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Boston’s World Figure Skating Championships will play a key role in shaping the 2026 Winter Olympics – The Boston Globe

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Boston’s World Figure Skating Championships will play a key role in shaping the 2026 Winter Olympics – The Boston Globe


It was that enthusiasm that made International Skating Union and U.S. Figure Skating officials want to bring the championships back to Boston in 2025. At the TD Garden on Thursday, Wagner joined 1984 Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton and current world champion Ilia Malinin to mark the start of single-session ticket sales for the event, which begin Friday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.

“That response at worlds is why I moved to Boston,” said Wagner, who now lives with her family on Nantucket.

While every year’s World Championships are important, the 2025 edition is particularly so. The 300 athletes expected to participate will be seeking to secure their nation’s spots for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy. In each discipline (men, women, pairs and ice dance), if a nation’s top two skaters or teams placements combined equal 13 or less, the nation receives the maximum three spots in that discipline.

“Boston is truly the first step to Milan,” said US Figure Skating president Sam Auxier.

Being one of the last major events before the 2026 Olympics, the 2025 World Championships also are important for purposes of momentum. Hamilton recalled that while he had won two world titles heading into the 1983 World Championships, it was his title that year that truly made him believe he could win gold at the 1984 Games.

“It was a situation where once I won in 1983, it felt like the Olympic gold medal was mine to lose,” said Hamilton.

Malinin will be looking to repeat after winning his world title in March in Montreal. Having made history in 2022 at Skate America, an international invitational held at The Skating Club of Boston, by landing the first quadruple axel at a major international event, he is looking forward to skating in front of the area’s audiences again.

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“Here in Boston, they are really great fans of sports,” said Malinin. “They really get energetic and almost chaotic in a way, and it really helps us to feel that energy and how excited they are to see us skate.”

Two-time US champion Ilia Malinin performed a demonstration routine that includes a flip on Thursday.Barry Chin/Globe Staff

The World Championships are expected to bring a $40 million boost to the Boston economy, with 12,000 hotel room nights expected to be reserved between fans, skaters, coaches, volunteers, and media. Internationally, Boston is considered one of the sport’s hubs, and skaters were excited to hear of the event’s return to the area after a mere nine years, which is rare for the World Championships.

“It is rare for a city to host twice in such a short amount of time,” said Doug Zeghibe, executive director of The Skating Club of Boston, which is the host of the event. “The audience made 2016 a standout success.”


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Kat Cornetta can be reached at sportsgirlkat@gmail.com.





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Boston, MA

Bruins Notes: Boston's Determination Pays Off With Resilient OT Win

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Bruins Notes: Boston's Determination Pays Off With Resilient OT Win


BOSTON — It certainly wasn’t pretty at times, but the Bruins pulled off an overtime victory against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

The Bruins and Flames traded goals in the opening period, but then Boston scored twice in the second frame to take a 3-1 lead into the final 20 minutes of regulation.

Calgary didn’t fold. They pushed back with two goals of their own in the third period to force overtime. The Black and Gold were determined to not lose the extra point and Brad Marchand scored the game-winning goal with 20 seconds left of three-on-three play.

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“We stuck with it,” Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm said. “Obviously, we don’t want to give up a 3-1 lead in the third, but we found a way to win a hockey game and that’s hard in this league. So, I’ll try to focus on the positives here.”

Lindholm opened the scoring for the Bruins with a first-period strike from newly reunited Czech mates David Pastrnark and Pavel Zacha.

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“I feel really good about my game,” Lindholm said. “It’s nice to get put out there in situations to succeed and it makes it fun for me. Feel that reward and obviously, get a goal, is always a good feeling.”

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Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery praised Lindholm not only for the goal but also for his overall performance in the game.

“I thought Hampus was really skating. I thought he was on his toes tonight,” Montgomery said. “The really good thing, when Hampus is playing really well, and that goal is a perfect example, is he’s moving his feet in the neutral zone, he’s moving it north, and he’s jumping into the offensive zone to support the play. That way it’s easier for the defensemen to be uncovered.”

Not only did Pastrnak and Zacha connect on the Lindholm goal, but the duo also helped generate some of the Bruins’ best scoring chances and Zacha scored his first five-on-five goal of the season.

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“They played really well,” Montgomery said. “I thought that line was our best offensive line.”

Here are more notes from Thursday’s Bruins-Flames game:

— Marchand now has 21 overtime goals in his career, which is the most in franchise history and third-most among all NHL players behind Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. The game-winner was the 79th of his career and ranks him third in Bruins history, trailing only Johnny Bucyk (88) and Patrice Bergeron (81).

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— Zacha’s second goal of the season was his 300th NHL point. He joined linemate Pastrnak, Tomas Hertl and Ondrej Palat as the fourth active player born in Czechia with 300 points.

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— Cole Koepke joined Charlie Coyle and Matt Poitras on the third line and tallied his fourth goal of the season to extend the Bruins lead to 3-1 in the third period. Coyle earned his first assist of the season when he set up Koepke’s tally.

“As long as I’m playing the right way and creating opportunities, getting opportunities, that’s what I worry about. … I’m not really too worried about individual stuff,” Coyle said. “I want to play the right way for my team, make sure I’m on the right side of the puck, and pick my spots when to go and find that balance too.”

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— The Bruins will look to build on the overtime win when they host former teammate Linus Ullmark and the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

The matchup could feature Boston’s former formidable goalie tandem — Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman — facing each other for the first time since the former was traded to the Senators in the offseason, or Ullmark could possibly face the goalie the Bruins received in the trade — Korpisalo.

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Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pre- and postgame coverage on NESN. 

