Week 7 NFL Capsules

 

Week 7 of the NFL season begins with a classic rivalry as the Chicago Bears head to Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. For a complete preview of that game, and the others in the NFL this weekend, just click here

New Pricing Structure For Grey Cup Unveiled

The Toronto Argonauts Football Club today unveiled new ticket prices for certain sections of the stadium for 104th Grey Cup presented by Shaw so fans can cap an incredible year in Toronto sports with one of Canada’s ultimate sports experiences. Under the new pricing, tickets start at $89 and thousands more for less than $150.

“Sports fans have told us they want to experience the iconic Grey Cup – Canada’s biggest annual sporting event – in the incredible new setting that is BMO Field,” said Michael Copeland, President and CEO of the Argos, who are hosting this year’s Canadian football classic on Sunday, November 27th.

“But they have also told us that they need pricing that reflects the fact that Toronto has been perhaps the busiest sports market in North America this year, with an NBA All-Star game, a deep Raptors playoff run, the World Cup of Hockey, an upcoming playoff run for Toronto FC, Blue Jays playoffs, and the NHL’s outdoor Centennial Classic and the World Junior Championships to follow. We are listening to the fans.”

Just over 1,000 existing ticket holder accounts will be affected by this re-pricing, and each of them will be contacted directly to discuss their various options.

Price reductions have been made only to sections where sales have been soft. For the other sections where tickets have been in high demand, prices will not be changed.

“Our highest priced seats and premium areas have been selling very well, with many of those sections sold-out or nearing a sellout,” Copeland said.

“It is in the mid-range that we need to adjust pricing to ensure that every sports fan can still afford to experience the Grey Cup live. Our fans told us that the original mid-range prices were too high, and we are following their direction to make it right.”

To purchase tickets for the 104th Grey Cup presented by Shaw or to learn more about the new pricing, fans can visit CFL.ca/GreyCup or Argonauts.ca.

(Toronto Argonauts Football Club)

Brandon Banks Suspended For Drug Use

Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver Brandon Banks has been suspended for two games effective immediately after testing positive for a banned substance (Methylenedioxyamphetamine), under the drug policy of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA).

Players who test positive will face a two game suspension for a first doping violation, a nine game suspension for a second violation, a one-year suspension for a third violation, and a lifetime ban for a fourth violation.

“I would like to apologize to my coaches, teammates, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats organization, and our great and loyal fans for putting myself in this situation,” Banks said in a team-issued media statement. “It’s my responsibility to know what’s on the banned substance list and there is no excuse for my violation of the rules. My mistake has not only hurt my team, but my family and friends, and for that I am extremely sorry. I will work very hard over the next two weeks to prepare myself both mentally and physically to return to the field and contribute to bringing a Grey Cup championship back to the City of Hamilton.”

Under the policy, a suspended player cannot participate in games. It is up to their Club to determine whether that player can participate in other team activities, such as practices and meetings.
All players will be subject to mandatory drug testing once testing positive and will participate in an assessment and clinical evaluation to determine if they need additional counselling.
The policy mandates a total number of random tests equal to 100% of the players in the CFL.
Random testing is ongoing and is conducted year round.

Argos Reduce Ticket Prices For 2016 Grey Cup

The Toronto Argonauts are reducing ticket prices for this year's Grey Cup game which goes November 27 at BMO Field.

Tickets will start at $89 with thousands available for under $150.

Under previous pricing, the cheapest tickets were priced at $169 and $199.

Argos president Michael Copeland says the changes recognize the Toronto sports landscape has been a busy one this year. The NBA all-star game, the Toronto Raptors playoff run and World Cup of Hockey have happened here while the Blue Jays are currently facing the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series.

