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Inside Canada's longest

As the year when Canada became fully independent, 1982 already represents a landmark moment in the country’s history. But curling fans might also remember it as the first time the Canadian women’s national championship became known as the ‘Scott Tournament of Hearts’. The tournament, which was launched in 1961, underwent a name change after Scott […]

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Inside Canada's longest

As the year when Canada became fully independent, 1982 already represents a landmark moment in the country’s history. But curling fans might also remember it as the first time the Canadian women’s national championship became known as the ‘Scott Tournament of Hearts’.

The tournament, which was launched in 1961, underwent a name change after Scott Paper agreed to sponsor the tournament for the first time, taking over naming rights from the Macdonald Tobacco Company. Scott Paper stepped in after Robin Wilson, who was part of the 1979 championship-winning team, led a major push to secure the tissue brand’s backing.

More than a decade later, Curling Canada took over the running of the tournament following a merger involving event organisers, the Canadian Ladies Curling Association and its men’s counterpart Curl Canada. Kruger Products then acquired the Canadian subsidiary of Scott Paper in 1997 for CAN$451 million.

With the tournament already known as the Scott, Kruger Products was more than happy to inherit the sponsorship of the event, which since 2006 has been known as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

“It was always called the Scott Tournament of Hearts, and when we bought the Scott Paper brand, it was something that the organisation just wanted to continue,” explains Susan Irving, chief marketing officer of Kruger Products. “Given that we’re a proud Canadian company and ‘making everyday life more comfortable’ for Canadians is our vision, it just continued to fit in terms of showing up and giving back to the communities in which we serve.”

Kruger Products has sponsored the Scotties Tournament of Hearts for 44 years (Image credit: Curling Canada)


‘Not many companies serve as a title sponsor of a women’s sporting event for 44 years’

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is now a marquee event on the Canadian sporting calendar and has become an annual must-attend tournament for curling fans.

With a different city hosting the Scotties each year, the event helps Kruger Products engage with different communities and, with about six million Canadians watching the tournament on TSN in 2025, the tournament generates significant exposure for the Scotties brand across the country.

“There’s just something so Canadian, and powerful in terms of providing a world-class stage that celebrates Canadian curlers and connects with communities through sport, and having a commitment that really extends our products to creating healthier and happier communities,” Irving says.

“Curling just does such a great job, because the Scotties travels from coast-to-coast, and then you also have the national broadcast to ensure all fans can get in on the action.”

Kruger Products’ title sponsorship means it has a major presence throughout the event. It receives branding on the curlers’ uniforms, as well as appearing across in-arena signage, on the ice, scoreboards and rink boards.

Additionally, the Scotties receives national broadcast coverage through Curling Canada’s exclusive broadcast partners, TSN and RDS, providing a prominent platform for Kruger Products to promote its product campaigns to a large and loyal national audience.

Now set to enter its 45th year, Kruger Products’ long-running sponsorship has become synonymous with the tournament. According to a study from SponsorPulse, those engaged with the Scotties Tournament of Hearts strongly agree that the tournament is ‘a part of Canadian history’ and agree that it is ‘hard to imagine’ the championship being named anything else.

“You don’t typically hear sporting events that are named after your brand, but it is a very important partnership for our company and a pride point,” Irving says. “I don’t think there are very many companies that can say that they’ve been the title sponsor of a national marquee event for 44 years – especially for women.

“For Kruger Products to be the longest-standing supporter of women in Canadian curling is something that our organisation is very proud of, as well as our partnership with Curling Canada and everything that we’ve been able to do to continue to generate the momentum behind women in sport – and specifically women in curling.”

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is a major part of the Canadian sporting calendar (Image credit: Curling Canada)


“You’ve got to feed the funnel”

Nolan Thiessen, who is the chief executive of Curling Canada, says the partnership with Kruger Products is now “ingrained as part of our whole business.”

Indeed, the relationship is about much more than just branding opportunities. One of the reasons it resonates so broadly is likely because of the depth of the company’s support and the community engagement that sits at the core of the collaboration.

As well as title sponsoring the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Kruger Products is also the presenting partner of Curling Canada’s Girls Rock program, a female-led curling and mentorship initiative which introduces young girls to the sport and gives them an environment to hone their skills.

First held as a one-off event in 2022, the free initiative is a key part of Curling Canada’s efforts to make the sport more accessible, inclusive and equitable for girls aged between nine and 16, as well as developing the next generation of Canadian curling stars. It also aims to help young girls boost their mental and physical health, forge new friendships, gain confidence and build leadership skills – all through the sport of curling.

