Sports

Canada’s Connor Braid (6) runs the ball against Fiji during World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday, March 9, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

B.C. rugby stalwart Connor Braid retires in wake of Tokyo Olympics

Sevens star also had 26 caps for the Canadian 15s team

Nate Reich in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. (Paralympic Games handout)

Canada’s Nate Riech earns 1,500 gold in dominant fashion in his Paralympic debut

The 26-year-old from Victoria, an emerging star in Canadian track and field, obliterated the field

Cincinnati Bengals fans cheer during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Tailgating, face-painted fans back in force at U.S. NFL stadiums

Vaccination rates and mask rules vary across the country

Canada back Ben LaSage, left, tries to tackle U.S. center Bryce Campbell during the first half of a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway match Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Glendale, Colo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Zalubowski

Canadian men face longer road to Rugby World Cup after loss to the U.S.

The team that qualifies as Americas 1 has some two years to prepare for France 2023

Canada back Ben LaSage, left, tries to tackle U.S. center Bryce Campbell during the first half of a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway match Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Glendale, Colo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Zalubowski
B.C. Lions quarterback Michael Reilly rushes for a first down during the first half of a CFL football game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Vancouver, on Saturday, September 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Lions QB Mike Reilly throws 4 TDs in 45-13 blowout win over Redblacks

Leos (3-2) moved into a tie for second place in CFL’s West Division

B.C. Lions quarterback Michael Reilly rushes for a first down during the first half of a CFL football game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Vancouver, on Saturday, September 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Emma Raducanu, of Britain, during the women’s singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Canada’s Flushing Meadows darling Fernandez comes up short in US Open women’s final

A remarkable run to the US Open final ended in disappointment for Canada’s Leylah Fernandez

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Emma Raducanu, of Britain, during the women’s singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Black Press reporter Erin Haluschak. (Peter McCully photo)

NFL preview: Black Press football insider Erin Haluschak talks Seahawks and more

Podcast: Discussion includes predicted Super Bowl and MVP winners, fantasy picks

Black Press reporter Erin Haluschak. (Peter McCully photo)
Canada’s Jake Thiel, left, jumps for the ball against Australia’s Nick Malouf during the Challenge Trophy final at the World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., March 10, 2019. Only seven of the men’s core teams are taking part in next week’s HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver with New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among those missing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

Field for Canadian rugby sevens events diluted by pandemic-related issues

New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among countries missing

Canada’s Jake Thiel, left, jumps for the ball against Australia’s Nick Malouf during the Challenge Trophy final at the World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., March 10, 2019. Only seven of the men’s core teams are taking part in next week’s HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver with New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among those missing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Aryna Sabalenka,of Belarus, during the semifinals of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Teen dream: Longshot Canadian Fernandez meets longshot Raducanu in US Open final

Pair meet Saturday for the first major final between two teens since Williams/Hingis in 1999

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Aryna Sabalenka,of Belarus, during the semifinals of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Larry Walker Jr. has been inducted into Cooperstown. (National Baseball Hall of Fame)

B.C.’s Larry Walker inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

Cooperstown ceremony held on Wednesday afternoon

Larry Walker Jr. has been inducted into Cooperstown. (National Baseball Hall of Fame)
A group of students from Uruguay pose for a souvenir picture on the Olympic Rings set outside the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Saturday, March 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

IOC suspends North Korea from Beijing Olympics for Tokyo no-show

Individual athletes from North Korea who qualify to compete in Beijing could still be accepted

A group of students from Uruguay pose for a souvenir picture on the Olympic Rings set outside the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Saturday, March 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
BCHL

Border closure forcing BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild to open season on road

With Canadian teams unable to visit the United States, the Wild have no choice but to come north

BCHL
Former NHLer Theo Fleury stands in front of a child abuse monument as he begins “The Victor Walk” in Toronto on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Brandon University has issued a statement publicly criticizing Fleury for spreading harmful conspiracy theories.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Brandon University says Theo Fleury’s recent vaccine comments a ‘stain on his legacy’

Fleury tweeted that vaccine passports would be used by pedophiles to track children

Former NHLer Theo Fleury stands in front of a child abuse monument as he begins “The Victor Walk” in Toronto on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Brandon University has issued a statement publicly criticizing Fleury for spreading harmful conspiracy theories.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber, of Germany, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, in New York, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. The 18-year-old from Laval, Que., advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s draw with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over 16th-seeded German Angelique Kerber. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Minchillo

Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez beats Kerber to continue impressive U.S. Open run

What’s more the 23-year-old Osaka came in riding a 16-match Grand Slam win streak

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber, of Germany, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, in New York, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. The 18-year-old from Laval, Que., advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s draw with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over 16th-seeded German Angelique Kerber. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Minchillo
‘See you in Paris 2024’ message on the floor of the stadium at the end of the Closing Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. (Joe Toth for OIS via AP)

Canada captures 21 medals in the most challenging Paralympic Games in history

With the pandemic, many athletes spent the past year and a half concerned if they would get to compete at all

‘See you in Paris 2024’ message on the floor of the stadium at the end of the Closing Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. (Joe Toth for OIS via AP)
Canada’s Danielle Dorris checks her time after winning a gold medal in the women’s 50m butterfly at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, Sept.3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canadian Paralympic Committee-Scott Grant

Canadian teen Danielle Dorris wins Paralympic gold and sets world record

Danielle Dorris captured a gold medal in the 50-metre butterfly at the Tokyo Paralympics

Canada’s Danielle Dorris checks her time after winning a gold medal in the women’s 50m butterfly at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, Sept.3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canadian Paralympic Committee-Scott Grant
FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2014, file photo, NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Don Fehr, left, International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel, center, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, right, answer questions during a news conference at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

NHL reaches agreement to send players to Olympics in Beijing

NHL players are set to return to the Olympics in Beijing this winter

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2014, file photo, NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Don Fehr, left, International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel, center, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, right, answer questions during a news conference at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
In this Aug. 14, 2020, file photo, an NHL logo is displayed as Washington Capitals players skate prior to NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoff hockey game against the New York Islanders in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

NHL to punish unvaccinated players more harshly this season

Teams were informed this week of the rules for 2021-22

In this Aug. 14, 2020, file photo, an NHL logo is displayed as Washington Capitals players skate prior to NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoff hockey game against the New York Islanders in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Rugby Canada men’s national team head coach Kingsley Jones listens after he was introduced as the new coach of the team, in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday October 24, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada set to open Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign against U.S. Eagles

The Canada-U. S. loser still has a chance to advance but faces a more convoluted qualifying route

Rugby Canada men’s national team head coach Kingsley Jones listens after he was introduced as the new coach of the team, in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday October 24, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Canada’s Aurelie Rivard swims her way to a silver medal for the women’s SM10(Para) 200m Individual Medley during the swimming finals at the Commonwealth Games Saturday, April 7, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Aurelie Rivard, Greg Stewart win Paralympic gold medals for Canada

The gold was Rivard’s fourth medal of the Tokyo Games, and 10th medal of her Paralympic career

Canada’s Aurelie Rivard swims her way to a silver medal for the women’s SM10(Para) 200m Individual Medley during the swimming finals at the Commonwealth Games Saturday, April 7, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz