
Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA crown could spark Canada basketball's next boom
Like many Canadians, Michael Bartlett watched Game 7 of the NBA Finals with bated breath. But as Canada Basketball's president and CEO, he had a unique rooting interest, with players on both teams.
Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montreal's Luguentz Dort helped the Oklahoma City Thunder capture their first-ever championship, defeating Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ont., and Montreal's Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers. Bartlett said he was thrilled for all four Canadians, no matter who came out on top.
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CBC
2 hours ago
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Hamilton's Matt Campbell defeats Jim Long in all-Canadian darts final
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Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Contributions from Canadians keep injury-plagued Ottawa Redbacks in thick of CFL East race
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Ottawa Citizen
4 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Contributions from Canadians keep injury-plagued Ottawa Redbacks in thick of CFL East race
While most of the few hundred fans in attendance at McMahon Stadium last Saturday were cursing the miserable conditions, a small, huddled group of about 20-strong who kept dry under an overhang at the top of the stands will remember it as a beautiful day. Article content Those Calgary residents were family members and friends of Daniel Okpoko, a second-year Ottawa Redblacks who registered his first CFL sack while playing, by his estimation, a career-high 32-34 defensive snaps. Article content Article content Article content 'It was amazing. I've been waiting a long time for that one,' Okpoko said of the sack. 'To get it in front of my mom, brother, sister …. it felt so nice.' Article content Article content Okpoko, who the Redblacks selected in the second-round pick (11th overall) of the 2024 Canadian College Draft, is a seasoned veteran compared to Muftah Ageli, another defensive lineman who was Ottawa's fourth-round pick (33rd overall) this year. Article content 'Five snaps, one sack, and it was by being disciplined. Because if he wasn't in the lane he needed to be, he wouldn't have gotten that sack.' Article content The Redblacks only have three sacks as a team through three games, and Okpoko and Ageli are prime examples of the Canadians who have stepped up to make big plays on a shorthanded roster. Article content Article content How shorthanded? Article content Article content The loss of Ageli means the Redblacks have 14 players on their one-game injury list and three more on the six-game. Article content Of the 17 players, 12 are Canadians. Article content Yet Ottawa is still considered a 2.5-point favorite for Sunday night's 'Canada Day' game at TD Place against the defending champion Toronto Argos, a clash of significant importance given that it's only Week 4 of the CFL season. Article content Article content When the Hamilton Ticats (1-2) handed the Montreal Alouettes (3-1) their first loss on Friday night, it kept the East Division standings compressed. Article content The Redblacks (1-2) will be looking not only for some momentum and their first home win of the season on Sunday, but also to keep the winless Argos (0-3) in their rear view mirror. Article content With Toronto No. 1 quarterback Chad Kelly still not ready to return from a knee injury, the game will be a battle of the backups, with former Redblacks QB Nick Arbuckle and Ottawa's Dustin Crum calling the signals.