Undrafted Stanley Cup champion Logan O'Connor reflects on draft process
Ahead of the NHL Entry Draft, former Calgary minor hockey player and Stanley Cup champion Logan O'Connor serves as a reminder that players don't need to hear their name called to find success.
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CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Zach Collaros does it all for unbeaten Blue Bombers in win over Edmonton Elks
Zach Collaros threw three touchdown passes and ran for a critical TD himself to lead the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 36-23 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Thursday. The veteran quarterback, who was 25 of 30 for 334 yards, connected on two touchdown strikes to Nic Demski, one for eight yards and another for 60. Keric Wheatfall hauled in a 52-yard TD pass. Demski, who was a game-time decision with an injured ankle, extended his reception streak to 74 consecutive games. The Blue Bombers upped their record to 3-0 in front of a seventh consecutive sellout at Princess Auto Stadium. Edmonton remained winless at 0-3. Winnipeg has won its last 13 meetings against Edmonton and are 16-2 against the club since 2017. Fans got an exciting finish. Winnipeg led 23-13 at halftime, but Elks quarterback Tre Ford came out firing in the third quarter, hitting Kaion Julien-Grant with a 68-yard touchdown pass at 2:01. Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard followed that up with a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 23-23. Winnipeg responded by marching down to Edmonton's 22-yard line, but only came away with a 30-yard Sergio Castillo field goal at 2:36 of the fourth. The Bombers then chewed up the clock midway through the quarter, putting up an 11-play, 86-yard drive that Collaros capped by escaping from pressure and running 13 yards into the end zone with 5:42 left. Castillo added a 23-yard field goal with 1:20 remaining. Ford was 18 of 29 for 252 yards and no interceptions. Elks backup Cody Fajardo scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. Blanchard was also good on field goals from 38 and 29 yards and made his two converts. Castillo also booted a 35-yard field goal and made three of four convert attempts. Both teams scored on their second possession of the game. Fajardo busted over on a one-yard quarterback sneak, but Winnipeg responded with Demski's eight-yard TD catch. Castillo missed the convert attempt to give the Elks a 7-6 lead. Blanchard booted a 38-yard field goal one minute into the second quarter. The Bombers replied with Collaros sailing the ball to Wheatfall along the sidelines, who got by his defender and ran into the end zone at 2:39. Three minutes later, Collaros threw a deep pass to Demski, who bumped off his defender and sped into the end zone for a 60-yard score. Castillo was good on his convert to make it 20-10. Both teams were then hit by fumbles. Edmonton didn't capitalize but Winnipeg used its turnover for Castillo's 35-yarder that made it 23-10 with under two minutes left in the first half. Collaros was 16 of 18 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns at halftime. After Julien-Grant's TD catch, Bombers defensive back Evan Holm intercepted Ford midway through the third, but he was called for pass interference. Ford was sacked by Kyrie Wilson on the next play. Up next
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Winnipeg Blue Bombers remain unbeaten with 36-23 win over Edmonton Elks
Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) stretches out for the touchdown during first half CFL action against the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods WINNIPEG — Zach Collaros threw three touchdown passes and ran for a critical TD himself to lead the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 36-23 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Thursday. The veteran quarterback, who was 25 of 30 for 334 yards, connected on two touchdown strikes to Nic Demski, one for eight yards and another for 60. Keric Wheatfall hauled in a 52-yard TD pass. Demski, who was a game-time decision with an injured ankle, extended his reception streak to 74 consecutive games. The Blue Bombers upped their record to 3-0 in front of a seventh consecutive sellout at Princess Auto Stadium. Edmonton remained winless at 0-3. Winnipeg has won its last 13 meetings against Edmonton and are 16-2 against the club since 2017. Fans got an exciting finish. Winnipeg led 23-13 at halftime, but Elks quarterback Tre Ford came out firing in the third quarter, hitting Kaion Julien-Grant with a 68-yard touchdown pass at 2:01. Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard followed that up with a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 23-23. Winnipeg responded by marching down to Edmonton's 22-yard line, but only came away with a 30-yard Sergio Castillo field goal at 2:36 of the fourth. The Bombers then chewed up the clock midway through the quarter, putting up an 11-play, 86-yard drive that Collaros capped by escaping from pressure and running 13 yards into the end zone with 5:42 left. Castillo added a 23-yard field goal with 1:20 remaining. Ford was 18 of 29 for 252 yards and no interceptions. Elks backup Cody Fajardo scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. Blanchard was also good on field goals from 38 and 29 yards and made his two converts. Castillo also booted a 35-yard field goal and made three of four convert attempts. Both teams scored on their second possession of the game. Fajardo busted over on a one-yard quarterback sneak, but Winnipeg responded with Demski's eight-yard TD catch. Castillo missed the convert attempt to give the Elks a 7-6 lead. Blanchard booted a 38-yard field goal one minute into the second quarter. The Bombers replied with Collaros sailing the ball to Wheatfall along the sidelines, who got by his defender and ran into the end zone at 2:39. Three minutes later, Collaros threw a deep pass to Demski, who bumped off his defender and sped into the end zone for a 60-yard score. Castillo was good on his convert to make it 20-10. Both teams were then hit by fumbles. Edmonton didn't capitalize but Winnipeg used its turnover for Castillo's 35-yarder that made it 23-10 with under two minutes left in the first half. Collaros was 16 of 18 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns at halftime. After Julien-Grant's TD catch, Bombers defensive back Evan Holm intercepted Ford midway through the third, but he was called for pass interference. Ford was sacked by Kyrie Wilson on the next play. Up next Bombers: Will visit the Calgary Stampeders on July 3. Elks: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Debate rages at city hall over Oilers event-park funding in hearing on future of tax levy
Edmonton city council is divided over a directive from the province to use money from a special tax levy on projects on land owned by the Oilers. It was the Edmonton Oilers arena debate all over again at city hall on Thursday with a slightly different flavour. Most city councillors and business leaders agree a special tax program in the core is vital for the future prosperity of downtown. The sticking point is a directive from the provincial government to spend tens of millions of public dollars to build projects on land owned by the Oilers. City councillor and mayoral candidate Andrew Knack wants to halt a $250-million event park beside Rogers Place, the home of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), which owns the site, is using it as their outdoor Fan Park. The event park is listed as one of the so-called catalyst projects city money would help fund through the downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). 'I do support downtown revitalization, but I will not support a bad deal,' Knack, who represents the west-end Ward Nakota Isga, told media on Thursday morning. 'We don't even know if we need an event park yet ... there's just this assumption that something new and shiny will solve everything.' Event park rendering Conceptual rendering of the event park in downtown Edmonton. (Oilers Entertainment Group) The CRL was introduced in 2014 as part of the deal to build Rogers Place, which opened two years later with a final price tag of $613.7 million. The city paid $312 million of it in cash and through the levy, the team paid $165.5 million and the rest came via a ticket surcharge, the federal government and MacEwan University. The home arena of the Oilers opened in 2016, replacing Rexall Place, following years of debate and negotiation after Daryl Katz bought the National Hockey League team in 2008 from the Edmonton Investors Group for a reported $200 million. As the area within its boundary is redeveloped, the CRL is meant to reinvest that extra tax revenue into downtown. City staff have crunched the numbers and say extending the 20-year levy by an extra decade is worthwhile. Event park site The site of the proposed downtown Edmonton event park, right, that's currently being used by the Oilers Entertainment Group as its Fan Park, with Rogers Place in the background on June 26, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton) 'It is a comprehensive approach to developing downtown Edmonton, encompassing underground utilities, beautification of our streets and parks, creation and expansion of event spaces, improvement to transit stations and incentives for attainable housing,' Brett Latchford, the city's director of strategy and emerging economy, said at Thursday's public hearing. Kris Sims, the Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, drove to Edmonton from Lethbridge to express her concerns about the deal along with those from several others. 'That's fine, go ahead and revitalize the downtown … but why are you tying it to one element of corporate welfare?' Sims said. 'That is not fair, and it's not right.' The provincial government has final say over the CRL. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams says it won't be approved unless it includes the event park and site servicing for the housing planned north of Rogers Place. The province said it would contribute more than $100 million for those projects. CRL hearing People in attendance for a public hearing at Edmonton city hall about the future of the downtown Community Revitalization Levy on June 26, 2025. (Jeremy Thompson/CTV News Edmonton) Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he understands why Edmontonians are upset but believes the deal would fall apart without the event park, which he says would be a major missed opportunity for downtown. '(The province is) a major funder of this, a major enabler of this plan, so they're definitely going to have a say in this,' Sohi told media between hearing sessions. 'Anyone who believes that we can find $175 million of new revenue or $103 million of grant funding I think is not living in reality.' A representative of the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), which operates Rogers Place and the Ice District plaza as well as the NHL team among other sports and entertainment enterprises, said the corporation is proud of its contributions to the CRL. Edmonton Rogers Place downtown skyline spring/summer overcast An aerial image of Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton on June 17, 2025. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton) 'It has been a powerful tool for revitalizing Edmonton's downtown core and helping to strengthen our education, arts, housing, and business districts,' Tim Shipton, OEG's executive vice-president of external affairs, said in a statement to CTV News Edmonton. 'The CRL has supported critical public infrastructure, attracted billions in private investment and created safer, more vibrant spaces for all Edmontonians. The MOU (memorandum of understanding) signed with the city and province represents a transformational city building opportunity, focused on additional housing when it's needed most, and a one-of-a-kind community event facility with vibrant public realm spaces — developments that will not just benefit downtown, but the city as a whole.' The public hearing is expected to be held all day Thursday and Friday. Edmonton city council Edmonton city council on June 26, 2025. (Jeremy Thompson/CTV News Edmonton) Michael Janz, the city councillor for south-side Ward papastew, told CTV News Edmonton he believes the deal isn't really about downtown, rather how a 'provincial tax grab' is going to be distributed, asking would it 'go back to Edmontonians, or is it going to go to one private business?' 'We don't even know the other options, because this was decided behind closed doors in a private negotiation between one business and our premier with the city of Edmonton along for the ride,' Janz said. 'When you can't walk away, when you're being told you have to accept this deal on terms acceptable to the OEG, that's not a negotiation.'
