An handful of fans made it into the Toronto Maple Leafs arena to see them lose to the Montreal Canadiens a few months ago. The Leafs now start fresh for a new season, and fans may get a fresh start inside at their games too, per media reports on the Ontario government’s evolving COVID rules.

Ontario's top doctor willing to consider lifting capacity limits in venues with mandatory vaccination requirements

This comes after the Edmonton Oilers parent company became the latest to announce a mandatory vaccination admission program, essentially making it mandatory for entrance now to nearly all Canadian NHL venues, and many junior hockey venues as well.

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment has yet to make any official announcement about venue capacity and occupancy for games this fall.

Women’s World Championship

Team Canada rolled to an easy victory over the Swiss yesterday, winning 5-0 and moving their record to three straight wins, while the Swiss have three straight losses.

Canada’s star Marie-Philip Poulin left with an injury in the third period after moving to block a shot which wound up going high and the puck blocked by her neck. She is expected to be OK according to the team staff. The quote of the night goes to Canada’s goalie Emerance Maschmeyer.

It just shows you what kind of player she is and what kind of teammate she is. We were up 5-0 and she’s willing to block that shot with her neck.

Meanwhile in the US-Russia game, Hillary Knight passed an international record held by Hall of Fame member Cami Granato.

Other News

Hockey Canada is finally revising the reporting rules and policies on abuse in the game, both on and off the ice, several years after those rules were well documented publicly as being totally inadequate. Better late than never, though it would be better immediately than many years later.

New Growlers head coach is brother of former St. John’s Maple Leafs standout - SaltWire
Eric Wellwood found success behind the bench in OHL after nasty injury ended his playing career.

France Margaret Bélanger appointed President, Sports and Entertainment - Groupe CH
France Margaret is the first woman to serve on the executive committee of the Montreal Canadiens in its 104-year history. She joined the organization in 2013 as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer after acquiring extensive merger and acquisition experience from her 18 years at the law firm Stikeman Elliott.

Review: In ‘Islander,’ the Puck Stops Here - The New York Times
This verbatim hockey drama considers issues of masculinity and the peculiar ownership that fans feel toward a team and its players. It is on stage in New York only for now, but may move out to other markets.

Listowel Arena Collapse: Friends of ’59 - The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated
Pete Leppard and Keith Bender never forget about the friends and teammates they lost on a rainy Saturday morning in February more than 60 years ago. They were just 10 at the time and their whole world literally came crashing down on them.

Finally, start planning for the 2023 NHL Draft

From The Branches