12th Annual Whitecaps Pride Celebration Match
On CTV Morning Live, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Ambassador, Carl Valentine & Out for Kicks President, Jordan Heppenstall talk about the Pride Celebration Match!
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Globe and Mail
25 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Pospisil gets a heartfelt sendoff at National Bank Open
Vasek Pospisil's last-ever professional match was a gruelling three-setter that ended in a standing ovation Sunday night at the National Bank Open, followed by a teary farewell speech. On a hot, humid evening, before a big opening night crowd, the Vernon, B.C. native stretched out his farewell night of pro tennis as best he could. He winced through pains and crushed some winners too, before ultimately losing to Argentina's Bagnis Facundo, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. 'I have mixed emotions when it comes to this sport,' Pospisil reflected afterward. 'It's a really, really tough sport, physically and mentally, and at some point you burn out. At least I did.' From Vernon, B.C. to Wimbledon, Vasek Pospisil's tennis career proves 'Anything is Pospisil' With the loss, the 35-year-old Canadian called time on an 18-year tennis career that saw him reach a career-high singles ranking of No. 25, and a win a Wimbled doubles title. As a long-serving member of Team Canada, he also helped deliver the country's first-ever Davis Cup title in 2022. Pospisil was also an outspoken advocate for athlete rights, founding the first Professional Tennis Players Association alongside Novak Djokovic in 2019. The veteran player from Vernon, B.C received a main-draw wild card for the event in Toronto to play his farewell. A large group of his friends and family attended Sunday's farewell match. Another Canadian trailblazer, doubles legend Daniel Nestor, was there watching. Pospisil's mom Mila was there, and his dad Milos too, who coached him until he was 20. They made lengthy father-son trips by car or in a mobile home to save money in the early days. Canada had welcomed the couple and their two older sons after they escaped the former Czechoslovakia. Vasek was born in Vernon shortly after, in 1990. Pospisil had been largely absent from tournaments in recent years as he rehabbed various injuries. Prior to Sunday, he'd played just two singles matches in 2025, both at Challengers in Canada, each losses in qualifying. His last ATP Tour-level appearance was the 2024 National Bank Open in Montreal, where he lost in the first round. In this edition Sunday night, for his finale, Pospisil drew a fellow 35-year-old for an opponent, a player ranked 772nd who came through qualifying. Bagnis was leading 4-2 in the opening set when Pospisil left the court with a trainer to treat an apparent groin injury. The near-full Sobey's Stadium cheered the Canadian's return a few minutes later. 'I wish I could have not pulled my muscle in the fifth game of the match and enjoyed the match a bit more,' Pospisil would later say, with a chuckle. The 6-foot-4 player from B.C appeared to wince and step gingerly while moving about the court when the match resumed. Pospisil has had several injuries throughout his career and has spent much of the past few years rehabbing. During his best years on the ATP Tour, Pospisil had made the quarterfinals in singles at Wimbledon and reached three tour-level singles finals. Longevity is hard in this physically demanding sport. It's gruelling to come back when you've been away. Pospisil lost the first set and then appeared to find a second wind while breaking Bagnis early in the second and giving his family a big fist pump as the Toronto crowd got a chance to bellow. The Canadian delivered a huge winner down the line to make it 5-3, clenching his fist and roaring like he used to, as his family rose to their feet. He forced a third set and hollered again. Pospisil tired down the stretch. The third set had some of those beauty drop shots that helped Pospisil succeed in doubles. Fans chanted his name. Ultimately the Canadian ran out of steam. After the loss on Sunday, Canadians rose to their feet to salute the long-standing player. 'It's kind of tough to win a match like that on one leg. Of course, I wasn't going to retire or pull out, I had to finish my last match,' he said. Then a thank-you video played inside Sobey's Stadium with a montage of Pospisil's biggest career moments. Through tears, he then delivered an emotional thank-you speech to everyone seated in his player box – from family to coaches and Davis Cup teammates. 'Thanks for telling me over the years that a Pospisil never quits,' he said to his father. When asked in his post-match press conference why he always prioritized playing for his country while many ATP players choose not to make the time for it, the freshly retired player responded frankly: 'I don't understand players that don't play Davis Cup and don't play Olympics. I genuinely don't,' said Pospisil. 'I think it's just a no-brainer to play for your country, and it's good for everybody, good for you, good for your energy. . . Okay, prioritize a week of rest to have you fresh for one of a thousand tournaments that you're going to play in your career, or go and represent your country… I think, a lot of times, it comes down to money for these guys, and that's just not the right way to look at it.' Pospisil is the first of two significant Canadian tennis players to mark their official retirements at the current NB Open. Genie Bouchard will also call it a career at the WTA edition in Montreal.
