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The Province
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Province
SFU Red Leafs pondering return to Canadian leagues after issues with U.S.
'The responsible step for SFU is to consider various governance models, costs and implications," a statement from the school this week read Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox SFU Red Leafs running back Mason Glover tries to avoid a tackle by UBC Thunderbirds Ryan Baker during the 34th Shrum Bowl in 2022. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG The SFU Red Leafs are considering coming back to Canadian competition. 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 SFU has been a member of NCAA Div. II since 2010, but the school explained in a written statement Thursday afternoon that it is looking at all its options and pointed to issues with competing in the U.S. as the reason why. SFU is the lone Canadian member in the NCAA. They moved there from the U Sports national body and its Canada West Conference, where they had been playing against the likes of the UBC Thunderbirds, UVic Vikes and Trinity Western Spartans in a variety of sports since 2000. Prior to that, SFU teams had played in the American small college National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics since the school opened in 1965. Multiple sources have told Postmedia that leaving the NCAA has been a conversation at SFU for several weeks. They said concerns include going back and forth across the border for games and the new NCAA rules limiting the participation of transgender athletes. The SFU statement didn't get into specifics, though. 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. There was no word on whether SFU features any transgender athletes. 'SFU is proud to be Canada's only NCAA team. We are working closely with the NCAA to understand evolving changes to the NCAA participation framework and how they may impact our programs and our student-athletes,' the statement read. 'It has also become more challenging to have student-athletes cross the U.S. border. Underlying these specific examples, like all post-secondary institutions, SFU needs to consider sustainability as we build successful programs. 'Because of these factors, the responsible step for SFU is to consider various governance models, costs and implications. This is something we are committed to do. We are aware that any change would be a huge decision for the university and would take some time. It would also need to include careful conversations with internal and external stakeholders.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canada West features teams from 17 schools. There are seven schools included in that from B.C., with the UBC Okanagan Heat, Thompson Rivers WolfPack, Fraser Valley Cascades and UNBC Timberwolves as well as UBC, UVic and Trinity Western. SFU would need to apply to both Canada West and U Sports and be voted in to become a member school. A report commissioned by SFU by McLaren Global Sports Solutions' senior vice-president Bob Copeland in May 2023 to look at the sustainability of football and the overall state of athletics at the school listed the application fees for Canada West at $313,000 and for U Sports at $55,000. SFU had shut down its football program initially in April 2023. A backlash from players, alumni and the football community led to the Copeland report. SFU published Copeland's report in September 2023. Football remained in limbo on the sidelines for several months, before SFU published its new strategic plan for athletics and recreation in January, and SFU Provost and Vice-President Academic Dilson Rassier confirmed at the time that the program was remaining shuttered. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mark Coletta, who is the longtime coach of SFU's club men's hockey program, told Postmedia in October 2023 that he thought a Red Leafs team could be a contender in Div. I in five years and that he could come up with enough boosters for the program to be self-funded. The school hasn't signed off on adding the squad to its varsity roster, though. Coletta's team has had success in exhibition games against Div. I teams, including playing the Boston University Terriers to a 1-1 draw on the road in January 2024. Under NCAA rules, an SFU team could play Div. I since there is no national tournament in men's hockey in Div. II. A move by the school to Canada West would kibosh all that. Canada West and U Sports would undoubtedly only accept SFU if it brought all of its eligible programs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Meanwhile, SFU has been in the midst of a cash crunch, like all universities in the country seem to be. Copeland's report pointed to an athletics budget deficit of $1.77 million when football was running. And a Postmedia story in December 2023 quoted a Rassier memo to faculty and staff in regards to department budgets being cut five to eight per cent over the current and coming fiscal years. Rassier told Postmedia in January in regards to the new plan for athletics: 'Part of this is planning is to make absolutely sure that department is financially sustainable. So we're going to be constantly evaluating to make sure. We cannot work in ways over the next few years in ways where the department won't be financially sustainable. We have to work within a budget that is responsible with the other needs of the university.' SFU named Luc Simard as executive-director of athletics and recreation in August 2024. The athletic department had been under interim leadership for a year. Athletic director Theresa Hanson and the school agreed to part ways in August 2023. Simard had been the University of Toronto's director of sports and recreation. @SteveEwen SEwen@ Read More Op-Ed News Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Whitecaps News
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
SFU Red Leafs pondering return to Canadian leagues after issues with U.S.
