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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Riders QB Trevor Harris (above) broke into the CFL in 2012 with Bombers QB Zach Collaros.

Veteran CFL QBs aging well

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025

It’s hard to believe the Toronto Argonauts once had Ricky Ray, Jarious Jackson, Zach Collaros and Trevor Harris all in their quarterback room in 2012.

If you ask Harris, it’s even harder to believe he and Collaros — who broke into the CFL that season together as rookies — are still in the three-down loop today slinging it.

“I remember our first year in the league, we (were leaving after the season) and Swayze Waters (the Argos kicker at the time) was like ‘Man, we’re never going to see Zach Collaros ever again,’” said Harris.

“Because he was ready to go home. He was like ‘I’m done, I’m ready to get out of here.’ And here he is all this time later. I thought he’d get into coaching a little bit sooner, but he’s really turned himself into a first ballot hall-of-famer. He’s been absolutely incredible.”

Manitoba Open

Fan outcry needed to curb leagues banking blood money

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Fan outcry needed to curb leagues banking blood money

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 7, 2025

What do the FA Cup, the NBA, the Tour de France and Sudan’s civil war have in common? They’re all being funded by the United Arab Emirates.

Unsurprisingly, the UAE acknowledges only three of these sponsorships. But its financing of the fourth is a widely-held matter of fact and, increasingly, a major problem for the sporting properties receiving its cash.

Last week, the humanitarian agency Refugees International renewed its call for the NBA to sever its relationship with Emirates — the airline owned by the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund. Emirates is the title sponsor of the annual NBA Cup.

It also holds the naming rights for a Tour cycling team and English football’s FA Cup, and its wordmark can be seen on the shirts of prominent clubs like Arsenal, AC Milan and Real Madrid.

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Friday, Nov. 7, 2025

Jon Super / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Emirates airlines’ wordmark can be seen on the shirts of prominent clubs — as seen on Real Madrid’s kit sported by Jude Bellingham in the clubs clash with Liverpool earlier this week.
Jon Super / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Emirates airlines’ wordmark can be seen on the shirts of prominent clubs — as seen on Real Madrid’s kit sported by Jude Bellingham in the clubs clash with Liverpool earlier this week.

Oak Park captures high school football glory, denies Dakota three-peat

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Oak Park captures high school football glory, denies Dakota three-peat

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

The Oak Park Raiders finally got theirs.

After their last two seasons ended in heartbreak at the hands of the Dakota Lancers, the Raiders narrowly escaped the same outcome for the third year in a row, triumphing 22-17 over the Lancers to capture the Winnipeg High School Football League AAAA tier 1 varsity championship at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday.

A fumble by the Raiders, deep in their own territory with 18 seconds remaining, gave the Lancers late hope, but Oak Park’s defence stood tall one last time to end an 11-year championship drought for the program and end Dakota’s two-year reign.

“It’s amazing,” said two-way player Amyas Furst, who had a long touchdown run in the second quarter and secured an interception in the late moments of the contest. “We’ve grinded all year for this. The bond we have with this group, you can’t break it. We had some struggles at the start of the year, but we really found it. We found our click, and now, you can see we won it now — beautiful.”

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Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS

Oak Park Raiders receiver, and ANAVETS Bowl MVP, Tavin Parani (right) carries the ball Thursday night with Dakota Lancers defender Luke Edmondson in hot pursuit.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Oak Park Raiders receiver, and ANAVETS Bowl MVP, Tavin Parani (right) carries the ball Thursday night with Dakota Lancers defender Luke Edmondson in hot pursuit.

Trevor Story declines to opt out, keeps contract with the Red Sox

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Trevor Story declines to opt out, keeps contract with the Red Sox

The Associated Press 1 minute read Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

BOSTON (AP) — Shortstop Trevor Story declined to exercise his right to opt out of his contract and is remaining with the Boston Red Sox.

Story agreed to a $140 million, six-year deal with Boston before the 2022 season and could have opted out, giving up $55 million in guaranteed money.

