CF Pachuca, Tigres UANL bring Campeón de Campeones back to Carson

• June 24, 2023

CARSON — For the seventh time in eight years, the Los Angeles area will be the site of the annual Campeón de Campeones.

The Campeón de Campeones is an emblematic match played between the winners of the two most recent Liga MX league tournaments. This year, C.F. Pachuca and Tigres UANL will be the teams squaring off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“We know that (Sunday) we already have another chance and we will face it with the greatest commitment, responsibility and with great enthusiasm,” Tigres midfielder Guido Pizarro said. “I think that this group has been characterized by always striving for more, and (Sunday) we will go for that title for ourselves, for our people, for our fans.”

C.F. Pachuca won the Apertura 2022 tournament, the first session of Liga MX play last year. Tigres UANL won the second session of Liga MX play, coming off a Clausura championship win over Chivas in May.

Sunday’s match will mark the eighth consecutive time Campeón de Campeones will be held in the United States. The winner will qualify to face LAFC for the Campeones Cup – a match against the reigning MLS champion – in September.

UANL is the only Mexican team to win the Campeones Cup, beating Toronto FC in 2018.

Tigres UANL’s offensive attack is led by midfielder Nicolás Ibáñez, who scored 16 goals in league play last season. Ibáñez played for Pachuca to start last season, but joined UANL in January, winning a championship with the club.

Tigres also has a good batch of young talent on its team that will look to fare well this upcoming Apertura season.

Diego Lainez is a 23-year-old midfielder who was recently called up to the Mexican national team.

“Yes, very proud that one more player from the club from the team has been summoned to the national team to defend Mexico,” Tigres UANL manager Robert Siboldi said. “I want to say that he has done a great job and without a doubt that he is important for us and he has earned a place to be part of the Mexico team.”

Pachuca boasts a formidable team led by goalkeeper Óscar Ustari. The 36-year-old Argentinian recorded 92 saves last season and had an overall record of 18-6.

Ustari said the key to Sunday’s matchup will be continuing the tradition of what has made Pachuca great in the past.

“Our strength, now and before, was not individuality, but group work and collective work,” Ustari said. “That is what has brought us here. We will continue in that same dynamic, looking for a collective functioning that makes us strong.”

Campeón de Campeones

Who: C.F. Pachuca vs. Tigres UANL

When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson

TV: Univision

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​ Orange County Register 

Chiney Ogwumike believes the Sparks are a playoff team

• June 24, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike understands the up and downs of the WNBA season.

However, when the 40-game regular season is all said and done, Ogwumike believes wholeheartedly that the shorthanded Sparks will be a playoff team.

“Absolutely,” Ogwumike said. “I think some people might be like, ‘What?’ But we are missing Lexie (Brown), we’re missing Layshia (Clarendon), but we’re also finding some amazing things along the way. Friday night was (Destanni Henderson’s) Henny’s night.”

Through grace and perseverance, Ogwumike, a two-time All-Star and No. 1 pick in the 2014 WNBA draft, suspects the Sparks have turned the corner after a three-game losing streak and are trending in the right direction.

“This is a long season and we know that we’re missing pieces, a lot of things are changing, but one thing that we know is that we can compete,” Ogwumike said. “We can be our best selves and we can be patient with ourselves. And as we’re patient with ourselves, we’re pursuing team basketball.”

Ogwumike, 31, averaged 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds as a starter in her first four games this season, which was her best start to a season since being acquired by the Sparks from the Connecticut Sun in 2019.

In fact, the 6-foot-3 post player scored 15 or more points in three of those first four games. However, over a nearly two-week span, Ogwumike missed five games with a foot injury. Since returning to action, she’s averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while coming off the bench.

“I think it’s more so, started off the season strong. When you start, you are able to feel the game in the first five minutes and then you settle in,” Ogwumike said. “When you come off the bench, it’s a little harder to figure out. You don’t have that time to feel the game, you have to get out and go, but also understanding that I missed four or five games dealing with a foot situation and it’s still not fully great, but being able to know that I’m not going to make it worse and I can heal as we go on and still be able to show up. To me, that’s my job.

“We’re down in numbers, so to be able to still be present if even I’m dealing with some things, and knowing that I’m going to get better as the season goes on, I’m cool with that.”

With Friday’s 17-point comeback win over Dallas, the Sparks (6-7) are 2-0 against the Wings (6-7) this season. They will play each other again Sunday at Crypto.com Arena for the third time in 12 days.

Despite shooting 35.1% (26 of 74) from the field and 11.1% (2 of 18) from 3-point range, the Sparks pulled off a gritty 76-74 victory at home Friday night. Sparks head coach Curt Miller would like to see his team fire with greater accuracy in the second of back-to-back games.

“Hopefully, we will shoot the ball better,” Miller said. “Defensively, they’re a challenge to keep off the glass. We’re going to again continue to talk about how important defensive rebounding is against this team. I’d like to improve that.

“I thought we made great strides after a first quarter of a lot of turnovers and ended very respectfully with only 14, but we’re going to show (our team) how their physicality at times disrupted us, even if we didn’t turn it over. So handling the physicality, handling their pressure still there’s some growth area there on Sunday.”

I’m breaking down how the LA Sparks erased a 17-point deficit and beat the Dallas Wings 76-74 Friday night. Destanni Henderson, Nneka Ogwumike & Jordin Canada combined for 56 points. However, it was Henderson’s 18 points off the bench that powered the Sparks’ comeback win. pic.twitter.com/5y1al5H0HZ

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 24, 2023

The Sparks found success playing small, pairing 5-foot-6 point guard Jordin Canada, with 5-foot-7 point guard Henderson, which gave the team two dynamic ball handlers who each scored 18 points. Canada and Henderson also played stifling defense against Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale and Crystal Dangerfield.

“With Jordin expending all that energy chasing around Arike every possession, having a secondary ball handler was huge for us to be able to run the offense because Jordin was expending so much energy defensively. That really helped us,” Miller said.

Down nine points at halftime, the Sparks held Ogunbowale, who was averaging 20.4 points per game going into Friday’s game, to four points in the second half and 16 points for the game.

“As a starting point guard, it’s my job to bring that defensive spark and Henny helped me out a lot (Friday night) with that as well,” Canada said. “Just being aggressive on (Arike) and making her take tough shots in the second half. It wasn’t just me. It was everybody. Everybody was there helping making sure it wasn’t a 1-on-1 battle. My teammates had my back so that was the mentality I had in the second half.”

With a win Sunday, the Sparks would clinch the season series and a coveted tiebreaker against Dallas. The Sparks will play at Dallas again July 22.

INJURY UPDATES

Brown, who is averaging a career-high 13.3 points per game, has missed the past four games with a non-COVID illness. The Sparks are 1-3 without Brown in the starting lineup, as the 5-foot-9 sharpshooter has knocked down 42% of her three-point attempts this season.

Clarendon (foot) and Nia Clouden (knee) will remain out for the foreseeable future.

DALLAS AT SPARKS

When: Noon Sunday

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV: ABC

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​ Orange County Register 

El Torito in Orange is closing its doors after 33 years in business

• June 24, 2023

After more than three decades in business, the popular El Torito located at the entrance of the Outlets at Orange complex will shut its doors for good next week. According to Xperience Restaurant Group, which owns the Mexican casual dining chain, its last day will be Tuesday, June 27.

“It is with deep disappointment and a heavy heart that we announce the closure of El Torito at the Outlets at Orange,” said Randy Sharpe, president and CEO of Xperience Restaurant Group said in a written statement. “We invested significant time, energy, and resources in ensuring we retain this very successful location. Unfortunately, our efforts did not yield the desired outcome.”

In five years of business, this will be Xperience Restaurant Group’s first restaurant to close.

