If Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski scores his sixth touchdown of the season against the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, he will have to come up with a different way of celebrating — or it will cost him.
Sports
Computer chip in CFL balls means Demski’s TD celebration is a no-go
Not on Thursday.
The teams will be using footballs with computer chips inserted, part of the CFL’s effort to broaden its statistical data.
The Bombers and Alouettes have been told they can’t keep any balls as souvenirs, and shouldn’t throw them to fans, either.
“So I just want to say I’m sorry to the fans right now,” Demski said. “Hopefully the fans can appreciate the reason why. That’s installed in my mind, when I score. Hopefully I can think twice before I do that.”
“It’s a big fine,” receiver Kenny Lawler said. “I’ll have to run up to him (Demski) and tell him. If you want to see a game cheque this week, don’t throw that ball.”
In the euphoria of the touchdown moment, it might be a hard habit to break.
“I was joking with Demski, I guarantee that at some point he’s just going to subconsciously score and toss that thing in the stands,” fellow receiver Dalton Schoen said. “So we’ll see what happens with that.”
Schoen is under the impression it’s not just a one-week thing.
“I’ve never thrown one in the stands, and I guess I’ll never get to,” he said. “I was going to try that at some point.”
Schoen has already held onto two from this season: his first touchdown and another one that meant a lot to him in Montreal.
“A double-move, in the rain, tough catch,” he said. “I like to keep a couple, just to give to people back home who’ve been supporting me, family and stuff like that.”
On the relatively rare occasion that Jefferson intercepts a pass or picks up a fumble and goes to the house (he has done it five times in his career), he brings the ball home.
“I give them to my wife and my daughters,” he said.
This week, at least, they’ll have to settle for a replacement ball from equipment manager Brad Fotty.
All this raises a question nobody seems able to answer.
NOT GREEN WITH ENVY
Ask Deatrick Nichols if opposing quarterbacks are throwing his way much, and he breaks into a grin.
“No, not at all,” the Bombers defensive back said. “It’s part of the game. You can’t let that distract you or feel like you’re having an off or bad game, or you think you should do more. But that’s why I like this team. It really doesn’t matter who gets the credit.”
The man playing right next to him is getting a ton of it these days.
Demerio Houston leads the CFL with seven interceptions, returning the last one for a touchdown.
Earlier this week, head coach Mike O’Shea gave some of the credit to Nichols, who in his third CFL season is getting the ultimate compliment: Teams staying away from him.
Nichols just calls his year “solid.”
“We’re 8-2,” he said. “I’m feeling great. I can’t ask for any more.”
Not even a little more action?
“Not at all. That’s my teammate. We work with each other, we grind, we sweat, tears and everything together. It’s just his time to shine.”
On Nichols’ other side, safety Brandon Alexander is expected to play, despite missing practice all week.
“He should be fine,” O’Shea said. “He’s just under the weather.”
SPECIAL APPRECIATION
Winnipeg’s punt-return game has been lacking since the injury to Janarion Grant.
O’Shea says it’s a combination of his team’s blocking and a trend to really good punt cover teams.
“We’re at a point in the CFL now where the punters are phenomenal, the placement, the distance, the hang,” O’Shea said. “Team are getting creative with how they cover, who they cover with. I don’t know that too many fans are specifically watching the punt game and punt cover teams … usually you’re probably off getting a beer at that point.
“It’s too bad. Because it’s a pretty neat time in the CFL right now for punt teams.”
You can take the man out of special teams, but you can’t take special teams out of the man.
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Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Sports
Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere
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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