Riders' secondary speaks on getting 3 interceptions vs. Lions
Hear from Roughriders' DBs Tevaughn Campbell and Antoine Brooke Jr. on the team's secondary performance in Week 4 against the Lions
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CTV News
34 minutes ago
- CTV News
Arrivederci. Toronto FC buys out hefty contracts of Italy's Insigne, Bernardeschi
Toronto FC forward Federico Bernardeschi (10) and New England Revolution forward Leonardo Campana (9) argue during first half MLS soccer action in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn TORONTO — Toronto FC is parting ways with Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, ending an expensive and unsuccessful partnership. The struggling Major League Soccer club said their contracts had been mutually terminated, with TFC using its two permitted buyouts of their guaranteed deals. 'After several meaningful discussions, we are happy to have found a solution that is agreeable to all parties involved,' Toronto GM Jason Hernandez said in a brief statement Tuesday. The two Italian designated players arrived to much fanfare — with paycheques to match — midway through the 2022 season. But they could not return the club to its former glory. Insigne, 34, was making US$15.4 million this season, second only to Lionel Messi's US$20.5 million. Bernardeschi, 31, was earning US$6.295 million this season, sixth-best in MLS. Insigne's contract ran through June 2026 with an option for the remainder of the year, while Bernardeschi's deal covered 2026 with option years through 2028. It was not money well spent. Toronto (4-10-5) currently sits 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference, four places and 11 points below the playoff line, and 26th overall in the 30-team league. It has not made the playoffs since 2020, when it stumbled at the first hurdle. Their departure means Toronto is without a designated player, with two such spots available. Under MLS roster rules, a designated player aged at least 24 only carries a salary budget charge of US$743,750, no matter how much they are paid. 'The designated player strategy is a critical component to Toronto FC's success in Major League Soccer and the club will continue to prioritize TFC's short-, medium- and long-term strategy in the weeks ahead,' said MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley. Insigne scored 19 goals and added 18 assists in 76 games for Toronto across all competitions. That includes one goal and three assists in 12 appearances this season. Bernardeschi scored 26 goals and added 22 assists in 99 appearances across all competitions. An all-star in 2024, he has four goals and four assists through 15 matches this season. Bernardeschi offered a parting message via social media. 'Every single day on the pitch, I gave everything I had. All my passion. All my drive. All of myself. I never held back,' he wrote. 'I gave everything for this shirt, for this city, for its fans.' 'Now a new journey begins for me,' he added. 'A new chapter, a new challenge. But the bond with this city, with its people, will forever live in my heart. Toronto FC, MLS: thank you for this extraordinary adventure. This is not goodbye. It's see you soon.' Bernardeschi has been linked to a move to Italy's Bologna. Insigne sat out the last two TFC games. He did not make it off the bench in a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls and did not dress for Saturday's 3-0 win over Portland. At the time, Toronto coach Robin Fraser said the club wanted to give other players a chance. Toronto sat Insigne for the first four games of this season after failed attempts to move him to clubs in Italy, Spain, Turkey and Brazil. Insigne kept training with the first team while out of favour. 'It wasn't a happy time for me,' he told The Canadian Press in May. 'But I'm not going to keep thinking about it.' 'I've always been happy here, and as long as my contract lasts, I'm going to do the best I can to make us win,' he added. The club eventually returned him to action, but with one goal and three assists in 12 league outings, he did not make much of an impact. Bernardeschi has not played since May 24 when he picked up a fifth yellow card that earned him a one-game suspension. He missed the last three games with what Fraser described as a 'lingering' injury. At his best, the flamboyant Bernardeschi was a sight to behold, marauding down the wing and heading towards goal, looking to unleash his dangerous left boot. But with 26 yellow and four red cards in 88 league appearances, he was also volatile and somewhat unreliable. Insigne showed only flashes of past brilliance that earned him the nickname 'Il Magnifico.' Injuries and family health issues did not help. Unlike Bernardeschi, who was able to converse in English, Insigne's limited language skills meant his side of the story was rarely heard. In May, however, he said he was going to finish out his contract. 'With the money I earn, I could just sit down, I could have said, 'Who cares? I make a lot of money. I don't have to do anything,'' Insigne said in an interview with The Canadian Press. 'But that's not who I am. I'm going to always, every day, come and work hard. And as long as my contract's here, that is my goal at the end — I'm here to work hard and respect everybody.' Hopes were high when the two made their debut in July 2022, when Bernardeschi scored one goal and set up another and Insigne collected a stylish assist in a 4-0 romp over expansion Charlotte FC. The Italians' debut drew an announced sellout of 29,067, well above the average of 23,676 over the previous 11 home matches that season. Compare that to the 14,019 that Toronto drew this season for a 1-0 home loss to FC Cincinnati on May 14. The two Italians reportedly bumped heads with former coach Bob Bradley. John Herdman, who succeeded Bradley. converted Bernardeschi to wingback with Fraser returning him to his more accustomed winger position. Bernardeschi arrived with a Grade-A resume. 'We are thrilled to add Federico to our team,' said Bill Manning, TFC's president at the time. 'As a player and a person, we believe he's exactly what we need right now, both on the field and in the locker room. Federico has proven himself to be a champion and a leader at Juventus and for the Italian national team and brings a pedigree to Toronto that's second to none.' Manning, fired by Pelley in July as president of TFC and the Toronto Argonauts, famously said he settled on insigne after seeing the local interest in Italy's run to the European championship. 'I actually went to the Transfermarkt website and I looked up the Italian national team on what players were coming out of contract,' Manning told reporters. 