Chants of “Oskee Wee Wee” are echoing through Hamilton, the streets flooded with CFL jerseys from across the country and rival fans are taking part in some good-natured ribbing.
It’s Grey Cup Sunday and the energy surrounding the biggest game in Canadian football can be felt around much of the city.
“The excitement, the fans, the crowds. It’s just going to be an amazing game,” said Pam Broadley who’s been cheering for the home team, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, for two decades.
The Ticats take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 6 p.m. ET.
It’s a rematch of the last time the Grey Cup was awarded in 2019, in Calgary, after last season was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In that clash, the Bombers who came out on top. The defending champions are favoured to win again. But as Ken Burns, who also goes by the ‘Winnipeg Warrior,’ put it, “anything can happen in the CFL. That’s why you love it.”
Ken Burns, also known as the Winnipeg Warrior, mimes reaching for a Grey Cup banner outside Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
Standing outside Tim Hortons Field on Saturday, Burns said it felt good to be back. This year marks his 23rd Grey Cup.
“We wouldn’t miss it. It’s been two years. Even [with] COVID, we’re gonna come out.”
He did have one complaint, pointing out some of the parties that usually take place have been downsized or scrapped altogether.
Big game a ‘big hug’
The Box J Boys found a way to celebrate, hosting gatherings at the Corktown Pub that went late into the night.
Mario Citino has been a member of the group of Ticats superfans for 25 years and compared the game taking place in his hometown to Christmas coming two weeks early.
Mario Citino shows off his Box J Boys T-shirt. The Ticats fan compared the Grey Cup to a “big hug” where everyone is welcome. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
“Grey Cups are a big hug,” he said, adding everyone knows each other. “I want to win it and this city will go crazy. It’ll never been the same.”
It’s been 25 years since Hamilton last hosted the Grey Cup and nearly that long — 22 years — since the team last hoisted it. That’s the longest championship drought of any team.
‘Oskee Wee Wee all the way’
Fans in Hamilton said they believe it’s time for the wait to be over.
“It’s Oskee Wee Wee all the way,” said Broadley. “We got this, guys.”
CFL enthusiasts have been flocking into Hamilton all week and enjoying social events, award shows and just plain old camaraderie.
Ticats fans walk past banners at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton ahead of the 108th Grey Cup. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
Many hotels are near-capacity or fully booked up and everywhere you look there are team colours. “It’s pretty amazing really how the CFL has taken over the whole city,” said Trent Howard who was out sporting a Ticats windbreaker on Saturday.
For Howard the weekend included a celebrity sighting of sorts.
He ran into TSN’s James Duthie while on a Starbucks run and said the sportscaster even stopped for a photo.
Not all of the 30-year-old’s run-ins were quite so friendly, however. “There’s a lot of Roughriders fans around so I’ve been sending them the wrong way,” he joked.
Sue Henderson described herself as a “true blue” Bombers fan and travelled to Hamilton for her 20th Grey Cup game.
Sunday marks the 20th Grey Cup game for “true blue” Bombers fan Sue Henderson. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
She said she’s been having a great time and everyone has been very welcoming — at least for the most part.
“I just did get a honk and a thumbs down,” she said with a laugh. “But that’s OK. That’s normal. That’s Grey Cup weekend.”
Even those not planning to attend the game in-person have big plans. Kenneth LaForme said he’s juggling invites to three different watch parties.
“Whatever one’s got the best meal I’ll go,” he said with laugh.
Coming home for the championship
For Mike Ball, the Grey Cup is a homecoming.
The 41-year-old said he’s been a Ticats fan since 1986 and held onto his season tickets at Tim Hortons Field even after he moved to B.C. four years ago.
Mike Ball said he held onto his Ticats season tickets even after he moved out of Hamilton four years ago. He’s back to claim his seats for the Grey Cup. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
Nothing was going to keep him from those seats on Sunday.
“I said … I’m going to be coming home to watch the Hamilton Ticats win the Grey Cup and my dream will come true,” said Ball.
All that stands between that dream and reality is four quarters of football.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.”
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.
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.
