
Athletes hope to have pickleball added to Special Olympics World Games
Some Edmonton-area athletes are hoping pickleball will soon be added to the Special Olympics World Games. CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa has their story.
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B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke returning to rarefied form
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke passes during the first half of a CFL football game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in Vancouver, on Sunday, July 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck James Butler isn't surprised when he watches Nathan Rourke successfully lob a 49-yard pass up the field. It's what the running back has come to expect from the B.C. Lions star quarterback. 'To me, that's just Nate being Nate. It's on brand for Nate,' Butler said at the team's training facility in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday. 'I've been saying this since I met him — whenever No. 12 is back there, he just gives you a chance.' After struggling in his return to the CFL last season, Rourke is back at the top of his game. The 27-year-old Canadian earned player of the week honours for leading the Lions to a decisive 36-18 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday. Rourke has shown 'steady growth' this season and the player of the week nod shows the team's entire offence has been clicking, said Lions head coach Buck Pierce. 'I think the guys around him are performing at a high level as well,' he said. 'And when quarterbacks receive that type of honour, it means a lot of guys around him are performing well, too.' Rourke connected on 26 of his 34 pass attempts Saturday, throwing for 382 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. The performance marked his sixth 300-plus yard game of the season and the fourth time he's thrown multiple TD passes in his last five starts. 'Great leader, great quarterback, great man. Aspire to be like him in a few ways,' said Lions receiver Keon Hatcher, who leads the league in receiving yards (878), receptions (54) and targets (85). 'Nate's done great. Excited to see how he can finish this season. He's a great leader. He does a great job in and out of the huddle and I just can't wait to see what the future holds.' Since returning from an oblique injury on July 5, Rourke has averaged 352 passing yards per game. He currently sits third in the CFL for most passing yards (2,686) this season behind Bo Levi Mitchell of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3,057) and Nick Arbuckle of the Toronto Argonauts (3,033), and is third in TD passes (16). The success follows a difficult end to the 2024 campaign. Rourke wasn't in the CFL to start the season, working instead to find a permanent home in the NFL. Last August, he re-signed with B.C. — the team where he had a breakout campaign in 2022 and earned most-outstanding Canadian honours — taking over for the injured Vernon Adams Jr. The homegrown talent went 3-5, throwing four touchdowns and nine interceptions and B.C. finished the regular season with a 9-9 record. The Lions were ousted from the West semifinal by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. B.C. opted to stick with Rourke moving forward and dealt Adams to the Calgary Stampeders during the off-season. The club also brought in Pierce — a former CFL quarterback himself — as head coach. While the Lions (5-5) lost three straight games early this season, they've recently rebounded and won two straight, thanks in part to a dynamic offence where Rourke and his teammates constantly keep their opponents guessing. Part of what makes the offence work is trust, said Butler, who leads the CFL in rushing yards (785). 'I feel like every time we go out there, I always say, 'got your back,'' he said. 'Playing with him just makes it so much easier. Like I said, with Number 12 next to me, there's a chance. I know I'm gonna block a D lineman, a D tackle, I'm gonna block dudes, three, four times my size as long as it protects 12.' While Butler and Rourke started building their bond back in 2021 and 2022 when they were both with B.C., this year the entire offensive crew has built a special chemistry. 'It's definitely a tight knit group,' said the running back. 'And I feel like it only makes it better that anybody at any time can make a big play. That's a cool thing. And I feel like guys making big plays only makes us all want to make big plays.' There's still room too grow, too, said Rourke. The entire offence wants to limit how many penalties they take and how many turnovers they give up, and they're working to get points on the board faster to ease the pressure for their teammates on defence. Progress comes week by week, the QB said. 'At this point, I'm just trying to stack games and trying to feel better, more comfortable every week,' Rourke said. 'And I've just been enjoying learning from the guys and from Buck. And I like that the level of comprehension of the offence is just kind of growing every week.' The Lions will face the Argonauts (2-8) in Toronto on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2025. Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press


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an hour ago
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Two-time champion Sam Reinhart brings the Stanley Cup home to West Vancouver
Two-time NHL champion Sam Reinhart got his day with the Stanley Cup and brought it to his hometown of West Vancouver. Every Stanley Cup champion gets their day with the trophy, and Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart brought it to his hometown of West Vancouver on Tuesday. Reinhart, who also brought the cup to West Van after winning it last year, arrived at Dundarave Pier by boat, hoisting the iconic trophy over his head, much to the delight of hundreds of fans who had gathered to give him a hero's welcome. 'I just really want to see the Stanley Cup, and I'm excited to see Sam Reinhart,' said Cole Pruger, who came with his two brothers and cheered when Reinhart carried the cup from the boat past him and down the pier. 'To have this opportunity to come and do this again is pretty special to me,' Reinhart said to the crowd gathered there. 'To have my family all here is cool as well.' The 27-year-old credited his mom with putting together the gathering for fans, where they could have their photos taken with Sam and the cup for a donation to charity. 'West Van was unbelievable. I just said, do you want to do something for two hours? I don't know how I will top this next year when we win again,' Sam's mother Theresa Reinhart said, adding, 'one thing about the cup is it just makes everyone happy, and it's so nice to be around happy people.' Sam Reinhart Fans meet Sam Reinhart and the Stanley Cup in West Vancouver on Tuesday, Aug. 19. One of those happy people was West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager, who admits he was geeking out spending time with Sam and the Stanley Cup. 'I have to say it's pretty thrilling. I kind of get a bit of the shakes. It really is as beautiful up close as it appears from a distance,' said Sager of the cup. 'It's so great to have Sam, the generosity of his time bringing the cup here and sharing it with all of these people. It's fantastic.' Many people who came to see Sam were wearing Canucks jerseys, clearly hoping one day their hometown team will win the cup, not just a hometown player. 'I'm a Canucks fan obviously. But the cup doesn't come here with the Canucks, so I am going to see it anyway,' said Brian Taylor, who brought the Pruger brothers to the event. 'Sam is definitely West Vancouver's favourite son,' Sager said. 'He's a true superstar in so many ways, and his skill his determination it's just an example for all of the young people in our community.' When the Pruger boys finally got their turn to see Sam, they both kissed the Stanley Cup. 'To see it not with the Vancouver Canucks but still in Vancouver is amazing,' said Rylan. Reinhart's Grade 4 teacher Peter Davidson surprised his former student by waiting in line for a photo. 'It's absolutely incredible, it's amazing,' Davidson said of Reinhart's achievements. 'I know how hard he worked, and he always was as great kid. And he's leader now, isn't he?' Reinhart credited his upbringing in West Vancouver with giving him the foundation for his success. 'If you look at my career, it's the environment I've been in has allowed me to have this success,' he told the crowd. 'Growing up in West Vancouver, to be surrounded by you guys, I had every opportunity in life to succeed and be here standing with you guys again today.'