Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 6, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba C4 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM AS the countdown to the Northern Super League kick- off hits 100 days, Diana Matheson likes what she sees. “It feels like we’re right where we need to be,” Matheson, co-founder and chief growth officer of the women’s professional league, said of today’s milestone. “We’ll be ready,” added AFC co-founder Helena Ruken. There is still plenty of work to do before the April 16 opener. The NSL schedule has yet to come out, with the league waiting on the CFL to finalize its dates given shared facilities in Ottawa and Calgary. Matheson ex- pects the NSL schedule to come out in early February with jersey sales to start in March. And then comes kickoff for the founding franchises in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. “Picturing those opening games in every market, that’s definitely the image I’ve had in my mind for two years-plus. So I’m really looking forward to those few weeks when all those teams have their home openers,” said Matheson, who won 206 caps for Canada in a distinguished international career that stretched from 2003 to 2020. There will be a one game opening day on April 16, a Wednesday, with two more on the 19th. The league has yet to announce the opening locations. Vancouver and Montreal have yet to confirm where they will play home games, although Roses FC says it will use several venues in Montreal. And while the six clubs had only announced a little more than two dozen players prior to Monday, Matheson says many more have already signed with “some exciting” Canadian talent set to be announced this month. The league completed its coaching lineup Friday with England’s Lydia Bedford confirmed as Calgary Wild coach. Matheson also expects more sponsorship announce- ments this month, with “some pretty top-tier Canadian brands and multinationals” joining Canadian Tire as league partners. The league already has a kit provider (Hummel), even an official insurance brokerage partner (West- land Insurance). And broadcast deals with CBC and TSN/RDS. A league spokesman said all league matches will be shown either on linear TV through its broadcast partners or on NSL and partner digital platforms. A “substantial number” will be shown on linear TV. Each team will play a 25-game regular-season schedule, facing the other clubs five times. The top four sides will make the post-season with No. 1 playing No. 4 and No. 2 taking on No. 3 in two-legged semifinals, followed by a stand-alone championship game. And while the priority will be to feature female referees and assistant referees, the officiating talent pool will have to grow to reach that goal, Matheson says, with a mixture of men and women officiating to start. The new league is owned equally by the clubs, with Matheson and league co-founder Tom Gilbert holding an ownership stake in the Ottawa franchise. Future expansion teams will also buy into the league with each franchise holding an equal share. Matheson says she will not be involved in the day-to-day operation of Ottawa Rapid FC, focusing instead on growing the league. “We all felt, including myself, that that’s where I could continue to have the biggest impact in the next few years,” said Matheson. “So I’m not operational at all in Ottawa. And we’re really careful to mind any conflict of interest as they come up in any role I have at the league level.” Matheson will also play a role in connecting with other women’s pro leagues around the world. She and Jose Maria Celestino da Costa, the league’s vice-president of soccer operations, are off to Spain later this month to attend the Women’s Leagues Fo- rum, which represents some 16 women’s leagues. The NSL franchises are independently owned and operated, with ownership groups ranging in size. AFC Toronto, for example, started with seven founders led by Ruken. More than two dozen inves- tors have since joined, including track star Andre De Grasse and tennis star Milos Raonic. “We put a public call for investment just through our website, didn’t run a huge campaign or anything but it was always there,” said Ruken. “And then it spread through word of mouth. A lot of people came to us and just wanted to be part of it and make sure that we have a women’s professional team in Toronto. That’s our common thread.” Vancouver Rise FC majority owner Greg Kerfoot, who is in the process of selling the MLS Whitecaps, has brought in former Canada captain Christine Sin- clair, a native of Burnaby, B.C., and other partners “not necessarily for financial needs but because he wants women to be at the forefront of everything he’s doing (with the team),” said Matheson. The Calgary ownership group includes Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey, a Calgary native. Clubs will have between 20 and 25 players on their rosters, with eight international players permitted per team. Teams will initially operate under a US$1.6-million salary cap with the league minimum salary set at US$50,000. Each franchise will be allowed a mar- quee player whose pay will not count against the cap. Unlike Major League Soccer, the NSL special sala- ry slot will not come with a title (designated player in MLS) and Matheson says teams may not identify the player in question. While the league’s bottom line may be bumpy for a while, Ruken says she is in it for the long haul. “According to our business models, all the clubs will lose money initially,” said Ruken. “That’s part of it but we very much work towards a break-even scenario. “Our plan is to reinvest the revenue back into the club and grow the valuation of the club.” The initial franchise fee was $1 million with a need for an estimated $8 million to $10 million in total invested capital over the first five seasons. Future franchises will have to pay a bigger admission ticket, however. — The Canadian Press SPORTS MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025 SPORTS IN BRIEF BOMBERS RE-SIGN VETERAN NEUFELD VETERAN right guard Pat Neufeld and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to terms on a one-year extension. Neufeld was scheduled to become a free agent in February. The 6-6 Regina native will return for his 11th season with the Blue Bombers and 14th in the Canadian Football League, including his days with Saskatchewan (2011-13). A three-time CFL all-star (2021-23), Neufeld appeared in 14 games in 2024, all starts, and played a pivotal role in helping Brady Oliveira win his second-straight league rushing title while quarterback Zach Collaros established a career-high in passing yards. Originally drafted by the Roughriders in 2010, Neufeld was acquired by Winnipeg in a trade in 2013 and has become a fixture at the right guard spot. He has played in 168 CFL games, including 131 with the Blue Bombers, and now calls Winnipeg home. GAUFF BEATS SWIATEK, U.S. WINS UNITED CUP SYDNEY — Coco Gauff overcame second- ranked Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 in the opening singles of the United Cup mixed teams tennis event and the United States went on to win the final by beating Poland 2-0 on Sunday. Taylor Fritz beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4) at the Ken Rosewall Arena as the Americans secured their second United Cup title in three years. “It’s great to win a team event, the only team event I’ve ever won, so I’m super excit- ed,” the third-ranked Gauff said. The 20-year-old American won all five of her singles matches at the United Cup in straight sets, in an ideal build-up for the Australian Open starting Jan. 12. It was also the second straight win for Gauff over Swiatek after victory on her way to winning the WTA Finals event in Riyadh in November. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open campaign has taken on an element of doubt after the four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 suffered an apparent injury Sunday while playing the final of a WTA tournament in Auckland. Osaka had won the first set of the final 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson when she spoke to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the chair umpire and a tour trainer before deciding to withdraw. The nature of her injury wasn’t immediately clear but seemed to be abdominal, not the back injury she suffered at the China Open in October and which ended her 2024 season. COPETTI LEADS CANADA PAST SWISS VANTAA, Finland — Dorothy Copetti scored twice, including the first goal of her international career, to lead Canada past Switzerland 5-1 on Sunday in the preliminary round of the under-18 women’s hockey world championship. Sara Manness had a goal and an assist for Canada (2-0-0), while Hayley McDonald and Chloe Primerano rounded out the scoring. Amelia Wilkinson made 10 saves in net for the win as Canada outshot Switzerland 60-11. Jael Manetsch was the lone Swiss (0-1-1) scorer as goaltender Amaya Iseli stopped 55 shots. Canada has the day off before playing Czechia on Tuesday. DUCKS SIGN VATRANO TO 3-YEAR EXTENSION ANAHEIM, Calif. — Forward Frank Vatrano has agreed to a three-year contract exten- sion through the 2027-28 season with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks announced the deal Sunday for the 30-year-old Vatrano, who is in his third season with Anaheim. He has 68 goals and 53 assists in 200 games for the Ducks, including nine goals and 11 assists this season. A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press that the contract will pay Vatrano US$3 million in each of the next three seasons, and he will make another US$9 million in deferred salary beginning in 2035. Vatrano has been a dependable top-six forward since joining Anaheim as a free agent in 2022, scoring the most goals on the roster since he arrived at the club. Vatrano has 169 goals and 122 assists in 601 career NHL appearances. — from the wire services NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS FILES Pat Neufeld: 131 games with Blue Bombers MATT YORK / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Hideki Matsuyama closed with an 8-under 65 Sunday to finish at 35-under par to lift the trophy (below) at the season-opening The Sentry tournament in Kapalua, Hawaii. Record-setting score starts season K APALUA, Hawaii — Hideki Matsuyama opened the new season with a record perform- ance, though it was hard to tell from his emotions. He was a machine at The Sentry, with 35 holes at