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Global deaths from COVID-19 have surpassed 203,000 and reported cases worldwide are approaching three million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
Confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Canada rose Saturday to 45,354, and the number of deaths hit 2,555 deaths, not including two deaths abroad, according to a CBC News tally.
Despite the ongoing coronavirus carnage, provinces such as New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are moving ahead with plans to cautiously begin reopening their locked-down economies.
Ontario and Quebec are both expected to unveil their initial plans this week.
However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who talked to the premiers on Friday about their recovery strategies, stressed Saturday that none of them hinge on people being immune to catching COVID-19 more than once.
He said it is too soon to talk about so called “immunity passports” for Canadians who’ve been infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, because the science is still unclear about whether those who have recovered from the illness are protected from catching the virus again.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said the federal government has set up an immunity task force that will investigate how people’s immune systems are responding to COVID-19.
“The idea of … generating natural immunity is actually not something that should be undertaken,” Tam said Saturday, urging people to be “extremely cautious” about the concept.
WATCH | Tam says it’s ‘premature’ to consider immunity passports:
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said that without a clear understanding of immunity tests for COVID-19, it’s too early to think about issuing passes for those who might be protected. 0:53
Trudeau said the focus remains on preventing the spread of the virus through physical distancing and personal protective equipment.
He is not scheduled to speak today.
In Toronto Saturday, dozens of protesters rallied on the grounds of the Ontario legislature, defying physical distancing rules and demanding an immediate end to the COVID-19 lockdown — some even calling the pandemic a hoax.
Ontario protesters are selfish ‘yahoos,’ Ford says
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was quick with a strong rebuke, calling the demonstrators a “reckless” and “selfish” bunch of “yahoos,” who were breaking the law and putting others, including health-care workers, in jeopardy.
Ford said Friday that his government will offer some details early next week about its reopening plans.
A protester demands the removal of the provincial COVID-19 restrictions outside the Ontario legislature in Toronto on Saturday. (Chris Helgren/Reuters)
Meanwhile, Health Canada cautioned on Saturday against the use of malaria drugs, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, to prevent or treat COVID-19.
The Canadian health department said the two drugs may cause serious side effects, including serious heart rhythm problems. It advised use of the two drugs only if prescribed by a doctor.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also cautioned against the use of malaria drugs in COVID-19 patients on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly promoted hydroxychloroquine as a potential “game changer” in the fight against the virus.
At his regular news conference at Rideau Cottage on Saturday, Trudeau said any plans to reopen the economy will be based on science, data and expert advice.
Trudeau said Canada shouldn’t be reopening any sector without a plan to protect workers, which hinges on adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). He says planeloads of PPE are expected in the coming weeks, and domestic production will be on line soon.
WATCH | Trudeau details joint guidelines to reopen economy:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed how Canada’s provinces are working on a jointly-drafted set of guidelines to establish principles for reopening the country’s economy. 0:42
In addition to multiphase plans unveiled by New Brunswick and Saskatchewan this week, the federal government has circulated a set of draft guidelines that could form the basis of the joint document. The federal guidelines were prepared largely by the Public Health Agency of Canada and include feedback from provincial medical officers.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has called for a national plan, expressing concern about a “possible patchwork approach across the country.”
$62.5M for fish and seafood sector
Also Saturday, Trudeau announced $62.5 million to support fish and seafood processors.
The prime minister said the money will help processors buy PPEs, adapt to new health protocols and support physical distancing.
WATCH | Trudeau says new funds will help industry adapt to COVID-19 challenges:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that new funds for Canada’s fish and seafood processors will help them adapt to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 0:58
Read on for a look at what’s happening in Canada, the United States and around the world.
Here’s a look at what’s happening in the provinces and territories
British Columbia reported two new deaths on Saturday, including the province’s first death related to COVID-19 in a First Nations community. B.C. also reported 95 new cases. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said part of the reason for the dramatic spike in cases is additional testing related to outbreaks at a federal prison and a poultry processing plant. Read more about what’s happening in B.C.
