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JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan Samberg (54) and Edmonton Oilers’ Adam Henrique (19) look on as a shot gets past goaltender Eric Comrie during second period pre-season NHL action in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Toews impressive in hometown debut

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:51 PM CDT

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There was no storybook ending Tuesday night. This was, after all, just the opening chapter in Jonathan Toews’ comeback tale. If the Coles Notes version is any indication, the season ahead could be a real page-turner for the hometown hockey star.

Skating for the first time as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, Toews showed there’s still fuel in the tank and fire in the belly after a two-year, health-related hiatus. While there were some expected signs of rust in his pre-season debut, the overall body of work was solid in a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Canada Life Centre.

Not surprisingly, the three-time Stanley Cup champion wasn’t doing any kind of post-game victory lap.

“Some good. Some not-so-good. I felt like I made some plays and as the game went along relaxed a bit,” said Toews. “I think the conditioning is going to come, the jump is going to come.”

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Bombers QB says decisions about his health and future are his to make

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

Bombers QB says decisions about his health and future are his to make

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Yesterday at 8:11 PM CDT

Zach Collaros appreciates the concern surrounding his latest head injury but wants it to be clear: his health is his business.

The star quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practised in full on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a hit to the head more than two weeks ago in the Banjo Bowl.

It’s a cause for concern any time a play leaves a player laying motionless on the turf for a while before they get up and jog off — which was the case for Collaros — but the veteran passer’s well-documented history of head injuries made it that much more unsettling.

“If you’re somebody who’s followed the game for a long time and you know who I am specifically and you’ve seen me have to come out of games at times throughout my career, from a knee-jerk reaction standpoint, I can totally understand people’s concern with that,” said Collaros after practice.

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Yesterday at 8:11 PM CDT

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS

Bombers QB Zach Collaros (right) hands the ball off to Nic Demski on Tuesday during practice at Princess Auto Stadium.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Bombers QB Zach Collaros (right) hands the ball off to Nic Demski on Tuesday during practice at Princess Auto Stadium.

CFL changes beyond tone deaf

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

CFL changes beyond tone deaf

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Yesterday at 6:29 PM CDT

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital, Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval ran a franchise-setting 128-yard missed field goal off the foot of Ottawa Redblacks kicker Lewis Ward to the house.

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Yesterday at 6:29 PM CDT

Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval (23) runs with the ball during first half CFL action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal during the Aug. 21 game. (Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press files)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval (23) runs with the ball during first half CFL action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal during the Aug. 21 game. (Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press files)

Jets training camp a fresh start for Heinola

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Jets training camp a fresh start for Heinola

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Yesterday at 5:35 PM CDT

Ville Heinola fully recognizes what is at stake for him.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman has been around long enough to know that he’s clearly at a crossroads as he works his way through training camp.

Although he’s not that far removed from being a front-runner to becoming a third-pairing regular, a series of injuries opened the doors for others to leapfrog him on the organizational depth chart.

Now that he’s back to full health, Heinola is aiming to get back to the player he was before a freak ankle injury in the final exhibition game of 2023 impeded his progress and has basically been a hindrance ever since.

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Yesterday at 5:35 PM CDT

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS

Winnipeg Jets’ Ville Heinola (left) battles for the puck against Ashton Sautner at training camp on Thursday. The defenceman firmly believes his best hockey is ahead of him after recovering from injuries.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets’ Ville Heinola (left) battles for the puck against Ashton Sautner at training camp on Thursday. The defenceman firmly believes his best hockey is ahead of him after recovering from injuries.

Jets working on ‘recession proof’ power play at training camp

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Jets working on ‘recession proof’ power play at training camp

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read 5:39 PM CDT

Nobody made opponents pay for their on-ice sins quite like the Winnipeg Jets last season. An NHL-best power play was a major reason the club finished atop the regular-season standings.

In that sense, Wednesday’s training camp skate at Hockey For All Centre felt a little like Christmas morning, as players and coaches got their first real crack at special-teams work.

“It has some excitement to it, because you’re getting back to an area of the game with players that love doing it,” said assistant coach Davis Payne — the architect of Winnipeg’s man-advantage success.

“To be able to get that time to focus on it and have those types of practice days now, it’s difficult to do that during the regular season. It’s sort of a real good foundation-laying day.”

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5:39 PM CDT

Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Bombers’ roaring rookies Allen, Vaval making waves

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Bombers’ roaring rookies Allen, Vaval making waves

Taylor Allen 5 minute read 6:39 PM CDT

Trey Vaval had a feeling that fellow Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie Cam Allen was going to have a big day in Ottawa.

“It was actually crazy,” said Vaval after Wednesday’s closed practice.

“We were on the bus headed to the game and I was like, ‘Cam’s gonna have two picks today.’ And it happened.”

It sure did.

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6:39 PM CDT

Spencer Colby / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie Trey Vaval makes Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Jayden Griffiths miss last Saturday in the nation’s capital.
Spencer Colby / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie Trey Vaval makes Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Jayden Griffiths miss last Saturday in the nation’s capital.

