Noonan says Canadian Soccer Business has no need to apologize, continues to grow game

Canadian Soccer Business, which represents Canada Soccer’s corporate partnerships and broadcast rights among other assets, took its lumps this year.

Politicians clamoured to see the contract between the two. Players complained that the CSB deal with the governing body of Canadian soccer is holding the game back and preventing national teams from getting the kind of preparation they need.

Mark Noonan, who doubles as CEO of Canadian Soccer Business and commissioner of the Canadian Premier League, not surprisingly disagrees.

He points to Christine Sinclair’s farewell international game Dec. 5, a 1-0 win over Australia at B.C. Place Stadium before a bumper crowd of 48,112.

While Canadian national team games are usually streamed only on OneSoccer, TSN also showed the Sinclair swansong.

“That was 100 per cent orchestrated by Canadian Soccer Business,” said Noonan.

CSB got the rights from Mediapro and stuck a deal with TSN and Canada Soccer.

“In a perfect world, TSN would pay a rights fee to Mediapro. They weren’t willing to do that,” said Noonan.

“We gave them a fully produced game at no cost,” he added. “They enhanced it a little bit and they put on their network. … They have a big platform and to send off the greatest Canadian soccer player in the right way was really important to anybody who’s involved in the game.

“For us it was the right thing to do. So we figured out a way to get that done.”

CSB, which shares the same ownership as the Canadian Premier League, was announced in March 2018 as “a new sports enterprise representing commercial assets and inventory for marquee soccer properties in Canada.”

It represents corporate partnerships and broadcast rights for the women’s and men’s national team programs, all commercial assets of the CPL, the Canadian Championship and Canadian soccer grassroots programs.

Canada Soccer, which does not hold an ownership stake in CSB, is believed to receive some $4 million a year currently under the deal as “the beneficiary of a rights fee guarantee.” That amount has been boosted by some $500,000 each year leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

Noonan says talks continue with Canada Soccer over possibly amending the agreement.

“We hope with the new leadership (at Canada Soccer) we can really continue to work on the relationship … We continue to play a role as the growth engine of soccer in this country,” Noonan said.

“We’ve been unfairly criticized by people who have other agendas … We’re not apologizing any more,” he added. “We’ve been punched in the face unfairly.”

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Reports: Coyotes prospect Artyom Duda to play for Toronto Metropolitan University

Arizona Coyotes second-round pick Artyom Duda will join the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold men’s hockey team for the second half of the season, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

Ben Steiner of 49 Sports was first to report the move.

The Russian-born defenceman, Duda, 19, was hoping to play NCAA hockey at Maine, but Steiner reports his appeal was denied after Duda suited up for 14 KHL games for CSKA Moscow last season.

The Coyotes picked Duda 36th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft.

U Sports is not a traditional spot for top NHL prospects, but TMU presents a unique opportunity, with the Bold getting an automatic entry into the national championship in March as host team.

The Bold (11-5) are third in the Ontario West conference standings.

The Bold also have one of Duda’s Russian Youth Olympic teammates, Daniil Grigorev, on their roster.

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Canada in unfamiliar position ahead of world junior opener against Finland

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Macklin Celebrini hasn’t been an underdog many times in his life.

The same goes for Canada whenever the country hits the ice for an international tournament.

Heading into the 2024 world junior hockey championship, however, the powerhouse nation isn’t viewed as the favourite — at least from the outside.

And it suits the group just fine.

“We’re not really focusing on that,” said Celebrini, a 17-year-old centre from Vancouver expected to go No. 1 at June’s NHL draft. “That’s just all opinions. We’re looking forward to get going and prove who we are.”

That’s a team missing a lot of eligible NHL talent, but one that showed what it could be in its last pre-tournament game.

Canada trailed the United States, which has a number of returning players for the under-20 event and is viewed as the country to beat, 5-3 after two periods on Saturday before roaring back over the final 20 minutes to force overtime in a 6-5 loss.

“The energy and the crispness of that third period sparked something,” head coach Alan Letang said following Monday’s practice at Gothenburg’s Scandinavium arena. “There was a moment in the second when the bench was a little bit quiet and I looked at (assistant Shaun Clouston) and I was like, ‘There’s not a lot of talk here.’ We had to address it.

“They came out with that energy and that passion we needed.”

