Latest news with #CanadaSummerGames
CBC
6 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
Manitoba athletes looking forward to 2025 Canada Summer Games
Hundreds of athletes from Manitoba will go for gold starting next week in St. John's, N.L., at the 2025 Canada Summer Games. Team Manitoba is sending 374 athletes to the Games, which run from Aug. 8-25.
CBC
8 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
Team Manitoba gears up for 2025 Canada Summer Games
Social Sharing Hundreds of athletes from Manitoba will go for gold starting next week in St. John's at the 2025 Canada Summer Games. Team Manitoba is sending 374 athletes to the Games, which run from Aug. 8-25. "I'm ecstatic," said Team Manitoba baseball player Piper Hollywood. "This is so crazy to me, and I'm so excited." Hollywood and her teammates will be part of history at the Games, with women's baseball making its debut at the event. The 15-year-old also hopes she and her teammates can be an inspiration to future generations of young girls who play baseball. "It means so much to me. It means so much to all the girls. We've all worked so extremely hard," she said. "I think we're just excited to be there. We're excited to show everyone what we have." Some of the athletes helped unveil team uniforms Tuesday morning during a ceremony at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame inside the Sport Manitoba facility on Pacific Avenue. Kayaker Luke Enns, 19, was announced as the team's flag-bearer for next week's opening ceremony. "It's such an honour," he said. "For me, it symbolizes the connection between all the sports and all the teams that will be competing at the Games, so it's an honour to have that opportunity." Team Manitoba will showcase family ties on the wrestling mat, with Jordan Blais coached by his dad, Dominick. "My dad has just been so dedicated and so disciplined with how he's learning the sport. He's been studying it, looking at high-level videos, high-level wrestling," he said. "I think his technique has surpassed mine already," said Blais. "I'm just very thankful to have him as my coach and someone that I can look up to." Although wrestling is relatively new for Dominick Blais, he's no stranger to combat sports, with a 10-5-0 professional mixed martial arts record. He also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He took up wrestling with Jordan and his daughter when they were young, he said. "It brings the family very close," Dominick said. "It's a passion that everybody shares. We've been travelling a lot together, and now coaching is my work, but it doesn't really feel like work." Jordan said competing at the Games can also help athletes get recognized for future opportunities in their sport. "Many of my friends from last Canada Games, they got recruited because of the Canada Games," he said. "This is really important. You've got to stay in the mindset of 'Your future is in your hands.'"
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
16-year-old dual athlete will lead Team Sask to Canada Summer Games
A total of 377 Saskatchewan athletes from 92 communities across 19 disciplines are all going for gold at this year's Canada Summer Games in St. John's. Of those 377 elite athletes, only one holds the flag of Saskatchewan, a symbol of the province's spirit and strength. Sixteen-year-old Hayden Kot is Team Sask's flag bearer, the official representative of the province during the ceremonies. Beyond that, she's going for gold in both basketball and volleyball. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, going to Canada Summer Games, let alone being named the flag bearer," said Kot. "I'm just so excited. I'm so excited to go, and just being able to bring my team alongside me is just super special … We're so tight knit in Saskatchewan. We have such a great culture and honestly, the fact that everybody is supporting everybody is just so nice to see." Garrett Kot, Hayden's father, was also a multi-sport athlete who competed in volleyball at the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, B.C. He now coaches basketball at Kot's high school, and trains with his daughter constantly. "Sports are so important to me because I kind of learned everything there: how to be a good person, how to trust people, how to be patient with people," said Kot. "Honestly, it's shaped me so much that I don't know who I would be without sports. All my best friends are from my sports, and I don't know where I would be without it ... it guides me so much, and it just helps me as a human understanding things." This is Kot's second year playing volleyball for Team Sask, and her fourth year playing basketball. Last year, she missed out due to a broken ankle. "You're never going to get this opportunity again, so I just think making the most of what I have is just the best thing. I'm looking more towards basketball in post-secondary, but being able to contribute to both of them in my future is probably my biggest goal." East coast-bound athletes will be accompanied by 85 members of the coaching staff and 26 mission staff, bringing the total team contingency to 488. Alana Ross, Saskatchewan Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport says that between her ministry and Sask Lotteries, a total of $1.6 million worth of funding went to Team Sask this year. "It really encourages them to strive for success, which really will help them in the future as well. That's another advantage to sport and competing and to learn if you work hard, there's positive outcomes." Team Sask reached a total medal count of 32 at the last Canada Summer Games in Niagara in 2022. Officials say they are looking to land at about 5th place overall, near provinces with similar populations. "We're small, but we're mighty, and you see that in so many areas. We've had so many successful athletes coming out of our province. If we're focusing on the sports, how can you help, but to be proud of them and proud of Saskatchewan." Notable Team Sask alumni include Catriona Le May Doan, Mark McMorris, Emily Clark, Rylan Wiens, Shelby Newkirk, and Carissa Norsten. The 2025 Canada Summer Games will run from Aug. 8-25 in St. John's.
