ST. JOHN’S -- The 2025 Canada Summer Games are underway in St. John’s, Nfld, with young athletes from all over the country converging on the east coast for the massive multi-sport event.
Sportscage.com will have daily coverage from the competition, beginning with a look at all the action from Sunday as the first week of the Games kicked off.
Men’s Baseball
Saskatchewan got off to a solid start, rolling to an 8-1 win over Alberta to immediately establish themselves as a medal hopeful.
Team Sask is in the tournament’s top pool alongside Quebec, Alberta, B.C. and Ontario.
A three-run third inning gave Saskatchewan a 3-0 lead, and after Alberta got one back in the fifth, Team Sask made sure there would be no comeback with four in their half of the inning to cap scoring on the day.
Shaunavon’s Mason Fauser led the offence, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
Meadow Lake’s Brandt Spencer got the opening game start for Saskatchewan and allowed two hits in 3 ⅔ innings, striking out three. Balgonie’s Landon Hebig finished things off, giving up a single run and also striking out three.
Saskatchewan returns to the field Monday afternoon when they take on Quebec.
Men’s Basketball
Team Sask dropped a close 71-65 decision to New Brunswick in their opening contest.
Saskatchewan is in Pool C alongside New Brunswick, Yukon, Nunavut and Nova Scotia.
The contest was as back-and-forth as could be, with New Brunswick leading 11-10 after the first quarter and 35-22 at the half before Saskatchewan roared back for a 55-49 lead thanks to a 33-point third quarter.
Saskatoon’s Kaden MacAngus led Saskatchewan with 15 points, Regina’s Mofope Soyemi scored 13.
Saskatchewan is back in action Monday when they take on Nunavut.
Women’s Basketball
It was a good start for Saskatchewan, as they led from start to finish on their way to a 77-53 win over Newfoundland.
Team Sask is in Pool C with Newfoundland, Nunavut and Manitoba.
Saskatchewan took a 24-15 lead out of the opening quarter and never looked back, holding a 37-26 edge at half and 57-37 lead through three quarters.
Regina’s Jael Wells led Team Sask with 15 points, while Saskatoon’s Ryan Deutscher scored 13 and Regina’s Hayden Kot -- Saskatchewan’s flag bearer during the opening ceremonies on Saturday night -- scored 11.
Saskatchewan continues their tournament against Nunavut on Monday afternoon.
Women’s Box Lacrosse
Team Sask picked up a win in their opening contest, taking an 8-5 victory over Prince Edward Island.
Saskatchewan is in Pool B alongside P.E.I., Manitoba, Newfoundland and New Brunswick.
Team Sask took a 2-0 lead out of the first period and led 4-2 through two before pulling away with four third period goals.
Weyburn’s Ella Schenher and Regina’s Amy Teichler each scored twice for Sask, while Riceton’s Hunter Moon had a goal and an assist. Moose Jaw’s Kyler Pladson, Wakaw’s Marti Burechailo and White City’s Mandy Moen had their other markers, Weyburn’s Maci Patterson picked up two assists.
Saskatoon’s Alyssa Auschstaetter picked up the win in goal.
Saskatchewan’s next game is Monday morning against New Brunswick.
Swimming
Regina’s Owen Eisler finished 15th in the men’s 800m freestyle in a time of 9:14.88. Quebec’s Oliver Blanchard won gold in 8:14.61.
Regina’s Macey Harlos finished 13th in the women’s 1,500m freestyle in 18:26.45, Prince Albert’s Clara Gelhorn finished 17th in 19:42.91. Ontario’s Isabella Cooper won gold in 16:58.19.
Team Sask -- including Eisler, Regina Joshua Austin-Koyl, Regina’s Soren Hansen and Martensville’s Scott Heinbigner -- finished eighth in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay in a time of 8:18.54. Quebec took gold in 7:37.94.
Saskatchewan finished seventh in the women’s 4x200m relay, with Harlos, Martensville’s Nicole Godbout, Regina’s Gillian Kimens and Saskatoon’s Piper Lejback touching the wall in 9:06.47. Ontario won gold in 8:20.75.
Moose Jaw’s Leo Zheng finished sixth in the Para Men’s 200m (S1-5, S14) / 400m (S6-13) freestyle with 644 points, with B.C.’s Ken Stroud winning gold with 825 points.
Prince Albert’s Ali Signe Diehl recorded 647 points to finish seventh in the Para Women’s 200m (S1-5, S14) / 400m (S6-13). Ontario’s Alyssa Smyth won gold with 920 points.
Men’s Soccer
It was a tough start for Team Sask as they ran into one of the pre-tournament favourites and dropped a 2-0 decision to Ontario.
Saskatchewan is in Pool B with Ontario and B.C.
The contest was a close one, as the game was tied after the first half before Anthony Frasca and Hugh McKee scored for Ontario in the 51st and 55th minute.
Team Sask plays B.C. on Monday and will be off until Thursday, when they’ll either play in a qualification game or the semifinals.
Women’s Softball
Saskatchewan couldn’t have found themselves in a closer game in their opening contest, as Alberta scored in the top of the seventh inning and would take a 1-0 win.
Katherine Thiessen was a major part of that, as she held Saskatchewan to a single hit and faced only one batter over the minimum, striking out 10.
Saskatoon’s Kylee Banerd had Saskatchewan’s lone hit, that coming in the second inning. Martensville’s Emma Frisky and Regina’s Alexa Edmands each drew walks.
Saskatchewan starter Frisky had a solid outing of her own, scattering six hits and striking out nine while pitching into the seventh inning. Moose Jaw’s Ava Unser inherited a baserunner in the seventh and couldn’t shut Alberta down, allowing the single run and taking the loss.
Team Sask is in Pool A alongside Alberta, B.C. Nova Scotia and P.E.I. and next face Nova Scotia and B.C. on Monday.
Tennis
Canada Games tennis is played under a team format, with two men’s singles, two women’s singles, a men’s doubles and a women’s doubles team making up each match.
Saskatchewan got off to a great start, taking a 5-1 win over Manitoba.
In men’s singles, Regina’s Ethan Guo defeated Jeff Nguyen 6-1, 6-1, while Regina’s Arya Guha downed Jacob Yee 6-0, 6-3.
In women’s singles, Regina’s Karina Berska defeated Natalina Zappia 6-4, 6-4 and Regina’s Isabella Yan downed Maryia Gedz 6-0, 6-1.
In women’s doubles, Regina’s Anna Klemner and Saskatoon’s Margarita Ter-Grigoryan took a 6-3, 6-2 win over Gabby Prince and Ashley Schneider.
The only loss against Manitoba came in men’s doubles, where Regina’s Michael Lu and Kaiden Gui dropped a 3-6, 6-0, 10-5 decision to Evan Deely and Max Peters.
Saskatchewan is in a pool with Nova Scotia, Manitoba and New Brunswick and are next in action on Monday when they take on New Brunswick.
Men’s Beach Volleyball
Lloydminster’s Luke Enstrom and Saskatoon’s Paul Mytopher are in Pool A alongside Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario.
They begin play Monday against Nova Scotia and Alberta before facing Ontario on Tuesday.
Women’s Beach Volleyball
Saskatoon’s Erika Markentin and White City’s Alexa Smith are in Pool D alongside Manitoba, New Brunswick and Quebec.
They begin play Monday against New Brunswick and Manitoba and face Quebec on Tuesday.
