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Blackhawks, Alex Vlasic agree to six-year, $27.6M contract extension

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 09:25

CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a six-year contract with defenceman Alex Vlasic, rewarding one of their best young players with a long-term deal.

The team announced the move on Thursday. The contract runs through the 2029-30 season with a $4.6 million salary-cap hit.

“Alex made enormous strides this year and proved he is a legitimate top-four defenseman in the NHL,” general manager Kyle Davidson said in a release. “In his first full season in the NHL, Alex established himself as an important piece of our young core, and we’re excited to have him with us for the next six years.”

Chicago went 23-53-6 this year, setting a franchise record for losses. But it is hoping for a turnaround as soon as next season, and the contract for Vlasic stamps the Wilmette, Illinois, native as part of the team’s young core.

The 6-foot-6 Vlasic, who turns 23 in June, had two goals and 14 assists in 76 games this season. He averaged almost 21 1/2 minutes of ice time, ranking second on the team behind fellow defenseman Seth Jones.

Vlasic and Jones are on the U.S. roster for the world championships in Czechia next month.

Vlasic was selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2019 draft, and he made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in March 2022. He has three goals and 16 assists in 97 career NHL games.

Prime Video to air NHL games in Canada on Mondays starting next season

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 09:05

Rogers Communications, Amazon and the NHL announced Thursday a two-year agreement to bring hockey fans in Canada Monday night games exclusively on Prime Video.

Prime Monday Night Hockey will stream all national regular-season Monday night NHL games in English for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 NHL seasons. The deal is the NHL’s first exclusive national broadcast package with a digital-only streaming service in Canada.

The Prime Monday Night Hockey package, produced by Prime Video, will feature a new broadcast team offering in-depth analysis and play-by-play coverage, and stream live exclusively to Prime members in Canada.

“Rogers’ partnership with the NHL has been incredibly successful and integral to Sportsnet’s leadership as the No. 1 sports media brand in Canada,” said Colette Watson, President, Rogers Sports & Media. “Today’s content ecosystem is evolving, and we’re really pleased to work with Amazon to continue to grow the game and help hockey fans watch games when and where they want.”

At the beginning of the 2023-24 hockey season, Sportsnet launched on Prime Video Channels in Canada. Thursday’s announcement builds on the 12-year agreement between Rogers and the NHL that was announced in November 2013. Since 2021, the NHL has worked with Amazon Web Services to deliver new in-game analytics and video highlights to enhance fan experiences.

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Report: Former Premier League coaches contacted by Canada

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 08:51

Canada Soccer isn’t shying away from going after big names in its search for a new men’s team coach.

Nizaar Kinsella of The Standard reports that Canada has reached out to former Leeds coach Jesse Marsch and ex-Manchester United bench boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The report also says coaching heavyweights Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho turned down a chance to interview.

Marsch was fired by Leeds in February. The 50-year-old American was the first coach of the then-Montreal Impact when they jumped to MLS in 2011 and he went on to coach the New York Red Bulls.

Solskjaer, a 51-year-old Norweigian, coached Manchester United from 2018 to ’21 before he was replaced by Erik ten Hag.

Kinsella’s report says other options for Canada include former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Paul Clement and onetime Middlesbrough coach Aitor Karanka.

Bobby Smyrniotis, coach of Hamilton-based Forge FC, also is a candidate.

Canada has been looking for a new head coach since John Herdman left last year to take the Toronto FC job.

Mauro Biello is the interim head coach.

Canada is a co-host of the 2026 World Cup and qualified for the 2022 event for the second time in history, but the organization has been hurt by financial issues.

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Vancouver Whitecaps to host Ryan Reynolds-owned Wrexham AFC in late July contest

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 08:19

VANCOUVER — Wrexham AFC, co-owned by Canadian actor and Vancouver native Ryan Reynolds, is set to play Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps on July 27 at BC Place Stadium.

It will be the last of Wrexham AFC’s three North American matches this summer as part of their 2024 Wrex Coast Tour.

Preceding the Vancouver visit, Wrexham will face English Premier League competition in California, against Bournemouth on July 20 in Santa Barbara, and Chelsea FC on July 24 in Santa Clara.

Wrexham has shot to prominence since Reynolds and fellow Hollywood actor Rob McElhenney purchased the club in 2020.

The club, which was languishing in English soccer’s fifth tier at the time of the purchase, has achieved two successive promotions under its Hollywood ownership.

Next season, the team will compete in League One, two levels below the EPL.

The club has been featured in the immensely popular Emmy award-winning Welcome to Wrexham docu-series on FX.

Reynolds has been a longtime Whitecaps supporter.

“Last year Rob got to bring Wrexham to Philly. This year it’s my turn,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I am so excited my hometown club the Whitecaps will get to square off against the Red Dragons.

“My official stance on the match will be a very friendly ‘neutral’ even if I will be screaming for a Paul Mullin hat trick.”

Wrexham, founded in 1864, is the oldest professional soccer club in Wales, and the third oldest in the world.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our club, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary season, to play a team as storied as Wrexham AFC,” said Vancouver Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster. “We’re delighted to be able to welcome our visitors from Wales, and welcome Ryan Reynolds back home to Vancouver.”

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Tough bounces aside, Oilers still have ‘a lot to clean up’ after Game 2 loss

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 00:43

EDMONTON — Whatever it is, however it happens, it always seems to happen this way.

When you lead the whole game, when you’re on your toes more than your heels, when your game is assertive, in the end you get “The Bounce.”

When you trail — “chase the game” as hockey people love to say — the chase seldom lands you the quarry.

We’ll never be sure whether Quinton Byfield made a super-skilled play to deflect that puck right onto Anze Kopitar’s stick in overtime, or if a puck that was destined for an icing call just banked off the kid and fluked its way on to the clutch captain’s blade for a game-winning breakaway goal.

And it doesn’t matter, really.

We know Byfield is a fantastic looking young player, and his superior play in Game 2 earned him “The Bounce” — whether planned or pure luck.

The Los Angeles Kings won their fourth consecutive overtime game over the Edmonton Oilers by a 5-4 score, a game the Kings deserved to win. They never trailed in Game 2, and now head home with a level series and a fresh breath of life that would have been scant, had they lost this one.

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“Since the third period of Game 1, just some really tough bounces are happening,” observed Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner. “That’s not saying that it leaked into tonight, it’s just that they’re getting some good puck luck right now. We’ve also had our fair share of puck luck as well.

“That’s how hockey works sometimes. Luck wasn’t on my side tonight.”

If you’re thinking that the Oilers could have used one more save from Skinner on this night, that is fair.

Whether it was a Kevin Fiala shot from the hashmarks that found its way through four legs and past Skinner, a Drew Doughty breakaway where Doughty lost control of the puck and it slid home five-hole, or the marvellous Adrian Kempe rifling one home and then juggling another past Skinner with some unbelievable skill, Skinner had to find another save somewhere.

“Hockey players make great plays,” said Skinner. “Kempe got a stick on (the 2-0 goal), that’s great hand-eye coordination by him. You know, that’s a good goal. You’ve just got to move on and move forward. Sometimes those types of things happen.”

Just an NHL sophomore, Skinner can look down on his game from 30,000 feet with the eyes of a veteran. Time will tell if he ever becomes a great goalie, but we can say already, he is elite between the ears — a patch of space that is most difficult to conquer in this position.

“Games like this where you feel like the universe is against you, the puck’s just not working well for you, it’s part of life. Part of playoffs too — I hope that I get to feel this again at some point, if we get on a stretch here.

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“The takeaway for tonight is just kind of, wash it out. I know who I am. I know my game and I’m going to get back to work.”

When the Edmonton Oilers play very well, they very seldom lose. When they play only OK, they can still squeeze out their share of wins, and this one ended up in overtime after the Kings blew leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3.

In the end, Edmonton did some good things — but L.A. did more.

The Oilers needed a hero, either in goal or in OT, and they had neither in Game 2.

“I still liked the way we played,” said big Mattias Ekholm. “We still had the puck a lot and were managing that in a good way. Obviously, we would like to keep (the goals against) a little bit less, but I like our game.

“(Kopitar’s winner) was a fluky bounce and it ended up right on his stick. You saw some of the goals that they scored last game (two off of Oilers boots), and you saw some goals that they scored tonight. Not to take anything away, but they seem to be fluky goals somehow.”

Early in a series — and as the Oilers are hoping, a lengthy playoff run — the positive takeaway is the play of young Dylan Holloway, who sniped a pair of goals Wednesday. Holloway has emerged as a bonafide NHL performer since his latest — and likely final — call-up from AHL Bakersfield.

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He’s skating like a player who knows he belongs, handling the puck with the confidence of an NHL regular.

“You can tell the difference in just the time I’ve been here,” Ekholm said. “In the beginning I thought he was thinking maybe a little too much. Now he is trusting his instincts. He has a heck of a shot and he showed that twice tonight.”