“I have so many fond memories that took place at this location,” said Hector Silva, regional vice president of El Torito, who got his start at the restaurant as a cook in 1983, in a written statement. “From loyal guests celebrating family milestones, to cheering with guests during the FIFA World Cup, and the energy from the annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations, this location holds a sacred place in my heart.  I have watched so many employees grow and build their careers here especially with my time as general manager.”

Simon Property Group, which owns the property, declined to reveal lease details, providing the following statement from Amanda Shewan, director of marketing at The Outlets at Orange: “At this moment, we cannot share information on future development plans.”

According to Sharpe, the restaurant’s 80-person staff will not lose their jobs. Instead, they will transfer to other El Torito locations or Xperience-owned restaurants in the area, including Chevys Fresh Mex, Sol Mexican Cocina, Acapulco and Las Brisas. “They will have a choice to go where they want to go,” he said. “We’re going to bend over backwards to make sure everyone is happy.”

Opening its doors in 1989, the Orange location, noted for its Mission Revival facade studded by towering palm trees, was a favored dining spot for hungry shoppers from the nearby outlets. The chain restaurant will end its Orange era on one of the most hallowed days for El Torito: Taco Tuesday. The alliterative and now contentious weekly holiday is when guests can purchase discounted tacos from the taco bar, usually accompanied by margarita-induced merriment.

“It will be nice to end for something we’re known for throughout the United States,” said Sharpe. “After all, we had the first Taco Tuesday, no matter what anyone says.”

​ Orange County Register 

Give sweet German shepherd Jake Sully a chance; you won’t be sorry

• June 24, 2023

Breed: German shepherd

Age: 7 years

Sex: Neutered male

Jake Sully’s story: Jake Sully was a stray who was turned into the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in April. He was in bad shape: severely overweight, overgrown toenails that were so bad they were turning outward to the sides of his feet, front feet whose carpal ligaments had dropped (usually the result of a lack of exercise), and teeth so worn it appeared as if he had been chewing on wire. But he’s doing great now. A volunteer favorite, Sully gets lots of walks, play time and love every day. The nonprofit Dedicated Animal Welfare Group paid for a full senior blood panel and dental exam. He would be an easy addition to nearly any home; he’s laid back and easy going – but he’s still got plenty of spunk and is ready to play. This boy loves his toys, too.

Adoption fee: Senior dogs can linger in shelters for a long time; DAWG has agreed to pay most of Jake Sully’s adoption fee to help him get to the home he so deserves. His approved adopter will pay just $20.

Adoption procedure: Application and screening of potential adopters is required to ensure they are the right fit for Jake Sully. Visit him at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center, 28095 Hillcrest, Mission Viejo; call 949-470-3045; or email ask-shelter@cityofmissionviejo.org. More information on Jake Sully and other dogs in need of homes can be found online.

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​ Orange County Register 

Tabby cat Antonia is ready for home

• June 24, 2023

Breed: Domestic shorthair

Age: 4 years

Sex: Spayed female

Size: 11 pounds

Antonia’s story: Antonia is a resilient, loving girl with a heart full of hope. Her journey began with heartbreak when she was found abandoned in a carrier on the side of a street, wearing a collar with a bell. Frightened and unsure, she slowly began to trust again as she received love and care. After four weeks, Antonia has blossomed into a sweet and affectionate companion who seeks attention and adores being petted. She is ready for her next chapter, seeking a forever home where she can share her gentle nature and warm affection with a loving family.

Adoption fee: $125, includes microchip, vaccinations, vet exam and anti-parasite treatment

Adoption procedure: Call OC Animal Care at 714-935-6848 to schedule an adoption visit. Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis at the shelter, located at 1630 Victory Road, Tustin, CA 92782. More info is available online.

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​ Orange County Register 

Wagner chief says he ordered his Russian mercenaries to halt march on Moscow

• June 24, 2023

A rebellious mercenary commander said Saturday he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, appearing to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power.

Moscow had braced for the arrival of forces from the Wagner Group, a private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads.

But Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.”

He did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. There was no immediate comment from Putin’s government.