The SFU Red Leafs are considering coming back to Canadian competition. SFU has been a member of NCAA Div. II since 2010, but the school explained in a written statement Thursday afternoon that it is looking at all its options and pointed to issues with competing in the U.S. as the reason why. SFU is the lone Canadian member in the NCAA. They moved there from the U Sports national body and its Canada West Conference, where they had been playing against the likes of the UBC Thunderbirds, UVic Vikes and Trinity Western Spartans in a variety of sports since 2000. Prior to that, SFU teams had played in the American small college National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics since the school opened in 1965. Multiple sources have told Postmedia that leaving the NCAA has been a conversation at SFU for several weeks. They said concerns include going back and forth across the border for games and the new NCAA rules limiting the participation of transgender athletes. The SFU statement didn't get into specifics, though. There was no word on whether SFU features any transgender athletes. 'SFU is proud to be Canada's only NCAA team. We are working closely with the NCAA to understand evolving changes to the NCAA participation framework and how they may impact our programs and our student-athletes,' the statement read. 'It has also become more challenging to have student-athletes cross the U.S. border. Underlying these specific examples, like all post-secondary institutions, SFU needs to consider sustainability as we build successful programs. 'Because of these factors, the responsible step for SFU is to consider various governance models, costs and implications. This is something we are committed to do. We are aware that any change would be a huge decision for the university and would take some time. It would also need to include careful conversations with internal and external stakeholders.' Canada West features teams from 17 schools. There are seven schools included in that from B.C., with the UBC Okanagan Heat, Thompson Rivers WolfPack, Fraser Valley Cascades and UNBC Timberwolves as well as UBC, UVic and Trinity Western. SFU would need to apply to both Canada West and U Sports and be voted in to become a member school. A report commissioned by SFU by McLaren Global Sports Solutions' senior vice-president Bob Copeland in May 2023 to look at the sustainability of football and the overall state of athletics at the school listed the application fees for Canada West at $313,000 and for U Sports at $55,000. SFU had shut down its football program initially in April 2023. A backlash from players, alumni and the football community led to the Copeland report. SFU published Copeland's report in September 2023. Football remained in limbo on the sidelines for several months, before SFU published its new strategic plan for athletics and recreation in January, and SFU Provost and Vice-President Academic Dilson Rassier confirmed at the time that the program was remaining shuttered. Mark Coletta, who is the longtime coach of SFU's club men's hockey program, told Postmedia in October 2023 that he thought a Red Leafs team could be a contender in Div. I in five years and that he could come up with enough boosters for the program to be self-funded. The school hasn't signed off on adding the squad to its varsity roster, though. Coletta's team has had success in exhibition games against Div. I teams, including playing the Boston University Terriers to a 1-1 draw on the road in January 2024. Under NCAA rules, an SFU team could play Div. I since there is no national tournament in men's hockey in Div. II. A move by the school to Canada West would kibosh all that. Canada West and U Sports would undoubtedly only accept SFU if it brought all of its eligible programs. Meanwhile, SFU has been in the midst of a cash crunch, like all universities in the country seem to be. Copeland's report pointed to an athletics budget deficit of $1.77 million when football was running. And a Postmedia story in December 2023 quoted a Rassier memo to faculty and staff in regards to department budgets being cut five to eight per cent over the current and coming fiscal years. Rassier told Postmedia in January in regards to the new plan for athletics: 'Part of this is planning is to make absolutely sure that department is financially sustainable. So we're going to be constantly evaluating to make sure. We cannot work in ways over the next few years in ways where the department won't be financially sustainable. We have to work within a budget that is responsible with the other needs of the university.' SFU named Luc Simard as executive-director of athletics and recreation in August 2024. The athletic department had been under interim leadership for a year. Athletic director Theresa Hanson and the school agreed to part ways in August 2023. Simard had been the University of Toronto's director of sports and recreation. @SteveEwen SEwen@ SFU makes final decision to shut down football program, no word on starting hockey team SFU names new executive athletic director — What's next for sports teams at the school?
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
‘Making history': PWHL Vancouver drafts first South Asian player
UBC forward Chanreet Bassi will be playing professional hockey with her hometown team next year. The Professional Women's Hockey League has selected its first South Asian player, and it happens to be a rising B.C. athlete. Chanreet Bassi secured her spot Tuesday evening during the league's 2025 draft in Ottawa for its new, Vancouver team. 'It was a shock,' she said. 'Definitely blacked out. I think especially going into a draft, you're not really sure what's going to happen. But, (I'm) super ecstatic to be drafted by Vancouver.' Not only will Bassi be the first South Asian player in the PWHL, she's also the first UBC Thunderbird athlete to be drafted. Graham Thomas, the head coach of the UBC Women's Hockey Team, said it's a very exciting moment for the sport. 'Making history, so I mean it's an inspiration,' he said. 'So many accolades' Thomas said when Bassi joined the team, she made an impact right away – ending her six-year university career as a four-time Canada West All-Star. 'She's tied with Tatiana Rafter for all-time career points as a Thunderbird,' he said. 'She's had so many accolades. So many accomplishments.' At 23 years old, Bassi is making groundbreaking strides in her career. It's a moment she's been preparing for, applying the same hard work on and off the ice. During her teenage years, she grew on her family's farm in the Okanagan, planting hundreds of cherry trees on the five-acre property. 'That was just what we did day-to day, every day for our family and for each other,' she said. 'There's a pathway' Bassi started playing hockey when she was three years old, following in her older brother's footsteps. The path she's paving didn't exist when she was young. 'There wasn't really a route for us to go,' she said. 'We just played because it was fun.' Thomas echoed that sentiment, adding the league's expansion to Vancouver provides more opportunities to aspiring professional athletes. 'This is now showing that there's a pathway,' he said. 'It's not only a great place to go to school and get a great education and play your university hockey.' Bassi said she doesn't take the responsibility lightly. 'I think it's super cool for girls to have someone to look up to, which is something we never experienced,' she said. 'It kind of brings that community together, especially younger girls dreaming to play in the PWHL one day. That's what the sport's for.' Fans will be able to follow Bassi's journey when the season gets underway in November.
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian under-20 women's rugby team loses to Ireland as two-game series finishes 1-1
DUBLIN - Adia Pye and Rachel Cullum scored tries in a losing cause Saturday as the Canadian women's under-20 rugby team was beaten 32-14 by their Ireland counterparts. The teams split the two-game series with Canada prevailing 26-15 last Saturday. Ireland led 17-0 in the rematch before Canada stuck twice before the break with Brooke Roddham's conversions cutting the lead to 17-14. The home side pulled away in the second half. Roddham and Pye are two of eight players on the Canadian squad who helped the UBC Thunderbirds to their first U Sports women's rugby title last fall. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian under-20 women's rugby team loses to Ireland as two-game series finishes 1-1
DUBLIN – Adia Pye and Rachel Cullum scored tries in a losing cause Saturday as the Canadian women's under-20 rugby team was beaten 32-14 by their Ireland counterparts. The teams split the two-game series with Canada prevailing 26-15 last Saturday. Ireland led 17-0 in the rematch before Canada stuck twice before the break with Brooke Roddham's conversions cutting the lead to 17-14. The home side pulled away in the second half. Roddham and Pye are two of eight players on the Canadian squad who helped the UBC Thunderbirds to their first U Sports women's rugby title last fall. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025
