Canada's Tyler Mislawchuk earns silver at World Triathlon Cup
SAIDIA — Canada's Tyler Mislawchuk earned the silver medal at the World Triathlon Cup in Saidia, Morocco, on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Mislawchuck finished in one hour 45 minutes 58 seconds in the Olympic distance test for his first World Cup podium in three years.
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Great Britain's Oliver Conway won in 1:45:53 and John Reed of the United States finished third at 1:46:11.
It was the seventh World Cup podium of the Oak Bluff, Man., resident's storied career.
A three-time Olympian, Mislawchuck came out of the unique 1.5-kilometre swim in sixth spot – just eight seconds back of the frontrunner.
After a best-ever ninth place finish at the 2024 Olympics where he was battling for the podium until the final two kilometres.
Mislawchuck opened this season with a sixth-place finish at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama, Japan.
On Sunday, Mislawchuck appeared composed and comfortable while settling in for the eight-lap pedal with 24 riders through Morocco's northeastern coastal town known as the Blue Pearl.
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Thriving in the heat, the lone Canadian in the field followed his game plan, steadily working his way through the pack in the first of five laps on the 10-kilometre run. One of seven athletes out front at the end of the second lap, Mislawchuk made his move and pulled away from the field with Reed and Conway, who was making his first World Cup start, going with him.
The trio matched strides over the next lap with the veteran Mislawchuk and rookie Conway controlling the pace.
As the intensity and pace picked up in the final loop, Reed dropped back, leaving a head-to-head battle between the Canadian and the Brit until the last 100-metres where the 20-year-old Conway snuck ahead in the last corner and into the finishing stretch.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2025.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
How Emma Hayes is fortifying the pathway from the under-23s to the senior USWNT squad
During an under-23 U.S. women's national team game against Germany on May 30, 18-year-old center-back Jordyn Bugg launched a long shot of a cross in the waning seconds of stoppage time. The ball landed just in time for Evelyn Shores to run onto and score past Germany's goalkeeper, giving the U.S. a 2-1 lead and dramatic victory in a small stadium just outside of Stuttgart. Advertisement Less than one month later, in Commerce City, Colorado, Bugg found herself replacing Naomi Girma as a substitute in the senior USWNT's meeting with the Republic of Ireland. By the time she entered the field in the 73rd minute, the U.S. held a commanding 3-0 lead; Bugg's assignment was to maintain the U.S.'s grip on the game. 'Honestly, I was a little nervous coming into the game, but I came in a time where it was really calm in the game and the information they gave me was just be calm, be yourself, just keep the game in the flow it is in,' Bugg told the media following Thursday's match, which ended 4-0. 'I think I did a really good job and I think they prepared me very well.' Under USWNT head coach Emma Hayes, life can come fast at a deserving player. Since stepping into her role just over a year ago, the former Chelsea manager has reorganized and fortified the talent pipeline of the women's national team — not only the senior side, but the under-23s — with a militancy never before seen on the women's side of U.S. soccer's ranks. Hayes has said repeatedly that everything players do counts toward their invitations to camp, from club play to international performances at any given level. Joining Bugg in senior camp during this window are 21-year-old defender Lilly Reale, 23-year-old midfielder Sam Meza, and 24-year-old goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, who recorded a shutout on Sunday — all of whom were on the field for that under-23 win over Germany. (Per an agreement between U.S. Soccer and the German federation, each team was allowed to bring five over-age players to camp.) The intention behind Hayes' strategy is to shrink the gaps she's identified between age groups within the national team setup, and also those that exist between those who typically start on the senior team and those who come off the bench. When Hayes first took the helm of the program, she admittedly pumped players with information in order to prepare them for Olympic competition. With that gold medal secured, she turned her sights to development and preparation for the World Cup, two different yet interrelated mandates. With the information logged and dispensed through both teams, Hayes is now focused on exposing players to a range of experiences. Advertisement In Colorado, the under-23s and senior team trained side by side. Ahead of Thursday night's game, Hayes reflected on how much the programs have changed with her new approach. 'Everything is earned, and the beautiful thing about where we are is I stood on the field yesterday with our team and thought, 'We've got top quality out here. We've got top quality at home, and there are too many to name. We've got top quality on the field next to us, who are watching and aspiring up, and we've got all of our players looking back and saying, 'Gosh, I've got such great memories,'' she said of the dual training groups. 