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Cancellation of U Sports football, Vanier Cup tough blow for future CFL players – TSN

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The focus of the sports world amid the COVID-19 pandemic has understandably been on the most prominent professional leagues, given the money and jobs at stake and the financial resources they can bring to try to ensure there are adequate safety precautions in place prior to restarting their seasons.

But the most devastating effects of the pandemic on sports will be on those leagues that aren’t able to draw on millions of dollars – the minor leagues or developmental tiers of sports where there are no rich television contracts to carry things forward and where the risk-reward equation is very different.

On Monday, U Sports, Canada’s governing body of university sports for 56 institutions, announced the cancellation of six fall championships, including the Vanier Cup, which has been handed out every November for university football supremacy since it began in 1965.

Each of the four conferences across Canada will determine which, if any, sports will go ahead with regular season play or conference championships, but the football decision is official for everywhere but Quebec, where playing games within the province’s six programs remains a consideration.

It’s a massive loss for what is the biggest football league in the country and the primary development platform for Canadian talent in the CFL.

In a sport that involves such large numbers of players, coming on and off campus, on the practice field and potentially in the classroom, it’s not hard to see why the risks outweighed the rewards.

But as much as this is a health-and-safety decision, it’s also a financial one, given that many campuses won’t have students returning to campus and thus won’t have the accompanying student fees which fund athletic programs.

There is also the issue of those who contribute privately to U Sports programs – their priorities may have shifted because of the crisis.

Schools also felt a need to give students clarity about what they would be happening this summer, with training camps for U Sports football having been scheduled for August. 

​The bigger concern beyond this season is that just as some businesses that have been forced to close during the pandemic may never return, could the same be true of some football programs? After all, athletic departments now under financial pressure may have to examine whether the biggest and most expensive programs are still viable.

There may be other football leagues that will play in Canada this summer and fall, with the Canadian Junior Football League a possibility for some U Sports players looking for an outlet. But the rest of the players are left with the question of what being a full year away from playing the sport means for them, especially those whose goal is to play professionally.

It’s worth noting that the impact on long-term player development may be less pronounced in football than some other sports, given the history of players excelling in the sport after starting late or being away from the game for periods of time. It’s also important to note that no football games doesn’t mean no football development for players. It’s unclear how much teams will be able to do when it comes to workouts and practices, but there could be circumstances where players may practice and coaches continue the teaching of the sport.

That becomes a tougher challenge on campuses that are going to be closed to returning students, but the guidance on physical training and film study will continue this season even without a schedule of games.

How will this impact the CFL overall?

The league has had loose discussions with U Sports officials about how the two may work together to assist players who were entering their final years of eligibility and hoping to enter next spring’s CFL Draft.

But the greater questions are for those players who were entering their final years of eligibility and now must decide whether returning for another semester in the fall of 2021 is worth it, if they’ve already earned their degrees. And what of those players who blossom in their final years of university eligibility, a common phenomenon in a sport brimming with late bloomers.

There are other questions that remain unanswered – such as what about players who were entering their fifth and final years of eligibility? And will this season count as a sitting-out a season when it comes to eligibility to transfer to another program?

And how will CFL teams go about trying to project the professional potential of those players who wish to enter the draft next spring, even they haven’t played football in nearly a year-and-a-half.

“The only way you can evaluate him is get as much film as possible and hope he started six-to-eight games last season and that there is going to be a combine where you can evaluate him,” said Edmonton Eskimos general manager Brock Sunderland. “If it’s a rotational guy who has one start of his career, it’s going to be difficult.”

This kind of dilemma goes well beyond just the transition from U Sports and the CFL. Players entering their final years of high school are facing the uncertainty of what no season would mean, especially those who’ve been focused on achieving athletic scholarships – either within Canada or in the NCAA.

Similar scenarios face athletes at the developmental levels of every sport, which includes this summer’s amateur baseball schedule, high school basketball this coming fall and winter and the Canadian Hockey League, the greatest supplier of talent to the NHL.

It’s been said for a while that mass spectator sport may be among the last things to return from the consequences of the pandemic.

But the path for players hoping to get to those higher levels of their sport is going to suffer far greater effects.

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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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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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