
Veteran NHLers Crosby, MacKinnon, McDavid to lead Canada into 2026 Olympic hockey tournament
Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart are the first players named to Canada's preliminary men's hockey roster for the 2026 Milan Olympics.
"These are six world-class players and leaders that are deserving of this recognition," Canada general manager Doug Armstrong said in a statement released by Hockey Canada.
"Sidney, Nathan, Cale, Connor, Brayden and Sam provide a strong foundation for a successful team and have been proven winners at all levels of their professional and international careers, and we look forward to all six being key contributors to our team as we look to accomplish our goal of winning Olympic gold."
NHL players are returning to the Olympics in 2026 and 2030 after missing the past two Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea (2018) and Beijing (2022).
At the 2014 Olympics, Canada's men claimed their second straight gold medal with a 3-0 win over Sweden in Sochi, Russia.

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CBC
10 minutes ago
- CBC
Camryn Rogers wins women's hammer throw for 2nd Kuortane Games title in 3 years
Camryn Rogers continued her unbeaten week and winning season on Saturday. The Canadian hammer thrower captured the women's event in Finland, defeating her friends and Finnish teammates Krista Tervo and Silja Kosonen at the 86th Kuortane Games. Rogers, the reigning world and Olympic champion, threw 76.45 metres at Kuortane Central Sports Field to edge Tervo (76.98) for her fourth victory in five competitions this outdoor season. Kosonen was third (72.90). Rogers fell 12 centimetres shy of matching her stadium record set two years ago in a victory over Kosonen at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze track and field meet. The 26-year-old Rogers fouled on her first of six attempts Sunday but rebounded with her best throw on her next try. She also didn't record a distance on her fifth attempt. On Tuesday, the Richmond, B.C., athlete prevailed despite three fouls with a 74.59m top throw at the 68th Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, about 315 kilometres south of Kuortane, where she beat Kosonen (second) and Tervo (ninth). Rogers will return to Canada to prepare for the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League event on July 5 in Eugene, Ore. She has a best throw of 78.14 this season and 78.62 personal best. Rogers won an Olympic gold medal last Aug. 6 in Paris after securing her first world championship title in 2023 after silver the previous year. WATCH | Rogers takes women's hammer throw at 68th Paavo Nurmi Games: B.C.'s Camryn Rogers places 1st in women's hammer throw competition in Turku 5 days ago Duration 0:33 The Richmond, B.C. native scored 75.59-metres on her 5th throw to clinch the women's hammer throw competition at the World Athletics Continental Tour meet in Turku, Finland. For more information on athletics events streaming live on CBC Sports this season, click here to see the full broadcast schedule.

CBC
30 minutes ago
- CBC
'The spirit of African communities' on display at multicultural Winnipeg soccer tournament
A year after the fatal shooting of a soccer player at the Canada African Cup of Nations, the soccer tournament returned to the pitch on Saturday to a crowd of supporters from across Winnipeg's African diaspora. The Canada African Cup of Nations kicked off at Shaughnessy Park soccer field, with about 400 registered players across 12 teams. The tournament will run on weekends from June 21 until Aug. 2. Now in its seventh year, the Canada African Cup of Nations features Manitoba-based athletes representing their home countries of Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan and Tanzania. Haiti and Ukraine have also been invited to play alongside teams from the African diaspora. Gode Katembo, the tournament's founder and president, said he hopes to see even more countries join them in 2026. "Our goal for next year, especially being the World Cup year, we are opening the borders to everyone," he said, adding they are aiming to have at least 16 teams register next year. Saturday kicked off with a match between Ghana and Haiti, followed by Ukraine vs. Senegal, and ending with Ivory Coast vs. Kenya. On the sidelines, there was an artisan market, live music and many food trucks for soccer fans to enjoy, on top of a wildfire relief fundraiser. At the same time, 16 teams are facing off in the Ontario African Cup of Nations. Katembo also heads that tournament, which is in its second year. Seidu Mohammed, vice-president of operations for the Manitoba tournament, said the Cup of Nations is one of the biggest and well-supported events of the year for African communities across the province. "That's what the Canada African Cup of Nations is about, it's bringing all of the communities together to unite because that's the spirit of African communities. Soccer is a thing that can bring us together and is the language that we all speak," he said. "We want people to come out and support their countries, support their flags … We want everybody to come out and come and watch." Tournament increasing security after tragic shooting last year Katembo said the community came together after an athlete representing Eritrea was fatally shot in the parking lot outside of the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex in the city's south end after playing a game in last summer's tournament. Mohamed Yusuf Abdullahi, 22, was rushed to hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead on July 13. Two men — Norbert Kipala, 27, and Tresor Horimbere, 22 — have been connected to the killing. Kipala has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder while police are still looking for Horimbere. A third man's murder charges were stayed last month after prosecutors decided his involvement in Abdullahi's death was "different than the co-accused in this situation." Katembo said the community bolstered support for the tournament immediately following Abdullahi's death. "We saw the community come out at large to stand together as one in solidarity as one after what happened," he said. This year, the tournament has partnered with the city to have more security guards patrolling the area, including the parking lot, Katembo said. "We don't want the thing that happened last year to happen this year again," said Mohammed. "We are trying to make sure that we keep everybody safe."


