After competing in four Olympics, B.C.-born soccer champion Christine Sinclair is set to play her first final on Friday morning, inspiring girls and women all over the country.
Friday’s gold medal game will be Sinclair’s 303rd international game (or “cap”), making her one of the most-capped soccer players of all time.
Sinclair, who is from Burnaby, is also the world’s all-time leader for international goals with 187, more than any male or female player.
She is known as one of the most decorated Olympians Canada has ever seen.
But according to Sinclair’s former coach and teammate, it’s not just her humble leadership of the team about to fight for a gold medal, that makes her special.
Sinclair is “trying to be a good human being while performing at the best of their ability,” Andrea Neil told CBC News.
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Neil says what stood out from the moment she first met Sinclair, then 13, was her “simple enjoyment for the game.”
She says she didn’t know at that moment how good Sinclair really was, but she knew she had a skill and unreal qualities that nobody else had.
“She is quiet. She’s unassuming. She’s not trying to grab the spotlight. It’s these intangible qualities of being humble that the world needs more of an example of.”
Carrie Serwetnyk is a former member of the women’s national team and was the first woman inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.
She now runs and coaches her own soccer program for kids in Vancouver, where she teaches them to put their aspirations high.
Carrie Serwetnyk, a former member of the women’s national team, is seen coaching her own soccer program for kids in Vancouver. (Susana da Silva/CBC)
“I have young female coaches that come out of our program and they have the dream to play on the national team like they are watching [the Olympics] and somewhere in there they feel they can do it,” she said.
Serwetnyk says Sinclair has been a big part of building that dream for young girls and women all over Canada.
“She is the architect for the success in this country, she is such an amazing player.”
Alissa Wong, 8, says Sinclair is her favourite player. (Susana da Silva/CBC)
For eight-year-old Alissa Wong, Canada’s defeat of the U.S. on Monday was a big step for women in soccer, but she says a gold medal would take it one step further.
“It would tell all the boys, see, we can do whatever and we deserve to play,” she said.
Alissa says Sinclair is her favourite player because she proves that anyone “no matter how big or small” can do whatever they want if they put their mind to it.
Sinclair, along with the rest of Team Canada will compete against Sweden in the gold-medal game, scheduled for 8 a.m. ET in Tokyo at Olympic Stadium.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.”
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.
