Rob Ford and his legacy with hockey

FILE - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, center, smiles as he officially opens the refurbished Sunnydale rink with Toronto Maple Leafs' coach Ron Wilson, right, and other dignitaries who were on hand as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL hockey team, who practiced on the outdoor rink in Toronto in this Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 file photo. Ford, who became a global sensation in 2013 after admitting he'd smoked crack cocaine, has been appointed to the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum's board of directors, the hall announced Saturday April 4, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Pawel Dwulit, File)

FILE – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, center, smiles as he officially opens the refurbished Sunnydale rink with Toronto Maple Leafs’ coach Ron Wilson, right, and other dignitaries who were on hand as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL hockey team, who practiced on the outdoor rink in Toronto in this Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 file photo. Ford, who became a global sensation in 2013 after admitting he’d smoked crack cocaine, has been appointed to the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum’s board of directors, the hall announced Saturday April 4, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Pawel Dwulit, File)

Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford died at 46 on Tuesday, after an 18-month battle against an aggressive form of cancer.

Any attempt to eulogize Ford is ultimately futile. An honest recollection of his scandal-riddled time as a public servant, and international punchline, comes off as too caustic. Lionizing or humanizing him would ignore the reasons why neither was attempted during his all-too-short life.

When the same sites that ran “40 of the funniest cracks about Toronto mayor Rob Ford” roughly two years ago are now collecting “the most heartfelt condolences about Rob Ford,” it’s enough to make your head spin. We imagine most of Toronto is coming to terms with this contradiction today as well.

Ford had a long-standing relationship with hockey, as any Toronto politician would. A few of those connections, as we remember a memorable mayor. SEE MORE

 

 

NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks left reeling after ‘revenge porn’ scandal

The Chicago Blackhawks’ minor league prospect Garret Ross has been suspended over accusations that he engaged in revenge porn.

The 23-year-old forward, who currently plays for Blackhawks’ affiliate AHL team the Rockford IceHogs, has been accused of sharing an image of a woman engaged in a sexual act without her consent.

 

NHL Power Rankings: 2015-16 Consensus Week 24

Not a surprise that the Washington Capitals remain at the top of our consensus NHL power rankings. The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks moved ahead of the St. Louis Blues, who fell back two spots to No. 4.

The Dallas Stars move back into the top five at No. 5.

There were changes this week to the bottom portion of our power rankings. The Winnipeg Jets dethroned the Toronto Maple Leafs for the No. 30 position. The Maple Leafs moved up two slots to No. 28.

The Vancouver continue their slide and fall to No. 29.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers remain at No. 26 and No. 27.    – SEE MORE