Phillies wrap up a 1st-round bye, hitting a team-record 8 homers to rout the Marlins

Rob Parent, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Phillies wrap up a 1st-round bye, hitting a team-record 8 homers to rout the Marlins

Rob Parent, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 9:42 PM CDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Edmundo Sosa hit three of Philadelphia's team-record eight home runs, Kyle Schwarber had two to pad his National League lead and the Phillies wrapped up a first-round bye with an 11-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Assured one of the top two seeds in the NL, the East champion Phillies (93-65) will open the postseason at home Oct. 4 in a best-of-five Division Series.

Schwarber hit Nos. 55 and 56 and also doubled and singled. He trails Seattle’s Cal Raleigh by three for the major league homer lead after Raleigh hit his 59th in the first inning of the Mariners' game against Colorado.

Philadelphia hit seven homers against Atlanta on Aug. 28, with Schwarber getting four of them.

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Updated: 9:42 PM CDT

Philadelphia Phillies' Edmundo Sosa, right, celebrates with Weston Wilson (37) after hitting a two run homer in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Philadelphia Phillies' Edmundo Sosa, right, celebrates with Weston Wilson (37) after hitting a two run homer in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Sports Editor's Picks

Jeff Hamilton:

Modified rules, field size casualties of major CFL revamp

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Jaylen Smith (39) chases Saskatchewan Roughriders' Mario Alford (2) into his end zone on a Bombers missed field goal attempt during second half CFL action in Winnipeg, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Winnipeg Free Press:

Special Coverage: CFL Grey Cup 112

Special Coverage: CFL Grey Cup 112

Ken Wiebe:

Zhilkin, He stand tall in Jets pre-season opener

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets’ Danny Zhilkin (53) and Kevin He (46) celebrate Zhilkinճ goal against the Minnesota Wild during first period pre-season NHL action in Winnipeg on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Homecoming for Fust

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Kyu Fust has joined the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s basketball team after transferring from the University of Regina Cougars program.

Ken Wiebe:

Brandon looks to be Kings of WHL

Perry Bergson / The Brandon Sun Files Brandon Wheat Kings forward Luke Mistelbacher was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Swift Current Broncos. The Steinbach native had previously attended Winnipeg Jets development camp as a free agent invitee in 2024.

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe:

Puck set to drop on Jets training camp

Frank Franklin II / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor enters this season without a contract beyond it.

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Nine NHL teams have a new coach. Here’s what to expect from the changes

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Nine NHL teams have a new coach. Here’s what to expect from the changes

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press 6 minute read 5:10 AM CDT

When Mike Sullivan's time in Pittsburgh came to an end after nearly a decade behind the bench produced two Stanley Cup championships, he became the most-sought after coach on the market.

With plenty of vacancies around the NHL, Sullivan had his pick of the litter. He landed with the New York Rangers, tasked with taking over an Original Six franchise that missed last season's playoffs but is loaded with talent.

Sullivan has coached Sidney Crosby and was picked by USA Hockey to lead the country at the upcoming Olympics in Milan. Starting this journey with the Rangers had him struggling to find a way to capture his emotions.

“This is a new challenge for me,” Sullivan said. “It’s hard for me to express in words how excited I am about this challenge and about this opportunity.”

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5:10 AM CDT

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet oversees practice during hockey training camp at the Flyers Training Center on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet oversees practice during hockey training camp at the Flyers Training Center on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Raiders QB Geno Smith spreading the wealth with his receivers

Mark Anderson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Raiders QB Geno Smith spreading the wealth with his receivers

Mark Anderson, The Associated Press 5 minute read 8:30 PM CDT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — When Davante Adams played for the Raiders from 2022 into early in the 2024 season, an ongoing storyline was how whoever played quarterback at the time could get him the ball.

Not enough targets could create a week's worth of conversations — and Adams wasn't afraid to express his opinions.

Now Las Vegas receivers, including tight end Brock Bowers, form a much more democratic unit in which just about any pass catcher is likely to step up.

Sunday's 41-24 loss at Washington was a perfect example with third-year pro Tre Tucker setting career highs with eight receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

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8:30 PM CDT

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) scores a touchdown as Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) scores a touchdown as Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Garrett Crochet dominates as Red Sox crush Blue Jays 7-1

The Associated Press 10 minute read 10:24 PM CDT

TORONTO (AP) — Garrett Crochet pitched eight shutout innings, Masataka Yoshida and Carlos Narváez homered, and the Boston Red Sox beat the slumping Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Wednesday night.

Assured a playoff berth, the Blue Jays dropped into a tie with the New York Yankees atop the AL East at 90-68 with four games left. Toronto holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Trevor Story had three hits as Boston (87-71) won for the fourth time in five games and inched closer to securing an American League wild card.

Crochet (18-5) struck out six, walked none and allowed three hits to win his fifth straight decision.

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