bgo777 TORONTO - Mitch Marner will be sporting a different Maple Leaf in February. The Toronto Maple Leafs star was one of 17 players named Wednesday to round out Canada’s 23-man roster for the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Joining the winger as part of an attack that already featured Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand and Brayden Point — all announced back in June — are Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers along with Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Also making the team up front are Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers and Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes. The defence corps led by Cale Makar, who was also tabbed in June, will see Colorado Avalanche teammate Devon Toews suit up in red and white, and also include the Vegas duo of Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo, Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia’s Travis Sanheim. The biggest question mark for Canadian general manager Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins and the rest of the country’s hockey brain trust since the selection process began has been in the crease — especially with stud netminders like Carey Price and Roberto Luongo a distant memory. Canada doesn’t have the same goaltending pedigree as at past international events, but head coach Jon Cooper of Tampa will likely lean on Stanley Cup winners Jordan Binnington of the Blues and Adin Hill of the Golden Knights. Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens rounds out the puck-stopping trio. “We are thrilled to unveil the group of players who have earned the opportunity to represent Canada,” Sweeney said in a statement. “We believe we have assembled a roster that features world-class talent, as well as success at the NHL and international levels. “We are confident this group will give us the best chance to accomplish our goal on the international stage.” The 4 Nations tournament, which also includes the United States, Sweden and Finland, runs Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, and will serve as an appetizer for the NHL’s Olympic return in 2026. It’s also the closest hockey has got to a best-on-best men’s tournament since the 2016 World Cup. This showcase won’t technically meet that threshold with Russia — because of its ongoing war in Ukraine — and reigning world champions Czechia not in the mix. But there should still be plenty of interest with McDavid, Crosby, U.S. star Auston Matthews and a host of other big names finally sharing the ice on the world stage. The NHL, which went to five straight Olympics between 1998 and 2014, announced at last season’s all-star game players would participate at the next two Games after it skipped 2018 for business reasons and missed out in 2022 due to COVID-19. The goal of the league and NHL Players’ Association is hold a World Cup in both 2028 and 2032 to get international events on a schedule of every two years. Canada opens the 4 Nations on Feb. 12 against Sweden at the Bell Centre in Montreal before facing the U.S. in the same building three nights later. The tournament then moves to Boston, where the Canadians will meet Finland on Feb 17. The teams with the two best records after the round-robin will battle in the final Feb. 20 at TD Garden. “This is an exciting time for the NHL and international hockey,” Cooper said. “This event is an important part of the process as we continue to build teams that can be successful on the international stage.” ___ Follow @JClipperton_CP on X. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024.

Over the last few weeks, fans have been treated to a couple of "snow globe" games. While it's fun to watch these games, games with heavy precipitation or wind can be devastating for the weekly fantasy value of receivers and non-rushing quarterbacks. Keeping an eye on games that may have inclement weather is crucial for fantasy managers. Before we get into the Week 15 forecasts, here's a reminder that if you have any questions about sports weather or how the weather could impact play (and potentially your fantasy, DFS, and sports betting decisions), don't hesitate to reach out to RotoGrinders' meteorologist Kevin Roth on Twitter ( @KevinRothWx ) or check out the hourly NFL weather forecasts on RotoGrinders. To take your game to the next level, subscribe to RotoGrinders' exclusive WeatherEdge tool and see how different weather conditions have impacted historical scoring. Note: If a game isn't mentioned below, it's because it doesn't have 10+-mph winds, a 20+-percent chance of precipitation, or extreme temperatures in the forecast. WEEK 15 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers Week 15 NFL weather forecast and updates Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers Per Kevin Roth: "Scattered light rain showers are possible, but it doesn’t look like a total washout." Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans Per Kevin Roth: "Off and on showers could play a minor role here. Will need to be closer to kickoff to get a better feel for rain timing." Week 15 FANTASY FOOTBALL ROSTER MANAGEMENT Lessons Learned | Stock Watch | Sleepers | Busts | Start 'Em, Sit 'Em | Usage Report | Flex Finder Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Per Kevin Roth: " A bit of rain, a bit of wind, but not a ton of either. Scattered showers look fairly likely, winds winds sustained around 15mph gusting to 25mph. Neither is a huge issue, but the combination of some wind and some rain is a slight bump down to the passing attack of both teams." Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants No matter which way you look at it, this game is going to get ugly. The Ravens are favored by two touchdowns, and there is a 40 percent chance of rain in this one. If there is rainfall throughout the game, expect the Ravens and Giants to lean on their rushing attacks to a higher degree. Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers After spending four of their last five games in Jerry's World, the Cowboys will be traveling to Carolina to play in the elements. There's a chance for showers during this NFC matchup with forecasts currently setting the probability at 40 percent. This could change, so check back for updates as the game draws closer. Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles The battle for Pennsylvania could involve some precipitation; current forecasts set the chance of rain at 50 percent. The Steelers and Eagles are already two of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL, so they would have no problem turning to Najee Harris and Saquon Barkley in this one. Don't be surprised if the rain turns this into a gritty matchup revolving around each team's rushing attack and defense. Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks Unsurprisingly, it could be rainy in Seattle this weekend. The Seahawks will host the Packers on Sunday Night Football and Kevin Roth expects there to be off-and-on rain throughout the game. While it may be raining, Roth expects the rain to be light.Trump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in USLoveTy Teng, a rival streaming service known for its robust content library and user-friendly interface, has also taken steps to combat account sharing. In a recent statement, the company emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of content creators and ensuring that users are using the service in a manner that is consistent with its terms of service. LoveTy Teng has stated that it will be monitoring account activity more closely and taking action against users who are found to be sharing accounts in violation of its policies.

