EYE ON SPORTS: A 65-foot putt gives J.J. Spaun his first U.S. Open title Luc Lang luc@qctonline.com…
American golfer J.J. Spaun is all smiles after winning the 125th edition of the U.S. Open in Oakmont, N.Y. on June 15. Spaun sunk a 64-foot putt on the final hole of the tournament, a record for the course, to capture the first Grand Slam title of his short career. The Oakmont gave all golfers a difficult tournament as Spaun was the only player to finish the tournament under par (-1). The final Grand Slam tournament is the British Open, scheduled from July 13-20 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. (Screenshot by Luc Lang)
Nineteen-year old Désiré Doué scored two goals to lead Paris Saint-Germain to its first ever UEFA Champions League title when they defeated Inter Milan 5-0, in Munich, Germany on May 31. It’s only the second ever Champions League title for a team from France. The first was won by Olympique de Marseille, who defeated A.C. Milan in 1993, also in Munich. The win started a night-long celebration on the Champs Élysées in Paris, which was marred by the deaths of two people. (Photo courtesy of Paris Saint-Germain/J. Azouzé)
The 2025 Memorial Cup championship tournament is underway in Rimouski. The host Océanic, the Medicine Hat Tigers (Western Hockey League), London Knights (Ontario Hockey League) and Moncton Wildcats (Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) are competing for the 105th Memorial Cup. Before the opening game between Rimouski and Medicine Hat on May 23, Océanic defenceman Olivier Théberge was surprised to see his father carry the trophy out for the ceremonial faceoff. Capt. Erick Théberge, who was deployed in Latvia with the Canadian Armed Forces, received special permission to travel to Rimouski to watch his son play in the tournament. The Memorial Cup was established in 1919 by James T. Sutherland, a captain in the Canadian Armed Forces during the First World War, to honour those who died in service to their country. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/courtesy of CHL)
Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele (55) is consoled by his teammates after his team lost 2-1 in overtime to the Dallas Stars in game six of the second round of the NHL playoffs on May 17. Scheifele’s father Brad, 50, died on the eve of the game. With the Jets trailing 3-2 in the series, Scheifele suited up for his team, scoring the game’s first goal. However, with the game tied 1-1 late in the third period, Scheifele took the game’s only penalty. Dallas took advantage of the penalty and scored in overtime, eliminating the Jets, who had won the President’s Trophy for the best regular-season record in the league. (Photo courtesy of Arctic Ice Hockey/Jerome Miron)
NHL superstar Sidney Crosby (seen here in 2010) has accepted Hockey Canada’s invitation to represent the country at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, which will start May 9 in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark. Crosby, whose future with the Pittsburgh Penguins is unclear after the departure of head coach Mike Sullivan, also played for Canada at last winter’s Four Nations tournament. (Photo by provided by VanCityAllie.com via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons licence)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes was beaten by an Andrew Mangiapane shot late in the third period that gave the Washington Capitals a 3-2 lead in game four of the NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal on April 27. The Caps added two more empty-net goals for a 5-2 victory, and a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (Screenshot)