Author Archives: Noah Stewart

The most heated rivalry in the east

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The sequel of the greatest week of the year is upon us. You may wonder what that week may be, and I am here to tell you the greatest time period of the year is the opening week of the NFL season. Once the season starts, you get football every Thursday, Sunday, Monday, and even sometimes Saturday! If you have nothing to do tomorrow and wanna watch some football, or just learn more about the sport, then the perfect game is on for you. The AFC East rivalry of the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins are set to clash at 5pm, and you are not going to want to miss this one.

If this is your first year following the NFL, whether it be because it’s a sport you haven’t had a lot of interest in, or maybe you got into football since Taylor Swift’s boyfriend just so happens to be a top notch player, it’s a fun sport for all.

Tomorrow on Thursday Night Football, you’ll see two of the top teams in the entire NFL compete in a head to head grudge match. The Bills and Dolphins finished with the exact same record of 11-6 last year, with Buffalo getting the edge over Miami as they beat them twice on the season. Miami would be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs as Buffalo would go on, laughing to the bank, before they were eliminated in the second round to the soon to be Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo does have a major edge over Miami though, as in their last 12 meetings, the Bills won a massive 11 games, only losing one. You don’t have to know football to know that’s impressive.

Miami and Buffalo are both coming off week one victories, even without scoring in the entire first quarter, but the wins weren’t against highly competitive teams and ended up being close scoring, as the Miami game came down to the final moments. As they both come off victories with slight upside, tomorrow night’s game is a must-win for both teams. 

The quarterback battle couldn’t get any better, as you’ll get to see the league passing leader in Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins with his favourite speedster weapon in wide receiver Tyreek Hill accumulating over 100 receiving yards. It’s no easy competition as Josh Allen has been kicking a** and taking names, as he not only threw 2 touchdowns, but the big framed quarterback also grabbed a pair of rushing touchdowns as well. This is a game you will not wanna miss, as it’ll only happen again one time this year, to truly determine who are the real beasts of the east. 

Canada’s real baseball team

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If you are a Canadian like myself, and you also happen to enjoy the game of baseball, then you’ve probably been pretty underwhelmed with the Toronto Blue Jays season. But what if I told you, there’s another Canadian baseball team, who’s actually in the playoffs and 2nd in their division. Let me introduce the Vancouver Canadians, or as I say, Canada’s real baseball team.

The Vancouver Canadians are the farm team of the Toronto Blue Jays, and are currently en route to winning their 6th title since 2011 as they are currently in the first round of the MiLB playoffs, taking on the Spokane Indians. If you have had the chance to catch a game this year against Spokane, then you would know that the Indians have dominated the season series, but that very well could be different in this year’s playoffs.

Last night on September 10th, the Canadians and Indians played game one of their best of five series, and it was closer than you may have expected. Vancouver looked to punch their ticket to the Triple A National championship in Las Vegas, as the game took place in a neighbourhood near you, in Vancouver. The first half of the game started slow, as it was scoreless heading into the 4th inning, due to Jack Mahoney of Spokane showcasing his elite talent on the mound, striking out many batters in his way.

With runners on base in the bottom of the 4th, Vancouver’s Jacob Sharp knew he needed to either put the ball in play, or hit a deep enough shot that the third base runner could find his path to home plate, and that’s exactly what Sharp did, ringing in a run. It didn’t take much longer for the Canadians to grab another run, as Adrian Pinto found a narrow space to send the ball past the infield, to up the score 2-0 Vancouver.

You would think that would create a momentum shift for Vancouver, right? Well sadly you and I both are wrong, after all, this team is still related to the Blue Jays, so it’s only right to honour them by losing the lead! The very next inning, Spokane batter GJ Hill went up to bat and took a meatball down the middle and sent it out of Nat Bailey Stadium, evening the score at 2 a piece. Spokane and Vancouver would go on to both hit solo home run shots, and it was anybody’s game, as it was 3-3 heading into the 9th.

Vancouver had all the pieces of the puzzle aligned and ready, or at least so I thought. All it took was a grounded ball up center field for Spokane to up the lead, and end up winning the game 4-3. Hey I know you know that is wayyy better than the Blue Jays would ever do. Now this is action you don’t want to miss, as today there is another home game in Vancouver that you could go see! Don’t worry if you miss this one as they will be back in Van-city for game 5 if necessary, but I have hope the Canadians will get it done in 4.

Elias Pettersson: Recover and resurge

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If you are a Canucks fan like myself, then you are probably on the edge of your seat, awaiting the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, and I’m right there with you. As a Vancouverite myself, I know that I am filled with anticipation as I look forward to seeing the Canucks take home ice once again, especially if you saw the atmosphere around playoff hockey in Vancouver, electric. But as I sit here all excited and nervous, I have one major question that I keep asking myself and other fans around me, will Elias Pettersson exceed expectations and go back to his original form? Or will he continue where he left off last season, underperforming, underwhelming, and unconfident.

Well I think that’s one of the biggest questions or wonders for any Canucks fan, as Petey used to be an undeniable superstar, winning the Calder trophy in 2019, and was on track for 100 point season this year, before things slowly went downhill, but what went wrong?

Many people questioned if he may have been dealing with something, such as an injury, I think you may have even thought that if you witnessed his second half performance. The mystery was solved after the conclusion of the Canucks season, as when media availability hit, Pettersson didn’t hesitate to confess what he’s been going through, since he himself even noticed his dip in stats and decline of gameplay.

“Yeah, I’ve been playing with a bad knee since January. It’s been a night to night injury (so) the longer it went, the more pain I felt” said Pettersson when asked about his let down performance. 

If you had the chance to witness Canucks playoff hockey, then you didn’t miss out, but Petey did. You didn’t have to watch hockey regularly to tell that Pettersson was struggling, as he would be hesitant almost any time the puck found the blade of his stick. In 13 playoff games, Pettersson only found the back of the net and scored once, and only collecting 6 points, which is nowhere near his best and only other playoff season, where he averaged a point per game, as he had 18 points in 17 games.

Now that you know he was battling an injury, then you don’t need to worry too much about his upcoming play as he has taken the rest he’s rightfully needed. Petey is looking to start fresh and you and I are hoping the exact same thing. It’s a reset for him, a brand new year, with brand new linemates as offseason additions in Jake DeBrusk and Daniel Sprong, should be sharing the ice with Pettersson this year. Petey mentioned there was no exact treatment necessary but rest was needed. Hopefully this summer was enough time off to get back in the groove of things, as the recovery is done, with the resurgence of Elias Pettersson up next..

Call an ambulance…but not for the Blue Jays

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Okay listen, I know I have dogged the Toronto Blue Jays in the past, but if you saw last night’s game, then you would know that I have absolutely zero reason to hate on the Jays. After having a lackluster season, the Blue Jays were having a season of disappointment, but things picked up after the all star break hit. The Jays haven’t been putting on playoff level performances as of late and if you’ve been following, then there’s no shot they make the playoffs, but you shouldn’t brush their solid outings under the rug. 

Last night, the Jays took on the New York Mets in game 2 of their only head to head matchup on the season. Toronto was the obvious underdog as they had a plethora of injuries and the Mets were in contention for a playoff spot. If you tuned in, you kinda expected the Blue Jays to get walked down and have another sad showing, but that wasn’t the case for this game.

Chris Bassitt of the Blue Jays took the mound, as this was his grudge match, facing his former team for the second time. Bassitt had no fear in him, as he threw 8 strikeouts that were faster than you could even imagine, he even plunked his former teammate Pete Alonso, as he pretended to charge the mound, which delivered a funny moment for fans like you and I.

It was an absolute parade for Canada’s team, as each batter made solid contact with the ball, giving everyone a hit to their name, leading them on a path to victory. It was a 3rd inning special as the Jays racked up 4 runs scored, giving the team an early 5-1 lead, which you don’t see too often from them. If you’re wondering who was the player of the game, I would say it easily has to be Ernie Clement. The guy has been on an absolute tear, going 2 for 4 at the plate and cashing in 3 of the 6 runs scored. 

The Toronto Blue Jays would go on to grab the W, winning 6-1 as they put a stop to the New York Mets playoff chase. It was a true success at the plate for the Jays, as if you were watching, you would have gotten to see everyone on the lineup get a hit, you just don’t see that often from this team. I’m used to the Blue Jays blowing leads, but thanks to the immaculate pitching from Bassitt and the great accomplishments in the batter’s box, they were able to hold on tight and live to see another day.

Fringe Festival means family fun!

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If you know Vancouver, then you are aware of the freedom of expressing yourself. When you walk downtown, you see all variations of art being crafted in front of your very own eyes. Whether you see a mural or graffiti down an alleyway, or walking around the corner, seeing and hearing someone play a song you love, live on the guitar, you are surrounded by art every step you take. But what if I told you, there’s a multi day event going on in Vancouver, where you can witness all sorts of art. Well there is, and it’s known as the Vancouver Fringe Festival.

The Vancouver Fringe Festival first began back in 1985, almost 40 years ago, and it’s not just an ordinary one day event, as it began on September 5th, and will celebrate its final day on September 15th. All it costs is one annual $10 membership and you’re in. It’s perfect if you would like to bring your family along, as kids 13 and under will get in for free! That small price goes straight to artists, to help fund the event and their appearances, so you know that your money is going to a deserving artist’s pockets.

Even if art isn’t your forte, you can still go enjoy all the cheap beer and hit up all the mouth watering food trucks as you don’t need a membership to do so! I know if you first hear ‘Fringe Festival’ you probably wonder what that even means. The short way to explain it is that it’s a place where everybody and anybody, including you, can visit and witness breathtaking performances, or just deliver you a good laugh, Fringe has everything. Fringing is creating a connection between you as the audience and the artists themselves, giving a personal connection and a sense of togetherness. 

If you are an artist reading this and want to get your name out there, this is the perfect route for you to go down, and it’s quite simple! Artists that show interest will be drawn randomly and selected, leading them to prep by creating and writing shows, then they perform and receive 100% of the ticket sales.

There will be something just right for you, whether you’d like to see some magicians do their magic (you see what I did there) or maybe you just want to have a fun family outing, you truly can’t go wrong by visiting the Fringe Festival before it ends. You’ll be a natural born Fringer in no time!

Vancouver film frenzy

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If you’re a simple person like myself, then you probably love a good movie, or even the short films you see during the previews when you’re waiting for the movie to start. Movies just bring everyone together and deliver serotonin straight to the mind. Well, if you are from Vancouver, then I have the perfect news for you. The Vancouver Film Festival (VIFF) is back this year and it won’t leave you disappointed.

Even if you are looking for some insight or experience, then this multi-day event was made for you as there won’t just be films, but guest speakers, unique live performances, along with industry sessions to get your foot in the door of the film industry. The event takes place in Vancouver, but that doesn’t limit the films you will get to see, as the lineup has films produced all around the globe.

The Vancouver Film Festival isn’t about showcasing big names and expensive produced films, but the youth of today as well. The VIFF runs a program that might be of interest to you if you are currently in secondary school, as the Ignite High School Program brings in hundreds of students all across the globe to showcase their brilliancy. Don’t worry if you aren’t a fan of comedy or drama, as all these films will bring the audience together and connect those with remarkable films, shorts, and stories. Whether the film be set or produced in Paraguay, the middle of the Sahara desert, or even right here in Vancouver.

There’s truly something special for everyone, even if you like live performances, then I am about to break some positive news to you, as the Vancouver Film Festival has a unique program, known as the VIFF Live Series. This year, it is being run and produced by Jarrett Martineau as he will present to you, the world’s first ever generative documentary, with focus being on renowned artist/musician, Brian Eno. Director, Gary Hustwit will be delivering you a never seen before experience, and you will never see it again since it’s one of a kind because of its special live performance. That means if you miss it, you missed it for good, so i’d be sure to head down there!

With over 100 films being showcased all over the city of Vancouver, there will be something ideal for you that I guarantee you will enjoy. The event runs from September 26th through October 6th, with the program and schedule being released today.

49ers spoil Rodgers return

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The NFL season is back and in full swing with week 1 coming to a conclusion last night, with the Monday night primetime matchup of the New York Jets and the reigning NFC champions, the San Francisco 49ers. If you didn’t know, this game has high prominence as former 3 time MVP Aaron Rodgers, was making his return and official Jets debut, after he suffered a torn achilles only 4 plays into the game, ending his season. 

The story of the game was Rodgers’ return, but the spotlight ended up being all on the Niners and their backup running back, who stole the show. Prior to the game, star running back Christian McCaffrey was announced that he would not be playing, and if you had him on your fantasy or any of your bet slips, you probably fell to your knees in disbelief. But, it ended up being a blessing in disguise for Niner fans.

The game started slow, but if you watch football then you would know that’s how most games start out. Now that you know that Rodgers had a slow start last year after being injured almost immediately, fans were hoping to see action right out of the gates, which did happen, but not in favour for New York. Rodgers was able to find sophomore running back Breece Hall for a completion, but the ball was punched out by pro bowl defender Fred Warner which led to an easy 3 points for the 49ers.

You know that Rodgers would be able to find his rhythm again quickly, and that’s exactly what happened as they marched down field to get a rushing touchdown to obtain the lead. Following that drive, the Jets momentum was put to an abrupt stop though as they didn’t get another first down for the rest of the half, as the Niners led 16-7 going into halftime.

The most unexpected performance from last night’s game was Jordan Mason. You and I both did not see that breakout coming, I don’t even think expert NFL analysts were able to predict that one. He filled in the starting spot, and he was prepared. You would think he had maybe 80 or 90 yards rushing but it was far from that. Mason obliterated anybody that was in his path, as he ran for an insane 147 yards while also grabbing a touchdown in last night’s game.

The 49ers would dominate after halftime, scoring 16 in the heated battle. Jets receiver and longtime teammate of Aaron Rodgers had positive production, racking up close to triple digit receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns. You probably knew with the title, but the Niners would put a halt in Rodgers return, winning 33-19. One thing you might’ve missed with that final score, is the fact that it’s scorigami, which is a unique score that has never happened in NFL history.

Week 1 of the season already brought NFL fans like you and I so many shocking surprises and nonstop action, and there’s still 17 weeks left including playoffs. Do you think Rodgers will resurge throughout the season? I’m a diehard Packers fan, but I think his time is slowly coming to an end and this could be either his last or second last season, you’ll just have to wait and see.

UBC Football is up next

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Have you ever wanted to see the next generation of Canadian NFL players live in person, then look no further because UBC Football is right around the corner at Thunderbird stadium. If you are a new fan of the team, then you should know that UBC had a pretty impressive year in 2023. The T-Birds finished the season at 9-3, making their name known throughout the playoffs as they would go on to be the Hardy Cup champions in the Can-West football league. Sadly, they couldn’t complete the final mission, as they fell to the UniversitĂ© de MontrĂ©al in the U Sports Vanier Cup final, 9-16.

This year will be different though, as I’m going to tell you exactly why you should head out to watch a game this season. UBC recently made history, as for the first time ever, a UBC football player (Giovanni Manu) was drafted to the NFL, with another teammate being signed as an undrafted rookie (Theo Benedet). With UBC making history last year, you know they will again this year.

Now if you look at the team’s record, you’d be slightly worried or disappointed, as the team currently sits near the bottom of the standings at 0-2. In their most recent game at Thunderbird stadium, you might be glad you missed it, because after UBC took a 10 zip lead, the Manitoba Bisons went on a complete rampage, score after score, with 33 unanswered points. This was the first time since 2019 that the T-Birds had lost their first two home games of the season, but you know what they say, it’s a marathon not a sprint, right?

You see, 0-2 isn’t so bad. If you are an NFL fan like myself, then you would know that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers got blown out in the first game of the season a couple years back, and can you guess what happened that year? Aaron Rodgers went on to win the MVP award, so you shouldn’t count the Thunderbirds out quite yet. Sam Davenport is a name you might want to familiarize yourself with, as he had 81 yards on only 5 receptions, you have to admit, that’s pretty impressive.

You should really make your way down to the local landmark of Thunderbird stadium and check out the highly anticipated action between the UBC Thunderbirds and the University of Saskatchewan, on Friday September 20th at 6pm, you are not going to want to miss seeing future pro athletes make their name known. 

Free day of Science World

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Have you ever been on a field trip as a kid and got taken to Science World? It has to be one of the best feelings, whether you agree with me or not, it was way better than any boring old field trip. The bus ride there as you and your friends sit together, talking about all the exciting things you’ll get to see and witness. Science World is a staple of Vancouver and easily recognizable by its spherical building, no matter your age, adult or a kid, there is something for everyone. 

If you haven’t heard by now, Science World is offering free admission for one day only on Friday September 20th between 9:30am-5pm, and you should be sure to check it out, because it’s free and fun! It really doesn’t get better than that. Science World currently has an ongoing partnership with Amazon Canada, which has given the opportunity for family and friends to check out the action packed dome, and learn about their new Tech-Up initiative. 

With the new Tech-Up initiative, that means you get to see things that have never taken place at Science World before. You can head down to a presentation from an Amazon Future Engineer, which will have a Tech-Up showcase, along with another showcase of robotics. There are many more fun events going on around the building that day, as they will have computer science workshops and even a huge focus on programming/coding in STEAM.

There will be many more exciting things going on that day, as you will be able to have hands-on experience with robotics and coding. If you find yourself not so interested in all the Science going on, don’t worry, as there will be a “Your Voice Is Power” workshop where you get to remix music and combine it with STEM education. Lastly, there will be a guest speaker! Even better, it’s also a live music performance! Dakota Bear, who is a Vancouver based indigenous hip-hop artist and activist, will be performing live at noon and also will hold a meet and greet, so you can say hello!

If you are planning on heading down to Vancouver on the 20th, then be sure to head there early as the last time Science World did an event like this, the lines were jam packed. Are you going to be attending, I know I might have  to check it out.

The Blue Jays are stuck in the dirt

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Well, did you expect anything less from the Blue Jays last night? It was a low hitting affair in last night’s matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the wild card chasing New York Mets, and if you missed the game, you should be glad you did.

It took awhile for the Jays to get in any sort of rhythm, as they couldn’t cash in their first runs of the game till the 7th inning. The Blue Jays held a slim lead of one run heading into the 8th, but if you have been watching the Jays play this year, then you know that no lead is ever safe. The Mets were easily able to ring in 2 runs to retain the lead over the struggling Jays. You would think the team’s best hitter in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be able to help chase the comeback, you were wrong. Vladdy struggled at the plate, as he went down swinging twice in 4 at bats, being walked on another. 

Now I know you are probably thinking, 3 runs isn’t that much to give up. Well I would agree with you, but how would you feel if I told you the Mets scored 3 runs, on only 3 hits. That’s a huge yikes. The Mets didn’t even score cleanly, as both runs scored in the 8th weren’t created from hits. Tyrone Taylor was able to slide into home plate to get the game tying run after reliever Tommy Nance threw a wild pitch. It gets even worse, just you wait. Nance continued the inning looking to rebuttal, but after a miscue by Jays catcher Brian Severn, Eddy Alvarez of the Mets had a free path to home plate, gaining the lead for Toronto.

You’ve heard the negatives, so let me tell you the very few positives coming out of yesterday’s game. The biggest thing is that the Blue Jays were able to compete and stay in a close game with a playoff calibre team in New York. They lost on a handful of errors, but that can be easily changed over time. Young hitter Ernie Clement was the only member of the Jays lineup to record 2 hits last night, as the young stars of today’s team are making their names known, showing they aren’t just here for a rebuilding season.

The last positive, is Vladdy had been taken to x-rays after the game, as he took a lot of brunt force to his left foot, but gladly the x-ray showed nothing and no fracture. For a bucket full of errors, I wouldn’t say the Jays disappointed, as you already knew the game would turn out like this. Toronto continues the 3 game series today, as they hope they don’t get swept, and most importantly, as they look to grow their wings and get out the mud.