Starting point-guard for the River Lions and reigning CEBL Most Valuable Player Khalil Ahmad. Photo credit: CEBL   Perhaps CEBL analyst and former Niagara River Lions head coach Joe Raso said it best minutes after the River Lions hammered the Saskatchewan Rattlers 116-74 in their 2023 home opener. “You know what that was? That was […]

Pietrangelo of Vegas (pictured) and Verhaeghe of Florida will battle for Lord Stanley’s Mug. Photo credit: NHL   While most of the Stanley Cup Final discussion has centred around the Cinderella Florida Panthers, and the play of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk, there are a ton of other story lines including one here in […]

Pictured is Arden White (front) with his doubles partner Levi Patterson-Raby, alongside Arden’s older brother and Bulldogs coach Austin. Photo credit: Steve Smith   When the 50-plus Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs rowers take to the water later this week on Martindale Pond in Port Dalhousie for the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA) Regatta they’ll […]

Victor Raso (pictured) adds new title to his resume. Photo credit: CEBL The Niagara River Lions open their season Friday night in Montreal, and for head coach and general manager Victor Raso the goal for his club has never changed.  “I think our goal is to win the Eastern Conference and then win the league,” […]

Home opener Wednesday. Photo credit: St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics   The St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics season opener was a winning one.  The Athletics traveled to Six Nations on Monday afternoon for the Arrows annual bread and cheese game, and prevailed 10-7 as Ethan Fisher scored four goals for the A’s. St. Catharines head coach […]

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 […]

Franchise had busy off-season, adding 1,600 new seats to stadium and several new players to line-up. Team kicks off 2023 campaign this week. Image from May 2022. Photo credit: Welland Jackfish/Steven Ruddy   Upgrades to their lineup and stadium means expectations are high this season for the Welland Jackfish.  First pitch on the 2023 campaign […]

Toronto’s fifth starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (pictured) is a perfect 5-0 to kick off the season. Photo credit: Getty Images/G Fiume   While most all-around sports fans are engulfed in the NHL and NBA playoffs, it may be hard to believe, but the major league baseball (MLB) season is already a quarter over as of […]

GM suspended two seasons, team captain and netminder kicked out of OHL over unspecified incident. Full rundown of the evolving situation and what’s been said to date. Photo credit: OHL/Natalie Shaver   It was an interesting 48 hours recently for the Niagara IceDogs. It was late last Thursday afternoon, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and […]

Patrick Whelan talks basketball and the King’s upcoming coronation. Photo credit: British Basketball League   The Niagara River Lions have announced the signing of 6’5 guard, Patrick Whelan. The 26-year-old from Warrington, England will join the team for the 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) campaign, filling the international roster spot that is required by […]

Carter Verhaeghe (pictured) was drafted into the NHL by his upcoming playoff opponent. Photo credit: NHL   It was midway through a recent sit-down interview with former Niagara IceDogs captain, now member of the National Hockey League (NHL) Anaheim Ducks, Ryan Strome that I asked a simple question: Who is the most underrated player in […]

Bills move up to select tight end Dalton Kincaid (pictured) with first round pick. Photo credit: Syracuse.com via Getty Images   Thirty-one players were selected in the first round of Thursday night’s National Football League (NFL) Draft from Kansas City, Missouri’s Union Station.  Three of the first four picks were quarterbacks.  Alabama’s Bryce Young went […]

Team makes 16 selections over two-day draft. Several local players drafted. Photo credit: Niagara IceDogs/Vivid Eye Photography   Rather than calling it a rebuild, Niagara IceDogs owner and general manager Darren DeDobbelaer called it a “retool.” After finishing the 2022-23 season last overall in the 20-team Ontario Hockey League (OHL), DeDobbelaer and the IceDogs brass […]

Pictured is Jordan Tchuente. Photo credit: Brock Badgers   The Niagara River Lions stayed close to home when they announced one of their two selections in the CEBL (Canadian Elite Basketball League) 2023 U SPORTS (Canadian University) Draft, selecting Jordan Tchuente of the Brock Badgers along with Aiden Warnholtz of Carleton University. The partnership between […]

Tickets on sale and volunteers still needed for Pinty’s Grand Slam event coming to Niagara this fall. Photo credit: Facebook/Curling Canada    As plans for the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling – coming to Niagara Falls in October – continue, Curling Canada has announced some major changes.  Canadian four-player curling teams looking to qualify for […]

Bruce Boudreau chimes in on the race to Lord Stanley. Toronto, Edmonton, and Winnipeg are Canadian representatives this post-season. Photo credit: NHL   Friday is the final day of the 82-game regular season for the 32 NHL teams.  The 16 teams that qualified for the postseason will begin competing for Lord Stanley’s mug Monday night.  […]

Amy Audibert (pictured) is now an analyst with the Miami Heat. Photo credit: Twitter/Amy Audibert   If the NBA ‘play-in’ format wasn’t intriguing enough, enter the Minnesota Timberwolves and this past Sunday.  To call it an epic meltdown might be a massive understatement.  First forward Jaden McDaniels broke his hand punching the wall in frustration […]

Wrestling, rowing, soccer, and basketball athletes picked up the hardware. Pictured are Brock’s Stephen Harris and Mia Friesen. Photo credit: Brock University Athletics/Stephen Leithwood    The Brock University Badgers and Niagara College Knights have announced their 2022-23 athletes of the year.  A wrestler and rower from the Badgers, and a soccer and basketball player with […]

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 October’s competition. Photo credit: Twitter/Jim Diodati   The hype is real.  Perhaps Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time World Champion and 16-time Grand […]

Single game tickets now on sale. Pictured is Antonio “AJ” Davis. Photo Credit: CEBL    After announcing the signing of Canadian National Team member Phil Scrubb last week, the Niagara River Lions have announced they’ve inked 6’9 American forward Antonio “AJ” Davis.  The 28-year-old from Burford, Georgia will join the team for the 2023 Canadian […]

Former Brock Badger, now Vice-President with the Blue Jays Andrew Tinnish (pictured) breaks down the 2023 season. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Chris Young   Optimism is once again the word most often used when describing the Toronto Blue Jays 2023 season.  With first pitch on the new campaign set to fly Thursday afternoon from St. […]

Niagara Falls one of six cities chosen to host pre-tournament games. Photo credit: Getty Images/Derek Leung   With less than two weeks until puck drop at the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championship, Hockey Canada and the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) have unveiled the pre-tournament schedule and training camp locations for […]

TSN to air ‘Game of the Week’ plus playoffs. Photo credit: CEBL   To say the growth of the Canadian Elite Basketball League has been exponential would be a massive understatement.  For a league founded in 2017, that didn’t begin play until 2019, the CEBL is now the largest professional sports league in Canada.  And […]

Player and coach are part of defending Sutherland Cup Champion St. Catharines Jr. B Falcons. Photo credit: Twitter/GOJHL   They were supposed to be honoured Monday night at St. Catharines City Hall, but instead they’ll be playing Game 3 in their best of seven second round playoff series against the Caledonia Corvairs.  The duo are […]

March Madness tips off this week, with two local products participating in the iconic tournament. Former Ridley College Tiger Charles Bediako (pictured) plays for top ranked Alabama. Photo credit: Crimson Tide Photos/UA Athletics    You don’t have to be a basketball or sports fan, for that matter, to know these two words: March Madness.  Every March […]

This year’s U SPORTS championship banner marks the 21st in program history for the Badgers men’s wrestling team, more than double any other wrestling program across the country. Photo credit: Brock University Athletics/Brad Hamilton   If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s the success of the Brock Badgers wrestlers. The Brock Badgers men’s wrestling […]

Badgers are defending Quigley Cup Champions. Photo credit: Brock Athletics/Stephen Leithwood   And then there was one.  Only one team remains standing as the fall-winter sports schedule wraps up at both Brock University and Niagara College.  The Brock Badgers Women’s Volleyball team.  The Badgers, who are defending provincial champions, are off to their third straight […]

All four opening round series are underway for the six Niagara-based clubs. Photo credit: Twitter/Fort Erie Meteors   The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) is composed of three conferences and 24 teams.  Of those 24 teams six call Niagara home, and all are based in the Golden Horseshoe Conference.  The St. Catharines Falcons, Fort […]

Mike Nicholson (pictured) is believed to be the first black captain in Canadian university hockey history. Photo credit: Brock University    As the month of February, and Black History Month, wraps up, The Niagara Independent sports department reached out to three current Niagara based and related athletes and one former St. Catharines resident who has a […]

Jones and many of the world’s best curlers converge on Niagara Falls this October for the Pinty’s 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 Women’s […]

Niagara Falls Curling Club (pictured) will host the event in October. Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara Falls Curling Club   Over the years, so many leagues and teams have chosen Niagara Falls to highlight their particular sport.  Toronto Maple Leafs training camp, Red Bull Crashed Ice – just to name a couple.  Well now one of the […]

On the court, the Brock women’s volleyball team enters the post-season ranked second in Canada after winning seven straight matches and finishing the regular season with an outstanding (18-2) record. Photo credit: Brock Badgers Athletics/Stephen Leithwood    Late February and early March usually mean one thing for the two post-secondary institutions that call Niagara home – […]

MLB pitchers and catchers report to spring training as well. Photo credit: IBL/CJH Photography   It wasn’t only Monday’s sunshine and unseasonably mild temperatures across Niagara that made a lot of us think of spring. Major League Baseball (MLB) Pitchers and catchers also reported to their respective teams spring training locations across Florida and Arizona. […]

Superstition comes into play for Lirim Hajrullahu. Photo credit: NurPhoto/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images   Patrick Mahomes and the perennial powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs, and Jalen Hurts and arguably the best team all season long in the Philadelphia Eagles. Welcome to Super Bowl 57.  For the first time in history two black quarterbacks will go […]

PWHPA plays at Meridian Centre Friday night. Photo credit: Team Canada   Brianne Jenner figures it’s been close to 20 years since she’s played in St. Catharines. One of the greatest women’s hockey players of all-time will return to the Garden City Friday night when the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) Showcase drops the […]

Thorold’s Conor Timmins talks joining the Toronto Maple Leafs. Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports/Jerome Miron   With the National Hockey League (NHL) All-Star break officially upon us, it’s time to check in on the two closest teams to us here in Niagara. The Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting in a very comfortable third place overall […]

Embattled former NHL head coach talks his former home and more. Photo credit: Getty Images/Jeff Vinnick   A week after being let go by the Vancouver Canucks, Bruce Boudreau was still reflecting on all the emotions running through his mind. The man they call ‘Gabby’ joined the Niagara Sports Report on Newstalk 610 CKTB to […]

 The team’s 2023 home opener at Meridian Centre, in downtown St. Catharines, is June 3 against Saskatchewan. Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara River Lions   It’s hard to believe the Niagara River Lions are entering their ninth season.  The professional basketball franchise’s first four were under the National Basketball League of Canada brand, the last four in […]

Sabrina D’Angelo is also a member of the Canadian Women’s National team. Photo credit: Twitter/Arsenal Women   Just days after the Green Bay Packers signed Niagara Falls native Tyrell Ford, the region was once again on the world sports map when a self-proclaimed, and proud, “Wellander” became the first ever Canadian to sign with the […]

Former AN Myer Marauder was with Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Pictured (left) alongside brother Tre. Photo credit: CFL   At the start of the 2022-23 National Football League season 22 Canadians were on active rosters. You can add another player to that list entering the 2023-24 campaign.  Yes, it’s been quite the few months for Tyrell […]

Former Bills kicker and Niagara-on-the-Lake resident weighs in on playoffs. Photo credit: USA Today/Bills Wire   Steve Christie is still considered by many as not only the best Buffalo Bills kicker in franchise history, but also one of the best kickers in NFL history.  Christie has connected on nine field goals in overtime, an NFL […]

Daniel Michaud (left) and Gerard Keane (right) fill out the IceDogs’ on-ice leadership team. Niagara sits in last place at the halfway point of the season. Photo credit: Niagara IceDogs   As the Niagara IceDogs prepare their official Memorial Cup bid to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), owner and general manager Darren DeDobbelaer swung two more […]

Two games Saturday, three games Sunday and one game on Monday. Bills take on Miami Sunday at 1:00pm. Photo credit: Getty Images/Michael Reaves   NFL Wildcard weekend is set.  First, let’s discuss how we got there, because the 2022-23 season was certainly not a normal one. We witnessed three ties.  The defending Super Bowl Champion Los […]

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin showing ‘remarkable improvement’. Photo credit: Getty Images/Dylan Buell   Let’s be honest, the National Football League (NFL) has a reputation for playing through the toughest conditions, wind, rain, and even blizzards have never stopped play. But that all changed Monday night in Cincinnati, Ohio when tragedy struck as Buffalo Bills […]

Canada rebounds from opening game loss as Bedard (pictured) emerges as phenom at World Juniors. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese   As the calendar turned to 2023, the holiday tradition continued. The World Junior Hockey Championships. For many people and their families, it’s truly the only time they watch hockey throughout the year.  And […]

Highlighted by the Canada Summer Games in August, 2022 was a big year in Niagara sports, for athletes, coaches, organizers, and spectators alike. Photo credit: Canada Summer Games/Anil Mungal    As we say bid adieu to 2022, and usher in 2023, The Niagara Independent would like to look back and highlight the year that was […]

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 […]

Last year’s GOJHL championship squad from St. Catharines currently sits atop the Golden Horseshoe Conference. The Fort Erie Meteors (pictured) are in third and lead the conference in offence, with 131 goals on the season. Photo credit: Facebook/Fort Erie Meteors   The holiday break can’t come soon enough for some local junior hockey teams, while […]

Canada drops 12 places in rankings. Photo credit: Getty Images   It was called the best World Cup final ever. Some say the best sporting event ever. Be honest. Did you watch the 2022 World Cup? Or at least the highlights? Soccer’s biggest event lived up to the hype and then some, as Argentina knocked […]

St. Catharines born Alexa Vasko (pictured, second from right) to play at Meridian Centre. Photo credit: Hockey Canada   The Niagara IceDogs and Ontario Hockey League (OHL) announced that they are partnering with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) to bring some of the best women’s hockey talent in the world, including a total […]

Semi-finals set at World Cup. Photo credit: Reuters/Matthew Childs   If you had Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco as your final four at the World Cup you’re likely lying.  That’s right, two of the final four teams came out of Canada’s Group F. Belgium, who entered the tournament ranked second in the World, was the […]

Former Brock Badger is Logistics Site Manager in Qatar. Supplied photo.    Tyler Harrison has quickly taken his love of baseball to the soccer pitch. The former Brock Badger baseball player, and Sports Management student, has been in Qatar since last year preparing for and working the 2022 World Cup.  Harrison was actually working for […]

Thorold’s Conor Timmins joins Niagara Falls’ Mac Hollowell (pictured) in Toronto. Photo credit: The Hockey Writers/Jess Starr   It’s been quite the few weeks for Toronto Maple Leafs fans from Niagara, and a couple of select families.  After Niagara Falls native, and blueliner, Mac Hollowell made his debut for the blue and white on November […]

River Lions, IceDogs and Jackfish also giving back to charity. Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara River Lions   North America might have the Big 4 when it comes to professional sports, but here in Niagara we have the Big 3.  And what happens when you bring together the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Baseball League […]

The Bulldogs took home OFSAA gold Saturday. Pictured is the team with their qualifying SOSSA banner. Photo credit: OFSAA   If you’re looking for the best girls AA high school basketball team in Ontario, look no further than St. Catharines’ Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School.  At OFSAA’s three-day, 18-team tournament at Stratford District Secondary School […]

With the capacity, proper accommodations in place, and collective will, St. Catharines seems like the natural front-runner in the four-city race. Pictured is inside the Meridian Centre. Photo credit: Facebook/Meridian Centre   The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) made it official on Wednesday, naming the Niagara IceDogs one of four finalists to host the 2024 Memorial […]

Three Niagara soccer aficionados offer their thoughts and picks. Pictured Canadian players celebrate after beating the U.S. 2-0 in a qualifier back in January at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field. Photo credit: Twitter/Canada Soccer   The world’s biggest soccer event officially kicked off on Sunday from Qatar. The 2022 World Cup saw the host nation drop […]

Welland’s Johnny Augustine (pictured) and Tyrell Ford both play for Blue Bombers. The championship game takes place between Winnipeg and Toronto this Sunday in Regina, Saskatchewan. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Jason Franson   Two interesting story lines highlight this Sunday’s 109th Grey Cup when the champions of the east, the Toronto Argonauts, meet the best […]

Arizona Coyotes GM has called St. Catharines home since 1996. Photo credit: AP   Over the years, The Niagara Independent has featured NHL players and coaches that call the region home, but Niagara’s reach in the top professional hockey league in the world goes far beyond the ice and the bench.  From scouts to trainers, […]

Amy Audibert now a member of the Miami Heat broadcast team. Pictured Audibert stands with legendary broadcaster Jason Jackson. Photo credit: Twitter/Amy Audibert   If there was a spokesperson for hard work paying off Amy Audibert would be it.  The Niagara Falls native has gone from playing NCAA basketball at the University of Miami, to […]

Buffalo and Kansas City tops in the AFC, Philadelphia in the NFC. Despite recent loss and injury issues, Bills, led by star quarterback Josh Allen (pictured), still favoured to represent the AFC in this year’s Super Bowl. Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports/Robert Deutsch   As the National Football League officially hits the halfway point of […]

 Over the weekend, the 2022 squad took home NC’s first-ever OCAA soccer medal. Photo credit: Niagara Knights   For the first time in school history Niagara College has medaled in the sport of soccer at the provincial level. The Knights downed the host Durham College Lords 3-2 to capture bronze at the Ontario Colleges Athletic […]

Only one Canadian involved in best of seven set. Phillies manager Ron Thomson (pictured), from southwestern Ontario, will try to win his sixth career championship ring against powerhouse Houston.     The 118th edition of the World Series is definitely living up to its moniker.  The Houston Astros roster features players from six different countries. The […]

Niagara Falls took home over $5.2 million for hosting Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino from July 1 to September 30, 2022. Over the first two quarters of this fiscal year, the city has received $11,542,491 from the OLG, already topping the $11,526,576 total it received for the entire 2021/22 fiscal year. Photo credit: Facebook/Casino […]

The Canadian Elite Basketball League, headquartered in Niagara, has expanded into Canada’s third largest city. The new Calgary Surge franchise was unveiled this week. Usman Tahir Jutt (left) and Jason Ribeiro (right) are credited with bringing pro basketball to Calgary. Photo credit: LiveWire Calgary/Aryn Toombs   It might just be the best kept secret in […]

Raps looking to “grow and make a jump” this season. Photo credit: USA Today Sports/John E. Sokolowski   The National Basketball Association tips off its 2022-23 season Tuesday night.  The Toronto Raptors begin their regular season Wednesday night at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a (48-34) record last season, good for fifth place in […]

The six-sport, all-day event is free for all girls aged six to 12. It takes places at the brand-new Empire Sportsplex in Welland (pictured). Photo credit: City of Welland   Michele O’Keefe hasn’t left a stone unturned, or should I say a ball out of play, for this Saturday’s ‘Girls Sports Day in Welland.’ The […]

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 […]

The Steve Ludzik Press Box will be unveiled Friday night before puck drop.    It’s hard to put into words just how much Steve Ludzik has given to Niagara Falls, and the Region of Niagara as a whole. ‘Ludzy’, as he’s affectionately known, is the man behind the Steve Ludzik Parkinson’s Clinic, and the reason […]

Varsity sports well underway at both of Niagara’s post-secondary schools.    It’s called the Big 4 when it comes to ‘major sports’ in North America. The National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Hockey League (NHL) – and right now they’re all underway in some way, shape, or […]

For the DSBN elementary school teacher, rugby is a passion that started over three decades ago. Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara Flag Rugby   “Grow the game.” It’s an expression we hear often as it pertains to sport, but for Caleb Smith he truly lives that when it comes to rugby.  For over 20 years, Smith has been […]

The rebuilt St. Catharines franchise kicks off its 2022-23 season against the Mississauga Steelheads at home at the Meridian Centre. Pictured is 2022 second round pick Kevin He. Photo credit: Niagara IceDogs   The puck drops on the Niagara IceDogs 2022-23 regular season Thursday night at home against the Mississauga Steelheads.  The IceDogs are coming […]

Saturday is also the 73rd Champion of Champions at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club (pictured). Photo credit: St. Catharines Golf and Country Club   After a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s time to celebrate the sport of golf in Niagara.  And there’s not too many people in the region that […]

Brock takes on Guelph Gryphons. A sword from War of 1812 will be awarded to winner. Game takes place this Friday, September 23. Photo credit: Brock University   Many people involved in the game of hockey will say ‘Canadian University hockey is the best kept secret in Canada.’ That includes this reporter, and the new […]

Participants take part in the ever-increasingly popular throwing game. Photo credit: Mackinac Island   Many of us have tried it, but there’s more of us that don’t realize just how big the sport of Cornhole is becoming. It’s no longer a backyard, get the family together, recreational sport.  Leagues continue to form truly around the […]

Team Canada gold medal hero grew up in St. Catharines. Photo credit: Toronto Star/Dave Holland   Raise your hand if you didn’t know that the 2022 Canadian Olympic MVP and World Championship Gold Medal game hero Brianne Jenner grew up and played minor hockey in St. Catharines. That’s what I thought.  Don’t worry, you’re not […]

St. Catharines Jr. B Falcons look to repeat as Sutherland Cup Champions. Photo credit: Twitter/GOJHL   The puck dropped on the 2022-23 Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season last night in Hamilton as the Kilty B’s hosted the defending Sutherland Cup Champion St. Catharines Falcons. Will the Falcons repeat? Can they repeat? That’s just two […]

Led by superstar quarterback Josh Allen (no. 17), the Bills are widely considered to be Super Bowl favourites this year. The team kick offs its 2022-23 campaign against the defending champions in LA this Thursday evening. Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports/Mark Konezny   Even during their four straight appearances in the Super Bowl in the […]

The AN Myer graduate spent the last three years at the University of Alabama. Photo credit: Twitter/Owen Diodati   It’s hard to believe that it’s been over three years since Owen Diodati was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. The now 21-year-old decided to pursue his education first before becoming a professional baseball player and […]

Training camp takes place this Tuesday and Wednesday, with new owner Darren DeDobbelear excited to see the squad they can assemble. Photo credit: Twitter/Niagara IceDogs   A new era of Niagara IceDogs hockey begins this week with the opening of training camp.  For the first time since 2007, when the franchise relocated from Mississauga, the […]

Welland finished the regular season tied for first. Photo credit: IBL   Despite finishing in a tie for first place overall in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) standings with a (31-11) record, the Welland Jackfish, due to tie breaking scenarios, were placed third and opened their first-round playoffs last night at home against the sixth-seeded […]

Chair of the Niagara Canada Summer Games has been at it since 2017. Pictured Hamilton (centre-left) receives the Key to the City from Mayor of St. Catharines Walter Sendzik (second from left), Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley (second from right), and St. Catharines regional and city councillors, Aug. 12, 2022. Photo credit: City of St. […]

Events continue at various venues around the region Tuesday. Games run until Sunday, August 21. Pictured Team Ontario celebrates taking gold in female box lacrosse. Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games   After off days on Sunday and Monday, action at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games is set to restart Tuesday morning, with […]

St. Catharines native and Olympic gold medalist Kirsten Kit lights the opening ceremonies cauldron at Meridian Centre. Photo credit: Niagara 2022 Host Society    The first few days of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games have delivered.  From Olympic Gold Medalist, coxie and St. Catharines native Kristen Kit having the honour of lighting the cauldron […]

Inductees include Niagara natives Stacey Allaster, Michael Strange (pictured, left, receiving the games’ ceremonial torch), and the late Don Goodwin. The 2022 Canada Summer Games take place across various venues around Niagara from Aug. 6 to 21. Photo credit: Niagara 2022 Host Society   The Canada Games Council will induct six remarkable alumni into the […]

Current Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau started school in 1982. Photo credit: Facebook/Golden Horseshoe Hockey School   Amazing to think that 40 years after Bruce Boudreau laced up his skates for the then St. Catharines Saints, and an idea was born, the Golden Horseshoe Hockey School is celebrating four decades in the Garden City.  […]

 St. Catharines native is an Advance Scout. Supplied photo.    Analytics and metrics.  Two words the average baseball fan has heard, but do they understand them? St. Catharines native Katie Mooradian lives them. The 24-year-old is an Advance Scout with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Tampa Bay Rays.  But to know Mooradian’s love of sports, and […]

The 20-year-old multi-sport athlete hopes to represent Canada on the Olympic stage for wrestling someday soon. Photo credit: Brock University   Mia Friesen has finally made the proclamation.  Having excelled in multiple sports for many years, including being a two-sport athlete at Brock University in lacrosse and wrestling, Friesen left no doubt which she prefers […]

Rob Buxton (pictured, white paints) has represented Canada in the sport of kickboxing in the past. Photo credit: YouTube/Karate Combat   Boxing has been around for centuries, while modern mixed martial arts (MMA) competition – consolidated under a regulated set of rules in the form of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – originated in 1993.  […]

St. Catharines native Abu Kigab (pictured playing for the Boise State Broncos) competes in his homecoming game at the Meridian Centre this Friday. Photo credit: Boise State Athletics   The Niagara River Lions made an historic announcement Monday. The River Lions signed 6’7 forward Abu Kigab of St. Catharines. Kijab becomes the first ever local, Niagara […]

In a few early moves, Johnny Gaudreau departs Calgary for Columbus, while former Niagara IceDogs captain Ryan Strome (pictured) signs a five-year, $25 million deal with Anaheim Ducks. Photo credit: AP/Chris O’Meara   If you’re a fan of the Calgary Flames you may want to stop reading now. NHL free agency opened on Wednesday, and […]

