Saturday Sports: RedBlacks WIN, Elks Clinch First

Friday night delivered two memorable finishes in the Canadian Football League, with the Ottawa REDBLACKS finally breaking through for their first victory of the season in spectacular fashion before the Edmonton Elks clinched the Western Division title by defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Ottawa REDBLACKS 40, Toronto Argonauts 39

The Ottawa REDBLACKS finally have something to celebrate after a stunning 40-39 victory over the Toronto Argonauts at TD Place Stadium, capturing their first victory of the 2026 CFL season.

After opening the campaign 0-16, Ottawa snapped its 22-game losing streak behind an outstanding performance from rookie quarterback Bryson Barnes, who made his first CFL start one to remember.

Barnes completed 27 of 37 passes for more than 330 yards and two touchdowns, adding 62 rushing yards as he demonstrated composure under pressure. His favourite target was Ayden Eberhardt, who caught both of his touchdown passes, including the decisive 24-yard strike with just six seconds remaining.

The game featured a wild sequence of lead changes and special-teams heroics. Toronto opened the scoring when Derek Slywka blocked an Ottawa punt and Canadian rookie Ethan John recovered it for a touchdown. The REDBLACKS responded with a pair of Daniel Adeboboye rushing touchdowns and a productive first half from kicker Paul Geelen, taking a 23-16 advantage into the break.

Ottawa extended its lead in the fourth quarter, but Toronto refused to surrender. Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who took over after Chad Kelly left with an injury, connected with Kevin Mital for two touchdowns. Isaiah Smith’s four-yard rushing major, followed by a successful two-point conversion, gave Toronto a 39-33 lead with only 30 seconds remaining.

Barnes had the final say. He quickly moved Ottawa downfield and found Eberhardt in the end zone to complete the remarkable comeback.

Geelen’s convert sealed Ottawa’s first win of 2026, providing a long-awaited reward for a team that had endured one of the most challenging seasons in CFL history. Toronto, meanwhile, was left to contemplate a heartbreaking defeat after appearing to have secured the victory.

Edmonton Elks 35, Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27

The Edmonton Elks are Western Division champions for the first time since 2015 after completing a 35-27 victory over Winnipeg at Commonwealth Stadium. The win improved Edmonton’s record to 13-4 and completed its first three-game season sweep of the Blue Bombers since 1979.

Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo delivered a balanced performance, throwing for 120 yards and two touchdowns while adding 72 rushing yards and two more majors on the ground. Running back Justin Rankin provided the foundation for the Elks’ offence, rushing for 133 yards on 23 carries.

Winnipeg came out firing, with Zach Collaros connecting with Nic Demski for an early touchdown to cap a 71-yard drive. Collaros ultimately threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns, but his two interceptions proved costly as the Bombers struggled to maintain their early momentum.

The Elks gradually took control through their ground game and defensive pressure. Rankin helped Edmonton sustain a lengthy drive, consuming more than five minutes before Fajardo’s second rushing touchdown put the game firmly in the home team’s hands.

Winnipeg managed only a field goal in the fourth quarter as Edmonton held on to secure the division crown.

The result was significant for both clubs. Edmonton celebrated a long-awaited Western Division championship, while Winnipeg fell to 8-9 and missed an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth.

National Hockey League

The Colorado Avalanche rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. MacKinnon collected four points, including a goal and three assists, while Artturi Lehkonen scored twice. Rookie T.J. Hughes also celebrated his first NHL goal as Colorado scored five unanswered goals.

Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm each recorded a goal and an assist, and rookie Frederic Brunet scored his first NHL goal. Boston’s power play proved decisive, converting three times.

Western Hockey League

Moose Jaw 4 Prince Albert 3
Regina 6 Medicine Hat 1
Swift Current 5 Saskatoon 3
Lethbridge 3 Calgary 2
Kelowna 3 Portland 2
Red Deer 9 Victoria 4
Seattle 5 Kamloops 4
Everett 3 Tri-City 1
Wenatchee 2 Penticton 0

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

Humboldt 5 La Ronge 0
Nipawin 8 Yorkton 1
Warman 4 Melville 3 SO
Weyburn 7 Estevan 1
Melfort 6 Flin Flon 1

Major League Baseball

Friday’s MLB postseason action was washed out in Cleveland, as persistent rain forced the postponement of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 after Thursday’s 3-2 victory, and the teams are scheduled to resume play Saturday night.

The big story heading into the weekend remains the Milwaukee Brewers, who punched their ticket to the World Series with a dramatic 6-4 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Milwaukee erased an early 4-0 deficit, with Garrett Mitchell delivering the go-ahead home run and Jake Bauers earning NLCS MVP honours. The Brewers swept the series 4-0 to reach their first World Series since 1982.

The Brewers will host the World Series opener on October 23 against either Cleveland or Tampa Bay.