Posted at 6:00 a.m.
Controversy around the Bill-Masterton
Is it true that no French-speaking journalist voted for Carey Price for the awarding of the Bill-Masterton trophy? Can you reveal which player you voted for? I read The Press and I am fan of the Canadian since my youngest age. I am almost 70 years old and I am disappointed.
Sylvie Robert
Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange:
First of all, some context. Several trophies, including the Bill-Masterton, are awarded following a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA), which brings together the majority of written journalists (newspaper or web) covering the activities of NHL teams. The three journalists assigned full-time to the coverage of the Canadian at The Press are part of.
The Bill-Masterton Trophy, remember, rewards the player who “best embodies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” according to the NHL website. Voting is done in two stages. First, all members of the media who cover a given team nominate one player per market. There are therefore 32 nominated players for this trophy. In Montreal, Carey Price received the most votes. He was therefore the representative of the CH. The members of the PHWA then had the opportunity to vote for the player of their choice among the 32 nominated. And Price won.
Now what you’re pointing out, ma’am Robert, is correct: the only votes the goalkeeper received from Montreal journalists were those of Eric Engels, of Sportsnet (vote of 1D place), and Arpon Basu, of Athletic (3e square). Nine PHWA members representing The Press (3), The Journal of Montreal (3), The Canadian Press (1), RDS.ca (1) and Athlétique (1) voted for players other than Price. This was interpreted by many fans as an affront to the Canadiens and their star goaltender, which is not the case.
These journalists judged, and I include myself in the lot, that other athletes had simply been more deserving in 2021-2022. Finally, since you ask the question, Richard Labbé and I, without consulting each other, gave our first place vote to Justin Danforth, of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who at 29 played his very first season in the NHL. As for Guillaume Lefrançois, he opted instead for Kyle Okposo, of the Buffalo Sabres, who has turned the page on years marked by injuries and who opened up about his mental health problems.
Who shoots?
Hello, I would like to know who decides which player will be designated to take a penalty or a free kick. It seems normal to me that this is the coach, but in a recent CF Montreal game, there was an argument between two players over who was going to shoot. Thank you to enlighten me.
Francois LeBel
Response from Jean-François Téotonio:
Set-piece play situations are usually rehearsed in training, and the coach decides on the shooter. But it also depends on the positioning on the ground, and the strategy to be used in the circumstances. Both Djordje Mihailovic and Romell Quioto have been seen standing behind the ball recently. It’s usually Mihailovic the shooter, both from a corner and a free kick. We may want to confuse the opponent, who will only know at the moment of impact with the leather that will hit him. Finally, on this precise free kick, Mihailovic made a short pass for Quioto, who took care of sending the ball into the box. For some teams, like Portugal’s national team, there’s absolutely no doubt about who will take the shot: as long as Cristiano Ronaldo plays soccer, he’ll be standing alone behind the ball for the free kick.
Half a chance?
When I watch the broadcast of European matches on TV, I wonder why the person who describes the match speaks of “half chance” during a penalty kick. A shot is a shot, right? Why call it that?
Lorraine Dagenais
Response from Jean-François Téotonio:
We talk about “half chance”, or “half chance” to score, when it is not clear, clear and precise. When a player is expected to score a goal, by virtue of an advantageous positioning on the field or because he has only a minimal number of opponents to beat before moving the strings , this is a real opportunity. Or “clear chance”, as the English would say. If he missed his shot, the fans would blame him.
Conversely, a slightly more ambitious attempt, resulting from a shot from afar or from a restricted angle. It is easier to accept a failure after such a “half chance”. Finally, a shot is a shot, yes. But we still make the distinction between an attempted shot – therefore simply sent in the direction of the net – and a shot on target, therefore blocked by the goalkeeper or the defense.