Football

B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke knows that taking over the starter spot isn't going to be easy. Not only is the 24-year-old Ohio product under the spotlight as a rare Canadian QB, he's also stepping into a role vacated by Michael Reilly, the man who led the league in passing last season. Rourke passes during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, June 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Lions look to capitalize on continuity heading into 2022 campaign

Nathan Rourke steps in at QB after Michael Reilly retired in January after 11 CFL seasons

 

CFL football seen during the Hamilton Tiger-Cats opening day training camp at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, Ont., Thursday, May 19, 2022. CFL players have rejected the new collective bargaining agreement with the league. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

CFL players report to work after rejecting tentative agreement

Source: CFL has tabled a new offer to the players that reportedly included ratification bonus

 

Randy Ambrosie at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton on Friday, December 10, 2021. The CFL will move its harshmarks closer to the centre of the field and allow teams to take the ball at the 40-yard line following a successful field goal or single in 2022. “It’s about improving game flow,” the CFL commissioner said Wednesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

CFL to move hashmarks closer to the centre of field in 2022

Rule changes: 2 QBs allowed on field at the same time

 

Ottawa Redblacks CFL football quarterback Henri Burris smiles as he announces his retirement in Ottawa Tuesday January 24, 2017. Burris joined the B.C. Lions coaching staff Tuesday as an offensive consultant.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Former CFL quarterback Henry Burris joins B.C. Lions coaching staff

Burris was quarterback for head coach Rick Campbell in 2016 when the Ottawa Redblacks won Grey Cup

Ottawa Redblacks CFL football quarterback Henri Burris smiles as he announces his retirement in Ottawa Tuesday January 24, 2017. Burris joined the B.C. Lions coaching staff Tuesday as an offensive consultant.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
Tanya Walter began coaching at St. Francis Xavier High School in Edmonton in 2017. (The Canadian Press)

B.C. Lions become first CFL team to hire full-time female coach, adding Walter to staff

Former national team player Tanya Walter hired as a defensive assistant

Tanya Walter began coaching at St. Francis Xavier High School in Edmonton in 2017. (The Canadian Press)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) eyes a pass in the end zone as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) attempts to tackle during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

MVP Kupp scores on late 1-yard reception as L.A. Rams beat Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl

Stafford tosses three touchdowns for victors in home stadium

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) eyes a pass in the end zone as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) attempts to tackle during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
FILE - A gambler makes a sports bet at Bally's casino in Atlantic City N.J., Sept. 5, 2019. A record 31.5 million Americans plan to bet on this year's Super Bowl, according to the gambling industry's national trade group. The American Gaming Association on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, released its annual predictions for wagering on pro football's championship game, forecasting that over $7.6 billion will be bet legally and otherwise. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)

Bet on it: a lot of money is going to change hands Super Bowl weekend

31 million Americans to bet on their annual football title game, gambling group estimates

FILE - A gambler makes a sports bet at Bally's casino in Atlantic City N.J., Sept. 5, 2019. A record 31.5 million Americans plan to bet on this year's Super Bowl, according to the gambling industry's national trade group. The American Gaming Association on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, released its annual predictions for wagering on pro football's championship game, forecasting that over $7.6 billion will be bet legally and otherwise. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)
A Washington Commanders sign is shown as they unveil their NFL football team’s new identity, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Landover, Md. The new name comes 18 months after the once-storied franchise dropped its old moniker following decades of criticism that it was offensive to Native Americans. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Washington’s NFL team unveils new name as Commanders

Owner says name pays ‘homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation’s capital’

A Washington Commanders sign is shown as they unveil their NFL football team’s new identity, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Landover, Md. The new name comes 18 months after the once-storied franchise dropped its old moniker following decades of criticism that it was offensive to Native Americans. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts as he leaves the field after the team lost to the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL divisional round playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)

Tom Brady makes it official: announces retirement on Instagram

Football legend not going to ‘make that competitive commitment anymore’

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts as he leaves the field after the team lost to the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL divisional round playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
This is a June 10, 2015, photo of Mylan Hicks, who was shot and killed outside a nightclub where he and his Calgary Stampeder teammates had been celebrating a CFL victory. The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld the sentence of the man who was convicted in the death of Hicks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo

Alberta Court of Appeal upholds sentence for man who killed Calgary Stampeder

Mylan Hicks was shot twice in 2016 outside the Marquee Beer Market in Calgary in 2016

