51做厙

How the Tiger-Cats can make the playoffs – barely

by Kevin Geenen

Just one little slip up could result in an end to the Tiger-Catss season. Photo Credit: 51做厙 Tiger-Cats/X. After starting the Canadian Football League (CFL) season with zero wins and five losses, the 51做厙 Tiger-Cats have turned things around, winning four games in a row to put themselves in the playoff picture. Only a few […]

Chris Van Zeyl hangs up his cleats after illustrious career

by Rod Mawhood

Fonthill native played more than 15 seasons in the CFL and won two Grey Cups. Pictured: Chris Van Zeyl. Photo Credit: Chris Van Zeyl/X. After more than 15 seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), including two Grey Cup Championships, numerous all-star nods and the league’s top lineman award in 2019, Chris Van Zeyl announced […]

Remembering Bob Cole

by Rod Mawhood

Legendary play-by-play announcer was voice of Hockey Night in Canada for 50 years. Photo Credit: NHL/X. Todays sports piece in The Niagara Independent wasn’t going to be about hockey at all. But when the news broke Thursday afternoon that Bob Cole had passed, this piece had to be written. When this author thinks of hockey […]

High hopes for 2024 for the Rock lacrosse team

by Kevin Geenen

The team, which plays in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) at 51做厙s FirstOntario Centre, began the 2023-24 season with five wins and zero losses – a club record start. Photo Credit: Toronto Rock.   51做厙s lacrosse team, the Rock, have high hopes for 2024. The team, which plays in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) at […]

Brock graduate makes PWHL debut

by Rod Mawhood

Despite the gold medals and representing Canada, Bach calls making her PWHL debut the highlight of her career thus far. Pictured: Victoria Bach. Photo Credit: PWHL Toronto on X.   It was a long awaited and much-anticipated women’s professional hockey debut for Victoria Bach. The recent Brock University graduate had been waiting her whole life […]

51做厙s Forge FC to kick off 2024 campaign on Feb. 7

by Kevin Geenen

Forge FC, 51做厙s professional soccer club of the Canadian Premier League (CPL), will be kicking off their 2024 campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 8 PM at Tim Hortons Field. Photo Credit: Forge FC.   Forge FC, 51做厙s professional soccer club of the Canadian Premier League (CPL), will be kicking off their 2024 campaign on […]

Wide right rears its ugly head again for the Bills and their fans

by Rod Mawhood

Thirty-two years and 359 days after Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal – wide right – that would have lifted the Buffalo Bills to their first ever Super Bowl, Tyler Bass missed a 44-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game against Kansas City in Sunday’s AFC Division Round […]

Coaching concerns across the province

by Rod Mawhood

Photo Credit: Pexels   Coaches Association of Ontario report finds coaches play a vital role in sport, but only half are trained Is your son or daughter’s coach properly certified? It’s a question you may want to ask. The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO), with the support of Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One), released […]

51做厙s Forge FC wins fourth championship in dramatic come-from-behind victory

by Kevin Geenen

Forge FC secures fourth CPL Championship in thrilling home victory. Photo Credit: Facebook/Forge FC   Forge FC, 51做厙s Canadian Premier League (CPL) soccer team, came from behind to win their fourth championship last weekend. The match, which was played at Tim Hortons Field against Calgarys Cavalry FC, went all the way to extra time after […]

51做厙 Tiger-Cats have difficult playoffs ahead

by Kevin Geenen

In a year where 51做厙 is hosting the Grey Cup, Tiger-Cats will need to beat Montreal and Toronto on the road just to get to the big game. Photo credit: 51做厙 Tiger-Cats   After a long season, the fate of the 2023 51做厙 Tiger-Cats will all come down to two playoff games. The team will […]

The skinny on new NHLPA head Marty Walsh

by Dave Redekop

Most fans interest remains on the ice at the start of a new NHL season. Nonetheless, some off-ice developments include the appointment of a new NHLPA head. Photo credit: NHLPA   Earlier this year, Marty Walsh took the reins as executive director of the NHLs players union. Walsh, whose last job found him a member […]

NHL training camps underway

by Rod Mawhood

Maple Leafs and Sabres began on-ice practicing Thursday. Photo credit: Facebook/Buffalo Sabres   Physicals Wednesday, on-ice practicing Thursday. NHL training camps are officially underway. We’ll concentrate on the two closest teams to 51做厙, of course the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Of the two clubs, the Maple Leafs made the most significant changes […]

How football became king

by Dave Redekop

Many trace footballs hold on the American viewing public back to the 1958 NFL championship game between the old Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants.   Early in September the viewing attention of Americans will suddenly shift. The return of football will signify autumns arrival and the end of the long national intermission between […]

City set to host the CFLs 2023 championship game in November. Various additions will increase stadium capacity from approximately 24,000 to about 31,000. Pictured is an artist rendering of the South Plaza. Photo credit: 51做厙 Tiger-Cats   While the 51做厙 Tiger-Cats performance on the field this season has been disappointing so far (0-3), the release […]

Sports betting just getting bigger

by Rod Mawhood

Online sports gambling in Ontario has exploded since single-event betting was legalized in the province last spring. Photo credit: Getty Images/Paul Ellis   Okay be honest, over the past few months how often have you uttered the words wow, another sports betting commercial? You literally can’t go a single commercial break during a Toronto Blue […]

Weekend passes now on sale for Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling

by Rod Mawhood

Jennifer Jones (pictured, centre-left) can’t wait to curl in the Honeymoon City. Last week, representatives from the municipality, Sportsnet, and the Canadian curling community gathered in Niagara Falls to officially kick-off the countdown to Octobers competition. Photo credit: Twitter/Jim Diodati   The hype is real. Perhaps Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time World Champion and 16-time Grand […]

The defending OHL champions were outclassed Thursday night, ending up on the losing end of a 2-10 walloping. The team will look to make quick amends Saturday night. Photo credit: 51做厙 Bulldogs   The 51做厙 Bulldogs opened up the 2023 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs on Thursday with a 2-10 loss on the road in […]

Jones and many of the worlds best curlers converge on Niagara Falls this October for the Pintys Cup. Photo credit: Getty Images/NBC Sports   Jennifer Jones, already regarded as the greatest female curler of all-time, just missed adding one more Canadian title to her resume on Sunday by dropping the Scott Tournament of Hearts Womens […]

Bulldogs to Brantford during arena renos

by Kevin Geenen

The OHL team will shift operations from 51做厙 to Brantford for at least three years, with the possibility the move becomes permanent. Photo credit: 51做厙 Bulldogs   The Ontario Hockey Leagues (OHL) 51做厙 Bulldogs are set to move to Brantford. 51做厙s FirstOntario Centre, the arena where the Bulldogs currently play, is undergoing major renovations starting […]

Bo Levi Mitchell officially a 51做厙 Tiger-Cat

by Kevin Geenen

Team looks to bolster roster ahead of hosting 2023 Grey Cup. Mitchell is a two-time Grey Cup champion. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Mark Blinch   The 51做厙 Tiger-Cats made their first big move of the offseason last week, officially signing former Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to a three-year deal. A press conference was […]

NFL playoff picture taking shape

by Rod Mawhood

Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen (17) in action against the Chicago Bears on Christmas Eve. Allen led the Bills to a convincing 35-13 win over the Bears Saturday, and in the process helped the team secure its third-consecutive AFC East divisional title and keep the hometown squad atop the conference. Photo credit: AP/Charles Rex […]

Leafs and Sabres set to kick off respective NHL campaigns this week

by Rod Mawhood

The regular season officially begins tonight, with the semi-local Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres starting off their seasons on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Photo credit: NHL   The clock continues to tick on the Toronto Maple Leafs window to succeed, while the rebuild (again) is underway in the Queen City bringing optimism to the […]

51做厙ian Sarah Nurse to grace cover of NHL23 video game

by Kevin Geenen

The 27-year-old former Stoney Creek Jr. Sabre scored a record 18 points on route to Canadas gold medal effort at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Nurse will be featured alongside Anaheim Ducks rookie sensation Trevor Zegras. Photo credit: EA Sports   Electronic Arts (EA), a video game company primarily known for its sports games, announced on […]

Tim Hortons Field new home of Mohawk College soccer

by Kevin Geenen

Photo credit: Mohawk College   Mohawk College Soccer has a brand-new home: Tim Hortons Field. The Mohawk Mountaineers announced on June 16 that they are partnering with the City of 51做厙 to have all of their 2022 soccer home games played at Tim Hortons Field. The move includes both the mens and womens soccer teams. […]