Nine of Curling Canada’s 14 member associations, spanning provinces and territories, ran at least one Girls Rock event within their region last year.

The Girls Rock program gives young girls a safe environment to hone their curling skills (Image credit: Curling Canada)


Citing the high sport drop-out rate among teenage girls aged between 12 and 16, Thiessen says “investing in that pipeline” alongside one of Curling Canada’s longest-standing sponsors is “super important for us.”

“It’s one thing to sponsor a major event and one of the national championships,” he continues. “But to help invest in one of our programs that will pay off ten years down the road – that’s the cool part.”

Kruger Products’ involvement in the Girls Rock initiative this year kicked off with an event aligned with the Scotties Tournament of Hearts at Thunder Bay. The full capacity session saw 64 girls try curling for the first time, as well as giving them the opportunity to meet curling Olympians.

“We’re thrilled to be the sponsors of Girls Rock,” says Irving, who was speaking alongside Thiessen on the NEW ERA podcast. “I think there’s two important things for sport. Number one, seeing women at the top of their sport at the national level is important for young girls. If you can see it you can be it, so it’s always nice to have that at the top of the pyramid.”

“But at the end of the day, you’ve got to feed the funnel. We need to ensure that we’re investing at the community level to ensure that girls are joining sport, because girls do drop out of sport at a more rapid rate than boys do.”

“So initiatives like these really help to introduce girls to the game, build their confidence, and have them join a great sport. Cost is always a barrier too, so when you bring programs like this forward, it’s just an easier way for parents to be able to access sport.”


“We’ve tried to change the mentality”

A key legacy of Kruger Products’ ongoing commitment at both the elite and grassroots level is that Curling Canada has been able to deliver genuine equality for male and female athletes across the sport.

Development and national team funding is equal for men’s and women’s teams, national championships have seen female athletes paid the same prize money as their male counterparts since 2019, and men and women receive equal hours of broadcast coverage at Curling Canada-run events.

Kruger Products’ role in that has been recognized by athletes and fans alike, particularly as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts continues to grow in popularity. What’s clear is that the company’s investment in the sport has been mutually beneficial; not only has it been transformational for women’s curling, but also good for business.

“We’ve tried to change the mentality,” Thiessen says. “There’s no qualifiers [with this commitment], there’s no ‘this is great for women’. This is amazing sport. This is people that are living their dreams. We have some of the most famous Canadian athletes who play in our event.”

“For our events, I’ve emphasised that you don’t need softer music. You don’t need to treat [women’s curling events] differently. This is one of the biggest sporting events in Canada. It’s not just, ‘oh, this is cool for women’, which I think is a really important step for a lot of people.”

“It’s not from a social good, it’s because it’s riveting sport. People are driven to sport when they feel this passion for it, and that’s what I think we’ve been able to build.”


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Warrior Men’s Track and Field Solidifies Roster Additions Ahead of 2025-26 Season

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Cal Volleyball Announces 2025 Promotions

The Bears’ promotional schedule includes five giveaways and two post-match autograph sessions. VB8/11/2025 1:56 PM | By: Cal Athletics Bears To Retire Carli Lloyd’s Number, Celebrate 2010 NCAA Runner-Up Squad On October 3 California volleyball has announced its promotional schedule for the upcoming fall season, with the Golden Bears […]

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Cal Volleyball Announces 2025 Promotions

The Bears’ promotional schedule includes five giveaways and two post-match autograph sessions.


Bears To Retire Carli Lloyd’s Number, Celebrate 2010 NCAA Runner-Up Squad On October 3

California volleyball has announced its promotional schedule for the upcoming fall season, with the Golden Bears set to host a celebration or giveaway in 13 of their 14 home matches. Single-game, group and season tickets are available here.

 

To celebrate the team’s alumni weekend (Oct. 3-5), Cal will have a jam-packed slate of events for fans to enjoy at Haas Pavilion. Prior to the Oct. 3 match against Louisville – which also serves as the Bears’ ACC opener – Cal will retire the number of legendary Golden Bear setter Carli Lloyd, the 2010 AVCA National Player of the Year and three-time All-American who led the program to its only two NCAA Final Four appearances in history and helped Team USA win the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Fans who arrive early will receive a commemorative Carli Lloyd t-shirt.

 

On Oct. 5, Cal will host its “Sunday Funday” event for its match against Notre Dame, which features several family-friendly activities as well as a post-match autograph session. The Bears will also sign autographs following the match against North Carolina on Nov. 9, when they will celebrate their “Championing Courage” day for those who have battled against hardship on and off the court.

