
Canucks' new draft Braeden Cootes wants to be Brayden Point
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The Seattle Thunderbirds have become an NHL prospect engine and the Vancouver Canucks have jumped aboard.
That much is clear after snagging centre Braeden Cootes 15th overall at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, a player everyone says plays with heart, has sneaky-good skills and, above all else, is a top-notch leader.
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CTV News
29 minutes ago
- CTV News
Canada scores four late goals to defeat Costa Rica 4-1 in women's soccer friendly
Canada's Evelyne Viens, right, tries to reach a cross as Costa Rica goalkeeper Noella Bermudez and Fabiola Villalobos look on during first half international women's friendly soccer action in Toronto, on Friday, June 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young TORONTO — A poor start turned into a happy ending Friday as late goals by Shelina Zadorsky, Holly Ward, Zara Chavoshi and Emma Regan lifted Canada to a 4-1 comeback win over a resolute Costa Rica in an international women's friendly Friday. The goals came in the 70th, 74th, 82nd and 86th minute as the eighth-ranked Canadians finally found an answer for No. 43 Costa Rica. And they offered a glimpse of things to come with a first Canada goal for Chavoshi and Regan, a second for Ward and a senior debut for under-20 captain Annabelle Chukwu, an 18-year-old star in the making. A small but enthusiastic crowd announced at 10,105 cheered Canada on at BMO Field. But while the Canadian women had 81 per cent possession in the first half, they were unable to unlock the Costa Rican defence and went into the break trailing 1-0. 'I wasn't pleased with our first-half performance at all,' said Canada coach Casey Stoney, flanked by her two daughters. 'I thought we turned the ball over in silly areas, made technical errors, didn't keep enough positional discipline which kind of played into their hands a little bit.' Some changes in style of play and talent from the bench helped turn the tide. 'Real character in the second half. We really committed to what we wanted to do. First half not good enough,' said Stoney. The Canadians now head to Washington, D.C., for a stiffer test against the top-ranked U.S. on Wednesday. 'We've got a much tougher test on (Wednesday). It's a whole another level of opponent we're playing,' said Stoney. 'If we don't start well, we could come unstuck.' Some desperate Costa Rican defending and errant Canadian attacking preserved the Costa Rican lead until the 70th minute when Zadorsky, from the penalty spot, ended the Canada misfiring. It was goal No. 7 in 112 appearances for the veteran centre back. Substitute Mimi Alidou won the penalty, taken down by Costa Rican defender Fabiola Villalobos. Ward made it 2-1 in the 74th minute, turning and curling in a lovely shot after Chukwu, who has scored a Canadian-record 39 goals in 42 youth internationals, headed a Jade Rose cross her way. It was a second goal in three appearances for Ward, a 21-year-old Vancouver Rise forward who became the first Northern Super League player to score for Canada — in the 3-1 win over Haiti on June 3 in Montreal. Chavoshi made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute, heading home a corner for her first Canada goal in her second appearance. Regan, with an elegant shot from just outside the penalty box, padded the lead in the 86th minute. 'I thought we scored some good goals,' said Stoney. 'I thought we could have created more.' Costa Rica's Maria Paula Salas opened the scoring against the run of play in the 27th minute off a free kick. Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan failed to get a hand to the well-flighted delivery from captain Katherine Alvarado, allowing an unmarked Salas to head the ball home at the far post. Chavoshi committed the foul that led to the free kick, pulling back Priscila Chinchilla after the Costa Rican attacker nutmegged her just outside the Canadian penalty box. The goal prompted a Canadian team huddle in front of goal, one of several on the night. Canada had won all 17 previous meetings with Costa Rica, outscoring the Central Americans 52-6. But they needed a 104th-minute goal to win 1-0 the last time they met, in March 2024 in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in Los Angeles. Canada had blanked Costa Rica 3-0 in the group stage at the tournament. Stoney fielded a strong lineup that included Sheridan, Zadorsky, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon, Evelyne Viens and Julia Grosso. In all, the starters had a combined 756 caps going into the game. Canada could have had three goals in first-half stoppage time with headers from Leon and Zadorsky and a Fleming shot all missing the target. Costa Rica lost midfielder Alexandra Pinell to an injury just before the break. Canada outshot Costa Rica 8-3 (3-2 in shots on target) in the first half. Canada, which improved to 6-1-1 under Stoney, was missing injured defenders Kadeisha Buchanan, Sydney Collins and Jayde Riviere, and forwards Olivia Smith and Cloé Lacasse. Friday's game was a special 'Pride Celebration' match, the third in as many years for the Canadian women who wore a special kit featuring Pride-themed numbers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025 Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press


CTV News
30 minutes ago
- CTV News
Canada's Aaron Brown: Grand Slam Track brought platform, professionalism to sport
Aaron Brown crosses the finish line ahead of Brendon Rodney as they compete in the 200m finals at the Canadian Track and Field Olympic trials in Montreal, Sunday, June 30, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi It was meant to be quite the finale in the City of Stars this weekend. Instead, the inaugural Grand Slam Track season came to a halt with the cancellation of its final leg in Los Angeles earlier in June. The league became a talking point and a source of excitement for track athletes signed to Grand Slam Track, especially those from North America. It provided an opportunity for athletes to compete against the best without having to travel overseas. Toronto sprinter Aaron Brown, who competed in the most recent event in Philadelphia, feels the league brought something greater to the sport for Canadians. 'For athletes in Canada or athletes in America, being able to just stay within the country or go to Jamaica somewhere on this similar time zone, you know, not having to go overseas it's a huge benefit,' he said. 'It allows us to have better performances too because you're not having a deal with such jet lag, ... you don't have to show up (to the meet) super early you can train a little bit longer and harder and be in your the comfort of your own home for a longer time.' Michael Johnson, the founder and commissioner of Grand Slam Track, said the league is looking ahead to 2026 and beyond. 