Latest news with #Backlund
Global News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Women's tackle football is gaining popularity in Manitoba
In the midst of playoff season, passion for football has never been stronger among the Manitoba Fearless. 'I can't really imagine a time in my life where football hasn't been a part of it,' linebacker Brenna Hargrave said. The Fearless are part of the Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL). 'It's a beautifully violent sport,' centre Julie Sprague said. The WWCFL is a tackle football league with six teams that started in 2011. 'I think it's really awesome to play women's tackle football and have the opportunity to find like-minded women that want to grow sport and want to help younger girls get into sport,' defensive back Amanda Schubert said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Fearless have been around since 2008. Many of the players spent their teenage years playing in the Manitoba Girls Football Association. Once they aged out, joining the Fearless was a natural next step. Story continues below advertisement 'It's also a group of 37 amazing women who are all different and come together to build a community and are there for each other,' Sprague said. Andrea Backlund, one of the team's first players, now leads the squad. 'It's growing every single year,' Backlund said. 'This team in particular has moved mountains over the last few seasons in terms of our program's progress and talent on the field.' Winnipeg could play a key role in the continued growth of women's tackle football. The Women's Football Alliance (WFA), a competitive tackle league in the United States, is expanding. The league is eyeing Manitoba as a potential market. 'There's probably 15 strong, identifiable markets. The CFL are obvious, Winnipeg leads the league in attendance so there's not too many places better than that,' Cosmos Sports & Entertainment president Cary Kaplan said. The WFA's Canadian expansion ultimately depends on the potential ownership groups. 'Growth of the women's game in any way is a great thing, allowing for more players to come and play,' Backlund said. 'I think that attention on the semi professional players we already have in our province is warranted as well.' The Fearless are celebrating their homegrown talent, while looking for ways to inspire the next generation. Story continues below advertisement 'Football is very unique because the community is extremely accepting. It doesn't matter your size, it doesn't matter your abilities. Nothing like that matters. You have a spot on a football team,' Hargrave said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Wisconsin deputy hospitalized after exposure to meth smoke during search warrant
WHEATLAND, Wis. (WFRV) – A Vernon County deputy was hospitalized Thursday evening after being exposed to second-hand methamphetamine smoke while executing a search warrant in the town of Wheatland. According to the Vernon County Sheriff's Office, the deputy was treated at a nearby hospital and has since been released. Officials say the deputy is expected to return to duty. Loaded AR-15 found during traffic stop in Wisconsin; one arrested During the incident, Kyle J. Backlund, 35, of Viroqua, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony bail jumping. Authorities noted that Backlund's arrest was unrelated to the original warrant being served. Backlund had previously been arrested in a drug-related case on May 29. He was released from custody on June 4 on a $1,000 signature bond—just 33 hours before the deputy was exposed. Two teens arrested after early morning burglary in Fond du Lac The Vernon County Sheriff's Office says the investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests may be forthcoming. 'This is poison affecting our community, and we will put forward our best effort to locate the source,' the Sheriff's Office stated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Edmonton Journal
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The state of the centre position
Article content Over the next five weeks, our Flames beat reporters Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson will be going position-by-position to look at the state of the Flames' rebuild. We're kicking things off this week by looking at centre and today's big-picture look at their roster, prospects and future needs. There's no position on the ice where the Flames need to add more depth than at centre, but where do they actually stand? Let's take a look: The sure things Assuming the earth doesn't tilt over from its axis over the summer, we know Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund are going to be playing centre for the Flames this season. Kadri will be on the first line, leading the team's offensive charge and putting up numbers, whoever is on his wings. Backlund will be in the middle of the Flames' shutdown line, likely alongside Blake Coleman, quietly captaining his team, leading the penalty kill and doing all the other quiet things his team requires of him. There can't be any complaints about the work either guy put in last season. They were important leaders in the locker room and had generally good years. It is, however, worth pointing out that Backlund is 36 years old and entering the last year of his contract. Kadri is 34, and while he hasn't slowed down, time eventually catches up to everybody. They're important pieces of the retool, but if the focus is on the future, they may not be around when the Flames are truly trying to contend for a Stanley Cup.
Calgary Herald
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The state of the centre position
Article content It's a quiet time in the Calgary Flames ' calendar. Article content Their season ended a little less than a month ago and it's still roughly six weeks until the NHL Draft. Article content So what better time to dive deep into where they stand in their famous retool, right? How close are they to contention? Where are their strengths and weaknesses? What are their priorities going to be in the draft, free agency and the trade market? Article content Article content Over the next five weeks, our Flames beat reporters Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson will be going position-by-position to look at the state of the Flames' rebuild. We're kicking things off this week by looking at centre and today's big-picture look at their roster, prospects and future needs. Article content Article content The sure things Article content Assuming the earth doesn't tilt over from its axis over the summer, we know Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund are going to be playing centre for the Flames this season. Kadri will be on the first line, leading the team's offensive charge and putting up numbers, whoever is on his wings. Backlund will be in the middle of the Flames' shutdown line, likely alongside Blake Coleman, quietly captaining his team, leading the penalty kill and doing all the other quiet things his team requires of him. Article content There can't be any complaints about the work either guy put in last season. They were important leaders in the locker room and had generally good years. It is, however, worth pointing out that Backlund is 36 years old and entering the last year of his contract. Kadri is 34, and while he hasn't slowed down, time eventually catches up to everybody. They're important pieces of the retool, but if the focus is on the future, they may not be around when the Flames are truly trying to contend for a Stanley Cup. Article content Article content Something to prove Article content Article content Hopes should still be high for Morgan Frost. Acquired alongside winger Joel Farabee in the deal that sent Jakob Pelletier and Andrei Kuzmenko to Philadelphia, the 25-year-old could be a fixture on the Flames power-play and a middle-six pivot for years to come … but the early returns didn't exactly blow anyone away. Frost had only three goals and nine assists in 32 games with the Flames and those numbers don't exactly fill you with confidence, do they? Were those numbers the result of a tough, confidence-draining end to his time in Philly under John Tortorella? Could a good summer and a full training camp with the Flames bring out the best in him? He's a restricted free agent this summer and it's going to be interesting to see how much the Flames are willing to offer him. How much do you pay for potential? Article content Zary's potential Article content Connor Zary has established himself as a full-time NHLer over the past two seasons while playing on the wing, but there has been persistent chatter about him playing in the middle and it can't be ignored. Injuries hampered Zary's production and games played this season, but there were stretches when he was one of the Flames' most eye-catching offensive players. If the team is planning for life post-Backlund and you factor in an inevitable decline for Kadri as he enters his late 30s, it might make sense to start transitioning the 23-year-old Zary to the centre of the ice. Even if they do draft a few centres this season, it'll be a little while before they're ready to contribute at the NHL level, so Zary could be useful in the middle for the next couple of seasons, at least.
Edmonton Journal
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Calgary Flames teammates Andersson, Backlund swap letters with Team Sweden
Article content Den svenska kaptensstyrkan 👏 (C) Rasmus Andersson (A) Mikael Backlund (A) Mika Zibanejad Ikväll kör vi! 🔥 — Tre Kronor (@Trekronorse) May 9, 2025 This is pinch-me material for the 28-year-old Andersson — an opportunity to captain his national team on home ice. His close buddy Backlund will, without a doubt, be keen to offer a history lesson. In 2018, when he was rocking the 'C,' the Swedes won the title in Denmark. 'I always dreamed of winning gold for Team Sweden, but I don't think I ever could imagine being captain,' Backlund told Postmedia after that tournament. 'It's amazing, an unbelievable feeling. I was very proud of the guys that we got to raise the trophy. And to be the leader of the team, it was a new experience for me, but I enjoyed it from Day 1.' Andersson will now be aiming to repeat that feat, right up to the golden finish. The workhorse defenceman has been wearing an 'A' for the Flames for the past three seasons — including two as an official sidekick to Backlund — and continued to show his leadership abilities by playing the final few weeks of the wild-card chase on a fractured ankle. He's often mentioned as a candidate to be Calgary's next captain, although his uncertain future could change that. Andersson has only one year remaining on his current contract and will be traded if the two sides can't hammer out an extension in the coming months. The Flames have seven representatives at the world championship. MacKenzie Weegar and coach Ryan Huska are part of Canada's contingent, while Andersson and Backlund are skating for Sweden, Adam Klapka and Dan Vladar are suiting up for Czechia and Sam Honzek is representing Slovakia. Prized defence prospect Zayne Parekh played two pre-tournament games with Canada but has since returned home, which was always the plan when he was invited for the exhibition portion.