'But also, our senior players talk about how important the under-23s program is. They felt it was a missing gap for lots of them.' Hayes was always obliged to strengthen her bench of senior players, if only to be able to respond to the inevitable absences that affect any elite athlete, from injuries to pregnancies to retirement. Triple Espresso, the superlative attacking trio of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Wilson, and Trinity Rodman, have collectively been missing in action since the start of this calendar year: Swanson and Wilson are pregnant and Rodman has taken an extended break to manage issues with her back. On the other side of the pitch, USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced her retirement from international soccer last November, throwing open the gates to the team's next No. 1 and exposing the lack of a clear pathway for qualified goalkeepers. The first definitive step took place in January when Hayes selected 24 players for the inaugural Futures Camp run by her and her staff, along with all U.S. Youth National Team head coaches. The roster consisted of 14 professional players — including Bugg and Reale, along with Gisele Thompson, Claire Hutton, Michelle Cooper, and Avery Patterson, who also made the current senior team squad — and was described by Hayes as an opportunity to take a look at some newer faces who will soon by vying for spots on the senior team. 'It's a significant jump from college to the pro game and an even bigger jump to the elite international level, but we will be patient with all these players as we understand the process and want to help all of them reach their maximum potential,' she said at the time. Another international window opened three months later and U.S. Soccer announced a 24-player roster for the under-23 camp, who trained alongside the senior team in Southern California as the latter geared up for a pair of matches against Brazil. Of the players named, 11 participated in Futures Camp, with Patterson, Hutton, and Cooper making their way straight onto the senior team. The U.S. split results across two legs against the 2024 Summer Olympic silver medalists in April. Advertisement Patterson's foray onto the senior team began with a bizarre elevator incident in which she got stuck between floors with defenders Alanna Cook and Becky Sauerbrunn during their time in LA. She's since earned five caps and scored a goal for the U.S. 'It's been a whirlwind,' Patterson said of her ascent on the USWNT following the team's first match against Ireland. 'That elevator incident seems like it was a year ago, like how much I've grown as a player and person. I'm speechless, honestly, because it's crazy how much has happened in the past couple of months and has had such a positive impact on my life.' And while the linear nature of the under-23 and senior USWNT teams suggests a unidirectional pathway, Hayes has again usurped the norm. She's shown that she sees the two groups as fluid spheres, which grants her the flexibility, wherever possible, to respond to changes in real time when a player experiences a dip in form or another is playing beyond their age and could benefit from time with a different team in camp, for example. That was how Hayes explained the absences of forwards Jaedyn Shaw and Mia Fishel, and midfielder Korbin Albert, all of whom have USWNT caps, from senior camp, and their inclusion on the under-23 roster that was announced on May 21 ahead of their two games against Germany. 'Yes, (Fishel) could come in and sit on the bench for (the senior team), but it's much better for her to go and play in Germany and get the experiences so that these players are tracking to compete in the place that we want them come 2027,' Hayes said following the announcement. 'I think the trip to Germany for her, plus Jaedyn, plus Korbin, will be, again, another step in their development.' That three senior-capped players teamed up with uncapped players and Hayes selected the latter for the current camp speaks volumes about the relatively blank slate with which she assesses players; senior caps alone aren't enough to justify a new invitation under her strategy. And because the under-23 camps are run in concert with the senior team, younger players are now receiving guidance they say has eased the transition from one team to another. 'The system that Emma's pushing right now is definitely one that takes some time to learn and feel comfortable in,' said Reale, who earned her first cap and start for the USWNT on Thursday against Ireland and assisted Alyssa Thompson for the team's fourth goal of the night. 