‘It's a monster': Vancouver 2010 Olympics boss weighs in on World Cup prep
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Winnipeg Free Press
10 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Whitecaps juggle lineup ahead of battle with Sporting Kansas City
VANCOUVER – Another major injury is forcing the Vancouver Whitecaps to once again rotate their lineup as the club tries to climb back atop the standings. The 'Caps (12-5-6) announced Tuesday that stalwart centre back Ranko Veselinovic will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. 'It's, of course, horrible for Ranko. I feel, we all feel, with him and for him, because getting an ACL rupture is very bad,' said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen. 'Ranko is doing OK. But of course, we have to figure out what to do without him, because he's been also a key part of the season so far.' The injury means Sorensen will field a different defensive corps when Vancouver hosts Sporting Kansas City (6-11-6) on Saturday. The 'Caps head into the game sitting second in Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings, just one point behind San Diego FC — a club they battled to a 1-1 draw last week. Lineup changes have become routine for Vancouver's first-year bench boss as the Whitecaps weather a string of long-term injuries. Attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld has been sidelined with a knee injury since March 8. Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe saw his season cut short when he tore his Achilles tendon playing for the national team last month, and midfielder Ali Ahmed has been sidelined since spraining his ankle while playing for Canada. Several of Vancouver's players have also missed league games while competing for their national squads. A deep player pool has helped fill the holes, Sorensen said. 'We have players who know what to do when they step on the pitch,' he said. 'And I think that's the most important thing, that we work with them in the daily work, and give them the best options to do well when they play on the pitch by having teammates around them in a good structure who can help out.' Four crucial pieces are expected to return to the 'Caps lineup for Saturday's game after representing the club at MLS all-star festivities in Austin this week. Striker Brian White, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, defender Tristan Blackmon and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka all returned to training with their teammates on Thursday. Getting back into the swing of team play can be a challenge, White said. 'I think it's a bit difficult. Obviously, you go from playing games a lot with guys you're familiar with to really not playing a whole lot, to come back, and then you find that rhythm again,' he said. 'I think it takes a little bit of time, but it's not like learning how to ride a bike again, you know? You try to pick up where you left off.' The Whitecaps sent a league-high four players to the all-star game, and the players had an impact, with White scoring to lift the MLS all stars to a win over their Liga MX compatriots. Takaoka also hit the crossbar in a skills competition to secure an MLS win. There's a high standard at an all-star event, Blackmon said, and the players all want to bring that mindset back to Vancouver — starting with a strong outing against SKC on Saturday. 'Obviously, you're playing with, arguably, the best in the league this year so far. So you try to come back and show that you have that quality,' he said. 'We had four guys there, that was incredible. But how can we all come back here and try to help as much as possible, keep that same level and increase it going into this final stretch?' SPORTING KANSAS CITY (6-11-6) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-6) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Saturday, B.C. Place HISTORY BOOKS: Sporting holds a 12-8-5 edge in all-time matchups between the two clubs, but the 'Caps won both meetings last season by a 2-1 margin. HOME SWEET HOME: The Whitecaps have played their last five league games on the road and will close out the regular-season campaign with seven of their next 11 matchups at B.C. Place. The team is 6-2-2 on home turf this year. FULL SLATE: Saturday will mark Vancouver's 35th game this year across all competitions, including league play, the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Canadian Championship. The MLS regular-season campaign consists of 34 matchups. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025.
CTV News
10 minutes ago
- CTV News
Calgary Hitmen name Dustin Friesen head coach
The Calgary Hitmen hired Dustin Friesen as their next head coach Friday. The American Hockey League (AHL) club made the announcement in a media release. They also named Brad Moran and Dakota Krebs assistant coaches. 'We are excited to welcome Dustin as our new head coach,' said Hitmen general manager Garry Davidson. 'He is a proven winner at every level in his playing career and has had a direct impact on championship teams in the past two seasons.' 'He has a passion to develop players and to create a strong culture. We know he will lead and guide our team and build on our progression and success from last season.' WHL news – former associate coach of the QMJHL champion Moncton Wildcats Dustin Friesen will be the next head coach of the Calgary Hitmen. — Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) July 22, 2025 Moncton Friesen comes from the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he helped lead the team to a QMJHL championship and a trip to the Memorial Cup. Prior to that, Friesen coached the Prairie Hockey Academy's U18 team from 2021 to 2024, and contributed to the Moose Jaw Warriors during the 2023-24 season when the Warriors won the WHL championship. Moran has spent the seven years with the Calgary Canucks, including six as head coach and general manager, helping guide the club to two AJHL championships and a Centennial Cup championship in 2025. Moran is also the Hitmen's all-time leader in games played (357), goals, assists and points -- 450, including 204 goals and 246 assists -- during five seasons with the club from 1995 to 2000. Krebs returns to the staff after spending last season as video coach. Prior to that, Krebs spent four years with the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey program, serving as assistant captain for two seasons. Other returning coaches include goaltending coach Theodore Zubot and strength and conditioning coach Sean Hope-Ross.
CTV News
40 minutes ago
- CTV News
Ottawa golf course celebrates golfers who hit back-to-back holes-in-one
A hole-in-one is a special occasion for any golfer, but seeing it happen back-to-back is an even rarer event. Greensmere Golf and Country Club in Carp announced Thursday that two golfers on its links each hit a hole-in-one on the same hole. 'Greensmere Members Lyle Alexander and Jim Read had back to back (same group-consecutive shots) hole-in ones on #12 Premiere today,' a Facebook post says. 'If hole-in-ones are very rare, this is something else all together! Well done gentlemen!!!' Alexander and Read joined Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal on Friday to discuss their achievements. 'I got the hole-in-one first and then Jim copied me,' said Alexander, adding this is his seventh lifetime hole-in-one. 'I was looking forward to my free beer until Jim teed off.' Read said his hole-in-one was his first. 'It was very, very impressive. There was four of us playing and Lyle had the honours and he hit a beautiful shot. It landed on the green and the ball disappeared into the hole,' he said. 'It's now my turn, and I said, 'Well, this is a tough act to follow.' So, I pulled out my trusty wedge and landed it and all of a sudden my ball disappeared and it landed on top of Lyle's. We were still celebrating Lyle's when mine went in.' Read said since Alexander had the first hole-in-one, he had the honour of buying the beer. 'I think everybody was in shock. We tried to calculate the odds of that happening and they were so large we realized it was a feat that might not ever be repeated again,' said Alexander. 'We're gonna try,' Read said. According to Hole in One International, the odds of making a hole in one on a par 3 are roughly 1 in 12,500 for amateurs and 1 in 2,500 for professionals. 'But what about the odds of two people making it on the same hole? Or better yet, back-to-back hole in ones?' Hole in One International's website asks. 'Those are even more astounding: 32,000 to 1 and 156,250,000 to 1, respectively.' Read says Alexander finished with a score of 68 strokes on Thursday. 'Lyle is very polite. He's been a club champion at Greensmere. He's been a club champion at Outaouais, Mississippi, and Carleton. He knows his way around a golf course,' he said. Alexander says they're talking with management at the Greensmere Golf and Country Club about some kind of commemoration of the moment.
