Yesterday was a busy and exciting day for Team NL, with many of our sports in action. Our Mission Staff spent the day moving from venue to venue, proudly cheering on our incredible athletes. The support was phenomenal—at one point, I was even turned away from the NL Sports Centre because it was at capacity!

As we continue to navigate the uncertainty around the wildfire situation, I encourage everyone to be patient and kind. Many of our volunteers and participants are personally affected and are juggling heavy concerns while still putting their best foot forward. Please take a moment to thank the many volunteers who have been doing an exceptional job—not only carrying out their duties but also cheering on athletes and warmly welcoming visitors to our beautiful province.

If you haven’t already, add the Canada Games House to your bucket list. Located in the St. John’s Convention Centre, it’s an incredible space designed for athletes and their families. I dropped by yesterday and came away with three new pins after joining in some Canada Games House activities. I can’t wait to see what special moments today will bring! Do your best, nothing less!

Team Newfoundland and Labrador wrapped up their 2025 Canada Games journey with heart and determination, finishing their final match with a 22-12 score. Their performance on home soil was a proud moment for the province. The players showcased resilience, teamwork, and the true spirit of the Games. Their efforts inspired fans and left a lasting mark on the tournament.

Well done, Team NL – you represented with pride!

Second day of postponement lead to some unhappiness on the team as they tried to stay focused. With the impromptu setup of a grass court at MUN after lunch the spirits began to change as the athletes started to realize that the resumption of play could be close. 

Mid afternoon the call was made and play would resume. What was a home crowd advantage was neutralized as play would continue without the support of our 3rd player, the Team NL family of supporters. 

But the women would prevail over Nunavut 21-7,21-15. The women finish the preliminary round undefeated and in first awaiting their opponent and game time in the next round. 

We know you had support online as the coverage occasionally lagged because of the demand. 

The men return to the court in the morning vs NWT at 11:00am. Hopefully our faithful supporters will be granted access to cheer them on!

Team NL falls just short to Team NB in a back and forth thriller. Team NB pulled away in the dying moments to take the W 61-52. Nyah Ryan had a team high 16 points and Coryssa Tucker contributed a double double, 14 points 11 rebounds. The team will compete for the 9th/10th spot on Thursday, August 14th vs. Manitoba.

Male basketball competed with heart, effort and represented the province of Newfoundland and Labrador with pride, grit and determination. 

The day started with a high intensity game against Manitoba that determined 1st in the pool. After overcoming a slow start and winning both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, the comeback attempt fell short as MB pulled away in the 4th. 

Then in a packed house full of both NL and SK fans, the teams treated the crowd to a back and forth, fast paced game. Despite having to be locked in both physically and mentally on a two game day our athletes battled, overcame injury and navigated the ups and downs of crowd momentum to battle right to final buzzer, before ultimately falling to a consistent and talented SK team. Up next is a placement match on Thursday, Aug 14th! Let’s Go NL!

It was a successful day at the pool, with many Team NL swimmers achieving personal bests and showing incredible energy. In total, we had 14 finals swims, including a surprise B Final from Michael Collins-Wall, who dropped a full second off his time.

Our A Finalists shone, with Karter King placing 7th in the 100m breaststroke, Nat Luscombe placing 8th in the same event, Thomas Pelley finishing 5th in the 50m backstroke, and James Traverse placing 8th while breaking the 1-minute barrier.

Tyler Robson, Emilia Young, and Noah Gates also spoke with CBC about the importance of inclusion in sport—reminding everyone that swimming truly is for everyone. In the 4x100m medley relays, both the Men's and Women's teams placed 6th, capping off a day filled with best times, great swims, and incredible team spirit.

Daniel Cheng put up a strong fight but came up just short, falling in straight sets. Every match is a chance to sharpen his game.

Sophie Furlong lost in straight sets but played hard and fought until the end, showing great resilience throughout the match.

Eva-Lynn Rice faced a tough opponent and went down in straight sets, but gained valuable experience from the match.

Declan Walsh delivered a commanding performance, winning in straight sets and controlling the match from start to finish.

Adrian Bradley and Egan Woolfrey lost in straight sets, but it was a closely contested match with plenty of tight points throughout.

Sophie Rideout and Astrid Andersen lost in straight sets, but they played a tough, hard-fought match from start to finish.

After their match, the team showed their support for fellow NL athletes by cheering them on at rugby and basketball. Their next match is set for Friday, August 15.

What an incredible day for the Women's Rugby Sevens team! With thrilling energy, the girls stormed the field this morning, showing unstoppable confidence as they powered past Team Yukon with a triumphant 34-7 victory. The team’s excitement was absolutely contagious – they fought hard and truly earned every point! 

Although the afternoon brought a tough loss against Team Manitoba and marked the end of their Canada Games journey, the unbreakable friendships and unforgettable memories will last forever. A massive thank you to these amazing athletes for representing Newfoundland and Labrador with passion, and to the dedicated coaches who helped make it all possible!

Team NL closed out their tournament with two hard-fought games. In their final matchup, they fell 6-5 to Team Nova Scotia despite jumping to a quick 4-0 lead, sparked by Madelyn Transue’s RBI single, Kiley Rice’s two-run triple, and Chloe Pitts’ RBI triple. Kate Dalton pitched six solid innings, while Transue, Rice, and Paige Pomroy each had multiple hits. Nova Scotia rallied late, but Team NL battled to the final out, proudly representing the province—while looking sharp in their standout uniforms.

Earlier that day, Team NL dropped a 6-3 decision to Team PEI at the Caribou Memorial Softball Complex. Sophia Penney drove in two runs, going 1-for-3, while eight other players recorded hits. The team turned a double play and collected seven hits overall but couldn’t overcome PEI’s early two home runs and error-free defense.

Our riders left it all on the course today as they competed in the road race in Logy Bay/Middle Cove/Outer Cove. The Men's challenged the 120 km course while Women's went 80 km.  It was a tough ride over hilly terrain in 30 degree heat!  Way to go cyclers!

Despite falling 9-1 to Team Ontario at St. Pats Ballpark, Team NL kept the game close early, tying it in the fourth on a single from Luke Hatcher. William Parsons pitched over five innings, allowing eight hits and six runs, while Kieran Cutler, Hatche, and Jack McCarthy each recorded a hit. Team Ontario pulled away with a big sixth inning, but Team NL battled through tough pitching and will look to build on that experience in their placement game Friday morning.

The Womens' Box Lacrosse team are off today and enjoying their time off by supporting our other Team NL athletes. They showed their support at the Women’s Rugby Sevens game this morning, the exciting men’s soccer shootout, and the men’s basketball game. This afternoon they checked out Canada Games House before heading back to the athletes village to get ready for their game tomorrow morning!

Due to wildfires and road closures preventing access to CBS and the RNYC, Team NL Sailing was unfortunately unable to participate as races were cancelled. 

They had a scavenger hunt team building exercise encouraging them to interact with other teams and Canada Games volunteers. 

Despite the setback, the team is still riding high after a great first day on the water! Joel Smith competed in the ILCA 6 division and secured a 7th place finish, while Ben McDonald and Alex Fitzgerald had impressive 2nd, 4th, and 3rd place finishes in their 29er’s division races.

The boats will be back on the water tomorrow — let’s cheer them on!