HOCKEY CANADA NEEDS TO PROVIDE ‘SOME ANSWERS,’ SAYS MAPLE LEAFS COACH KEEFE

Story and photos Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST —  Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe says: “It’s obvious and fair to say there needs to be some answers” about Hockey Canada.

Addressing the media after practice this afternoon, he said: “First of all I’m not involved in any of the decision-making and I know the NHL has its own investigation going on.

“But it’s obvious and fair to say there needs to be some answers about the things that have been reported.

“But I’ll leave it at that,” the head coach of the country’s most prominent pro hockey team said Thursday when asked by MuskokaTODAY.com, as major national hockey advertisers and sponsors have pulled their support for at least the men’s program over the Hockey Canada’s handling of sexual assaults.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the sports body could easily be replaced as it has “lost the confidences of Canadians” — and the government.

Coach Sheldon Keefe said given what’s been reported, Hockey Canada needs to answer for what’s been reported as even the prime minister says the organization is not irreplaceable. Photos Mark Clairmont

As the NHL team departed Gravenhurst after three days of bonding and practice, he said “this whole camp — and in particular this trip — has very been productive.”

But there is one more practice tomorrow morning back in Toronto.

Then the team flies to Detroit for a game there Friday night with a return engagement at home at the Rogers Centre.

During those final three on ice skates Keefe and his coaches must make their final decisions on who stays and who goes.

The Leafs brought up 30 players to town and there’s not enough room for all of them when the team submits its final roster list to the league by Monday’s deadline.

Toronto opens its regular season next Wednesday, Oct. 12, in Montreal.

The past 48 hours appear to have ended camp with more questions than clear answers.

Keefe looked at ease in the press scrum appearing to be satisfied with what he saw from his players days from the first official drop of the puck while still giving no hint as to cuts this weekend.

He said camp this year has been “far greater and more competitive than I’ve seen in any other year” among “players who have signed with us and players who are pushing from the Marlies.

“It’s up to the players to decide how it all shapes up.”

And the players did hustle hard, rushing end-to-end and side-to-side with

There are some players who didn’t make the trip up who will get to play games Saturday and Sunday and could still enter the final equation.

Commenting on the team’s new goalies — Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov — Keefe said: “I think you need two goaltenders to compete in today’s NHL and you expect to use both guys. I don’t think it will be a straight up split in terms of alternating. The goalies will sort that out with their performance.”

He said so far the two have gotten along great and while there is a “gelling among the players, there’s also a gelling among the goalies. You want them to be a team within a team.”

Samsonov, who brought smiles the faces of media with his relaxed responses, said he’s had “a really good relationship with the team and each other and I hope to get better and better.”

Winger Wayne Simmonds said he didn’t feel any extra pressure after the team went out in the first round of the playoffs last year.

“Not really. To be honest with you I think in some sense we got some confidence from that. I know we didn’t beat Tampa — but they were back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. And they go to the finals again. You know I think we were this close. I know being close only counts in horse shoes and …. I know you can draw some positives from that to see where we are going.”

Defenceman Morgan Rielly tended to agree.

“Our group is pretty confident. We’ve got a lot of work to do, a lot to prove. We don’t have anything to brag about. I think we’re a confident bunch. I think this going to be a really good team if we buy in.”

He said the Leafs want to “start off well,” but “it takes time to prove where you’re at.”

Reilly agreed that both netminders are “doing really good,” and joked that players “don’t pay too much attention to the goalies unless the puck goes in.”

He added “we’re truly lucky to have player” like Auston Matthews, who is second only to Edmonton’s Connor McDavid in TSN’s top 50 players list.

Leafs brain trust watch practice from behind the south goal net today in Gravenhurst, including general manager Kyle Dubas in white sweat jacket and team president Brendan Shanahan.
Winger David Kampf gets elbowed out of play behind the net by defenceman Morgan Rielly in the final day of a Leafs training camp break today, as Wayne Simmonds and Alex Steeves battle in front of the net.
Veteran Wayne Simmonds, 34, knows his time with the team may be limited and admitted he is “on the bubble” with only one practice and a couple of weekend games to make his case against younger players in camp.
Goalie Ilya Samsonov, who will start tonight in Detroit, amused reporters while answering questions about his new position on the team.
Winger Morgan Rielly said the Leafs have “a lot to prove” after last season’s disappointing first round departure to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the defending Stanley Cup champions who went on to the finals.

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