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Canadian boxers Tammara Thibeault and Wyatt Sanford captured gold medals at the Pan American Games with unanimous points decisions (5-0) on Friday in Santiago, Chile.
Thibeault beat Panama's Atheyna Bylon in the women's 75-kilogram final, while Sanford triumphed in the men's 63.5 kg final against Mexico's Miguel Angel Martinez.
Both Canadians were tied after two rounds before coming out on top in the third and final round to take gold.
"It means the world," Thibeault said. "Out of all the tournaments I've been to, I've been able to capture gold and I was missing Pan Ams. Now missing the Olympics, but hopefully we're on the right path and that's what we're going to get.
"I'm very proud of myself, very proud of my team. I couldn't have done it alone."
WATCH | Thibeault defeats Bylon for gold medal:
The Shawinigan, Que., native will arrive in Paris next summer looking to complete her golden collection.
Thibeault, 26, also holds the 2022 world and Commonwealth Games titles.
She booked her spot at next summer's Olympics by winning her semifinal on Thursday. Now, she'll work toward improving on her Canadian women's record quarterfinal finish from Tokyo 2020.
In a rematch of last year's world championship, Thibeault and Bylon traded blows throughout. Despite their similar statures, contrasting styles turned the fight into a strategic battle, with the Canadian looking to aggressively attack while the Panamian preferred to pick her spots.
It was Bylon who held the advantage with three of five judges after the first round, prompting Thibeault to lean even further into her quick-strike ability. By the end of the second round, four judges had the tilt all-square, with one favouring the Canadian.
"9 months until Paris"<br><br>Tammara Thibeault has her eye on the prize after Pan Am gold at <a href="https://twitter.com/santiago2023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Santiago2023</a><br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q5ZL1LaveW">pic.twitter.com/Q5ZL1LaveW</a>
—@CBCOlympicsA tense final round saw the combatants take turns holding the seeming advantage, with Bylon controlling much of the pace. But a late flurry from Thibeault might have swung things the other way, and the Canadian emerged with a unanimous victory.
"We did know each other pretty well. She's s tricky boxy to fight. She's skilled. She's a little rough," Thibeault said. "I was a little disappointed in my performance today. I pulled off the win, yeah, but I could have boxed better.
Thibeault now holds the 2-0 edge in title fights over Bylon — but the next one could be for the Olympic crown.
Sanford and Martinez both landed good shots in their opening round, but all five judges sided with the Mexican.
Martinez continued to score in the second round, but Sanford responded with sharp counters to even the cards.
The slugfest continued in the third round with the gold medal up for grabs, and the relentless Sanford maintained pressure down the stretch to claim the light welterweight crown.
WATCH l Sanford tops podium with win over Martinez:
The 24-year-old from Kennetcook, N.S., also had unanimous points victories in all three of his fights leading up to the final. He punched his ticket to Paris on Thursday with his semifinal win.
Sanford was the lone man on Canada's boxing team at the Tokyo Olympics, where he was eliminated in the Round of 32.
Canada added to its medal haul in Santiago with gold in the men's team pursuit track cycling event later on Friday at the Velódromo Parque Peñalolén.
The Canadian quartet of Carson Mattern, of Ancaster, Ont., Vancouver's Campbell Parrish, Michael Foley, of Milton, Ont., and Vancouver's Sean Richardson beat Colombia by nearly nine seconds in the final, lowering their own Pan Am record with a time of three minutes 53.593 seconds.
WATCH | Canadian men claim team pursuit gold:
Canada set the previous mark just a day prior with a qualifying time of 3:55.981.
Foley was part of the men's team pursuit squad that finished fifth in Tokyo — Canada's best Olympic result in the event since 1932.
Live coverage of the Pan Am Games continues on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
WATCH | Early highlights from Friday's action in Santiago:
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On a hard-earned road win for the team against a good opponent:
I thought it was all on the backs of our best first period of the season in a lot of ways. We scored first, so we came out of it with a lead, but also, because of the way we were playing and the flow of the game, we were able to use everyone on forward and on defense. With five D, you are going to use everyone.
I just thought we spent a lot of time on their half of the ice. We didn’t have to get a whole lot from our D in the first period.
As it turned out, we needed our D too much in the second and third period, but I just thought we had enough gas in the tank because of the way we played in the first. Those guys grinded. At times, I thought our forwards took care of them well, and at times, not so well in terms of managing the puck and making their life easier.
You knew in this building that their team was going to push. They did. Obviously, we didn’t break. Joseph Woll was terrific again for us and gave the group confidence to just find a way to grind out a good road win.
On the continuation of William Nylander’s amazing start to the season:
He is playing great. He has lots of confidence with the puck. He is attacking the middle of the ice and bringing the puck to good areas.
It has been a terrific start for him. I thought he had a terrific start last season. He is just sort of continuing with that.
Without a doubt, he seems to be really in a good place right now in terms of his rhythm offensively.
On whether it was Tyler Bertuzzi’s best game as a Leaf so far:
I thought it was his best game. I did. It has been coming. I have been looking at his game really closely. There are some things that he has been doing that haven’t gotten a lot of attention. They hadn’t really stood out is more what I am saying.
Looking really closely at his game — I went through and watched every single time he touched the puck in the six games he’s played — he has done some very subtle things of keeping plays alive and moving the puck to his linemates. It hasn’t necessarily been rewarded with points, but I think he has been coming.
I thought his skating today — moving his feet and staying involved in the play — was probably the most consistent it has been throughout a game. It was good to see him get rewarded with a power-play goal.
On whether Bertuzzi’s improvement of late is a result of his fit on the Tavares and Nylander line:
I don’t know if you could say that. It is more just how it has worked out. It is more time. He is kind of fed up with how it is going. He is just working and grinding. We have spent time with him. He is just more comfortable in general regardless of who he is playing with.
It is a good sign for us. He is an important player.
On excellence from Joe Woll becoming par for the course:
It is not surprising anymore. I have seen enough of it this season and last season, in practices, and everything. We are at the point where he is a quality NHL goaltender. He is a young guy and is going to continue to get better with the more experience and lessons he learns along the way.
I don’t think we are surprised by anything at this stage.
On whether Morgan Rielly’s great play is a carryover from how he ended last season:
I just think he is skating really well. Whether it is to break up a play, to advance the puck, or to get involved in the play offensively, it is just the way he is moving his feet and skating. That is when he is at his best. He has gotten better and better throughout this trip.
On Jake McCabe’s status after leaving the game injured:
I would say there is concern there. We won’t know the extent of it until we get more information and get pictures.
This is not OK, not anywhere close to OK.
The Edmonton Oilers were out-skated, out-skilled and significantly out-chanced by the New York Rangers, losing 3-0.
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It was a total dopamine downer for the fans.
Edmonton has just one win in seven games to start the 2023-24 regular season.
The Oilers gave up two more goals off the rush at even strength this game, meaning they have been outscored on rush plays 13 to four at even strength this season.
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In total, Edmonton had just eight Grade A shots (which go in on average 25 per cent of the time) while the Rangers had 15, with the subset of 5-alarm shots (which go in 33 per cent on average), six for Edmonton, nine for the New York.
Leon Draisaitl, 6. He can’t do it on his own and there’s not getting a ton of help otherwise just now. Threw a sneaky and hard hit on NY ace Mika Zibanejad on the first shift. He set up Janmark and Nurse for dangerous shots in the first but neither could cash in. He got off his own 5-alarm backhander on a great feed in the first from Kulak. He and Derek Ryan shifted off late in the second, allowing a 3-2 rush for the Rangers. Grade A shots: ES (even strength) +4, -1: ST (special teams), +0, -0.
Evander Kane, 5. The physical play is there, but the point scoring isn’t. Threw a hard hit on Adam Fox in the first, and led the team with five hits. He failed to score on a Nurse rebound in the first. He took a bad penalty, flipping sky-high the stick out K’Andre Miller’s hands, ending an Oilers power play. A solid rush in the second with Janmark almost jamming home the slot pass. He blew up big Chris Kreider with a hit, then went to the net and almost tipped in Drai’s outside shot. Almost, almost, almost. He was caught up ice on Wheeler’s post shot late in the second. He gave up a couple Grade A shots on the PK. Noit sure why he’s out there in that situation. Why? Grade A shots: ES +2, -2: ST, +0, -2.
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Mattias Janmark, 5. He lashed a harpoon on net off a great Draisaitl pass early in the first, but could not score. Left the bench for a short time after a crosscheck from Lindgren. He’s a checker miscast as a top line winger. Grade A shots: ES +1, -0: ST, +0, -0.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 3. Where did his “A” game go? Not seen much this year. He appears to be struggling somewhat with his reads in the zone defence. For example, he was in no man’s land covering no one or any passing lane when Wheeler charged in for a Grade A slot shot in the second. Five wins, eight faceoff losses. Grade A shots: ES +1, -2: ST, +0, -0.
Warren Foegele, 7. Another solid game. He made a scary turnover in the first but the Rangers failed to hit the net on their slot shot. He charged up ice to set up RNH for a first period chance that ended with no goal but a hooking call on the Rangers. He got off a 5-alarm jam shot by going hard to the net. He won the puck in the corner and set up Brown for a 5-alarmer in the third. His fierce backcheck won the puck and led to Hyman’s break-in chance late in the third. It was Edmonton’s last gasp. Grade A shots: ES +3, -1: ST, +0, -0.
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Zach Hyman, 4. Not finding a way to put up points just now. He got beat to the net on an early Rangers 5-alarm shot. He charged in to set up Foegele for a slot shot. He had a break-in chance late in the third but failed to drain it. Grade A shots: ES +2, -2: ST, +0, -0.