birdie or better to finish at 35-under par, both PGA Tour records. He only broke into a wide smile when his caddie, Shota Hayafuji, spoke to him on the side of the 18th green Sunday at Kapalua after one final birdie gave Matsuyama the scoring records and a three-shot victory over Collin Morikawa. “Otoshidama arigato gozaimasu.” It translates roughly to thanks for a traditional Japanese gift to children in the new year to wish them luck and prosperity. Matsuyama won US$3.6 million from his 11th career victory. There was little luck involved over four days on a Plantation course that was vulnerable as ever without hardly any wind for which it was built. Mat- suyama made only one bogey over the final 59 holes to finish at 35-under 257. Staked to a one-shot lead going into the final round, Matsuyama holed out from 107 yards for eagle on the third hole, expanded the lead when Mori- kawa had consecutive three-putts — one for par, another for bogey — and answered a late challenge with another wedge to 4 feet. He closed with an 8-under 65 and started the new season in ways Mat- suyama would not have imagined. The 32-year-old Japanese star had only a few days of practice leading into the season opener because he was not feeling well, most recently with sores in his mouth. He decided on a whim to switch to a more center-shafted putter he received a few days after Christ- mas. “I used the putter for the first here,” Matsuyama said through his inter- preter. Asked why that style of putter worked so well for him, he added, “I’m not sure, but it went in.” The last one was for the record book. Matsuyama wasn’t entirely sure that 34 under had been the record for 72 holes. The tournament already was in the bag. “That last putt, it felt like if I make it, then it’s going to be the record,” he said. “So I’m so happy that it went in.” He extended his arm and lightly pumped his first when it fell. His 35 under broke by one the record to par Cameron Smith set at Kapalua in 2022. It also was his 35th hole of birdie or better, breaking the record set by Smith in 2022 and matched by Sungjae Im at Kapalua last year. “He was matching me yesterday shot-for-shot,” said Morikawa, alluding to both posting a 62 in the third round that set them apart from the field. “Today he just never let up,” Mori- kawa said. “Then you get to the third hole and the guy holes it. I just knew I had to be on top of everything, and just kind of let a few slip on that front nine. Played a good back nine, but to win on a course like this, conditions like this, you’ve got to have it for 72 (holes). And I had it for 65.” Morikawa closed with a 67 to finish three behind at 32-under 260. Matsuyama has three PGA Tour vic- tories in the last 10 months, all of them against strong fields — Riviera last February, the first FedEx Cup playoff event in August. He moves to No. 5 in the world ranking. Matsuyama began to build some separation when he holed a sand wedge from 107 yards on the third hole, the ball landing in front of the pin, taking one hop and disappearing in the cup for eagle. Matsuyama saw the crowd cheer from behind the elevated green, wid- ened his eyes and pursed his lips and tapped fists with his caddie. And that was that. It was a methodical game, a methodical week. Morikawa, determined to give it his best shot, stayed within two until he had a three-putt par on the fifth hole after Matsuyama hit a superb chip from behind the green to tap-in range. Then, Morikawa had another three- putt from 60 feet, this one for bogey on the sixth. That put him four shots behind and he did well to stay in the game until the final few holes. Morikawa birdied the 14th and 15th holes — Matsuyama missed birdie chances from 6 feet and 10 feet — to close to within two shots with three to play. Matsuyama effectively ended it with a wedge to 4 feet on the 16th for birdie. The Sentry is a signature event with a US$20 million purse, and the $3.6 million payoff to Matsuyama put him over US$60 million for his career. Im closed with a 65 to finish alone in third, worth US$1.36 million. Matsuyama is the seventh player to win both Hawaii tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule. Justin Thomas (2017) and Ernie Els (2003) are the only players to win both in the same year. Matsuyama will have a chance to join them next week in the Sony Open on Oahu, where he won three years ago. Taylor Pendrith delivered the most unlikely shot of the tournament, holing out his 6-iron from 200 yards on the par-5 fifth for the first albatross on the Plantation course since this season-opening tournament moved to Kapalua in 1999. “As soon as I hit it I knew it was going to be really good,” Pendrith said. “Didn’t expect it to go in. Didn’t see it go in. But the fans that were up by the green went crazy so, yeah, it was a really good bonus.” — The Associated Press Matsuyama finishes 35-under par to win PGA Tour’s opening event of 2025 DOUG FERGUSON Northern Super League on track as countdown to kickoff hits 100 days NEIL DAVIDSON CHRISTINNE MUSCHI / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Diana Matheson (centre), co-founder and chief growth office of the Northern Super League with co-founders Isabele Chevalier (left) and Jean-François Crevier. ;