A big, lightning fast left-winger who emerges in April is a Godsend for any team. And a team with cap issues going forward, Holloway is reshaping the Oilers’ summer contract plans, knowing now that he’ll be an 82-game regular next season — based on the fact he has four goals in his past five NHL games.

“Feeling confident, playing with Janne (Mattias Janmark) and Sammy (Carrick), two great players, made nice plays. Credit to them,” Holloway said. “Sammy plays with a lot of grit and Janne is so smart. (I’m) trying to get puck in deep and bang bodies.”

It was just the third career playoff game for Holloway. Or the second, really, when you consider he played 3:27 of a game against Colorado in the Western Conference Final two years ago.

In the end, the Oilers will feel this morning exactly how the Kings felt after Game 1. They lost a game they didn’t give themselves a good enough chance to win, and know exactly where the answers lie:

In the mirror.

“I think there’s a lot to clean up,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “They are a good team, they’re going to get their chances, but we were giving them some opportunities we didn’t need to.”

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‘It’s an art’: Bruins’ Brad Marchand infuriating Maple Leafs as series villain

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 23:08

TORONTO — When Brad Marchand woke up in his Ritz-Carlton hotel bed ahead of a pivotal Game 3 in Toronto, he was overcome with excitement.

Excitement and gratitude.

A very specific kind of gratitude that comes when you’re 35 years old and 15 seasons deep in a young man’s league, when you’re a dad and you only have one more year on your deal, when your legs aren’t what they used to be and you’ve watched all your fellow Stanley Cup–winning teammates retire.

And now you’re facing an opponent, the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, who are objectively more dynamic, more stocked with high-end skill, and has been tilting the ice at evens.

“It’s not a given that you get the opportunity to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs,” Marchand said, following his star turn in a 4-2 Boston Bruins win on Wednesday.

“Understanding that it’s a gift to play in this league, and playoffs is something that we dream about as kids. And I talk to my kids about it and their dreams of playing at this level. And to realize that we’re living it, I just kinda woke up with that gratitude that we’re lucky to be here — and you want to make the most of this opportunity.”

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Perhaps a different team, a different leader sprung from a different athletic culture, might arrive at Scotiabank Arena concerned about a squandered home-ice advantage or worried that, jeez, do we have any answer for Auston Matthews in beast mode?

Marchand’s tone at the Bruins’ morning skate, however, flipped apprehension into anticipation. Coach Jim Montgomery picked up on the little man’s big vibes early.

“I saw the way our captain was. I just knew we were going to have a good game. I didn’t know we’re gonna win — because the Leafs are good hockey team — but I knew we were coming to play,” Montgomery explained.

“He started barking the first drill before I got out. It’s three minutes early. He goes, ‘Let’s go!’ I loved it.”

The Maple Leafs hated it.

They despise that Marchand is averaging two points per game in this series and leading the Eastern Conference in scoring, that his fingerprints are all over both sides of the special-teams battle they’re losing, and that this ninja of hockey’s dark arts has drawn two key penalties while taking none of his own.

That the series’ true Invisible Man is provoking and punishing without getting penalized. A jewel thief in plain view.

Too loud not to turn heads.

Yet too slippery to apprehend.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1: Maple Leafs vs. Bruins

Keep up with the latest as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins renew their Original Six rivalry in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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“You gotta recognize he’s a world-class player, both in ability and how he plays, in the gamesmanship and everything,” opposing coach Sheldon Keefe said.

“He gets calls. It’s unbelievable, actually, how it goes. But we gotta play through that, gotta play through that stuff. I don’t think there’s another player in this series that gets away with taking out [Tyler] Bertuzzi’s legs the way that he does. There’s not one other player in the series that gets away with that. But he does.

“It’s an art, and he’s elite at it.”

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Montgomery counters, because in playoffs everyone hears the ref’s whistle filtered through their own logo: “Everybody in the playoffs targets the other team’s best players. And he gets targeted, and he still manages to get under people’s skin, and yet he doesn’t cross the line. It’s something that you just got to tip your hat to him, because of his maturation as a hockey player and as a person.”

The Maple Leafs recognize the threat. Now they must find a smarter way to deal with it.

“He obviously wants to get under our skin and influence the refs,” Matthew Knies said. “We’ve just got to be composed and not get into that bull—- and just play hard and make him least effective.”

Marchand was at his most effective plying his craft inside a nasty, tight, exhilarating 133-hit affair Wednesday.

He tangled himself up with off-ice pal Bertuzzi while Trent Frederic snapped Boston’s first goal off a rush. He had the primary assist on Jake DeBrusk’s power-play strike. He logged 4:14 on a heavily taxed yet perfect penalty kill.

Then, with the score knotted 2-2, he snapped the game winner, high and clean, with about eight minutes to go and pumped in an empty-netter for good measure.

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DeBrusk has been drinking in Marchand’s inciting cocktail of magic and menace since he joined the room. He says the captain is at his best when he’s drawing clusters of chaos early and often and after.

“When he gets in his Little Ball of Hate mode, that’s usually when good things happen for the team,” smiles DeBrusk. He echoes Keefe’s message of Marchand thriving in the grey.

“Well, I think he’s learned the hard way,” DeBrusk goes on. “It’s a dicey game. It’s one of those ones where it can go bad, and it can go good. And I think he just tries to play to his strengths. And sometimes the strengths are getting in the face of the opponents and being annoying and being somebody that you wouldn’t want to play against.”

Would you want to play against a sneaky, two-way forward who has amassed 16 points over his past 10 playoff games, while only taking one minor penalty?

Who has 134 points in 149 playoff games and just broke Bruins president Cam Neely’s franchise record for playoff game-winning goals, with his 12th?

“Emotionally, he’s our leader. He drives the fight every night. And it’s on us to follow right behind,” explains Charlie McAvoy, inspired by Marchand’s pep talk.

“What he said about gratitude this morning, and realizing where you are, and these series, they go fast. These opportunities, you got to work for them. You’ll blink, and it’ll be over. I love that. And I thought we had emotion this morning, and we carried it through the night.

“Regardless of the ups and downs of the game, he kept… the energy high, and we were able to bounce back from everything that we faced tonight.”

Adds a locked-in Jeremy Swayman: “That’s our leader, and he’s a captain through and through. He doesn’t take no for an answer. Leads by example. He’s just a pinnacle what a captain should be, and we’re so lucky to have him in this room.”

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Marchand, whose history of fines and suspensions requires an accountant, freely admits that it has taken him years of mistakes and line-crossing and face-licking to “just play,” but he’ll argue that he hasn’t done anything too egregious through the first 180 minutes of this series.

“At this time of the year, it gets a little emotional, and I’m an emotional player,” Marchand says. “You need to be able to keep that intact. I thought we’ve done a really good job of that so far as a team. We’re playing hard between the whistles and not emotionally going over that line.”

Left unsaid: Marchand has been an expert at luring the Maple Leafs over that line, then making them pay for it.

“I just think there’s a burning intensity to win,” Montgomery says. “And he doesn’t care about what just happened. Good or bad, it’s gone. He’s on to what’s next.”

Fox’s Fast Five

• Toronto is right there with Boston at even-strength, but the special-teams battle is so lopsided, it’s threatening to decide the series.

The Bruins’ power play went 2-for-3 in Game 3, while Toronto’s went 0-for-5.

All told, Boston’s power play is outscoring Toronto’s 5-1, despite having one less opportunity during the series.

• Maple Leafs–Bruins series, total hits…

Game 1: 100

Game 2: 97

Game 3: 133

Every single skater registered at least one hit Wednesday.

Keefe believes the upcoming two-day break will help not only William Nylander’s chance to draw in, but also heal some bruises.

“Guys who gave us a lot here today and have given us a lot through this series can absolutely benefit from the day off and some of the things we’ve been going through,” he said. “But it’s gonna benefit Boston as well.”

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• Just a little ‘stitious?

Sammy’s slick salmon suit secures a second selection:

• The Maple Leafs — ironically, a team constructed for offence — have scored three goals or fewer in 10 consecutive playoff games. That’s an NHL record.

• Montgomery is not thrilled that an extra off-day is taking place in Toronto (between games 3 and 4). He would’ve preferred a Thursday-Saturday schedule.

“We’re spending more time in Toronto than Toronto is spending in Boston,” he noted. “We’re the home team.”

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Report: Tiger Woods to receive $100 million for sticking with PGA Tour

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 16:15

Tiger Woods and other star golfers are set to cash in for staying loyal to the PGA Tour.

According to a report by James Corrigan of The Telegraph, Woods is going to receive up to $100 million in equity, with Rory Mcllroy receiving up to $50 million, for not joining the LIV Tour.

The money is coming from Strategic Sports Group, which is made up of sports team owners who put $1.5 billion into PGA Tour Enterprises, a new for-profit company, three months ago.

Two-thirds of that money will be divided among 193 golfers, with $750 million to go to the 36 golfers most deserving of the increased bonus, according to Corrigan.

The PGA Tour had already explained to its members that the total would be calculated based on career points, a metric created to award players for their achievements during their careers on tour. The PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program, which includes off-course value, will also be taken into consideration.

Members will have to remain loyal to the PGA Tour, as funds are vested over the next eight years, with plans to award $100 million per year to players. Fifty per cent of the payments would come by year four, 75 per cent by year six and the remaining 25 per cent would be awarded over the final two years.

With Woods and Mcllroy leading the way, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are expected to be due for the next highest equity amounts, coming in at around $30 million.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Report: Bengals star DE Trey Hendrickson requests trade

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 15:43

Another key player for the Cincinnati Bengals reportedly wants out.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson has requested a trade.

Schefter says Hendrickson, due to make $15 million this season, wants a longer-term contract than the Bengals have offered.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that the team does not intend to trade Hendrickson even after his request.

Schefter also reported Wednesday that Bengals star receiver Tee Higgins has once again requested a trade. Last month, Schefter reported that Higgins wanted out of Cincinnati, but then last week, Higgins told the media that he “did anticipate” playing for the Bengals this season.

Wednesday’s trade request from Higgins comes because there “have been no contact talks with the team now in over a year,” per Schefter.

Hendrickson, 29, had a career-best 17.5 sacks last season. He is under contract through the 2025 season.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Canadian Mike Malott to face Gilbert Urbina at UFC Fight Night in July

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:29

Canada’s Mike Malott will be back in the octagon in July.

Malott will take on Gilbert Urbina at UFC Fight Night on July 13.

The last time Malott was in the octagon was back at UFC 297 in Toronto on Jan. 20 when he lost to Neil Magny. Despite being in control through the first two rounds, Malott attempted to lock in a guillotine choke but Magny swept his leg and ended up on top, throwing big punches and eventually the referee called for the bell.

The loss left the 32-year-old from Burlington, Ont., disappointed with not being able to get the job done in front of the home crowd.

“Hey guys. I’m all right,” Malott said on his social media via MMA Mania. “I tried my best. I’m really sorry. I hope I’m going to make you guys proud. I’m a little disappointed, but I felt really good about this camp. No excuses, man, I felt really good. I felt good in the fight. I just wasn’t good enough tonight.

“I’m going to have to make some improvements, but I’m so, so touched by all the support I’ve gotten by all the fans. It really means a lot to me. I love you guys. I want to do my country proud. Thank you to my friends and family, my team, sponsors and everybody who’s supported me. I’ll be back. I’ll make you guys proud again. Thank you.”

Malott joined the UFC through the Contender Series where he had a perfect 3-0 record.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Canada’s Denis Shapovalov wins opening match at Madrid Open

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:27

Canada’s Denis Shapovalov advanced to the second round of the Madrid Open tennis tournament with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta on Wednesday.

Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., overcame struggles with accuracy on his serve to win the match at the Masters event in just under one hour 55 minutes.

The Canadian landed just 56 per cent of his first serves and hit into six double faults, but he also had seven aces and saved five of the seven break points he faced.

Shapovalov broke Diaz Acosta three times on six chances, including a key break to go up 4-2 in the third set.

Shapovalov, a former top-10 player now ranked 132nd on the ATP Tour, has struggled this season and Wednesday’s win moved his record to 5-10, though four of his wins have come at Masters tournaments.

The Canadian will face another Argentine, world No. 27 Tomas Martín Etcheverry, in the second round.

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Cubs place Cody Bellinger on injured list with fractured rib, recall Pete Crow-Armstrong

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 14:01

Cody Bellinger is going on the injured list for a fractured rib.

The Chicago Cubs centre fielder was injured Tuesday while trying to make a catch by the wall in a 7-2 win over the Houston Astros and was replaced in the seventh inning.

Bellinger was 1-for-3 with his fifth home run of the year before exiting the game.

The former NL MVP re-signed with Chicago this off-season on a three-year, $80 million contract, with opt-outs after the 2024 and ’25 seasons.

So far this season, Bellinger has slashed .226/.320/.440, but had hit home runs in three of his last five games.

In his spot, the Cubs are recalling their top prospect and the No. 15 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Crow-Armstrong started the season at triple-A after making his MLB debut in 2023. He didn’t register a hit in his 13 games with the Cubs, going 0-for-14, but scored three runs and stole two bases.

He had a .633 OPS with two home runs and five stolen bases in 2024 for triple-A Iowa. He is highly touted for his speed and defence, profiling as one of the top defensive centre fielders in the minor leagues.

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Report: Lions agree to four-year, $112M extension with OT Penei Sewell

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 13:19

The Detroit Lions have locked down another key part of their team for years to come.

Offensive tackle Penei Sewell and the Lions have agreed to terms on a four-year, $112 million extension that includes $85 million guaranteed, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday.

The seventh overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft will now earn an average salary of $28 million, which is $3 million above the previous top of the market, Garafolo notes. Laremy Tunsil earned the top mark of $25 million per season.

Sewell has shown great durability so far in his career missing just one start in his rookie year during his three seasons with the Lions.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

NFL Network’s Jeremiah high on Canadian tight end McLachlan heading into NFL draft

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 13:13

NFL draft guru Daniel Jeremiah is a big fan of Canadian Tanner McLachlan.

The six-foot-five, 244-pound Lethbridge, Alta., native had a record-setting tenure at Arizona, surpassing Rob Gronkowski for most career receptions by a tight end (79).

Jeremiah, a former NFL scout now with NFL Network, ranks McLachlan second among tight ends for the 2024 draft, which begins Thursday night in Detroit.

“I haven’t got the exact same love reciprocated when I’ve talked to people around the league,” Jeremiah said last week during his final pre-draft conference call. “They like him, I’m higher on him.

“I think it’s an instinct position (and) he’s got as good instincts as anybody in the draft at that spot. I don’t think he’s going to win any awards in the run game (but) the effort is there. There’s enough want-to that you can work with him.”

Injury forced McLachlan to miss the Senior Bowl, but he did participate in NFL combine. In addition to posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.61 seconds, McLachlan had a 35-inch vertical and nine-foot nine-inch broad jump while not participating in the bench press, three-cone and short shuttle.

McLachlan began his college career at Southern Utah in 2018. Over two seasons (25 games) with the Wildcats, McLachlan had 79 catches for 984 yards and six touchdowns, earning a ’23 honourable mention All-PAC 12 selection.

Jeremiah projects McLachlan as a third- or fourth-round pick but admits he might not be the first Canadian tight end drafted. Penn State’s Theo Johnson, a six-foot-six, 260-pound player from Windsor, Ont., could be the second tight end selected after Georgia’s Brock Bowers.

“I don’t think it’s a great tight end draft (so) if you told me (Johnson) was the second tight end to go, I wouldn’t bat an eye,” said Jeremiah, adding Johnson is his fourth-ranked tight end. “He’s got a huge catch radius, he can really get down the seam, he’s understanding in terms of the physicality after the catch.

“He’s not the most defined, precise route runner (but) I think there’s some development to take place there.”

Johnson appeared in 45 games over four seasons at Penn State, recording 77 catches for 938 yards and 12 TDs. He was a ’23 honourable mention All-Big Ten selection.

After participating in the Senior Bowl, Johnson performed very well at the NFL combine, posting a 4.57-second 40-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical, 10 foot five inch broad jump — all second-best results — and short-shuttle time of 4.19 seconds that topped the position group.

The tight ends lead a Canadian draft class that includes versatile Isaiah Adams (who played guard and tackle at Illinois) and Howard tackle Anim Dankwah. The six-foot-four, 315-pound Adams, of Ajax, Ont., participated in both the Senior Bowl and NFL combine while the towering six-foot-eight, 353-pound Dankwah, of Brampton, Ont., played in the ’24 East-West Shrine Bowl before attending the combine.

Jeremiah sees both Adams, who began his collegiate career at Wilfrid Laurier, and Dankwah as third-day selections.

“I thought (Adams) was a fifth-round type guy who’s got some versatility inside and outside,” Jeremiah said. “I think he’s better off playing inside and holding up there at guard.

“(Dankwah) is a large human being . . . but felt more like a project to me. It was more of kind of a practice-squad player that you take a flyer on like the sixth or seventh round.”

A record five Canadians were drafted last year.

An intriguing prospect is Qwan’Tez Stiggers, the CFL’s top rookie last year. The six-foot, 197-pound cornerback had a team-high five interceptions and 56 tackles in 16 regular-season games with the Toronto Argonauts.

Stiggers participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 1. Then, 29 NFL teams attended his pro day and the 22-year-old didn’t disappoint, posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.47 seconds, 36.5-inch vertical jump, 10-foot eight-inch broad jump and 4.25-second short shuttle.

Stiggers finished high school in 2020 and had committed to Tennessee’s Wayne College on scholarship. But that all changed in September 2020 when Stiggers’ father died about eight months after being involved in a car accident.

Stiggers fell into a deep depression and didn’t attend school. With help from his mother and his fiancée, he eventually returned to football in 2022, playing in the Fan Controlled League, a seven-man indoor circuit.

