It was the visitors making themselves feel at home on Friday night at Mosaic Stadium.
While the Saskatchewan Roughriders put up a fight in their home opener, it was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who once again showed why they are the team to beat in the CFL, with a 45-27 victory in Week 2.
Despite being listed as a game-time decision with hip injury suffered last week, quarterback Trevor Harris drew the start for Saskatchewan and showed no ill effects of the injury, going 29-of-41 for 405 yards and three touchdowns.
However, it came in a losing effort.
“I’d trade (the stats) obviously for the win because that’s what matters is wins and losses,” Harris told reporters post-game. “Frustrating that we didn’t get the win here.”
“I’ve been waiting for that moment,” said Emlius. “Coming out of training camp, I was already ready to prove what I can do.
“It felt good to have a touchdown, but at the end of the day the outcome should have been a W.”
And while the Riders offensive numbers were impressive, Winnipeg had an answer for everything Saskatchewan did.
“They are a good team,” said Riders’ defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. “The margin of error is really slim when it comes to them so you’ve really got to be on your game for four full quarters.”
“That was the back breaker,” Riders’ head coach Craig Dickenson said of the punt return touchdown. “We’ve got to tackle better for sure but (Grant) is a good football player and he made a lot out of nothing there.”
But for most of the night, the Riders did stick with the Blue Bombers, who have been to the Grey Cup in each of the past three seasons.
“I don’t feel like we’re overmatched by any stretch,” said Harris. “We’re a good football team and we’re just learning who each other are.”
On the next play, Harris found Samuel Emilus in the back of the end zone for the touchdown, putting the Riders up 7-3 lead on a seven-play, 84-yard drive.
But Winnipeg didn’t let that lead last long.
Collaros responded with a five-play, 40-yard drive, capped off by a Dalton Schoen touchdown reception, as Winnipeg went up 10-7 a few minutes into the second quarter.
On the Bombers’ next possession, Collaros was crisp again — throwing two passes for 20+ yards — but he used his legs effectively too. On second down, Collaros scampered for a 13-yard gain, before a four-yard touchdown rush two plays later, as Winnipeg went up 17-7 with 2:48 left in the first half.
Harris first hit Shawn Bane Jr. for a 17-yard gain, which was followed by an 18-yarder to Emilus two plays later.
Then on the very next play, Harris went to Emilus again — this time in the end zone — for a 20-yard touchdown pass which was Emilius’ second of the night, as the Riders cut the Bombers lead to 17-14 at the half.
Harris’ stat line at the half showed 16-of-19 for 215 yards and two touchdowns, while Collaros was 13-of-20 for 152 yards, with one touchdown through the air and another along the ground.
In the second half, the Riders got the ball and Harris started with a bang, connecting with Bane Jr. for a 45-yarder. Harris then completed three straight short passes before finding — guess who — Emilus in the end zone for his third touchdown reception of the night, putting the Riders on top 21-17.
Emilus, a 2022 first-round draft pick, became the first Rider to score three receiving touchdowns in a game since Weston Dressler on June 29, 2012.
But once again, Winnipeg had an answer.
Collaros led the Bombers on an eight-play, 65-yard drive, highlighted by a Schoen 31-yard completion and capped off by a Brown quarterback sneak to put Winnipeg back on top, 24-21.
After a Riders two-and-out, the Bombers looked like they extended their lead with the Grant 92-yard punt return touchdown, but it was called back due to an illegal block by Winnipeg.
However, Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea challenged the penalty and it was overturned, giving Winnipeg the touchdown and the 31-21 lead.
After a Brett Lauther 30-yard field goal cut the lead to 31-24, the Bombers put together a nine-play, 39-yard drive — aided by a pass interference call and capped off by Brown’s second QB sneak major of the game — to give Winnipeg a 37-24 lead, their fourth touchdown in their previous six drives.
“I probably could have gone for it. I wanted to win the game though,” Dickenson said of the decision to kick the field goal and not go for it on third down inside the red zone. “I felt if I could kick the field goal and got a quick stop, we could get a quick score and maybe get a chance to score a touchdown to win it.
“In hindsight, I probably should have gone for it.”
That’s because on the next series, the Bombers increased their lead. Collaros put together another efficient, six-play, 72-yard drive, capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass to Drew Wolitarsky, as Winnipeg went in front 45-27, essentially sealing the game for the Blue and Gold.
“They’re disappointed but not dejected,” Dickenson said of his team after the loss. “It’s a long season. There are 16 more of these and we’ve got a lot of opportunities to improve.
“Credit to Winnipeg. That’s a championship-calibre team that just wears you down and they found a way to grind out the win.”
Announced attendance at Mosaic Stadium was 28,299.
Next up for the Riders is a Week 3 road game against the host Calgary Stampeders (1-1) on Saturday at 5 p.m., while Winnipeg hosts the BC Lions on Thursday night.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.
The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.
Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.
He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.
Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.
Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.
The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.
Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.
Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.
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The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Veterans Tyson Beukeboom and Karen Paquin will lead Canada at the WXV 1 women’s rugby tournament starting later this month in the Vancouver area.
WXV 1 includes the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations (England, France and Ireland) and the top three teams from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States).
Third-ranked Canada faces No. 4 France, No. 7 Ireland and No. 1 England in the elite division of the three-tiered WXV tournament that runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 12 in Vancouver and Langley, B.C. No. 2 New Zealand and the eighth-ranked U.S. make up the six-team WVX 1 field.
“Our preparation time was short but efficient. This will be a strong team,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “All the players have worked very hard for the last couple of weeks to prepare for WXV and we are excited for these next three matches and for the chance to play on home soil here in Vancouver against the best rugby teams in the world.
“France, Ireland and England will each challenge us in different ways but it’s another opportunity to test ourselves and another step in our journey to the Rugby World Cup next year.”
Beukeboom serves as captain in the injury absence of Sophie de Goede. The 33-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., earned her Canadian-record 68th international cap in Canada’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in May at the Pacific Four Series.
Twenty three of the 30 Canadian players selected for WXV 1 were part of that Pacific Four Series squad.
Rouet’s roster includes the uncapped Asia Hogan-Rochester, Caroline Crossley and Rori Wood.
Hogan-Rochester and Crossley were part of the Canadian team that won rugby sevens silver at the Paris Olympics, along with WXV teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry. Wood is a veteran of five seasons at UBC.
The 37-year-old Paquin, who has 38 caps for Canada including the 2014 Rugby World Cup, returns to the team for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.
Canada opens the tournament Sept. 29 against France at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver before facing Ireland on Oct. 5 at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre, and England on Oct. 12 at B.C. Place.
The second-tier WXV 2 and third-tier WXV 3 are slated to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 12, in South Africa and Dubai, respectively.
WXV 2 features Australia, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales while WXV 3 is made up of Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain.
The tournament has 2025 World Cup qualification implications, although Canada, New Zealand and France, like host England, had already qualified by reaching the semifinals of the last tournament.
Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Japan, Fiji and Brazil have also booked their ticket, with the final six berths going to the highest-finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through regional tournaments.
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team WXV 1 Squad
Forwards
Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., College Rifles RFC; Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);
Backs
Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que, Stade Bordelais (France); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ont., Westshore RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
PENTICTON, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko says he’s been working his way back from a rare lower-body muscle injury since being sidelined in last season’s playoffs.
The 28-year-old all star says the rehabilitation process has been frustrating, but he has made good progress in recent weeks and is confident he’ll be able to return to playing.
He says he and his medical team have spent the last few months talking to specialists around the world, and have not found a single other hockey player who has dealt with the same injury.
Demko missed several weeks of the last season with a knee ailment and played just one game in Vancouver’s playoff run last spring before going down with the current injury.
He was not on the ice with his teammates as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, but skated on his own before the sessions began.
Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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