The announcement followed a statement from the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin after discussing the issue with Putin. Prigozhin agreed to halt the advance in a proposed settlement including security guarantees for Wagner troops, Lukashenko’s office said, without elaborating.

Putin had vowed harsh consequences for organizers of the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, who brought his forces out of Ukraine, seized a key military facility in southern Russia and advanced toward Moscow.

In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a “betrayal” and “treason.”

“All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment,” Putin said. “The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders.”

It wasn’t immediately clear what concessions, if any, Putin may have made to persuade Prigozhin to halt his march.

If he accedes to Prigozhin’s demand to oust Shoigu, Prigozhin would emerge from the crisis as a clear winner in a major blow to Putin’s authority.

If Prigozhin agrees not to press the demand, Putin could award him with more lucrative government contracts like those on which he has built his fortune in the past.

However, it would be awkward and politically damaging for Putin to backtrack after branding Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor.

Some observers speculated that Prigozhin could make concessions such as putting the Wagner Group under federal authority, or he could shift the force’s activities back to Africa, where his mercenaries have been active in recent years.

Early Saturday, Prigozhin’s private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said.

Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow, where authorities were “taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population,” said regional Gov. Igor Artamonov, via Telegram.

Authorities declared a “counterterrorist regime” in Moscow and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that traffic could be restricted in parts of the capital and declared Monday a non-working day for most residents.

The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble.

Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow was suffering “full-scale weakness” and that Kyiv was protecting Europe from “the spread of Russian evil and chaos.”

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, called for Prigozhin’s arrest Friday night after he declared the armed rebellion.

Prigozhin said earlier Saturday that his fighters would not surrender, as “we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy.”

“Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland,” he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel.

Prigozhin said he had 25,000 troops under his command and urged the army not to offer resistance.

He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even “a single gunshot.” Other videos on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets.

The rebellion came as Russia is “fighting the toughest battle for its future,” Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine.

“The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us,” Putin said.

State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putin’s statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Some showed social media videos of residents denouncing Wagner troops.

Broadcasters also carried statements from top officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin and condemning Prigozhin.

In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin said he wanted to punish Shoigu after he accused Russian government forces of attacking Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He claimed that “a huge number of our comrades got killed.”

Prigozhin said his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter that fired on a civilian convoy, but there was no independent confirmation.

He also alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in Rostov, where they decided to destroy the military contractor.

The Defense Ministry denied attacking the Wagner camps.

The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has long ties to the Russian leader and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname “Putin’s chef.”

He gained attention in the U.S. when he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory. He formed the Wagner mercenary group, which sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine.

After Putin’s address, in which he called for unity, officials sought to reiterate their allegiance to the Kremlin and urged Prigozhin to back down.

Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the lower house of parliament, said lawmakers “stand for the consolidation of forces” and support Putin.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed that, saying in a Telegram post that “we have one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One.”

Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of the Chechnya region who used to side with Prigozhin in his criticism of the military, also expressed his full support of Putin’s “every word.”

“The mutiny needs to be suppressed,” Kadyrov said.

Even with the confrontation seemingly defused, it appeared likely to further hinder Moscow’s war effort as Kyiv’s forces probed Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive.

Wagner forces have played a crucial role, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions.

Prigozhin’s actions could have significant implications for the war. Orysia Lutsevych, the head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank in London, said the infighting could create confusion and potential division among Russian military forces.

“Russian troops in Ukraine may well now be operating in a vacuum, without clear military instructions, and doubts about whom to obey and follow,” Lutsevych said. “This creates a unique and unprecedented military opportunity for the Ukrainian army.”

Ukrainian soldier Andrii Kvasnytsia, attending a funeral for a comrade, said Prigozhin’s intentions toward Ukraine might be worse than Putin’s, but that the infighting would still benefit the country.

Western countries monitored developments closely. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts in the other G7 countries and the European Union’s foreign affairs representative, his spokesman said, adding that Blinken “reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change.”

Latvia and Estonia, two NATO countries that border Russia, said they were increasing security at their borders.

