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Olympic viewing guide: A Canadian great skates for his final medal – CBC.ca

Published

3 years ago

February 15, 2022

This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports’ daily email newsletter. Stay up to speed on what’s happening at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games by subscribing here.

The wait is over. Canada captured its first gold medal in more than a week today when speed skaters Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais won the women’s team pursuit in Olympic-record time. It’s the third medal of the Games for Weidemann, who took silver and bronze in the women’s 5,000m and 3,000m individual events. Maltais now owns an Olympic medal in both types of speed skating — she earned a short track relay silver in 2014.

Canada also picked up another bronze on Day 11, by Max Parrot in the men’s snowboard big air. It’s the third Olympic medal for the 27-year-old cancer survivor, who won gold in the men’s slopestyle earlier in the Games and was a slopestyle silver medallist in 2018. Now he owns the full set.

With five days still to go in Beijing, Canada has 17 medals — two gold, four silver, 11 bronze. That’s tied with the United States for the fourth-highest total, behind Norway (26), the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team (20) and Germany (18).

Day 12 features one of Canada’s greatest Olympians going for a record-tying medal in his final Olympic race. We’ll start our daily viewing guide there, and cover the big games coming up for the Canadian men’s hockey and men’s and women’s curling teams. Plus, controversial Russian Kamila Valieva shakes it off in the opening round of the women’s figure skating event.

Here’s what to watch on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning:

Charles Hamelin can grab a share of a Canadian medal record in his final Olympic race

No matter what happens tomorrow, the 37-year-old short track speed skater will walk away from the sport at the end of this season with a staggering list of accomplishments. Hamelin has won 142 medals on the World Cup circuit, another three dozen or so at the world championships (including 13 gold) and five at the Olympics (three of them gold). The post-race, rinkside kisses he shared with his then girlfriend and Canadian teammate Marianne St-Gelais after winning individual golds in 2010 in Vancouver and 2014 in Sochi are among the most indelible moments in recent Canadian Olympic history.

Now competing in his fifth and final Olympics, Hamelin added another honour to his resumé when he carried the Canadian flag into the opening ceremony along with women’s hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin. On Wednesday, the final day of short track competition, Hamelin has a chance to cap off his brilliant Olympic career by winning his sixth medal. That would match long track speed skater Cindy Klassen’s record for the most by a Canadian in the Winter Games.

It’s a good chance too. With Hamelin’s help, the Canadian men’s 5,000-metre relay team earned the No. 1 ranking in the world this season after winning a pair of World Cup races and placing second in another. The team of Hamelin, Steven Dubois (who has won two individual medals at these Games), Pascal Dion and Maxime Laoun won their semifinal last week to advance to the five-team final.

The competition for gold will be fierce, with South Korea favoured to win and host China also boasting a strong team. The ROC and Italy round out the field for what’s always a potentially chaotic race.

Three of Hamelin’s five Olympic medals have come in this event. He helped the Canadian team to silver in 2006, gold in 2010 and bronze in 2018. We’ll see if he’s got one more (historic) medal in him on Wednesday at 7:44 a.m. ET.

WATCH | Charles Hamelin skates to his final chapter:

Charles Hamelin skates to his final chapter

15 days ago

Duration 3:00

One of Canada’s most prolific speed skaters talks to CBC Sports about going to his 5th Olympics and his decision to postpone retiring until after Beijing 2022. 3:00

Other Canadian medal chances tonight and tomorrow morning

Canada has two contenders in the women’s 1,500m short track event.

Kim Boutin, you’re probably familiar with. She won bronze in this event at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, where she overcame online abuse from fans of a South Korean rival to reach three podiums and earn the honour of carrying the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony. The 27-year-old added a bronze in the 500m in Beijing, putting her just one medal behind Hamelin in the lifetime count despite being a decade younger.

But Courtney Sarault is actually the better contender in this event. The 21-year-old took silver in the 1,500 at last year’s world championships and is currently ranked No. 3 in the world. In four World Cup 1,500m races this season, she took two silver and a bronze. Boutin competed in just one 1,500m this season and missed the podium.

The event starts with the quarter-finals at 6:30 a.m. ET, then the semis at 7:15 a.m. ET and the final at 8:18 a.m. ET.

Some other interesting stuff you should know about

Canada’s men’s hockey team is into the quarter-finals. As expected, the Canadians took out China pretty easily in this morning’s playoff game, pulling away for a 7-2 win. Next up is a quarter-final matchup vs. Sweden on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Both teams finished second in their respective groups after winning two of their three games in the preliminary round. But the Swedes got a bye to the quarter-finals along with the three group winners because their lone loss came in overtime, making them the top second-place team in the tournament. The other quarter-final matchups are the United States vs. Slovakia (tonight at 11:10 p.m. ET), the ROC vs. Denmark (1 a.m. ET) and Finland vs. Switzerland (3:40 a.m. ET). The winners will be re-seeded for the semifinals.

Canada’s men’s curling team still has work to do. A win this morning vs. the ROC would have clinched a playoff spot for Brad Gushue’s rink. But they lost in an extra end, setting up a potentially nervy round-robin finale on Wednesday night vs. Great Britain. At 5-3 and alone in third place, Gushue and the b’ys still control their playoff destiny. A win and they’re into the semifinals. It’s also possible that they won’t need a victory — losses by both the ROC and Switzerland in Wednesday’s 1:05 a.m. ET draw would send Canada through. But if either of those teams wins, Canada will be feeling the pressure when it faces a very good British team. Representing Scotland, Bruce Mouat and his teammates took silver at the world championship in Calgary last April, then won the European title in November. This morning, they improved to 6-1 in the Olympic tournament and clinched a playoff spot by handing reigning world champion Sweden (7-1) its first loss.

Canada’s women’s curling team is on the outside looking in. At 3-3, Jennifer Jones’ rink is tied for sixth place and sits a half game out of a playoff spot. One of the teams it’s trying to catch, the 4-3 United States, is Canada’s opponent tonight at 8:05 p.m. ET. Canada then faces China (2-5) at 7:05 a.m. ET.

And also…

Kamila Valieva shook it off. The 15-year-old Russian figure skating star at the centre of the doping controversy shadowing these Games did not let all the negative attention — nor an early mistake — deter her in today’s women’s short program. After stumbling on her first jump, Valieva, as expected, earned the top score to put her herself in position to win gold in Thursday’s free skate. Whether she gets to keep that potential medal, and the gold she helped the ROC win in the team event, will be decided down the road when her apparent doping violation is fully investigated. As part of their efforts to get her cleared, Valieva’s lawyers are now blaming her positive test for a banned heart drug in December on “contamination” from a medication her grandfather was taking.

How to watch live events

They’re being broadcast on TV on CBC, TSN and Sportsnet. Or choose exactly what you want to watch by live streaming on CBC Gem, the CBC Sports app and CBC Sports’ Beijing 2022 website. Check out the full streaming schedule (with links to live events) here and read more about how to watch the Games here.

If you’re located outside Canada, you unfortunately can’t access CBC Sports’ coverage of the Games on the app or the website. That’s due to the way the Olympics’ media rights deals work. But if you’re in the northern United States or other international regions, such as Bermuda, that regularly offer the CBC TV network, you can watch the Games there.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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