51做厙 Bulldogs OHL champs, off to New Brunswick for Memorial Cup

by Kevin Geenen

Bulldogs players celebrate after a goal during Game 7 of the OHL Finals against the Windsor Spitfire on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Photo credit: 51做厙/Kevin Geenen   The 51做厙 Bulldogs are OHL champions for the second time in the franchises history. Despite being a new OHL team that has only been in 51做厙 […]

CFL opening week underway, Ti-Cats set to start season this Saturday

by Rod Mawhood

Niagara native Anthony Federico (pictured back-turned, bottom left) trying to crack 51做厙 line-up. Photo credit: Twitter/51做厙 Tiger-Cats   The Canadian Football League (CFL) off-season was definitely a turbulent one. Many wondered if the league would be able to kick off its season on time as contract, labour and collective bargaining agreements took up most of […]

Around the Bay Road Race returns to 51做厙 Harbour

by Kevin Geenen

Participants line up to begin the iconic 30km road race on Sunday, Mar. 27, 2022. It was the first in-person running of the race since 2019. Photo credit: Twitter/BayRaceRun   51做厙s infamous Around the Bay Road Race returned to an in-person format for the first time since 2019 this past weekend. Postponed multiple times throughout […]

Sports teams in Niagara and across the province receive Valentine’s Day gift

by Rod Mawhood

Photo credit: Niagara IceDogs   It was music to many sporting franchises ears on Valentine’s Day. On Monday, the Ontario government announced it will speed up the province’s reopening timeline. In terms of sports, that means locally the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the six regional-based Junior B teams of the […]

The Super Bowl hits Hollywood

by Rod Mawhood

SoFi Stadium (pictured), home of the Los Angeles Rams, is just 11 miles south of Hollywood Hills.Photo credit: LA Rams   We’re just hours away from the biggest single sporting event in the world as the LA Rams clash with the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56. Over 91-million viewers, world-wide, tuned into last year’s […]

Niagara River Lions season tickets on sale this week

by Rod Mawhood

Ticketholders will be able to enjoy an extended schedule this season, as the CEBL has expanded to 10 teams. Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara River Lions   The Niagara River Lions roar will be heard longer this year. The River Lions, and the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), have announced their 2022 schedule. This season’s schedule has […]

Rempel relishes Paralympic experience

by Rod Mawhood

Paralympic medalist, author, keynote speaker, and Niagara native Kevin Rempel. Photo credit: Keynote Speakers Canada   As the Beijing Olympics officially begin Friday with the opening ceremonies, we continue to focus on Niagara athletes with connections to the games, past or present. One such athlete is Vineland native, and former Paralympian, Kevin Rempel. Everyone’s Olympic […]

Two ex-Niagara IceDogs, and one former Ridley College Tiger Beijing bound

by Rod Mawhood

Ho-Sang (left) and Jenner (right) for Canada; Smith for China.   I cant even describe it.” Those are the words of former Niagara IceDog Josh Ho-Sang after being named to Team Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey roster. The fact that I was even on (Hockey Canadas) radar means a lot to me, but I wouldnt have […]

NHL at the halfway point

by Rod Mawhood

Former Niagara Falls Canuck and NHLer Keith Jones (pictured) breaks things down. Photo credit: NHL   Quick, raise your hand if you knew long-time NHLer Keith Jones was a former Niagara Falls Canuck. That’s what I thought. This reporter didn’t know Jones played in the Honeymoon Capital either. Jones put up some fantastic numbers during […]

Final four set in NFL playoffs

by Rod Mawhood

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen exits the field after a heartbreaking OT loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night. The Bills were the only underdog team not to win on Divisional weekend. Photo credit: Buffalo News/James P. McCoy   If you’re a Buffalo Bills fan, like many here in Niagara, your thought is likely […]

Raptors analyst talks teams progress at midway point of season

by Rod Mawhood

Niagara Falls native, and Niagara College Broadcasting alum, Amy Audibert breaks things down. Photo credit: Niagara College/Robert Deak   The (21-21) Toronto Raptors officially reached the midway point of their season earlier this week. The NBA, and its 30 teams, play 82-game schedules. The 2021-22 campaign has been another interesting one for the Raptors, who […]