Letang will be looking for that and more when Canada meets Finland in its tournament opener Tuesday (8:30 a.m. ET).

“They want to shoot, they want to attack the net,” he said of the Finns. “Our puck management will be huge. We put pressure on the U.S. If we can put pressure on them, I think we can turn some pucks over and be successful.”

Celebrini said that final period against the Americans showed what the group is capable of at the annual showcase.

“Something we’re gonna focus on and try to replicate,” he said. “But even when things don’t go your way, you gotta find ways to win. We have the group to do it.”

Canada captain Fraser Minten said his team hasn’t paid attention to outside prognostications.

“I don’t think we’re too worried about that or even hear that,” said the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect. “We believe we’re right at the top. We should be right at the top as a gold-medal favourite.”

Mathis Rousseau, meanwhile, won the battle to start the first game in net for Canada ahead of Scott Ratzlaff and Samuel St-Hilaire.

“Workhorse,” Letang said. “He’s come in and grabbed that spot.”

The goaltender from Boisbriand, Que., who was passed over through all seven rounds of the last two NHL drafts, is looking forward to his opportunity in the spotlight.

“You don’t really believe that you’re going to be here growing up,” Rousseau said. “Now you’re here. You don’t fully get the full grasp of the moment, but it’s pretty incredible.”

Canada’s group includes the Finns, hosts Sweden, Latvia and Germany. The other side of the bracket has the U.S., Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Norway.

The Canadians have those well-documented NHL roster absences — including Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli — but did get reinforcements from the Boston Bruins when they sent centre Matthew Poitras to the national team.

“A lot of excitement,” said the 19-year-old from Brooklin, Ont. “Hopefully get to bed and not be thinking about the game too much. Really ready to go get going.”

Letang saw a quicker, more inspired Canada in its final tune-up.

Favourite or not, he wants the same approach against Finland as the North Americans start their climb towards a potential third straight gold medal.

“We know in that room what our identity is, how we want to play,” he said. “If we play that way, we’ll like the results.”

CAPTAIN CANUCK

Minten, who suited up four times with the Leafs before returning to junior after making the club out of training camp, was named captain Sunday night.

“Nice to be recognized as a leader,” said the 19-year-old centre from Vancouver. “Very proud and honoured to wear the ‘C’ here for Canada.”

FORGING BONDS

Celebrini said the group has grown close since travelling to Europe following selection camp in Oakville, Ont.

“That’s what happens when you spend the holidays together,” he said. “We’ve had to be a little family. We’ve bonded together and created a great team.”

LUNEAU IN HOSPITAL

Letang said defenceman Tristan Luneau, an Anaheim Ducks prospect expected to be a key part of the blue line before contracting a viral infection that forced Canada to call in a replacement, remains in hospital.

“Not an ideal situation,” said the coach.

Members of Luneau’s family are expected in Sweden soon, but Letang added he’s in good spirits and should be out of hospital in the next day or two.

“He’s in our thoughts,” Letang said. “He’ll be cheering.”

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NBA on Sportsnet: Bucks vs. Knicks

The NBA’s annual Christmas slate kicks off with the New York Knicks hosting the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden. Watch on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+ and follow along with our NBA Live Tracker.

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Raiders running back Josh Jacobs out vs. Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders star running back Josh Jacobs won’t play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas as he deals with a quad injury and an illness, the team confirmed Monday.

Jacobs was listed as questionable for the AFC West clash on the final injury report. He missed the team’s last game on Dec. 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers because of the injury.

After leading the league in rushing last year, Jacobs is 14th this year with 805 yards.

The Raiders (6-8) need an upset road victory to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

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Report: Blue Jackets’ Kuraly resting at home after going to hospital

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly is back home after going to hospital for tests to evaluate an abdominal injury during Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported Sunday.

Per a Blue Jackets spokesperson, Kuraly underwent tests at Grant Medical Center that came back negative and was not admitted.

There is no timeline on how long Kuraly will be out.

In the final minute of the first period Saturday, Kuraly was awkwardly sandwiched between Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe and Auston Matthews. As Kuraly was rising to his feet, he appeared to get hit in the chest with a puck.

Kuraly was able to skate to the bench on his own, but play was blown dead and paramedics were immediately called as he laboured down the tunnel. With 18 seconds left in the first, the league opted to suspend play.

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