OHL board approved transfer of ownership of the team last week. Photo credit: Niagara IceDogs   For the first time since 2007 the Niagara IceDogs have new owners.  The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has made it official, naming Brantford businessman Darren DeDobbelaer the new majority owner with the Great One, yes Wayne Gretzky, as a […]

Kevin Vallier does it all while battling colitis. Supplied photo.  Take a deep breath. Think of this – all back-to-back – within a few hours. Swim two kilometres. Bike 90 kilometres. Then run 21 kilometres. It’s called an Ironman 70.3. St. Catharines resident Kevin Vallier will be taking part in his fifth Ironman Triathlon Sunday […]

Lucas Bahdi improves 12-0 as a pro. Supplied photo.    To win your first professional title is one thing, but to win it in your hometown brings it to a whole other level.  That was the case for Lucas Bahdi Saturday night at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre.  A sold out crowd watched ‘The Prince’ […]

 Lucas Bahdi (pictured celebrating after a previous KO victory) brings his perfect 11-0 record into the fight. Photo credit: Falls Boys Promotions   Not many fighters get their first title fight in their hometown.  But not many fighters are Lucas ‘The Prince’ Bahdi.  The Niagara Falls native will put his perfect (11-0) record, with 11 […]

The Niagara Prep product (pictured) just won silver for Team Canada in Argentina. Photo credit: Twitter/Emma Koabel   Last week no fewer than four Canadians were drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) including two in the top-10.  Andrew Nembhard, out of Gonzaga, was selected 31st overall by the Indiana Pacers.  Four short years ago, […]

Hundreds of competitors will compete in the Garden City. Photo credit: Facebook/FireFit Championships    A new sporting spectacle of sorts arrives in the Garden City this weekend.  The 2022 St. Catharines FireFit Competition takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Seymour-Hannah Centre parking lot located on St. Paul Street West.  Captain Corey Miller, an 11-year […]

A’s host Guelph in Best of 5 series. Photo credit: St. Catharines Jr. B Athletics   The Niagara Region’s oldest sporting franchise added a new club to its portfolio this season, and they’re about to embark on their first playoff run. The St. Catharines Jr. B Athletics Lacrosse Club is now part of the St. […]

 Jasmine Jasudavicius (pictured) making her presence felt in the octagon. Photo credit: UFC   Her last name might not be easy to say, but Jasmine Jasudavicius continues to impress in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world.  After making her Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut, and winning via unanimous decision back in January, Jasudavicius (jazz-da-viss-ee-us is how […]

Niagara native Anthony Federico (pictured back-turned, bottom left) trying to crack Hamilton line-up. Photo credit: Twitter/Hamilton 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 […]

The ceremonial flame left Ottawa Monday afternoon, exactly months before the start of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. The Games take place between August 6 and 21. Pictured is Canadian sprinter Sam Effah on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, June 6, 2022. Photo credit: Niagara Host Society   The Canada Summer Games torch has officially […]

The last time the championship tournament was played in 2019, the Niagara Falls high school earned a silver medal. The young team will look to strike gold this Wednesday in London. Photo credit: Twitter/OFSAA Baseball    Last week in Windsor, the A.N. Myer Marauders baseball team successfully advanced to the Final Four of the OFSAA […]

St. Catharines Athletics president named Sportsperson of the Year. Photo credit: Facebook/St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics    For Paul Coates it’s all about giving back.  Years after his sons Dan and Spencer graduated from the St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics program, Coates continues to volunteer and serve as Athletics president.  Earlier this week, the now […]

Edmonton Oilers assistant captain Ryan Smyth celebrates with Shawn Horcoff after the latter scored on the San Jose Sharks during the third period of Game 6 of their NHL Western Conference semi-final playoff game in Edmonton, Alberta, May 17, 2006. Photo credit: NHL   It is playoff time again! Many of us are keenly watching […]

The Niagara Falls high school has now made it to OFSAA for boys baseball four out of the last five times the tournament’s been held. Supplied photo.    The last full season of high school baseball occurred in 2019. That year, perennial powerhouse from Niagara Falls A.N. Myer won the SOSSA championship and then went […]

Photo credit: Facebook/Fort Erie Race Track   There’s not too many people, places or things in Niagara that can say they’re celebrating 125 years. Fort Erie Race Track can.  The historic horse racing track opens its doors for the 2022 campaign Tuesday with a first call to the post at 4 pm. Opening Day will […]

Team advanced to championship for first time since 2012. Pictured is the soon-to-be decommissioned Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons   Perhaps it’s only fitting that an arena opened in 1938 will feature a championship game in its finale.  Jack Gatecliff Arena, formerly Garden City Arena, will play host to the […]

Matt Vinc (pictured) is one of four St. Catharines natives on team. Photo credit: Inside Lacrosse/ Sara Schmidle   Let’s be honest, as someone that grew up in Niagara, travelling over to the United States on one of our four border crossings is almost second nature. Sure the Covid pandemic halted that, but going on a […]

Men’s team home opener is Friday night. Photo credit: Facebook/St. Catharines Roma Wolves   The St. Catharines Roma Wolves inaugural season in Men’s Premier League 1 Ontario was so successful that the club decided to expand and introduce a women’s premier team under their brand.  Roma Wolves League 1 Head of Operations Carmine Provenzano is […]

KJ Robinson (right) signs a letter of intent to play for the Brock men’s volleyball team alongside brother Kersey, who currently plays for the Badgers, and parents Todd and Shelley. Photo credit: Brock Athletics   It’s all in the family for the Brock Badgers men’s volleyball team. Badgers head coach Matthew Ragogna announced his 2022 […]

Gabby talks Stanley Cup Playoffs, and his eagerness to return to Niagara. Photo credit: NHLI via Getty Images/Jeff Vinnick    Bruce Boudreau may have just finished one heck of a season behind the bench coaching the Vancouver Canucks, and is currently back where he resides in Pennsylvania, but he can’t wait to get ‘home.’ And […]

The St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics practice inside the brand new Canada Games Park. Photo credit: Facebook/St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics    After an off-season that saw the St. Catharines Athletics brand and organization grow, the Athletics flagship team is set to take to the floor at their new home next Wednesday night (May 11) […]

Plenty of Niagara connections permeate the 2022 post-season, such as former Niagara IceDogs captain and current New York Ranger Ryan Strome (pictured). Photo credit: Associated Press/Jay LaPrete   You don’t have to like Sheldon Keefe’s words to describe the Toronto Maple Leafs first round NHL Playoff Series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it certainly […]

