The CFL Players’ Association says Occupational Health and Safety in Alberta is investigating the CFL’s decision to play the Edmonton Elks-Calgary Stampeders game Monday despite smoky conditions in Calgary.
The Stampeders rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat the Elks 35-31 at McMahon Stadium. The contest was played despite Environment Canada’s Air Quality Health index for Calgary measuring between eight and 10 throughout the day.
The CFL and CFLPA have a policy that’s been in place since 2019 that states on-field activities are to either be cancelled or ceased when the air-quality rating exceeds seven.
The CFLPA feels Monday’s game shouldn’t have been played due to a poor air-quality reading. The union says it twice informed the CFL in writing – before the opening kickoff and afterwards – that the contest shouldn’t go ahead because of unsafe work conditions.
In its submission to the CFL after the opening kickoff, the CFLPA stated air-quality levels in Calgary were hazardous and posed a threat to the health and safety of players on the field. It asked the league to delay the game until such time as those levels dropped to seven or below.
The union also added if the game went ahead, it would bring the matter to the attention of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety. The CFLPA says a complaint was filed and the OHS is now investigating the matter.
A game can start with an air-quality of seven so long as conditions aren’t projected to worsen. But Environment Canada’s AQI for northwest Calgary was still at nine four hours after kickoff.
Forest fire smoke drifted into Calgary overnight Saturday. Environment Canada’s air quality index at kickoff Monday read nine out of 10, or “high risk.”
On Sunday, the CFL and union both monitored air-quality readings in Regina but the Saskatchewan Roughriders-Winnipeg Blue Bombers game went ahead as scheduled because conditions there improved.
“The bigger problem we have right now is the league is trying to change the policy,” said Brian Ramsay, the CFLPA’s executive director. “They’ve informed us they won’t be shutting games down until (an air-quality reading of) nine and that’s unacceptable.
“These policies have been followed since 2019.”
Poor air quality this year has resulted in a number of CFL teams moving their practices to indoor facilities. And in May, the Roughriders Green and White scrimmage was cancelled after two drives due to the poor air quality cause by smoke from wildfires.
“Before the Labour Day Classic in Calgary, beginning at noon, air quality readings were taken inside McMahon Stadium every 30 minutes until the conclusion of the game,” said a CFL spokesman. “Each of those readings was shared with the league office, the CFLPA and the two competing teams.
“This procedure is consistent with protocol for games where there has been a potential threat to air quality, as has been the case for a number of games this season. All readings taken during warm-ups and throughout the game were considered ‘moderate.’ As is the case with all matters, the CFL is happy to discuss all procedures and practices with our partners at the CFLPA.”
The union and league are scheduled to meet Thursday in Vancouver. The meeting was scheduled before Monday’s game but the issue of air quality has been moved to the top of the agenda.
“None of our guys want to shut things down, our guys want to play football,” said Ramsay. “The CFL wants to put our members in harm’s way, risking long-term consequences.
“This is coming from the same group that vehemently opposes workers’ compensation or any type of long-term rehabilitation for long-term injuries.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept, 6, 2023.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