The Kremlin said Putin spoke by phone with the leaders of Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan about the events.

Although there was speculation that Putin had left Moscow, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied it.

Associated Press writer Danica Kirka in London contributed.

​ Orange County Register 

NHL draft: What do the Ducks do at No. 2?

• June 24, 2023

The NHL’s 2023 entry draft begins Wednesday night in Nashville and, in many ways, the Ducks are the team that will ultimately control the direction it takes. Largely, that’s because the No. 1 choice is a foregone conclusion.

The Chicago Blackhawks will select Connor Bedard, a much-anticipated, franchise-style player who is being compared favorably to Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid. The Ducks have the second overall choice, and according to former NHL general manager Craig Button, now an analyst with the TSN network in Canada, there is a case to be made for any one of three players at No. 2.

Or to put it another way, it’s not as clear-cut as many once believed among Canadian forward Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan, Swedish forward Leo Carlsson of Orebro HK and Russian forward Matvei Michkov of the KHL.

Although Fantilli was considered the likely choice in many quarters when the Ducks finished second in the NHL’s draft lottery, Button made an especially convincing case for the 5-foot-10, 172-pound Michkov, the true definition of a wild card and ventured so far as to name check a soccer icon.

“The comparable I use for Michkov is Leo Messi – I think he is an elite striker,” said Button, TSN’s director of scouting, who was the general manager of the Calgary Flames from 2000-03 and, before that, the director of scouting with the Dallas Stars and a four-year member of the scouting staff with the Minnesota North Stars.

What might be an area of concern for many teams is that Michkov’s contract to play in the KHL runs through the 2025-26 season. But the Ducks aren’t hiding the fact they are in the early stages of what could be an extended rebuild.

Thus, Michkov’s arrival in North America could neatly coincide with the Ducks’ timetable. He won’t turn 19 until December and, conceivably, he would be close to 22 years old when his entry-level contract kicks in.

“My point is: why would Michkov not be a reasonable choice when you have (Trevor) Zegras, (Mason) McTavish and Ryan Strome up the middle of the ice and you don’t need him for another three years anyways?” Button said. “And (Ducks GM) Pat Verbeek doesn’t give a (rip) what anybody thinks.

“Pat Verbeek isn’t worried about consensus. I’m not trying to make a case against Fantilli or Carlsson. Pat Verbeek is his own man. He’s not going to be influenced by consensus or what other people think. He will make the decision that he thinks is best for his team.

“That’s why I don’t exclude Michkov from the conversation. I think there is zero risk with drafting Matvei Michkov.”

Button’s enthusiasm for Michkov and where he might fit into the overall picture with the Ducks doesn’t lessen his regard for Fantilli or Carlsson. In his final ranking of the class of 2023, Button had Fantilli at No. 2, followed by Carlsson, Michkov and Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka. Button’s TSN colleague Bob McKenzie’s list differed in that it had center Will Smith, who is headed to Boston College, ranked No. 4 behind Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson but ahead of Michkov.

“Fantilli is more of a goal-scorer, and I would say that Leo is more of a play-making center, like (Washington Capital forward) Nick Backstrom,” Button said. “Get the puck to the right guys, set ’em up. He’s a big kid. Fantilli plays at more of a frenetic pace. He’s an excellent skater but everything he does is at this high-level pace. He’s not (Nathan) MacKinnon. But when MacKinnon gets the puck, you feel it. That’s Fantilli.”

One of the Ducks’ organizational strengths – gifted young centers like Zegras and McTavish – could ultimately tip the scale toward Fantilli.

“I’m not so sure Adam might not end up over on the wing, which might influence Pat Verbeek. Carlsson, to me, is a center through and through,” Button said. “I could see Fantilli as a winger.”

For Carlsson, one of the biggest adjustments in his draft year was a maturing body.

“He grew physically, pretty significantly,” Button said. “I think he had to get his legs underneath him. He was kind of this long, lean guy. Put on weight and he had to get used to carrying that weight and moving with that weight.

“What I saw from November and right through to the World Championships, he was becoming more fluid and more easy in his movements. That’s what happens when you mature. It’s one thing to say, ‘Put on weight.’ But you’ve got to carry that weight and I thought he did a nice job of doing that.”

NHL draft

When: Wednesday, 4 p.m.

Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.

TV: ESPN

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​ Orange County Register 

Norwegian government now on board to safeguard friendly ‘spy whale’ known as Hvaldimir

• June 24, 2023

OneWhale, a nonprofit led by two Orange County residents, recently got much needed support from officials in Norway in an effort to save an overly friendly beluga whale by creating a reserve in a Norwegian fjord.

The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries agreed to officially call the marine mammal a “tame whale.”

The pure white beluga whale has been hanging out along the northern coast of Norway for more than four years. He’s been named Hvaldimir by the residents of Hammerfest, where he first appeared in 2019 wearing a tight-fitting camera harness labeled “Equipment St. Petersburg,” fueling theories he was once used in spycraft. Hval means whale in Norwegian and the rest is a play on the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The description of “tame” is huge, said Rich German, a Laguna Beach environmentalist, who with San Clemente filmmaker Regina Crosby, has been working with Hammerfest city officials to turn a local fjord into a whale sanctuary for Hvaldimir and, ultimately, other whales taken out of captivity. Norway is a whaling nation and, in the past years, some government officials have resisted public calls for the whale to be protected.

German and Crosby began their quest to create a safe haven for Hvaldimir in 2022, but became even more concerned for his safety after a 1,320-pound walrus people had named Freya was euthanized by the Norwegian fisheries department in August out of concern for people’s safety. The government had been warning people stay away and not try to take pictures with the friendly animal, but many were not heeding officials.

Hvaldimir is know to swim up to local boaters, raid fish near salmon farms and even tangle boat propellers with ropes.

In the years since he first appeared in the Hammerfest area, the 14-foot whale has suffered life-threatening injuries. His side was sliced, he’s twice been caught in boat propellers, he had fishing hooks in his tail, and the upper part of his mouth was punctured by people throwing large objects at him to play tug-of-war and fetch.

Recently, after Hvaldimir decided to go on a 900-mile swim south, leaving the area of Hammerfest and heading toward busier waters near Oslo and then into Swedish waters where he swam through tight canals, the Norwegian fisheries department has stepped in, even helping OneWhale’s team look from him after he disappeared for more than a week.

“After four years of not expressing great concern for him, they finally decided he was a tame whale and needs protection,” German said this week after Hvaldimir was located near Oslo. “We’re super happy about that.”

For more than a year, OneWhale had a team in Norway monitoring Hvaldimir’s moves and ensuring his antics and interest in people didn’t get him in trouble. That team is now working with two people from the Norwegian fisheries department who are keeping an eye on him and this week helped steer him out of a busy harbor near Norway’s capital city. The whale’s most significant threats are boat traffic and tourism.

“The goal is to swim him away from the busy area and put together a plan to get him back toward (Hammerfest) in Finnmark,” German said.

The town of 10,000 people is the world’s northernmost town. In March, its 32-member town council voted to move forward and designate a whale fjord nearby as a new whale reserve. Twenty-eight of the council voted in favor, German said.

The plan now is to find a way to transport the whale further north so he can swim in an area that is not so populated and doesn’t have heavy boat traffic. Now that the Norwegian fisheries department is playing a role in protecting him, German and his team are more optimistic.

Related links

Locals seeing progress in effort to save an overly friendly whale in Norway
OC residents unveil plan to save a ‘Russian spy whale’ in Norway
Beluga whale sighted off San Diego even has the U.S. Coast Guard looking for it
Beluga whale, unusual for West Coast, was first spotted in San Diego but now found dead off Baja

While OneWhale’s hope is to establish him in his own fjord, there is also a consideration of moving him toward Swabard, where there is a wild population of belugas.

“It is unknown,” German said, “whether he could assimilate with the wild belugas because of his history of captivity.”

​ Orange County Register