finally get their long-discussed new ballpark.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: Max Shulga #44 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Max Shulga’s season is tricky to give a definitive grade. He spent the vast bulk of the season with Maine and appeared in just 11 NBA games, playing a minuscule 3.3 minutes per outing. The 6-4 Ukranian guard was selected with pick number 57 by Boston and signed a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics.
Boston Celtics fans outside of Maine probably saw Shulga play the most in the Summer League last year. Shulga appeared in all five games for the Summer Celtics in Vegas; he had 5 points, a smidge under 5 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. With Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman on the team, Shulga deferred a fair bit, playing fairly conservatively, but should get a bigger opportunity this summer.
His debut Maine season was solid. He erupted for 35 points and 9 assists in Maine’s game at Iowa on Feb. 7, 2026. He showed versatility to score from behind the arc and get into lane and drive pass defenders to score with either hand. His shooting splits were just passable with 43% from the field and 73% from the line, and he will need to clear up the turnovers (3.2 per game) if he wants to find an NBA home long term.
Oct 8, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Boston Celtics guard Max Shulga (44) dribbles as Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (18) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Max is a fairly shifty combo guard but lacks elite NBA-level quickness. Max is not an elite athlete either, nor the greatest ball handler to run point, so this is where things get tricky.
BALTIMORE – Ernie Clement doesn’t want to let anybody down.
Perhaps that quality dogged him early in his baseball career, when he tried and failed to establish himself with the Cleveland Guardians and Oakland Athletics. And minus a top-line skill that will pry open a window and keep it open – such as the promise of consistent power, or blazing speed, or savant-like defensive ability – Clement found professional appreciation elusive.
And that makes what’s happening now in Toronto even more remarkable.
Such as Blue Jays fans lining up more than three hours ahead of gametime to snag a giveaway hockey jersey bearing Clement’s name and No. 22. Or a group of rabid supporters who learned of Clement’s penchant for walking from his residence to Rogers Centre and timed it up to stroll alongside him to work.
Or the notion that he’s beloved on two shores of Lake Ontario – within the circular confines of Rogers Centre and the gorgeous city surrounding it, along with Monroe County, New York, which presented him the key to the municipality after one of Rochester’s favorite sons became an international baseball hero.
It can be a lot, even for a 30-year-old who sweated out years in the minors to gain this opportunity. So Clement takes none of it for granted, even as he continues establishing himself as a star player – and a Toronto icon.
“I feel the love. It’s much appreciated and I hope I’m reciprocating it enough,” Clement tells USA TODAY Sports. “Because I love my time there. It feels more and more like home every time I go there and stay there.
“I have so much fun in the city. It’s so much fun playing in front of those fans.”
And as this season lurches toward the halfway point, it’s clear this is no fleeting love affair.
Clement has followed up his record-setting 30-hit 2025 postseason by leading the American League in both hits and doubles. He’s the hardest man to strike out in the AL, fanning just 8.2% of the time, and has played a key role in keeping the defending pennant winners afloat in a season ravaged by injury.
These Blue Jays are now 29-31, lurking in third place in the AL East. For now, it’s a near repeat of their 2025 arc, when they started 31-29, got healthy, won 94 games and the division and rode it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series.
The ride stopped there, coming as close to a championship as the two or so feet Clement’s ninth-inning fly ball needed to clear the wall in left center field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dodgers’ Andy Pages leaped to gather it in, the prelude to an 11-inning heartbreaking defeat.
After a tearful night, the club scattered for the winter, many decamping to their offseason homes in sunnier, baseball-friendly climes.
Clement went out for Buffalo wings.
Have a day, Ernie Clement
It’s roughly 150 miles from Rochester to Toronto, even less than that as the Canadian geese might fly across Lake Ontario. So it was a strange bit of serendipity that Clement’s career would wind up so close to home, even if his hometown might lean more Yankees than Blue Jays.
The Buffalo Bills are the tie that binds, and that’s how Clement ended up in the Pittsford Pub less than 24 hours after baseball heartbreak, watching the Bills-Chiefs game, sans entourage.
Clement has surely grown to appreciate Toronto’s cosmopolitan flair, and the chance to get a world-class meal from virtually any cuisine.
But still.
“I will say, there’s no wings like the Buffalo spots, the Rochester spots,” he says.
Indeed, Clement stays true to his hometown. Three weeks after the World Series, there he was, making an appearance on behalf of the Rochester Red Wings to promote small business Saturday and goose ticket sales for the Class AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
Campy stuff, to be sure, all of it buttressing the notion that Clement’s a regular cat, a vibe that only accentuates his connection with Jays fans.
Yet looks can be deceiving.
Clement is also a scratch golfer, an accomplished hockey player, and can hoop a little.
“Just one of those guys who’s a sneaky-freak athlete,” says Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman. “You might walk by him on the street and think he’s not a guy who plays in the big leagues, let alone leads the American League in hits.
“That’s really cool.”
The fans agree. They gravitated strongly toward a group of Blue Jays casually known as the “roommates” – Clement and utilityman Davis Schneider, and former first baseman Spencer Horwitz among them.
Soon, Clement integrated his Rogers Centre walk into his daily routine, which often includes a stop for an iced cold brew. Sometimes he’ll drive, too, if only to maintain an anonymity that’s increasingly shrinking.
'I proved that I belong'
There’s no plaque for being the least-famous player on a world-class team.
Yet that was the spot Clement found himself in this spring, when, coming off his 30-hit postseason, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa determined he had to have Clement for his World Baseball Classic roster.
Suddenly, Clement was a formerly itinerant player surrounded by MVPs, his 6-foot frame dwarfed by the likes of Paul Skenes and Aaron Judge, his pedigree admittedly falling short of stars like Bryce Harper and Alex Bregman.
Clement saw it as both challenge and opportunity.
It was a startling bit of company to keep, the ability to absorb best practices from some of the greatest players on the globe. And on the flip side, Clement – who got on base in three of seven plate appearances and scored three runs in four games – saw it as a chance for affirmation.
“Those are the best players in the world and there’s a reason behind it – they work their tails off. I was really fortunate to be around them,” he says. “I proved that I belong. That I can fit in with guys like that, with the best players in the world. I can help any team win. I feel like anytime I got in there, I helped that team win.
“That’s my mindset every single day here. Every time I step on that field, I just want to help us win.”
The Blue Jays certainly believe so. The club lost Bo Bichette to free agency, a key hole in both their lineup and defensive alignment. While Clement has settled in at second base, he regularly plays shortstop against left-handed starters, has played eight games at third and even 15 games at first base in 2025.
“He puts his ego aside – if he even has an ego,” says closer Louis Varland. “He’s willing to do whatever it is for the team as long as the team wins.
“He’s that kind of guy, which is the best ever.”
Ernie Clement, All-Star?
There’s one more honorific awaiting Clement, an appropriate coda to a year that saw him crowned a postseason hero, a WBC rep and Monroe County king for a day.
Clement leads all primary AL second basemen in average (.300), OPS (.771), slugging and wRC+ (113). His first trip to the All-Star Game would seem to be in order, particularly with a Blue Jays fan base clicking his name however many times their Rogers 5G Internet will allow.
It’s the next logical step for a player maximizing his window.
“As a guy who has been DFA’d,” says Gausman, “I feel like I have a different appreciation for it. There aren’t many guys who get that many second chances, especially as a position player, unfortunately.
“He’s a guy that really, from the day he came over, everybody knew the talent he had. His unique ability to not strike out. But you’ve seen him get more comfortable, more confident. Success comes with that.
“But he’s turned himself into such a complete player.”
Clement has essentially grown up with this Blue Jays team, allowed runway by manager John Schneider to produce 3.3 WAR in their 88-loss 2024 season, and then turning into a 30-hit monster in the 2025 postseason.
As success came, so, too, did a certain freedom.
“Ever since I’ve been here, they haven’t tried to change who I am and the kind of hitter I am. They let me be me,” says Clement. “Schneids and all the hitting coaches I’ve had here have helped me lean into my strengths.
“I show up to the field every day trying to prove the manager right.”
He also has a few thousand Torontonians backing him up on a given day.
When the Blue Jays distributed 15,000 Clement No. 22 hockey sweaters for an April game, the line stretched away from Rogers Centre and well into the city. (Why a club that consistently draws 40,000 fans would distribute just 15,000 souvenir giveaways is another question).
The sweaters are now going for $235 to $360 on eBay, an unscientific yet telling measure for the fanbase’s adulation.
“The city has been great to me,” says Clement. “I’m lucky to be there.”
The NBA Finals are the biggest stage in basketball, and now the championship series will once again have courts that fit the occasion.
After decades of on-court decals, the NBA had a brief stint where a massive decal of the Larry O’Brien Trophy would sit beneath the home team’s logo at midcourt for Finals games. It served as a glaring reminder of what’s at stake in the Finals and helped the games stand out from other playoff matchups.
Here’s what to know about the history of the Finals decals:
When did the NBA start using on-court decals for the NBA Finals?
The NBA created individual logos for the Finals each year starting in 1986. The original template was in place for 10 years before the league updated the design in 1996. There have been several interactions since, and the NBA brought back a version of the iconic, scripted Finals font in 2022.
As for decals, the 1989 Finals between the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers was the first to feature the finals wordmark on the court. The NBA kept that tradition in place through 2004.
When did the NBA Finals have trophy logo at halfcourt?
The 2005 NBA Finals between the Spurs and Detroit Pistons were the first to feature giant Larry O’Brien Trophy decals at halfcourt.
The league brought the decals back for the next four Finals, but they were last used in 2009 when the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic.
Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic go after the tipoff to start Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 14, 2009, at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
What did the NBA do once it removed trophy decals at the Finals?
The NBA used smaller on-court decals of the Finals logo from 2010 to 2014.
Court changes mostly disappeared after that. The Cavaliers incorporated the trophy with two on-court decals during the 2017 NBA Finals. The 2020 NBA Finals also had a special halfcourt logo in the Orlando bubble when the Lakers beat the Miami Heat.
Zaza Pachulia of the Golden State Warriors and Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers go up for the opening tipoff in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 7, 2017, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. (Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images)
Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers go up for the opening tipoff during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Oct. 9, 2020, in Orlando at AdventHealth Arena. (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
There were no decals of any kind during the 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 NBA Finals, except for those superimposed for TV viewers.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford and Boston Celtics center Al Horford jump for the opening tipoff in the first quarter during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
Why did the NBA remove decals during the playoffs?
Player safety was the biggest factor when it came to removing on-court decals.
The NBA followed in the footsteps of the NCAA, which decided to remove decals and stickers from its courts in 2012 and mandated that all courts be “of a consistent surface.”
“There were a lot of considerations taken into account in making this decision, including player safety,” an NBA spokesman told The Cauldron in 2014. “We decided to remove the playoffs logo from the court for a variety of reasons, including cleaning up the playing surface.”
Will there be a halfcourt trophy logo for the 2026 NBA Finals?
The league brought halfcourt trophy logos back in 2023-24, but it wasn’t for the NBA Finals.
The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament featured unique courts for all 30 teams. The courts all had various colors, a colorful stripe down the middle from baseline to baseline and a decal of the NBA Cup at midcourt.
The league also had a special blue-and-red court for the In-Season Tournament semifinals and championship game, which were held in Las Vegas.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during the game against the Indiana Pacers during the In-Season Tournament Championship game on December 9, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
The league did not, however, change its stance on courts for the 2024 NBA Finals. While the 2024-25 NBA In-Season Tournament also had unique courts for all 30 teams, the 2025 Finals did not have on-court trophy decals, either.
A general overall interior shoot of the arena for the 2025 NBA Finals on June 4, 2025, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. (Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
This year’s Finals decals will be painted at midcourt at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and Madison Square Garden in New York City.
It is June, and the Chicago White Sox are a game out of first place. Is this really happening?
The franchise that lost 121 games just two years ago, that lost 102 games last season, just finished a month in which it won 18 of 28 games and capped it by sweeping the American League Central's overwhelming favorite, sending the Detroit Tigers further to a summer of irrelevance.
Yes, things are a little upside down, and the White Sox's climb seven spots to No. 9 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings reflects that.
They rallied to beat the Tigers thanks in part to Colson Montgomery's 15th home run, his 36th since the 2025 All-Star break; only Kyle Schwarber has more. They'll get a look at Schwarber this weekend when they travel to Philadelphia, with a three-game set at Minnesota before then.
Potapova, having lost five games in a row, makes advantage on the Kalinskaya serve, a pair of backhands, one cross then another down the line, seizing the break to trail 4-6 1-0. Neither player is really at it here, meaning the match is there for whichever of them can stay composed.
On Chatrier,Svajda is improving, surviving to break points for lead 2-1 in set two, having lost the first 6-2. If he can attack Cobolli’s second serve and backhand, he might yet make an impression in this match.
Last of his 24 Premier League seasons was at Brighton
‘I could never have dreamed of the journey,’ he says
James Milner has finally pulled down the curtain on a distinguished, record-breaking and extraordinary playing career. It involved the highly versatile 40-year-old midfielder spending 24 seasons in the Premier League and winning 61 England caps as he traversed a road that carried him from Leeds to Brighton with stops at Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool along the way.
In February, Milner, who also had a short loan at Swindon, broke the Premier League appearance record while playing for Brighton against Brentford. He ends his career having clocked up 658 top-tier games for six clubs and represented England in four major tournaments.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MAY 29: J.C. Escarra #25 of the New York Yankees takes batting practice prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yahoo! Sports | Billy Heyen: During Saturday night’s game, Michael Kay revealed on the YES Network that Yankees backup catcher J.C. Escarra has been trying to become a switch-hitter. Recognizing that the team’s search for a right-handed catcher puts his roster spot in jeopardy, the former Uber driver has once again set out to do whatever it takes for him to stay in The Show. Whether or not this turns out to be successful — starting to switch-hit at the Major League level is already a tall task, let alone trying it in the middle of a season — you can’t help but admire Escarra’s tenacity.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The biggest story of the season in the Bronx is probably Cam Schlittler, but a close second is definitely the continued breakout of Ben Rice. Following Saturday night’s game, the Yankees first baseman was not only tied with captain Aaron Judge with 17 home runs, his 1.047 OPS ranked second in the league only behind Yordan Alvarez. His teammates and his manager have been nothing short of impressed, with Judge calling his at-bats “must-watch TV” (something that has been said about Judge’s on more than one occasion) and Paul Goldschmidt praising his “ability to make adjustments.”
CBS Sports | RotoWire Staff: Prior to Saturday night’s game, the Yankees placed utilityman Amed Rosario on the paternity list. They did not announce a corresponding move; instead, the team has played with a short bench while finishing out the West Coast road trip.
MLB.com | Sweeny Murti: Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the famous “No, stay there!” moment, when Mike Mussina ordered Joe Torre not to emerge from the dugout and allow him to finish what he had started. To mark the milestone, Sweeny Murti talked with both pitcher and manager, dissecting a moment of passion that has become a meme not only within the baseball Internet world, but beyond.
Hockey might be Canada’s game, but the Stanley Cup resides in the United States.
It’s something Canada has grown accustomed to over recent decades. Despite dominating in the early days of the NHL and into the 1980s, the U.S. has taken complete control over the league and the Stanley Cup.
Just seven of the 32 NHL teams call Canada home, giving the country slim chances of hosting a champion. Toss in those seven teams’ recent playoff history, and the reasons for a significant championship lull become even clearer.
Canada’s quest for the Cup in 2026 lied in the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, who made it to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. After winning Game 1 in Carolina, the Habs then lost their next four games, dashing the country’s hopes for a championship.
Just how long has it been since a team took the Stanley Cup to the Great White North? Here’s a breakdown of Canada’s ongoing Stanley Cup drought:
When was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup?
It’s been 33 years since a Canadian team lifted the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings four games to one in the 1993 Cup Final, and an American team has won it every year since.
Here’s when each Canadian organization last earned the Stanley Cup:
Montreal Canadiens: 1993 (beat Kings in five games)
Calgary Flames: 1989 (beat Canadiens in six games)
Toronto Maple Leafs: 1967 (beat Canadiens in six games)
Ottawa Senators: Never
Vancouver Canucks: Never
Winnipeg Jets: Never
When was the last time a Canadian team appeared in the Stanley Cup Final?
Prior to the Edmonton Oilers’ appearances in 2024 and 2025, the Canadiens came close to snapping the skid in 2021. However, they fell to the defending-champion Lightning in a gentleman’s sweep during the Cup Final.
Here’s each Canadian team’s last Cup Final appearance:
Edmonton Oilers: 2025 (lost to Panthers in six games)
Montreal Canadiens: 2021 (lost to Lightning in five games)
Vancouver Canucks: 2011 (lost to Bruins in seven games)
Ottawa Senators: 2007 (lost to Ducks in five games)
Calgary Flames: 2004 (lost to Lightning in seven games)
Toronto Maple Leafs: 1967 (beat Canadiens in six games)
Winnipeg Jets: Never
How many times has a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup?
Since 1918, Canadian teams have won 49 Stanley Cups. Along with the four active NHL teams from Canada that have lifted the Cup, the country’s tally also includes two championships from the Montreal Maroons, who existed from 1924 to 1938.
U.S. teams are up to 57 following the 2025 Cup Final. It wasn’t until the Washington Capitals’ triumph in 2018 that the U.S. surpassed Canada in the overall tally.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article was published in June 2022.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Baylor Scheierman #55 and Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics smiles against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Throughout the regular season, previously unproven players stepped up in the absence of Jayson Tatum and the rest of the departed championship core. It was Neemias Queta stepping into the starting lineup for Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Garza being a nightly Tommy Award candidate. It was Jordan Walsh becoming a bona fide 3-and-D threat, the nineteen-year-old rookie Hugo Gonzalez looking like a seasoned vet, and Baylor Scheierman putting it all together in Year 2.
Unfortunately in the playoffs, Joe Mazzulla went away from that depth and eventually back to them too late. And if we learned anything from Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, it’s that depth not only matters in the regular season, but also through the pace and intensity of the postseason and as series go deep and teams’ gameplans start to take away superstars in Games 4, 5, and 6, role players become increasingly more important to clinch the late games of a long series.
CelticsBlog’s Ian Inangelo reminded me of The Grant Williams Game against the Bucks and The Kelly Olynyk Game to eliminate the Wizards as some of the greatest Game 7 performances in the franchise’s glittering history. Now, it was a well-rounded effort by the Spurs to take down the defending champs on the road in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama was crowned the conference finals’ MVP, but let’s not forget the peripheral performances that ultimately tilted the deciding game. It was Julian Champagnie’s 6-of-10 from 3 and even a big momentum-shifting block from Luke Kornet that really turned the tide for San Antonio.
For the Thunder, they’re not there without Alex Caruso’s gutty defense or Isaiah Hartenstein’s physicality or Jared McCain’s sharpshooting paired with SGA’s MVP heroics.
It was just another reminder that for the Celtics to reach this mountaintop again, it won’t just be the efforts of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’ll get doubled. Opposing teams will scheme against their tendencies and most efficient spaces on the floor. It’ll be up to players #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8 to not only make up the difference, but push the team over the top.
Watching the playoffs without the Celtics, it’s impossible not to daydream about what a postseason run will look like this time next year. Realities blur and my mind’s AI starts Photoshopping Spurs and Thunder out and replacing them with Celtics. I’ll squint my eyes and see Scheierman defending Wemby just like Alex Caruso. When Jared McCain rips off a 14-point quarter, I’ll fantasize that that’s Ron Harper Jr. taking it to baby brother Dylan Harper. And tell me Garza couldn’t have a Luke Kornetesque impact in a big game.
With some financial flexibility this summer, the Celtics will no doubt look to make upgrades. The $27 million TPE and the non-taxpayer mid-level could be in play and if they’re utilized, those additions will come with high expectations. But for the Stay Ready Group, their goal is a little more vague: deliver the unexpected and deliver it when it matters most.
To better highlight the whole field among Europe’s elite, we chose an XI that couldn’t feature more than one player from any one team
This year we are picking a team of the season with a difference: I am allowed only one player per team. Of course, as finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have players with claims to all of these positions, so apologies to Willian Pacho and Declan Rice, among others. But what this format does allow for is an overall view of the Champions League season that was.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Mitchell Robinson #26 of the New York Knicks during the preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on October 3, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can Wednesday come soon enough?
No, it seems it cannot.
Here’s the latest from Sunday’s practice at Tarrytown and elsewhere.
On Mitchell Robinson’s status during Sunday’s practice:
“I know there’s something there (on his hand), but I can’t… I can’t tell you what. I don’t know (if he’d be cleared for Game 1). I do know that the medical group has to tell me he can go out there for sure, okay.”
On having Knicks legends around the current team:
“It’s fantastic. It’s great to see. It’s great that Leon [Rose] and Mr. Dolan have these guys around. Obviously Pat [Ewing], he’s iconic, and then you have John Starks and Marbury and there’s just a plethora of other guys that you see come to our games, and we encourage that. I love it. And they always have a nugget or two that they can pass on to the guys that are actually playing now, and when you can hear it from different voices or different people, especially guys that played — cause I didn’t play, I was terrible — but from guys that played, it means a ton. So to see them be able to celebrate with us and the joy on their face, it’s priceless for sure.”
On wanting to beat the Spurs despite his San Antonio ties:
“They definitely want to beat me and I want to kick their ass. You love ’em and you can always love ’em before and after … I got ties to San Antonio and you appreciate the people, you appreciate the journey and all that other stuff. But at the end of the day, just like they want to beat you, you definitely want to beat them.”
On Gregg Popovich’s lasting impact:
“The job that he’s done, not only on the court with that team and the organization, but off the court too, is gonna be imprinted as long as the game of basketball exists. He still has a huge presence. He’ll always have a presence. His presence is very much felt all the time. I’ve got a lot of respect for the organization for a lot of different reasons. I worked there, having an opportunity to work there and being part of a championship there and my family being down there too reminds me of good times.”
On expecting Josh Hart to be guarded by bigger defenders and how he deals with it:
“Any time a team does that, like Cleveland — Cleveland put their big on Josh and Josh won us a game doing it. I’ll tell you Josh works very, very hard on his shooting and playmaking because he knows that he gets guarded by centers, and my message to Josh is, ‘Let it fly, let it fly, let it fly,’ because we believe in it. So we know that they’re probably going to come in and put their center on Josh, and if Wemby’s down the floor and that ball gets swung to Josh, first of all, he’s a great decision-maker. But secondly, if he’s open, his feet are set, we want him to let that thing fly.”
On the Spurs’ overall makeup entering the Finals:
“It’s going to be tough. They’re well-coached. They have an, obviously, tremendous player in Wemby. They’re quote-unquote young, to a certain degree, but they have some really good veterans on the team that kind of uplift the young guys and give the young guys a lot of guidance. So, they’ve got a nice mix of players on their team and they’re a team that comes out really aggressive and hits first, their crowd is into it and we’ve just have to go make sure we try to match or exceed their physicality to start the ballgame while leaning on our standards. The group has been resilient the whole year and we’ve got to keep sacrificing, we’ve got to keep playing with a competitive edge, we’ve got to stay connected, got to keep believing in each other and what we’re trying to do out on the floor and if somebody’s slipping in this area, that area, we’ve got to make sure that we help get them back on track by holding them accountable. So, all those things are going to come into play, playing a talented, well-coached team like the Spurs.”
On San Antonio’s blend of veterans and youth around Wembanyama:
“Having the mix that they have with Wemby is a nice recipe. If Fox is in, their backcourt — Fox is a veteran, seasoned player that has been in the playoffs before, been in a Game 7 now a couple of times, and been an All-Star, Clutch Player of the Year, a talented guy. … [Barnes] has been around a long time too, and he’s been on the big stage a few times. So they have a nice mix of veteran players and guys that are starting to get in their prime around Wemby. And I think when you have that, you have different messages that you can get from different guys all the time.”
On OG Anunoby’s defensive versatility helping with guarding Wembanyama:
“OG is extremely versatile, and the luxury of having a guy like that is, he’s long enough, athletic enough, strong enough to guard quick smaller guys. He’s obviously got the size and athleticism to guard big wings and then he’s got the strength and the length and the intelligence to guard bigger guys. So having a guy like that gives us a ton of versatility to be able to move him around, knowing that he can adapt-slash-adjust on the fly.”
On OG Anunoby still deserving First Team All-Defense:
“[The voters] were wrong. He should have been First Team All-Defense because of his versatility. And it’s shown throughout the course of the most important time during the year, which is the playoffs, and it will continue to show going into the Finals.”
On the presence of Knicks legends during the current playoff run:
“It truly means a lot, when they’re on the sidelines or baselines, they made their presence known. They’re full of energy. That’s just who they are. They want the best for us, it’s a really cool sight to see. It’s an honor to play for this organization, the history that it has, to see the former players around all the time that makes it even more special.”
"Technically, that game didn't happen, so I don't think there's anything that we can learn from" 😂
Josh Hart was asked how much the Knicks can take from their NBA Cup experience against the Spurs this season: pic.twitter.com/GV4rFHpoZK
On the Spurs’ supporting cast beyond Victor Wembanyama:
“They’re young, athletic, physical – they can do a little bit of everything, can shoot the ball, finish at the rim, defend at a high level. So, obviously, Wemby’s going to get a lot of attention in terms of game plan and media and that, but you can’t sleep on guys like De’Aaron (Fox) or (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper, (Julian) Champagnie because if you do that, it’s going to be a long series. So, we’ve got to give those guys the respect that they deserve and come out focused.”
On his approach to playing against Wembanyama:
“I go into the game and I play the game the way the game needs me to play. If that’s shooting and scoring, cool. If that’s rebounding and defending, cool. I don’t value what I do based on other people’s game plan or what the boxscore says. For me, it’s shoot the ball with confidence. Or be quick to make other plays — dribble handoff, stuff like that. If [Wembanyama] is down the floor, that’s my ability to get JB open looks, ‘Kal open looks, KAT open looks. It’s not different in terms of anything I’ve seen before. I’m comfortable making those plays.”
On being guarded by Wemby:
“That’s the only unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, so that’s a pretty good sign for me, right? That means I’m a pretty good basketball player.”
“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen, and he works on it all the time, but he gets tired. It’s natural, being that tall, he gets tired. With the team we have, I think it’s important to give him different looks and, not beat him up, but be very physical with him and make him run. And he’s gonna get tired and he’s gonna have to take some plays off, in my opinion.”
On helping the Knicks beat the Spurs by sharing intel from his stint in San Antonio:
“Whether I’m playing or not, it’s important to feed all the information I have, and I think I know quite a lot. I’m watching their games now, I’m seeing the old plays we [ran], when they go up to certain people and at what times, it’s pretty obvious to see. It’s gonna be interesting.”
On the Spurs’ quick evolution into title contenders:
“I think this year, when I was there in the summer, I think everyone kind of agreed on locking in and playing for each other and playing with energy and just learning and growing. Since I left, you can see they’ve just built on that momentum. You see where they’re at now.”
On his relationship with Wembanyama:
“That’s my brother. Me and him, I came into the league and then he got drafted, we just had a connection from the start, a natural one. On the court, off the court. He’s a guy that loves to do a lot of different things. He’s curious, he wants to grow, wants to learn and is pretty competitive with everything. It’s fun to be around him. We’d always do game night with his people and my people and just compete in different sorts of games. He’s a real one. Let’s be honest, I think he is the face of the league.”
Rasheed Wallace gave his take on the Knicks hiring Leon Rose via the @ZachGelb Show on 6/26/20
“I was with him (Dolan) for a while, this is just a brain fart right here”
On honoring Knicks legends who never stopped supporting the team:
“They’ve been with us my whole five years here. It’s not just showing up when we’re winning — they’ve been with us through a lot. So shout out to them and obviously everything they did. So we just want to get the job done for them.”
On Victor Wembanyama posing a matchup challenge:
“He’s a special player. So, we just have to contain him as a team.”
On the Spurs’ identity entering the Finals:
“They’re a special team. Obviously, they have a Defensive Player of the Year – obviously, a great organization – and they’ve got a lot of great young guys. So, we’re just excited for this matchup.”
On Dylan Harper’s competitive makeup:
“I feel like he’s just a gamer. He’s one of those kids that just probably in the backyard [growing up playing all the time]. I know his family pretty well. So, just in the backyard, playing against his older brother. I have an older brother, so I feel like you just figure out how to score over bigger guys, older guys [that way], and you live for these moments.”
On how the Spurs pressure ballhandlers into Wembanyama:
“What I think they do a great job of is their guards putting a lot of pressure on the ballhandler, which is forcing them into Wemby. If you’re playing off the ball and not setting screens and allowing him to roam freely without being touched, it’s different if somebody’s screening you, and then you’re getting everything.”
On what it would mean to win with the Knicks and their legends watching:
“It’s special, and you see obviously what it means to them. And even only wearing a Knicks jersey for two years, I understand, too. There’s a real pride, you know? So I can’t imagine at that point. But we don’t take it lightly, and it adds to our collective fuel and camaraderie and how we feel. So it’s good to obviously celebrate this with them, but they know as well as we do that there’s more to do.”
On the plan to neutralize Wembanyama:
“Obviously, you’ve got to figure out how to get him out of the paint, how to run him, those little things I feel like OKC did a decent job at. But he’s a special player, so we just have to contain him as a team.”
The most 1999 thing about the previous NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs might be that the Spurs were playing StarCraft against each other in between gameshttps://t.co/YkHrwoEzrX
On seeing similarities between the 1973 team and this Knicks squad:
“I’m living vicariously, man, from especially the ’73 team. In ’73, we were injured most of the season, but towards the playoffs we started to get healthy. And like the Knicks now, we had that momentum. We actually kept getting better and better going into the playoffs. So they remind me of that right now.”
On Jalen Brunson’s impact entering the Finals:
“Well, he’s Mr. Clutch, you know? He makes all the big baskets. He’s dishing and swishing. He’s gotta improve his defense. That’s gonna be amplified the next round. They got some very good guards in San Antonio and in OKC. But other than that, man, he’s been magnificent.”
On Mike Brown’s work with the bench and overall roster:
“He’s gotta start getting kudos. He’s developed our bench, which Thibs was crucified for. So Brown has 10 guys that are thriving. No matter who he’s seemed to put in there, they’re producing. And that’s what you want in the playoffs. So we’re not relying on Towns and Brunson to do everything. Look at [Mikal] Bridges, they elevated his game. OG [Anunoby], too. And so it’s been incredible to watch.”
On believing the Knicks should have reached this stage last year:
“It’s not surprising me that they are at this point. I thought they should have been there last year. That was my feeling. They should have been there last year. So this is a new year, and now it’s time for it to happen.”
On returning to the Finals atmosphere since 1999:
“It feels good. It’s been a long time, man, since 1999, since we played for a championship. And to be able to get here and see this and be down here in a closeout game, it’s just a special moment. And I’m happy for those guys because they did it together.”
On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:
“Jalen’s been Jalen since he’s been here. He’s just been a true leader, a consummate pro. He guides the team in the direction that we needed to be guided in. So he understands he’s a winner. He’s a champion. So Jalen’s gonna do what Jalen does: He goes out there and wins us ball games, and he’s a very special player.”
On the physical toll of the Western Conference Finals:
“That might go seven, and even when they win — they lose, you know? They’re gonna be beat up, whoever survives that series. But in order to be the champion, you got to overcome adversity, you know? That’s what it’s about. So they can’t be saying they’re tired. That’s not going to be a factor. They’ll be ready if they get there.”
Draymond calls out the Knicks
“Just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong…You’re supposed to get out of the East. It’s the f*cking East!”
On downplaying the Knicks’ trip to the Finals and siding with Becky Hammon:
“I double down on this, just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong, prove me wrong, double down. Absolutely double down, getting out of the East has never been a sure fire to win a championship, what y’all talking about? You get out of the East, you’re supposed to get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Of course you’re supposed to get out of the East. That don’t just mean you win a championship because you get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Great, it’s the East, would have beat up Boston. You should get out the East. Happy for Mike Brown, by the way, but you should get out of the East.”
"When I got there they were getting back on track, redoing everything…What Leon & those guys did, to now be in the Finals, pretty cool, even just for the City
Just rooting for them now…Lot of guys I'm pretty close with. Just happy for them"
On rooting for the Knicks after their Finals berth:
“I’m happy for them. I’d rather be playing against them, but I’m just rooting for them right now. There are a lot of guys I know (there). There are a lot of guys I’m pretty close with. So, I’m just happy for them.”
Kimmel: I like your football jersey. Supporting Ukrainian team?
Chef José Andrés: My beloved Spanish team, of course. But Ukraine is my team today. They didn’t make it to World Cup, but today they're fighting the biggest match — for freedom and democracy.