Ryan McLeod, 4. Not making the positive impact he should make. He allowed the cross-seam pass on Adam Fox’s power play goal in the second. He negated an icing call with his speed, then put an outside shot on net, which Brown almost cashed in. He got blasted off his feet leading to Adam Fox’s late second period breakaway. Four wins, nine faceoff losses. Grade A shots: ES +1, -1: ST, +0, -1.
Dylan Holloway, 4. He knocked over Ryan Lindgren for an aggressive start to his game. But he blew a check to kick off the Sequence of Pain on the second Rangers goal. Grade A shots: ES +0, -1: ST, +0, -0.
Connor Brown, 6. Lots of hustle and some good skating this game. He flubbed a slot pass and scoring opportunity in the first. But some dogged hard work on the forecheck. He went hard to the net and almost scored on a rebound off McLeod’s point shot in the second. I think he may have tipped Schneider’s outside shot that beat Skinner in the second. He certainly failed to knock down the pass or cover off Schneider. He almost scored in the third with a quick slot shot off a Foegele pass. Grade A shots: ES +2, -1: ST, +0, -0.
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Derek Ryan, 5. He took a hard hit to send off Kulak on a rush in the first. His game was quiet, too quiet. Grade A shots: ES +1, -1: ST, +0, -0.
Adam Erne, 5. He won the puck on the forecheck in the second and set up Draisaitl for a Grade A shot, then threw a couple of hard hits. He played just nine minutes. Grade A shots: ES +1, -0: ST, +0, -0.
Darnell Nurse, 3. The warrior is warring, but can’t lift his team. Not his best game, despite solid effort. Draisaitl set him up in the slot in the first, but his shot was blocked. His solid pinch in the second kicked off a sequence ending in a dangerous rebound shot by Brown. He was working hard to score a goal and making plays on the attack but he screened Skinner on Schneider’s 2-0 goal. He was caught out on Fox’s late second period breakaway. He then failed to stop the cross-seam pass on New York’s third goal. He blocked a wicked shot in the third, hurting his arm. Grade A shots: ES +1, -6: ST, +0, -0.
Cody Ceci, 6. Super quiet game, keeping a clean sheet at even strength, not one major mistake on a Grade A shot against. For a d-man on the leaky Oilers, that’s the name of the game. Grade A shots: ES +0, -0: ST, +0, -0.
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Mattias Ekholm, 3. Another iffy game. He got pulled out of position and left a lane to the net open early on a NY 5-alarm shot. He got beat on a pinch — the kind of play that has been killing the Oilers early on — leading to a 2-on-1 NYR rush late in the first, but Skinner wiped away the mistake with his right pad save. He levelled a wicked crosscheck on Miller in the third. Grade A shots: ES +0, -0: ST, +0, -0.
Philip Broberg, 4. He looked nervous. He got deked out and tripped up in the second, allowing a break-in shot on Alexis Lafreniere. If he doesn’t go for it with more gusto, he’s not going to stick just now. Grade A shots: ES +0, -1: ST, +0, -0.
Evan Bouchard, 6. He also kept a clean sheet at even strength, which is a huge positive for Bouch, who has struggled on defence this season. Grade A shots: ES +0, -0: ST, +0, -0.
Brett Kulak, 7. The Oil’s best d-man. Excellent rush in the first where he gained the zone, took it behind the net, stopped up and threw it in front for Draisaitl. His stretch pass set off a dangerous Oilers attack, with Foegele almost scoring in the second. He also failed to stop the pass across on the third Ranger goal. He pinched hard to help create a Grade A shot in the third. Grade A shots: ES +3, -1: ST, +0, -0.
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Vincent Desharnais, 4. Mostly solid and sensible play. He was unable to get in the way of Fox’s shot and goal in the second. Grade A shots: ES +0, -1: ST, +0, -1.
Stuart Skinner, 6. This loss was not on the goalie. He was left to the hungry wolves. Best Oilers player by a light year in the first period. Some huge stops early on, three straight 5-alarmers, highlighted by big Zibanejad rushing in, picking up a nasty rebound off the boards and putting it on net, only to be thwarted by Skinner’s glove. His best moment in the first came in the last minute, his stupendous pad stop on Filip Chytil’s harpoon. He got a fast glove on Zibanejad’s second period power play harpoon, but a moment later Fox beat him on a wicked one-timer. Skinner followed up with a number of difficult high slot shots. He failed to stop Schneider’s outside shot, but it was screened and likely tipped. A great save late in the second on an Adam Fox breakaway, then not much chance on New York’s third goal. Grade A shots: ES +0, -0: ST, +0, -0.
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Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno are off to the World Series. It just happens to be with an organization that neither one would have envisioned a couple seasons ago.
The December trade that sent Gurriel and Moreno to the Arizona Diamondbacks helped propel that team to the annual Fall Classic. The Blue Jays meanwhile acquired underperforming outfielder Daulton Varsho en route to yet another first-round exit in the playoffs.
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