In Alberta, Premier Jason Kenney warned the government cannot save every business, with the province likely to hit a deficit of around $20 billion. The province reported 216 new cases on Saturday, for a total of 4,233. The death toll increased by one to 73. Read more about what’s happening in Alberta.
Saskatchewan is reporting that seven of its eight new COVID-19 cases are in the province’s far north. In total, there were 349 cases in Saskatchewan on Saturday, and four people have died. Read more about what’s happening in Saskatchewan.
WATCH | See how Saskatchewan plans to handle a phased reopening:
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe unveiled the province’s plan to start easing COVID-19 restrictions starting in May. 2:03
Manitoba is set to ramp up surgeriesafter a month of postponements due to COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 cases continues to be low enough that health officials say they can pivot some of the system’s resources back toward surgeries. The province reported four new cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 267. Read more about what’s happening in Manitoba.
Ontario’s premier says front-line workers, including people working at shelters and long-term care homes, will receive a raise of $4 per hour for the next four months as they help in the fight against COVID-19. Ford says eligible workers will also receive an extra payment of $250 per month if they work more than 100 hours in a month. The provincial government says 350,000 workers will be eligible for the pay premium. Read more about what’s happening in Ontario.
Demonstrators gather during a protest to end the shutdown due to COVID-19 at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Saturday. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press)
Quebec Public Health Director Dr. Horacio Arruda has changed his guidance on masks, now recommending people wear them if they anticipate being in a situation where distancing isn’t possible. He said people should closely follow guidelines the government released yesterday for masks, including washing hands before putting one on and removing them. Arruda said people could make their own masks, as long as they are clean and have at least two layers of fabric. Read more about what’s happening in Quebec.
A paramedic opens the doors of an ambulance outside Notre-Dame-des-Anges seniors residence in Montreal on Saturday. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
New Brunswick has gone a week without any new cases of COVID-19. Only four people remain hospitalized, with none in intensive care. The province has already begun relaxing its lockdown, with outings allowed at golf courses, parks and beaches, as long as physical distancing remains in place.Read more about what’s happening in N.B.
The driving range at Carman Creek Golf Course in Fredericton was busy on Saturday. (Gary Moore/CBC)
Nova Scotia is reporting six more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 22. Five deaths occurred at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax Regional Municipality, while a man in his 80s with underlying medical conditions died in the Western Zone of the province. He was not a resident of a long-term care home. The province is reporting 15 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 865 confirmed cases. Read more about what’s happening in N.S.
Prince Edward Island is working on a plan to begin easing COVID-19 restrictions in May, but gatherings with people outside of one’s household still are not permitted for now, said Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.’s chief public health officer. More details on P.E.I.’s plan to ease restrictions are expected in the coming week, said Premier Dennis King. P.E.I. has not reported a new case of COVID-19 since April 15. Read more about what’s happening on P.E.I.
Newfoundland and Labrador announced one new case on Saturday, after going a full week without any new COVID-19 cases. Five people are in hospital, including two people in intensive care. Read more about what’s happening in N.L.
The Northwest Territories government is putting $5.1 million toward child-care support for health-care workers, front-line staff and essential workers responding to COVID-19. Read more about what’s happening across the North.
Here’s a look at what’s happening in the U.S.
Hawaii extended its stay-at-home order until the end of May, and California police closed a park because it got too crowded as U.S. states took divergent paths on when to reopen their economies and communities.
Even as aides develop plans to shift President Trump’s public emphasis from the virus to addressing the economic crisis it has caused, Dr. Anthony Fauci at the U.S. National Institutes of Health warned against moving too quickly.
“You hear a lot about the need and the desire to get back to normal. That’s understandable,” he said. “If we don’t get control of it, we will never get back to normal. I know we will, but we’ve got to do it correctly.”
Hawaii Gov. David Ige extended both the stay-at-home order and a mandatory quarantine for visitors through May 31. He warned of undoing progress if public places open up too early.
“This was not an easy decision. I know this has been difficult for everyone. Businesses need to reopen. People want to end this self-isolation, and we want to return to normal,” he said in a statement.
A spring heat wave drove an uptick of people to California beaches, golf courses and trails. Police in Pacific Grove, about 135 kilometres south of San Francisco, said they had to close the picturesque Lovers Point Park and Beach because of a lack of physical distancing.
Officers on horseback patrolled closed Los Angeles beaches, trails and playgrounds to enforce distancing rules.
Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska cleared the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to keep stricter rules.
Russ Anderson, who owns four tattoo studios in south Georgia, said he “couldn’t get up out of my chair quick enough” when restrictions were lifted. His main shop served 50 or 60 customers Friday when it reopened, with customers and tattoo artists wearing masks, he said.
But Shawn Gingrich, CEO and founder of Lion’s Den Fitness, decided his Atlanta gym would remain closed for now.
“We’ve sacrificed so much already,” he said. “I feel like if we do this too soon, we’ll see a spike in cases, and we’re back to square one.”
People enjoy the beach amid the coronavirus pandemic in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Saturday. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
In Texas, Allison Scott said most customers of her women’s clothing store in a Dallas shopping mall seem to feel more comfortable having their purchases shipped.
“I want to be open more than anything, but I don’t think that society is ready to come out either,” she said.
According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, reported cases in the U.S. will soon surpass 940,000 and the death toll will hit 54,000.
A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Americans overwhelmingly support stay-at-home measures and other efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Here’s a look at what’s happening around the world
Australia‘s government launched a controversial coronavirus tracing app on Sunday and promised to legislate privacy protections around it as authorities try to get the country and the economy back onto more normal footing.
The app, which is based on Singapore’s TraceTogether software, uses Bluetooth signals to log when people have been close to one another. It has been criticized by civil liberties groups as an invasion of privacy.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will return to work Monday, two weeks after he was discharged from a London hospital where he was treated for COVID-19.
Johnson, 55, spent a week at St Thomas’ Hospital, including three nights in intensive care, where he was given oxygen and watched around the clock by medical staff.
After he was released April 12, he recorded a video message thanking staff at the hospital for saving his life.
Johnson has not been seen in public since then, as he recovered at the prime minister’s country retreat outside London.
A man walks past graffiti in London on Saturday. (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic began, now has no remaining cases in its hospitals, a health official told reporters on Sunday.
The novel coronavirus is believed to have originated in a wet market in Wuhan and first emerged in late December before spreading quickly worldwide.
The city had reported 46,452 cases, 56 per cent of the national total. It saw 3,869 fatalities, or 84 per cent of China’s total.
The focus in China has since shifted to the northeast border province of Heilongjiang, which has seen large numbers of imported COVID-19 cases entering from Russia.
A resident talks with other people outside a makeshift barricade, which was built to control entry and exit to a residential compound on Saturday in Wuhan, China. (Getty Images)
Spain has reported its lowest daily death count for coronavirus infections in five weeks as its strict lockdown restrictions begin to pay dividends.
Spanish health authorities said Sunday that 288 people died from COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours, taking the total to 23,190 since the start of the outbreak. It is the first time the daily death toll has fallen below 300 fatalities since March 20.
Shrieks of joy rang out in the country’s streets Sunday as children were allowed to leave their homes for the first time in six weeks.
A woman and three children pose for a photo in Valencia, Spain, on Sunday. (Jose Jordan/AFP via Getty Images)
Animals at two mink farms in the Netherlands have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture said Sunday that some staff at the two farms had earlier displayed symptoms of the disease “so it is assumed that these are human-to-animal infections.”
As a precaution, authorities are closing roads within 400 metres of the affected farms in North Brabant, which is the Dutch region the hardest hit by the coronavirus.
The minks are not the first animals infected with the virus. The findings come after positive tests in two pet cats in New York state and in some tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo, adding to a small number of confirmed cases of the virus in animals worldwide.
With an ownership stake in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, Quebec’s Allrem Sports & Entertainment has a vested interest in seeing the promotion flourish in Canada.
BKFC has held two cards to date in Canada, both at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alta. — an Indigenous-owned venue on Treaty 6 territory. But it has to convince provincial regulatory bodies elsewhere to sanction the sport.
And that’s where Allrem comes in.
Allrem president Erik de Pokomandy is targeting first Quebec and then Ontario, saying there have already been discussions with Quebec’s Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, the provincial regulatory board overseeing combat sports.
“Typically the UFC paved the way for amending regulations,” de Pokomandy said in an interview. “Since BKFC is more relatable to boxing, we think it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time.”
The UFC followed a similar path with Marc Ratner, a former executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission who is now the UFC’s senior vice-president of regulatory affairs, leading the fight for mixed martial arts to secure official sanctioning from local commissions.
“Our goal is to work with all the provinces, to make sure that we comply with the regulations. We know it’s a journey. We’re aware of that,” said de Pokomandy. “They’re doing their job.”
“We believe we have a good case,” he added, saying he expects progress in eight months to a year.
Allrem is working with a consultant who previously helped the UFC open up Canadian jurisdictions to MMA.
Clearly there is work to do, as shown by this statement from the Office of the Athletics Commissioner, which oversees pro combat sports in Ontario, when asked about the status of bare-knuckle fighting.
“There are only three professional combative sports regulated under the Athletics Control Act by the Office of the Athletics Commissioner — boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts,” said the statement, provided to The Canadian Press. “Currently, bare-knuckle boxing is illegal in Ontario.”
BKFC has held shows in 17 states, including California and New York, as well as Canada, England, Mexico, Bulgaria and Thailand.
And BKFC is on the move, having staged 23 shows already this year. Next up is an Oct. 12 card in Marbella Spain, with BKFC 67 to follow Oct. 25 in Denver.
BKFC bouts are contested in a ring with five two-minute rounds. Fighters are permitted to wrap and tape the wrist, thumb and mid-hand, but no gauze or tape can be within 2.5 centimetres of the knuckles. Punches are the only strike allowed.
Without the benefit of gloves, cuts are common. And they can lead to doctor-mandated stoppages, which prevent the losing fighter from taking more damage.
Both Canadian cards to date, in March and August, were so-called “Prospect” shows featuring new talent, although the March event featured Quebec’s Jade Masson-Wong, the No. 1 contender in the flyweight division who lost a decision to champion Christine (Misfit) Ferea earlier this month at BKFC 65 in Salt Lake City.
In August, Edmonton welterweight Drew (Wild Boy) Stuve defeated Sonny (The Savage) Smith, a former member of the United Kingdom Special Forces,by second-round TKO in the main event.
“There’s a lot of BKFC fans in Canada and they want to see it live,” said de Pokomandy.
Based in the Montreal area, Allrem is also involved in the NASCAR Canada Series, Nissan Sentra Cup, zMax CARS Tour, and has an investment in Les Pétroliers de Laval of the North American Hockey League (LNAH), a semi-pro circuit known for its pugilistic nature.
“The fan is the same,” said de Pokomandy. “The demographic of the fan is the same in NASCAR Canada, is the same in BKFC — and is the same in NASCAR U.S. — as well and is the same as the North American Hockey League.”
“We call it our eco-system of sports properties,” he added.
Evirum, a sister company involved in waste management and recycling, is a presenting partners, along with Pinty’s, of the NASCAR Canada Series.
Allrem has already began cross-promotion with the BKFC logo on the hood of its NASCAR Canada entry, which he says has proved to be popular with fans.
“Funnily enough, they want to take a picture not with the car or the driver, they want to take a picture with the hood,” said de Pokomandy.
Triller, a social media company that expanded into fight promotion, acquired a “majority stake” in BKFC in early 2022. McGregor Sports and Entertainment, run by former UFC champion Conor McGregor, subsequently became a part-owner.
In a February interview, BKFC founder and president David Feldman said viewership numbers in Canada have been “really good,” with BKFC looking to strike a deal for a bigger platform (a three-year worldwide broadcast deal was announced with the DAZN streaming service last week, slated to kick off with next month’s show in Spain).
“Canada’s a great market,” he said. “I think that bare-knuckle fighting can really resonate with Canadians, really probably more than anyone — I said this from when I started it — because of the hockey, because of the hockey culture. Throwing off the gloves and getting into good old-fashioned bare-knuckle fights.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2024
MONTREAL – Martin St. Louis knows Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach can be difference-makers on the Montreal Canadiens’ second line.
The Canadiens head coach says his job now is to preach patience as the two towering forwards return to the ice from lengthy absences.
“It’s been a while since they’ve played, and it’s not easy to play in the NHL. When you’ve lost time, it’s hard to come back,” St. Louis said Friday, the third day of training camp at CN Sports Complex. “They’re players who have high expectations of themselves, so I’ve got to manage that day-to-day and remind them to relax, be patient.
“We all know what they can do – with time, repetition, you’ll see their game improve.”
The six-foot-five Laine, acquired a month ago from the Columbus Blue Jackets, hasn’t played since breaking his clavicle on Dec. 14. The former 40-goal scorer entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 28 for mental health reasons and was cleared to return on July 26.
After a strong training camp last year, the six-foot-four Dach’s season was over only four periods into the season when the 23-year-old from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee after a hit from Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Jarred Tinordi.
Laine and Dach have formed a second line with Alex Newhook and could have the responsibility of backing up Montreal’s well-oiled top trio of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky to start the 2024-25 campaign.
St. Louis highlighted Laine’s blistering shot, Dach’s ability to carry the puck – not to mention their size – and Newhook’s speed as reasons he sees the line meshing.
“I feel like they have great elements to complement each other,” St. Louis said.
Laine scored a career-high 44 goals in 2017-18, his second season, but has only reached the 30-goal plateau once since. The Finnish winger expressed during the off-season that he wants to return to a “40, 50” goal scorer this season.
And Dach and Newhook say they’re excited to line up next to a pure scorer who once buried 18 goals in 12 games in November 2018.
“Patty’s a world-class shooter, and he’s got a lot of high-end skill and can make plays,” Dach said. “Newy’s speed and my speed will open up a lot of lanes for Patty to get open and be able to shoot pucks.”
The newly formed line showed some rust from the first shift on Friday as Team White lost 6-3 to Team Red in a scrimmage.
Off the opening faceoff, Laine turned the puck over on a rush, leading to a goal by Joel Armia for Team Red. The line had the puck a lot but struggled to create dangerous chances, other than a Laine breakaway that was fended off by goalie prospect Hunter Jones.
“Now (the key) is to get in more reps, as they’ve missed a lot of time,” St. Louis said. “Just to jump right back in it at this level, I think I’ve got to be patient a little bit.”
Suzuki led the Canadiens with 77 points last season, ahead of Caufield (65), defenceman Mike Matheson (62) and Slafkovsky (50). Newhook had 34 points in 55 games, and the next-best player was Brendan Gallagher with 31 in 77.
The Canadiens are hoping the addition of Laine and the return of Dach go a long way in boosting their secondary scoring for a team that ranked 26th in goals last season.
HIGH PRAISE FOR ROY
Joshua Roy is a rookie, but St. Louis said his game is full of maturity.
The 21-year-old forward produced four goals and five assists in 23 games last season and is lined up on the projected third line with Josh Anderson and Christian Dvorak at camp.
“He’s always ready for what’s next, he’s a very intelligent player, but not just with the puck. Without the puck he’s very smart,” St. Louis said. “He doesn’t kill the play, he’s playing the game. If it’s time to chip a puck up to speed, he’ll do that. He’s got poise to buy a little time and hit the guy who was going to be free. He lets the play evolve.
“When I saw him last year, I felt, ‘you know what, he’s a hockey player.’”
MARTY’S WAY
Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella is famous for physically intense training camps, with players skating around the ice in gruelling drills. St. Louis, who won a Stanley Cup while playing for Tortorella on the Tampa Bay Lighting in 2004, has a different approach than his former head coach.
“I try not to just ‘work hard’. You can work hard, but I think we’ve evolved,” St. Louis said. “I know Torts’s camps were every difficult physically, but I think in the last 10-15 years, guys are showing up to camp in great shape. It’s not how it was.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2024.
OTTAWA – Playoff hopes are on the line as the Ottawa Redblacks host the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday.
The Alouettes (10-2-1) have already secured a playoff berth, but a win, coupled with a Toronto loss, would lock up a home playoff game for the defending Grey Cup champions. Meanwhile, the Redblacks (8-4-1) are eager to clinch their first postseason appearance since 2018.
Ottawa (6-0-1) is the league’s only undefeated team at home, but the challenge will be steep at TD Place Stadium, with the Alouettes also unbeaten on the road (5-0-1), setting up a solid test on both sides.\
Despite the playoff implications, Alouettes coach Jason Maas emphasized the importance of staying focused on the task at hand this Saturday.
“You want to make the playoffs, you’d like to have a home game, you’d like to finish in first,” Alouettes coach Jason Maas told reporters this week. “All those things are goals at the beginning of the year but ultimately they all happen by doing the daily work and staying in the process rather than thinking too much about the outcome of every week. Our focus is always going to be on where we are right now and that’s playing Ottawa this week. They’re tough and they’re proving it. They’re playing well in all three phases. We’re expecting a battle.”
The two teams haven’t met since Week 3, when the Alouettes secured a 47-21 victory, but much has changed since then.
The Redblacks are facing significant personnel challenges after linebacker Adarius Pickett, the East Division’s top defensive player last season, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last weekend. With Frankie Griffin (ankle) and Jovan Santos-Knox (knee) also sidelined, Ottawa will be without its entire starting linebacker group.
The offence didn’t escape unscathed either, with starting left tackle Dino Boyd (bicep) placed on the six-game injured list.
“One of the things we talked about at the beginning of the week was communication on both sides of the ball and special teams,” said Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce. “We do have a few new people in there and we’ve got to make sure to talk more and know that everybody is on the same page. We’re more than comfortable with the guys who are playing, we just need to make sure all 12 are on the same page.”
The Alouettes are facing their own injury challenges, as Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot has been ruled out for the season with a foot injury while veteran defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy will miss the game due to a head injury.
Bennett Williams will move up from the defensive backfield to take over for Pickett. While strongside linebacker is a natural position for the 25-year-old, he knows he can’t replace the CFL All-Star.
“I’ve got to play my game and fit into the system,” said Wiliams. “It’s going to be a whole collective effort as a defence. We’ve all got to pick it up and we all need to communicate and talk.”
The Redblacks realize the challenge ahead of them but are confident in their abilities.
“You know, we’ve got to play together,” said Redblacks receiver Justin Hardy. “Special teams, defence, offence has to play together. That’s really what winning teams do.”
Despite splitting duties between Dru Brown and Jeremiah Masoli last week the Redblacks will turn to Brown to lead the way this week.
Brown has shown this season that he can rebound following a sub-par outing and that’s exactly what the Redblacks will be counting on.
“They’re a tough team,” admitted Brown. “They play hard, they’ve got great players, they’re well coached and they do what they’re going to do and do it well. We’ve got to be able to match their physicality and exceed it as well. Our execution just has to be on point.”
ALOUETTES (10-2-1) AT REDBLACKS (8-4-1)
STREAKING: Montreal has won six straight games in this rivalry and their last nine visits to Ottawa.
FIRST IS BEST: The Redblacks have opened the scoring six times in 2024 and have not lost any of those games (5-0-1). When Montreal has scored first this season they are 7-1.
BEASTS OF THE EAST: The Alouettes are 4-1 against Eastern Division foes while Ottawa is 2-2.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2024.
