'A hard one for us': Calgary Wild FC battle but fall to Halifax Tides FC
Halifax's ace midfielder, Megumi Nakamura, chipped one past Wild FC goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec at the 36-minute mark of the opening half and the Tides held on for their second Northern Super League victory of the season.
'It was a hard one for us tonight. I think overall the team played with great spirit, and togetherness,' said Wild FC head coach Lydia Bedford. 'It could have quite easily finished as a nil-nil draw, but we were quite unfortunate to concede on the second phase of a set piece which we will go away and reflect on.'
The first match following a two-week international break combined with a banged-up Calgary roster made it difficult for the Wild Roses to mount an offensive attack.
'Right now, we are riding a little patch where player availability is a struggle for us. You saw tonight that we had five on the bench and four of them were senior players,' said Bedford. 'We are trying to make sure the players who are unavailable are getting back to fitness, but in the meantime, we have to stick together and be competitive. Overall, the team can be pleased that we didn't concede an open play goal, but we need more to try and make sure that we can not only be defensively sound but that we can also catch teams.'
Using nearly every player available to them in hopes of having fresh legs on the pitch, Wild FC controlled possession for 54 per cent of the time, but most of it was at the back end.
'I feel like we look after the ball at the back end, but it is just that final pass and final shot that we seem to be lacking on,' said Bedford. 'We will keep working on it and the players will keep giving everything. Hopefully it will click for us over the next couple of weeks.'
Playing in front of their parents and grandparents who call Nova Scotia home, the feisty teenage Stewart twins were poised to find a breakthrough moment in front of the boisterous Bluenose crowd.
'I think we stuck together well as a team and kept trying to fight through it tonight,' said Taegan Stewart, who started the match. 'We had one or two chances that we could have put in the back of the net, but I think we were just one second slow in the movement.'
Putting the pressure on late in the match in hopes of trying to convert a shot on target, the Wild FC weren't able to push through the force of the Tides and dropped to a 3-5-2 record.
'It's a tradeoff (late in the game). You can push for more and end up conceding one. It was good that when we were pushing, we didn't get hurt but now it's just needing that final pass in those final moments,' said Bedford. 'I think we showed that we can be resilient tonight but just didn't have enough quality in front of the goal. We might have to keep tweaking the way we are playing to create more chances.'
Calgary Wild FC will have a short week to adjust their plan of attack. They will ride into McMahon Stadium during Stampede week for a home match against the Vancouver Rise FC on Saturday.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Blake Wheeler Pens Messsage to Jets Fans Following Retirement
Longtime member of the Winnipeg Jets and former captain Blake Wheeler recently announced his retirement from professional hockey. This weekend, he released a lengthy statement to fans, his playing cities, coaches and family as a thank-you to important figures in his life. The full message from Wheeler: With the news out that my playing days are behind me, I wanted to share a message of gratitude for all of the opportunities I've received over the years. Thank you to every coach, staff member, and fan who supported me along the way. A special thank you to all of the medical and equipment trainers I had the pleasure of working with. To my teammates: you pushed me to be my best, and I leave the game with friendships that will last a you to the Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, and New York Rangers for the opportunity to wear your sweaters. It was an honor every time I stepped on the ice. To the city of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Jets organization, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You embraced me and my family from day one and gave me the honor of serving as your captain. Together, we built something special. I'll never forget stepping on the ice for The Whiteout for every big playoff game at home. The energy, the pride, the connection. It was unforgettable. It was more than hockey. It was home. To my parents, Pat and Jim, thank you for your unwavering support. When no one believed in me, you did, and I will always be grateful. To my kids, Louie, Leni, and Mase, sharing this journey with you has been the greatest joy of these past 16 years. I love you. Sam, you have been by my side every step of the way. No one has supported me like you, and I'm thankful for your love and friendship. I love you forever and always. I owe everything I have in this world to the game of hockey, and for that, I am truly grateful. Blake Wheeler
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
McIntosh takes 400m freestyle gold in Singapore
Canada's Summer McIntosh took gold in the women's 400m freestyle event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore as American Katie Ledecky finished with the bronze. The event was seen as a battle between 18-year-old McIntosh - who has three Olympic gold medals - and 28-year-old nine-time Olympic champion Ledecky. However, McIntosh led from the start to win in three minutes 56 seconds, with China's Li Bingjie second and Ledecky 2.23secs behind the leader. McIntosh has a chance to join Michael Phelps as the only swimmer to win five individual titles at a single world championships as she is also set to race in the 400m and 200m individual medley, 200m butterfly and 800m freestyle. Speaking to Canadian broadcaster CBC, the teenager said: "It's amazing, day one is probably my biggest day in the meet. "That 400m freestyle, I was so in control that entire race and super strong. Overall I felt I had the endurance. I'm just trying to take it one race at a time and day by day." Ben Proud beat his own British record as he recorded a time of 22.74secs to finish second in his semi-final, behind Switzerland's Noe Ponti, to reach the men's 50m butterfly final. Britain's Jordan Houlden came fourth in men's 1m springboard diving event, while Noah Penman finished 17th out of 59 divers in the preliminary round on his maiden senior world championships appearance.


New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
Five Edmonton Oilers players who could get traded early or late in 2025-26
In a January 2022 look at possible Edmonton Oilers trade assets that could be targets from opposition general managers, youth ruled the day. The top five names were Evan Bouchard, Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Ryan McLeod and Stuart Skinner. All but Bouchard and Skinner have been traded away. Opposition teams have been willing to deal deadline rentals and various assets in exchange for significant payback opportunities in the future. Until recently, when Oilers general manager Stan Bowman looked to restock the prospect pool, the bleeding of young assets had been a 10-year, one-way bleed. From the Griffin Reinhart trade at the 2015 draft through this year's deadline deal for Jake Walman, Edmonton's management has been sending away youthful assets for experience in a mad dash for the Stanley Cup. Advertisement All who have witnessed it knew there was a day of reckoning coming. Bowman's work in his first year could be described as a frantic attempt to catch up to all of those deals that sent away picks and prospects. Without high draft picks available to him, Bowman has been playing a kind of high-stakes poker: trying to turn sixes and sevens into kings and aces via strong scouting and astute trades or signings. Bowman has done well in adding names like Vasily Podkolzin and (recently) Ike Howard. As much as the team wants to add youth to the roster, there will come a time this season when a trade may be necessary. History informs us that general managers rarely trade their own acquisitions, meaning Podkolzin and Howard are less likely than players who were acquired by previous management to be dealt in the next 12 months. It is not a guarantee. Excluding future draft picks, who are the five most valuable trade pieces between today and the trade deadline in 2026? Bowman's priorities may have changed (still adding needed pieces while now keeping an eye on the future), but teams willing to trade with Edmonton will once again be in pursuit of young talent capable of playing feature roles in years to come. Stuart Skinner has exceptional value, both to the current edition of the Oilers and on the open market. His contract is $2.6 million for this season, an extreme value deal for any starting goaltender. He also has a great deal of experience in big games over the past three seasons (50 playoff games, two trips to the final) and could be a key piece in any deal for an upgrade in goal. Skinner's in-season performance may put all questions to bed, but Bowman started the offseason by mentioning the team's depth chart in net was going to be an area of evaluation. That evaluation process may have a conclusion before the start of the year or at the deadline. Skinner could be involved in a trade for a goalie upgrade. He would be part of the ask. Advertisement Matt Savoie will get every chance to earn a spot on one of Edmonton's top two lines this fall and winter. He's a high-skill winger who impressed with his offence and outscoring with the Bakersfield Condors. Unlike his fellow rookie Howard, Savoie has a year of pro experience in which he thrived and proved able to stay healthy. If he develops chemistry with Leon Draisaitl on the second line during the season, Savoie isn't going anywhere. However, it's difficult for any Stanley Cup contender to develop two rookie skill wingers in the same season, and if he struggles during the year, Savoie might get cashed for a more established veteran (whose contract is affordable and years from a big contract). Vasily Podkolzin developed tremendous chemistry with Draisaitl one year ago, earning a job on left wing that had been designated for Jeff Skinner over the summer of 2024. Podkolzin's five-on-five offence with Draisaitl (2.17 points per 60, with a 59 percent goal share) was outstanding. He was also acquired by Bowman, meaning there's a connection between player and management. However, Podkolzin's offence has been inconsistent during his young NHL career, and with Howard and Savoie both pushing for time on the skill lines, the big Russian will need to remain productive on the No. 2 line. If he falters, an NHL team may ask after him, and Bowman could cash in his young winger for help elsewhere. Beau Akey arrives in the Oilers' pro system at an inconvenient time for his skill set. He's a mobile defenceman with plus passing ability, and can help across 200 feet. Edmonton's NHL roster houses Bouchard, who's an established player with a similar but more elite skill set. Akey will arrive in the AHL this fall and play for the Bakersfield Condors. His level of ability is such that, barring injury, he should be considered a strong candidate to play in NHL games over the next two seasons. However, with his skill duplicated on the NHL roster, another NHL team could ask, and receive, Akey as a payment for immediate help. Maxim Berezkin is a quality power winger who's an impact player in the KHL. The Oilers haven't been able to get him over to North America, and it might be time to cash him in for immediate help. There's no doubt about his skill; he's NHL-ready. Speed is the worry, but a deadline deal that sends the talented Russian winger away for a rental could be in play next spring. During 2024-25, he posted 24 goals and 56 points in 87 combined regular-season and playoff games. He can play in the NHL, but it might not be for the Oilers. For all names on this list, a strong season in the Oilers organization is the best way to avoid a trade. Advertisement Skinner will hold his position as the team's No. 1 goalie if he can post strong performances during the regular season. Bowman would likely check down from acquiring a replacement for Skinner and look to add an upgrade on backup Calvin Pickard. The fact that there is any question at all tells us the organization may still be casting about for upgrades. Savoie and Podkolzin will enter camp as the top options at their respective positions and spots on the depth chart. The key will be to keep things moving, to be productive and to outplay the increased competition from Howard, Andrew Mangiapane, Trent Frederic and others. Akey's fate may well be decided by the lack of other young options for trade at the deadline. He's vulnerable to trade because his exit passes lead to offence, and NHL teams hold the ability to pass out of the zone (and beat the forecheck) in high regard. Not every team seeks an undersized puck mover who is unproven at the pro level, but a productive AHL season could turn some heads. The Oilers do have a need to upgrade right defence behind Bouchard, but it's questionable whether Akey can fill that need in time. Berezkin is a player who has high value, and management is likely willing to trade. The nature of all negotiations over the years is not known, but the fact that Berezkin hasn't signed may mean he's either content in the KHL or unwilling to sign and risk time in the AHL. Edmonton has had a tough time in this area over the last decade, with Bogdan Yakimov, Ziyat Paigin and Ilya Konovalov all eventually returning to Russia before their entry-level deals were complete. Management doesn't own a 2026 first-round selection and may be hesitant to continue using picks at the deadline each spring. For that reason, all five names here could be in play. If the Oilers go searching for a goalie, Skinner would be in the conversation. Savoie and Podkolzin are vulnerable if a skill forward is needed. Both Akey and Berezkin could be packaged in any deal. Bowman has worked hard to improve the quality and depth of the Oilers. Perhaps there will be no need to trade any of these players. Looking back at the 2022 list, with three of five names exiting, chances are we will see one of these players on another NHL depth chart this time next season.