Auston Matthews pulls out of all-star game with injury

Just two and a half weeks after the Paris Olympic Games wrapped up, the City of Light is set to once again become the center of the sports world, this time hosting the 2024 Paralympic Games. The Games, which officially begin on Wednesday, will feature around 4,400 athletes from 182 delegations, making it the world’s largest event for athletes with various motor, sensory, and intellectual disabilities.

The Paralympic Games will kick off with an imaginative opening ceremony that promises to be as captivating as the Olympics. Approximately 65,000 spectators will witness the parade of nations, where athletes will march along the iconic Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. Directed by Thomas Jolly, who also orchestrated the Olympic ceremonies, this event will be a spectacle celebrating the determination and achievements of Paralympic athletes.

Carrying the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony will be two veteran Paralympians, Pat Anderson and Katarina Roxon. Anderson, a 45-year-old wheelchair basketball player, is no stranger to the Games, having competed in six, winning gold medals in 2000, 2004, and 2012. Roxon, 31, is making her fifth Paralympic appearance, a record for Canadian women’s swimming. She famously won an individual gold medal in 2016 in Rio and added a relay bronze in Tokyo.

Canada is sending 126 athletes to compete across 22 different Para sports, including swimming, track and field, cycling, wheelchair basketball, and many more. The competition will run for 11 days, starting Thursday, and will feature 549 events in total.

This year’s Canadian team boasts a mix of seasoned Paralympians and fresh faces. Alongside Anderson and Roxon, Brent Lakatos (track and field), Cindy Ouellet (wheelchair basketball), and Mike Whitehead (wheelchair rugby) are also competing in their sixth Paralympic Games. Ouellet, in particular, stands out as a multi-sport athlete, having also competed as a Nordic skier in the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Newcomers are also making their mark, with 39 athletes making their Paralympic debut. Among them is Peter Isherwood, a 47-year-old table tennis player who is the oldest rookie on the team. The youngest athlete, 17-year-old swimmer Reid Maxwell, will share a birthday during the Games with four-time Paralympic wheelchair fencer Ruth Sylvie Morel, who turns 68.

Canada has a rich history in the Paralympic Games, and many athletes on this year’s team are former medalists. Ten of them have previously won gold, including swimmers Aurelie Rivard and Danielle Dorris, track and field stars Nate Riech and Greg Stewart, and wheelchair basketball players Pat Anderson and Bo Hedges. Rivard leads the pack with five career gold medals, two of which she won in Tokyo 2021.

Brent Lakatos is another standout, having amassed 11 medals (1 gold, 8 silver, 2 bronze) across five Paralympic Games in various wheelchair track events. His impressive performance in Tokyo, where he won four silver medals, earned him the honor of being Canada’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony.

For those eager to follow the action, CBC will provide extensive coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Live coverage begins Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. ET with the opening ceremony, available on the CBC TV network and through streaming on CBC Gem, the Paris 2024 website, and the Paris 2024 app.

Starting Thursday, CBC will air three daily live shows: Petro-Canada Paris Prime at 2 p.m. ET, Toyota Paralympic Games Primetime at 8 p.m. local time, and Canadian Tire Paralympics Tonight at 11:30 p.m. local time. Additionally, digital coverage will include daily episodes of Rise and Stream and Hot Takes, highlighting key events and Canadian athletes to watch. These shows will be available on the Paris 2024 site and across CBC Sports’ social media platforms.

As the world turns its attention to Paris once more, Canada’s Paralympic athletes are ready to inspire and compete at the highest level. With a strong blend of experience and youthful energy, Team Canada is poised to make its mark on the global stage.

In a significant NHL trade, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired promising forward Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Brayden Yager on Thursday. The deal involves two highly regarded young talents, each selected in the first round of recent NHL Drafts, and marks a key move for both franchises as they look to shape their futures.

McGroarty, a 20-year-old forward, was a standout at the University of Michigan, where he was ninth among NCAA players with 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) during his sophomore season. His impressive performance extended beyond college hockey as he captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing nine points (five goals, four assists) in the tournament.

Originally selected by the Jets with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, McGroarty was considered one of Winnipeg’s top forward prospects. His combination of skill, leadership, and competitiveness made him a coveted asset, which ultimately led to the Penguins’ decision to pursue the trade.

“We had a difficult decision to make with this trade because we hold Brayden Yager in such high regard as a person and prospect,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said. “After much consideration, we decided that the opportunity to add Rutger McGroarty was ultimately in the best interest of the Penguins. He possesses the combination of ability, leadership, and competitiveness that the Penguins need to achieve our goals in the short and long run. We look forward to welcoming Rutger and his family to the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins.”

The Jets, in turn, receive Brayden Yager, a 19-year-old forward who was picked by the Penguins at No. 14 in the 2023 NHL Draft. Yager had an outstanding season with Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League, tallying 95 points (35 goals, 60 assists) in 57 games. He also represented Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship, where he recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in five games.

Yager had recently signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on July 24 and was expected to compete for a spot on the NHL roster this season. Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza had praised Yager’s growth and potential prior to the trade, noting, “I would never want to limit a young player’s ability to make the team. So he controls that in terms of how he shows up and how he plays. But we saw great growth as far as his ability to play tough matchups.”

For both McGroarty and Yager, the trade represents a fresh start and a new opportunity to make an impact at the NHL level. As the Penguins and Jets continue to build their rosters, these young talents will be key pieces in their respective teams’ strategies for success.