(SP)CANADA-TORONTO-FOOTBALL-CANADIAN SHIELD TOURNAMENT-NEW ZEALAND VS UKRAINE
(250611) -- TORONTO, June 11, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chris Wood (L) of New Zealand goes up for a header with Oleksandr Martyniuk of Ukraine during the Canadian Shield Tournament football match between New Zealand and Ukraine at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, June 10, 2025. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
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Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Niko Sigur finding footing with Canadian men's soccer team ahead of Gold Cup
VANCOUVER – Even as a ball boy, Niko Sigur was hungry to learn. From his post on the B.C. Place sidelines, Sigur watched as rising stars Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies sprinted down the field for the Canadian men's soccer team during a game back in 2018 or 2019, studying and analyzing each player's movements with an eye to the future. 'I wanted to see, 'How would I play in that situation, in a game like that?' And it was a good intensity,' he said. 'And I always knew in the back of my mind that I could play there one day. And here I am.' The 21-year-old right back/midfielder from Burnaby, B.C., is part of the Canadian squad preparing to open its Gold Cup campaign against Honduras on Tuesday. Sigur expects about 40 family and friends to be in the stands at B.C. Place, the same stadium where he grew up watching the Vancouver Whitecaps. Playing at home is 'nice,' he said, but Sigur has higher expectations than simply making it onto the roster. 'I'm more of the type of guy that I'm not really happy just being here and being a part of it,' he said. 'Obviously I want to contribute, and I know I can contribute. So obviously it's nice to be here, but I also want to make an impact and help the team, because I know I can.' Canada is coming off a trophy-winning performance at the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament in Toronto earlier this week, where Sigur factored into two games. Canada head coach Jesse Marsch liked what he saw from the emerging talent. 'Niko's a clever footballer and he's eager to continue to prove himself as a young player,' he said. 'I think we all know he has big potential. He's got a lot of flexibility in different positions that he can play. 'But Niko's, I think, been very good, and had two good performances (last week) as well. I thought when he came in off the bench against Ivory Coast and he helped the game. So we like Niko.' Getting into the national team talent pool has been a journey for Sigur. A dual national, he played nine games for Croatia's U-21 team, including at the Euro 2023 U-21 Championship, before switching his allegiance to his birth country, Canada, last year. Professionally, he came up through the Whitecaps academy system, then played university soccer for the York Lions before moving to Europe to begin his professional career. Sigur signed with Hajduk Split in Croatia's first division back in December 2023 and made 28 appearances last season, contributing three goals and an assist. The winding road hasn't always been easy, he said. 'I would say the path I have, I definitely have a chip on my shoulder. Because I felt like I had to prove a lot of people wrong,' he said. 'And I don't think it's the same for kids even in recent years, because there's more opportunities. 'When I was growing up, there was no (Canadian Premier League). Obviously, there were MLS teams, but now you've guys got going to NCAA getting drafted, more players are coming through U sports. I'm glad I can be one of the guys that did that. But for me, personally, it was tough growing up.' Sigur has now made four appearances for the national team and, as he prepares for Tuesday's contest — and the rest of the Gold Cup, which runs from June 14 through July 6 — he knows his role is about to grow. 'I think I'm probably going to get more responsibility, more minutes, maybe even a little bit of pressure on me. But it's nothing I'm not used to,' he said. 'There's some injuries, there's some guys coming back from injury, so I know whether it be in right back or midfield, there's gonna be more responsibility.' Following Tuesday's game, the 30th-ranked Canadians will shift to Houston to face No. 90 Curaçao on June 21 before wrapping Group B play against No. 81 El Salvador on June 24. The winner and runner-up from each of the four groups advance to the knockout stage in the 16-team tournament. 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. Canada won the Gold Cup back in 2000 and was third in 2002. When the tournament was last held in 2023, the country lost to the United States in a penalty shootout in the round of 16. For Marsch, this year's iteration is a key step in Canada's journey toward the 2026 World Cup. 'We know that the best thing we can do for next summer is take advantage of every moment we have together now to continue to develop where we are,' the coach said. 'We also know that the more success we have this summer, the better, the more confidence. 'They already have a lot of belief in themselves, most importantly, and in what we're developing. But now it's just about levels of how good we can continue to push.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bad news for Adekugbe. Injury on Canada duty diagnosed as torn Achilles tendon
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Sam Adekugbe tore his Achilles tendon with Canada at the Canadian Shield Tournament and has been replaced by Sporting Kansas City's Zorhan Bassong on Jesse Marsch's CONCACAF Gold Cup roster. Adekugbe had to be helped off the field after going down with an apparent non-contact injury in the 81st minute of the penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast on Tuesday at Toronto's BMO Field. In announcing the injury news Thursday, Canada Soccer said Adekugbe has returned to the Whitecaps 'who will determine next steps along with the player.' Canada, ranked 30th in the world, opens Gold Cup play Tuesday against No. 75 Honduras in Vancouver before heading to Houston to face No. 90 Curaçao and No. 81 El Salvador. It's the latest injury setback for the 30-year-old Adekugbe, who has won 43 caps for Canada and was part of the 2022 World Cup squad. He left the Whitecaps' March 2 game against the Los Angeles Galaxy with a leg injury, missing the next 12 games until returning April 27 against Minnesota. Adekugbe, who returned to the Whitecaps in 2023, had previously been sidelined by sidelined by calf and knee problems. 'Sam has demonstrated tremendous dedication and resilience in his journey back to full fitness, which makes this setback even more heartbreaking,' Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement Thursday. 'He'll need time to process this moment, and throughout his recovery, he'll have the unwavering support of everyone at the club. 'Sam is part of our family, and we're all behind him as he begins his road to recovery.' Adekugbe has scored three goals in 12 appearances for Vancouver across all competitions this year. Adekugbe came back to Canada after escaping earthquake-ravaged Antakya in Turkey, where he had been playing for Hatayspor. He joined the Turkish Super Lig team in June 2021 from Norway's Valerenga Fotball. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Born in London, England, he was three when his family moved to Manchester and 10 when it came to Calgary. At 16, he moved to Vancouver to join the Whitecaps residency program. He signed a homegrown contract with the MLS team in 2013 but made just 16 appearances for the team over the next four seasons, spending much of the time out on loan. Adekugbe had loans stints with Brighton in the English Championship and Sweden's IFK Goteborg before joining Valerenga in January 2018. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Majority of Proline players favour Panthers in upcoming game versus Oilers
It seems Proline bettors are favouring the Florida Panthers to continue their winning ways in the Stanley Cup final. Florida took a 2-1 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers with a decisive 6-1 win Monday night. Action is slated to resume Thursday night in Sunrise, Fla. Fifty-four per cent of early bettors are looking towards Florida. And the early over-under on the game is over 6.5 goals, with 59 per cent of gets on the over. On Monday night, just 41 per cent of bettors picked Florida to win while 52 per cent of players correctly had the game to go over 6.6 goals. In NBA action, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers resume their best-of-seven final series Wednesday night. The Thunder captured a 123-107 victory Sunday night to tie the championship at one game apiece. A whopping 66 per cent of bettors had Indiana, a 12-point underdog, winning the second game while 67 per cent of wagers were also on the Pacers +11.5. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Fifty-four per cent of early wagers for Wednesday's game are on the Thunder to win while 74 per cent of bettors also like Oklahoma City at -5.5 on the point spread. On Monday night, the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to edge the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 in 10 innings. That was a popular result as 62 per cent of bettors had the Jays winning and 68 per cent correctly had the game to go over 8.5 total runs. A Proline digital play won $2,697.63 from a $20 bet on a seven-pick parlay while another earned $1,148.99 from a $9 wager on a six-pick international soccer parlay. A retail bettor claimed $1,748 from a $20 bet on a three-pick international soccer parlay that included Canada downing Ukraine in their Canadian Shield Tournament game (the Canadians won 4-2) and both teams scoring in the contest. Another received a $2,718.30 payout from a $9 bet on a 10-pick baseball parlay. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
