Plus-minus: Saskatchewan Huskies navigate through changing hockey landscape, new NCAA rules
While NCAA eligibility rules have changed to allow major junior players to play there, and with purse-strings down south loosening tremendously in many cases to attract recruits, U Sports has countered with a rule change of its own. Former pros are now eligible to play Canadian university hockey without having to sit out a full year.
Article content
Enter Roulette, Thomson and Thornton.
Article content
Thornton, a native of Winnipeg, signed a one-way American Hockey League deal with the Hershey Bears but ended up in the ECHL for most of last season.
Article content
'A real good player,' Cote said of Thornton. 'A good offensive-minded D-man. Very similar to Kosior, just left-handed. He'll really help us, obviously, with losing Landon.'
Article content
Kosior heads south to the NCAA despite having played minor-pro hockey himself. That no longer seems to be a barrier for entry into the NCAA ranks as long as you haven't signed an NHL contract.
Article content
Article content
'That's the thing — it is what it is,' said Cote. 'I never anticipated losing Landon. These guys aren't leaving because they didn't like it here. They feel they're getting to be able to take advantage of new opportunities — that's just the way the world is right now in our area. I don't know how he's eligible (for NCAA after playing minor pro), but he is. He got an opportunity to go down there, and there are other guys who are going to the same spot that are in the same boat as Landon, for the most part.
Article content
'And Trevor, that was a tough one … (But) they're getting opportunities to play where they foresee themselves potentially getting a little more exposure with the pro level and whatever else they're being offered.
Article content
'I have no ill-will against either of them. They were great Huskies for the short time they were here and they helped us win another Canada West championship. They're great people and great players, so I wish them all the best.'
Article content
Article content
Article content
The Huskies' arch-rival Alberta Golden Bears have been hit particularly hard by off-season departures to the NCAA. They've lost goalie Tyler Palmer, D-men Aidan De La Gorgendiere and Marc Lajoie, plus forwards Sean Tschigerl, Brett Hyland and Ty Nash. Other departures include defenceman Elias Carmichael (European pro), forward Josh Prokop (pro) and Tyler Preziuso (graduated).
Article content
The Dogs expect the majority of their team from last season to return, with some younger guys taking on larger roles.
Article content
'We still have lots of guys that are returning that are in their second or third years that are ready to take steps,' said Cote.
Article content
dzary@postmedia.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
8 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Zverev defeats defending champion Popyrin to advance to National Bank Open semifinals
TORONTO – Alexander Zverev has a semifinal spot at the National Bank Open. And he bested last year's winner in the process. The top seed at the Canadian men's tennis championship rallied to defeat No. 18 Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-3 on Monday evening at Sobeys Stadium. Currently third in the ATP Tour's rankings, the German will take on either No. 11 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia or No. 26 Alex Michelsen of the United States on Wednesday. Khachanov and Michelsen played the late quarterfinal on the campus of York University in hazy northwest Toronto. Tuesday's schedule at the NBO features a pair of American favourites. Second-seed Taylor Fritz will take on No. 6 Andrey Rublev of Russia in the quarters, while No. 4 Ben Shelton is slated to meet No. 9 Alex de Minaur of Australia. Both semifinals go Wednesday ahead of Thursday's title match. Popyrin took a knife-edged first set in a tiebreak when his gentle backhand shot after a long rally grazed the top of the net and dropped for the winning point — much to the delight of his fans, including one with an inflatable yellow kangaroo. Zverev, meanwhile, responded by immediately firing a ball completely out of Sobeys Stadium in frustration. Looking for his 25th tournament victory and eighth ATP 1000 Masters triumph, he responded by going up 2-0 in the second set. Popyrin grabbed a break of his own before holding serve at 4-4. Zverev, who won the Canadian title in Montreal eight years ago when he defeated childhood idol Roger Federer, took a 5-4 lead and then again broke his opponent to even the match. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Ousted at the quarterfinal stage of last year's tournament, Zverev got another break to go up 2-0 in the third set before serving out the match. The 28-year-old, who lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final at this year's Australian Open and made the French Open quarters, improved to 4-0 all-time against Popyrin, including a third-round victory at the Paris Olympics. Zverev has two tournament wins on clay this year, and is the highest-ranked player competing in a Toronto field lacking some significant star power after Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 5 Jack Draper and No. 6 Novak Djokovic all skipped the US$9.19-million hardcourt event. The 25-year-old Popyrin — ranked No. 26 in the world — beat Rublev some 12 months ago in Montreal to claim his third tournament win, but saw a nine-match winning run in Canada come to an end Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2025.
Toronto Sun
38 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko advances to NBO semifinals in Montreal
Published Aug 04, 2025 • 2 minute read Victoria Mboko of Canada hits a return to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during quarterfinal tennis action at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. Photo by Christinne Muschi / The Canadian Press MONTREAL — Victoria Mboko keeps on rising. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Two days after dispatching No. 1 seed Coco Gauff, the Canadian teenage sensation booked her place in the National Bank Open semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in women's singles action Monday night. Mboko upset Gauff in straight sets Saturday, winning the lopsided match in just 62 minutes. There was no letdown Monday, even if Mboko fought a little harder to pull out the victory. After taking a back-and-forth — and error-filled — first set, Mboko lost on serve in a sluggish start to the second set but broke back in the fourth and sixth games to take a 4-2 advantage. The 18-year-old from Toronto held serve and broke once more, with Bouzas Maneiro's backhand sailing long on match point to lift the fans out of their seats after 77 minutes. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mboko is the first Canadian to reach the WTA 1000 event's semifinals since Bianca Andreescu's title run in 2019. She's also the youngest woman to reach the semis since Belinda Bencic's 2015 win in Toronto. Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 51st, was also playing in the quarterfinals of a 1000-level tournament for the first time. In a breakthrough year, Mboko has surged from outside the top 300 to a career-high No. 85 in the world rankings. That number is projected to climb to at least No. 55, according to WTA live rankings. The last Canadian remaining in singles, Mboko has made a name for herself at home, her powerful ball-striking on full display in her first National Bank Open main draw. She will meet Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in Wednesday's semifinals. The ninth-seeded Rybakina advanced after Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk was forced to retire with an apparent arm injury while trailing 6-1, 2-1 earlier Monday night. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. After two injury-plagued years, Mboko — who had shown promise as a junior — opened the season with a 22-match win streak and captured five titles on the lower-tier ITF Tour. She then qualified for her first Grand Slam main draw at the French Open, reaching the third round, before stunning 25th seed Magdalena Frech in the first round at Wimbledon. And the upsets keep coming. In Montreal, Mboko has rattled off wins over 79th-ranked Kimberly Birrell, 23rd seed Sofia Kenin, 39th-ranked Marie Bouzkova and Gauff, the world No. 2. Her latest victory boosts her record to 25-8 against higher-ranked players and 51-9 in all competitions. Buzzing in anticipation, the crowd rose to its feet for loud applause the moment Mboko emerged from the tunnel before the match. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Neither player looked dialed in during the first set, as both competitors fired shots long and wide and wasted opportunities to break early. At 2-2, Mboko fell in a 40-15 hole, but ultimately took the prolonged game thanks to five service winners, regularly opening points with 180-kilometre per hour strikes. The Canadian then went up 40-0 with three chances to break before a series of errors, including a few mis-hits on her backhand, helped Bouzas Maneiro hold. Mboko retook a 40-0 advantage for three breakpoint opportunities while leading 4-3. This time, Bouzas Maneiro fired her shot into the net. Bouzas Maneiro broke back after Mboko made three unforced errors and double-faulted. Mboko, however, took the set with her second breakpoint when Bouzas Maneiro struck her forehand wide. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Opinion Columnists Toronto Raptors Weird Toronto & GTA
Winnipeg Free Press
38 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Source: Toronto FC close to acquiring playmaker Djordje Mihailovic from Colorado
TORONTO – Toronto FC is close to acquiring attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic from the Colorado Rapids in a cash deal, according to a source. The transfer is not yet finalized, according to the source granted anonymity because they are not authorized to comment on the negotiations. TFC, without a designated player since buying out the contracts of Italians Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi in early July, has been looking for some star power. And Toronto, which sits 12th in the Eastern Conference at 5-13-6, needs help in attack. With 25 goals in 24 games, it ranks 26th in the league on offence. Canadian international Theo Corbeanu leads the team with five goals while Honduran Deybi Flores, a defensive-minded midfielder, tops the team with two assists. The 26-year-old Mihailovic has nine goals and seven assists in 24 regular-season outings for Colorado this season. He is making $1.775 million (all figures in U.S. dollars) with the Rapids this season, a bargain compared to the $15.4 million Toronto was paying Insigne and the $6.295 million Bernardeschi was earning. Toronto marks the fifth career team for Mihailovic and his second in Canada. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. He spent the 2021 and '22 seasons with CF Montreal, playing 61 regular-season games, including 57 starts. In 2021, he recorded 16 assists, erasing the previous club record of 13 set by Ignacio Piatti in 2018. Montreal had acquired Mihailovic from the Chicago Fire in exchange for $800,000 in general allocation money. Signed as a homegrown player from the Fire academy in January 2017, he played 73 regular-season games for the Fire, including 45 starts, with seven goals and 15 assists. After the 2022 MLS season, Mihailovic joined AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. He had two goals and two assists in 36 appearances across all competitions for the Dutch side before leaving to join Colorado in January 2024, signing on as a designated player on a four-year contract through 2027 with a club option through 2028. Mihailovic has one goal in 11 appearances for the U.S., scoring against Panama in a January 2019 friendly. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2025.
