While Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has written Justin Trudeau to back Edmonton as a hub city for the Stanley Cup tourney, Brendan Shanahan isn’t calling on provincial or civic leaders to push the Feds on behalf of the Maple Leafs.
“I haven’t had any personal contact with the Premier (Doug Ford) or Mayor (John Tory),” the Leafs president said Wednesday. “I know when MLSE was transferring their kitchens to getting Toronto back on its feet (making meals to supplement food banks), we certainly (talked then). but I haven’t spoken to them.
However, it appears Tory and Ford, the latter via Minister of Heritage, Sport and Tourism, Lisa MacLeod, are willing to make that call to Ottawa for him.
“I couldn’t be more delighted to be working with MLSE and our partners at other levels of government to ensure this becomes a reality,” MacLeod said in a video from her desk, wearing a Leafs jacket.
In his open letter to the PM, Kenney cited the pluses of Edmonton, “among the lowest COVID-19 cases of similar-sized North American cities.” He said Alberta’s chief medical officer had a sound plan to test players and keep the public safe and pointed out the influx of 11 Western Conference teams in town for a few weeks would be vital to relaunching the provincial economy.
MacLeod made the same points, emphasizing testing and contact tracing would be in place for all, while a statement from Tory read in part: “I am proud that Toronto — the hockey capital of this country — is being considered as a hub. I will continue to work closely with MLSE, the NHL, Toronto Public Health, and the provincial and federal governments on a plan to move our city forward as a top choice for the league.
“Everyone in Toronto, myself included, is excited at the prospect of the NHL coming back. I want to thank Gary Bettman and the NHL and the Players Association for taking a measured and strategic approach to planning a return. This will be important as we try and go back to normal, while also ensuring that we are following the health guidelines that are still in place.”
MacLeod concluded her video by saying “I can’t wait to see the good old hockey game, even if I’m not in the stands.”
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