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Flynn, Murphy denounce 'bias' from Boston City Council president

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Flynn, Murphy denounce 'bias' from Boston City Council president


Politics

The councilors, who are in the moderate minority on the council, said President Ruthzee Louijeune is acting with a “perceived bias.”

City officials from left Councilor Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy in February. Erin Clark/Globe Staff

Two Boston city councilors who have butted heads with the body’s progressive majority are voicing their concerns about City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune’s “conduct in meetings.”

Boston City Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn sent a formal communication to City Clerk Alex Geourntas dated Monday, which was listed in Wednesday’s City Council meeting agenda. 

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“The Council President frequently engages in commentary following the remarks of certain councilors, particularly myself and Councilor Flynn, which undermines the impartiality expected of the presiding officer,” Murphy wrote. 

Louijeune was sworn into her two-year term as president earlier this year, replacing Flynn in the role. 

When reached for comment, Louijeune said her focus is “to keep this honorable body and our great city moving forward.”

“As Council President, I continue to maintain an open-door policy to all of my colleagues if they have any questions or concerns that they would like to discuss in a professional and respectful manner,” she said in a statement.

Flynn, Murphy are political minority on the council

Murphy and Flynn, who are moderates, have previously raised concerns in the press about the City Council. She told the Boston Herald that she sees “chaos and resistance” on the council, while Flynn said he feels “isolated” and bullied as he considers a mayoral bid next year.

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Murphy lost her bid for Suffolk County clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court in September. The little-known seat turned into a proxy battle between progressive Boston pols like Mayor Michelle Wu, who backed Murphy’s opponent, and moderates like Flynn backing Murphy. 

Late last month, Flynn was a sole objection to adding a home-rule petition filed by Wu as a last-minute addition to the council’s agenda. Audible gasps could be heard from the chamber, and someone cried “shame on you!” after the objection. 

The communication filed Wednesday didn’t mention any specific incidents but noted that “several colleagues and members of the public have noted this behavior and expressed their discomfort with the perceived bias.”

“This behavior raises concerns about adherence to our established rules, specifically regarding the expectation that the Council President must step down from the dais to express personal opinions that are not procedural in nature,” the communication read.

Louijeune allies Worrell, Breadon weigh in

Councilor Brian Worrell, who represents Mattapan, Dorchester, and parts of Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, also weighed in. He said Flynn and Murphy’s portrayal “is far from reality.”

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“That politically-motivated plot has been a constant on social media and in the press since the start of the term. I urge councilors to sit down and communicate directly with the Council President,” Worrell said in a statement.

Councilor Liz Breadon, who represents Allston/Brighton, is the second-longest tenured member of the council and has served under four council presidents, she said.

“I vehemently disagree with these unfair and baseless characterizations of the Council President,” Breadon said. “These grievances reflect a brand of petty politics that I had hoped this body was above.”

In their letter, Murphy and Flynn ask Geourntas to take their concerns seriously, “as they affect the integrity of our council and the public’s perception of our work.”

“It is our hope that we can foster a more collaborative environment where all voices are heard and respected, adhering strictly to the rules that govern our conduct,” they wrote.

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Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.






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Boston Fleet, PWHL unveil jersey designs ahead of 2024-25 season – The Boston Globe

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Boston Fleet, PWHL unveil jersey designs ahead of 2024-25 season – The Boston Globe


The PWHL’s Boston Fleet have a new look to to go along with a new name.

The Fleet and five other teams on Thursday released uniform designs for the league’s second season. The announcements come two months after the league unveiled new logos and names for each team: Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres.

Boston’s jerseys feature the team’s signature “B” across the chest and wave motifs in stripes along the bottom, as well as on the numbers on the back. The Fleet’s home jerseys feature a dark green background, and the away jerseys are white, each with “oceanic blue” accents, according to a release.

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“Our Boston Fleet jerseys are so much more than just a uniform,” Fleet coach Courtney Kessel said in a release. “These represent our commitment to excellence and the pride we take in playing for Boston. Every time we step onto the ice wearing these, we’re not just representing ourselves — we’re honoring our fans, our history, and our future.”

Captain Hilary Knight models the team’s new jersey, designed in partnership with Bauer Hockey.Courtesy of the PWHL

Having team names, logos, and branding on the jerseys is a major step for the league, which played its inaugural season with generic uniforms. Last season, each team’s kit featured the team’s colors and the name of its city written diagonally across the front.

“Players and fans alike have been waiting for this moment and we couldn’t be happier with the six unique looks each team will don moving forward,” PWHL senior vice president of business operations Amy Scheer said in a release. “These jerseys mark the latest evolution in our league’s history, and we can’t wait to see them showcased both on the ice and in the stands.”

The uniforms were made in partnership with Bauer Hockey, the league’s official jersey partner. Replica jerseys are available to purchase via the league’s online shop and will be available at retail stores starting Nov. 14, according to the release.

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The league designed the jerseys in collaboration with New York-based creative agency Flower Shop, which also had a hand in the teams’ new names and branding.

“Working alongside the team at Bauer, we put thought behind every color, every stitch, every fabric choice — every element — to ensure these uniforms are of the highest quality,” PWHL SVP of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said in the release.. “From the design process to final production, we aimed to create uniforms that not only reflect the spirit of each team but also deliver top-tier performance and comfort for our athletes.”

The Fleet will open training camp on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and will play two preseason scrimmages, the first against the Montréal Victoire on Nov. 20 and the second against the Ottawa Charge on Nov. 21. Boston will open the regular season on the road in Toronto on Nov. 30 and will play its home opener at Tsongas Center on Dec. 4. Check out the full schedule here.

Alina Muller wears the team’s away jersey, which features blue and green detailing on a white background.Courtesy of the PWHL

Emma can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @_EmmaHealy_.

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