I was loaned the DeLorean, Back to the Futureto travel until January 2025. I was able to find out everything that is happening in the world of sports for the year 2024. Seriously, let's have some fun: Here's a look back at 2024 that made some rather optimistic predictions for the next 12 months of sports.
The cheering crowd at the Bell Center
Getty Images via AFP
The Bell Center has finally started to vibrate again this year. The team's poor performance after Christmas 2023 showered a cold shower on fans who were less patient with the rebuild.
Aside from the skills of Samuel Montembeault, who has established himself as a true number one in the NHL, only Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky have received stars in their notebooks for their amazing progress.
The Canadian, who was no longer in the game in January, sorely missed the lack of talent and depth in attack.
But finally, management decided to charge the mushroom for 2024-2025. The signing of winger Sam Reinhart gives new energy to the top six.
After a 25-goal season, Cole Caufield has bounced back. He has already scored 15 goals and is approaching a year with over 40 goals.
Young people still receive a lot of attention because of their impact. Slafkovsky has become a completely different player at the same time compared to the same period last year. And what about Lane Hutson! The skeptics were confused. It's rare that we have a player in Montreal who takes us out of our seats so much.
His few mistakes are forgivable, but he has already changed the team's power game.
The Canadian is in the thick of the playoff race and it's good to see the effectiveness of Kent Hughes' plan in more concrete terms.
The Devils win
Getty Images via AFP
We wonder who will stop the Hurricanes this year when the team only has four losses in regular season. But unfortunately the Stanley Cup will not be won in December. Last year, the Kings, Golden Knights and Rangers ate everyone up on the same day.
And the Devils had as many points as the Canadiens in December, while the Oilers were among the worst teams in the NHL in November. Despite everything, it was these two clubs that reached the final.
The race for top scorer could be interesting between Connor McDavid and Jack Hughes between now and the end of the year. Remember that last year in December, McDavid was 12 points behind the leader when he was the winner by exactly 12 points.
After a first season with 50 points, all indications are that Connor Bedard will quickly get into this race next year, while he is on track to collect more than 80 points in his second year.
Gold medal record for Canada
AFP
Eight gold medals in Paris: Canada has never won so many at the Summer Games. Except, of course, in Los Angeles, the year of the boycott during the Cold War. After seven gold medals in Tokyo, the Canadian delegation has confirmed that our country will continue to be one of the best in the world at the Summer Games. Actually in the top 10 medal ranks.
Thank you to our swimmers who stole the show in Paris with Maggie Mac Neil, Kylie Masse, Penny Oleksiak and young Summer MacInstosh.
In doubles and tennis, Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez struggled, but they deserved their gold medals.
Damian Warner in the decathlon, Pamela Ware in diving, Maude Charron in weightlifting, Catherine Beauchemin Pinard in judo and Tamara Thibeault in boxing also delivered unforgettable performances.
So close, but so far
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The Blue Jays have been so dominant this season. Few would have thought that they would still fail in the playoffs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 55 circuits will nonetheless rank among the finest achievements in the franchise's history.
Imagine how far the team would have come with Shohei Ohtani… Probably in the same place as the Dodgers: in the World Series (against the Yankees, which they won).
Unfortunately, the Jays lacked good pitchers to keep up with the best clubs. In fact, the deep throwers were no match for the explosive offensive.
The film repeats itself with the Alouettes
Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY
The further the season progressed, the more we felt like the Alouettes would repeat the same thing as 2023. The start of the season was normal, as if the team was uncomfortable with no longer being one of the underdogs.
And the team started piling up victories, right up until the last one. Cody Fajardo was once again the offensive leader of the Montreal team. For a man known for not having a very strong arm, the 32-year-old quarterback continued to silence those who never believed in him.
For Félix it is just a postponement
Photo AFP
Poor Félix, we all believed it: a Quebecer winning a Grand Slam tournament. After his incredible win against Novak Djokovic in the US Open semifinals, we thought he would manage to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Especially after winning the first round.
But in short, Félix managed to return to the best in the world in 2024 and everything indicates that it will be his turn to win a major tournament in 2025. Honorable mention to Leylah Fernandez and Bianca Andreescu for their semi-final at Wimbledon.