Season begins in less than a month. Pro hoops team arrived in Niagara in 2015. Photo credit: CEBL/Niagara River Lions   It’s hard to believe that the Niagara River Lions are entering their seventh season of entertaining basketball fans across the region. A lot has changed since 2015, including the league the River Lions play […]

 ‘Ladies Try Golf series’ is here too. Sawmill Golf Course in Fenwick. Photo credit: Facebook/Sawmill Golf Course   As the temperature, finally, begins to climb here in Niagara, golf courses across the Region continue to open their greens.  There are over 40 golf courses in Niagara, and most are now open for the 2022 season.  […]

The team kicks off its expanded 42-game schedule at home in Welland against the Brantford Red Sox on May 19. Photo credit: Twitter/Welland Jackfish   One month today, two words baseball fans love to hear will be music to their ears in the Rose City: “Play ball!” The Welland Jackfish return for their third season […]

  Committee (pictured, 2019) hoping to induct six new members in January of 2023. Gord Singleton located far right, back row of image. Photo credit: Niagara Sports Wall of Fame   The average Niagara native doesn’t know the name Gord Singleton.  Yet, he’s one of the biggest names to ever participate in the sport of […]

 Dinos headed to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 1 Saturday. Photo credit: Getty Images/Mark Blinch   The Toronto Raptors likely won’t say it publicly, but they got the first round playoff opponent they wanted. The team was (3-1) against the Philadelphia 76ers this season. It’s hard to fathom that Toronto would want to […]

Team also fined $150,000.   To say it’s been an interesting week for the Niagara IceDogs would be a massive understatement.  Just hours after losing in Sudbury Tuesday night, and finding out they wouldn’t make the Ontario Hockey League playoffs for the first time since they arrived in Niagara back in 2007, the OHL issued […]

All six Niagara based teams qualify for the postseason. Photo credit: Twitter/Fort Erie Meteors    It’s playoff time in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. A slightly shortened 48-game regular season ended Sunday night with all six Niagara based teams in the Golden Horseshoe Conference set for the post-season.  The St. Catharines Falcons were the […]

Ceremony is set for tonight. Photo credit: NHL/Buffalo Sabres    After 51 years behind the mic, 79-year-old Rick Jeanneret will have his name raised to the rafters at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY this evening (Friday, April 1). Jeanneret was born in St. Catharines, and still makes the commute to Buffalo from his home in […]

Badgers women’s basketball and men’s hockey both off to nationals as well. Photo credit: Brock Athletics/Mackenzie Gerry   The Brock Badgers men’s basketball team brought a packed Bob Davis Gymnasium to a frenzy Saturday afternoon. The Badgers won their first provincial title since 1992, defeating the Queen’s Gaels 95-75.  “We fight. Every day is about […]

Niagara College Athletics put together an incredible year at both the team and individual level. Amongst the many achievements was a bronze medal for women’s basketball at the provincial finals last week. Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara Knights   While the Brock University Badgers are garnering a lot of attention lately, and well deserved I might add, […]

This past weekend, both the Brock Badgers women’s hockey team and women’s volleyball team (pictured) were crowned provincial champions. Photo credit: Brock Athletics   No fewer than five Brock Badgers teams are still standing. Can we call it March Madness, Canadian university style? In a span of 10 hours on Saturday, the Brock Badgers women’s […]

The Garden City native (bottom row, second from right) pictured with Canada’s gold medal-winning women’s eight rowing crew in Tokyo last August. Photo credit: Twitter/Team Canada   As a reporter sometimes stories just fall in your lap.  Sometimes you’ve got to dig, and sometimes you run into athletes like Kristen Kit.  The 33-year-old St. Catharines […]

Ivan Lodnia, who played two years in St. Catharines for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, is of Ukrainian heritage and still has family in the war-torn country. Photo credit: Twitter/Minnesota Wild    Quick question off the top.  How many current NHL players hail from Ukraine? The answer may shock many. Zero. Former Niagara IceDogs captain […]

Numerous organizations and athletes denounce Putin, with Russia facing bans from several international leagues. Alex Ovechkin (pictured with Putin in 2014) called for an end to the war in Ukraine. Photo credit: Reuters/Ria Novosti   You can’t go too far these days without reading about, hearing, or watching the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. […]

Raised in St. Catharines, the hockey superstar (pictured, right) remembers her time in the city fondly. Photo credit: HHOF-IIHF Images/Andre Ringuette   The story, journey, and resume continues to grow for Brianne Jenner.  The gold medalist, and tournament MVP in Beijing, is coming off tying a women’s record for scoring the most goals in women’s […]

Tied for second most in the country’s history. Photo credit: Getty Images/Lars Baron via CBC   Many on Team Canada’s 2022 Olympic squad landed back on Canadian soil Monday, and with them brought an impressive 26 medals in tow.  The Red and White captured four gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals at the Beijing […]

Scott Bullett talks spring training, as well as Black History Month.    As the Major League Baseball lockout continues, it was time to reach out to a former MLB player that calls Niagara home. Scott Bullett played parts of four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs back in the 1990s. Part of his […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Ho-Sang (left) and Jenner (right) for Canada; Smith for China.   “I can’t 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 Canada’s) radar means a lot to me, but I wouldn’t have […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The 6-foot-9 Welland native recently finished off her rookie season with the Wisconsin Badgers women’s 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 […]

For whatever reason, the GOJHL doesn’t 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 […]

NFL Wild Card Weekend is set. Locally, 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

St. Catharines’ Kristen Kit (bottom, second from right) winning Olympic gold with the women’s 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, […]

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, 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 […]

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 pandemic’s latest wave. Photo credit: NHL Perhaps it’s time to change the name Covid-19.  The average person doesn’t […]

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 […]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (8) hugs linebacker Curtis Newton (44) after losing the 108th CFL Grey Cup at home in Hamilton 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 […]

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 […]

 Valvano of St. Catharines (#29, seated front-centre), Andrews of Niagara Falls (#20, seated front-right) bring home Canadian university football championship as part of powerhouse Western Mustangs squad. Photo credit: Western Mustangs   There were two local players crowned Vanier Cup champions this past Saturday in Quebec City. Fifth year full back Antonio Valvano of St. […]

It’s been an impressive return to sports for a number of Brock Badgers teams. Currently, no less than five of Brock’s sports programs are ranked in the Top-5 of the U Sports weekly rankings, including the women’s volleyball team (pictured). Photo credit: Brock Athletics   The global pandemic shutdown Badgers Athletics in March of 2020. Twenty […]

