Features
Former Winnipegger Rich Nairn living every young Canadian hockey fan’s dream
By MYRON LOVE For a Canadian kid born in Regina and raised in Winnipeg life couldn’t be better for Rich Nairn.
As the long-time executive vice president in charge of communications and broadcasting for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, Nairn, the son of well-known former local broadcaster and personality Ernie Nairn, is living the dream – and then some.
Not only does he get to work year round in a hockey environment – but also he gets to do it in a place where he never has to pick up a snow shovel or wear a parka.
Growing up in Winnipeg, one could say that Nairn had a conventional upbringing – Ramah School and Grade 7 at the former Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate before completing high school at St. John’s-Ravenscourt. He earned a BA (Political Science) at the University of Manitoba and then an MA in Communications at the University of North Dakota.
Nairn got his start in the sports world when Sam Katz brought the young man on board as director of media relations for what was then the newly minted Winnipeg Thunder basketball team in the short-lived National Basketball League.
“The Thunder played its games in the old Winnipeg Arena,” Nairn recalls. “When the league (and the team) shut down (in 1994), a few of the local media reached out to the Winnipeg Jets’ (01 version) Vice President of Communications, Mike O’Hearn, and suggested that they hire me.”
Nairn became the Jets’ director of media relations. “I loved working for the Jets,” he says. “I had followed them for years just like so many other Winnipeggers. And, like my fellow fans, I couldn’t believe that they would actually leave the city. It was heartbreaking for all of us.”
The good news for Nairn was that the team’s new ownership wanted him to stay on in his position. “I was one of just 13 former Jets employees who were invited to accompany the team to Phoenix and help launch the franchise,” he recalls. “While I knew that I would miss my family and friends in Winnipeg, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to continue working in the NHL.
“Twenty-six years later, I have loved every minute of it.”
Now, contrary to the view that some readers may have had about the Coyotes’ struggles in building a fan base in Phoenix, Nairn reports that the first seven years in the team’s new home town was very much a love-in. “We owned the city,” he recalls. “Charles Barkley had recently moved on from the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Cardinals weren’t playing very well, and the Arizona Diamondbacks did not exist yet.
“We also had some star players such as Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk, Teppo Numminen, Rick Tocchet, Mike Gartner and Nikolai Khabibulin, and we made the playoffs the first six of seven seasons in Phoenix.
“The team began to run into attendance problems after the team owners moved the Coyotes into a new arena in Glendale, west of Phoenix,” he notes. “It became more challenging for fans to get to the new arena, which wasn’t centrally located.”
Despite the Coyotes’ struggles over the years, Nairn asserts that the sport’s popularity has increased tremendously in the region. “The number of young kids playing hockey in the Valley area continues to grow significantly,” he reports, citing Auston Matthews, NHL star and the Toronto Maple Leafs top scorer, as a prime product of the area’s hockey system.
The Coyotes themselves, despite having had little success over the years -the team is in last place in its division this season – is looking forward to a more promising future, Nairn predicts. “Our team is in the process of rebuilding,” he notes. “It’s the only way to acquire elite talent and every Stanley Cup winner has done it. Look at Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. We have three first round draft picks and four second round picks in this July’s NHL Draft. We are expecting to see notable changes in our fortunes over the next three to four years.”
For Rich Nairn, being the Coyotes’ point man for PR and broadcasting is a year-round job – with the only real down time coming during May and June (at least for teams that don’t make the playoffs). “We have the NHL Draft in July, followed by prospect development camp, NHL free agency, the NHL schedule release and then rookie camp, veterans training camp and the regular season,” he points out. “Arizona is a very competitive sports market with the Suns, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, ASU football and basketball, NASCAR and a very successful PGA tournament. My job is to be very proactive and to try and generate as much media coverage for all aspects of our organization.”
His role also encompasses liaising with the Coyotes’ TV and radio rights holders and broadcasters, arranging and coordinating media interviews with and talking points for management, players and coaches.
During games, Nairn can be found in the press box at Gila River Arena or on the road with the team. While he doesn’t travel on as many road trips as he used to in the past, he does take advantage of the Coyotes’ road games in Winnipeg to come home to see family and friends.
Speaking of family, Rich and his wife Aimee are the parents of three children: 10-year-old Jakob and six-year-old twins Harper and Jaden, who are all involved in youth hockey and soccer. The family are also active members of the local Jewish community centre.
Nairn notes that Phoenix has a large Jewish population.
No doubt that Rich Nairn is a very fortunate man indeed.
Features
BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
Features
ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
Features
Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.