The road to gold, to back-to-back gold, continues Monday for Canada, and a familiar foe will be across the ice — historically and in recent memory.
Just 364 days ago, Canada and Russia faced off for gold in the Czech Republic, with the Canadians mounting a ferocious three-goal comeback late in the third period to win 4-3 and capture the country’s 18th top prize. Now, the duo will meet in the semifinals of the 2021 edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton.
Six players return from Canada’s 2020 gold-medal winning squad (Quinton Byfield, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Jamie Drysdale, Connor McMichael and Dawson Mercer); Russia brings back three from its silver-medal team (Yaroslav Askarov, Vasily Podkolzin and Maxim Groshev). This year’s head coaches — Igor Larionov, aka “The Professor,” and Andre Tourigny — were at Ostravar Arena last year as assistants.
With a high number of returnees, will there also be emotional carryover?
“One hundred percent I think there will be carryover,” Drysdale said matter-of-factly. “We played each other in the finals last year, so, obviously, we want to maintain where we’re at and we obviously want to come out on top. But in saying that, obviously feel like they’re going to have something to prove because . . . It should be a really exciting, hard-fought game.”
Tourigny is just looking straight ahead.
“I think it’s enough there, we don’t have to add anything. The history between Canada and Russia, it’s well-documented and everybody knows how big of a game that will be and there’s nothing bigger than that at this point. . . . I think it will be a great game,” he said.
The history between these two countries does run deep at the World Juniors. In the last 28 years, since the Soviet Union dissolved, they’ve faced each other 27 times, with Canada holding a 14-12-1 edge. Its overall advantage is 20-19-2 when taking into account the Soviet Union years. These two teams also met in last year’s preliminary round, where the Russians handed the Canadiens their worst loss in tourney history.
“They’re going to be coming out for revenge this year and we’re going to be up for the task,” McMichael said Sunday. “It’s such a long rivalry between the two of the teams and we’re excited for it and we just can’t wait to get going [Monday].”
Both teams sport players who can bury the puck — Cozens leads the tournament with seven goals and is second to Trevor Zegras of the USA with 13 points. While the Canadians have spread out their scoring across all four lines — every skater has at least a point — the Russians rely heavily on their top six, which includes team points leader and Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov (six).
The teams also sport two highly skilled netminders. Canada’s Devon Levi, the best goalie in the tournament statistically, has allowed just three goals on 90 shots, with all three goals happening when his squad was short-handed. Askarov, who surprisingly did not start the gold-medal game last year, has stopped 101 of 110 shots.
The Canadians have noticed a difference between this year’s crop of Russian players and last year’s squad — as if the cerebral style of Larionov, a Hockey Hall of Famer and three-time Stanley Cup winner, has rubbed off on his young charges.
“I’ve noticed they’re more patient with the puck,” said Drysdale, who scored the lone goal in these teams’ exhibition — but not against Askarov. “A lot of regroups, not throwing the puck away, things like that. Not afraid to just take it out of our offensive zone to regroup in the neutral zone.”
“Day and night. It’s totally different style, different philosophy, different objective in their game,” Tourigny noted. “They like to possess the puck, they regroup a lot, they have a good stretch on their breakout. . . . They’re still really stingy defensively, they still defend really well. They are strong on pucks, they’re fast. They’re a good team.”
Alex Newhook’s status for the game is unknown. Listed as day to day by Tourigny on Sunday, the Newfoundland native missed the quarterfinals with an upper-body injury. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Monday that Newhook is a game-time decision. His addition to the lineup would be an offensive boost.
His buddies are ready to face their toughest challenge of the tournament, and with a spot in the ultimate game on the line.
“We all know what’s at stake [Monday], we’re all excited,” McMichael said. “You just got to keep control of your nerves. . . . I think if we do that and stick to our systems, we’ll be fine. You just don’t want to overthink about it too much.”
Sporting News has all the action as Canada and Russia go toe-to-toe for a spot in the gold-medal game.
Canada vs. Russia scores, highlights from 2021 World Juniors semifinals
(All times Eastern)
Third period
7:57 p.m. — Final frame. Just twenty minutes standing in Canada’s way of another chance at gold.
Second period: Canada 4, Russia 0
7:37 p.m. — Great stop by Askarov with the toe. Wow.
7:37 p.m. — Lots of action. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Dylan Cozens breaks in but gets a hook on the hand — and Askarov made a good stop — so he is awarded a penalty shot.
7:35 p.m. — Power play ends for Russia. They had five shots on net and one disallowed goal.
7:35 p.m. — Something happened to Podkolzin and he is shaken up at the bench.
7:32 p.m. — Play was offside. No goal. Time put back on the clock, so Russia now has 1:35 left on the power play. Canada leads 4-0.
7:30 p.m. — Hold on. Canada challenging an offside call that happened like a million years ago. Looks like the attacker may have had his skate off the ice and not have possession as he was crossing the line.
7:29 p.m. — PP GOAL. Shot from the point gets blocked but goes straight to Abramov, who buries it into the empty net. Canada leads 4-1.
7:28 p.m. — Devon Levi with two big saves, and then it looks as if it was Jakob Pelletier who knocked the puck away to prevent what would have been a sure goal.
7:27 p.m. — Canada is short-handed as McMichael gets called for tripping.
7:21 p.m. — Devon Levi making a few stops with the paddle on a scramble in front. He has faced 11 shots thus far and turned them all aside.
7:14 p.m. — HAHA. They just played the 2020 penalty song. Memories.
7:14 p.m. — Canada heads back to the power play. Canada 1 for 2 already in the game.
7:11 p.m. — Ryan Suzuki rips it off the pipe.
7:05 p.m. — GOAL. Askarov again loses his stick — what, is that the third time tonight? — and Braden Schneider gets the puck at the point. The Rangers prospect rips it home. Canada is in control of this one. Canada leads 4-0.
7 p.m. — Second period is a go. Dylan Cozens notched assists on the last two goals and is now tied with American Trevor Zegras for the tournament lead with 15 points. He’s also now tied with Jason Allison for fifth all time for Canada at the WJC.
First period: Canada 3, Russia 0
6:45 p.m. — Solid first period from the Canadians.
6:34 p.m. — PP GOAL. Just seconds into the second two, Cole Perfetti, the Jets prospect, gets the puck just below the blue line, skates into the circle and rips it past Askarov’s glove. Canada leads 3-0.
6:33 p.m. — First two minutes over and nada.
6:30 p.m. — Podkolzin called for a four-minute high-sticking penalty as Bowen Byram gets some fixing on the bench. Canada’s power play has been meh, however; the team hasn’t scored one on the man advantage in the last two games (0 for 6). Russia, by the way, is 16 for 17 in the tournament on the penalty kill.
6:28 p.m. — Thirteen minutes and change into the period and Canada is outshooting Russia 11-4
6:25 p.m. — GOAL. Canada pads its lead. Jakob Pelletier, playing on that top line, feeds Connor McMichael, who knocks the puck into the empty net. They had a good chance earlier in the shift and then connected while Askarov was playing with a teammate’s stick as his goalie stick was lost along the way. Canada leads 2-0.
Connor McMichael Sunday (asked if his ENG vs. Czechs changes his luck): “I hope so. I’m not too worried. I’m getting chances, that’s the main thing they’ll eventually start going in. Hopefully, that starts … tomorrow.”
6:24 p.m. — Great defensive play by Kaiden Guhle in his own end as he steps up and breaks up the Russian rush in the circle after a drop pass.
6:21 p.m. — Another stop by Levi off the rush on a shot by Yegor Chinakhov (Blue Jackets).
6:20 p.m. — Russia’s top line gets some pressure and Levi has to make a good stop. Podkolzin (Canucks) smacks one off the outside, too.
6:13 p.m. — Dylan Holloway’s backhander has Askarov looking behind him. The Predators prospect is looking a little shaky off the top.
6:11 p.m. — GOAL! Hold on. That Newhook shot that went off the pipe — it dinged the back pipe in the net! Just 59 seconds in, he gives the Canadians the lead. Canada leads 1-0.
6:10 p.m. — Hmmm. Interesting. Horn in the building sounds while play is going on.
6:10 p.m. — Welcome back, Alex Newhook. He rings one off the post during a strong shift where he was a force on the forecheck.
6:09 p.m. — Puck has been dropped. Slightly disappointed in the referee — “Nothing to say about this one.” Sigh. A little bit more oomph would have been nice.
Pregame
5:55 p.m. — Newhook took line rushes.
5:14 p.m. — Lines are here.
2:18 p.m. — Alexis Lafreniere is keeping an eye on things, too.
Asked Alexis Lafreniere about Canada at #worldjuniors:
“I’ve watched every game. … They’re a really good team, really a lot of talent in there and I’m still talking to a couple guys, for sure. I hope that they win today and win gold.”
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Baltimore Ravens overcome an early double-digit deficit and extend their National Football League winning streak to five games with a 41-31 victory Monday night over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost their top two receivers to injuries.
The two-time NFL MVP improved to 23-1 against NFC teams, the best mark by a quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history. He’s 3-0 against the Bucs (4-3), who faded after taking a 10-0 lead with help from the 100th TD reception of Mike Evans’ career.
Evans departed with a hamstring injury after Baker Mayfield tried to connect with him in the end zone again, and late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, leading Bucs receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field with a left ankle injury. ESPN declined to show replays of Godwin’s injury, which appeared to be severe.
Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes without an interception, including TD throws of nine and four yards to Mark Andrews. He also tossed scoring passes of 49 yards to Rashod Bateman, 18 yards to Justice Hill and 11 yards to Derrick Henry, who rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries. Bateman had four catches for 121 yards.
The Ravens (5-2) rebounded from a slow start on defence, with cornerback Marlon Humphrey turning the game around with a pair of second-quarter interceptions — one of them in the Baltimore end zone. Jackson led a four-play, 80-yard TD drive after the first pick, and the second interception set up Justin Tucker’s 28-yard field goal for a 17-10 halftime lead.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
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CARDINALS 17 CHARGERS 15
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray ran for a 44-yard touchdown and led the Cardinals on a drive that set up Chad Ryland’s 32-yard field goal as time expired, and Arizona rallied for a win over Los Angeles.
Cameron Dicker kicked his fifth field goal of the night — this one from 40 yards — to give the Chargers a 15-14 lead with 1:54 left. But the Cardinals (3-4) quickly moved into field goal range, aided by an unnecessary roughness call on Cam Hart that cost Los Angeles (3-3) 15 yards.
Arizona followed that with a bruising 33-yard run by James Conner, who finished with 101 yards on the ground. That eventually set up Ryland’s short field goal and a Cardinals celebration.
It was a frustrating night for the Chargers’ offence, which gained 395 yards but couldn’t find the end zone. Justin Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards.
Dicker booted field goals of 59, 50, 28, 47 and 40 yards, the first of which tied a franchise record for distance.
Murray ran for a spectacular touchdown early in the fourth quarter, rolling to his left before turning on the jets, beating safety Junior Colston to the sideline and then coasting into the end zone for a 14-9 lead.
It was Murray’s second long touchdown run in three weeks after he scored on a 50-yard sprint against San Francisco. It was also Murray’s 20th career game with a touchdown pass and run.
Murray completed 14 of 26 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have been here before — literally and figuratively.
With the season hanging in the balance, the ‘Caps were dealt a blow last week when the club learned it wouldn’t be able to play a post-season wild-card game in its home stadium, B.C. Place, due to a scheduling conflict.
The Whitecaps ceded home field advantage to their regional rival, the Portland Timbers. The two clubs will battle for the final playoff spot in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference in Oregon on Wednesday.
The winner will face No. 1-seed Los Angeles FC in a best-of-three first-round series, starting Sunday.
An unforeseen hurdle like a change of venues is nothing new for the ‘Caps, said defender Ranko Veselinovic, who was part of the team that was forced to relocate first to Portland, then Utah during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels that always something happens for us, but it is what it is. So far, we’ve managed to always find solutions for those situations,” said the Serbian centre back. “But I hope this team can find it one more time, because we need it this time. And it will be a really nice feeling in those circumstances to go in, win and go face L.A. in the next round.”
Vancouver (13-13-8) heads into the post-season winless in its last seven MLS games and with losses in four straight after dropping a 2-1 road decision to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
The skid followed a run that saw the club go 4-1-3 across all competitions between late August and late September.
There’s just one way to return to that level, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
“The work is the only way to do it. Try to put the work in and try to put the team in a way that they’re going to regain the form and the way that they were in the past,” he said.
Despite the final score, Sartini has seen positives in the way his team played in its two most recent losses.
“I think already we turned the corner,” he said. “And we start from there to build and build and build.”
Facing challenges together can help a team build, whether it’s a winless skid or an unexpected hurdle, said Vancouver’s captain Ryan Gauld.
“When you’re going through adversity, that’s when people start to raise their voice a little bit. You get good when the problems arise, you get a lot of people coming together to make sure we get out of it,” said the Scottish attacking midfielder.
“And we’ve had a tough time the last few games, but everyone’s aware of the fact that we’re a much better team than we’ve shown, and we need to find a way to get back to doing what we’re good at.”
The ‘Caps face a familiar foe in the Timbers (12-11-11).
The two sides have already met three times this season, with each coming out of the series with a win, a loss and a draw.
Portland has also struggled in recent weeks and are winless in their last five MLS outings (0-1-4).
The Timbers boast one of the league’s top offensive units, though, with threats such as Evander. The Brazilian midfielder notched 15 goals and 19 assists during the regular season.
To earn a win on Wednesday, the Whitecaps must be solid defensively, Gauld said.
“They must be one of the best attacks in the league. They have a lot of good players, and they can hurt you if you switch off,” he said. “So just being concentrated from the first whistle, and just being hard to beat, being stuffy. Just being on it for the full 90 minutes.”
A victory in the wild-card match would guarantee Vancouver at least one home playoff game, a factor that Sartini said would be a big reward for his group.
The entire team relished the experience of playing post-season soccer in front of more than 30,000 fans last year, the coach said, and the desire to repeat the feat is high as the club heads to Portland.
“Everyone is happy to be in the playoffs. So we don’t have to be moody to be in the playoff. And we go in there, we’re play one of our rivals. So it’s gonna be a nice game to show up and to play our best game possible.”
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-13-8) AT PORTLAND TIMBERS (12-11-11)
Wednesday, Providence Park
HISTORY BOOKS: This will mark the seventh all-time post-season meeting between the Timbers and ‘Caps, dating back to 1975. The last time the two clubs squared off in a playoff game was during the Western Conference semifinal in 2015. Portland won the two-game aggregate series and went on to hoist the MLS Cup.
ROAD WARRIORS: The ‘Caps boasted a 7-6-4 record on the road during regular-season play — better than the 6-7-4 showing they posted at B.C. Place.
POST-SEASON PARTY: Wednesday will mark the first time the Timbers have hosted a post-season game since 2021.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scotland conceived rugby sevens in the 1880s yet it will not feature in the scaled-back 2026 Commonwealth Games hosted by Glasgow.
Other sports that have also been dropped include field hockey, triathlon, badminton, Twenty20 cricket, squash, and diving.
The Games will have a 10-sport program in four venues. Athletics and swimming are compulsory while there will also be track cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and 3×3 basketball.
There will also be integrated para events in six of those sports: Athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, bowls and basketball.
The Games will take place from July 23-Aug. 2 after Glasgow stepped in when the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year because of rising costs.
It was not easy to decide which sports to include, Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Ian Reid told the BBC on Tuesday.
“I think everybody recognises that these events need to be more affordable, lighter and we would have loved to have all of our sports and all of our athletes competing but unfortunately it’s just not deliverable or affordable for this time frame,” Reid said.
Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotels. Around 3,000 athletes are expected to compete from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories representing a combined total of 2.5 billion people, a third of the world’s entire population.
More than 500,000 tickets made available for spectators.
The Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Katie Sadleir said: “The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow, an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact. In doing so, increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting.”
Glasgow hosted the event in 2014 at a cost of more than 540 million pounds.
