
Jets sign defenceman Isaak Phillips
Phillips, 23, was a restricted free agent and recorded two goals and 10 points in 56 career games with the Chicago Blackhawks and has 26 goals and 87 points in 239 American Hockey League games with the Manitoba Moose and Rockford IceHogs.
Phillips plays a physical game and will be counted on by the Moose and could work himself into a call-up situation because of his robust style of play.
The deal for Phillips carries an AAV of US$812,5000 in the NHL — US$775,000 in the first season and US$850,000 in the second.
The minor league portion of the salary in the first season is US$375,000, with a guarantee of US$425,000 and US$400,000 in the second season, with a guarantee of US$450,000.
Ken WiebeReporter
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg CrossFit athlete Michalyshen hoping third time's the charm at World Games
Sydney Michalyshen is, quite literally, one of the fittest people on the planet. That's not just a flex — the 25-year-old Winnipegger has the track record to prove it. She first qualified for the World CrossFit Games in 2021, finishing 25th out of 40 of the top female athletes from around the globe. Michalyshen earned her way back in 2022 and placed 31st. Now, she's gearing up for a third appearance, with this year's competition set to take place next week in New York. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Winnipegger Sydney Michalyshen hopes to be crowned the 'Fittest on Earth' at this year's World CrossFit Games. 'Super cool,' Michalyshen told the Free Press this week. 'To get to a spot like that, you're really, really pumped about it.' So what exactly is CrossFit? Think of it like an athletic buffet. 'Everything from running, biking, rowing, swimming, weightlifting, and then all the gymnastics components, too. It's kind of crazy,' she explained. The three-day annual event, which began in 2007, puts athletes through a series of gruelling competitions — many kept secret until the last minute — with the ultimate winner crowned the 'Fittest on Earth.' Competitors have to be ready for anything. 'It's kind of like an Ironman race in that sense,' said Michalyshen. Just getting to the final stage is no easy feat. Thousands of athletes enter the early rounds, but only the top 40 men and women — or, in this year's case, the top 30 — advance through the qualifying gauntlet. Despite her impressive results in 2021 and 2022, Michalyshen came up short in both 2023 and 2024. Any thought that her time had passed was put to rest this past May at the last-chance qualifier. Thirty-four women were in the field that week in Texas, with just two spots up for grabs. Michalyshen finished second. Experience is a great teacher, and she's hoping the third time really will be the charm. She'll be the lone Manitoban, and one of just four Canadian women, competing when the event kicks off Aug. 1 in Albany. 'I think the biggest thing I've learned and am taking away from the first two is there's really no need to be stressed. Like, once you make the Games, you should be really happy that you're there,' she said. 'Yes, you want to do well and, yes, it's very stressful. But I don't think I enjoyed my first two Games as much as I should have kind of looking back.'–Sydney Michalyshen 'Yes, you want to do well and, yes, it's very stressful. But I don't think I enjoyed my first two Games as much as I should have kind of looking back. I think I was too stressed, where if I had a bad event I would dwell on it for a little bit too long.' She's a little older now, a little wiser — and still in peak condition. So where does it all come from? 'I do think a lot of it is genetics. There's a lot of people that work hard, but genetics just won't allow you do to it,' said Michalyshen, who excelled in gymnastics as a child and then began adding strength training as she developed. A friend suggested she give CrossFit a try about seven years ago. It was love at first sight, even though not every discipline came easily. 'I'm not a natural endurance athlete, and I never did like endurance sports growing up,' she said. 'So the gymnastics and strength (competitions) in CrossFit is what I'm pretty good at and what's definitely gotten me to where I am.' Michalyshen played volleyball at the University of Manitoba in 2018 and 2019 while studying physical education. She shifted to full-time athletics around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and now works as a personal trainer and nutrition coach at Undefeated Health & Performance on Waverley Street — where she also trains. 'People always say you need a nice blend of work-life balance — I've got none of that,' Michalyshen said with a laugh. 'But it makes it really cool and enjoyable. When I'm working, I don't even feel like I'm working. And when I'm training, it's done out of one space with a lot of the same people, who talk about it all the time and are super excited for me.' 'I think loving it, enjoying the process, is a huge thing. There's a lot of people who are really good and work super hard, but they don't really like it, to be honest.'–Sydney Michalyshen Her biggest supporters include her parents — many will recognize her father, Jason, as a long-time public information officer with the Winnipeg Police Service — and her younger sister, Paige, who also does CrossFit. 'This is purely a hobby for her. She loves it, but she doesn't have any aspirations to compete. But she's really fit, and really good. We'll go on runs, and she's a much better runner, a much better endurance athlete than I am,' said Michalyshen. 'So she can push me in a lot of the running and rowing and stuff like that.' Her coach, Richard Deschamps, has also played a key role in her journey. 'It honestly means so much to me. Every day I'm reminded of that, with my family helping me out and all the things they've done for me. The support has been absolutely amazing,' she said. Her entire crew will be joining her in New York for the Games. CrossFit competitors typically peak between the ages of 20 and 34, meaning Michalyshen is still very much in her prime. 'I think loving it, enjoying the process, is a huge thing. There's a lot of people who are really good and work super hard, but they don't really like it, to be honest,' Michalyshen said, always striving for more. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Michalyshen will be the lone Manitoban, and one of just four Canadian women, competing when the event kicks off Aug. 1 in Albany. 'And this has honestly set me up for what I want to do after. I know I want to be in the fitness space, how I want to keep living my life. It's helped so much with my emotional well-being, my mental health, learning to do hard things and seeing who I am as a person. I feel like it has made me a much better person.' The 2025 CrossFit Games will be broadcast live on DAZN, a global sports entertainment platform that is available in over 200 countries, including Canada. 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. X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyreReporter Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike. Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

CBC
8 hours ago
- CBC
Streaming company blames 'human error' for minor hockey leagues, summer camps unknowingly leaving cameras on
Social Sharing The fallout continues after it was revealed that cameras at multiple facilities around Waterloo region in southern Ontario were livestreaming children's summer camps without permission. The operator of the cameras, LiveBarn, said it was the result of "human error" on the part of each venue or an affiliated minor hockey league in charge of managing the streaming schedules. "LiveBarn cameras operate on a motion-detect basis, meaning a rink operator must schedule or block off times when they are blacked out," the company said in a statement to CBC News on Friday, adding that on-ice video is typically archived for 30 days. The company said archived footage of the summer camps was not downloaded and shared. It said that when it found out about the issue, "the livestream was disabled immediately ... and there is currently no footage available." LiveBarn has cameras in over 1,900 venues across North America, streaming a number of sports, including hockey, basketball, swimming, soccer and lacrosse. People subscribe to be able to watch the livestreams. "The archived video-on-demand feature has been turned off for the recently installed cameras in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. These cameras will remain blacked out until the start of the hockey season," LiveBarn said in its statement. LiveBarn confirms unauthorized livestreaming A LiveBarn spokesperson confirmed livestreaming cameras filmed summer camp programs at: The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in Waterloo. Hespeler Arena and Dickson Arena in Cambridge. The Lions Arena and Grand River Arena in Kitchener. But the spokesperson said there were no issues with the livestreaming cameras at Cambridge Sports Park, another facility the City of Cambridge had identified early into its own investigation. Cambridge Sports Park is privately owned by Buckingham Sports Properties. The facility routinely hosts city-run summer camps. John Cook, vice-president of Buckingham Sports Properties, said the cameras were discovered to be livestreaming a summer camp on Monday. He said the cameras were turned off soon after that, at the city's request. The company said that for the other facilities in Kitchener and Waterloo, it was the responsibility of the minor leagues to properly manage the camera's streaming schedules. Privacy commissioner gathering info The Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner was first notified of the livestreaming issue by the City of Waterloo on Wednesday. The commissioner's office received another notification on Thursday from the cities of Kitchener and Cambridge. "We are in the early stages of gathering information to determine next steps and cannot share additional details at this time. We can follow up with you when there are further developments," said an emailed statement from the privacy commissioner's office to CBC. The commissioner said it's not necessary for those impacted to file a complaint, but they can if they want to. Cities respond to being blamed The City of Waterloo says according to its contract with LiveBarn, the livestreaming company is responsible for any information recorded through the camera. "While [the Waterloo Minor Hockey League] has access to the system to schedule the recordings for their games (and/or practices), LiveBarn is contractually responsible for the collection and use of any information recorded, displayed, streamed or televised," said the emailed statement. "The agreement states that LiveBarn has all responsibility for the cameras and associated equipment, including the operation and use, and signage." The city said it has signage at its facilities to inform visitors about the cameras. The signate "indicates that there are cameras installed and operated by LiveBarn for online broadcast and streaming of events for Alliance Hockey, and there is a contact for LiveBarn added to the sign for questions or concerns." The municipality said it is working with LiveBarn and the Waterloo Minor Hockey Association to "review processes and determine what changes are required." The City of Cambridge said it is waiting for recommendations from the privacy commissioner's report, and notified the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario on Thursday. "We have paused LiveBarn services at this time ... we are looking into determining the timeline of the livestream," the city said in a statement. The city confirmed the cameras were set to motion-detection mode when the summer camps were unknowingly livestreamed, just as LiveBarn described. "All streaming cameras in city facilities have been turned off for the time being," the city said. Cameras have also been unplugged at the affected facilities in Kitchener and Waterloo. 'I know I would be freaked out' Evan Light is an associate professor at the the University of Toronto's facultly of information, and an expert in privacy and surveillance technology. Light said he was shocked and concerned when he heard about the livestreaming incidents. "Anything that occurred in that arena in the past three months has been livestreamed to anybody who has a subscription to the service. There's the summer camp and then there's whatever else might happen. There could be teenagers making out in the bleachers. They for sure don't know and have not consented to be on the livestream." Krystle Shore, an assistant professor in the University of Waterloo's department of sociology, said she wasn't surprised to hear about what happened in Waterloo region. "It's not altogether unexpected because of the nature of surveillance and how difficult it can be to control where the footage goes and put meaningful safeguards in place," she said. "It's absolutely concerning because there's a real lack of consent, and trust and information in this case." Shore also wasn't surprised with LiveBarn's response about who's responsible to ensure livestreaming isn't done without permission. "This highlights how tricky it can be to work with private vendors in municipal or public settings," she said. "Both parties have responsibility here. Municipalities are responsible for what happens in their public facilities, even when third-party vendors and and cameras are involved. But LiveBarn as a vendor also has a duty to ensure its cameras aren't operating outside their intended purpose." Light said parents should ask for more transparency. "I'm a parent too, right? I know I would be freaked out," he said. "Demand answers of your local politicians, of the camp operators and the venue operators responsible for it ... this is an example of why ... the privacy of kids needs to be taken seriously."


Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Opinion: Hockey Canada sexual assault trial latest story spotlighting dark side of sport
Opinion Countless times throughout the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, the question has come up: is this a story for the sports section at the Free Press? The resounding answer is: yes. Yes, this is a sports story. I am not writing to offer my opinion on the decisions made today. I am here to remind readers that the world of sports is not always a fun, fantasy world. Sports are a fantastic way for fans, including me, to escape hard times — but a shadow hides behind the blinding, refracted light of historic goals and legendary names. This trial shone a spotlight on the ugliness of that shadow. The fact that people are high-fiving over the five men involved in this case being acquitted is absolutely disgusting. Whether or not you believe the five men are guilty, a woman was traumatized. So much so that, as the Toronto Star reported, E.M. thought she would be able to testify in person in the courtroom, but when she was taking a tour of the courthouse and sat in the witness stand, she started crying. She was so traumatized by what happened to her that night in a London, Ont., hotel room that she had to testify via video from another room in the courthouse, and the defendants were blurred on her end. What those cheering the acquittals seem to quickly forget is that trauma and abuse in sports isn't just a woman's story — it's a part of sports culture that has thrived in the shadows for far too long. This case just so happened to involve a woman. This is also a man's story. Whether Winnipeg Jets fans want to admit it or not, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was previously involved with a franchise that saw Kyle Beach identify himself as a player at the centre of sexual abuse allegations. A second former player also sued the Chicago Blackhawks. Hometown favourite Jonathan Toews was also part of that franchise at the time these abuses took place. I am by no means saying either Cheveldayoff or Toews were involved or knew of the abuse. The point of including this is as a reminder that abuse is happening to athletes themselves in top leagues. This is not just a minor league issue. This is not just a women's issue. This is a high-profile issue that continues to get swept under the rug whenever the defendants are deemed not guilty, whether in the court of law or the court of public opinion. If one of these players is signed by an NHL team, we will have to cover them in the Free Press sports section in a way where it appears as though this story never existed. Just as we have had to cover Alex Ovechkin, regardless of his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. You can add as many disclaimers and explainers as you want; these are still stories emphasizing the 'greatness' of these athletes. Abuse is rampant in professional sports, and I'm tired of it being so often left out of the larger story of sports. We can celebrate the accomplishments of athleticism while at the same time acknowledging it's a system built on abuse that tries to shelter perpetrators instead of helping victims of abuse. The story of 'ruining his career' is so often presented in cases like the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. But what about the responsibility of the five hockey players to not ruin their respective careers by participating that night? It's just a question. Moreover, the case was so toxic to Hockey Canada before it went to court, the organization had already settled out of court, wanting the story to go away — to be swept under the rug and into the ugly shadows. If I may offer one opinion, it is that I fear these acquittals will dissuade future victims of sexual assault from reporting abuse. We're at a point in society where women have to be believed more than ever while navigating a justice system built to cast doubt on testimony. Whether you believe E.M. or not, I ask that you consider how you would feel if you weren't believed. I hope there's a day when the story of sports doesn't include abuse of any kind. Thursday, however, punctuated and perpetuated the 'boys will be boys' culture ingrained in sports at the expense of another person's trauma. Maybe this trial will help forward ongoing conversations about consent and, if anything, remind sports fans of the dark, toxic side of these stories of heroes and history books. Grace Anne Paizen is the Free Press Sports editor Grace Anne PaizenSports Editor Grace oversees the team that produces sports journalism for the Free Press. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.