'And Lorenzo was one of the few players that was coming out of contract. I started writing down players that I thought were world-class, that I thought would have commercial value in this market.' Insigne arrived from Napoli, where he captained the side. He made a combined 416 appearances for the Serie A club, scoring 114 goals with 95 assists across all competitions. He scored 10 goals in 53 appearances for Italy. But he never seemed to find a fit with Toronto. Bernardeschi arrived from Juventus, where he had spent five seasons after joining from Fiorentina. He scored six goals in 38 appearances for the Italian national team, including the winning penalty in the shootout to seal Italy's win over England in the 2020 UEFA European Championship final (played in 2021). --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2025 Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Vancouver Canucks re-sign winger Brock Boeser to new seven-year deal
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, left, and right wing Conor Garland congratulate each other after the Canucks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed one of their top scorers, inking right-winger Brock Boeser to a seven-year, US$50.75-million deal. The team announced the new contract about half an hour after the NHL's free agency period opened on Tuesday and the 28-year-old from Burnsville, Minn., became an unrestricted free agent. Boeser had 25 goals and 25 assists for Vancouver last season, well below the career highs he posted in goals (40) and points (73) during the 2023-24 campaign. There was ample speculation in March that the 28-year-old right-winger would be moved ahead of the NHL's trade deadline, but Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said the offers simply weren't enticing enough. Originally selected 23rd overall by the Canucks in the 2015 draft, Boeser has played all 554 of his career NHL games for Vancouver, amassing 204 goals and 230 assists in regular-season play. He added another 11 goals and 12 assists over 29 post-season appearances. The six-foot-one, 208-pound forward from Burnsville, Minn., became a fan favourite not only for his scoring prowess, but how he handled adversity off the ice, including the death of his father, Duke, in May 2022. The support from Vancouver hockey fans always meant a lot to Boeser. 'I can't say enough about the fan base and the city. Everyone's so kind to me, if I'm just out and about,' he said at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. 'Everyone's always had my back and supported me. And that's something that I really appreciate ' Earlier on Tuesday, the Canucks announced extensions for all-star goalie Thatcher Demko and winger Conor Garland. Demko inked a three-year, $25.5-million deal, while Garland signed a six-year, $36-million contract. Both players are heading into the final season of five-year contracts and were set to become unrestricted free agents next summer. Demko, 29, is coming off an injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign where he posted a 10-8-3 record with a .889 save percentage, a 2.90 goals-against average and one shutout. The six-foot-four, 192-pound goalie from San Diego, Calif., was named a finalist for last year's Vézina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's top goaltender, after going 35-14-2 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 GAA during the 2023-204 campaign. The performance helped Vancouver clinch first place in the Pacific Division and earn a spot in the playoffs. Demko suffered an injury to the popliteus muscle in his left knee during Game 1 of the team's first-round series against the Nashville Predators. He did not play again until Dec. 10. 'Thatcher is one of the top goalies in the National Hockey League and a key leader in our locker room,' Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. 'Demmer is one of the hardest-working players on our team and gives our group great confidence when he takes the net. A complete package of size, strength, rebound control, and athletic ability, our players know that they have an opportunity to win each and every game he plays.' Garland put up 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) for the Canucks this past season and won gold with the U.S. at the men's world hockey championship in May. The 29-year-old winger from Scituate, Mass., has played the last four years in Vancouver after being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes alongside defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in July 2021. 'Conor is a core member of our hockey team and a player who has taken on a bigger role with the club the past couple seasons,' Allvin said. 'He competes hard every day, drives play on the ice, is relentless on the forecheck and is really tough to play against. Gars is an emerging leader in the group and works extremely hard to keep himself and the players around him accountable.' This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press, was first published July 1, 2025.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Edmonton Oilers deal winger Viktor Arvidsson to Boston Bruins for 2027 draft pick
The Edmonton Oilers have dealt left-winger Viktor Arvidsson (left) to the Boston Bruins for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL entry draft. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Edmonton Oilers have dealt left-winger Viktor Arvidsson to the Boston Bruins for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL entry draft. The Oilers announced the deal just before the league's free agency period began on Tuesday. Arvidsson, 32, had 15 goals and 12 assists in 67 regular-season games for Edmonton last season, and added another seven points (two goals, five assists) in 15 playoff appearances before the Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final. The five-foot-10, 185-pound Swedish forward signed with Edmonton as a free agent in July 2024 following stints with the L.A. Kings and Nashville Predators. Arvidsson was originally selected by Nashville in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2014 draft and has amassed 194 goals and 195 assists over 613 regular-season games. The move frees up US$4-million in cap space for an Oilers team that inked defenceman Evan Bouchard to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $10.5 million on Monday. Edmonton's superstar captain Connor McDavid is also now eligible for an extension. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2025. The Canadian Press
