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Power Rankings: Dealing with change – CFL.ca

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TORONTO — All it takes is one play in one moment for change to occur.

That’s something that football fans all know, but it’s a notion that can slip from front of mind to back through the course of a season. We all got a harsh reminder of that on Friday night, when Nathan Rourke went down against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Lions had their eighth win of the season all but wrapped up with an orange and white bow on it, when Rourke was sacked by Pete Robertson and needed help getting off of the field at Mosaic Stadium. The shockwave came on Sunday, when the Lions announced that Rourke will require surgery for his Lisfranc sprain. While there’s hope that he’ll return before the end of the season, the team will turn to his backup, Michael O’Connor, for a long stretch.

This stands to impact the Lions’ season and to a greater extent, the landscape of the league. Suddenly the other teams in the West may see opportunity where there was less of one before; Eastern opponents — Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto remain on the Lions’ schedule this year — could see a more attainable win on the horizon now, too.

We get into it in fairly short order below, but we don’t expect the Lions to buy into any of this. Co-general mangers Neil McEvoy and Rick Campbell have built a supremely talented team around the quarterback spot. We’ve heard all season that the Lions are more than Nathan Rourke. On Friday, we’ll see just how much.

For now, you won’t have to scroll far to find the Lions in these rankings. We’re sure they’re intent on keeping it that way.

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1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Record: 9-1
Last Week: 1

A rested Bombers team gets back to work on Thursday night against a Calgary team that will be looking to send them on their first losing streak of the season. The taste of taking an at-home loss to the Montreal Alouettes a couple weeks ago may still be lingering in the mouths of Zach Collaros and Co., though, and they’ll catch the Stamps on a short week. Rest and lack thereof aside, can these two combine for another game of the year candidate? We think so.


2. BC Lions

Record: 8-1
Last Week: 2

The Lions go into the back end of this home-and-home series without their star player, in Nathan Rourke. While what they get from Michael O’Connor is to-be-determined, the Lions can at least go confidently into the rest of their season knowing that they’re very sound in just about every other phase of their game. Their defence — which had seven turnovers on Friday night — will still perform. The return game is strong, Sean Whyte is one of the top kickers in the league and when O’Connor takes the field on Friday, he’ll see an absolutely loaded offence ready to make plays for him and will be protected by the top-producing offensive line in the league.


3. Calgary Stampeders

Record: 6-3
Last Week: 3

They’re not pretty wins at times, but the Stamps now have six of them and are still very much in the race in the West Division. Everyone will be watching to see what’s happening with the Stamps as they work their way through this short week. The team is practising in Guelph on Monday and Tuesday before heading to Winnipeg on Wednesday to get ready to face the Bombers this week. We don’t know how much we may see Jake Maier at QB this week, but there is one thing we can count on with this Stamps team: this group brings it against the top teams in the league. Their games against Winnipeg and BC have all been excellent, even with them coming up short in all three. A win on the road against the defending champs could go a long way.


4. Toronto Argonauts

Record: 4-5
Last Week: 5

The Argos’ slight move up in these rankings may come as a surprise, given their loss to Calgary. Their season sweep over the Riders factors into their landing above them this week, as does the present uncertainty around the quarterback position with the green team. The Argos now head into their next pair of games against the Ticats sitting under .500 and with their seat atop the East Division a little less stable. The pressure shifts to the leaders of East, as another loss or two to the Ticats in the next couple of weeks would open the division up for everyone again.


5. Saskatchewan Roughriders

Record: 5-5
Last Week: 4

Yes, the offence was sputtering in the Riders’ loss to the Lions, but perhaps the grain of salt here is that every team but one that has faced the Lions this year has come out on the short end of things. Still, the Riders have questions to answer this week, specifically at quarterback. It will be interesting to see if coach Craig Dickenson’s decision on who gets the start is impacted by what’s happened with the Lions. Perhaps there’s room now to test out Mason Fine with a start that there wasn’t going up against Rourke at BC Place. Is this a window to rest Fajardo, give him some time to let his knee feel better and see the game from the sideline? Or will we see No. 7 out there looking to pull the Riders through a difficult point in their season?


6. Montreal Alouettes

Record: 4-6
Last Week: 7

It’s a slow and steady climb for this team, but the Alouettes might be building something in the East. They topped Winnipeg in Week 10, handing the Bombers their first loss of the season and then gutted out a big win over the Ticats on Saturday, with David Cote’s walk-off 48-yard field goal getting them into second place in the East, gaining a game on the Argos as they fell to the Stamps earlier that day. Momentum’s hard to generate when you’re playing weekly, but the Als seem to have found it as we hit the midpoint of the season. Discipline remains a nagging issue (they surrendered an astonishing 176 yards on Saturday) that will have to be addressed.


7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Record: 3-7
Last Week: 6

Coming off of a heartbreaker against the Als, the Ticats have no time to lament what might have been had David Cote’s field goal not found its way home on Saturday night. The Ticats get back to work with their most familiar/hated rival this week, settling in for their final two meetings of the season. With the Als jumping up in the standings, the wins are becoming more necessary than ever in Hamilton. A crossover is growing more and more likely for the playoffs, which means only the top-two teams in the East will see football past Oct. 29.


8. Edmonton Elks

Record: 3-7
Last Week: 8

The Elks did what they had to do when they went into TD Place and took a win from the REDBLACKS, pushing them into the league’s cellar. It doesn’t change much for them in these rankings (which isn’t a concern for Chris Jones’ squad, we know that), but the Elks can take a very solid second half of football away from their third win of the season. Taylor Cornelius ran a smooth-looking offence that put up 19 second-half points and the defence blanked Ottawa in the second half, making the REDBLACKS’ 12-3 start to the game a distant memory. Elks fans should be salivating at the possibility of their team’s home losing streak coming to an end this week, as the REDBLACKS make the trip to Commonwealth for Saturday night.


9. Ottawa REDBLACKS

Record: 1-8
Last Week: 9

The REDBLACKS’ wayward season continues as they sit at 1-8 at the midway mark. While there weren’t a lot of  positives to take away from their 30-12 loss to the Elks, there is an interesting storyline that could be in the cooker for this week’s rematch in Edmonton. Should head coach Paul LaPolice turn to Nick Arbuckle for the start, the 28-year-old will have a (green and) golden opportunity to show the Elks just what they missed out on in not making him their starter. Arbuckle landed in Edmonton late last season, was put away for safekeeping by the previous regime for the remainder of the year, then fell victim to a regime change when Chris Jones took over as head coach and GM. Arbuckle never seemed to fit into Jones’ plans and he dealt him to Ottawa after Jeremiah Masoli was injured in Week 5. Arbuckle’s status will be something to keep an eye on this week.


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

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

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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

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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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