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Curler Brad Gushue rips World Curling for ‘incompetence’ in organizing Kelowna event

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1 year ago

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One of Canada’s top curlers, Brad Gushue, says the World Curling Federation’s planning and delivery of the Pan Continental Curling Championships taking place in Kelowna, B.C., this week is an embarrassment to the sport and the competitors.

Gushue is angry about a number of issues relating to this year’s event, including players having limited space to warm up and practice, largely because of the decision to hold the event in a community curling club rather than an arena that is equipped with more facilities.

“This is an embarrassment. There’s a level of incompetence there that needs to be corrected,” Gushue said.

“The way the WCF has run this week, it’s a joke. It’s a big step back from the event we had last year. I don’t understand why they’ve gone this route. I understand you have to give teams a chance to qualify for worlds and what not, I understand that. But I think there’s different ways it could be done.”

This is just the second time this event has taken place after being voted in by WCF’s member association in 2021 as a way to improve competition and participation in the Americas and Pacific-Asia regions.

‘I’m a little angry’

Last year’s inaugural event, where Gushue won men’s gold and Kerri Einarson women’s bronze, was held in Calgary’s Markin MacPhail Centre, where the Scotties, Brier and world championships were held during the curling bubble in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic.

Gushue’s and Einarson’s teams are also Canada’s representatives at this year’s tournament. The top five women’s and men’s teams qualify their country for the upcoming world championships this season.

Gushue says he feels the curling and curlers are secondary to everything else.

Gushue, right, and his foursome of, left to right, Geoff Walker, EJ Harnden and Mark Nichols after winning the gold medal at the 2022 Pan Continental Curling Championships in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

‘None of us are getting paid’

“None of us are getting paid to be here and they’re selling tickets. There are hundreds of people coming here and paying and none of the curlers are making a dime. And we’re being told to go outside and warm up for a game. I’m a little angry,” Gushue said.

“It’s absolute silliness, the stuff that’s happening here this week. There is more care about everyone else than the players. Not being able to have any area to warm up. We were told to go outside. We’re sharing change rooms with the women. We’re not allowed to view practices. We’re now allowed to have one player there.”

The five-time Brier champion was told that wearing thermal gear to stay warm on the curling club ice is not allowed.

“We got reprimanded for wearing thermals under our uniforms,” Gushue said. A WCF cited the long sleeves as being different colours from the uniform as the reason. “It’s so cold in the rink so we went out yesterday and bought thermal, Merino wool underneath our stuff.

TSN moves event to stream only

“We were told by the WCF it’s not part of our uniform and we can’t wear it anymore. I’m sick and tired of coming to WCF events and the players being an afterthought. We’re not getting paid to be here. We’re doing this for our country and it kind of pisses me off,” he said.

Attendance for last year’s event in Calgary was sparse, and it was broadcast live on TSN. The network was broadcasting this year’s tournament before dropping its television coverage on Tuesday citing production issues. The network said the tournament would still be available via live stream.

This year’s event is being held inside the Kelowna Curling Club, with limited capacity for spectators.

A spokesperson for the WCF said the move from an arena to curling club is part of the WCF’s “effort at event sustainability” this season.

“We are trying a number of things with our championships. For example, both the Pan Continental and European championships are being hosted in curling clubs this season,” Chris Hamilton said. “Once those events have been completed, we will look at the successes and challenges to evaluate whether it’s a viable model for future championships of this size.”

Hamilton said TSN is the only broadcast partner to drop TV coverage of the event.

“We were told it was going to be televised and it’s an opportunity to showcase our sponsors, represent our country and make sure Canada is in the world championship. So we decided to do it,” Gushue said.

Gushue had second thoughts about playing an event of this magnitude at a curling club, favouring the arena setting and arena ice over club conditions. He wants to make it clear his displeasure is not directed toward the Kelowna organizers or the volunteers.

“The volunteers have been amazing. I’ve played at this curling club before and it’s a great curling club. I don’t want to take away from anything they’re doing. They’re working the best with what they have. To me, this is all on the people at the WCF,” Gushue said.

Despite his frustration, Gushue says he’s doing everything he can for the country to make sure Canada is at the world championships. He curled 99 per cent against Japan on Tuesday night for a third-straight victory.

 

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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3 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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November 8, 2024

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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