Photo credit: Pexels/Bk Aguilar    Signing up for or participating in sports may not be as easy as most would think, especially here in Niagara. That according to the Ontario Sport Network (OSN), which recently announced the launch of a new awareness campaign. ‘This is Your Sport’ highlights the importance of sport and recreation across […]

Updating all local and IceDogs connections. Pictured is Carter Verhaeghe. The former Niagara IceDogs captain has an impressive six goals, 15 points in 19 games this season as part of the league-leading Florida Panthers. Photo credit: Icon Sportswire/Mark LoMoglio   By the end of this upcoming weekend, almost every NHL team will have played at […]

Canadian men’s national team has vaulted 40 spots in the world rankings over the past five years. Pictured Canada plays Mexico in wintry conditions with snowy sidelines in Edmonton last week. Photo credit: Boston Globe   It was a week ago tonight that Canada Soccer took another step forward in making history, winning 2-1 over […]

Pitcher Robbie Ray at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Photo credit: Sportsnet    What a difference a year makes. Robbie Ray is about to become a rich man.  Not to say that his one-year $8-million dollar contract this past season was nothing to turn his nose up to, but Ray now has ‘Cy Young Award’ winner beside […]

Then-Atlanta Braves trainer Mike Frostad (left) comes off the field with Brian McCann (center) and manager Brian Snitker during a game against the Miami Marlins in April 2019. Photo credit: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/John Amis   Twenty-six years after starting his professional baseball career in St. Catharines, Mike Frostad can now say he’s a World Series […]

Niagara River Lions head coach and general manager Victor Raso. The former CEBL Coach of the Year, along with co-general manager Antwi Atuahene, will return for another season after re-signing with the team earlier this week. Photo credit: CEBL    The Niagara River Lions have announced that head coach and general manager Victor Raso will […]

Long-time Detroit Red Wings goalie coach Jim Bedard offering instruction to attendees at a 2018 elite training camp in Rochester, NY. Photo credit: Twitter/Legacy Global Sports    Talk about full circle. He began coaching goaltenders in Niagara 27 years ago. Three Stanley Cups later, Jim Bedard is back in the region he calls home doing what […]

Sabres had no choice but to deal disgruntled forward. Photo credit: Boston Globe   Finally. After a public feud that lasted eight months, he left the Buffalo Sabres no choice. Disgruntled forward, and former captain, Jack Eichel was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights along with a 2023 third round draft pick for forwards Peyton […]

Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland will all ice teams. Photo credit: Winnipeg Free Press/Ruth Bonneville   A new hockey league is set to take to the ice in Niagara. In fact, four municipalities will feature teams in the Niagara Sledge Hockey League.  All Niagara residents 13 or over, or 12 and under with […]

Mike McRae (centre-left) during his time as lead pitching coach at VCU. McRae, originally from Niagara Falls, was recently named head coach of the College of William & Mary baseball squad. Photo credit: Twitter/VCU Baseball   On Tuesday, it was announced that Niagara Falls, Ontario native Mike McRae will serve as the new head coach […]

Former Niagara IceDog loves playing in his hometown. Pictured is Ho-Sang in pre-season action as a Maple Leaf before signing a deal with the team’s AHL affiliate earlier this month. Photo credit: Toronto Marlies   His play not only garnered the attention of the hockey world, but a few of his words also stood out.  […]

Raptors’ point guard Fred VanVleet. Many view the 27-year-old as Kyle Lowry’s natural successor and hope the sixth-year player can lead Toronto into the next era. Photo credit: AP/Mary Altaffer   The Toronto Raptors first regular season home game in Toronto in 600 days didn’t exactly go as planned. The Raptors tipped off their season […]

Carley Blomberg in action as a Brock Badger. Blomberg is one of a pair of Niagara athletes to be recently awarded the opportunity to take part in a selective coaching mentorship program. Photo credit: Brock Athletics   Many athletes consider making the transition to coaching, but few do, or at least get the opportunity to […]

The St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics. The organization will merge with the city’s Jr. B lacrosse club, the St. Catharines Spartans. Photo credit: St. Catharines Athletics   Quick, name the oldest sporting franchise in Niagara? Give up? It dates back to 1877, believe it or not – it’s the St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics Lacrosse […]

St. Catharines native Dougie Hamilton. After three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes and an eventful free agency, Hamilton signed a seven-year, $63-million contract with the New Jersey Devils at the end of July. Photo credit: USA Today Sports/James Guillory   As the puck gets set to drop on another NHL season, four Niagara based players […]

Officials and Games mascot Shelly announce the 2022 torch relay program at Lock 3 beside the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, Oct. 6, 2021. Photo credit: Niagara 2022 Host Society   When you think of Niagara, what first comes to mind? Wineries. Yes.  The casinos. For sure.  But what about the Welland Canal? An engineering […]

Niagara IceDogs in exhibition action against the Oshawa Generals at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, Sept. 20, 2021. Photo credit: Niagara IceDogs/Vivid Eye Photography   A month-long training camp that started with close to 70 players, dozens of cuts, and six exhibition games is in the books, as the Niagara IceDogs are set to […]

Xavier Sneed in action as a Niagara River Lion. Sneed is one of two players from the St. Catharines-based basketball team to sign an NBA contract this week. Photo credit: CEBL/Matthew Winick   The Niagara River Lions have quickly garnered respect across the basketball world. The River Lions, who play out of the Canadian Elite […]

Six Niagara based teams make up eight-team Golden Horseshoe Conference. Pictured: the Welland Jr. Canadians get ready for the season earlier this month. Photo credit: Twitter/Welland Jr. Canadians   Frank Pietrangelo breathed a sigh of relief Friday night. The Niagara Falls Canucks were finally back on the ice, playing a real, meaningful game.  The current […]

Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen throws a pass against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. Photo credit: USA Today Sports/Sam Navarro   The Buffalo Bills needed a bounce back win in Miami in Week 2, and that’s exactly what they got Sunday, dominating the Dolphins 35-0. The Bills, who dropped a 23-16 […]

St. Catharines’ Governor Simcoe Secondary School football team in action against Greater Fort Erie Secondary School, Sept. 2018. Photo credit: Facebook/Governor Simcoe   It certainly seems longer than the 18-plus months it’s been, but a long-standing tradition has returned to Niagara-area high schools. Sports! The Covid-19 pandemic halted organized sports at all levels, including at […]

Montreal native Leylah Fernandez returns a shot during the women’s singles championship final at the US Open, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. Photo credit: USTA/Garrett Ellwood   A finals appearance in the women’s championship. A semi-final appearance in the men’s championship. And almost forgotten, and certainly not in the same conversation as the men’s and women’s […]

