McLeod, Quinn, and Oduro reflect on Charmaine Hooper's influence on Canadian women's soccer
NSL players, Erin McLeod, Christabel Oduro (Halifax Tides FC), and Quinn (Vancouver Rise FC) reflect on Charmaine Hooper's impact on Canadian soccer.
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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
IIHF including women in tournament bonus money ‘significant', says Canada's Kingsbury
CALGARY – The International Ice Hockey Federation's decision to share tournament bonus money with women after years of men in the driver's seat is both symbolic and practical, says the general manager of Canada's women's team. 'It's very significant,' said Hockey Canada women's general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'For years, these types of topics have been brought up to the IIHF and they've always been shut down. 'More money invested in the women's game is really important.' The IIHF stated in a website report during its annual congress that 'development support,' worth nearly $9 million Swiss francs (C$15 million) in 2025, will be distributed to member federations based on their countries' performances across the men's and women's world championships, the men's under-20 championship and the men's and women's under-18 championships. 'Furthermore, the support will be weighted according to IIHF World Ranking,' the IIHF stated. The IIHF's development money was previously given to federations based only on men's world championship results. 'This has been a talking point on the women's side of the game for a long time,' said Canadian defender Renata Fast. The IIHF says the money will be split with 40 per cent going to the men's championship, 40 per cent to the women's championship, 10 per cent to the world junior men's tournament, and five per cent each to the men's and women's under-18 championships. That equates to roughly four million Swiss francs (C$6.7 million) going to federations based on the international results of their women's teams. 'It just signals that the IIHF is realizing that they need to modernize some of the things that have just been in place for years and years and years, and recognizing the growth of the women's game and the importance of acknowledging that and valuing it,' Fast said. 'The prize money to me symbolizes that.' The IIHF had previously argued that development money wasn't shared with women because the men's world championship turns a significant profit, while the women's tournament does not. 'Our organization wants to encourage its members to develop women's hockey and junior programs,' the IIHF said in an emailed statement. Even though Kingsbury sits on the IIHF's women's committee and Fast on the IIHF athletes' council, the report of bonus-money redistribution was buried in a congress report and came as a surprise to them. 'It just shows that there's a shift in thinking, maybe,' said Kingsbury. 'If we grow the women's game and if we kind of entice countries that may not have as strong of numbers on the women's side, or as strong a team … they'll be more motivated to invest in the women's side.' The IIHF may want to motivate countries to devote equal resources to men's and women's hockey, but it's ultimately each federation's decision how to use its developmental money. 'What also would be interesting is maybe if there's a federation where the women's program is stronger than the men's program in terms of a ranking standpoint, and how now their women's team can actually bring them in some prize money in an instance where their men's programs never did, that would be huge,' Fast said. Canadian women have never finished outside the medals at either the world championship or under-18 championship. Canada took silver and the under-18 team gold in 2025. Canada's men claimed under-18 gold, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals in both the men's and under-20 championship. 'If the women's program is stronger than the men's, there will be an increase in the support,' IIHF Director General Matti Nurminen said during the congress. 'If the men's and women's programs are as strong, there will be no real impact.' Hockey Canada and USA Hockey — perennial 1-2 finishers — already have the largest women's hockey budgets in part because their female registration far outstrips other countries at a combined 200,000 players. Nevertheless, Kingsbury says she would welcome any funding the women's teams are able to generate through international success. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Any increase in funds, trust me, we've got lots of projects and ideas that could grow our game and could help the women's program,' she stated. 'There's always more we can do.' After lopsided women's hockey scores at the 2010 Olympic Games — and then-IOC president Jacques Rogge warning 'we cannot continue without improvement' — the IIHF committed 2 million Swiss francs to international women's hockey development. More equitable shares in the IIHF's bonus structure 15 years later is seismic, said Kingsbury. 'Our women's committee, for many years, I remember even before I was on it, the big topic was always the trophy for the women's worlds is smaller than men's and we don't get prize money,' Kingsbury said. 'Both those things have changed.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Buchanan's hot foot heating up at the right time