'That time with the under-23s was an awesome opportunity to establish myself and try to figure out where I fit into that system, not only get some games and just play against some high level competition, but also just apply some of the things that Emma has been teaching us and wants to see more of so that we can fit into that system at the higher level,' Reale added. Advertisement Between the presence of Hayes and her coaching staff at previous under-23 camps and their close communication with the under-23 coaches about the team's standards and expectations, 'we were able to coordinate and learn and grow throughout that camp,' she explained. Hayes has continually emphasized the importance of international experience against top-ranked opponents to a successful national team career, which typically happens at the youth level. But given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its unprecedented setbacks, she appears to also be accounting for that stolen time when granting younger or inexperienced players looks at the senior level. Meza, who started in the second USWNT match against Ireland on Sunday, has won Concacaf titles at the under-15, under-17, and under-20 levels. Her journey on the national team was cut short during the pandemic, which saw the cancellation of the Under-20 Women's World Cup that year, a tournament in which Meza was likely to play. But after establishing herself as a pro, first with the Dallas Trinity in the USL-W (where she was playing on loan from the Seattle Reign) and then back with her home club, she caught Hayes' eye and worked her way back into camps. 'I've grown up in the U.S. youth system, and my cycle of under-23s kind of got canceled a little bit, so I hadn't been to camp in a while,' Meza said on Thursday. 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New York Times
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- New York Times
With USMNT GK role in flux, Freese stops Costa Rica cold with PK heroics
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With the program in a continued state of flux following last summer's Copa América group stage exit and Mauricio Pochettino working to find his best squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Freese has gotten an extended run-out this summer as a possible alternative to Matt Turner. Turner, 31, claimed the program's starting goalkeeper spot during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and was among the team's top performers during the tournament in Qatar. Given the usual longevity of players in the role, expectations were that he would remain atop the depth chart when the tournament came to the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. However, Turner made just four appearances for Crystal Palace in 2024-25, all in domestic cups, leaving him with little form and momentum entering the Gold Cup. 'I think we have plenty of good players and good keepers,' Pochettino said after the win. 'Matt Turner has the experience because he played in the World Cup in 2022. He's a great keeper. But the only problem, in this tournament, was that Matt didn't play in the whole season, and for different reason: we wanted to see another keeper. But it was a good conversation. I think it's important for our coaching staff to have the possibility, for the future, to have different options, because you never know. Advertisement 'That is the moment now, one year to the World Cup. I think … I don't want to say nothing wrong, but I think maybe one of the few, or the only players, that proved to deal with with this type of responsibility and stress was Matt — playing in different competition, in the World Cup. I think it's good for Matt Turner, (and) for the rest of the keepers, to see that they can have the possibility and deal with the pressure — because you never know what is going to happen in one year. Now is the moment to test or to give the possibility to show that they can deal also with the stress, and perform.' Turner is hardly the only member of the 2022 World Cup squad whose club careers have yielded little playing time in recent seasons. Many MLS teams depend on a domestic option in net, and Freese has arguably been the best of the bunch since the start of 2024. A surefire starter for New York City FC, Freese broke out after replacing World Cup selection Sean Johnson at the club and came up big in the postseason, thwarting favored FC Cincinnati in a memorable nine-round shootout to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs. Given his serious advantage of involvement at the club level, Freese started the USMNT's group-opening 5-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago and hasn't ceded his spot all Gold Cup. Freese and his team have conceded three goals, including a pair against Costa Rica. The first, a penalty converted by Francisco Calvo, is one that goalkeepers aren't expected to save. The second, a second-half equalizer from Alonso Martínez, fizzed past Freese with precision and velocity that made it a difficult one to stop in a congested box. Still, no goalkeeper will feel good about conceding a pair goals in a knockout game. Freese had a golden opportunity to make amends in the ensuing shootout, outlasting arguably the greatest goalkeeper the region has produced this century, Keylor Navas. Advertisement 'No disrespect to him: I think he is everything I strive to be in being a goalkeeper,' Freese said of his storied opposite number. 'He's one of the best in the history of the world. To share that moment, share that pitch with him, is very special. But yeah, in the moment, I'm not really thinking about that. I'm very much so just focused on myself and helping my team.' Throughout the sequence, Freese's studiousness was evident as he proved to be difficult for Costa Rica to exploit. After Sunday's earlier game saw Guatemala eliminate Canada on penalties, including an excellent panenka, Freese stood his ground as Calvo returned to the spot and attempted to fire his shot right up the middle. While many goalkeepers' instincts are to dive — a proactive show of effort if not always a wise pick depending on the kick — his resolve was immediately rewarded as the USMNT advanced to its 17th semifinal in 18 Gold Cups. (Freese gave credit to U.S. goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez for the strategy in his postmatch remarks.) It was Freese's third save of the sequence, following two of the diving variety. While many goalkeepers are demonstrative after making saves, from Canada starter Dayne St. Clair to reigning World Cup champion Emiliano Martínez, Freese is far more stoic. That level-headedness helped weather his own team's pair of misses that extended the shootout to a sixth round. 'In the moment, not really,' Freese said when asked if he allows himself a moment of satisfaction after a save. 'After the first save, I went over to the corner, and I kept repeating to myself: 'I want another, I want another.' And then after the second save, I did the same thing, kept telling myself 'I want another.' You can't get too happy with yourself.' Freese will understandably be wanting another start under Pochettino, as well. He's rewarded his coach's trust in him by helping his team overcome a strong challenge by a longtime regional rival and held his resolve when needed the most. That's all one can ask for from such a singular figure on the field, especially after letting two go past him in regulation. 'I think it's a very special place,' Pochettino said of Freese and goalkeepers at large, 'and for me, the most important position on the pitch. The objective for the opponent is to score goals, and for you, for us, try not to concede goals. You need to, for some mistake, you cannot change when you make your decision. Maybe it's different if you compare when a striker miss a goal — OK, the next game, not playing because (they) miss a goal. It's true that it's really important when a keeper maybe have not a good action, but I think we really trust in our keepers, and when we made a decision to play (Freese) and give the confidence to him. Advertisement 'I think any keeper can make a mistake. The most important is to make a decision and translate the confidence and trust, and be sure that your decision was a good decision for the team.' It's a message that strongly conveys that Freese will be given an opportunity to see this tournament out. What follows will largely be up to the club form of Freese, Turner and other hopefuls for the World Cup roster like Chris Brady, Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen. Turner's transfer to Olympique Lyon hit a potential snag before he arrived as the club faces relegation into Ligue 2 (pending their appeal) for financial violations. The step from the Premier League to Ligue 1 is already seen as one down the ladder a bit, but that's far more pronounced dropping into France's second division. Coupled with the fact that Lyon, for now at least, still rosters last year's starter, and it's unclear whether he's in a better position to start regularly and rebuild his case to start in 2026. While that situation resolves beyond his control, Freese is learning valuable lessons in this extended camp and tournament training alongside Turner. 'I mean, Matt is obviously incredibly athletic, a fantastic goalkeeper,' Freese said. 'I think the biggest thing I've picked up from him is how to be a part of a team and and how to create relationships in a national team camp. Obviously, this is newer for me than him, and so he's done a fantastic job. I'm super, super grateful for the support he's shown me, and likewise: he's someone I would always support. We have each other's backs, and the team is what's important at the end of the day.' Only time will tell whether the two Matts will both be on Pochettino's World Cup squad, and how they (and others) will have their starts assigned in the lead-up to next summer. Freese will hope to sustain his strong form with NYCFC, which sits ninth in MLS' Eastern Conference and struggled in his absence this weekend. As Freese said when asked about facing Calvo twice, and if he took cues from the defender's converted attempt in regulation, 'each one is independent from the last.' Each start provides another chance for him to make his case to stay in goal for the USMNT's biggest games. A semifinal against an inspired Guatemala will be another test of his resolve. Rather than be stressed by the burden of responsibility, it's an opportunity that Freese is relishing having been handed to him by Pochettino. 'I've just got to be ready for whatever game I get, whatever moment is there for me,' Freese said. 'He's shown a lot of faith in me, and that's something I'm really grateful for. It's my job to repay him and help the team win.'
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
What I'm hearing about Pius Suter's market, Canucks' approach to free agency
The Vancouver Canucks spent Sunday filling out their roster for development camp, and regrouping after the NHL Draft. The club was thrilled with its 2025 draft class, as most teams are in the immediate aftermath. In particular, the Canucks were happy with the outcome from their process. They're confident that first-round pick Braeden Cootes is a special person, with an opportunity to be an organizational fixture for years to come. There is also excitement about second-round selection Aleksei Medvedev, the London Knights netminder who goaltending scout Ian Clark insisted on throughout the scouting process. Advertisement As the attention turns to the upcoming free-agent frenzy, there is some frustration that the Canucks have been unable to meaningfully tend to their significant short-term needs at centre to this point. Vancouver acquired winger Evander Kane last week to add some heaviness and skill to the forward group, but there's still a gaping hole in the middle of the top six. The Canucks had an understanding dating back two months that the unrestricted free agent market was unlikely to yield a high-impact forward. Vancouver's hockey operations leadership had also understood that attempting to fill short-term needs on the trade market would represent improving their team 'the hard way.' Aside from a trio of trades for John Gibson, Charlie Coyle and Noah Dobson, there was surprisingly little major player movement over the weekend. Most of the acquisitions fell into the Jordan Spence, Declan Chisholm or Justin Sourdif tier of minor deals. Like the leaguewide cash crunch in the fall of 2020, or the cap crunch conditions that teams operated in throughout the flat cap era, we're now seeing a talent crunch gum up the NHL marketplace. Simply put, there is more available cap space in the system at the moment than there are high-quality unrestricted free agent players on whom to spend it. Teams have enough cap flexibility that, to this point, there's limited external pressure to proactively fix roster problems or to trade NHL-level contributors for cap-neutral asset capital like draft picks or prospects. And given how much market desirability is impacting contractual outcomes, every team is scrambling to identify the players open to being part of their organization. Everyone is terrified of falling too deep into a Chicago or San Jose-like scorched-earth rebuild. As I worked the phones on Sunday to try to get a sense of where the Canucks stood ahead of July 1, the word of the day from the organization was 'caution.' Advertisement The Canucks need to be careful in navigating their way through what remains of the so-called silly season, and balancing their short-term goals with the long-term reality of a franchise that's both in transition and under significant pressure to build momentum next season. Some of the players who will be available could help Vancouver now, but they're unlikely to be especially efficient additions. As much as the Canucks want to improve their roster and try to win now, there's an understanding that overpaying for short-term upgrades could inhibit their ability to make a more impactful move down the line, when the leverage is greater, and the options more impactful. This is the time of year, after all, when mistakes get made. Conscious of that, and the significant pressure the organization is feeling to improve, the Canucks are going to spend the next 48 hours or so trying to be selective. It's fair to be skeptical. It's been well over a decade, after all, since anybody won a cent betting on the Canucks being selective with the long view in mind. Whether they're intent on managing expectations locally, or more actively recalibrating their short-term goals in light of their options and the sky high prices in free agency and on the trade market, that's the balance the Canucks are attempting to judiciously weigh as the clock ticks down toward July 1. Every time I ask my industry contacts about pending unrestricted free agent Pius Suter and what his market value could look like, the number gets a little bit higher. It's like the opposite of Jose Canseco's 40 time. What was $3.2 million ('he could double his salary') at the deadline, rather quickly became '$4 million or more' after Suter's 'ka-ching' goal-scoring run late in the season. Now, over the past two weeks, the conversation has morphed from 'maybe $4.5 million with term,' climbing all the way to between $4.5 million and $5 million, which is the figure an executive on Sunday evening suggested that Suter could realistically land on the open market. And that was before the new Morgan Geekie comparable. Advertisement Clearly, the market has broken heavily in Suter's favour. Not only have centres continued to demand a significant premium on the trade market and at the draft table, but most of the older pivots with name-brand value — Matt Duchene, Claude Giroux, John Tavares, Brock Nelson and Sam Bennett — have already extended with their teams. Outside of Mikael Granlund, Suter is probably the most credible top-six centre option still unsigned as July 1 approaches. It's also worth noting that Suter scored more goals this season (25) than Granlund did (22). The Canucks have remained in contact with Suter's camp throughout this process, but the two sides haven't been grinding away to find common ground. Given Vancouver's inability to land a significant centre upgrade on the trade market during draft weekend, however, Monday is shaping up to be a key day in determining whether or not Suter will ultimately make it to market this week. For the Canucks, it's last call on Suter, and I wouldn't be surprised if Vancouver took one final run at retaining the versatile, productive forward, with an understanding that he's surely gone if he makes it to market on Tuesday. The Canucks have always been big fans of Suter as a player and person. He's earned a significant raise and is coming off a career year. The conversation really centres on that. Was it just a career year, a one-off, or a new level of performance that Suter is likely to be able to sustain? How the Canucks ultimately decide to answer that question will determine their willingness to meet Suter's price at the 11th hour. If I were to handicap this one, it seems more likely than not that Suter will go to market. The door remains open just a crack, however, and I do get the sense that Vancouver will engage Suter's camp one last time on Monday before the door shuts for good. Advertisement By 2 p.m. PT, the Canucks will have to tender qualifying offers to their 10 pending restricted free agents to maintain their right of first refusal. We've already reported that goaltender Nikita Tolopilo will receive a qualifying offer, and there's a variety of higher-profile restricted players like Aatu Räty, Max Sasson and Arshdeep Bains who are obvious tap-ins to be qualified before the deadline. However, there are a couple of organizational depth players that the Canucks have wrestled with whether or not to qualify ahead of the deadline. I think we can take that as an indication that at least some of the 10 pending RFAs won't be qualified. Players who aren't qualified will become UFAs when the market opens on Tuesday. There's a tricky balance that the Canucks are going to try to maintain in the days ahead. This is a club that wants to improve short term, of course, they're the Canucks. I have begun to get the sense, though, in talking through offseason planning with team sources, that there's also an increasing internal recognition that this team is in transition. A realization that, perhaps, exercising some patience may be required. That recognition is in obvious tension with the fact that there is a lot of pressure, both in the Vancouver market and structurally on the Canucks, to find a way to take a big swing and connect on landing a difference-maker to improve this team. To excite this market. To convince Quinn Hughes to stay. But the Canucks want to be mindful of not doing something just to do something. Especially if that 'something' costs them an amount or an asset that they would view as reckless. Based on what team sources told The Athletic on Sunday, there appear to be moves that the Canucks could make to improve this team short-term. However, the most worthwhile among those options could cost them a key asset like their 2026 first-round pick, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Tom Willander or defender Elias Pettersson. Advertisement That's not a price that Vancouver has been willing to pay. I even get the sense that it's a price the Canucks are unlikely to be willing to pay, period, unless the return is genuinely transformative. We'll have to see if the significant pressure and desire to improve wins out over the rational plan to be disciplined. For what it's worth, the Canucks do expect the trade market to shake loose somewhat in the days and weeks ahead, especially as some teams move money around to facilitate major acquisitions. That won't necessarily apply to every team, but management appears to be keeping close tabs on these types of situations in case a scenario presents itself, one that would permit the Canucks to land a short-term, contributing player at a more manageable acquisition price. In the event, which has been more probable than not for weeks, that both Suter and Brock Boeser walk as unrestricted free agents on Tuesday, I'm hearing that the Canucks will be shopping for a centre when the market opens. The Canucks would need to send cap commitments out the door to really get into the bidding on Granlund. While I believe that Vancouver would have some interest in the player, all things being equal, breaking the bank to add him doesn't seem to be an especially probable outcome. Even with a player like Jack Roslovic, a slick-skating, right-handed forward who can play centre and who the Canucks have kicked the tires on in the past, I expect that the market will price out their interest. The Canucks, it seems, are prepared to roll with Filip Chytil and Räty as top-nine centres to open next season, but I'd also look for the team to be linked to names like Radek Faksa. Even assuming Vancouver is able to stay disciplined and focus on the long view, the Canucks will still look to strengthen down the middle this week. They just may be looking somewhat further down their lineup than they had hoped to. (Photo of Pius Suter: Simon Fearn / Imagn Images)
