Sports
Sarah Nurse Signs With PWHL Vancouver For 2025-26 Season
PWHL Vancouver has landed one of the game’s most recognizable names. The team announced today that forward Sarah Nurse has signed a one-year Standard Player Agreement and will suit up for the club’s inaugural 2025-26 season. Nurse spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Sceptres and becomes the fourth player to sign with Vancouver.
“Sarah is one of the sport’s biggest stars, both on and off the ice, and she will play a significant role in growing professional women’s hockey in Vancouver,” said General Manager Cara Gardner Morey. “Her outstanding on-ice abilities will help establish our foundation at forward, and her unwavering commitment to building an inclusive hockey community makes her a fan favourite everywhere she goes.”
Nurse was one of Toronto’s foundational signings when the PWHL launched and quickly became one of its top performers. She has 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 45 career games, ranking fifth in points per game (0.82). In the league’s first season, she tied for second in scoring with 23 points in 24 games and earned Second Team All-Star honours. This past year, she added 14 points in 21 games and played in front of a packed Rogers Arena crowd during the Vancouver Takeover Tour on January 8.
Before joining the PWHL, the Hamilton, ON native starred at the University of Wisconsin and played professionally in the CWHL and PWHPA. She’s a two-time Olympian for Team Canada, winning silver in 2018 and gold in 2022, where she set an Olympic record with 18 points. She’s also earned six World Championship medals, including three gold.
“I am so honoured to be joining PWHL Vancouver, finally bringing professional women’s hockey to the West Coast!” said Nurse. “I already got a taste of the passion last year during the Takeover Tour and can’t wait to experience that daily. The vision for this organization could not be more exciting and I am so humbled by Cara’s confidence in me as a player and as a person. The love and support I’ve felt already has meant so much to me, puck drop can’t come soon enough!”
Nurse is the first forward to sign with Vancouver, joining fellow Canadian National Team members Emerance Maschmeyer (goaltender), and defenders Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson.
Expansion teams have until Sunday, June 8 at 5 p.m. ET to sign up to five players before the 2025 Expansion Draft. The draft, presented by Upper Deck, will take place Monday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET and will stream live on thepwhl.com and the league’s YouTube channel. Seattle and Vancouver will each select a minimum of seven players to round out 12-player rosters.
Sports
Vancouver Rise FC Reveal 2026 “After Dark” Home Kit
Vancouver Rise FC has revealed its new “After Dark” home kit for the 2026 Northern Super League season, pulling inspiration straight from the natural setting that surrounds its home at Swangard Stadium.
The design pays tribute to Central Park in Burnaby, with visuals that reflect the quiet, layered beauty of the park at night. Tree silhouettes stretch across the kit, creating a sense of depth and movement—meant to mirror the experience of looking up through the canopy after dark.
The club says the concept ties closely to its motto, “Stronger by Nature,” grounding the team’s identity in the environment that surrounds it. The design blends all crest colours with added tones that bring warmth and balance, giving the kit a look that feels both rooted and refined. Paired with classic shorts and socks, it leans into tradition while still telling a clear local story.
A key detail returns on both the After Dark kit and the club’s secondary “Sunshine Kit” for 2026. A Gold Pointed Star sits on the left sleeve, marking Vancouver Rise FC as the inaugural champions of the Northern Super League. The patch represents the league’s top honour and signals the club’s early place in its history.
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley praised the design and its connection to the community, pointing to the pride residents have in their parks and green spaces. He added that seeing Central Park reflected in the team’s identity makes the return to Swangard Stadium for the new season feel even more meaningful.
The After Dark kit leans heavily into place and atmosphere. It’s less about flash and more about identity—something that feels tied to where the team plays and who shows up for them.
Pre-orders for both the After Dark and Sunshine kits are now available through the club’s official store, with options for delivery or in-stadium pickup.
Sports
2026 Stars On Ice Announces Olympic Bronze Medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirierat in Vancouver
Canadian figure skating fans are getting a rare post-Olympic victory lap moment this spring.
Fresh off the 2026 Winter Olympics, the country’s top skaters are heading out on the 2026 edition of Stars on Ice, with a stop in Vancouver set for May 12 at Rogers Arena.
Leading the lineup are Olympic bronze medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. Their free dance this season, inspired by The Starry Night, helped secure their first Olympic podium and quickly became one of the most talked-about programs of the Games.
They’ll be joined by a stacked group of Canadian talent, including world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps. Also on the bill: four-time national champion Madeline Schizas, and rising pair team Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, who recently picked up medals on the world stage.
The tour leans heavily into nostalgia too. Canadian icon Elvis Stojko returns as a central figure, still known for the kind of power and speed that made him a standout in the ’90s. Kaetlyn Osmond, one of the country’s most decorated skaters with Olympic gold, silver, and bronze to her name, is back as well.
Rounding out the cast are fan favourites Keegan Messing and Roman Sadovsky, with Sadovsky making his Stars on Ice debut. For the Vancouver show, guest performers Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac will join the lineup.
Behind the scenes, Kurt Browning returns as director and choreographer. His work has shaped the tour for years, blending technical skating with a more theatrical style that plays well in an arena setting.
The Vancouver stop is set for 7:00 p.m., with tickets already on sale through the usual outlets. Prices start at $35, with premium on-ice seating and group options available. More information on the Stars On Ice website.