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Ex-NHL star dismisses critics of Wayne Gretzky’s relationship with Trump

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Ex-NHL star dismisses critics of Wayne Gretzky’s relationship with Trump


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Former NHL star P.K. Subban dismissed criticism aimed at hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for his association with President Donald Trump earlier this month.

Gretzky was spotted at Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 as the U.S. president took office for his second term. In 2024, Trump teased Canada with the possibility of naming “The Great One” the governor of the “51st state.”

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Wayne Gretzky arrives for the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Imagn Images)

Trump’s poking of Canada caused heightened tensions between the two countries before the president later backed off and called Gretzky a “free agent.”

The heightened tensions fueled intense competition between the U.S. and Canada hockey teams at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and many expect it to carry over into the Winter Olympics should the two teams meet this month.

Subban defended Gretzky’s relationship with Trump against critics in an interview with the Toronto Sun.

“I’d like to know what they’ve contributed to the country and what they’ve contributed to the game of hockey,” he told the outlet. “We’re in an opinion-based world; everyone has an opinion and that’s great. But my job isn’t to listen to everyone’s opinion … Wayne’s paid his dues.

FBI director Kash Patel with Wayne Gretzky

FBI Director is Kash Patel, left, talking with former NHL player Wayne Gretzky, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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“He’s been in the trenches. He went to Nagano. He’s put together Hockey Canada. He’s played for Hockey Canada. He’s represented the country. He’s represented the league. He’s done it all. I’m sorry for people who feel (he betrayed Canada). So I would say this, ‘You have zero credibility to comment on Wayne Gretzky and the decisions he makes.’”

Subban suggested the back and forth between Trump and Canadian leaders was why the 4 Nations Face-Off became a rousing success.

“Just him talking about it … led to a whole bunch of people asking, ‘Why is Trump talking about this hockey game?’” he told the Toronto Sun. “That’s how sensitive of a time it was, and that’s how influential the president and the prime minister are … I didn’t imagine how big the game could get or having world leaders involved in a tournament like that … But it changed the trajectory of the game … It would be cool to watch (the documentary) with Don Cherry and get his two cents on it.”

P.K. Subban skates during a game against the Stars in 2022

P.K. Subban #76 of the New Jersey Devils handles the puck against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on April 9, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.  (Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Subban is an executive producer on the new documentary series, “Rivals: The 4 Nations Face-Off.”

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Italy’s soccer chief told to quit after latest World Cup failure

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Italy’s soccer chief told to quit after latest World Cup failure


Italy’s sports minister has called on the country’s soccer federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina to resign after the four-time world champions failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup on Tuesday.

Italy‘s penalty shootout loss to 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying playoffs comes after the Azzurri were eliminated at the same stage by Sweden ahead of the 2018 World Cup and by North Macedonia in 2022.

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“It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled,” Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said, “and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC.”

Gravina is still holding onto his job after also surviving the qualifying elimination for the 2022 World Cup.

“Next week we will make much deeper reflections on the situation,” Gravina said, hinting that he could call for a new election for the country’s top soccer position. “There are a lot of evaluations to consider.”

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has also yet to give any indication about his own future after taking over when Luciano Spalletti was fired after Italy lost its opening qualifier to Norway last year.

“I’m not interested at all in talking about my future today,” Gattuso said following the loss in Bosnia. “It hurts, it really hurts. More than hurting me, it hurts to see this group which has really given everything in these months and I think we deserved to get back what we put in and I honestly think it’s too reductive and too immature to be talking about my future today.”

Gattuso was given a contract until the end of this summer’s World Cup, with an automatic renewal until 2028 if Italy reached the tournament in North America.

Even if Gattuso hasn’t made up his mind whether to stay or not, the Italian soccer federation gave a clear sign it would like him to remain on Tuesday.

“I have to praise Gattuso. I think he’s been a great coach, he is a great coach, I’ve asked him to stay on in charge of these players,” Gravina said.

The issues in Italian soccer extend beyond the national team.

The last Italian club to win the Champions League was Inter Milan in 2010; while in this season’s continental competition, all four Italian clubs were eliminated before the quarterfinals.

Added former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi: “Unfortunately the third consecutive elimination from the World Cup is not an April Fool’s joke. It’s a sign that Italian soccer has failed. Soccer isn’t just entertainment in our country; it’s part of our culture and national identity.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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tapmad secures exclusive broadcast rights for | The Express Tribune

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tapmad secures exclusive broadcast rights for | The Express Tribune


Bringing generations of hockey fans back to the game with a premium LIVE experience

tapmad has acquired the exclusive digital and television broadcast rights for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, set to take place in Belgium and the Netherlands.

This strategic acquisition marks another significant step in tapmad’s mission to bring Pakistan’s forgotten national sports back into the spotlight. Hockey, once a symbol of national pride, holds deep emotional and historical significance for the country, and with the Pakistan national team qualifying for the World Cup after eight years, the moment carries renewed meaning for fans across the nation. tapmad is determined to reconnect audiences with that legacy through accessible, high-quality coverage.

Over the past year, tapmad has consistently invested in international hockey properties, successfully broadcasting major tournaments including the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025, FIH Hockey Pro League, and the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Egypt 2026.

With the addition of the 2026 World Cup, tapmad continues to build the most comprehensive hockey content portfolio in the region, further strengthening its commitment to the sport’s revival.

By securing rights across both digital and television platforms, tapmad aims to maximise reach, ensuring fans across Pakistan can experience world-class hockey and witness this long-awaited comeback on the global stage like never before.

Yassir Pasha, CEO of tapmad, commented:

Hockey has always been an integral part of Pakistan’s sporting identity. In 2024 and 2025, we made a conscious effort to invest in hockey and bring it back into the spotlight. Securing rights for tournaments like the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is a continuation of that commitment to revive the sport and make it accessible to audiences across Pakistan.

As anticipation builds for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, tapmad is set to deliver an immersive viewing experience, LIVE, in HD quality, and without any Ads, bringing fans closer to the game that once defined a nation.



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Former Cowboys player Trysten Hill appears to grin after arrest tied to alleged assault of pregnant woman

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Former Cowboys player Trysten Hill appears to grin after arrest tied to alleged assault of pregnant woman


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Former NFL defensive tackle Trysten Hill was booked into a Texas jail last week on multiple charges relating to an alleged assault of a pregnant woman.

Ellis County Sheriff’s Office jail records list “assault of a pregnant person” and “interfering with an emergency request for assistance.” 

FOX 4 in Dallas obtained the records, which also showed Hill was arrested March 26.

Hill was booked and held on a $3,500 bond connected to two bond-forfeiture warrants from a 2025 criminal investigation, the sheriff’s office said.

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Trysten Hill  of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium Oct. 20, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Hill appeared to grin in his booking photo.

The identity of the alleged victim and any relationship to Hill were not disclosed. Fox News Digital contacted the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, but a request for comment was not immediately returned.

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After his three-year career at Central Florida, the Cowboys selected Hill in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He appeared in 25 regular-season games with the Cowboys, recording 39 combined tackles over four seasons.

Trysten Hill looks on during a Dallas Cowboys game

Trysten Hill of the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium Oct. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Hill joined the Arizona Cardinals midway through the 2022 season, recording five solo tackles and one sack in six games. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2023 but was released before the regular season kicked off.

Trysten Hill reacts during a game

New England Patriots defensive tackle Trysten Hill reacts against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Gillette Stadium Aug. 8, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (Eric Canha/USA Today Sports)

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The New England Patriots signed Hill to their practice squad later in 2023.

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