 

The annual Dig Pink event will take place on Oct. 16 against Miami, which will feature a pink sport headband giveaway. The Bears are set to honor another standout alumnae during the Oct. 18 match against Florida State, when they will celebrate the achievements of 2025 Cal Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Hana Cutura, a three-time AVCA All-American and 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year who owns the program record in career kills.

 

Fans will receive a special Big Spike-themed bandana at Cal’s Nov. 23 match against Stanford, which will also be the team’s Senior Day with a postgame ceremony to honor the players finishing their final year at Cal. For the Bears’ season finale (Nov. 30 against Boston College), fans are encouraged to bring canned food donations to Haas Pavilion for Cal’s annual “Fansgiving” food drive.

 

Other themed matches for the 2025 season include “Global Bears” night (Nov. 7 vs. Duke), Club HAAS (Nov. 14 vs. SMU) and Bears Bash (Nov. 16 vs. Pitt), the last of which will include free rally towels for fans.

 

 

2025 CAL VOLLEYBALL PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE – All Times PT

 

Aug. 28 (vs. San Diego State, 6 p.m.) – “Familia California” Hat Giveaway

Kick off the season in style! Cal students, arrive early and receive a “Familia California” hat to rep your Bears pride. Don’t miss our official home opener!

 

Aug. 31 (vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m.) – Camper Reunion/Post-Match Serving Clinic

Welcome back, all Cal and USF volleyball summer campers! Join us for a special reunion and stick around after the match for a post-match serving clinic with the team.

 

Sept. 10 (vs. Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.) – Faculty and Staff Night

Help us celebrate faculty and campus staff who serve our community and campus. A night dedicated to giving back and showing gratitude.

 

Oct. 3 (vs. Louisville, 7 p.m.) – Carli Lloyd Jersey Retirement and T-Shirt Giveaway; 2010 NCAA Runner-Up 15th Anniversary Celebration (Alumni Weekend)

Celebrate a historic night in Berkeley! We’re retiring Carli Lloyd’s jersey, honoring the 2010 NCAA Finalist team on its 15th anniversary, and welcoming back alumni. Early-arriving fans will receive a commemorative Carli Lloyd t-shirt—don’t miss this ACC opener!

 

Oct. 5 (vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m.) – Sunday Funday; Post-Match Autographs (Alumni Weekend)

Bring the whole crew for a Sunday Funday! Enjoy family-friendly activities and stick around after the match for autographs with the team.

 

Oct. 16 (vs. Miami, 7 p.m.) – Dig Pink; Sport Headband Giveaway

Support breast cancer awareness by rocking pink in the stands! Early-arriving fans will receive a pink sport headband as we honor a meaningful cause on and off the court.

 

Oct. 18 (vs. Florida State, 4 p.m.) – A Bear Forever (Hana Cutura Celebration)

Celebrate the legendary Hana Cutura, a true Bear Forever. Join us in recognizing her contributions to Cal Volleyball history.

 

Nov. 7 (vs. Duke, 7 p.m.) – Global Bears

We’re celebrating the international spirit of our student-athletes! Join us for a night that highlights the global connections and unity Cal Volleyball brings to the court.

 

Nov. 9 (vs. North Carolina, 1 p.m.) – Championing Courage; Post-Match Autographs

Join us as we honor those who embody courage on and off the court. After the match, meet your favorite players during a post-match autograph session.

 

Nov. 14 (vs. SMU, 7 p.m.) – Club HAAS

The lights go down and the volume goes up—Club HAAS is back! Don’t miss the most electric match atmosphere of the season.

 

Nov. 16 (vs. Pitt, Noon) – Bears Bash; Rally Towel Giveaway

It’s time to turn Haas into a party! Join us for Bears Bash and grab your rally towel to wave loud and proud.

 

Nov. 23 (vs. Stanford) – Senior Day; Bandana Giveaway (Big Spike)

Rivalry. Recognition. Rallies. Celebrate Senior Day and gear up with a limited-edition Big Spike bandana as the Bears take on Stanford in a high-stakes match. Stay after the match for a special Senior Day ceremony.

 

Nov. 26 (vs. Boston College) – Fansgiving Food Drive

Give back before you give thanks! Bring a canned good or donation and help us support our local community this Fansgiving.

 

STAY POSTED

For complete coverage of Cal volleyball, please follow the Bears on X (@CalVolleyball), Instagram (@calvolleyball), Facebook (Cal Volleyball), and TikTok (@calbearsvb).





