Olympics – Winnipeg Free Press

United States' Hilary Knight (21) celebrates after scoring her side's opening goal during a women's ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

US gold medal-winning captain Hilary Knight reveals she played at the Olympics with a torn MCL

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 3:05 PM CST

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. women's hockey gold medal-winning captain Hilary Knight revealed Monday in a television appearance that she played in Milan with a torn medial collateral ligament in one of her knees.

“I’m not walking around the best, and I’m missing a few games for the (PWHL’s) Seattle Torrent,” Knight said on “CBS Mornings.”

"To be able to play through injury was definitely a mental sort of gymnastic challenge for myself and also physical, but we’ve got some amazing support staff that did their best to get me out there and perform at my best — as best as I could.”

Knight, playing at what she said was her final Olympics at 36, tied the final against Canada with just over two minutes left in regulation. Knight, teammate Kendall Coye Schofield and Canada’s Erin Ambrose were all put on long-term injured reserve by their respective PWHL teams upon returning for the resumption of the season.

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End the ban: France backs return of intellectually disabled athletes to Winter Paralympics

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

End the ban: France backs return of intellectually disabled athletes to Winter Paralympics

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 6 minute read 6:05 AM CST

LANS-EN-VERCORS, France (AP) — On a well-groomed, snow-covered slope in the Montagnes de Lans ski area near the French city of Grenoble, a group of Alpine skiers take aggressive lines through the gates. Their trajectories are precise, the tempo is fast and the technique polished.

Among this competition squad are world champions — some with multiple medals to their names.

Yet none will line up in the starting gates at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games, where more than 650 athletes will compete in 79 medal events from March 6.

The reason? They have cognitive disabilities and are not eligible to compete.

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6:05 AM CST

Melanie De Bona skis during training in Lans-en-Vercors, near Grenoble, France, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Knight delivers joke during ‘SNL’ appearance featuring US men and women hockey gold medal winners

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Knight delivers joke during ‘SNL’ appearance featuring US men and women hockey gold medal winners

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 1:31 AM CST

This time it was Hilary Knight’s turn to provide a big laugh — with an assist from the “Saturday Night Live” writers — in the wake of a weeklong dust-up involving the United States women and men’s Olympic gold medal-winning hockey teams.

Knight, the U.S. women’s captain, along with teammate Megan Keller and men’s team brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes, made a surprise appearance during “Heated Rivalry” star Connor Storrie’s opening monologue on “SNL” on Saturday night.

With the Hughes brothers already on stage alongside Storrie, Knight and Keller joined them to a loud and lengthy ovation. The four players wore USA jerseys with their gold medals draped from their necks.

Knight opened by saying: “It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the guys, too.”

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Yesterday at 1:31 AM CST

United States' Kendall Coyne, left, and United States' Hilary Knight celebrate after victory ceremony for women's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Durant’s LA 2028 hopes land on Spoelstra’s desk, and the US Olympic coach is listening

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Durant’s LA 2028 hopes land on Spoelstra’s desk, and the US Olympic coach is listening

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

MIAMI (AP) — If Kevin Durant ultimately decides to chase more Olympic gold, Erik Spoelstra seems interested in coaching him.

Spoelstra, the Miami Heat coach who will lead the U.S. men's basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, said Saturday he's aware of Durant's recent comments about the potential of playing for what would be a fifth gold medal.

And the concept is clearly intriguing.

“Just him saying that is incredible," Spoelstra — an assistant on the 2024 Olympic team — said before the Heat beat Durant and the Houston Rockets 115-105. "You know, that’s the culture of USA Basketball. You just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, ‘I want to do this.’”

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, right, goes to the basket against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Wendl-Arlt, Egle-Kipp win World Cup overall luge titles, Taubitz closes in on crown

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Wendl-Arlt, Egle-Kipp win World Cup overall luge titles, Taubitz closes in on crown

The Associated Press 2 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany clinched their seventh men's doubles World Cup luge overall season title Saturday, while Selina Egle and Lara Kipp of Austria claimed the women's doubles crown for the second straight season.

Wendl and Arlt were third in the men's doubles race at St. Moritz, good enough to lock up the season title with one race left. Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl of Austria won the race, with Italy’s Ivan Nagler and Fabian Malleier second.

Egle and Kipp didn't even finish in the medals; they were fifth in the women's race and still clinched their points title. Olympic champions Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer of Italy won the race, with Elisa-Marie Storch and Pauline Patz of Germany second, followed by Anda Upite and Madara Pavlova of Latvia third.

In the women's singles race, Olympic champion Julia Taubitz of Germany won on Saturday and moved closer to the overall points title.

