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Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Grey Cup champs struggling as season hits halfway mark
While it's wild that the reigning Grey Cup champions could miss the post-season this year, it's also a damning indictment of what has been a messy 2025 campaign for the Toronto Argonauts. Indeed, Toronto's season has gone from bad to worse, and at 2-7 they are running out of time to turn things around. Much of the chaos can be traced back to the uncertainty surrounding No. 1 quarterback Chad Kelly, who has yet to play this year after breaking his leg in the Eastern Final last season. The team's handling of the situation hasn't been great, initially keeping him off the six-game injured list — which would have saved the club money on the salary cap — only to add him to the list in recent weeks. Had head coach Ryan Dinwiddie known he wouldn't have Kelly for much of the season, you'd think he would have brought in a more reliable backup than Nick Arbuckle — Grey Cup MVP honours be damned. But Arbuckle doesn't shoulder all the blame for a lack of execution and efficiency on the field; in fact, he's been one of their better performers. PETER POWER / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie continues to publicly criticize his team, contradicting his message to his players to not point fingers. PETER POWER / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie continues to publicly criticize his team, contradicting his message to his players to not point fingers. Dinwiddie publicly called out his team following a rough loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 3, and he was back at it again after a crushing 46-42 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday. How could you blame him after Toronto blew a 21-point first-quarter lead, surrendering six touchdowns and 373 yards through the air, along with an interception returned for a score. Dinwiddie didn't mince words in his assessment: 'I don't think those guys quit on us, but I think we've got some pretenders in the building that like to talk a big game and don't show up on game day. We just don't have enough dogs, man.' He didn't stop there either, taking a shot at his beleaguered offensive line when asked about Kelly's return, claiming: 'I don't know if I'd put him in front of that O-line.' Dinwiddie also criticized special teams, noting his displeasure with co-ordinator Mickey Donovan, while also placing blame on the players. This is all happening while Dinwiddie is simultaneously urging his players to ignore the headlines and 'find a way to do their individual self a benefit in playing better and having a better purpose walking in this building.' It's a contradictory message from a head coach who's giving the media plenty to talk about while telling his players not to point fingers. At 2-7 and sitting alone at the bottom of the East Division, I suppose all ideas for improvement should be considered. Dinwiddie's last public undressing of his team did result in a victory the following week. It's safe to say he's hoping for the same result this week when Toronto travels to take on another team trying to find its footing in the 2-6 Edmonton Elks. Although not unprecedented, the path from two wins at the midway point to the post-season is an extremely challenging one, especially with the risk of a divided locker room. No one's going to feel sorry for the Argos, though, not after their success last season, capturing a second Grey Cup in the last three seasons. While the Argos' struggles are a major story right now, there were plenty of other headlines across the league that caught my attention. Let's get into it in the latest edition of CFL Rundown. 1) B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke had his breakout moment, dismantling the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence in a 41-38 overtime victory. The Canadian pivot looked composed and confident, throwing for a season-high 408 yards and two touchdowns. The win was a crucial one for the Lions, snapping Hamilton's six-game winning streak. Rourke finally got his timing down with Justin McInnis, as the leading receiver from a year ago hauled in eight catches for a game-high 159 yards. Running back James Butler was also a key factor, finishing with 85 yards rushing on 14 carries and adding another 55 yards through the air on four catches. The win improved the Lions' record to 4-5, keeping them in the competitive West Division playoff race. 2) It was a tale of two halves for the Tiger-Cats, who were a no-show in the first half, mustering only 60 net yards of offence. Bo Levi Mitchell came alive in the third quarter, with the Ticats scoring three consecutive touchdowns to turn a 13-7 deficit into a 28-20 lead. Costly mistakes would ultimately seal their fate. Kicker Marc Liegghio missed two field goals, and a crucial fumble by receiver Tim White in overtime set up the game-winning kick for the Lions. The Ticats had been playing with fire in their last two games — winning with late-game heroics — but this time, their luck finally ran out. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 3) The decision by Jason Maas to play an injured Davis Alexander in Week 7 against the Argos is looking even more questionable today. The Montreal Alouettes quarterback situation has become a mess, with McLeod Bethel-Thompson struggling mightily the last two weeks. His poor play contributed to a 23-22 loss to the Elks on Friday, where he was benched at halftime after throwing a costly pick-six. Now it's up to Caleb Evans to lead the way for a banged-up offence, as Bethel-Thompson has been added to the six-game injured list, putting his availability for the rest of the year in serious question. The team would have undoubtedly been in a better position had Maas treated Alexander's hamstring injury more seriously and will have an uphill battle trying to catch the Ticats for top spot in the East Division. 4) Kudos to Cody Fajardo for getting his revenge against his former team in fitting fashion. Down five with less than a minute remaining, Fajardo led the Elks to a much-needed win. He capped it off with a 15-yard touchdown pass to another former Alouette, Kaion Julien-Grant, with just 15 seconds remaining. The moment was especially pivotal as it was redemption for Julien-Grant, who had dropped a would-be game-winning touchdown in Week 9 in a narrow loss to Hamilton. The two embraced in a long hug after the game, a fitting symbol of redemption for both. At 2-6, the Elks are still in a deep hole, but this is a victory to build on. 5) Things just look so difficult for the Redblacks, which is probably why Dru Brown's body language isn't always suggesting he's having fun in the nation's capital. CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown (left) brought Ottawa back from the dead on Saturday, leading the team to a 46-42 win despite being down 22-1 after the first quarter. CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown (left) brought Ottawa back from the dead on Saturday, leading the team to a 46-42 win despite being down 22-1 after the first quarter. The Redblacks earned a second straight victory, this time against an Argos team also struggling with a 2-6 record. But it took everything from their gunslinger, who threw for 373 passing yards and a career-high five touchdown passes, to get the win. Ottawa trailed 22-1 after the first quarter, and things looked like they were only going to get worse until Brown took over. His stellar effort resulted in 100-yard performances from Bralon Addison and Justin Hardy, a duo that combined for three of the five touchdowns, with Eugene Lewis scoring the other two. At 3-6, Ottawa might have just kept its season alive, while the 2-7 Argos made it that much harder to defend their Grey Cup title. 6) The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were in a prime position to get back into the thick of the West Division race, but their momentum came crashing down with a heartbreaking one-point loss to the Calgary Stampeders. The Stamps clinched the victory with a walk-off 40-yard field goal by Rene Paredes, only one drive after the Bombers had taken the lead with a 63-yard boot from Sergio Castillo. It was a brutal defeat for the Bombers, who dropped to 4-4 and were swept in the three-game season series by the Stamps for the first time since 2016. With the win, Calgary improved to 6-3 and now has some breathing room in second place behind the 7-1 Roughriders. 7) When a team holds a seven-point lead at half and then only scores four points in the final two quarters, they don't deserve to win. Indeed, the Bombers offence is in a lot of trouble, and the issues run much deeper than quarterback Zach Collaros. The team's aging offensive line is struggling to protect Collaros, preventing him from going through his reads, nor can it consistently bully opposing defensive lines with a vicious run attack. Winnipeg is starting to look like the old Matt Nichols-led offence that was so heavily reliant on the play of running back Andrew Harris. We're seeing that again with Brady Oliveira, who accounted for 168 yards from scrimmage against the Stamps, including a team-high 100 yards through the air. Winnipeg's receiver group is thin without a healthy Dalton Schoen. Keric Wheatfall is clearly not a No. 1 receiver, and while Nic Demski has played well, the Bombers need more or better weapons if they want to contend for a Grey Cup. The defence is playing well enough to win, they need help on offence. 8) Taylor Elgersma, a Canadian quarterback and Bombers second-round draft pick, got his first taste of NFL pre-season action with the Green Bay Packers, becoming the first Canadian university QB to play in an exhibition game since the early 1980s. The 23-year-old entered the game with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, completing three of four passes for 24 yards on his lone drive, which finished the game. Elgersma signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in May, dazzling scouts with his six-foot-five, 227-pound frame and athleticism. It's a great story and really cool to see another Canadian making a name for himself down south. MIKE ROEMER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers second-round draft pick Taylor Elgersma (left) got his first taste of NFL action Saturday as the Green Bay Packers' late-game pre-season pivot. Elgersma is the first Canadian university quarterback to play in an exhibition game since the early 1980s. MIKE ROEMER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers second-round draft pick Taylor Elgersma (left) got his first taste of NFL action Saturday as the Green Bay Packers' late-game pre-season pivot. Elgersma is the first Canadian university quarterback to play in an exhibition game since the early 1980s. Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff. Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
2025 CFL Grey Cup odds for all 9 teams
2025 CFL Grey Cup odds for all 9 teams The CFL season kicks off Thursday, June 5, with QB Trevor Harris and the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting QB Dru Brown and the Ottawa Redblacks. Below are BetMGM Sportsbook's 2025 CFL Grey Cup odds as of the evening of June 3. The defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts open their season Friday, June 6, at the Montreal Alouettes in a rematch of last year's Eastern Final. Toronto has captured the Grey Cup in 2 of the past 3 seasons (2022 and 2024), with Montreal taking the title in 2023. Calgary hosts the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday, June 7, marking the Stampeders debut of QB Vernon Adams Jr., acquired in the offseason. Adams' former team, the BC Lions, welcome the Edmonton Elks later that day to wrap up the Week 1 schedule. Lions QB Nathan Rourke looks to bounce back from a disappointing CFL return last season following a brief stint in the NFL. The defending West Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who lost to the Argonauts in last year's Grey Cup, are off Week 1 and will open their season at home against the Lions Thursday, June 12. The Argonauts are the preseason favorites to win the title, listed at +325 odds by BetMGM Sportsbook. The Alouettes and Blue Bombers follow at +425 each, with the Lions and Redblacks next at +650 apiece. Below are the 2025 Grey Cup odds, provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Last updated Tuesday, June 3, at 11:16 p.m. ET. Favorites Toronto Argonauts +325 (bet $100 to win $325) Recent Grey Cup champions Montreal Alouettes +425 +425 Winnipeg Blue Bombers +425 Could they? BC Lions +650 +650 Ottawa Redblacks +650 +650 Saskatchewan Roughriders +750 The long shots Hamilton Tiger-Cats +1000 +1000 Calgary Stampeders +1500 +1500 Edmonton Elks +2000 Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @corey_a_scott on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. Access NFL coverage: BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
No more air horns: Montreal Alouettes ban noisemakers from home games
Montreal Alouettes fans celebrate during their 48-9 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League Eastern Final action Sunday, November 21, 2010 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) After complaints from other fans and a reminder of the Canadian Football League's (CFL) policies, the Montreal Alouettes say fans will no longer be allowed to bring air horns into the stadium for home games. Superfan Denis Genereux and a group of other season ticket holders started bringing air horns to the games in 2011. 'A bunch of crazy fans like me, it just went crazy, and ever since then, it's been used,' he said. 'It's been the signage of Montreal. These air horns were bothering the other team. We're bothering the other team's offence, and we were doing our jobs as the 13th player.' Genereux and other fans will now need to find another way to rally the home side. The CFL's gameday venue policies are clear. 'Air horns, megaphones, whistles and other mechanical noise makers' are listed as prohibited items. Alouettes spokesperson Francis Dupont said other fans were not as excited about the noisemakers as Genereux. 'We received a lot of complaints in our customer surveys,' he said. Montreal Alouettes fans Montreal Alouettes fans pose for a photo ahead of the 110th CFL Grey Cup between the Montreal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, November 19, 2023. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press) Genereux said other teams bring cowbells, trumpets, drums and other noisemakers to mess with opposing teams. 'There are all kinds of tools to make noise,' he said. 'For us, it was the air horn. Now it's being banned.' NHL Draft Winnipeg Jets hockey fans Laurie and Robert Taman react as the Winnipeg Jets as they selected Patrik Laine second in the NHL draft Friday, June 24, 2016. The Blue Bombers showed the draft on their video screens prior to their CFL game against the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg. (John Woods/The Canadian Press) Genereux said, however, that he 'totally' approves of the ban. 'The Als office was classy in that process because they called me up during winter and they said, 'Denis, we're thinking about banning those things because there were some Alouettes fans who were thinking about leaving and not renewing their season tickets because they were right in front of those air horn users.' When Genereux first brought an air horn to a game, he was in the end zone with no one in front of him. He said he understands other fans' concerns because the noise is intense. 'If you're right in front of it, it's dangerous,' he said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that air horns are loud enough to damage your hearing 'immediately.' 'Using an air horn to scare someone or get their attention isn't a joke or a harmless prank,' the CDC wrote. 'It could hurt their hearing forever, and you could hurt your own hearing too.' The CDC says that an air horn is 129 decibels, and any sound that's 85 decibels or higher can cause hearing loss or other hearing problems, such as tinnitus. It recommends wearing earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones and explicitly advises not to use air horns. 'You could hurt the hearing of everyone around you,' the CDC writes. 'It's not worth it.' Montreal Alouettes fans Montreal Alouettes fans celebrate during their 48-9 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League Eastern Final action Sunday, November 21, 2010 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) Genereux acknowledged the fact that people took air horns to other sections, and that people's health was at risk. 'Of course, there are people in front of them, and those people are suffering from it,' he said. 'I'm a team player and I approve that the aggravated and they are allowed to have their best experience at the game.' Genereux added that he would like to see a section similar to the Ultras section at CF Montreal and other soccer games. Talks are still determining whether this will happen, he said. In the meantime, Genereux said he is planning on bringing a small horn he needs to blow to make noise, and said he plans to aim the horn up out of respect for other fans.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL Playoff Predictions: NHL playoff predictions: Can the Toronto Maple Leafs finally break the curse while Carolina Hurricanes aim to shut down the Washington Capitals?
If you thought Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought the drama, buckle up. Round 2 in the Eastern Conference is shaping up to be even messier, in the best way possible. The Toronto Maple Leafs are clinging to a rare playoff run, the Florida Panthers are still flexing like the reigning champs they are, and the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes are about to run it back in a series that promises chaos. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Let's break it all down with bold predictions and a healthy dose of hockey chaos . Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals Why Washington might pull it off: The Capitals didn't just beat Montreal in Round 1, they straight-up shut them down. Their defense was on lockdown, and goalie Logan Thompson proved he can steal games. With their speed, depth, and playoff experience, Washington isn't just happy to be here; they're aiming to crash the Eastern Final party. Why Carolina has the upper hand: The Hurricanes didn't mess around against New Jersey. They were dominant on both ends of the ice, showing they can win tight defensive battles or shootouts. Their stars—Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis are producing like they should, and their defensive unit is arguably better than Washington's. If goalie Frederik Andersen stays in one piece, Carolina has the edge. Prediction: Hurricanes in 6 It's going to be close, but Carolina looks a little more balanced. Their special teams are clicking, and if they stay healthy, they should grind this one out in six. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Why Toronto could finally make history: This is the most confident version of the Maple Leafs we've seen in years. Beating Ottawa wasn't pretty, but it showed they can handle pressure. Coach Craig Berube is pushing the right buttons, the defense looks stronger than ever, and goalie Anthony Stolarz is holding the fort. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Plus, this team is playing like their jobs are on the line, which it kind of is. Why Florida is still the team to beat: The Panthers rolled through Tampa like it was light work. They've got playoff mileage, new weapons like Seth Jones and Brad Marchand, and a full-speed Matthew Tkachuk back in action. Florida's aggressive style has given Toronto fits in the past, and with Sergei Bobrovsky standing tall in net, the Leafs are in for a serious challenge. Prediction: Maple Leafs in 7 This one's going the distance. Florida is no joke, but Toronto has the home-ice edge and something to prove. If the Leafs can stay disciplined and keep the Panthers from dragging them into penalty trouble, they just might pull off the upset and send the fanbase into a frenzy. Game 7s are likely and the East is about to get even crazier There's no clear runaway team in either matchup, and that's what makes this round so fun. Both series have the potential to go seven games, and every shift is going to matter. From goaltending duels to coaching battles, this is peak playoff hockey. No matter who wins, one thing's for sure, Round 2 is going to be electric. And if the predictions hold, get ready for a Hurricanes vs. Leafs showdown that could shake the Eastern Conference to its core. Also read -
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Poyet blasts AFC ahead of Sydney battle
Jeonbuk Motors coach Gus Poyet has lashed out at the Asian Football Confederation ahead of his South Korean club's AFC Champions League Two battle with Sydney FC, saying it's 'not worth' being in the competition. Poyet's team has plenty of work to do on Thursday night at Allianz Stadium, having lost last week's quarter-final first-leg 2-0 to the impressive Sky Blues. Not helping Jeonbuk's cause last week, according to former Chelsea and Tottenham star Poyet, was not able to play the club's home leg at its own stadium because the AFC was unhappy with the pitch. We are one game away from the Eastern Final of the AFC Champions League Two and standing in our way is Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ⚔️A massive match awaits us on Thursday night 🔥Join us as we bid to make history 🎟️ | # — Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) March 11, 2025 'I'm really looking forward to seeing the pitch of Sydney … because I wasn't able to play at home for a really unfair and stupid decision so I hope the pitch is spot on,' the 57-year-old former Uruguay international said. 'If your pitch is worse than our pitch at home, what is the outcome? Why is that fair? 'Sydney beat us and were better than us on the day. It was nothing to do with the referee but it's not 50-50 this qualification round. 'It's happening with too many things. Why? I don't know if you've been to Jeonju. You need to go Seoul and drive three hours and it was very cold. '(The AFC official from Indonesia) probably thought `do I want someone from the AFC, the commissioner, to come here? No, I'll make a report and we play somewhere near Seoul'. 'Our pitch was in perfect condition to play. 'You know how many people were at the first leg? (The crowd was) 2500 in the quarter-finals of the Champions League (Two). It's not worth it. 'If the Asian federation wants to play Champions League Two at the highest level, they (must) pay attention to what they do (and be) fair to the decisions they make or it's not worth it to play it. 'You want to play in equal situations and it's not equal.' MD-1 work 😤#WeAreSydney# — Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) March 12, 2025 Poyet – whose other head coaching roles have includes stints with Brighton, Sunderland and the Greek national team – also blasted the AFC for being Wednesday's pre-match press conferences being held at Sydney's training base rather than Allianz Stadium, where Jeonbuk trained that night. It meant extra travel the day before the game for him and one of his players. 'Someone decided who doesn't understand the rules of football to be fair,' he said. 'We're talking about the other side of football, the side I don't like. The politics, the decision makers of people who don't understand football, who don't have a clue.' 'When common sense goes against me, I use common sense. I'm not picking and choosing, I'm being honest with you.'