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JU Beach Volleyball Hires Veteran Coach Savannah Siegrist to Assistant Position

Jacksonville University’s Beach Volleyball Team has appointed Savannah Siegrist as the new assistant coach. Siegrist previously served as an assistant at JU during the 2024 season and has head coaching experience from her time at Webber International University. She began her volleyball career at JU, achieving notable wins against ranked teams before transferring to the […]

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Jacksonville University’s Beach Volleyball Team has appointed Savannah Siegrist as the new assistant coach. Siegrist previously served as an assistant at JU during the 2024 season and has head coaching experience from her time at Webber International University. She began her volleyball career at JU, achieving notable wins against ranked teams before transferring to the University of Oregon. Now, under head coach Dylan Hough, the team looks to leverage her extensive coaching background for the upcoming 2025 season. With the addition of Siegrist and the hiring of Dolphin legend Emily Kubicsko, the JU Beach Volleyball program is positioned for continued success.

By the Numbers

  • Siegrist recorded 29 career wins during her three seasons at the University of Oregon.
  • JU Beach Volleyball achieved 13 victories in 2023 and 12 in 2024, their most successful seasons ever.

State of Play

  • Savannah Siegrist returns to JU Beach Volleyball after a brief head coaching role.
  • The team aims to build on recent successes with a strong coaching staff and returning athletes.

What’s Next

As the season approaches, the Dolphins will focus on integrating Siegrist’s coaching strategies while continuing to develop their talented roster. Expectations are high for further victories and a competitive edge in upcoming matches.

Bottom Line

The return of Savannah Siegrist to the JU Beach Volleyball staff signifies a strategic move to heighten the program’s performance, reinforcing their recent achievements and fostering a culture of growth and success.





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Dallas high school track star dies unexpectedly – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Instead of celebrating the start to his senior year, loved ones of 17-year-old Roy Hughes Jr. are mourning his death after the high school track athlete was found unresponsive in his room on Friday morning. The track and field state champion was a student at Lincoln High School in the Dallas Independent School District. In […]

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Instead of celebrating the start to his senior year, loved ones of 17-year-old Roy Hughes Jr. are mourning his death after the high school track athlete was found unresponsive in his room on Friday morning.

The track and field state champion was a student at Lincoln High School in the Dallas Independent School District.

In a post on ‘X’, the school said, “We mourn the loss and honor the life and legacy of Legendary Roy Lee Hughes-a true MODEL who Defied the Odds and Defined Excellence. A respectful young man with a heart of gold, he became a state champion through discipline humility & an unshakable commitment to his team & school.”

Sunday afternoon, family, friends and coaches took a lap around the track he constantly practiced on to honor his memory. They later held a balloon release at a nearby park.

“I feel like he was there with us,” said Hughes’s older brother, Timad Cotton. “My brother was just a joy to the room.”

Hughes was the 2025 UIL 4A Track and Field State Champion during his junior year in the boys’ 300-meter hurdles.

“My little brother, he chased his dreams and he did what he wanted to do. All the stuff he accomplished, he went and did on his own, nobody forced him to do it,” said another older brother.

Hughes was one of six children, four boys and two girls, according to the siblings. The family said their brother was a star on and off the field and an all-around student athlete.

That’s what I love the most about him, he kept his grades,” said Cotton, who described his brother as hardworking, smart and determined.

According to the family, Hughes had a doctor’s visit last week. It’s unclear what for, but continued on the rest of the week as normal.

“My sister was there that night. He had just came in for practice. He came in, he ate, he went to his room, just shut the door,” explained Timmy Williams, another older brother.

He said that was on Thursday night and on Friday morning his mother found Hughes unresponsive.

“The doctor’s called, so that’s what made my mama go to the room. She would knock on the door, he won’t answer, so she had to open the door, she kicked the door,” explained Williams.

Dallas Police said around 11:55 a.m. on Aug 9, officers were called to the 1800 block of West Mockingbird Lane. Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived and pronounced Hughes dead. The cause of his death remains under investigation as the family waits for an autopsy report.

It’s unclear if he had prior medical issues.

“Now that he’s not here, I’m hurt. I’m hurt. I’m hurt because the last words I told him was, ‘I love you,’ ‘and he said, ‘ I love you back,’ and I told him I was going to see him next week. Just don’t take life for granted, you know? Cherish every morning with your family. Tell everybody you love them and every day hug your mama, every day. Don’t never let nobody tell you what you can’t do. Everything can be done and everything is possible,” expressed Cotton.

“Because that goes to show you, a kid that didn’t smoke and didn’t drink, don’t do nothing, fight or nothing, anything can happen any possible time,” said Williams. So just cherish everybody and love your family. Love your family always,” expressed Williams.

“As a big brother to a little brother, I’m very proud of him,” said Cotton as he and his other brothers wore Hughes’ track and field medals around their necks.





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Todorov takes over Lady ‘Hounds’ volleyball program

Tsvetan Todorov Former Missouri Valley College men’s head coach hopes to build winner at Sweet Springs by Hobby King/SPORTS EDITOR Just more than 10 years ago, Tsvetan… Previous Post Monroe and Beth Perkins to celebrate 70 years of marriage Link 0

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Men’s Soccer coach Jamie Davies eyes success in 2025 season

Before last week, UNF men’s soccer coach Jamie Davies thought two key players would be graduating from the team. However, those two impact players — Rentaro Miyakawa and David Perez — were granted an extra year of eligibility. To illustrate these players’ impacts, Miyakawa led the ASUN in assists last year and Perez scored the […]

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Before last week, UNF men’s soccer coach Jamie Davies thought two key players would be graduating from the team.

However, those two impact players — Rentaro Miyakawa and David Perez — were granted an extra year of eligibility. To illustrate these players’ impacts, Miyakawa led the ASUN in assists last year and Perez scored the second-most ASUN conference goals. 

“Having those two guys that have experience, that know how we play, can teach that to the new guys coming in,” Davies said. “They’ve seen all the teams that we’ve played in conference…I think it’s huge.”

With these surprise returns, Davies said UNF lost only two starters from last season’s ASUN championship squad: potent goal scorer Joaquin Acuna and defender Nick Kishchenko. 

Campus Energy

On the coaching side, Davies is entering year two as head coach and he’s already feeling the campus buzz about men’s soccer. Nonetheless, Davies is hoping for consistent student attendance all season. 

To attract more fans early on, Davies said he spoke at multiple freshman orientations this summer.  

“We’re really trying to engage a lot of those groups,” Davies said. “We’re trying to keep the same kind of crowd structure that we had behind the goals because we think that was a massive advantage.”

Roster Experience

Twenty-one of North Florida’s 33 roster members are juniors and above. UNF only chooses 11 starters, which can make lineup decisions more difficult because of all the experience. For most coaches, however, this is a good problem to have. 

Players Davies could see make that big jump and enter the starting lineup include junior Alife Mattocks, senior Pedro Amancio and redshirt senior Luc Granitur.

“[Granitur] really wanted more for himself, so he had a great summer,” Davies said. “He’s physically really fit right now. He looks really sharp. He’s kind of fitting into the way we play.”

Impact Newcomers

Overall, Davies said everyone’s healthy and ready to give it their all. As for newcomers, Davies opened up with French-exchange defender Paul Schacherer. 

“He’s a man,” Davies said. “So when it comes to that physical battle, he’ll have an immediate impact.”

Additionally, Davies touted two new strikers who created a three-way battle for the position. More specifically, Davies described these players as being “very different.” According to Davies, redshirt senior Jaxon Reinhardt, sophomore Geraldo Neto and Winthrop transfer Ricardo Ferreira are expected to battle for the number nine striker position. 

Over the spring, Davies added sophomore Kaiss Mansouri and junior Goffin Oyirwoth to the team. Davies said both attacking players are good at driving towards people. In terms of freshmen, Davies mentioned local product Omar Trto and Orlando native Kadin Sadiq.

“I think we’ve got some young guys that have a really bright future in this group and hopefully they can kind of learn from the older guys around them,” Davies said.

A Daunting Roadtrip

Last season, Davies said the Ospreys had a rollercoaster start to the season. Ultimately, Davies said the team was playing well but wasn’t winning enough games. 

“We’re hoping we can start a little bit faster,” Davies said.

The Ospreys open with a two-state road trip, visiting Wisconsin and California before returning to the southeast for the remainder of the season. Davies said if there’s anyone who could handle this roadtrip, it’s his experienced group.

“We wouldn’t have scheduled them if we didn’t have this type of group,” Davies said. “I think we’re ready for those games.”

Beyond his team’s experience, Davies said his squad takes on a “‘us against the world’” mentality. During road trips, Davies believes the team spends more time together, forging a team bond that doesn’t happen overnight. 

“Sometimes, when you’re at home, everyone’s locked away in their dorms,” Davies said. “Sometimes, on the road, you actually spend more time together.”

Most of all, Davies scheduled the best because he wants his team to play the best.

“We’re not scared of anyone,” Davies said. 

UNF will start its four-game road trip by traveling to Madison, Wisconsin. On Aug. 21 at 8:30 p.m., the Ospreys will kick off their season against the University of Wisconsin. 

___

For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact editor@unfspinnaker.com.



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