Latest news with #MikeMcIntyre
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Liverpool signs Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen
Liverpool delivered a huge statement of intent after winning the Premier League title by signing Germany star Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The transfer fee could climb to 116 million pounds ($156 million), which would make the 22-year-old Wirtz the most expensive player in the history of British soccer. Liverpool, determined to not stand still after securing a record-tying 20th English top-flight title, has splashed out a club record to bring in not only one of the best players from Germany, but one of the top youngsters in the world.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Stanley Cup Final averaged 2.5M US viewers, a drop from last year's Cup and the 4 Nations final
U.S. television ratings for the Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers declined from their first matchup a year ago. An average of 2.5 million viewers watched on TNT, with 2.8 million tuning in for the Panthers' series-clinching Game 6 victory. The overall number on cable is down from 4.17 million last year when the final was on over-the-air TV on ABC and the lowest since Tampa Bay versus Montreal in 2021. The share of viewers increased 15% from TNT's first Cup final in 2023 when Vegas defeated Florida. Social media engagements on NHL content were up 32% over the course of the playoffs. An average of 3.8 million viewers watched the final in Canada on Sportsnet, with Connor McDavid looking for his first championship. The 1.8 million on average for the playoffs, which included five out of the 16 teams involved being based in Canada, is a 6% increase from a year ago. Ratings for the Cup final were significantly lower than the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, the return of international competition featuring the NHL's best players. The final between the U.S. and Canada was watched by 9.3 million people in the U.S. and 10.7 million in Canada, after the six round-robin games averaged 4.6 million in North America. 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. ___ AP NHL:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
CP NewsAlert: Toews returning to NHL with hometown Winnipeg Jets
Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. WINNIPEG – Three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews is returning to the NHL and signing with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. More coming.
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
World Curling tightens sweeping rules, bans firmer broom foams ahead of Olympics
PERTH – World Curling has tightened its sweeping equipment rules heading into the Olympic season. The move, announced Friday, follows concern over firmer broom foams that many players said gave sweepers too much control. Several high-profile models — including some from Goldline, BalancePlus and Hardline — are now banned. Only brushes with less-firm foam are approved for competition, effective immediately. World Curling said the decision followed extensive consultation with players, manufacturers and ice experts, as well as a sweep-testing exercise at the Morris Curling Club in Manitoba. Officials say it's a first step, with long-term reviews and equipment standards still in development. 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. With the new regulations, the BalancePlus RS with Firm 2.0 foam, Goldline Impact with Evader or Pursuer foam, Hardline Ice Pad with Competitive foam, and SmartBroom by Curling Tools with current foam are no longer approved for play. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
South Korea lifts 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in the K League
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A 26-year ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea's top soccer league has been lifted for the start of the 2026 season. Only Korean goalkeepers have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia, since 1999. The rule was introduced in a bid to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs. The K League announced after a board meeting in Seoul this week that because there's now 26 professional clubs in the top two tiers of competition, there's enough room for international goalkeepers. 'The increase in the number of clubs means that there are enough opportunities for domestic goalkeepers to play even if foreign goalkeepers are allowed,' the board said in a statement. 'We considered the fact that with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has increased disproportionately to outfield players.' There were reportedly concerns, due to the increased size of modern rosters which contain three or four goalkeepers, that there's a shortage of quality keepers in the country. The move will put the K League in line with other major Asian leagues in Japan, Saudi Arabia and China. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP soccer:
