Sports

Calgary warned of poor air quality due to high levels of wildfire smoke

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2023

Calgarians awoke to a thick haze hanging in the sky Monday morning, with high concentrations of wildfire smoke triggering air quality advisories for the entire province.

The warning came as Calgary smashed a record for the highest number of smoky hours in a year.

The Air Quality Health Index for Calgary steadily rose over the weekend to reach 10 early Monday, a level considered high risk.

“Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations,” said Environment Canada in a special air quality statement issued Monday morning. “Stop outdoor activities and contact your health care provider if you or someone in your care experiences shortness of breath, wheezing (including asthma attacks), severe cough, dizziness or chest pains. Stay inside if you are feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms.”

With the Labour Day Classic slated for McMahon Stadium this afternoon, pitting the Calgary Stampeders against the Edmonton Elks for their annual gridiron matchup, team officials said on social media they would be monitoring the smoke situation.

The health and safety of our players, staff, and fans are of the utmost importance to us; the Calgary Stampeders and the CFL continue to closely monitor the air quality conditions via hourly readings taken at McMahon Stadium.

Kickoff of the Labour Day Classic remains set for… pic.twitter.com/WpysB5HFvy

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) September 4, 2023

The prevalence of smoky conditions in Calgary this spring and summer led to the city setting a record this weekend for the number of hours shrouded under a blanket of smoke.

Sometime on Sunday, the city reached 451 hours smothered in smoke so far this year, according to data published online by weather historian Rolf Campbell, surpassing a five-year-old record for number of smoky hours recorded in a year.

By 8 a.m. Monday, Calgary had seen 472 hours of smoke so far in 2023.

People are encouraged to be aware of potential health problems associated with smoke, said Alberta Health Services on its website.

Those who believe they may be having a heart attack or a stroke, or otherwise need medical care, should call 911 to summon emergency services, said AHS.

“Individuals with respiratory conditions (such as COPD and asthma), and individuals with existing cardiovascular conditions (such as angina, previous heart attack and congestive heart failure), may notice a worsening of symptoms, due to the poor air quality conditions,” said the provincial health authority. “These individuals should monitor for worsening of symptoms and take the precautions recommended by their physicians if a worsening of symptoms occurs.”

The health impact of wildfire smoke may be heightened for children and the elderly, AHS added.

Those who can’t avoid the smoke are encouraged to protect themselves, said Environment Canada.

“If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitted respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) that does not allow air to pass through small openings between the mask and face, can help reduce your exposure to the fine particles in smoke,” the weather service said.

“These fine particles generally pose the greatest risk to health. However, respirators do not reduce exposure to the gases in wildfire smoke. It is important to listen to your body and reduce or stop activities if you are experiencing symptoms.”

Air quality in Calgary is forecast to improve slightly over the next day but remain at high risk through Tuesday.

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Sports

Red Wings sign Moritz Seider to 7-year deal worth nearly $60M

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.

The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.

Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.

He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.

Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.

Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.

The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.

Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.

Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.

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Sports

Vancouver Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko working through rare muscle injury

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

PENTICTON, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko says he’s been working his way back from a rare lower-body muscle injury since being sidelined in last season’s playoffs.

The 28-year-old all star says the rehabilitation process has been frustrating, but he has made good progress in recent weeks and is confident he’ll be able to return to playing.

He says he and his medical team have spent the last few months talking to specialists around the world, and have not found a single other hockey player who has dealt with the same injury.

Demko missed several weeks of the last season with a knee ailment and played just one game in Vancouver’s playoff run last spring before going down with the current injury.

He was not on the ice with his teammates as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, but skated on his own before the sessions began.

Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Sports

Arch Manning to get first start for No. 1 Texas as Ewers continues recovery from abdomen strain

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — No. 1 Texas will start Arch Manning at quarterback Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe while regular starter Quinn Ewers continues to recover from a strained muscle in his abdomen, coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.

It will be the first career start for Manning, a second year freshman. He relieved Ewers in the second quarter last week against UTSA, and passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in a 56-7 Texas victory.

Manning is the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning.

Ewers missed several games over the previous two seasons with shoulder and sternum injuries.

The Longhorns are No. 1 for the first time since 2008 and Saturday’s matchup with the Warhawks is Texas’ last game before the program starts its first SEC schedule against Mississippi State on Sept. 28.

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