This is a June 10, 2015, photo of Mylan Hicks, who was shot and killed outside a nightclub where he and his Calgary Stampeder teammates had been celebrating a CFL victory. The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld the sentence of the man who was convicted in the death of Hicks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo
The NFL’s approach to dealing with vaccinated, asymptomatic COVID cases will be closely watched. (Courtesy of the NFL)

NFL could become trend-setter for COVID-19 testing policies

Football league is scaling back testing for vaccinated players in alignment with CDC guidelines

The NFL’s approach to dealing with vaccinated, asymptomatic COVID cases will be closely watched. (Courtesy of the NFL)
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers celebrate their victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 108th CFL Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, December 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Blue Bombers defeat Tiger-Cats 33-25 in OT thriller to win 108th Grey Cup

Winnipeg repeats as Canadian Football League champs

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers celebrate their victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 108th CFL Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, December 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
B.C. Lions’ Lucky Whitehead (7), quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) and Bryan Burnham, back left, celebrate before Whitehead’s touchdown was called back when he was ruled down at the one yard line during the first half of a CFL football game against the Edmonton Elks in Vancouver, on Friday, November 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Rookie Rourke shines as B.C. Lions crush Edmonton Elks 43-10 in regular-season finale

Leos wrap up CFL year, miss playoffs with 5-9 record

B.C. Lions’ Lucky Whitehead (7), quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) and Bryan Burnham, back left, celebrate before Whitehead’s touchdown was called back when he was ruled down at the one yard line during the first half of a CFL football game against the Edmonton Elks in Vancouver, on Friday, November 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) points toward the sidelines prior to an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Brady beats Belichik, sets passing yards record in return to New England

Legnedary quarterback admitted to getting emotional about facing his old team on Sunday night

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) points toward the sidelines prior to an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
B.C. Lions’ Lucky Whitehead celebrates his touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Friday, September 24, 2021. Whitehead, Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence and Lions quarterback Michael Reilly have been named the CFL’s top performers for September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Whitehead in the spotlight as B.C. Lions take on surging Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Lions (4-3) host reciever’s former team, the first-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers

B.C. Lions’ Lucky Whitehead celebrates his touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Friday, September 24, 2021. Whitehead, Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence and Lions quarterback Michael Reilly have been named the CFL’s top performers for September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Football Canada and indigenous artist Kolten Khasalus Grant have collaborated to produce a national identity for football in indigenous communities across the country. The Indigenous Football Canada logo, shown in a handout, will be available on merchandise for Football Weekend in Canada on Oct. 15. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Football Canada, artist Grant produce identity for football in Indigenous communities

President Jim Mullin said Football Canada and sport in general both have a role to play in reconciliation

Football Canada and indigenous artist Kolten Khasalus Grant have collaborated to produce a national identity for football in indigenous communities across the country. The Indigenous Football Canada logo, shown in a handout, will be available on merchandise for Football Weekend in Canada on Oct. 15. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Simon Fraser University football team kicker Kristie Elliott, who recently became the first Canadian woman to play and score in a college football game, poses for a photograph before practice at the university in Burnaby, B.C., Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. It’s taken some adaptations, but Elliott has broken new ground for women in college sports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘I’m just proud of myself’: SFU kicker Kristie Elliott makes college football history

Elliott’s love of the game is relatively recent

Simon Fraser University football team kicker Kristie Elliott, who recently became the first Canadian woman to play and score in a college football game, poses for a photograph before practice at the university in Burnaby, B.C., Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. It’s taken some adaptations, but Elliott has broken new ground for women in college sports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The new name and logo of the Edmonton Elks is seen on the field at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. In an update a day after the CFL postponed Thursday’s game between the Argonauts and Elks, the Edmonton Elks say nine players have tested positive for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Elks say nine players have tested positive for COVID-19, team in isolation

CFL has postponed Thursday’s game between the Argonauts and Elks at Toronto

The new name and logo of the Edmonton Elks is seen on the field at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. In an update a day after the CFL postponed Thursday’s game between the Argonauts and Elks, the Edmonton Elks say nine players have tested positive for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
(File photo)

Fall practice starting for Ponoka senior and bantam football teams

Teams welcoming all players who want to try out the sport

(File photo)
B.C. Lions’ Dominique Rhymes (19) dives but fails to make the reception as Edmonton Elks’ Darius Williams, back, defends during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Thursday August 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Edmonton Elks spoil 2021 CFL homecoming for B.C. Lions with 21-16 triumph

QB Trevor Harris passes for 296 yards in winning effort

B.C. Lions’ Dominique Rhymes (19) dives but fails to make the reception as Edmonton Elks’ Darius Williams, back, defends during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Thursday August 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck