Canada cruises past Slovakia 9-2 to open title defence at U18 men's hockey worlds
ALLEN — Braeden Cootes had two goals and three assists, Cameron Schmidt added two goals and one assist and Canada cruised to a 9-2 win over Slovakia at the under-18 men's world hockey championship on Thursday.
Article content
Lev Katzin, Jackson Smith, Matthew Gard, Ryan Lin and Quinn Beauchesne also scored for the defending champion Canadians in the tournament opener.
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
20 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada loses 3-0 to No. 2 Brazil in women's Volleyball Nations League action
ISTANBUL – Canada's women's team lost its third match in three days with a 3-0 defeat to No. 2 Brazil in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League on Friday. VNL rookie Abby Guezen led the Canadians with 13 points, all off the attack. Nyadholi Thokbuom tallied 12 points — nine off the attack, two off blocks and one off a serve. Set scores were 25-20, 25-23 and 25-23. Canada (2-5) also lost 3-2 to South Korea on Wednesday and 3-0 to host Turkey on Thursday. The Canadians rank 15th in the 18-country round robin with five preliminary phase matches remaining. Canada will have a day off before facing Belgium on Sunday. 'I'm very happy to see the team getting better each day,' head coach Giovanni Guidetti said. 'Today we had a chance to win two sets against Brazil, that means the team is performing well because we played at the same level as Brazil, so we should be proud of that. We need to be better at the end of the sets, but again, we had a chance against Brazil, which is a good sign.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
LeSage, Rumball part of a sizable Canadian contingent in Major League Rugby playoffs
Ben LeSage normally looks forward to running into fellow Canadian Lucas Rumball. But not Saturday when LeSage's New England Free Jacks host Rumball's Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby's Eastern Conference final. Both teams finished the regular season with an 11-5-0 record, with New England topping the conference thanks to two more bonus points. Rumball, a backrower who captains Canada, is a force at the breakdown, hard to dislodge as he looks to steal the ball off a tackled opponent. 'A great buddy off the field but he's very frustrating to play against,' said LeSage, a veteran Canadian international back. 'As soon as he gets close to a breakdown, it's right near impossible to get him off of it. So that's something we've talked about this week, for sure.' LeSage and the Free Jacks are looking to three-peat after defeating the Seattle Seawolves 20-11 in last year's championship game and edging the San Diego Legion 25-24 in 2023. Chicago lost 23-17 to New England in last year's Eastern final. Also Saturday, it's the Houston SaberCats (10-6-0) at the Utah Warriors (11-5-0) in the Western Conference final. 'It's a pretty short season so it flies by and this is what you work all year for,' said LeSage. 'To have a chance to win important rugby games at the end of the year.' Saturday's East showdown features two teams with plenty of other Canadian ties. In addition to LeSage, the Free Jacks squad features Canadians Cole Keith, Kyle Steeves, Foster DeWitt, Andrew Quattrin, Lindsey Stevens, Kyle Baillie, Conor Keys, Josh Larsen, Piers Von Dadelszen, Ethan Fryer, Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, Jack Reeves, Isaac Olson, Josiah Morra and Brock Webster. 'A lot of people I know, a lot of people I've played with and against before,' said Rumball, who was teammates with more than a few including LeSage at the now-defunct Toronto Arrows. 'So a lot of familiar faces. 'I look forward to it,' he added. 'I think it's great Canadians have kind of found a home there and are really able to express themselves and put their stamp on Boston and show their trade there. Chicago has done well (too), has developed more Canadians this year than last.' Other Canadians on the Chicago roster are brothers Mason and Noah Flesch, Matt Owuru and Jason Higgins. The Hounds went 7-1-0 in the first half of the season, finishing at 4-4-0. But, including the playoff semifinal they have won four straight. Rumball points to injuries and some squad rotation for the fallow spell. 'I think we hit our stride again at the right time, towards the end of the year and we're rolling and, I think, pretty confident with the way we've been playing lately,' he said. In contrast, the Free Jacks have been winning since recovering from a bumpy start After opening the season at 2-3-0, including the loss to Chicago the second week of the season, New England has gone 10-2-0. But the Free Jacks lost star fly half Jayson Potroz to a season-ending knee injury in a June 1 win over Seattle. New Zealand's Dan Hollinshead, who has played in France and Japan as well as previous MLR stints with New York (2021) and L.A. (2024), has taken over at fly half. Chicago split its regular-season meetings with the Free Jacks, winning 36-17 at home on March 2 and losing 27-17 at New England on May 10. 'We're both quality teams,' said Rumball. 'I think we met each other at different times in our season. New England, obviously, struggled a little bit at the start of the year where we seemed to find some form early on. And then towards that middle bit of the season, they were finally starting to click and we ran into a little bit of stutter at times. 'So I think it's probably a wash when it comes to the regular season … So I would say it's pretty much going to come down to the day on the weekend. I wouldn't put too much stock into the regular-season matchups.' Houston advanced by beating RFCLA 27-21 while Utah edged Seattle 23-21. In the East semifinals, it was New England 32 Miami Sharks 10 and Chicago 27 Old Glory DC 16. The championship game is set for June 28 in Pawtucket, R.I., at Centreville Bank Stadium, the 10,500-seat home of the United Soccer League's (USL) Rhode Island FC. LeSage and Rumball are among 12 players from New England and Chicago on new Canada coach Steve Meehan's extended 59-man roster ahead of July tests against Belgium and Spain in Edmonton. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025
The Province
a day ago
- The Province
How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is quietly becoming the best Canadian basketball player ever
Ontario product and regular season MVP poised to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to its first championship and potentially win NBA Finals MVP honours Regular season MVP and playoff star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is poised to become the greatest Canadian to play in the NBA. Photo by Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Professional basketball's often contentious greatest of all time debate will likely never be settled, but the conversation about the greatest Canadian to play in the NBA could very well be resolved on Saturday night. 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 The Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who this season joined two-time NBA regular season MVP winner Steve Nash of B.C. as the only Canadians to win the award, has dominated this year's NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, a series tied at three games apiece that continues in a decisive Game 7 on Saturday night. Should the Thunder emerge victorious on home court, Gilgeous-Alexander is the odds-on favourite to be awarded the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award. Only a handful of players have won both MVP honours in a single season, all of them among the game's true greats: Willis Reed, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Moses Malone, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Larry Bird and LeBron James — who both accomplished it twice — and Michael Jordan, who was bestowed both honours on four occasions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Steve Nash's MVPs came in successive seasons (2004-2006) when he was pivotal to the Phoenix Suns' success at a time when the league was dominated by future Hall of Famers such as Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dwayne Wade and Allen Iverson, to name but a few. 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. But the South African-born, Victoria-raised Nash never played for a title during his remarkable 18-season Hall of Fame career. (Although he would later become a de facto champion by way of consulting duties with the Golden State Warriors in 2017.) In an interview with The Ringer earlier this year, Nash himself admitted that if Gilgeous-Alexander isn't already, 'he'll be the best Canadian to ever play the game — and in short order.' He's done so by approaching the game — on and off the court — with composure and humility, while developing into a leader who recognizes his broader role for the young team and its fans. A case in point: he signed 429 autographs in the hours before Game 2, thinking he'd only signed a few dozen. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Greatest season for a Canadian' Statistically, the 26-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., conclusively produced the single best regular season by a Canadian player ever this year. His 32.7 points per game average led the league — as did his 49 games with 30-plus points — and was supported by five rebounds, 6.4 assists and a field goal percentage of 51.9 per cent. His true shooting percentage, a stat used to determine shot efficiency, was an incredible 63.7 per cent. Only two other players in the NBA's history have averaged similar figures: Jordan and 2017-18 MVP James Harden. Michael Jordan is considered by many to be basketball's greatest of all time. Photo by John Swart / AP 'Steve (Nash) would tell you this is the greatest season for a Canadian,' said Dwayne Washington, founder of UPLAY Canada, who coached a young Gilgeous-Alexander for several years before he left to finish high school playing against stiffer competition in Tennessee. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'So when the dust clears, people are only gonna look at statistics, and statistically it's undeniable.' Similarly, Gilgeous-Alexander, already the recipient of the Western Conference Final MVP award, has produced playoff numbers that put him in rare air. He has scored 30-plus points in 15 games, tying him with Kobe Bryant for the most in a single postseason and one off the record held by Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. He also set an NBA record by scoring at least 30 points in 10 straight home games. More history for SGA 🔥 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Kobe Bryant, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history with 15 or more 30+ point games in a single postseason! — NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Three of those have come in the Finals, during which he is averaging 32.4 ppg and 2.4 steals, both of which rank among the top five in history heading into Game 6, per the league. That includes a 35-point performance in Game 4 — highlighted by a 15-point run in the final 5 minutes to help the Thunder come from behind and tie the series up at two apiece — and a 31-point, 10-assist double-double in Game 5. According to Sportsnet, his 162 points through the first five games were the fourth most by any player. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to just 21 points in a Game 6 loss to the Pacers on Thursday night. He also joined an elite group last week when he became the 12th player with more than 3,000 total points in a single season (regular season and playoffs combined). This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Humble and hard-working Like he was all season, Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to be humble about his success on the court, promoting selflessness and a team-first mentality in post-game interviews, often hailing his teammates' contributions as being just as vital. After Game 5, he heaped praise on forward Jalen Williams' 40-point effort and said he was just 'trying to affect winning.' 'Trying to make a basketball play. I was trying to help the team win, trying to be in position for the next rotation, next play defensively. Whatever comes with that, comes with that.' Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots over Aaron Nesmith during Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Monday night. Photo by William Purnell / Getty Images Washington, whose program has provided coaching and mentorship to other Canadian NBA talent such as R.J. Barrett, Lindell Wigginton, and Shaedon Sharpe, told National Post he's been impressed with how Gilgeous-Alexander is handling the defensive pressure, even likening it to what Jordan experienced in the playoffs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'That is so hard to do. Some of the best athletes in the world are double- and triple-teaming you, and you're still getting 30, 10 assists and winning with a team so young,' he explained. (The Thunder's average age is just 25.6 years, making them the youngest squad to play for a title since the 1977 Portland Trailblazers.) Washington offered more comparisons to Jordan, along with Bryant, in terms of Gilgeous-Alexander's approach to the game off the court — 'He's out-studying, outmaneuvering, out-planning, and out-working people before they even step on the court,' he said — and a fall-away mid-range jump shot that both legends deployed with lethal efficiency throughout their careers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He said the six-foot-six guard has been working on that shot for years, and it comes naturally to him. However, most NBA coaches preach against the generally low-percentage shot attempt despite it being a go-to for elite offensive players. Washington said Gilgeous-Alexander has been told not to shoot it 'most of his career,' but he's continued to perfect it anyway. 'I know he's been working on it, so it's great to see it in real time,' Washington said. 'I'll be honest with you, if he'd listened to other people telling him what not to do, he wouldn't be there.' Nash also offered a Jordan and Bryant comparison in an interview with the Toronto Star last month, saying Gilgeous-Alexander 'does the same thing they do.' 'If you look at the numbers and you break it down, there's a lot of things he does that are greater than everyone that's even close to those type of players. So he's ascending towards that category.' He'll look to continue that ascension when the NBA Finals concludes on Saturday. Game time is 8 p.m. ET. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