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Germany's Julia Taubitz poses with the gold medal after the women's single luge competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Troy Ryan tells AP he believes it’s time he steps down as Canadian women’s team coach after 6 years

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Troy Ryan tells AP he believes it’s time he steps down as Canadian women’s team coach after 6 years

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Troy Ryan is grateful and honored to have overseen the Canadian women’s hockey team at two Olympics and told The Associated Press on Friday that he believes it’s time he stepped down as coach.

Asked if he foresees coaching the team at the world championships in November, Ryan said: “I don’t believe so. I would never say never, but very unlikely.”

He then added: “I think it’s time for someone else to run with it and take it to new heights.”

Ryan spoke by phone from Seattle, where his Toronto Sceptres return from the PWHL’s month-long Olympic break to play the Torrent. And Ryan spoke a day after first suggesting his tenure as coach was over during a video conference call with PWHL reporters.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Canada head coach Troy Ryan talks with his players during the third period of a women's ice hockey semifinal match against Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A golden sweep by Team USA in Olympic hockey led to celebrations that got complicated and political

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

A golden sweep by Team USA in Olympic hockey led to celebrations that got complicated and political

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

The United States swept the hockey gold medals at the Winter Olympics for the first time, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in both the men’s and women’s tournaments and finishing the tournaments unbeaten.

It set off a celebration that quickly became political:

The celebrations

— Women’s team: The players largely steered away from politics. Many said they failed to notice Vice President JD Vance, his family and guests — and large security detail — attending two preliminary round games where they sat directly opposite the U.S. bench. They celebrated Team USA’s third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey win by wrapping themselves in the stars and stripes following Megan Keller’s overtime goal.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Canada blanks Italy 4-0 in para hockey tune-up before Paralympics

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada blanks Italy 4-0 in para hockey tune-up before Paralympics

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

VARESE - Canada’s para hockey team wrapped up its pre-Paralympic schedule Friday with a 4-0 win over Italy.

Dominic Cozzolino of Mississauga, Ont., and James Dunn of Wallacetown, Ont., each had a goal and an assist for Canada. Adam Dixon of Midland, Ont., and Tyler McGregor of Forest, Ont., also scored.

Greg Westlake of Oakville, Ont., and Micah Kovacevich of Edmonton added assists.

Canada outshot Italy 32-7 in front of a vocal home crowd.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Canadian men’s Para hockey team player Dominic Cozzolino speaks to the media at Hockey Canada’s National Teams orientation camp in Calgary, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

McGregor, Wilkie surprised by flag-bearer honour ahead of Milan Cortina Paralympics

Myles Dichter, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

McGregor, Wilkie surprised by flag-bearer honour ahead of Milan Cortina Paralympics

Myles Dichter, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

A bit of friendly deception helped surprise Natalie Wilkie and Tyler McGregor with news they will carry Canada’s flag to open the Milan Cortina Paralympic Winter Games next week.

The two thought they were logging on earlier this week for routine media interviews with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

Instead, CPC chief sport officer Catherine Gosselin-Despres and Milan Cortina 2026 honorary captain Mac Marcoux were waiting to tell them they had been chosen as Canada’s flag bearers for March 6.

“It was shocking, I think to both of us,” said McGregor, who is co-captain of the para hockey team. “But we were so pleased to receive that call, and it was an exciting time for sure.”

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Canada’s para hockey captain Tyler McGregor of Forest, Ont., and para nordic skier Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., are shown in an undated handout image. The pair were named Canada’s opening ceremony flag bearers for the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Canadian Paralympic Committee (Mandatory Credit)

Canadian Paralympians enjoy parade, cheers before boarding flights to Italy for Games

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canadian Paralympians enjoy parade, cheers before boarding flights to Italy for Games

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

MISSISSAUGA - Mark Ideson felt the weight and support of his country behind him.

The three-time Paralympic medallist in curling was one of several Canadian athletes that were paraded through Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Thursday as they were set to head to Italy for the Paralympic Games.

"Definitely feeling the support of Canadians when we're parading through the airport, people flying all over the world are standing up and giving us applause," said Ideson. "It's such a unique experience to represent your country and you feel like you have the weight and the strength of the country behind you, cheering you on the whole way."

Athletes were paraded from security all the way to the gate for their flight.

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Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Team captain Tyler McGregor signs the jersey for Caleb Flanigan, five-years-old, after Hockey Canada announced the roster for the Canadian paralympic team in Calgary on Tues., Jan. 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

US women’s hockey team has date in July with Flavor Flav in Vegas to celebrate gold medal victory

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

US women’s hockey team has date in July with Flavor Flav in Vegas to celebrate gold medal victory

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

The United States women’s hockey team has a date with Flavor Flav in Las Vegas in July to celebrate winning the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The rapper reposted a note on his X account on Thursday from sports media brand The GIST, announcing he’s hosting a “She Got Game” weekend event from July 16-19 in partnership with the outlet and MGM Resorts. The post said the event was being held to honor the women's hockey team and other female athletes, with details to follow. It featured a picture of the U.S. women's hockey players celebrating in a circle.

A publicist for Flavor Flav confirmed the event without providing further details.

The women’s players accepted the invitation without input from USA Hockey, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

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Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

U.S. players celebrate after a semifinal match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Hilary Knight wants focus on the US women’s Olympic success, not Trump’s ‘distasteful’ joke

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Hilary Knight wants focus on the US women’s Olympic success, not Trump’s ‘distasteful’ joke

The Associated Press 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

SEATTLE (AP) — Hilary Knight doesn't want to let what she called a “distasteful” joke by President Donald Trump about the gold-medal winning U.S. women's Olympic hockey team get in the way of a historic performance by American women across all sports at the Milan Cortina Games.

“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate," Knight said on Wednesday alongside fellow Olympians Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes at the Seattle Space Needle ahead of their return to play for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women's Hockey League. "And, I think just the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point and really shines light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.”

Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she's not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.

Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men's team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president later joked that if he didn't extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.

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Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Members of the United States' Olympic gold medal hockey team enter the gallery as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Westlake, Arendz, Forrest among veterans leading Canada at 2026 Paralympics

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Westlake, Arendz, Forrest among veterans leading Canada at 2026 Paralympics

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

OTTAWA - Veteran Paralympians Greg Westlake, Adam Dixon, Mark Arendz and Ina Forrest will lead Canada's team at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

The 39-year-old Westlake is set to appear in his sixth Paralympic Winter Games after coming out of retirement to rejoin Canada's para hockey team.

Para hockey player Dixon, para nordic skier Arendz and wheelchair curler Forrest are set to appear in their fifth.

Westlake and Dixon were part of the para hockey team that won silver four years ago in Beijing. They also won silver in 2014 and 2018.

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Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

Silver medalist Mark Arendz of Canada, front and bronze medalist Alexander Ehler of Germany compete in the 4x2.5km mixed relay of cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Sunday, March 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Turmoil-hit 2030 French Alps Olympics lose CEO Cyril Linette in leadership shake-up

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Turmoil-hit 2030 French Alps Olympics lose CEO Cyril Linette in leadership shake-up

The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

PARIS (AP) — Organizers of the 2030 French Alps Olympics confirmed Wednesday the departure of their chief executive officer following weeks of internal turmoil.

They said the exit of Cyril Linette — who was at loggerheads with Edgar Grospiron, the former Olympic champion freestyle skier who leads the organizing committee — was formally acknowledged during a meeting of the executive board last weekend.

Organizers said the decision reflected a collective desire for a “new momentum through renewed governance” ahead of a key phase of their project.

Tensions have multiplied in recent months, against a backdrop of several resignations, culminating in open conflict between Grospiron and Linette. Their feud was just the latest episode in a saga of turbulences that have weakened the project.

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Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

FILE - Head of 2030 Olympic Winter Games, Edgar Grospiron, delivers a speech during a press conference to launch the organizing committee for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Feb. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

Hughes’ OT goal for Team USA vs Canada in Olympic final averages 26M live viewers on NBC, Peacock

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Hughes’ OT goal for Team USA vs Canada in Olympic final averages 26M live viewers on NBC, Peacock

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Jack Hughes’ overtime goal, which gave the United States its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980, drew an average audience of 26 million viewers on NBC and Peacock in the U.S., according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel ratings and Adobe Analytics digital data.

Team USA’s 2-1 overtime victory over Canada on Sunday averaged 18.6 million live viewers (8:15-11 a.m. EST) on NBC and Peacock. The total rose to 20.7 million with encores on USA Network on Sunday afternoon and NBC late Sunday night.

According to Nielsen, it is the most-watched sporting event on record in U.S. history with a start time before 9 a.m. Eastern time.

It is NBC’s second-most-watched hockey game. Canada’s OT win over the U.S. in the gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Games averaged 27.6 million. That game had a 3:15 p.m. EST puck drop.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

United States' Jack Hughes celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Canada during the overtime period of the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

US men’s hockey team feted at State of the Union; Trump says women’s team will be honored ‘soon’

Darlene Superville, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

US men’s hockey team feted at State of the Union; Trump says women’s team will be honored ‘soon’

Darlene Superville, The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday afternoon and later received about a two-minute bipartisan standing ovation during his State of the Union address that night.

Trump also announced that the women's hockey team, which also defeated Canada to win gold, will “soon” visit the White House. The women’s team had declined an invitation to attend the State of the Union due to the timing of the address.

Men's players entered the House chamber through two sets of doors and walked down the rows of the press gallery. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle not only stood and cheered but chanted “USA!” several times, many even pumping fists. Rep. Lisa McClain, the Republican House Conference Chair, shouted “Love you!” to the players.

“I want to thank you all,” Trump told the players. “What a special job you did. What special champions you are."

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Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

March 2, 2026

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