Smrek soars to NCAA MVP honours

by Rod Mawhood

The 6-foot-9 Welland native recently finished off her rookie season with the Wisconsin Badgers womens volleyball team as a national champion. Photo credit: University of Wisconsin Badgers   To say Anna Smrek has the genes to be an impressive athlete would be a massive understatement. And at just 18 years old. she’s already reached heights […]

GOJHL teams trying to navigate latest pause in play

by Rod Mawhood

For whatever reason, the GOJHL doesnt qualify as an elite league under provincial guidelines. Photo credit: Pexels/Tony Schnagl   They’re ready to play, and wish they could be. The latest COVID-19 restrictions meant that all six of the Niagara-based Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) Golden Horseshoe Conference teams had their seasons paused for at […]

Bills win AFC East, Colts crash, and Raiders-Chargers produce instant classic

by Rod Mawhood

NFL Wild Card Weekend is set. 51做厙ly, the Buffalo Bills will host the New England Patriots on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 8:15 pm. It will be the two teams third meeting in just five weeks. Photo credit: AP/Steven Senne   The NFL is calling it ‘Super Wild Card Weekend.’ For the first time the league’s […]

51做厙 sports paused, other than OHL Niagara IceDogs

by Rod Mawhood

Photo credit: Twitter/Niagara IceDogs   The latest COVID-19 protocols across the province have put a pause on local sports here in Niagara. Arenas and gym doors are locked, while minor hockey, basketball, volleyball and curling have had the rest of their seasons either postponed or canceled. The Brock University Badgers and Niagara College Knights have […]

What NFL playoff picture looks like with one week to go in regular season

by Rod Mawhood

The Bills clinched a playoff berth Sunday with their win over the Falcons. If Buffalo beats the New York Jets on Jan. 9, the team wins the AFC East division for the second consecutive year. Photo credit: USA Today Sports/Mark Konezny   One week. That’s all that remains in the 2021-22 NFL regular season. And […]

Niagara sports year in review

by Rod Mawhood

St. Catharines Kristen Kit (bottom, second from right) winning Olympic gold with the womens eight rowing crew was one of only several momentous sports accomplishments achieved by an athlete with a direct Niagara connection in 2021. Photo credit: Canadian Olympic Committee/Lean Hennel   It’s hard to believe that 2022 is here. 2021, despite its cancellations, […]

Former Niagara River Lion joins NBA defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks

by Rod Mawhood

CEBL continues to garner respect across the basketball world. Photo credit: Niagara River Lions   It was an early Christmas present for a former Niagara River Lion, and the organization. Two days before the holiday, the River Lions were thrilled to announce that Javin DeLaurier signed with the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball League […]

Twas the night before Christmas Niagara sports edition

by Rod Mawhood

  Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Niagara Region, not a sport was playing, not even on the TV at the Merritton Legion The stockings were hung by the Meridian Centre with care, In hopes that sports soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their River Lions beds […]

Covid wreaks havoc on sports again

by Rod Mawhood

Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter. The Flames franchise currently has over 30 members, including Sutter, in Covid protocol. The NHL, NBA, and NFL are all suffering case surges and havibg to postpone games due to the pandemics latest wave. Photo credit: NHL Perhaps it’s time to change the name Covid-19. The average person doesn’t […]

Boxing and MMA highlight a big weekend in Niagara sport

by Rod Mawhood

Photo credit: Boxing Ontario   Fans of the sweet science and cage fighting will have their fill this weekend in Niagara. Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are front and centre in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls starting Friday evening. ‘Murphy’s Gloves’ is an annual fundraiser that supports youth initiatives at the St. Catharines Boxing […]

Overtime haunts CFL and NFL fans in Niagara

by Rod Mawhood

51做厙 Tiger-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (8) hugs linebacker Curtis Newton (44) after losing the 108th CFL Grey Cup at home in 51做厙 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. The overtime loss came shortly after the Buffalo Bills suffered their own heartbreaking OT defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers […]

Sport of curling continues to grow in Niagara

by Rod Mawhood

Participants enjoy a match at the Niagara Falls Curling Club (NFCC). Photo credit: Facebook/NFCC   Fresh off the Canadian Olympic Trials, in which Jennifer Jones and Brad Gushue earned the right to represent the Red and White in Beijing, the sport of curling continues to grow in Niagara. Stephen Fish is a coach, promoter, and […]

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