As New York City prosecutors worked Thursday to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Thursday afternoon had raised over $50,000. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from more than 1,500 anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. GiveSendGo did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded." Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." But law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.

Black Friday is here, more or less, with early Black Friday deals being highly abundant at this time. One pair of such deals is for Sony’s quite legendary XM5 line, with both the headphones and earbuds being on sale. In fact, a Best Buy early Black Friday deal got me to buy the earbuds and complete my collection. As a self-described “audiophobe” (I crave silence the way others crave deep bass beats), I’ve been tempted by Sony’s WF-1000XM5 after experiencing the peace and quiet of the WH-1000XM5 headphones. And at their current price of $230, which is $70 down from the usual $300, they were an easy pickup for me. But, with the WH-1000XM5 — the headphones that consistently sit at the top or our best headphones list — down to $300 from a usual price of $400, are the WF-1000XM5 really the best deal for you to pick up at the moment? As someone who owns them both, I’m going to give you the case for picking out each pair. Why you should buy the WH-1000XM5 The WH-1000XM5 are a mainstay in the headphones world. For someone like me who wants to have peace and quiet on a regular basis, they’re pretty much effortless. I just slide them over my ears, tap a button, and all is peaceful again. From the crowded Best Buy where I first tried them on I was able to tune out the vast majority of the store’s chatter within seconds. Their ease of use and convenience has spilled over into my entertainment regimen too, however. With an easy pair of taps you can start and stop media. This means that I can go grab a drink or some food while a YouTube video plays and — if something interesting happens that I want to see as well as hear — pause it remotely via my headphones. These are easy, convenient, comfy headphones and (as mentioned in our WH-1000XM5 review ) they sound great when playing music and have very robust EQ controls to get you the precise sound you want. The one thing they don’t do well, however, is active work. Sweating, drizzles outdoors, and wet hands from doing dishes are all no-nos around your WH-1000XM5s, but its still all good so long as you know their limitations. At their current price of just $300 I would be a bit envious of anyone just buying these now, as I paid closer to $350 during a Prime Day sale last year. Why you should buy the WF-1000XM5 For anyone wondering why I highlighted how instant the WH-1000XM5’s utility came to me, the WF are the answer. With the earbuds, you’ll need to work to get a solid fit. Trying all of the eartips on, twisting in and out of ears, using the app to test how good your fit is, and so on can take some time, especially if you’re picky about the silence levels. I’ll also use this point to mention that the tap controls on the WF-1000XM5 will feel quite familiar to WH-1000XM5 users, but they have a tendency to go off when you’re inserting and removing the earbuds from your ears. Turn them off briefly when doing your initial setup. However, when all is said and done and you do get the right fit, the noise cancelation is quite good and, of course, the sound is right. On my second day of owning them, I wore my WF-1000XM5s while building the wooden shelf you can see them displayed on in the image above while playing very light music. It wasn’t until after I was done that I noticed there was some fairly loud YouTube watching going on in the next room. And, with the buds (but not the case) being IPX4 water resistant, I know there will be other new things I’ll do with my WF-1000XM5. I got mine for $230 and I’m pretty happy that I did. You can find yours by tapping the button below. Conclusion: Should you buy the WH-1000XM5 or WF-1000XM5 for Black Friday? Having worn both of Sony’s XM5 styles, I feel pretty confident that most people will feel most satisfied with the WH-1000XM5 headphones. Both my own experience and customer review ratings point to them being the better experience, even if it isn’t by a lot. That being said, the WF-1000XM5 are $70 cheaper at this time and you can still get an excellent noise isolation experience, especially if you boost it by playing some music (which you probably were going to do anyhow). The WF-1000XM5 are for sure the value play, and if you’re a bargain hunter there’s no way you won’t feel pleased with yourself getting them for $230, at least until next sales cycle when they might get closer to $200. With some water-resistance, they can go many places the WH-1000XM5 cannot, too, adding to the value. The WH-1000XM5 headphones are fantastic but the WF-1000XM5 earbuds sure have their place. Of course, this all brings us to one question: Why not both? While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend buying both until you’ve at least tried one out, if you have the WH-1000XM5 now is a great time to pick up the WF-1000XM5. And, likewise, if you have the WF-1000XM5 now is similarly a great time to pick up the WH-1000XM5. Though they have similar aims, they’re different enough tools and owning both doesn’t feel like complete overkill. It’s kind of like having a wedge and a driver in your golf club bag, to use a horrible sports metaphor. Finally, be sure to check and compare these to our listings of Black Friday Bose headphones deals , Black Friday Beats headphones deals , and Black Friday AirPods deals to get more perspective on price and availability this deals season.The announcement of their need for adoption quickly spread through social media and news outlets, sparking an outpouring of support and compassion. People from all walks of life, both within and outside of Yunnan province, have expressed their willingness to open their homes and hearts to these deserving dogs.