'Sometimes we have to make moves that aren't comfortable, but what's most important is the future and sustainability of the league,' he said as part of a statement. Brown says the opportunity is there for fans in North America to get used to the faces of the sport's stars that will be at the 2028 L.A. Olympics. 'I think meets like the Grand Slam are finally going to get us to that point where we can take advantage of it,' he said. 'Especially heading into L.A. 2028, that's a huge opportunity for people to get used to who the stars are going to be in L.A., get an early look at them, and be able to follow them into their, into the journey to that meet. 'Which is huge because it adds a narrative and incentive for you to pay attention. And so I just think that if track and field wants to have a professional league, this is the best way for them to do it. And, you know, I'm invested in their success.' Seven-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse of Markham, Ont., is another one of Canada's stars to have competed in Grand Slam, in addition to 2023 800-metre world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop, who competed in both the 800 and 1,500 as a short-distance racer. Arop stood out among the Canadian cohort, winning the 800 races in the three Grand Slam events held. Although he didn't fare as well in the 1,500, Arop was among the top point-getters in the short distance group, finishing no lower than second and being first at the Philadelphia event. Competition aside, Brown said Grand Slam Track provided things that are not typically offered at other meets. Brown said locally-sourced snacks were provided, on top of a drip check done to shoot athletes and display their outfits. Collab posts to helped athletes push each other's audiences. He also said athletes got their own rooms for accomodations, were given per diems that were provided 'to go select the food ourselves,' and that the prize money was 'significantly more than any other meet that's available to the athletes.' 'I think at the very least, it gave us the blueprint of how a meet could be run and what's possible,' Brown said. 'Getting out of that myopic viewpoint that we have to follow the same model and do things that we've been doing for decades that has led to stagnation in the sport and not allow us to evolve and grow and adapt like all the other sports have. 'So, I think just showing that athletes can be at the forefront. We have stars in our sports, and the more support we get behind it, the bigger it's going to be.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025. Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press


Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada's Aaron Brown: Grand Slam Track brought platform, professionalism to sport
It was meant to be quite the finale in the City of Stars this weekend. Instead, the inaugural Grand Slam Track season came to a halt with the cancellation of its final leg in Los Angeles earlier in June. The league became a talking point and a source of excitement for track athletes signed to Grand Slam Track, especially those from North America. It provided an opportunity for athletes to compete against the best without having to travel overseas. Toronto sprinter Aaron Brown, who competed in the most recent event in Philadelphia, feels the league brought something greater to the sport for Canadians. 'For athletes in Canada or athletes in America, being able to just stay within the country or go to Jamaica somewhere on this similar time zone, you know, not having to go overseas it's a huge benefit,' he said. 'It allows us to have better performances too because you're not having a deal with such jet lag, … you don't have to show up (to the meet) super early you can train a little bit longer and harder and be in your the comfort of your own home for a longer time.' Michael Johnson, the founder and commissioner of Grand Slam Track, said the league is looking ahead to 2026 and beyond. 'Sometimes we have to make moves that aren't comfortable, but what's most important is the future and sustainability of the league,' he said as part of a statement. Brown says the opportunity is there for fans in North America to get used to the faces of the sport's stars that will be at the 2028 L.A. Olympics. 'I think meets like the Grand Slam are finally going to get us to that point where we can take advantage of it,' he said. 'Especially heading into L.A. 2028, that's a huge opportunity for people to get used to who the stars are going to be in L.A., get an early look at them, and be able to follow them into their, into the journey to that meet. 'Which is huge because it adds a narrative and incentive for you to pay attention. And so I just think that if track and field wants to have a professional league, this is the best way for them to do it. And, you know, I'm invested in their success.' Seven-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse of Markham, Ont., is another one of Canada's stars to have competed in Grand Slam, in addition to 2023 800-metre world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop, who competed in both the 800 and 1,500 as a short-distance racer. Arop stood out among the Canadian cohort, winning the 800 races in the three Grand Slam events held. Although he didn't fare as well in the 1,500, Arop was among the top point-getters in the short distance group, finishing no lower than second and being first at the Philadelphia event. Competition aside, Brown said Grand Slam Track provided things that are not typically offered at other meets. Brown said locally-sourced snacks were provided, on top of a drip check done to shoot athletes and display their outfits. Collab posts to helped athletes push each other's audiences. He also said athletes got their own rooms for accomodations, were given per diems that were provided 'to go select the food ourselves,' and that the prize money was 'significantly more than any other meet that's available to the athletes.' 'I think at the very least, it gave us the blueprint of how a meet could be run and what's possible,' Brown said. 'Getting out of that myopic viewpoint that we have to follow the same model and do things that we've been doing for decades that has led to stagnation in the sport and not allow us to evolve and grow and adapt like all the other sports have. 'So, I think just showing that athletes can be at the forefront. We have stars in our sports, and the more support we get behind it, the bigger it's going to be.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025.