Opinion Tajon Buchanan, explained Inter Milan's welcome message, hails 'from the frigid climate of Canada.' It was January 2024, and the Brampton-born winger had just joined the Nerazzurri from Club Brugge. A few weeks later, once the Italian giants had exhausted their tropes, he became the first Canadian to play in Serie A. In retrospect, it was the right move at the wrong time. Then-manager Simone Inzaghi was famous for playing favourites with a squad that rarely changed from week to week, and Buchanan rarely got off the bench. ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Canada's Tajon Buchanan celebrates his goal against Honduras at the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Tuesday. Then, at last summer's Copa America, he suffered a broken tibia that kept him off the pitch for 116 days. The injury all but ensured he'd never crack the Inter line-up. He asked to go on loan and was picked up by Villarreal. After a slow start, the 26-year-old rounded into form, scored a crucial goal against Barcelona and helped the Yellow Submarine book passage to the Champions League. In a recent sit-down with OneSoccer, he credited the Spanish outfit with rejuvenating his career. But it wasn't until earlier this month that Canadian fans got to see the revival in person. On a warm, spring night in Toronto — hardly frigid (23 C, actually) — Buchanan wasted no time reminding his Canada teammates, as well as the BMO Field faithful and a national broadcast audience, just what they'd been missing for nearly a year. Back in the XI, he assisted Jonathan David's tally in the 24th minute against Ukraine and then scored Canada's fourth and final goal of the 4-2 triumph in the 81st. It was a standout performance, and yet only a preview of what was to follow. Shortly after the restart in Canada's Gold Cup opener against Honduras on Tuesday, he made a well-timed run and clipped a wide-angle finish past the 'keeper to give his side a 3-0 lead. Seventeen minutes later he made it 4-0 when he converted Mathieu Choiniere's corner. At the final whistle, the Vancouver crowd could celebrate a convincing 6-0 win. Putting the man of the hour aside for just a moment, it is mighty impressive that the Canadian men progressed to the Copa semifinals in Buchanan's absence — that they beat the United States (twice), played Mexico to a draw and defeated Panama. Those are results a team gets when it has depth, and Canada has it in spades. That said, the 26-year-old's reintroduction has made the men's national team a completely different proposition. Suddenly, and with one of Ali Ahmed and Jacob Shaffelburg on the left-hand side, it's a line-up with weaponry on either flank. Both have to be marked by the opposition — good luck — and the ripple effect means the attackers can operate more freely, like when David played in right-back Niko Sigur on the opening goal against Honduras. Sigur, for his part, offers a smart, quick option when Alistair Johnston isn't available, and he's versatile enough to slot into midfield as well. But a fit and flying Buchanan immediately consolidates Canada's status as Gold Cup co-favourites with Mexico. He might be the flashiest player in the tournament, and he'll give Zwolle full-back Sherel Floranus all he can handle in Saturday's Group B match against Curacao (6:00 p.m., TSN & OneSoccer). Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Win, and Canada will secure first place in their bracket, setting up a likely quarterfinal with Saudi Arabia. Three points would also give head coach Jesse Marsch a chance to rest his key players on June 24, when Canada face El Savador in the group stage finale (9:00 p.m., TSN & OneSoccer). Buchanan should probably be one of them. He's still recovering from injury, after all, and is yet to hit top gear. That's a sizzling prospect for the Canadian men, and one that will make the opposition frozen — frigid, even — with fear. jerradpeters@ @
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada coach Jesse Marsch downplays latest CONCACAF disciplinary proceeding
HOUSTON – Canada coach Jesse Marsch is downplaying a CONCACAF investigation into his actions during the Canadian men's opening game at the Gold Cup. Marsch told a news conference in Houston, in advance of Canada's game against Curaçao on Saturday, that the issue was of more interest to the media than the team. Noting that the disciplinary process was ongoing, he asked that questions focus on football. Saturday's contest marks the end of Marsch's two-game ban arising from a red card during the CONCACAF Nations league third-place game in March. But the coach remains in the spotlight, facing more disciplinary action initiated by CONCACAF after Canada's 6-0 win over Honduras on Tuesday in Vancouver. CONCACAF said its Disciplinary Committee is reviewing whether Canada and Marsch did not follow regulations involving suspended officials and whether offensive language was used toward CONCACAF match officials. The CONCACAF investigation reportedly focuses on where Marsch watched the game and language used when he was asked to move. TV showed Marsch in a B.C. Place Stadium suite, taking notes and watching, with a laptop in front of him, alongside other Canadian team officials. Assistant coach Mauro Biello ran the sideline in his absence. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025
