Sport Shorts: Triple Gold Club Welcomes Newest Member
Champion Again: 2010 Olympic gold-medallist Patrice Bergeron scored two goals in Game 7, including the series-clincher, to win the Stanley Cup last week. With a World Championship title in 2004 also on his resume, the Boston Bruins’ assistant captain joined a very prestigious group, the Triple Gold Club, as the 25th individual to have won all three of the highest ice hockey championships: Olympic gold, a World Championship and a Stanley Cup title. Bergeron will bring the Cup back to his home of L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que. this summer.
Coming from Behind: Even when she’s behind in the race, Canadian triathlete Paula Findlay still finds a way to win. Despite being more than a minute behind the pack during the swim, the Edmonton native came back to finish first at the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series in Austria. Findlay, who won her fifth race in the last six opportunities and third straight this year, completed the race with a time of 2:05:52, just four seconds ahead of Britain’s Helen Jenkins.
Volleyball Bronze: Canada’s men’s volleyball team is coming home from Brazil with a medal. The squad captured bronze over Puerto Rico on Saturday in the Pan Am Cup tournament, the first event of the 2011 season. Canada claimed the victory in straight sets – 25-14, 25-20, 25-21, despite missing some of their stars due to injury.
One for the Team: A pair of Canadian cyclers have carried their team to the podium. Svein Tuft (Langley, B.C.) won the time trial race in the fourth stage while David Boily finished second in the fifth stage of the 2011 Tour de Beauce. Both men are part of Team Spidertech powered by C10, Canada’s only UCI Pro-Continental Team.
Calling it Quits: Two of Canada’s 2008 Olympians athletes have announced their retirement. Top female BMX rider, Samantha Cools has decided to end her cycling career, and Tyler Christopher, Canada`s best 400-metre runner will hang up his spikes. Cools represented Canada in Beijing in 2008, as well as on the UCI World Championship, where she made the semifinals in 2007 and finished fifth in 2008. Cools also won a bronze at the 2008 World Cup. Christopher`s accomplishments include a World Indoor title in 2008, a bronze medal at the 2005 World Outdoor Championship and being the record holder for the indoor and outdoor 400-metres, as well as the indoor 300-metres.
London Awaits: All eyes in the tennis world will be on London this week as Wimbledon kicks off at the All-England Club. Representing Canada is phenom Milos Raonic, who is participating for the first time, and qualifier Frank Dancevic. Raonic, a native of Thornhill , is currently ranked 25th in the ATP rankings, and will be seeded 31st for the tournament. Without question, Raonic is looking to make some noise and continue his rise up the charts.