CTV News
33 minutes ago
- CTV News
For back-to-back champ Panthers, the celebrations will continue before an important offseason begins
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, front. and defenseman Gustav Forsling pour beer from the Stanley Cup onto fans at the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup championship festivities have included an all-night celebration at a popular beach bar; crowd surfing, pole climbing and impromptu karaoke at a Miami nightclub; a Brad Marchand appearance at Dairy Queen; a few team dinners and a boat ride. That's just so far. They insist they've got more in them. 'We're not toning it down,' defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. 'We just won two Stanley Cups in a row. We deserve to have a good time.' The Panthers also partied hard after winning the franchise's first title a year ago. But some players have described those days as a surreal whirlwind of first-time experiences. This time around, the celebrations are different, as the reality of what they accomplished set in. 'There's a different feeling to it,' coach Paul Maurice said during the team's exit interviews on Saturday. 'Last year was more of a dream. ... That's the right word. It was a dream come true. It was euphoric. This year, it was an achievement. It was hard. It was hard all year. It was hard at camp. There were just so many places that if we had broken at that point or failed we would've all understood — 'OK, we did our best. We just couldn't get it done.' We never let that happen.' The coaches' celebrations, Maurice noted, have been much more subdued compared to last year: They had their first post-championship dinner as a staff Friday night. They joined some players on a boat ride. 'I haven't had a hangover yet,' Maurice said, 'so way ahead of where I was last year.' Maurice heard about his players' celebrations from his wife, who has shown him a few viral social media posts here and there. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said they're giving themselves 'permission' to celebrate more freely this year because they have already been through the experience. 'And don't get me wrong, it's still amazing,' he added, 'but now everyone knows how to sit back a little and enjoy it, because last year was so hectic. Like it happened to you for the first time ever, and you had been dreaming about it for so long.' The Panthers in fact celebrated so hard that the Stanley Cup itself got a little banged up. The silver chalice that has endured bumps and bruises throughout its 131-year existence was cracked at the bottom of the bowl the night of Florida's clinching Game 6 win over Edmonton, though Barkov noted the team hasn't received any harsh reprimands from the keepers of the Cup or the Hockey Hall of Fame. 'I think they've seen worse,' he quipped. 'I think every year they have to fix some part of it. But yeah, don't be stupid. Don't take it to the ocean, stuff like that. We should know the rules by now.' The Panthers' championship parade will be on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday — one of their last opportunities to celebrate together before the players disperse for the summer and general manager Bill Zito begins an important offseason. Free agency begins July 1, and while a good chunk of Florida's core — including Barkov and stars Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart — are already under long-term contracts, a few key contributors are set for free agency in Marchand, Ekblad and playoff MVP Sam Bennett. All three players have expressed their desire to stay in Florida. Bennett Bennett, who led all players with 15 postseason goals, said at the Miami nightclub E11even that he's not leaving. Marchand has publicly petitioned Zito to give him a contract. Ekblad, who was drafted by the Panthers in 2014, said Saturday that his representation has had conversations with the Panthers on a potential deal, but 'nothing material yet.' 'I've spent 11 years here,' Ekblad said. 'It's home, and I expect it to be home.' Tkachuk Tkachuk, who will play in his fourth season with the Panthers next year, said he believes Florida's window to compete for titles remains wide open, and he hopes to compete with as many pieces from this year's run as possible. Matthew Tkachuk says he's 50-50 on if he'll need offseason surgery. He's hoping to find out soon — Alanis Thames (@alanisthames) June 21, 2025 'You're going to have a different roster each and every year,' he said, 'but hopefully the core of guys, we can continue building. With that being said, we've got some unbelievable players that are up for contracts that I hope they get every single cent they can because that's what you want for your best friends. It's time to cash in for some of those boys. Hopefully it's here.' -- Alanis Thames