Canada to host South Korea in 2024 Davis Cup qualifier

MALAGA, Spain — Canada will host South Korea at a to-be-determined location for the 2024 Davis Cup qualifiers from Feb. 2-4, Tennis Canada announced Sunday.

It’s the first time Canada will host a match for the men’s tennis competition since 2018 in Toronto. Canada will be one of 24 countries vying for 12 spots in the group stage of the Davis Cup finals.

The Canadians earned an automatic berth to the group stage this year after winning its first-ever Davis Cup title in 2022 with a victory over Australia in the final.

Despite advancing out of the group stage, Canada lost 2-1 to Finland in the quarterfinals on Tuesday to fall out of the 2023 tournament.

Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., led Canada to the title last year, but both were unavailable to play this week due to injury.

Canada is No. 1 in the International Tennis Federation’s Davis Cup rankings, while South Korea is No. 18. Canada beat South Korea 2-1 in the only previous meeting between the two countries at the 2022 group stage in Valencia, Spain.

from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet

Aston Villa beats injury-hit Tottenham to move amongst Premier League leaders

LONDON (AP) — Aston Villa came from behind to win 2-1 at injury-hit Tottenham and move two points off the lead in the Premier League on Sunday.

Ollie Watkins found space at the heart of a makeshift Spurs defence to roll a shot into the bottom corner in the 61st minute, scoring his seventh league goal of the season and completing the turnaround by Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was a third straight league loss for Tottenham, whose campaign is in danger of unravelling when not long ago the team managed by Ange Postecoglou was in first place. Joining a lengthy list of injuries and — in the case of Cristian Romero and Yves Bissouma — suspensions was Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who was making his first start after eight months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and was forced off after a foul by Matty Cash.

Villa climbed to fourth place, tied on points with Liverpool in third and two points behind leader Arsenal after 13 games. Tottenham is two points behind Villa in fifth.

Giovani Lo Celso, playing as a replacement for injured playmaker James Maddison, lashed in a deflected shot from the edge of the area for the opening goal for Tottenham in the 22nd after Villa failed to clear a right-wing corner.

Watkins had a goal ruled out for offside almost immediately after the restart, Bentancur went off injured, and Villa then equalized in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time when Pau Torres headed in Douglas Luiz’s free kick.

Villa saw more of the ball in the second half and after Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario tipped a shot from substitute Leon Bailey onto the post and away, the visitors took the lead when Watkins exchanged passes with Youri Tielemans and sent a low shot beyond Vicario from a central position.

Tottenham applied late pressure as goalkeeper Emi Martinez produced a double save to deny Brennan Johnson and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg before Son Heung-min had a goal disallowed for offside.

There was a minute’s applause ahead of the game and both sets of players wore black armbands as a tribute to Terry Venables, the former England and Tottenham coach whose death was announced Sunday. He was 80.

from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet

U Sports announces Regina, Quebec City to host 2025, ’26 Vanier Cup games

KINGSTON, Ont. — The Vanier Cup will head to Saskatchewan for the first time.

U Sports announced Saturday the ’25 Vanier Cup will be played in Regina. The 60th edition of Canadian university football’s championship game will go at Mosaic Stadium and coincide with the University of Regina’s 50th anniversary.

It will be just the third time ever the Vanier Cup is held in Western Canada.

Laval defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies 13-8 in 2006 in Saskatoon. Five years later, the McMaster Marauders edged the Rouge et Or 41-38 in double overtime in Vancouver.

U Sports also announced Quebec City will host the ’26 Vanier Cup. It has staged the game seven times.

The ’25 game will also mark the 25th anniversary of Regina’s only Vanier Cup appearance, The Ottawa Gee-Gees edged the Rams 42-39 in 2000 in Toronto.

Slotback Jason Clermont — a Grey Cup champion, the CFL’s top rookie and twice its outstanding Canadian — played for the Rams, both in the Canadian Junior Football League and collegiate level. The 45-year-old Regina native suited up for the 2000 Vanier Cup, scoring a TD.

“We had intentions of getting back and doing it again, it just didn’t work out for us,” he said. “But it (playing in Vanier Cup) was definitely one of the highlights of my university career.

“People (attending the ’25 Vanier Cup) can expect hospitality. We’d like to see representation from Saskatchewan in that game but regardless, the community will definitely be out in full force to support the game and create a great atmosphere.”

Lisette Johnson-Stapley, U Sports’ Chief Sport Officer, agreed.

“If you look at past national events that have taken place in Regina like the Memorial Cup and Grey Cup, they’ve always had tremendous success,” she said. “It’s the Prairies, the hospitality is always terrific.

“It’s been 13 years since the Vanier Cup was last out West and Regina is a vibrant community with an unwavering commitment to excellence in athletics, especially with two universities. For the student-athlete experience and for fans, Mosaic is a great stadium.”

Dr. Jeff Keshen, Regina’s president and vice-chancellor, credited Saskatoon with assisting in the school’s winning bid.

“We’re thrilled,” he said. “It’s coming back to what I consider to be the epicentre of football in Canada.

“I’m originally from Toronto and used to go see our Argos play all the time at old CNE Stadium but, man, what was Taylor Field and is now Mosaic, it’s a rocking place. To say we’re happy would be an understatement but to say we’re over the moon about it would be more accurate.”