Instead, he kept $25 million salaries for 2026 and ’27, and a $25 million team option for 2028 with a $5 million buyout.

The two-time All-Star shortstop, who turns 33 on Nov. 15, played in 157 games, his most since 2018, and hit .263 with 25 homers and 96 RBIs.

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Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

FILE - Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) throws during the fourth inning of Game 2 of an American League wild-card baseball playoff series, Oct. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
FILE - Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) throws during the fourth inning of Game 2 of an American League wild-card baseball playoff series, Oct. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Aston Villa beats Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 in Europa League amid protests and arrests

Karel Janicek, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Aston Villa beats Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 in Europa League amid protests and arrests

Karel Janicek, The Associated Press 5 minute read Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

Aston Villa beat Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 Thursday in a Europa League game played amid heightened security measures, with more than 700 police officers deployed to deal with possible protests.

Morgan Rogers put through Ian Maatsen in first-half stoppage time for the defender to score from a tight angle and Villa doubled the lead on the hour with Donyell Malen hitting the bottom corner from the penalty spot. It was Villa's third win from games in the competition.

The game at Villa Park had become the center of a political debate after Maccabi fans were banned from attending as West Midlands Police deemed the match to be high risk and cited violence and hate crimes that took place when Maccabi Tel Aviv played at Ajax in Amsterdam last season.

The ban attracted widespread criticism including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said it was the wrong decision.

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Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

Aston Villa's Ian Maatsen, right, scores his side's opening goal during the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)
Aston Villa's Ian Maatsen, right, scores his side's opening goal during the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

San Diego Padres hire former reliever Craig Stammen as manager

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025

The San Diego Padres have hired former reliever Craig Stammen to be their manager.

Stammen got a three-year contract Thursday to begin his first managerial job at any level of the sport.

The longtime right-handed reliever retired from his playing career with the Padres in August 2023, and he spent the past two seasons as an assistant to the major league coaching staff and the baseball operations department headed by general manager A.J. Preller.

The 41-year-old Stammen replaces Mike Shildt, who retired Oct. 13 after just two seasons in charge. The Padres won at least 90 games and made the playoffs in both seasons under Shildt, who cited burnout and exhaustion in announcing his departure.

Kings snap Jets’ winning streak

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Kings snap Jets’ winning streak

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025

Scott Arniel thought the Winnipeg Jets did enough defensively to earn a different result.

But when it comes to the quality and quantity of the looks generated, that’s where the Jets fell short in the eyes of the head coach during what became a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday after two insurance markers were allowed in the final five minutes of regulation time.

“I don’t think we created enough offence,” Arniel told reporters in California. “We didn’t give up much. We gave up one in the first, obviously a big one. But I didn’t think we got to second opportunities or continuous attacks.

“When we’re on, it’s a shot, it’s a rebound and then, all of a sudden, it’s another play. Today, we were kind of one and done. We only had 10 five-on-five scoring chances. Our power play, we were one play away from maybe making it happen. The execution just wasn’t as sharp as it usually is. They did a pretty good job of keeping us on our heels.”

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Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025

Winnipeg Jets centre Gabriel Vilardi (13) battles for the puck against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke (92), left wing Jeff Malott, second from left, and defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Jessie Alcheh / The Associated Press)
Winnipeg Jets centre Gabriel Vilardi (13) battles for the puck against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke (92), left wing Jeff Malott, second from left, and defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Jessie Alcheh / The Associated Press)

Sports Editor's Picks

Winnipeg Free Press:

Special Coverage: CFL Grey Cup 112

Special Coverage: CFL Grey Cup 112

Mike McIntyre:

Lowry a leader in every sense of word

Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry (17) celebrates as Kyle Connorís (not shown) shot sneaks through the pads of Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) for the winning goal in NHL overtime action in Winnipeg, Thursday, December 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Taylor Allen:

Sky’s the limit for ‘Double Gold’ MacDonald

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS sports - jiu jitsu fighter, Logan MacDonald What: Brazilian jiu jitsu fighter who recently won gold at an event in California. Family owns a BJJ gym in town. Photos of Logan with his dad, MATT MACDONALD, in their home gym. See Taylor's story Dec 13th, 2022

Mike Sawatzky:

Deadline deal pays off for Terriers

Scott Stroh photo Defenceman Hayden Lacquette has become a key cog in Portage’s attack.

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Bob Dyce never considered coaching as a career; now he’s a CFL boss

The way the Dyce roll

Mike Sawatzky:

Brennan makes the most of opportunities

SUPPLIED Lucas Brennan is known for his willing to do the work required to improve and be successful on the ice.

More Sports

Bombers’ Vaval named Most Outstanding Rookie, Special Teams Player finalist

Taylor Allen 2 minute read Preview

Bombers’ Vaval named Most Outstanding Rookie, Special Teams Player finalist

Taylor Allen 2 minute read Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

The accolades continue to pour in for Trey Vaval.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers return specialist was named the West Division’s representative for both the Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player awards on Thursday.

Toronto Argonauts kicker Lirim Hajrullahu (special teams) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Devin Veresuk (rookie) are the finalists coming out of the East Division.

Vaval led the CFL in punt returns (75), punt return yards (957), missed field goal return yards (391), and return touchdowns (two on kickoffs, one via punt, and one missed field goal return). He also made four starts at cornerback this season where he recorded 21 defensive tackles and picked off a pass against Montreal on Aug. 21.

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Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval set a franchise record in September when he returned a 128-yard missed field goal for a touchdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval set a franchise record in September when he returned a 128-yard missed field goal for a touchdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

‘We still haven’t come close to playing our complete game yet’: Arniel

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

‘We still haven’t come close to playing our complete game yet’: Arniel

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

Scott Arniel chose his words carefully.

Asked for a bigger-picture assessment of the 10-game block to open the season, the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets made it clear that as happy as he is about the 14 points that have been put in the bank, but further improvements will be required to sustain a pace that includes a .700 winning percentage.

“I’m happy with 7-3. I don’t ever want to talk down on being 7-3, but we still haven’t come close to playing our complete game yet,” Arniel said after the Jets defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime and before using Wednesday to recharge the batteries. “There’s signs of things that we’re doing better, but sometimes it’s two steps forward, one step back.

“But it’s early in the year and if we’re going to do it, do it now. Get it out of the way. But I like the fact that, even though we haven’t played our best hockey, we’re still sitting at 7-3.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

ANGELINA KATSANIS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

The Winnipeg Jets have opened the season with a flattering 7-3 record. Forward Nino Niederreiter (right) said the club is still looking to improve, and thinks the team will feel better when they “find a way to pull a full 60 minutes together.”
ANGELINA KATSANIS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES The Winnipeg Jets have opened the season with a flattering 7-3 record. Forward Nino Niederreiter (right) said the club is still looking to improve, and thinks the team will feel better when they “find a way to pull a full 60 minutes together.”

Workhorse guard’s time to shine for University of Winnipeg Wesmen

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Workhorse guard’s time to shine for University of Winnipeg Wesmen

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

Being the workhorse ball-handler for a top-ranked U Sports basketball program isn’t made for everyone.

Shawn Maranan, a former three-time Canada West conference second team all-star guard with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, knows that as well as anyone.

“It takes a lot, especially playing under (head) coach Mike (Raimbault),” said Maranan, who transitioned into an assistant coach under Raimbault this season.

“We have so much responsibility. We have to defend at a high level — defence starts with the point guards applying pressure — and not only on the defensive end, but offensively, we have to feel the game out. We have to control the game.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Winnipeg Wesmen guard Kato Jaro was named a Canada West all-rookie in his first season with the team and increased his numbers overall in his sophomore season.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Wesmen guard Kato Jaro was named a Canada West all-rookie in his first season with the team and increased his numbers overall in his sophomore season.

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