Sports

Major League Soccer allows Toronto, Montreal to begin play in home venues – ESPN

Published

3 years ago

July 14, 2021

3:45 PM ET

Major League Soccer announced plans on Wednesday for CF Montreal and Toronto FC to begin playing select games in their home venues.

The decision is based on updated public health legislation enacted on July 5 by the Canadian government that eased travel restrictions between the U.S. and Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toronto will be able to play at BMO Field against Orlando City on July 17, and the New York Red Bulls four days later. Montreal will be able to host FC Cincinnati on July 17 at Stade Saputo. These will be the first home games for either team since the opening weeks of the 2020 campaign. Toronto and Montreal will be permitted to have fans and media in attendance at matches, in accordance with all local and regional guidelines.

– MLS on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)

A source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN that due to ongoing improvements to BC Place, the return of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC to their home venue will be delayed until a later date.

MLS added that it remains in communication with the Canadian government regarding plans for its teams to host the remainder of their home matches in Canada.

Travel restrictions due to the COVD-19 pandemic, including a requirement that individuals entering the country quarantine for 14 days, have prevented Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver from playing matches in their home cities. All three teams had to set up “home” bases in the U.S. during the latter portion of the 2020 season as well as during the first three months of the 2021 campaign. This season Montreal played in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida., Toronto in Orlando, while Vancouver has been playing home matches in Sandy, Utah.

But the new legislation by the Canadian government allows vaccinated individuals to bypass the quarantine requirement, though they must still test negative for COVID-19. Those who aren’t vaccinated must still quarantine.

That requirement could pose a problem for unvaccinated players. A spokesperson for the MLS Players Association told ESPN that “MLS is approaching 95 percent of the player pool being vaccinated, which is among the highest in North American sports leagues alongside the WNBA. We are extremely proud of our members for doing their part in fighting the virus, and we remain supportive of all players getting the vaccine.”

A source with knowledge of the situation added that 26 of the 27 MLS teams have at least 85 percent of their players vaccinated. The source added that the one team not at that threshold is “one or two players away.” A spokesperson for the Vancouver Whitecaps said that 100 percent of the players had been vaccinated.

League wide, that still leaves roughly 40 players who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19, and practically speaking wouldn’t be able to travel back and forth between the U.S. and Canada.

Recently, Montreal traded forward Erik Hurtado to the Columbus Crew in part because of his refusal to be vaccinated. During a Zoom call with reporters on July 4, Toronto FC GM Ali Curtis said all of the team staff and almost all of the players are fully vaccinated. One or two players are either not vaccinated or need a second shot. He admitted that there are “potential complications for non-fully vaccinated players but we’ll have to see how things unfold.”

Toronto midfielder Nick De Leon said back in March that he hadn’t been vaccinated and had no plans to do so.

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Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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