The Maple Leafs are coming off a 4-2 win in Calgary last night that featured a goal from Troy Stecher, the former Oilers defenceman who was picked up off waivers earlier this season in November and has 11 points (three goals) in 37 games with Toronto as a steady presence on their blueline.
“Yeah, he’s a great player, obviously we know that, but such a great teammate,” McDavid said. “He was kind of in and out of the lineup here, but not because he didn’t deserve to be playing. He’s a great player, as I said, and never complained about anything. Just showed up every day, worked hard, and was a big piece of the room. Great to see him having success there.”
Before tonight’s Olympic Send-Off honouring Leon Draisaitl, Josh Samanski and Connor McDavid for getting the chance to represent their countries later this month at Milano Cortina 2026, the Oilers organization will hold a moment of silence for the tragic loss of the lives of Cameron Casorso, JJ Wright and Caden Fine – three members of the USPHL’s Southern Alberta Mustangs who were killed in a traffic collision on their way to practice on Monday near Stavely, AB.
“Tragic,” McDavid said. “Something that touches close to home, three guys heading to practice. Just tragic. You’re thinking about their families for sure.”
“It’s an unfortunate event, and obviously with our sports, we do spend a lot of time travelling, going place to place, whether that’s for games on buses or in vehicles to practices,” Knoblauch said. “And it’s very unfortunate that it happened to three young men. Our thoughts are with those families; it’s very unfortunate that this happened.”