Welland Jackfish in action during the team’s inaugural season. Photo credit: Facebook/Welland Jackfish   As Welland Jackfish fans continue to flock to Welland Stadium in record numbers the team began its second playoff run, since arriving in the Rose City, last night at home against the Barrie Baycats.  The (15-15) Jackfish finished fourth in the seven […]

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis (right) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback John Allen in the team’s final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Aug. 28, 2021. Photo credit: AP/Adrian Kraus   As the 101st NFL season is set to kickoff Thursday night in Tampa Bay, when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Buccaneers, we know […]

St. Catharines kicker Lirim Hajrullahu hoists the Grey Cup after scoring the championship-winning field goal as a Toronto Argonaut, Nov. 26, 2017. Photo credit: Alex D’Addese   The last 18 months have not been normal for all of us, but for St. Catharines’ Lirim Hajrullahu they’ve been downright daunting.  And perhaps Hajrullahu’s background has given […]

Photo credit: Facebook/Niagara IceDogs   There’s been three words missing from local’s vocabulary the past almost 18 months: “Go Dogs Go!” Yes, the Niagara IceDogs last played a game, and hit the ice, at Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines on March 8, 2020.  However, that changed this week as the IceDogs opened training camp […]

 St. Catharines native Steve Toll during the final season of his playing career with the Edmonton Rush in 2012. Toll and friend and fellow St. Catharines native Pat McCready are both part of the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame 2021 class. Photo credit: Twitter/Panther City Lacrosse Club   The 2021 National Lacrosse League (NLL) […]

River Lions guard Xavier Sneed takes a shot against the Ottawa BlackJacks. Photo credit: CEBL/Matthew Winick The Niagara River Lions earned a bye into CEBL Championship Weekend in Edmonton, and after a 12-day layoff from game action will meet the Fraser Valley Bandits in the semi-final action this evening.  The (10-4) River Lions enter the […]

The St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics after winning the 2021 Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) championship earlier this month. Photo credit: OJLL/Nanticoke Photography The oldest sporting franchise in Niagara, and one of the oldest in the province, added another Ontario championship to its name. The St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics Lacrosse club, founded in 1877, […]

Canadian long-distance runner Mohammed Ahmed (left) with teammate Justyn Knight. Ahmed, who calls St. Catharines home, won silver in the men’s 5000m last week in Tokyo. Knight finished seventh. Photo credit: Twitter/CBC Olympics  It was an Olympics to remember, for more reasons than one. Despite declaring a state of emergency the week before the games […]

Team has already clinched a playoff berth. Photo credit: Niagara River Lions The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) was the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play during the pandemic with the 2020 CEBL Summer Series. Less than a year later, a shortened 2021 campaign is set to wrap up with fans […]

Garden City native Kristen Kit (bottom row, second from right). Kit and Canada’s women’s eight rowing crew captured gold in Tokyo last week. Photo credit: Twitter/Team Canada There’s no doubt the women have been the story for Canada at the Tokyo Olympics.  As of Monday evening, 13 of the 14 medals won by Canadians were […]

NHL forward Josh Ho-Sang in action with the New York Islanders. Ho-Sang is one of four former Niagara IceDogs to sign a new contract this week. The Toronto native penned a Professional Tryout deal with his hometown organization Wednesday. Photo credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez Over 70 National Hockey League (NHL) players signed new contracts this week, […]

 Dave Burkholder. The veteran bench boss is set to take over the Welland Jr. Canadians. Photo credit: Twitter/Welland Jr. Canadians Life has truly come full circle for Dave Burkholder. The now 59-year-old – who grew up watching the Welland Jr. Canadians, then played for the franchise, then watched his son skate for the team – […]

Canada’s Men’s Four rowing Olympic contingent. The crew features two Niagara connections: St. Catharines Rowing Club’s Jakub Buczek (far back) and Brock University’s Luke Gadsdon (second to back). Photo credit: Team Canada/Canadian Olympic Committee The Tokyo Olympics officially kicked off Friday with the opening ceremonies as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dampen this year’s games […]

Just four weeks after an excellent performance at the U.S. Open, Mackenzie Hughes was still playing great golf last weekend entering the final round of the storied British Open. Hughes was seven under-par after three days and entered the tournament’s fourth round tied for fifth.

As the National Basketball Association Finals continue, and the growth of basketball continues in this country, one has to think of Niagara’s only NBA Champion: Mike Smrek.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu. The team’s bullpen is the focus heading into the second half of the season. Photo credit: Getty Images/Mark Brown There’s two ways to look at the Toronto Blue Jays, and their record, at the Major League Baseball All-Star break.  Sitting at (45-42) on the season, and only […]

No matter the result of Denis Shapovalov’s semi-final match against top-ranked Novak Djokovic on Friday, there’s no denying that this week’s results from Wimbledon have solidified Canadian tennis’ position around the globe.

She was sitting in a restaurant with her husband three years ago when the proverbial lightbulb went off for Dale Melnick.

As things slowly but surely return to normal across Niagara, sports are no different.

The Niagara River Lions began their regular season last week, the Welland Jackfish will begin their season next week, while the Niagara IceDogs released their 2021-22 schedule on Tuesday.

There’s no doubt that Carey Price and Andrei Vasilevskiy are the focus of both combatants and most fans as the 2021 Stanley Cup Final began Monday night in Tampa Bay.

When you land players from two of the most storied basketball programs in North America, you’re already ahead of most when it comes to recruiting.

Just after 4 p.m. EST on Sunday the retiring CEO of the USGA (United States Golf Association), Mike Davis, stepped up to the 1st tee announcer’s microphone at Torrey Pines Golf Course in California and said, “from Canada, Mackenzie Hughes”.

It’s amazing to think about the history of Fort Erie Race Track.

It all began in November of 1896, when the Fort Erie Jockey Club and its president John Hood put the wheels in motion to break ground for racing in Fort Erie.

Her resume speaks for itself, but one thing is missing: an Olympic appearance.

That last accomplishment can be, and will be, checked off this year for Kristen Kit.

Dawson Lukey in action with the Southern Tier Admirals in 2020. Lukey was the Niagara IceDogs’ final pick of the OHL Priority Selection draft. The St. Catharines native should feel right at home with his new team. Photo credit: BP Sports Niagara/ Bill Potrecz Like a lot of things these days, it certainly wasn’t the […]

Imagine trying to build a hockey team and drafting close to a dozen players who haven’t played in a ‘real’ game in more than a year.

Then, add the fact that the players you’re drafting are fifteen and sixteen years old and could have easily added a few inches in height and/or 10 to 20 pounds to their frames.