National Post
25 minutes ago
- National Post
Tiger-Cats 37, B.C. Lions 33: Hamilton completes comeback with last-minute touchdown
VANCOUVER — A last-minute touchdown reception from Kiondre Smith lifted the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 37-33 win over the B.C. Lions on Sunday. Article content Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 389 yards, three touchdowns and an interception as the Ticats (5-2) stretched their win streak to five straight games. Article content Jake Dolegala tallied a rushing major for the Ticats, and Brendan O'Leary-Orange also reeled in a TD pass. Article content Kicker Marc Liegghio made four converts and three field goals, including a 40-yard attempt, as his team overcame a 10-point deficit late in the fourth quarter. Article content Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 289 yards, connecting on 20 of his 27 attempts, while kicker Sean Whyte made four field goals — including a 45-yard kick — and three converts. Article content Article content Running back James Butler notched a pair of rushing TDs against his former team and rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries. Article content Butler played two seasons for Hamilton before being released by the club in January. He signed with B.C. as a free agent hours later, making a return to the team where he started his CFL career and had a breakout campaign in 2022. Article content He wasted little time in exacting revenge on his former team. Article content About five minutes into the game, Rourke faked a handoff to Butler, kept the ball himself and sprinted toward the end zone. Article content His backup, Jeremiah Masoli, came on for short yardage duty and dished off to Butler, who manoeuvred his way through traffic and over the goal line for a touchdown. He celebrated with an emphatic spike that sent the ball sailing into the stands. Article content Rourke put in another big run before the end of the first quarter, dashing 21 yards through the midfield and Butler followed suit with a 23-yard run. The QB then handed off to Butler once again and the running back slipped through a hole and into the end zone for his second major of the night. Whyte made the convert and B.C. went up 14-3. Article content Article content Hamilton started the second with a first down on B.C.'s two-yard line and eventually made good on the positioning when Dolegala powered through the crowd for the Ticats' first touchdown of the game. Article content Liegghio added an 11-yard field goal midway through the quarter, cutting his team's deficit to a single point. Article content The Lions responded with some big plays, including Rourke's dish to an unmanned Keon Hatcher Sr. in the midfield. The receiver took advantage, sprinting deep into Hamilton territory for a 73-yard gain. Whyte capped the scoring drive with a 22-yard field goal. Article content With just over a minute left in the first half, B.C. cornerback Robert Carter Jr. made his own highlight reel-worthy play. Mitchell launched a rainbow toward the end zone, where Carter snuck up behind Hamilton receiver O'Leary-Orange, leapt up and — with one hand — reeled in the ball.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Argonauts return quarterback Chad Kelly to the injured list
Nick Arbuckle will remain the Toronto Argonauts' starting quarterback for the next little while. Article content Toronto placed incumbent Chad Kelly on the six-game injured list Saturday before its 31-17 home win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Argos had put Kelly on the one-game list through each week of the season, allowing the CFL's 2023 outstanding player to practise with the team as he recovered from a serious leg injury suffered in last year's East Division final. Article content Article content With Kelly sidelined, Arbuckle led Toronto to its 41-24 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg at B.C. Place. He was named the game MVP after completing 26-of-37 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Article content The Argos were hopeful Kelly might return following their bye week. However, Arbuckle — who has been the starter all season to this point — remained under centre for Toronto's 26-25 loss to Montreal on Thursday before leading the squad to its first home victory Saturday night. Article content And Arbuckle will remain under centre Friday night when Toronto (2-5) visits Winnipeg (3-3) to complete the home-and-home set. Article content 'I think it (placing Kelly on six-game list) is a smart decision,' Toronto coach Ryan Dinwiddie said following Saturday's game. 'We've got to look after Chad and the organization. Article content 'We just can't force his hand, 'Let's play,' when we're not sure yet. When we're fully sure of the situation collectively we'll make that decision. He's willing to play but at the same time we're going to put him on the field when he's ready to play.' Article content Kelly was on Toronto's sidelines Saturday night but Dinwiddie said there's no timeline regarding when the quarterback will make his '25 debut. Article content 'Who knows?' he said. 'That could be week to week but he's working at it. Article content 'He wants to be there for his brothers … he's always around and when he's around he makes us better, on or off the field. When the time comes we'll make that decision but it's got to be collectively … we have to make a decision when it's the right time and we won't make that decision until it is the right time.' Article content Kelly missed Toronto's first nine regular-season games in 2024 due to a CFL-imposed suspension. The six-foot-one, 216-pound American returned to the Argos, completing 175-of-258 passes (67.8 per cent) for 2,451 yards with 10 TDs and eight interceptions. Article content