CBC
a day ago
- Sport
- CBC
16-year-old dual athlete will lead Team Sask to Canada Summer Games
A total of 377 Saskatchewan athletes from 92 communities across 19 disciplines are all going for gold at this year's Canada Summer Games in St. John's. Of those 377 elite athletes, only one holds the flag of Saskatchewan, a symbol of the province's spirit and strength. Sixteen-year-old Hayden Kot is Team Sask's flag bearer, the official representative of the province during the ceremonies. Beyond that, she's going for gold in both basketball and volleyball. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, going to Canada Summer Games, let alone being named the flag bearer," said Kot. "I'm just so excited. I'm so excited to go, and just being able to bring my team alongside me is just super special … We're so tight knit in Saskatchewan. We have such a great culture and honestly, the fact that everybody is supporting everybody is just so nice to see." Garrett Kot, Hayden's father, was also a multi-sport athlete who competed in volleyball at the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, B.C. He now coaches basketball at Kot's high school, and trains with his daughter constantly. "Sports are so important to me because I kind of learned everything there: how to be a good person, how to trust people, how to be patient with people," said Kot. "Honestly, it's shaped me so much that I don't know who I would be without sports. All my best friends are from my sports, and I don't know where I would be without it ... it guides me so much, and it just helps me as a human understanding things." This is Kot's second year playing volleyball for Team Sask, and her fourth year playing basketball. Last year, she missed out due to a broken ankle. "You're never going to get this opportunity again, so I just think making the most of what I have is just the best thing. I'm looking more towards basketball in post-secondary, but being able to contribute to both of them in my future is probably my biggest goal." East coast-bound athletes will be accompanied by 85 members of the coaching staff and 26 mission staff, bringing the total team contingency to 488. Alana Ross, Saskatchewan Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport says that between her ministry and Sask Lotteries, a total of $1.6 million worth of funding went to Team Sask this year. "It really encourages them to strive for success, which really will help them in the future as well. That's another advantage to sport and competing and to learn if you work hard, there's positive outcomes." Team Sask reached a total medal count of 32 at the last Canada Summer Games in Niagara in 2022. Officials say they are looking to land at about 5th place overall, near provinces with similar populations. "We're small, but we're mighty, and you see that in so many areas. We've had so many successful athletes coming out of our province. If we're focusing on the sports, how can you help, but to be proud of them and proud of Saskatchewan." Notable Team Sask alumni include Catriona Le May Doan, Mark McMorris, Emily Clark, Rylan Wiens, Shelby Newkirk, and Carissa Norsten. The 2025 Canada Summer Games will run from Aug. 8-25 in St. John's.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hooker-Ridgen climbing the lacrosse ranks
Since he was four years old, Winston Hooker-Ridgen has had a lacrosse stick in his hands. Going from club teams to representing Team Manitoba and joining national development programs, Hooker-Ridgen has steadily climbed the lacrosse ranks. But this week, his focus is on the Prairie Cup, where he hopes to find gold and redeem last year's finish. The Prairie Cup, now in its second year, is an annual lacrosse tournament for U13-U17 boys and girls from Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and is being held Friday through Sunday at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. SUPPLIED Winston Hooker-Ridgen plays for Team Manitoba U17 who are looking to win the Prairie Cup. In his first year playing the Prairie Cup, Hooker-Ridgen was on the Team Manitoba U15 boys squad, where they came second, losing to Alberta in the finals. This year, Hooker-Ridgen is on the U17 team, where they've been practicing together for nine months, prepping for the Canada Summer Games, and hoping to get a Prairie Cup championship on home soil. 'We've had a long opportunity to sort of gel together,' said Hooker-Ridgen. 'I think that's one of our main strengths, is we've been building chemistry for those nine months, and we have an opportunity to do something pretty special.' Fresh off a silver medal at the 2025 Lobster Trap tournament in Halifax at the end of June, Hooker-Ridgen says both he and his teammates have improved a lot since last year's Prairie Cup. 'Probably playing new guys again,' said Hooker-Ridgen on what he's looking forward to for the tournament. 'Playing Saskatchewan, Alberta is going to be tough, but I think our team has what it takes to definitely have a good game with them and hopefully come out on top.' Playing for the Team Manitoba squad is a different experience from how Hooker-Ridgen began his lacrosse journey. In the early stages, there was a lot more regular season play, but at the higher levels, everything builds toward the big tournaments like nationals. 'The first eight or nine years, it was kind of just all club with my buddies and just going out to have fun,' said Hooker-Ridgen. 'And then three years ago, it became Team Manitoba and that was when it started to get a bit more serious.' The U17 player has done it all with Team Manitoba, competing in both field and box lacrosse, from being focused on scoring goals to keeping them out. In box, Hooker-Ridgen plays as a runner on offence, and in field, he was an attacker until last fall, but when his team needed a goalie, he made the switch. 'It wasn't really a crazy big change,' said Hooker-Ridgen. 'Because I'd only been playing field for about a year. But yeah, that's definitely something I enjoy, and I'm pretty glad I made the switch.' Just three months after making the move, he was selected for the Team Canada West U17 Development Team. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'It's even a step up from Team Manitoba,' said Hooker-Ridgen. 'You know, you're playing with guys from B.C., Saskatchewan, Alberta. So it's just a step up in the calibre of lacrosse, so grateful I get to do it.' In August, Hooker-Ridgen and the Team Manitoba U17 boys will head out to St. John's, where they will compete in the Canada Summer Games. And looking forward, Hooker-Ridgen hopes to keep working on his lacrosse game and eventually earn a spot down south to continue playing college lacrosse in the United States. 'I love the lacrosse community, it's super tight-knit,' said Hooker-Ridgen, who says he's seen lacrosse in Manitoba continue to grow. 'Everyone knows everyone, and it's just a good community.'