NHL Three Stars Of Week

 Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Oct. 16.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid tied for the League lead in points with 3-3—6 in three games as the Oilers
(2-1-0, 4 points) opened the season with a pair of victories. In his first regular-season game
as Oilers captain, McDavid helped open Rogers Place by notching two goals, including the
game-winner, and adding one assist in a 7-4 victory over the Calgary Flames. He tallied 1-
2—3 two nights later in a 5-3 win over the Flames in Calgary on Oct. 14. McDavid was held
pointless in a 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 16. In his second season with the
Oilers, the 19-year-old Newmarket, Ont., native has appeared in 48 career games posting
54 points (19-35—54).


SECOND STAR – AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

 Matthews tied for the League lead with four goals as the Maple Leafs gained three
of a possible four points for the week. Matthews became the first player in the modern era
to record four goals in his NHL debut, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct.
12. In his home debut, Matthews was held off the scoresheet as Toronto defeated the
Boston Bruins 4-1 on Oct. 15. The 19-year-old San Ramon, Calif., native was the first
overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft after playing the 2015-16 season for Zurich in
Switzerland’s top professional league where he recorded 46 points (24-22—46) in 36
games played.


THIRD STAR – ROBERTO LUONGO, G, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Luongo went 2-0-0 with a 0.98 goals-against average and .957 save percentage
to lead the Panthers to a pair of season opening wins. Luongo opened the week on Oct.
13 by making 23 saves in a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. On Oct. 15, he made
21 saves against the Detroit Red Wings to record his 438th career win, good for sixth on
the all-time wins list, one ahead of Jacques Plante (437). In his 17th NHL season, the
36-year-old Montreal, Que., native, who began his career with the Islanders (7 wins), is
the franchise wins leader for both the Canucks (252) and Panthers (179).

(NHL Communications)

Something To Mitch About

Welcome to the NHL's newest arena, and what will become the centrepiece of downtown Edmonton if it isn't already.  Welcome to the newly opened Rogers Place in Edmonton where Sunday night, I took in the Sabres-Oilers matchup.

They are as proud of this rink in Edmonton as we are for the new Mosaic Stadium.  It isn't hard to see what it has done to the downtown core. I have been in downtown Edmonton at times where its pretty quiet on Jasper Avenue and the surrounding streets, but they were full both Saturday night (a Kanye West concert was happening) and on Sunday night as many could be seen wearing their jerseys or something with the Oiler logo on it.  

I do admit it is tempting not to watch the game from that huge screen above center ice.

This is "Ford Hall" where fans can congregate before the game with a variety of things to enjoy. This picture was taken just as the gates were opening, but it is jammed with hockey fans.

Speaking of which, here come those fans as the doors open. By the way, I thought the Oilers 86ed the Octane girls, but as you can see, they are still there and as one can imagine are quite popular with the 18-49 male demographic, especially when they are found around this place. 

Like it is in any stadium, the price for a cold one is extravagant, but business ain't sufferin! 

These made their way from the old rink to the new one. They look fabulous. Hopefully, one Mr. McDavid can help get a 6th and maybe more in future years. Of course, they will need better goaltending than they received Sunday. Cam Talbot has had better nights. Letting one skip past you from center ice doesn't help the confidence any, and Talbot is quickly becoming a worry amongst the fan-base who love what they see from McDavid, Eberle, Draisaitl, Russell and Larsson. No one is seemingly bemoaning the loss of Taylor Hall either. 

OOPS:  The bus ride to Edmonton for the University of Regina Rams was not the greatest due to weather as the team had to drive through a winter storm from North Battleford to the Alberta capital. While the bus ride home was much smoother, the mood on the bus couldn't have been a happy one as Regina let the University of Alberta Golden Bears hang around and hang around and hang around with the Bears eventually getting a field goal with less than a 30 seconds to go for their first win of the year.

 

Photo: Edmonton Sun

Fumbles killed the Rams on a cool Saturday afternoon as Noah Picton and Atlee Simon had troubles twice with the handoff with Picton unable to handle a high snap. All three plays were killers--especially with one in the redzone.

The biggest play to me came right near the end of the first half.  Rams d-back Jeff Propp had an interception in his hands, but he was inadvertently hit by a teammate causing him to lose the ball resulting in an incompletion. It allowed Alberta to get a field goal to close the deficit to 12-6. It gave them a spark though that they carried through the second half.

That's a tough loss for Regina, and one that when you look at the stat sheet never should have happened.  They will have a tough chore in front of them Friday when UBC comes to town. They handled the T-Birds in Vancouver and UBC is coming off a 30 point loss in Saskatoon to the Huskies. They won't be a happy group coming in, but either will the Rams.

RIDERS ROLLING: Doing the p x p of the Rams game, I had no idea what was happening in the Rider game until we were off the air. I checked my phone to see the Riders were dominating the Argos which didn't come as a surprise. What did come as a surprise was the play of Joe McKnight. I didn't see that coming. McKnight was a good NCAA player at USC, but he has had a tough time as a pro on both sides of the border.  One can only hope that play continues and it wasn't just a one time thing. Meanwhile, the Riders go out east and win two games in just over a week to give them 4 straight and 5 overall. There's no reason to think that winning trend will continue at home against Montreal on Saturday. The future is bright my friends, the future is bright.

ALCS:  The Blue Jays need to hope Rogers Centre is what they need to get better, because their bats have become silent. Then again, Corey Kluber, Josh Tomlin, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen have had a lot to do with that. Pitching wins in the playoffs. The Texas Rangers couldn't get it done in the divisional series, but Cleveland is. Toronto has had nice efforts from both Marco Estrada and JA Happ, but the Indians have been one or two plays better. That is what it comes down to. I'm not as sold on Marcus Stroman as other Blue Jays fans are, but I think Toronto has the advantage tonight in a game that shouldn't be low-scoring.  One thing Toronto needs to do as well is stop with the incessant whining at the plate. It was evident in Game 1, and I understand it wasn't much better in Game 2. However, I don't think there is any conspiracy as Jose Bautista suggests. That is just laughable. Its no secret I have no time for Bautista. This is yet another reason why. Toronto needs to cut him adrift once the season ends in my opinion.

NLCS:  As the L-A Dodgers came back to tie Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday night, this Cubs fan was fuming under the collar.  As the Cubs came up in the bottom of the 8th with the bases loaded, manager Joe Maddon threw catcher Miguel Montero out to pinch-hit.  It was then I uttered to my Rams colour guy/U of R sports information officer Braden Konschuh, "Is there no one better on the bench than Miggy Montero?". Shows how much I know.




As for Game 2, there was virtually no offence as Clayton Kershaw won a duel with Kyle Hendricks meaning that series is tied at 1. This Cubs fan remains confident!

That's all I got. Have a great week!

Members of U of R WBB Team In China for 3 x 3 Tournament

 

Photo: Courtesy University of Regina

The University of Regina women’s basketball team has been chosen to send representatives to make up the lone Canadian women’s team at the 3x3 FISU World University League final in Xiamen, China from Oct. 21 to Oct. 23.

 

Four Cougars will make the trip overseas to compete in the 16-team tournament. The team will consist of Sara Hubenig, Michaela Kleisinger, Charlotte Kot, and Katie Polischuk.

 

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our players, and I’m especially happy for our two fifth-year veterans in Charlotte and Katie,” Cougars head coach Dave Taylor said. “This trip will be a great reward for all the time and effort they’ve put into this program.”

 

The U of R was awarded one of four wild card invitations from FISU. Last year’s tournament winner and an additional team from the host country receive automatic berths, with the remaining 10 teams qualifying for the competition through a series of continental tournaments over the summer.

 

The WUL uses International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, which sees the game played on a half-court playing surface with one hoop. A 12-second shot clock is in effect, and the first team to reach 21 points (or the highest point total after 10 minutes) is declared the winner.

 

Andrew Hamilton will accompany the squad as the team leader. Hamilton is the assistant sports information director at the U of R and also moonlights as the senior boys’ basketball head coach at Michael A. Riffel High School in Regina.

 

(Braden Konschuh/U of R Athletics)