Sports
HSBC SVNS Vancouver Schedule Announced
Fans will be treated to 70 matches and 28 hours of fast, hard-hitting rugby action over three days at HSBC SVNS Vancouver, with the full schedule for February 21 to 23 at BC Place now available here. Tickets are available for purchase at vansevens.com.
Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, who had a fourth-place finish in Perth this past weekend and took bronze at the 2024 edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver, will kick off their campaign on Friday February 21 at 3:28pm PT against Brazil. This will be the team’s first match on home soil since their history-making silver medal performance last summer at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
They will then continue Pool A action on Friday night, taking on Spain at 8:58pm PT. Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team will close out pool play against Australia, the HSBC SVNS Perth champions, on Saturday at 3:08pm PT.
World Rugby announced the pools for HSBC SVNS Vancouver on Sunday in Perth, including a highly anticipated men’s Pool B featuring Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland.
In the men’s invitational, Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team will play a double round robin with Japan and Trinidad and Tobago on the Friday and Saturday. Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team kicks off their tournament with a rematch of November’s Rugby Americas North Sevens final, playing Trinidad and Tobago on the Friday at 1:30pm PT. They will then take on Japan that evening at 6:57pm PT.
The Saturday will see Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team play Trinidad and Tobago at 3:30pm PT, immediately following Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team’s match against Australia for a Canadian double feature.
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team will then close the men’s invitational against Japan at 6:19pm PT.
The HSBC SVNS Vancouver play-offs will begin on Saturday afternoon starting with the men’s 9th place semi-finals at 4:07pm PT, followed by the men’s quarter-finals. Focus will turn to the women’s competition at 6:48pm PT, with day two of HSBC SVNS Vancouver closing with the women’s quarter-finals.
Sunday February 23 will feature the HSBC SVNS semi-finals and finals, with the men’s cup final set for 5:05pm PT and the women’s for 5:41pm PT. HSBC SVNS Perth marked the first time in tournament history that the women’s cup final was the last match played, a milestone that will be made in Vancouver as well.
Gates will open on the Friday at 10:45am, Saturday at 10:00am and Sunday at 10:30am. Ticketholders will have in and out privileges until 7:00pm on Friday, 6:00pm on Saturday and 3:00pm on Sunday.
TSN will air more than 13 hours of live linear television coverage, including Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team’s pool play matches against Spain and Australia and Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team’s Friday match against Japan and Saturday match against Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the third place play-off and cup final matches. In addition, all matches will be available on TSN+.
Single day tickets went on sale on Thursday January 23. The highest demand ticket type, fans are encouraged to buy early prior to February 5, 2025 at 11:59pm to take advantage of discounted pricing, before standard pricing comes into effect on February 6, 2025.
Tickets are available at vansevens.com. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@vansevens.com or 604-355-5330.
More information about the HSBC SVNS Series can be found at svns.com.
KEY TIMES SUMMARY
Friday February 21
Gates open: 10:45am
In and out privileges until: 7:00pm
Canada’s Matches
1:30pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Trinidad and Tobago
3:28pm PT – Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Brazil
6:57pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
8:58pm PT – Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Spain
Saturday February 22
Gates open: 10:00am
In and out privileges until: 6:00pm
Canada’s Matches (double feature in bold)
3:08pm PT – Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Australia
3:30pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Trinidad and Tobago
6:19pm PT – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
*Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team play-off matches and opponents TBD
Sunday February 23
Gates open: 10:30am
In and out privileges until: 3:00pm
*Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team play-off matches and opponents TBD
Finals
4:05pm PT – Men’s third place play-off
4:33pm PT – Women’s third place play-off
5:05pm PT – Men’s cup final
5:41pm PT – Women’s cup final
Sports
PWHL Opening Weekend Scheduled For December 5-6
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced that the 2026-27 regular season will open the weekend of Dec. 5-6 with six games and all 12 teams in action, featuring historic debuts of the league’s four expansion teams. As part of season-opening puck drop, PWHL fans will be introduced to national broadcast platforms, including CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and the ION Game of the Week, delivering comprehensive live TV coverage to fans across Canada and the United States.
Season 4 of the PWHL officially begins on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. ET when the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent renew their pacific northwest rivalry at the Pacific Coliseum, marking the second straight year the league’s first West Coast teams go head-to-head to open the season.
Then, at 7 p.m. ET, the first women’s hockey game to be featured on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada will be between the reigning Walter Cup champion Montréal Victoire and PWHL Hamilton at Place Bell. The return of the 90th consecutive season of the iconic Saturday night broadcast, the longest-running sports program in the world, was announced today by Canada’s national public broadcaster and is part of CBC/Radio-Canada’s expanded commitment to Canadian sports coverage. Additionally, Radio-Canada’s new radio broadcast rights will provide exclusive live audio coverage for all Montréal Victoire games in French to fans in Canada.
Also at 7 p.m. ET, PWHL San Jose will be the first new expansion team to play on home ice as they welcome the Minnesota Frost to SAP Center, airing in the U.S. on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network. The Saturday Game of the Week is the first in a landmark partnership between the PWHL and Scripps Sports, announced on Sept. 9, representing the league’s first season-long national television package in the U.S.
Opening weekend action continues on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. ET with a provincial clash between Ontario rivals the Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres at Canadian Tire Centre, followed by another Inaugural Six showdown with the New York Sirens hosting the Boston Fleet at Prudential Center at 3 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m. ET, the season’s first all-expansion matchup takes place at T-Mobile Arena where PWHL Las Vegas hosts PWHL Detroit. Additional PWHL National broadcast details will be announced as part of the full 2026-27 schedule release this Friday, Oct. 2.
Tickets are on sale beginning at 11 a.m. ET for all 12 PWHL home openers listed below. Fans interested in multiple games can purchase Season Ticket Memberships and Half Packs where available, offering the best value and benefits. Flex packs will also be made available in all PWHL markets with the full schedule release. For more information, visit thepwhl.com/tickets. Fans can also stay up to date on detailed ticketing information for their preferred team by signing up for team-specific email lists by visiting team pages on thepwhl.com.
PWHL HOME OPENERS BY DATE
VANCOUVER GOLDENEYES – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Seattle Torrent at Pacific Coliseum
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Hamilton at Place Bell
PWHL SAN JOSE – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET vs. Minnesota Frost at SAP Center
OTTAWA CHARGE – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Toronto Sceptres at Canadian Tire Centre
NEW YORK SIRENS – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Boston Fleet at Prudential Center
PWHL LAS VEGAS – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Detroit at T-Mobile Arena
TORONTO SCEPTRES – Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Hamilton at Coca-Cola Coliseum
BOSTON FLEET – Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. ET vs. Ottawa Charge at Agganis Arena
PWHL DETROIT – Saturday, Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. ET vs. New York Sirens at Little Caesars Arena
PWHL HAMILTON – Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Ottawa Charge at TD Coliseum
MINNESOTA FROST – Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Seattle Torrent at Grand Casino Arena
SEATTLE TORRENT – Sunday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Las Vegas at Climate Pledge Arena
Sports
Vancouver Rise FC part ways with head coach Anja Heiner-Møller
Vancouver Rise FC announced on Monday that the club has parted ways with head coach Anja Heiner-Møller. Rise FC will be led on the field for the remainder of the 2026 season by the continuing coaching staff of Iain Darbyshire, Katie Collar, and Erin McNulty. Darbyshire will take on the role of interim head coach.
Heiner-Møller, the first head coach in Rise FC history, departs the club with an 18W-18L-8D record in the Northern Super League (NSL) regular season, as well as a memorable playoff run in the inaugural season that ended with a first ever NSL championship.
“We are grateful to Anja for her many contributions to the club, making history as an important part of Rise FC winning the inaugural Diana B. Matheson Cup,” said Robyn Gayle, Rise FC chief soccer officer. “This was a difficult decision and we wish Anja the very best. We have built high expectations, and it’s on all of us, staff and players, to continue raising the standards to meet them. We are focused on moving forward and making a strong push to finish the season successfully.”
Darbyshire joined Rise FC as an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2026 season after serving as Cardiff City FC head of women’s & girls football since July 2020. Under his leadership, Cardiff City FC Women enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, winning eight trophies in six years.
Collar has been with Rise FC since the team started in 2025, after previously leading the Rise FC Academy (formerly Whitecaps FC Girls Elite). Under Collar, the academy won the League1 BC (now BCPL) title in three straight seasons, as well as two straight League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championships, and the 2023 FIFA/Blue Stars Youth Cup.
McNulty, a UEFA A licensed goalkeeper coach, serves as assistant coach and goalkeeper coach. Following a playing career in Canada, the United States, and Europe, McNulty moved into coaching, including prolonged success with the Rise FC Academy alongside Collar.
Both Collar and McNulty have also spent time coaching with Canada’s national team programs.
Rise FC return to play this coming Sunday, September 13 in a crucial home match against Ottawa Rapid FC at Swangard Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. PT.
Message from Anja Heiner-Møller:
“To the fans of Vancouver Rise FC,
My time as head coach has come to an end.
I am proud of what we have built and accomplished, and most importantly from my end, I have done it being true to my values as a coach and human being. I feel that we have shared those values and the passion for this city, Rise FC and sports in general.
I want nothing else than success for Vancouver Rise FC, and I am grateful for the time I had leading this team from the very start of the inaugural season of 2025, the journey to winning the Championship of 2025 and to the tight battle of making the playoffs in the season of 2026.
I am very aware that fans of Vancouver Rise FC are special and you are a big part of this club. We appreciate you and all the things you do for the team. You are supportive, kind, enthusiastic and dedicated, and we have felt your support from the beginning.
Thank you for your support and all the best in the future!
Anja”