His coach was John Jenkins, a former Argos offensive assistant who recommended Stiggers to the CFL team.

Two other Canadians who’ve garnered NFL attention are UBC offensive linemen Theo Benedet and Giovanni Manu. The six-foot-seven, 305-pound Benedet was Canadian university football’s top lineman last season for a second straight year while the six-foot-eight, 350-pound Manu visited with a number of NFL teams this off-season.

Both are projected as either late-round selections or priority free agents.

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Is Guerrero Jr. too stubborn at the plate?

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 13:04

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Will Blue Jays starters ever become frustrated by lack of offence?

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:51

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As Jordi Fernandez takes over Nets job, coach credits Canada Basketball

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:49

NEW YORK — Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden weren’t the only ones who didn’t stick around long in Brooklyn.

The Nets have gone through coaches almost as quickly as superstar players in recent years, even while the team had been good enough to make five straight playoff appearances from 2019-23.

Maybe Jordi Fernandez will be the coach to have lasting success.

The first head coach from Spain in NBA history said Wednesday he expects the Nets to improve quickly after finishing 32-50 last season.

“We will see results right away because like I said before, this industry is about getting results and getting better,” Fernandez said.

The coach of Canada’s men’s national team spent the past two seasons as the associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings and stood out during a search that began almost immediately after the Nets fired Jacque Vaughn at the All-Star break.

Fernandez gave credit to Canada Basketball for putting him in a spot where he was ready to take the reigns of an NBA team.

“Being able to coach in the Olympics is a dream come true. I would not be here without Canada Basketball,” he said.

“I think something that separates Jordi from a lot of the candidates, we found that he could look at a developmental roster, he could do various different pathways,” general manager Sean Marks said. “I mean, he’s coached stars before, he’s been the head, director of development before. So, as I said, he’s worn many hats, and I think with our roster that he’s going to be able to get the respect of those guys.”

The Nets have to decide what kind of roster that will be. They were building gradually early in Marks’ tenure under Kenny Atkinson before he was replaced during the 2019-20 season. Then they tried the superstar route under Steve Nash, signing Durant and Irving and then acquiring Harden in a blockbuster trade.

With those players all traded, the Nets were back to a younger squad last season, which they finished under interim coach Kevin Ollie, and Fernandez said he likes having that kind of roster.

“The youth is always great, right, because it allows you to have a team for a long run,” Fernandez said.

If he gets a long run, that is.

“You never want to have to let people go from positions, whether that’s coaching or staff members and so forth,” Marks said. “I think what we’re in is, we’re in professional sports and there’s turnover. I mean, we’re all very, very lucky and very fortunate to have the jobs that we have and hold on to them for as long as we can.

“You hope you do it the right way and you do it with the right people and you continue to build. As I said before, hopefully with Jordi this is a long-term fit, he can continue to grow and develop just the same as we all have.”

The 41-year-old Fernandez, who is from Badalona, Spain, began coaching in his teens. He was an assistant on his national team’s staff when it won the bronze medal at the 2017 EuroBasket and for Nigeria in the Olympics in 2021. Last year he led the Canadians to their first medal in the Basketball World Cup when they beat the U.S. for bronze.

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Marks said he received positive feedback from people who had worked with and played under Fernandez, who was also an assistant coach in Denver from 2016-22.

Fernandez said he couldn’t fully answer why things haven’t worked long for recent coaches in Brooklyn, but he sees the possibilities for himself. He thinks the Nets’ youth will allow them to play fast and thinks they can build a top-10 offence and defence, adding that he believes center Nic Claxton can win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Fernandez said he’s already spoken to the team’s players. He will begin working with them and setting up his staff before leaving for six weeks to rejoin his Canada squad, then returning to the Nets in August.

“It’s going to take time, it’s going to take direction and structure,” Fernandez said, “but I believe with the team we have and the partnership that we have right now, no doubt in my mind that we’ll start the right way.”

— With files from Sportsnet

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San Jose Sharks fire David Quinn after two seasons

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:41

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks fired coach David Quinn on Wednesday following two rough seasons as part of a massive rebuilding project.

General manager Mike Grier called it a hard decision to fire Quinn after he experienced two seasons under “difficult circumstances” but said he decided it was the best move for the franchise’s future after spending the past few days meeting with coaches, players, front office staff and owner Hasso Plattner.

“After going through our process, and digesting this going through the process of evaluating everything, I just felt this was what we needed to do,” Grier said. “A different voice for the group where the group is now and what’s needed for the group.”

Grier hired Quinn to replace Bob Boughner shortly after taking over as GM in 2022. Quinn spent two seasons in San Jose that was marked with lacklustre play as the team traded away several high-priced stars like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier, part of a major overhaul in hopes of getting the franchise back to contending.

Instead, the Sharks had a 41-98-25 record in Quinn’s two seasons for the worst mark in the NHL in that span, including a league-worst 47 points this season. San Jose’s 19 wins this season were the fewest in a full season since the franchise’s second year as an expansion team in 1992-93.

“That didn’t really factor into it too, too much,” Grier said. “Obviously, it’s something I’m aware of. But at the same time, going into the season, I kind of knew what the roster was. I wasn’t expecting us to be a playoff team. Did the season go a little worse than expected? Yes. But it’s not all performance-related.”

The last-place finish gives San Jose a 25.5% chance of earning the No. 1 draft pick and the prize that is expected to be Hobey Baker Award winner Macklin Celebrini, who played one season for the Sharks junior team while living in the Bay Area.

The Sharks were outscored by 147 goals this season, excluding shootouts, for the 12th-worst mark ever and the worst in 30 years since Ottawa was outscored by 196 goals in 1993-94, its second season as an expansion team.

San Jose set a franchise record for fewest goals scored per game (2.18) and had the fourth-worst mark in team history in goals allowed per game (3.98). The Sharks allowed at least six goals in a game 18 times, the second-most times that has happened in a season since the start of 1996-97.

Grier put no timeline on the search for a new coach and said he’s open to candidates both with and without head coaching experience in the NHL. He said the assistants would remain under contract and have the chance to stay on if the new coach wanted them but were free to seek other opportunities if they arise.

The Sharks have missed the playoffs for a franchise-record five straight seasons after making the 2019 Western Conference Final and have the worst record in the NHL in that span. San Jose had been one of the most consistent teams in the league before this stretch, making the playoffs in 14 of 15 seasons, with five trips to the conference final and one trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 before losing in six games to Pittsburgh.

But the core of that roster was aging, and San Jose struggled the next three seasons before Grier took over and started a rebuild that has given the team significant draft capital. It has two extra first-round picks the next two seasons and an extra second-rounder this year.

Grier also announced that head athletic trainer Ray Tufts would not return after spending 27 years with the franchise.

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Brady Tkachuk, Cole Caufield headline Team USA roster for 2024 men’s world championship

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:29

The first 15 players that will represent USA Hockey for the upcoming IIHF men’s world championship were revealed Wednesday.

Headlining the players selected so far are Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and teammate Shane Pinto who will join forwards Matt Boldy, Joel Farabee, Johnny Gaudreau, Luke Kunin, Dylan Larkin, and Trevor Zegras, defencemen Luke Hughes, Seth Jones, Jake Sanderson, Alex Vlasic and Zach Werenski and goaltender Alex Lyon.

“We’ve got an outstanding start to our roster,” said team general manager Brett Peterson. “There’s a lot of excitement among our players, and everyone is looking forward to representing our country in the world championship.”

Starting May 5th, Team USA will train in Bratislava, Slovakia. They will play a pre-tournament game against Slovakia on May 7 before opening play against Sweden on May 10 in Ostrava, Czechia, at 8:20 p.m. local time/2:20 p.m. ET.

Over the last 10 tournaments, the United States has finished in the top four seven times winning four bronze medals.

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Chelsea Carey to skip Jennifer Jones’ former teammates for next season

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:19

Chelsea Carey will handle the reins at skip with Jennifer Jones’ former teammates next season.

The Winnipeg/Altona, Man., team — featuring third Karlee Burgess, second Emily Zacharias and lead Lauren Lenentine — made the announcement Wednesday on social media.

Jones retired from women’s curling at the conclusion of this season after a decorated career winning Olympic gold, two world championships, six Scotties Tournament of Hearts titles and 10 Grand Slam of Curling titles. She will continue to play mixed doubles with husband Brent Laing.

Carey, who is from Winnipeg and now lives in Calgary, subbed at skip on the team for a handful of tour events this season.

She won Scotties Tournament of Hearts titles in 2016 and 2019 and captured the Grand Slam of Curling’s Canadian Open championship in 2018.

They will retain Team Jones’ points from the 2023-24 season and carry a pre-qualifier spot for next year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Jones was runner-up to Rachel Homan in this year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts and finished the season No. 2 on the Canadian Team Ranking System.

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How Alex Perez overcame unpredictability throughout recent years

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 12:18

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