The Athletic
Vancouver
Since October 2017, I have been a Staff Editor for The Athletic based in Vancouver. On top of my responsibilities as a national editor, I have contributed features and columns about the Canucks, British Columbia hockey and other local sports.
Features
- What do Canucks players hear when they’re on the ice? (2020)
- My favourite player: Mike Bibby (2020)
- Why not everyone in Canada is cheering for the Raptors (but many outside of Toronto are) (2019)
- How Layton Ahac ‘came up big’ in the BCHL playoffs and shot up the NHL draft rankings (2019)
- What makes Troy Stecher tick: Stories on his road from Richmond to the Canucks (2019)
- Q&A with Canucks’ resident ‘Lord of the Rings’ fanatic Jake Virtanen (2019)
- How Vancouver’s Come Try Hockey events hope to hook girls on the sport and start a ‘virtuous circle’ (2019)
- ‘This is it and I’m so far off’: How Antoine Roussel found hockey and pushed to play in the NHL (2018)
- How the BCHL has adapted to hockey’s rapid evolution and where it goes from here (2018)
- Blue Jays minor-league coach Aaron Mathews finds love out of left field (2018)
- How the Canucks strive to coach and build tough in today’s NHL (2018)
- How the Canucks strive to play tough in today’s NHL (2018)
- Travis Green says Derrick Pouliot does one thing ‘as good as anyone I’ve seen in a while.’ What is it? (2017)
Columns
- A dream come true for Canucks fans: Introducing Team British Columbia (2019)
- The Sedins may have retired, but their example should still inspire next generation of Canucks (2018)
- Henrik and Daniel Sedin orchestrate storybook send-off in Vancouver finale (2018)
- What will the Canucks look like without the Sedins next season? (2018)
- Experiencing the Canucks’ new reality and the void in Vancouver (2018)
- Point/counter-point: The five reasons Canucks brass may think they’re not far from being a playoff team (2018)
- Canucks trying to strike tough balance with Jake Virtanen (2018)
- Lewis’ hit on Boeser, the lack of response, and what it says about the Canucks’ toughness (2018)
- Brockmania running wild in Vancouver (2017)
Toronto
During the 2017 MLB season, I covered the Blue Jays for The Athletic. I wrote features, columns and analysis from the start of spring training through the end of the season. In 2018, I reported two features from the Blue Jays’ annual series in Seattle.
Features
- Safeco Field is a home away from home for John Gibbons, Blue Jays (2018)
- From Blackhawks faithful to Blue Jays future, Ryan Borucki living the dream so far in Canada (2018)
- How the Blue Jays built around Jose Bautista through the years
- Ask the Blue Jays: Who is the toughest hitter to put away with two strikes?
- Blue Jays explain how to handle the quirks and oddities of Fenway Park’s outfield
- In-depth: How Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin studies swings to his advantage
- Blue Jays centre fielder Kevin Pillar on ‘Superman’ catches, perfecting routes and football
- Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson on hitting in the No. 2 spot, his plate approach and avoiding double plays
Columns
- Blue Jays coaches assess play of September call-ups Teoscar Hernandez and Richard Urena
- Kevin Pillar and Aaron Sanchez have fond memories of championship run in Vancouver
- How the Blue Jays’ coaching staff approach September call-ups
- Blue Jays, Pillar going deep to save runs in outfield
- Inconsistent umpiring the latest hitch in Blue Jays’ Marcus Stroman’s delivery
- Blue Jays’ Stro show upstaged by umpires no one pays to watch
- Toronto’s own Joey Votto ready to embrace the city where his big-league dream began
- Blue Jays’ Joe Smith is ‘feeling great’ thanks to high-performance department
- Blue Jays having trouble with the slider — and opponents have caught on
- Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman finds right mix of pitches to fool Angels
- Blue Jays’ Russell Martin shoulders ‘some of the blame’ after rough outing from Marcus Stroman
- Why being more aggressive could be the cure to the Blue Jays’ offensive woes
- Blue Jays opting to be cautious with Josh Donaldson the right move in the long run
- Blue Jays relievers Joe Smith, J.P. Howell prove throwing heat not the only way to succeed
- Blue Jays infielder Devon Travis’ ability to hit to entire field makes him offensive threat
Analysis
- How a once potent Blue Jays’ offence became one of the worst in the majors
- Marco Estrada’s late-season resurgence thanks to a return to his old tricks
- A slugger in decline: A visual guide to Jose Bautista’s offensive struggles this season
- What Joe Biagini needs to work on to be a full-time starter for the Blue Jays
- What’s behind Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada’s struggles on the mound?
- How valuable are the Blue Jays? Assessing Toronto’s assets ahead of the trade deadline
- Why has the Blue Jays’ defence taken a dive? The numbers tell an incomplete story
- Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna pitching better than ever after early season struggles
- What’s behind the offensive breakout of Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis?
- How seven pitches reshaped the Blue Jays’ bullpen
- The numbers behind the Blue Jays’ struggle to cash in with runners in scoring position
- Blue Jays snapshot: Josh Donaldson on course for unprecedented run this season
- Blue Jays snapshot: Marcus Stroman learned less is more with his sinker
- Blue Jays snapshot: Roberto Osuna’s path to becoming an elite reliever
Interviewing Joe Smith at 2017 Blue Jays spring training in Dunedin. (Photo by John Lott)
Israel Fehr 