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A16 sports
Friday 21 april 2023
Chess, books, Netflix: Hockey goalies try anything to unplug

By PAT GRAHAM “I always thought (chess)
AP Sports Writer looked too complicated,”
To keep his racing mind in Skinner said. “Now I’m just
check, Edmonton goalten- having a blast with it.”
der Stuart Skinner some- Skinner’s not looking to be
times turns to the chess the next Bobby Fischer, just
board. Anything to unwind for some mind relief. It’s
and not constantly dwell — been a game changer.
even obsess — on stopping “A little reset,” Skinner said.
shots. “Anything besides hockey,
In an effort to escape a just to get your mind off ei-
bit from their high-pressure ther that save you made or
jobs, goalies take different save that you didn’t make.
approaches. It could be Little things like that.”
picking up chess (Skinner’s Kimball had a tip for turn-
move), reading a good ing it off. “I usually tell them,
book (a novel approach whenever they change
by Colorado’s Alexandar their shoes or their skates,
Georgiev ), binging a Net- in this situation, change
flix show (Carolina’s Antti their focus,” she said. “If
Raanta ) or just taking the you’re either on the ice or
dog for a walk (Seattle’s off the ice, when you take
Philipp Grubauer). your shoes off, you’re home
The point is to find a way to Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev blocks a Seattle Kraken shot during the now. That’s a quick, easy
slow things down to make second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in way people can transition
Denver.
sure their dreams aren’t Associated Press from one aspect of their life
haunted by high-speed to the other.”
shots flying at them from spent 16 seasons working tender Pavel Francouz took just won or lost. She just Georgiev grabs a novel to
the likes of Connor McDa- in the NHL and is currently up flying the friendly skies. loves you the same and get away from hockey. His
vid, Nathan MacKinnon or the Washington Capitals’ He earned his pilot’s license wants to play,” Francouz goal is to read — or listen to
David Pastrnak. director of organizational during his playing days in said. “That’s the best way — 24 books this year. He’s
Because at this time of development. “If all you the Czech Republic and it for me now to just not think already finished five.
year, every save — or non- ever did was eat, sleep became his ticket to tran- about hockey.” “I’ve always read so much.
save — takes on greater and dream about hockey, quility. Skinner, too, has a young But it usually was either
importance. Replaying the then when your career “You realize when you’re one at home and his son, newspapers or just wast-
goals in the mind can be- ended, or maybe you had that high up how small Beau, provides a welcome ing time on Reddit or In-
come an occupational an injury, it’s harder to tran- things are,” Francouz said. distraction from the game. stagram or listening to a
hazard. sition into that next phase “It gives you a different Skinner also began learn- lot of podcasts,” Georgiev
“That balance between of life. Having their hobbies, view on things.” ing chess about a year said. “Then I decided, ‘OK,
not being 24/7 hockey is having other interests, is re- His license, though, has ago when he was playing I really want to have a
really important for their ally important not just for lapsed since moving to Col- in the AHL with the Bakers- goal and try to finish a few
mental health because now, their playing days, but orado. These days, family field Condors. He saw some books.’ It’s like a game.
they need to learn to man- when their playing days are time with his young daugh- of the boys with a board You set a goal for yourself
age the stress,” explained done.” ter keeps him grounded. and wanted to take part so and track your progress.
Aimee Kimball, a mental To forget about facing “If you show up at home, he could “find a little bit of It keeps you accountable
training consultant who’s slapshots, Avalanche goal- she doesn’t care if you’ve calmness.” and competitive.”q

Alexander Zverev upset at BMW Open,

Holger Rune advances

nament was ended in 7-6 (2), 6-4. ing to follow up his strong
straight sets by Christopher “It’s definitely tough playing start to the clay season
O’Connell on Thursday as Zverev here in front of the after he was runner-up to
top-seeded Holger Rune home crowd,” the 28-year- Andrey Rublev in Monaco
won his opening match. old Australian said in his on- last week. Garin beat sixth-
Zverev had a first-round court interview. “This is the seeded Lorenzo Sonego
bye and his second-round coldest weather I’ve ever 6-3, 7-6 (3).
match with O’Connell was played in. It’s tough, took There were wins too for
delayed a day after rain me a while to get warmed the second-seeded Tay-
washed out most of the up.” lor Fritz, who beat Marton
Wednesday schedule. O’Connell will play qualifier Fucsovics 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, and
Playing 82nd-ranked Flavio Cobolli in the quar- fourth-seeded Botic van de
O’Connell in cold condi- terfinals. Zandschulp, who defeated
Germany’s Alexander Zverev leaves the court after an ATP Tour tions in front of a German Rune secured a spot in the Aslan Karatsev 6-2, 6-0.
tennis match against Christopher O’Connell from Australia in
Munich, Germany, Thursday, April 20, 2023. crowd huddled in thick quarterfinals with a 6-3, Dominic Thiem’s match
Associated Press coats, Zverev never built 6-4 win over Yannick Han- with Marc-Andrea Huesler
much momentum and fmann and next plays Chil- was suspended because of
MUNICH (AP) — After wait- court at the BMW Open, struggled to land his first ean clay-court specialist darkness. The winner faces
ing an extra day to get on Alexander Zverev’s tour- serves as he was defeated Cristian Garin. Rune is aim- Fritz in the quarterfinals.q