adplus-dvertising
Connect with us

Sports

CFLPA says it has secured financial assistance for members – TSN

Published

 on


There will be no pro football in Canada in 2020, but the CFL Players’ Association says it has tentatively secured its membership some financial help.

The union told players in an email Wednesday those under contract would be eligible for wage subsidy from July through December. The CFLPA added the benefits could go beyond that if the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) is extended.

A CFL source said league teams will make applications to the subsidy program on their players’ behalf. The union added it is hoping to finalize matters in the next day or so.

300x250x1

The CFLPA also says CFL players will have their medical coverage extended through to the start of training camp in 2021.

Those are significant developments for CFL players. The league cancelled the 2020 season Monday after being unable to secure a $30-million, interest-free loan from the federal government.

The union also said CFL players in the final year of their deals can be released immediately if they wish. But those that are won’t be entitled to “the ongoing medical coverage.”

Calgary linebacker Nate Holley, the CFL’s top rookie last season, has exercised that right and was released Wednesday to pursue NFL opportunities.

While the CFL did not secure a loan from Ottawa, it has been receiving government aid. Two sources familiar with the situation told The Canadian Press on Wednesday the league was to collect between $7 million and $9 million in wage subsidy from March to August. And if the program remains intact, that number could climb to as high as $12 million by year’s end.

One of the sources said if the CFL had staged a shortened ’20 season, it was expecting to generate as much as $45 million in revenues. But even with that, the league was destined to incur substantial financial losses in 2020, expected to be at least $50 million.

“The fact is the federal government eventually chose not to fund the proposal it requested from the CFL for a return to play in 2020,” the league said in a statement. “It is also a fact the CFL and its clubs have participated in the wage subsidy program along with thousands of other employers.”

The CFL is one of many businesses accessing the wage subsidy program. The government says the CEWS has provided $27.53 billion in subsidies to more than 290,000 employers.

“While we regret we could not find a way to stage a season in 2020 in the face of COVID-19 and the loss of our No. 1 source of revenue, fans in the stands, we value our relationship with the federal government and provincial governments across the country and we have now shifted our focus to 2021 and our long-term future,” the CFL said in a statement.

CEWS is aimed at helping employers protect jobs and rehire by covering 75 per cent of an employee’s wages (up to $847 weekly) for businesses hit hard by the pandemic.

The funds for the CFL are reportedly earmarked to pay coaches, football and business operations staff.

The sources were granted anonymity because neither the CFL nor the federal government have divulged details of the loan request or CEWS information.

The CFL had repeatedly stated that money from Ottawa was required to salvage a shortened ’20 season. The inability to reach an agreement with the federal government was bitterly disappointing for many league officials, including Winnipeg Blue Bombers president Wade Miller, who was upset with how long the entire process took.

“I’m not sure if you don’t help in a pandemic, when you’re going to help,” Miller told TSN 1290 radio in Winnipeg. “When you work with the government for over four months, you think you’re going to get somewhere by the end, twice they asked us to come back in different ways and the federal government support never materialized.

“Nobody plans for a pandemic, so I would suggest nobody is in great shape. We’ll most likely figure this out on our own and come up with CFL made solutions is my guess.”

The CFL sent Ottawa the $30-million request Aug. 3 after asking for $44 million in July. In April, the league had presented the federal government a three-tiered financial-assistance proposal that began with $30 million immediately, more in the event of a shortened season and up to $150 million for a cancelled campaign.

Sources have said the $30-million request fell through when the assistance couldn’t be provided to the league under the terms it sought. And last month, the CFL ruled out a loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada because it felt the interest rate was too high.

Ottawa has maintained its willingness to help the CFL through existing programs and not league-specific funding. It’s an approach the government has already taken with Canadian businesses requiring assistance as a result of the pandemic.

“There are over 97,000 restaurants, bars and cafes facing the same challenge as the CFL, having their revenues plummet due to this pandemic,” said Liberal MP Bob Bratina (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek), who spent 20 seasons broadcasting Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts games. “Our government’s response has come in the form of programs such as the wage subsidy, CEBA and others accessible to businesses across the country.”

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie has stated the league collectively lost upwards of $20 million in 2019.

Following the CFL’s decision to cancel its season, Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault said the league did benefit from some existing government programs but never provided specifics.

“Our government helped the CFL navigate through the existing COVID-19 emergency response programs that are helping tens of thousands of businesses across Canada with revenue and liquidity challenges during this time,” he said in a statement. “Although the league was able to benefit from some of these programs, its board members ultimately made the decision not to pursue the upcoming season.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2020.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Allen on trade to Devils from Habs: 'Sometimes you've got to be a little bit selfish' – Yahoo Canada Sports

Published

 on


Jake Allen loved being a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

The hockey-mad market, the crackling Bell Centre on a Saturday night, the Original Six franchise’s iconic logo.

The 33-year-old goaltender is also realistic.

300x250x1

With the Canadiens still in full rebuild mode — and two young netminders in Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau ready for more playing time — Allen could see the writing on the wall.

Desperate for help in their own crease, the New Jersey Devils asked Montreal about the veteran’s availability. But the team, general manager Tom Fitzgerald told reporters earlier this month, was initially on Allen’s no-trade list.

There wasn’t anything the Fredericton product disliked about the organization or city. The Devils simply appeared to have their crease set for years to come.

But when the club that finished with 112 points and made the second round of the playoffs in 2022-23 was badly hampered by poor play from Vitek Vanecek, Nico Daws and Akira Schmid — each netminder owned save percentages below .900 — the Devils circled back.

And Allen had changed his tune.

“Loved my time as a Hab,” he said of pulling on Montreal’s red, white and blue threads. “I always will cherish that. Put on probably the most special jersey in hockey, in my books. But you realize in your career, it doesn’t last forever.

“You’ve got to make decisions sometimes.”

Allen, who is signed through next season, eventually agreed to a deal that sent him to New Jersey ahead of the NHL’s March 8 trade deadline for a conditional third-round pick at the 2025 draft.

Apart from playing meaningful hockey on a team trying to claw its way back into the Eastern Conference playoff race, the swap gave him more runway to get his family settled in a new city instead of waiting to see what this summer’s crowded goalie market might bring.

“Sometimes you’ve got to be a little bit selfish,” said Allen, a Stanley Cup champion with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. “Look yourself in the mirror and wonder what’s best for you and your family.”

He’s been really good for his new team.

Allen was lights out in Tuesday’s first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs, making an eye-popping 25 saves in what would turn into New Jersey’s 6-3 victory.

So far he’s 4-2-0 with a .925 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average in six starts for the Devils, who sit five points back of the East’s second wild-card spot.

“A real pro,” said interim head coach Travis Green.

Allen is a combined 10-14-3 in 2023-24 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.39 GAA. Across his 11 seasons with St. Louis, Montreal and now New Jersey, he’s 193-164-41 with a .908 save percentage and 2.75 GAA.

“Makes the saves we need to get some momentum back,” Devils captain Nico Hischier said. “If you have a solid goalie in the net, that makes your work easier.”

Allen is also 11-12 with a .924 and a 2.06 GAA all-time in the playoffs — a good sign for his new club should New Jersey manage to make the cut.

For now, though, he’s just enjoying being back in a post-season race.

“I thought this was a good opportunity to come in the rest of this year, play some games,” Allen said.

“It’s been a good start.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2024.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on X.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Matthews game-time decision for Maple Leafs against Capitals with illness – NHL.com

Published

 on


TORONTOAuston Matthews will be a game-time decision for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, MNMT) because of an illness.

“It’s going to be on how he feels throughout the day,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said.

The forward did not participate in Toronto’s morning skate. Max Domi took his place as the center on a line between Tyler Bertuzzi and Mitch Marner, a right wing recovering from a high-ankle sprain sustained March 7 and will be out the next two games.

300x250x1

Matthews leads the NHL with 59 goals, one from becoming the ninth player in NHL history with at least two 60-goal seasons. He scored 60 in 73 games in 2021-22, when he won the Rocket Richard Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. He had one goal and nine shots in 23:44 of a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, which extended his point streak to five games (four goals, seven assists).

He missed one game this season with illness, a 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 16.

“Of course, it’s an adjustment when your best player is out of the lineup,” Domi said, “when anybody is out of the lineup, but I think we’ve done a great job all year of guys stepping up when they have to, and we just have to continue to do that.”

Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.

“He just remains day to day,” Keefe said. “We’re hopeful he’s going to bounce back here. The one thing that is good is once he gets through this day or two here, it’s not going to be a lingering situation. It’s not going to be an injury that’s ongoing. Once he’s past it, he’s past it so we just need to give him some time.”

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Canucks place goalie Thatcher Demko on long-term injured list

Published

 on

The Vancouver Canucks have placed all-star goalie Thatcher Demko on the long-term injured reserve list retroactively.

“It’s just cap related,” coach Rick Tocchet said after practice Wednesday. “We get some cap relief, that’s all it is.”

The 28-year-old netminder has been considered week to week since being sidelined with a lower-body injury midway through Vancouver’s 5-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on March 9.

That injury designation hasn’t changed, Tocchet said.

300x250x1

Demko boasts a 34-18-2 record this season, with a .917 save percentage, a 2.47 goals-against average and five shutouts.

Casey DeSmith has taken over the starting job for Vancouver, going 3-2-1 since Demko’s injury. He has a .899 save percentage on the season with a 2.73 goals-against average and one shutout.

The earliest Demko could be back in the Canucks’ lineup is April 6 against the Kings in Los Angeles.

He’s expected to be a key piece as Vancouver (45-19-8) prepares for its first playoff appearance since the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign.

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin also announced Wednesday that the club has called up forward Arshdeep Bains from the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League.

“I’d like to see where [Bains is] at,” Tocchet said, noting he isn’t sure whether the 23-year-old winger will slot into the lineup when the Canucks host the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

WATCH | Bains makes NHL debut

 

Surrey, B.C.’s Arshdeep Bains makes Canucks debut

1 month ago

Duration 2:20

Arshdeep Bains from Surrey, B.C., has made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. As CBC’s Joel Ballard reports, it’s been a hard-fought journey for the hometown kid to the big leagues.

Bains played five games for the NHL team in February before being sent back to Abbotsford.

“He went down, he’s done a couple of things that we like, and he’s got some speed,” Tocchet said.

Vancouver may get another forward back in the lineup Thursday.

Dakota Joshua practised in a full-contact jersey on Wednesday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury in Vancouver’s 4-2 win over the Blackhawks in Chicago on Feb. 13.

The physical winger, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has a career-high 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) this season.

Sitting out injured “hasn’t been fun,” Joshua said.

“It feels like forever,” he said. “But at this point, that’s behind me and I’m moving forward.”

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending