Latest news with #Calgary-raised
Edmonton Journal
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar scores invite to Olympic orientation camp
Article content Calgary Flames rearguard MacKenzie Weegar is officially on the radar to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Article content Weegar was among the invitees announced Friday for Hockey Canada's national teams orientation camp, which is slated for Aug. 26-28 in Calgary and will include the top candidates for the men's, women's and para rosters. Article content The three-day get-together is an off-ice event. The itinerary will include team-building sessions, meetings, presentations and media interviews, but there will not be a star-studded scrimmage. Article content 'While the next several months will bring intense evaluation and difficult roster decisions, we look forward to kicking off the season in Calgary and giving our athletes and staff a chance to come together and start to become one team as we set our sights on February,' said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, in Friday's announcement. Article content Article content 9⃣2⃣ players from 🇨🇦's men's, women's and para hockey programs have earned invites to National Teams Orientation Camp in Calgary. 9⃣2⃣ athlètes de hockey masculin, de hockey féminin et de parahockey du 🇨🇦 iront au camp d'orientation des équipes nationales à Calgary. — Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 1, 2025 Article content Weegar, who was raised in the Ottawa area and is now considered the frontrunner to be the Flames' next captain, was also in the mix to wear the Maple Leaf this past winter at the 4 Nations Face-Off, although he ultimately didn't crack Canada's roster. Article content Article content He is among the 13 defencemen invited to the late August camp. Also on that list are the Colorado Avalanche dynamic duo of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, plus Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, Noah Dobson of the Montreal Canadiens, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers, Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars, Brandon Montour of the Seattle Kraken, Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues, Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers and Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights. (The Calgary-raised Makar is one of a half-dozen dudes already named to the roster. The other five are forwards.) Article content Article content Article content As Hockey Canada's brass ponder their blue-line options for Milano Cortina 2026, they will value Weegar's versatility. The 31-year-old is a right-shot who is also comfortable on the left side of pairing, and he is capable of playing major minutes but can also provide the sort of bite that coaches often covet from those in a bottom-pairing role. Article content Weegar notched eight goals and 47 points in 81 games during the 2024-25 campaign. He led the Flames in assists (39), plus-minus (+18) and average icetime (24:10) and was fifth in the NHL in blocked shots (192).
Calgary Herald
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar scores invite to Olympic orientation camp
Article content Calgary Flames rearguard MacKenzie Weegar is officially on the radar to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Article content Weegar was among the invitees announced Friday for Hockey Canada's national teams orientation camp, which is slated for Aug. 26-28 in Calgary and will include the top candidates for the men's, women's and para rosters. Article content The three-day get-together is an off-ice event. The itinerary will include team-building sessions, meetings, presentations and media interviews, but there will not be a star-studded scrimmage. Article content 'While the next several months will bring intense evaluation and difficult roster decisions, we look forward to kicking off the season in Calgary and giving our athletes and staff a chance to come together and start to become one team as we set our sights on February,' said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, in Friday's announcement. Article content 9⃣2⃣ players from 🇨🇦's men's, women's and para hockey programs have earned invites to National Teams Orientation Camp in Calgary. 9⃣2⃣ athlètes de hockey masculin, de hockey féminin et de parahockey du 🇨🇦 iront au camp d'orientation des équipes nationales à Calgary. — Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 1, 2025 Article content Weegar, who was raised in the Ottawa area and is now considered the frontrunner to be the Flames' next captain, was also in the mix to wear the Maple Leaf this past winter at the 4 Nations Face-Off, although he ultimately didn't crack Canada's roster. Article content Article content He is among the 13 defencemen invited to the late August camp. Also on that list are the Colorado Avalanche dynamic duo of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, plus Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, Noah Dobson of the Montreal Canadiens, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers, Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars, Brandon Montour of the Seattle Kraken, Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues, Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers and Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights. (The Calgary-raised Makar is one of a half-dozen dudes already named to the roster. The other five are forwards.) Article content Article content Article content As Hockey Canada's brass ponder their blue-line options for Milano Cortina 2026, they will value Weegar's versatility. The 31-year-old is a right-shot who is also comfortable on the left side of pairing, and he is capable of playing major minutes but can also provide the sort of bite that coaches often covet from those in a bottom-pairing role. Article content Weegar notched eight goals and 47 points in 81 games during the 2024-25 campaign. He led the Flames in assists (39), plus-minus (+18) and average icetime (24:10) and was fifth in the NHL in blocked shots (192). Article content He has had a heck of a summer, too. He was married last weekend in Montreal. Among those in attendance to see MacKenzie and Maggie tie the knot were Flames teammates Blake Coleman, Matt Coronato, Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, Ryan Lomberg and Dustin Wolf.
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Mustafa, Nemahsis shortlisted for Polaris Music Prize as cash reward drops in value
TORONTO - Contemporary folk-poet Mustafa, alt-pop singer Nemahsis and electronic experimentalist Marie Davidson are among the 10 acts shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, which carries a slimmed-down cash reward this year. Organizers say the best Canadian album winner will receive $30,000, down from $50,000, as various sponsors scale back financial contributions. Among this year's other shortlisted artists announced Thursday are an array of Quebec names, including singer-songwriter Lou-Adriane Cassidy, indie pop pair Bibi Club and psychedelic rockers Population II. Rounding out the contenders are Calgary-raised and Montreal-based Yves Jarvis, Anishinaabe-led Montreal duo Ribbon Skirt, Toronto punk outfit the OBGMs and soul-pop artist Saya Gray. The winner will be announced during a gala at Toronto's Massey Hall on Sept. 16, when the $10,000 Polaris Song Prize will also be handed out for the first time. The song prize recognizes the Canadian song of the year based on artistic merit, with the cash award to be shared by its Canadian performers and songwriters. A shortlist for the song contenders will be announced on July 29. The Polaris Music Prize short list was drawn from a selection of 40 albums announced last month. The winner will be chosen by an 11-person jury leading up to the gala. Rap artist Haviah Mighty, who won in 2019, will host the gala with performances confirmed by all of the shortlisted artists except Mustafa. The Polaris was established 20 years ago to honour the most significant albums of the year based on artistic merit, not sales or genre. The prize first carried a $20,000 purse that increased twice in the years that followed, reaching $50,000 in 2015. However, more recent changes have brought down the financial rewards for contenders. Two years ago, the organization ended the practice of awarding $3,000 to each of the shortlisted artists. Executive director Amber Still tied this year's smaller grand prize to broader financial constraints. 'Like many arts organizations, Polaris has experienced a decrease in sponsorship this season,' they said in a statement. Contributors to the Polaris prize include the Slaight Family Foundation and SOCAN, who put in a combined $40,000 that goes towards the Polaris album and song prize winners. Its other major partners include CBC, the funding body FACTOR and the Ontario and federal governments. Several of the Polaris-contending albums explore political themes, including 'Dunya,' from Mustafa Ahmed. The previously shortlisted Toronto musician reflects on leaving the city after the shooting death of his brother and considers the impact of the occupation of the Gaza Strip through the story of a childhood friend. 'Verbathim' sees Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter Nemahsis deep in introspection on womanhood, social expectations and finding her voice. The debut album from the Juno winner, whose given name is Nemah Hasan, was co-produced by Noah (40) Shebib, best known as Drake's longtime collaborator. Montreal's Davidson and Toronto's the OBGMs are also returning Polaris nominees with their latest albums. 'City of Clowns' has Davidson wading back into the playful electro-abyss that earned her a spot on the Polaris short list in 2019. The new album keeps her cynical sense of humour intact as she tackles capitalism, clout chasers and technology. 'Sorry, It's Over' is the result of the OBGMs lead singer Densil McFarlane's decision to seek therapy and use the experience to write about past relationships. Quebec's Lou-Adriane Cassidy explores the idea of a monster within on 'Journal d'un Loup-Garou,' a guitar and piano-driven pop concept album that translates to 'Diary of a Werewolf.' Bibi Club, the dream-pop project of Plants and Animals member Nicolas Basque and his wife Adèle Trottier-Rivard, is in contention with 'Feu de grade,' an album partly inspired by the camaraderie of her childhood experiences as a girl scout in Montreal. The debut album of Toronto's Saya Gray, simply titled 'Saya,' showcases an off-kilter sonic energy she sharpened as the musical director for U.S. singer Willow Smith and touring bassist for Daniel Caesar. Two of this year's shortlisters lean heavily into retro influences. The soulful 'All Cylinders' by Yves Jarvis, the stage name of Jean-Sébastien Yves Audet, captures several eras of rock and pop, with original songs that hearken back to the sounds of Billy Joel, Beck and Prince. Montreal rock act Population II evokes the controlled abandon of Ozzy Osbourne and Pink Floyd on 'Maintenant Jamais.' 'Bite Down' the debut of Ribbon Skirt, formerly known as Love Language, takes direction from Tashiina Buswa's Anishinaabe roots as it explores generational trauma and the sounds of 2000s indie rock. Last year, the Polaris prize went to Jeremy Dutcher for his album 'Motewolonuwok.' He became the only artist to win the honour twice. Tickets for the show are available through the Massey Hall website and at the venue's box office. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Mustafa, Nemahsis shortlisted for Polaris Music Prize as cash reward drops in value
TORONTO – Contemporary folk-poet Mustafa and alt-pop singer Nemahsis are among the 10 acts shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, which carries a slimmed-down cash reward this year. Organizers say the best Canadian album winner will receive $30,000, down from $50,000. Executive director Amber Still said the organization received less money from some of its sponsors this year. Other shortlisted artists include electronic experimentalist Marie Davidson, punk outfit the OBGMs and psychedelic rockers Population II. The winner will be announced at a gala at Toronto's Massey Hall on Sept. 16, when the $10,000 Polaris Song Prize will also be handed out for the first time. This year's contenders also include folk-soul performer Saya Gray and French-Canadian singer Lou-Adriane Cassidy. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Rounding out the list is pop pair Bibi Club, Calgary-raised Yves Jarvis and Anishinaabe-led duo Ribbon Skirt. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Calgary Herald
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary's Steven Ogg returns to the dead (sort of) in Revival
Steven Ogg first heard about the new supernatural-horror series Revival when he received a flattering note from co-creator Aaron B. Koontz, who told him that he wanted the Calgary-raised actor to take on the role of the wonderfully named Blaine Abel. Article content It's the sort of note that every actor would love to receive. Article content 'He actually wrote a really lovely letter to me,' says Ogg, in an interview with Postmedia from Montreal. 'I find it interesting when people approach with, 'Well, I know I could never afford you,' or 'You're too busy.' Of course, neither is the truth. But he had written a letter saying he was a big fan of my work and wanted to chat with me about if I was available. It was just a really lovely letter that moved me to tears, with him being so gracious and lovely. I spoke to him and he described the concept of the show, and then he also said this character was a preacher, a preacher's son. That opportunity to play a preacher, I was already interested. They had my interest with that.' Article content Article content Revival, which was filmed in New Brunswick and is currently airing Thursdays on Syfy, is based on the comic book series of the same name by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. It's a novel take on the undead subgenre. In a small Wisconsin town, the recently deceased are resurrected on Revival Day and appear to maintain their memories and personalities. So they are not really the 'undead,' but mysterious 'Revivers' who divide the small town. At the centre of the show is a murder mystery that finds our protagonist, single mother and cop Dana Cypress, played by Wynonna Earp's Melanie Scrofano, investigating the death of her troubled sister Em, played by Romy Weltman. Em, like many of the recently departed, doesn't stay dead for long. Article content Article content While the Hollywood Reporter described the series as Syfy's midwestern zombie mystery, the Revivers are not the mushy-brained nuisances of the variety Ogg faced as Walking Dead chief antagonist Simon in seasons 6 through 8 of AMC's The Walking Dead. Nevertheless, Blaine Abel considers them to be demons and the work of Satan. He begins to attract a cult-like following among the townsfolk and, at least as of episode 3, is setting the stage for what he calls a 'holy war.' Article content For now, it's hard to tell if Blaine will become a full-blown villain in the show. Ogg has a talent for playing bad guys, of course. He not only played Simon in The Walking Dead, but also a murderous synthetic android named Rebus in HBO's Westworld. He is also adept at playing characters that reside in a morally ambiguous grey zone, such as Pike, the former criminal turned rebel leader in TNT's runaway-train sci-fi series Snowpiercer. Whatever the case, Ogg traded in his trademark facial hair for a stringy mullet to play Blaine, and he manages to exude maximum creepiness in the role. Article content 'We collaborated quite easily and effortlessly, and he became more of this character who, as you will see, progressed throughout the series, and literally and figuratively becomes bigger,' Ogg says. 'Revival Day, for Blaine, gives him this mission in life to save souls, essentially. The Revivers are the devil's children for him. So it really brings back this passion and devoutness to a cause. That all appealed to me. When you get to speak verse from the Bible, it's Shakespeare in a sense with the language. So all of that was super exciting for me.'
