logo
The CFL is built on traditions. The new commissioner must figure out what to keep

The CFL is built on traditions. The new commissioner must figure out what to keep

Toronto Star4 hours ago

The Canadian Football League is back, and in a world that is spinning too fast there is a comfort in that for some. Culturally, the CFL can be the sports equivalent of a classic rock station: It keeps delivering most of the same standards, to most of the same crowd. The league stretches back into Canadian history; it's the future that's often a question.
Stewart Johnston is still settling into the big chair as the 15th commissioner in league history, despite being the most qualified commish, probably, since Jake Gaudaur was in the position from 1968 to 1984. Johnston was president of TSN, the league's most important partner, and has been a CFL fan from childhood. He's psyched.
Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Diallo opens grass-court season with win over Vukic at Libema Open
Diallo opens grass-court season with win over Vukic at Libema Open

Winnipeg Free Press

timean hour ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Diallo opens grass-court season with win over Vukic at Libema Open

Canadian tennis player Gabriel Diallo kicked off his grass-court season with a 7-5, 7-6 (2) win over Australia's Aleksandar Vukic on Monday at the Libema Open. The 23-year-old from Montreal had 13 aces and no double faults in the win at the ATP/WTA 250 tournament in s'-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. Diallo had the only break of the match, and crucially it came in the final game of the first set when the Canadian returned to love. He did not have another chance to break in the 92-minute contest. Vukic was not as productive on his chances as Diallo saved all four break points he faced, including two in the 11th game of the second set. Diallo will face another Australian, sixth seed Jordan Thompson, in the second round. In women's doubles action, Canadians Bianca Andreescu and Carson Branstine defeated Russian pair Anastasia Potapova and Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (2), 7-5. They will next face the second-seeded team of Hungary's Fanny Stollar and Russia's Irina Khromacheva. Meanwhile, at the WTA 500 Queen's Club Championships in London, England, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., lost her first-round match 7-6 (4), 6-2 to Germany's Tatjana Maria. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Maria fired seven aces and converted three breaks on seven chances, compared to one in four chances for Fernandez. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.

UFC returns to Vancouver with Oct. 18 Fight Night show at Rogers Arena
UFC returns to Vancouver with Oct. 18 Fight Night show at Rogers Arena

Winnipeg Free Press

time2 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

UFC returns to Vancouver with Oct. 18 Fight Night show at Rogers Arena

VANCOUVER – The UFC is returning to Vancouver for an Oct. 18 Fight Night show at Rogers Arena. It will mark Vancouver's seventh UFC event since 2010, tying Toronto for the second-most UFC events in Canada (behind Montreal). The UFC's most recent visit to the city was UFC 289 in June 2023, drawing 17,628 fans and a $5.14-million live gate. The mixed martial arts promotion has held 35 shows across 11 cities in Canada, debuting with UFC 83 in Montreal in 2008. In other Canadian UFC news, flyweight Jamey-Lyn Horth of Squamish, B.C., has a new opponent in American Vanessa (Lil Monster) Demopoulos, replacing Czechia's Tereza Bledá, on the UFC's June 14 Fight Night card in Atlanta. Horth (7-2-0) is coming off a December loss to American Miranda (Fear The) Maverick, who is ranked 11th among 125-pound contenders. Horth is 2-2-0 in the UFC. Demopoulos (11-7-0) is 5-4-0 in the UFC but has lost her last two outings. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025

Manchester United teenager Gabe Biancheri gets first taste of camp with Canada
Manchester United teenager Gabe Biancheri gets first taste of camp with Canada

Winnipeg Free Press

time2 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Manchester United teenager Gabe Biancheri gets first taste of camp with Canada

TORONTO – Born in Wales to a Canadian mother and Italian father, Gabe Biancheri has options when it comes to playing international soccer. The 18-year-old Manchester United academy forward has already represented Wales at youth level and attended a Welsh senior camp. Now he is getting a taste of Canada as a training player with Jesse Marsch's squad at the Canadian Shield Tournament. Having already represented Wales at the 2023 UEFA U-17 Championship and in UEFA U-19 qualifying, Biancheri would have to make a one-time switch with FIFA to change international allegiance. 'I don't know what is going to happen next,' Biancheri said of his international future. 'I've got some time.' But for the time being, he is weighing his options and checking out Canada. 'All the players and all the staff have made me feel very welcome to ease me in,' Biancheri said. Biancheri's mother was born in Calgary but moved to Florida when she was six. University brought her to Wales where she met Biancheri's father, a native of Sicily who came to Wales for work. Biancheri is also eligible for England given his grandmother on his mother's side was born in Birmingham. While England has not yet contacted him, Italy reached out last year. Biancheri has been letting his agent handle such. Biancheri's mother helped him prepare for his first visit to Canada. 'She was just telling me about Canada, how nice the people are,' he said. 'She also sang me the national anthem and sent me the lyrics. She was excited for me.' Biancheri has been able to play tourist here, having already gone up the CN Tower. In attending the Canada camp in Halifax and Toronto, Biancheri missed out on the Welsh under-21 side's 4-0 loss to Norway on Friday in its final friendly before opening 2027 UEFA U-21 qualifying against Denmark in September. Biancheri spent nine years at Cardiff City FC before joining Manchester United at 16. United reportedly paid Cardiff a six-figure fee for the teenager, who signed his first pro contract upon turning 17 in September 2023. While comfortable at Cardiff, the club he grew up supporting, Biancheri decided it was time for a move. 'I wanted to test myself and put myself in the deep end … I needed that challenge,' he said. 'There were teams looking at me. But when United comes, it's very hard to say no,' he added. 'It's one of the biggest clubs in the world.' Last season he started with United under-18 team before moving up to the under-21 side that plays young talent from other top teams in Premier League 2. 'I'm enjoying it. Obviously being at such a big club has its benefits — travelling around. playing the best teams in the U.K. and Europe,' he said. Biancheri, who stands five foot 10, says his favourite role is playing up front as a No. 9. 'I'm not the biggest or the fastest or the strongest, but I know where to be,' he said. 'And that will always get me goals. And I've got an eye for a goal as well. 'But I can also play out wide or just behind or off the striker.' Football has always been his game. 'My first word was ball,' he said with a smile. Biancheri, who has two more years plus an option on his United contract, knew Canadian defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, having played against him in England. And he talked to Fulham defender Luc de Fougerolles in advance of the Canada camp to get the lay of the land, with Marsch putting the two in contact. Biancheri says the intensity of Canadian training sessions surprised him. Marsch clearly likes what he sees in Biancheri. 'He's a dynamic player. He's very good around the goal,' said Marsch. 'He's technically gifted. You can see he's an intelligent player. 'He's a version of Jonathan David. He's not exactly the same player but he's a striker that can play up on the backline but also is good at coming underneath and connecting plays and being part of the buildup phase.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. In Manchester, Biancheri still lives with a host family and one of his young United teammates. He has already had a couple of training sessions with the United first team. 'A good experience,' he said. 'Watching them on TV when I was growing up and watching them on TV now and then getting a chance with them is always nice. It's good experience and it's also challenges me and develops me. And it's what I need.' — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store