In the midst of a career-worst slump, Brooke Henderson is looking inward for inspiration
Henderson was a 14-year-old amateur in her debut at the national championship in 2012, the youngest player to ever compete in the event at the time. And though she missed the cut that year at Vancouver Golf Club, there was an undeniable ease to her arrival. She was already a well-known prodigy who'd won a pro event on the Canadian women's tour en route to qualifying, not to mention dozens of junior and amateur titles. When she was asked at the time what it felt like to be competing against the best players on the planet, Henderson barely seemed fazed.
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11 hours ago
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The Province
11 hours ago
- The Province
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The 27-year-old Canadian earned player of the week honours for leading the Lions to a decisive 36-18 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday Published Aug 19, 2025 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • 4 minute read B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke passes during the first half of a CFL football game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in Vancouver, on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS SURREY — James Butler isn't surprised when he watches Nathan Rourke successfully lob a 49-yard pass up the field. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors It's what the running back has come to expect from the B.C. Lions star quarterback. 'To me, that's just Nate being Nate. It's on brand for Nate,' Butler said at the team's training facility in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday. 'I've been saying this since I met him — whenever No. 12 is back there, he just gives you a chance.' After struggling in his return to the CFL last season, Rourke is back at the top of his game. The 27-year-old Canadian earned player of the week honours for leading the Lions to a decisive 36-18 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday. Rourke has shown 'steady growth' this season and the player of the week nod shows the team's entire offence has been clicking, said Lions head coach Buck Pierce. 'I think the guys around him are performing at a high level as well,' he said. 'And when quarterbacks receive that type of honour, it means a lot of guys around him are performing well, too.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rourke connected on 26 of his 34 pass attempts Saturday, throwing for 382 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. The performance marked his sixth 300-plus yard game of the season and the fourth time he's thrown multiple TD passes in his last five starts. 'Great leader, great quarterback, great man. Aspire to be like him in a few ways,' said Lions receiver Keon Hatcher, who leads the league in receiving yards (878), receptions (54) and targets (85). 'Nate's done great. Excited to see how he can finish this season. He's a great leader. He does a great job in and out of the huddle and I just can't wait to see what the future holds.' Since returning from an oblique injury on July 5, Rourke has averaged 352 passing yards per game. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He currently sits third in the CFL for most passing yards (2,686) this season behind Bo Levi Mitchell of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3,057) and Nick Arbuckle of the Toronto Argonauts (3,033), and is third in TD passes (16). The success follows a difficult end to the 2024 campaign. Rourke wasn't in the CFL to start the season, working instead to find a permanent home in the NFL. Last August, he re-signed with B.C. — the team where he had a breakout campaign in 2022 and earned most-outstanding Canadian honours — taking over for the injured Vernon Adams Jr. The homegrown talent went 3-5, throwing four touchdowns and nine interceptions and B.C. finished the regular season with a 9-9 record. The Lions were ousted from the West semifinal by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. B.C. opted to stick with Rourke moving forward and dealt Adams to the Calgary Stampeders during the off-season. The club also brought in Pierce — a former CFL quarterback himself — as head coach. While the Lions (5-5) lost three straight games early this season, they've recently rebounded and won two straight, thanks in part to a dynamic offence where Rourke and his teammates constantly keep their opponents guessing. Part of what makes the offence work is trust, said Butler, who leads the CFL in rushing yards (785). 'I feel like every time we go out there, I always say, 'got your back,'' he said. 'Playing with him just makes it so much easier. Like I said, with Number 12 next to me, there's a chance. I know I'm gonna block a D lineman, a D tackle, I'm gonna block dudes, three, four times my size as long as it protects 12.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While Butler and Rourke started building their bond back in 2021 and 2022 when they were both with B.C., this year the entire offensive crew has built a special chemistry. 'It's definitely a tight knit group,' said the running back. 'And I feel like it only makes it better that anybody at any time can make a big play. That's a cool thing. And I feel like guys making big plays only makes us all want to make big plays.' There's still room too grow, too, said Rourke. The entire offence wants to limit how many penalties they take and how many turnovers they give up, and they're working to get points on the board faster to ease the pressure for their teammates on defence. Progress comes week by week, the QB said. 'At this point, I'm just trying to stack games and trying to feel better, more comfortable every week,' Rourke said. 'And I've just been enjoying learning from the guys and from Buck. And I like that the level of comprehension of the offence is just kind of growing every week.' The Lions will face the Argonauts (2-8) in Toronto on Saturday. News Local News NHL Vancouver Canucks Opinion
