SPORTS

WHL Update: Rockets, Blazers, and Giants Gear Up for the Season

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9 months ago

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British Columbia’s WHL teams are making headlines this week as they prepare for the upcoming season. The Kelowna Rockets are headed north for the WHL Yukon Showcase, where they will square off against the defending champion Medicine Hat Tigers in Whitehorse. The two-game series, dubbed the Northern Lights Cup, marks a unique chance for fans in the North to see high-level hockey up close. Nine Rockets players have also been invited to NHL training camps, underlining the team’s strong development program, while forward Colton Lien was reassigned following training camp.

In Kamloops, the Blazers made two important signings. Nineteen-year-old forward Cooper Moore has joined the team on a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement after strong performances in junior leagues, while 2009-born goaltender Kaeden Tate has also committed to the club. Five Blazers are set to attend NHL training camps, showing the team’s continued presence in the pro pipeline. Meanwhile, Blazers fans said goodbye to former captain Jermaine Loewen, who announced his retirement from professional hockey.

The Vancouver Giants wrapped up their preseason in style with a 3–2 overtime victory against the Victoria Royals. Forward Tyus Sparks led the way with two goals, including the overtime winner, as the Giants completed a perfect 4–0–0 preseason record. The team’s strong exhibition play is giving fans plenty of optimism as they head into the regular season, with young players stepping up and showing their scoring touch. With Kelowna, Kamloops, and Vancouver all making moves, B.C.’s WHL teams look poised for an exciting start to 2025–26.

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Hockey

Maple Leafs Secure Top Pick as NHL Reveals Official 2026 Draft Order

The NHL has released the official selection order for the 2026 Draft in Buffalo. Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks lead the first round on June 26.

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7 hours ago

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June 19, 2026

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The Road to Buffalo: NHL Sets the Stage for 2026 Prospect Harvest

With the Stanley Cup celebration still fresh in the minds of hockey fans, the National Hockey League has officially pivoted to the future. On Thursday, the league released the full seven-round selection order for the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, scheduled to take place on June 26-27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo. This transition marks the end of the championship cycle and the beginning of a high-stakes offseason where franchises look to rebuild or reinforce their rosters through youth.

Toronto and San Jose Lead the Pack

The Toronto Maple Leafs are slated to take center stage after winning the draft lottery last month, securing the first-overall selection. They are followed closely by the San Jose Sharks at number two. The Vancouver Canucks, who endured a difficult campaign and finished at the bottom of the league standings, will round out the top three. These three picks are expected to be foundational pieces for their respective clubs as they look to turn their fortunes around in a competitive league landscape.

Strategic Shifts and Forfeited Assets

One of the most notable aspects of the 2026 draft order is the sheer volume of traded picks, particularly in the later rounds. The St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames are among the teams entering the draft with significant capital, owning multiple selections in the early rounds due to various trade deadline deals. Conversely, the Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in a rare position, having forfeited their second-round pick (63rd overall) due to a violation of Stanley Cup Playoffs media obligations involving former coach John Tortorella.

Draft Schedule and Broadcast Information

The first round of the draft is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, June 26, and will be broadcast live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. This prime-time event will see the top 32 prospects find their NHL homes. The following day, June 27, will cover Rounds 2 through 7, where scouting departments earn their keep by identifying diamonds in the rough. For many teams, these selections represent the culmination of years of scouting and the hope of a brighter competitive future.

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Soccer

History Made: Canada Records First-Ever World Cup Victory in Dominant 6-0 Rout of Qatar

Canada secures its first-ever World Cup win with a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar. Jonathan David nets a hat trick as Les Rouges dominate a nine-man Qatari side.

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7 hours ago

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June 19, 2026

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A Historic Milestone for Les Rouges

Canada has finally broken its World Cup drought, securing the nation’s first-ever victory in the tournament with a staggering 6-0 win over Qatar. Entering the match with an all-time record of zero wins and six losses across three tournament appearances, the pressure was on Jesse Marsch’s squad to deliver. After earning their first-ever point in a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week, the Canadian side dominated every facet of the game to claim all three points on Thursday.

Larin and David Spark Early Offensive Explosion

The scoring opened in the 16th minute when Cyle Larin pounced on a rebound to put Canada ahead. The momentum shifted entirely toward Les Rouges as Jonathan David began his masterclass performance. David netted a clinical volley in the 29th minute before adding another in first-half stoppage time. The match turned increasingly physical, and Qatar found themselves in disciplinary trouble early on. Homam Ahmed was sent off with a straight red card in the 33rd minute for denying a goal-scoring opportunity against Tajon Buchanan, leaving Qatar a man down before the halftime whistle.

Injury Concerns Amidst the Celebration

The second half was marred by a somber moment as rising star midfielder Isma#235;l Kon#233; was stretchered off following a collision with Assim Madibo. The injury appeared serious, leaving teammates visibly emotional. Madibo was subsequently shown a red card for the tackle, reducing Qatar to just nine players. Nathan Saliba, who replaced Kon#233;, honored his teammate by scoring in the 64th minute and holding up Kon#233;’s jersey in a show of solidarity.

Record-Breaking Dominance

The onslaught continued as Jacob Shaffelburg forced a Qatari own goal in the 75th minute. To put the finishing touches on a historic night, Jonathan David completed his hat trick two minutes into second-half stoppage time. Statistically, the match was one-sided: Canada controlled 78% of possession and unleashed 31 shots compared to Qatar’s two. However, the victory ended on a tense note as coaches Jesse Marsch and Julien Lopetegui bypassed a post-match handshake following a late-game scrum, leaving a lingering cloud over an otherwise celebratory night for Canadian soccer.

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business

The End of an Era: CBC to Stop Airing NHL Games as ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ Leaves Free TV

CBC and Sportsnet end their 74-year partnership, moving Hockey Night in Canada exclusively to Sportsnet and marking the end of free NHL games on Canadian TV.

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2 days ago

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June 17, 2026

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A Cultural Mainstay Fades from the Public Airwaves

For more than seven decades, Saturday nights in Canada were defined by the glowing blue light of the television and the iconic theme of Hockey Night in Canada. On Tuesday, that era officially came to a close as Sportsnet and CBC announced the termination of the sub-licensing agreement that kept NHL games on the public broadcaster. The move marks the end of a 74-year tradition of free hockey on Canadian television, shifting the national pastime exclusively behind a paywall.

The Economics of the Ice

The transition began in earnest in 2014 when Rogers Communications Inc. secured a massive $5.2-billion, 12-year national rights deal. While CBC continued to air the games through a partnership with Sportsnet, the landscape of media consumption has shifted dramatically. Rogers has now entered a new 12-year, $11-billion agreement with the NHL and is seeking to consolidate its viewership. According to Sportsnet spokesperson Jason Jackson, viewership for early Saturday night games on CBC had declined by 70 per cent since 2014, as fans increasingly migrated to digital platforms and specialty sports channels.

A Pivot Toward Amateur Sports

The loss of the NHL leaves a significant void in CBC’s prime-time programming, which previously relied on hockey to draw its largest weekly audiences. In response, the public broadcaster announced plans to launch a new Saturday night program focused on amateur, Olympic, and Paralympic athletes. While this aligns with CBC’s renewed focus on the amateur sector—a strategy adopted after being priced out of professional hockey rights—the move signals a fundamental change in how Canadians access their most popular sport.

The Normalized Pay-to-Play Model

Industry experts suggest that the public’s appetite for streaming services has made this transition possible. Michael Naraine, an associate professor at Brock University, noted that Rogers is no longer concerned about a public backlash over the removal of hockey from free TV. With the normalization of over-the-top streaming services and the rising cost of sports rights, Rogers is positioning its media division as a premium offering, particularly as it moves toward full ownership of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

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