CALGARY —
There’s been no love lost between the Flames and Oilers on the ice of late but a peace offering, of sorts, from Flames fans will soon appear in the provincial capital.
During Saturday night’s Battle of Alberta at the Saddledome, Oilers forward Zack Kassian took exception with the actions of Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk and expressed his disappointment with his fists.
Elsaghir created the fundraiser for a laugh and was caught by surprise when the money started pouring in.
The hosts of CJAY 92’s CJAY Mornings with Jesse & JD learned of Elsaghir’s idea and arranged to have Bell Media — the company which owns the radio station, as well as several billboards in Edmonton and CTV News – bring the Tkachuk billboards to fruition.
On Friday morning, CJAY’s Jesse Modz and JD Lewis revealed the “Matthew Tkachuk Friendship Tour” billboard design depicting a mugging Tkachuk in front of a drawing of a heart.
The billboards will begin to pop up in Edmonton in the coming days.
With the billboards secured, a decision was made to donate the funds from the GoFundMe campaign to the Snowy Strong for ALS charity.
As of Friday morning, more than $10,000 had been raised, and local philanthropist W. Brett Wilson has announced he will pledge an additional $10,000 to the cause.
Oilers fans responded to the original billboard idea by starting their own fundraiser benefiting Brown Bagging It, a charity that provides lunches to children in need. As of Thursday night, more than $37,000 had been raised through the initiative including a $10,000 donation from Wilson and a $2,500 donation from ATB.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.
Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.
In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
BRUSSELS – Canadian shot putter Sarah Mitton rebounded from a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics by capturing Diamond League gold on Friday.
Mitton, of Brooklyn, N.S., won the competition, the final Diamond League event of the season, with a heave of 20.25 metres on her third throw.
Chase Jackson of the U.S. placed second with a throw of 19.90, while German’s Yemisi Ogunleye, the Olympic gold medallist, claimed bronze with a toss of 19.72.
Mitton, the runner-up of last year’s world championship, failed to qualify for the top eight in Paris.
Edmonton runner Marco Arop, who won silver for Canada in the men’s 800 metres at the Paris Games, was scheduled to race in the 800 on Saturday.
Olympic bronze-medallist Alysha Newman, of London, Ont., also competes Saturday in the women’s pole vault.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers signed defenceman Travis Dermott to a professional tryout on Friday.
Dermott, a 27-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., produced two goals, five assists and 26 penalty minutes in 50 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season.
The six-foot, 202-pound blueliner has also played for the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto drafted him in the second round, 34th overall, of the 2015 NHL draft.
Over seven NHL seasons, Dermott has 16 goals and 46 assists in 329 games while averaging 16:03 in ice time.
Before the NHL, Dermott played two seasons with Oilers captain Connor McDavid for the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters. The team was coached by current Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