Johnson-Stapley also praised the game’s return to the University of Laval in 2026. The school has won the Vanier Cup a record 11 times.

“The decision was straightforward considering Laval’s proven excellence in organizing U Sports championships,” she said. “We have no doubt Quebec City’s football fans will offer unwavering support, creating another outstanding event in 2026.”

from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet

Commanders fire DC Jack Del Rio following loss to Cowboys

The Washington Commanders fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer on Friday.

The moves came a day after the defense struggled again in a 45-10 Thanksgiving Day loss at the Dallas Cowboys. Washington allowed 290 or more yards in 11 of 12 games this season and 30 or more points seven times.

The Commanders defense ranks 29th among 32 teams.

“Today I relieved Jack Del Rio and Brent Vieselmeyer of their duties,” coach Ron Rivera said in a statement. “I appreciate all that they contributed to the organization over the past four years and wish them all the best moving forward.”

The latest defeat dropped the team to 4-8 in its first season under new ownership. The Commanders have lost eight of 10 since opening the season with back-to-back victories.

Rivera could take over the defensive play-calling duties, which would allow him to defer even more to new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Rivera’s own future is uncertain beyond this season, with Josh Harris’ ownership group expected to make significant changes.

Del Rio was 12 games into his fourth season with Washington after Rivera hired him in 2020. The two, each a former linebacker, had no prior working relationship before this.

A head coach for 12 seasons with the Jaguars and Raiders, Del Rio had a stint with Washington that was marred by a comment he made during offseason workouts last year, comparing the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and the protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

“People’s livelihoods are being destroyed, businesses are being burned down, no problem,” Del Rio said in June 2022. “And then we have a dust-up at the Capitol, nothing burned down, and we’re going to make that a major deal. I just think it’s kind of two standards.”

On the field, his unit was inconsistent from year to year and game to game. Washington’s defense ranked second in the NFL in 2020, 22nd in 2021 and third in 2022.

The Commanders had their moments defensively this season, mostly before trading pass rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat. But the lack of results ultimately cost Del Rio and Vieselmeyer their jobs.

Rivera is expected to address the changes during a video call with reporters later Friday.

More from Sportsnet

Bland, Prescott help Cowboys to 13th straight home win over Commanders

Cowboys’ DaRon Bland now stands alone with most pick-6s in NFL season with five

from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet

Senators recall Sogaard, Highmore as Korpisalo battles injury

The Ottawa Senators recalled goaltender Mads Sogaard and forward Matthew Highmore from the AHL’s Belleville Senators, the team announced Friday ahead of their game against the New York Islanders.

Highmore, 27, has played in three games for Ottawa this season, recording a single assist. His last appearance was on Nov. 16 against the Detroit Red Wings.

In nine AHL games this season, Highmore has seven points (two goals and five assists).

Sogaard, 22, has yet to make an NHL appearance this season. The netminder has a 3.30 goals-against average and .889 save percentage over 21 career NHL games.

Across eight appearances this season with Belleville, Sogaard has a 4-3-0 record, 2.35 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

The call-up comes after Joonas Korpisalo missed the Senators’ game against the Minnesota Wild in Sweden due to an undisclosed injury. According to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, the goaltender also left Thursday’s practice early.

Head coach D.J. Smith said Friday that Korpisalo is day to day and not feeling good enough to serve as backup against the Islanders. Anton Forsberg will get the start in net with Sogaard as the backup.

Korpisalo, 29, has a .906 save percentage and 3.17 goals-against average over 11 games this season.

More from Sportsnet

Analyzing three surprise playoff teams and how sustainable they are

Forsberg, Brannstrom punctuate Senators’ perfect trip to Sweden in style

from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet

Sabres tell rookie Zach Benson he’s sticking around past Game 10

Zach Benson, he of the gutsy between-the-legs first career NHL goal that sent the league buzzing earlier this week, has been told by Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams he’ll be sticking around past his 10th game.

“I just talked to Kevyn briefly. He kind of let me know that I’ll be playing my 10th game tonight and, you know, just keep getting better every day, that’s the goal,” Benson told reporters ahead of Friday’s meeting with the Penguins. “My main focus is on tonight and how I can play my best game to help this team try to win a hockey game.”

Benson, 18, is one of four players from the 2023 NHL Draft still in the league, joining Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli, who went 1-2-3. Benson was taken 13th overall by the Sabres.

In nine games with the Sabres, Benson has one goal and four assists.

If a player on an entry-level contract plays 10 games or more with his NHL team, his contract cannot “slide” or extend a year when it comes to the salary cap. In other words, a contract signed for three seasons kicks in immediately, and not the following season.

The next deadline for Benson will be the 40-game mark. If he plays in 40 games this season, he will gain a season of service time toward free agency. If not, the Sabres will maintain an extra year of control through the restricted free agent process.

More from Sportsnet

32 Thoughts: Ditching turkeys for a new set of Stanley Cup favourites

Analyzing three surprise playoff teams and how sustainable they are

from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet

What’s next for Maple Leafs’ Klingberg after being placed on LTIR?

from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet