After suffering a devastating loss to Canada in the gold medal game four years ago, the U.S. women’s hockey team is out for some revenge at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and it got a taste of that on Tuesday. In their final preliminary game, the Americans completely dismantled the Canadians, their heated rivals, 5-0.
Taking on a Canadian team that was without superstar Marie-Philip Poulin due to an injury, Team USA controlled the game from start to finish. The Americans’ speed simply overwhelmed the Canadians on the forecheck, and these matchups are rarely this lopsided.
Driving the bus en route to a statement win — once again — was defender Caroline Harvey. She registered her second consecutive three-point game with a goal and two assists, but Harvey wasn’t alone in her heroics. Linemates Abbey Murphy and Hannah Bilka gave Canada headaches for three periods, and they combined for two goals.
Their first tally was a beauty with Murphy showing off her blazing speed to reach a loose puck before sliding a no-look pass to Bilka in the slot. Bilka finished with two goals, and Murphy totaled three assists.
Team USA capped off a perfect 4-0-0-0 run in the preliminary round, and it’s now in the driver’s seat to win the gold medal. Even with Canada down Poulin, this was a thoroughly impressive victory for the Americans, who want to reclaim their spot atop women’s hockey.
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Canada and United States are the only two countries that have won gold in women’s ice hockey since the event was added to the Olympics in 1998. The Americans won that inaugural year in Nagano, then endured four straight Canadian victories until 2018, when Team USA struck back with a dramatic overtime win to capture gold in Pyeongchang.
Bolton Middlebrook Leisure Trust has scooped the contract to run five leisure sites as an agent on behalf of Bolton Council. The 15-year contract starts on 1 April.
Managing director, Neil Hutchinson, told HCM that the trust, which has been operating Bolton Arena since 2021, has been preparing for the bid since his appointment four years ago.
Underdogs in terms of scale, the team are delighted to have fought off competition from much larger operators.
“To get to the start line and be in a position to even bid for a large leisure tender is a huge challenge for a small local independent leisure trust, such as us,” he says. “We had to work very hard over the last year just to meet the criteria checklist to enable us to submit a competitive bid.
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“Although price was a factor, Bolton Council had written the tender to be more about quality delivery, social value and investing in Bolton communities, this played to our strengths, because our health and wellbeing angle was very highly commended.”
Contract goals include increasing overall participation by 20 per cent and priority groups by 30 per cent. Supporting 10,000 people with inactivity-related health conditions and improving the mental wellbeing of targeted participants by 20 per cent.
“The council wanted an operator that would collaborate with public health and work towards reducing health inequalities across the borough, particularly in areas where there is less access or engagement with health and fitness,” says Hutchinson. “Our health and wellbeing fund is about reinvesting back into Bolton and we’ll also buy most of our support services locally.
“We’ll be working closely with Bolton Council and Public Health on an ABCD approach maximising Asset Based Community Development to improve peoples lives across Bolton.
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“Initiatives which extend beyond the four walls of the leisure centre are planned, for example utilising the parks and green spaces for activities such as yoga. A whole town activation of a population of 180,000 is in the pipeline that will involve a mass orienteering style event to engage schools, colleges and families.”
One of the leisure centres is a shared site with the NHS, so as part of the GM Active collective the trust will be running the Prehab4Cancer programme. There will also be GP referral cardiac rehab, stroke prevention and Parkinson support programmes ,as well as further engagement with established partners, including Age UK and Bolton Deaf Society. Some instructors have been trained in sign language to run classes for the hard of hearing and this will be extended.
Around £1.2 million will be invested in gym refurbishments across the sites in the next two to three years, replacing gym equipment, upgrading changing areas and creating a health and wellbeing hub with a specialist gym at one of the sites. A wellbeing membership giving access to mental health services and advice on nutrition and sleep with access to a GP will be offered as part of gym memberships.
“The next challenge is to mobilise for the 1st April and we can’t wait to go live,” says Hutchinson.
Cole Palmer’s face said it all. His mouth agasp in utter disbelief, the 94th-minute open-goal miss of the weekend’s hat-trick hero perhaps signalled the end of Liam Rosenior’s honeymoon period. And once more, it’s against Leeds United when fortunes change for a Chelsea manager.
Before the visit of Daniel Farke’s men, Rosenior’s early career at the Stamford Bridge helm consisted of seven wins in nine games, only suffering defeat in Chelsea’s two Carabao Cup semi-final legs against quadruple-chasing Arsenal. His impressive record had admittedly been aided by a favourable run of league fixtures, with his only top-half opponents coming in the form of Brentford in mid-January. But considering the backlash from a portion of the fanbase following his appointment, alarm bells were yet to really sound on BlueCo’s pick.
Dropped points against Leeds, however, could be the reality check that shifts the tide, as was the case in December. The visitors’ dismantling of Chelsea in this season’s reverse fixture plunged a club with a growing ambition of a title charge into turmoil. Defeat at Elland Road, eight days on from a stunning 3-0 win over Barcelona, can be seen as the turning point that led to Enzo Maresca’s messy demise. A month and two wins in seven games later, the Italian was sacked.
Chelsea were overrun in that contest, falling victim to a blistering start by Daniel Farke’s side as they fell behind inside six minutes. There was a brief sense the same was about to happen when Jayden Bogle, bizarrely playing in a second striker role rather than his usual wing-back position, found himself in the Blues box inside 60 seconds, a break stemming from Cole Palmer giving the ball away cheaply. Without Dominic Calvert-Lewin in support, who lost his race to make fitness, Bogle ended up running the ball out of play, but it was an early glimmer of hope for the visitors.
That glimmer was swiftly snuffed out as Chelsea grew increasingly comfortable. Leeds became camped in their own half as the hosts pressed and probed, who found the breakthrough in the 24th minute thanks to a scything Chelsea move, cutely finished by Joao Pedro after being slipped in by Palmer.
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Joao Pedro opened the scoring for Chelsea (Getty)
That’s eight goal contributions in his last nine outings for the Brazilian, who had seen his star fade after an electric start to his Chelsea career. The instant impact he made in New Jersey last summer, lighting up the latter stages of the Club World Cup before carrying that form into the opening weeks of the season, led many to tip him as the Premier League’s signing of the season. He is now rediscovering the potency that justified that initial hype.
The roles of Chelsea goalscorer and provider were swapped after the break, in a way. Jaka Bijol gifted the Blues a penalty in the 56th minute, pushing Joao Pedro in the back with both hands to send the striker tumbling over. The Slovene’s appeals were pointless – it was stonewall. And off the back of his first-half hat-trick at Molineux – including two converted spot-kicks – there was no mistake from Palmer, tucking past Karl Darlow to double his side’s lead.
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Cole Palmer doubled Chelsea’s advantage from the spot (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea were cruising, with Rosenior looking on course for an fourth straight league win. The new Blues boss has so far looked impermeable to an upset – but then the wheels came off.
Just as it seemed a clumsy challenge down one end had put the game out of sight for Leeds, a clumsy challenge down the other end offered the visitors a way back. Moises Caicedo’s tripping of Bogle gave referee John Brooks another simple decision to make, and Lukas Nmecha – deputising for Calvert-Lewin – sent Robert Sanchez the wrong way.
Six minutes later, things weren’t so black and white for the referee. Noah Okafor tucked into an open net after a calamitous mix-up between Sanchez and Josh Acheampong, who failed to clear the ball after Bogle had forced himself into the box. It seemed, however, that Chelsea’s sinners would get a reprieve, with replays showing the ball to have touched Bogle’s arm in the build-up.
A delay ensued – not as long as we’ve seen in the recent past, but one significant enough for home fans to believe a jog to the monitor was imminent. But that didn’t come; the goal was given. Leeds were resurrected, Chelsea crestfallen.
Farke’s side still had a quarter of an hour to survive as Chelsea upped the ante, but while taking no credit away from their defensive reslience, there was a sense it just wouldn’t fall for the hosts now that they’d surrendering total control.
Joao Pedro was nearly the hero as his late header crashed off the bar, but it’s Palmer who will have sleepless nights after skying a last-gasp chance with the goal gaping from a couple of yards out. Caicedo, who must have thought he’d set up a late winner when squaring it across the six-yard box, could not quite believe his talisman hadn’t scored as he looked lifelessly into the Matthew Harding Stand.
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Palmer was dejected after missing a late sitter (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Palmer was crouched, dejected, before the full-time whistle even went, with Leeds winding down the final seconds of the clock. For Farke’s side, it’s another point towards survival.
Champions League qualification remains paramount for the Blues and this result on its own will not harm them too much, with sixth-placed Liverpool going into the matchweek four points adrift. But as we saw at the tail-end of 2025, things can snowball and fast. Just ask Rosenior’s predecessor.
But while ‘Bud’ announced his retirement several months later, Canelo has opted to remain in the sport for a little while longer.
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It was announced by Turki Alalshikh last month, in fact, that the Mexican will headline a card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this September.
Along with that, Alalshikh added that Canelo is set to face one of the champions at 168lbs, presenting him with an opportunity to reclaim one of his titles.
As it stands, the only current male super-middleweight world champions are Christian Mbilli and Jose Armando Resendiz, with the WBO and IBF titles remaining vacant following Crawford’s departure.
And, of the two, WBC champion Mbilli is perhaps the obvious candidate for a Canelo clash, given his fan-friendly style and Alvarez’s traditionally productive relationship with the WBC.
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The unbeaten Frenchman comes off a 10-round draw with Lester Martinez, featuring on the undercard of Canelo-Crawford, which saw Mbilli retain his WBC ‘interim’ strap.
Serena Williams eligible to return to Tennis this Month
Serena Williams will be eligible to return to professional tennis in 13 days if she chooses.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Serena Williams will complete the required six month period in the anti-doping testing pool on February 22, clearing her to compete again under professional rules.
This simply means Williams has met the eligibility requirement for a return after time away from the Tour. No announcement has been made by Williams or the WTA regarding future plans.
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Williams last played competitively in 2022 and stepped away as a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and one of the most successful players in tennis history.
If she decides to return, she will likely play in major US tournaments like Indian Wells and the Miami Open, where former champions are often granted wild cards.
Manchester United ticked off another game in their race for Champions League football thanks to Benjamin Sesko’s smart finish in added time at West Ham
23:59, 10 Feb 2026Updated 23:59, 10 Feb 2026
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Manchester United are six points above Liverpool in the Premier League top five after drawing 1-1 with West Ham United on Tuesday night. Benjamin Sesko’s injury-time leveller maintained Michael Carrick’s unbeaten start to life in interim charge.
The draw moves United up to 45 points, with Chelsea just one point behind after their 2-2 draw against Leeds United. Liverpool face Sunderland on Wednesday night before the Premier League pauses for FA Cup action this weekend.
United are next in action on February 23 when they travel to Everton. Here, the Manchester Evening News takes a look at United’s upcoming fixture list compared to some of their Premier League rivals.
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
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Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
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And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.
NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa has clarified his recent comments about the bats used by Indian cricketers after they sparked major controversy during the T20 World Cup 2026. His earlier remarks were interpreted by many as an allegation of “bat-tampering” or unfair equipment advantages for Team India, but Rajapaksa said his words were misunderstood and taken out of context.
How PCB, ICC, BCB reached a resolution on India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match
In a social media post, Rajapaksa explained that his intention was to praise India’s cricketing setup and equipment standards, not accuse anyone of wrongdoing. “Hi all, just a quick clarification about comments from a recent interview that have been interpreted differently and, in parts, lost in translation,” he wrote. “My point was meant as praise: Indian cricket is incredibly advanced, from its systems and infrastructure to its equipment standards. Their bat manufacturers are truly among the best in the world. In hindsight, I could have provided clearer context. Nothing but respect always,” he added.The controversy began after Rajapaksa was quoted as saying, “Indian players have bats that are far superior to the best bats we get. It feels as though a layer of rubber has been applied. I can’t imagine how that’s possible. These bats can’t even be bought by others — all players know this.” These comments led to online debates and speculation about whether Indian players were using special or modified bats.However, no official complaint was made to the ICC, and neither India nor Sri Lanka issued any formal statement on the matter. The episode mainly remained a social media and fan discussion.In cricket, ball tampering has long been a sensitive topic, but bats have also been discussed in the past, especially regarding size and power. The ICC has rules on bat dimensions, such as the maximum thickness of the edges, but there are no regulations on the quality of the willow used to make bats. With English willow becoming rarer and more expensive, some fear that wealthier teams and players could gain an equipment advantage.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson warms up at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023, wearing a shirt honoring Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin before facing the Chicago Bears in Illinois. The pregame gesture reflected league-wide solidarity as Jefferson prepared for kickoff during a late-season divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is not for sale on the trade block, but CBS Sports doesn’t believe it. Jordan Dajani published “10 crazy predictions” this week, fresh off the steam of the Super Bowl, and at the very top of his list, he predicted Jefferson to Buffalo via trade.
The idea is louder than it looks, because Jefferson’s value is massive, and Minnesota’s financial hit would be brutal.
It’s the latest in an offseason that Minnesota will navigate without general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired on January 30th.
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CBS Sports Tosses a Loud Jefferson Trade Idea Into the Offseason
The offseason starts with one hell of a theory.
Buffalo Bills helmets line the sideline at Caesars Superdome during second-quarter action against New Orleans, with the scene unfolding on Nov. 25, 2021, in Louisiana. The image captured a quiet stretch as the Saints and Bills battled through a physical matchup, with equipment staged neatly as play continued under the dome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports.
CBS Sports: Jefferson to Bills
Dajani’s article did not include a barrage of trades; it only featured two. Jefferson to Buffalo and George Pickens to the Denver Broncos.
He explained on Jefferson, “Joe Brady’s name popped up on NFL radars in 2019, when he served as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU. The undefeated Tigers had a historical season, which was powered by the play of Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase.”
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“Now, he’s the head coach of the Bills, and this offseason, Buffalo makes an aggressive move to pair its new coach with a friend of his — sending the Minnesota Vikings a package of picks for Jefferson. Why would Buffalo choose now to take a big swing at receiver? After all, Brandon Beane hasn’t been this aggressive before. Realize that the Bills front office is under just as much pressure as Brady to prove that the firing of Sean McDermott wasn’t a mistake.”
For now, the Bills’ WR1 is Khalil Shakir, who usually totals about 750 receiving yards in a season.
Dajani continued, “It’s about winning right now for the Bills, and what they will do is lean into Brady’s vision for the offense. Yes, Brady oversaw the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL this past season, but his background is passing the ball. Jefferson is coming off his worst NFL season, as he set career lows in receiving yards (1,048) and receiving touchdowns (2).”
“We all know he’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. His career 90.2 receiving yards per game ranks No. 2 in NFL history, and his 7,432 receiving yards through five seasons were the most in NFL history. Imagine a talent like Jefferson teaming up with a quarterback like Josh Allen.”
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Vikings fans saw the Dajani theory and grimaced.
A $46 Million Dead Cap Challenge
If the Vikings fulfill this prophecy by trading Jefferson before June 1st, they’ll swallow a dead cap penalty of $46 million. Yes, that means the team would “pay Jefferson not to play here,” which just seems mind-boggling for a player who rather emphatically has not asked for a trade.
Theoretically, trading Jefferson after June 1st would ease the dead cap pain, zinging Minnesota for about $14 million.
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Still, there’s just no reason on God’s green earth for Minnesota to offload its best player when the man has not asked for it.
The Bills’ Would-Be WR Corps
From the Bills’ standpoint, hell yes, adding Jefferson would net dividends and reignite a dejected fan base that just watched the Bills fall short of the AFC Championship in a set of playoffs that didn’t feature Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Lamar Jackson for the first time in seven years.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson celebrates in the end zone after scoring late at Lumen Field, with the moment arriving on Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. The fourth-quarter touchdown energized Minnesota’s sideline as Jefferson capped the drive against the Seahawks in a hostile road environment under bright primetime lights. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
The Bills’ WR group for Josh Allen would look like this:
Justin Jefferson
Khalil Shakir
Keon Coleman
Josh Palmer
Curtis Samuel
Tyrell Shavers
Mecole Hardman
Stephen Gosnell
The trade would draw parallels to the Vikings-Bills swap in 2020 for Stefon Diggs. You know, the deal that Minnesota used to extract Jefferson from the 2020 NFL Draft.
Vikings Reduced to Nubbins
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Minnesota would probably net a 1st-Rounder for Jefferson or something similar, but the playmaking corps would shrink with the snap of two fingers. Kevin O’Connell would promote Jordan Addison to WR1, probably re-sign Jalen Nailor, get some targets to last year’s rookie Tai Felton, and use free agency or the draft to find one extra competent receiver.
If you’re wondering why the Vikings would trade Jefferson — keep wondering. There’s no good reason for it; Jefferson hasn’t yet turned 27, and the passing game would risk full futility without him.
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson reacts after finding the end zone at Bank of America Stadium during third-quarter action, with the play coming on Oct. 1, 2023, in Charlotte. The touchdown punctuated Minnesota’s offensive rhythm as Jefferson answered coverage with precision against Carolina’s secondary in a pivotal road moment. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.
It’s why most, besides Dajani, don’t think a Jefferson trade is realistic.
Other theories this offseason have suggested that Minnesota could trade Addison — not Jefferson — and those ideas make a bit more sense because Addison isn’t as productive as Jefferson and he can’t stay out of trouble off the field.
The Bills will start the 2026 offseason about $8 million over the salary cap.
Manchester United will reportedly appeal JJ Gabriel’s red card which threatens to rule the 15-year-old out of an important upcoming FA Youth Cup clash
Jim Quinlan Sport Trends Writer
23:28, 10 Feb 2026
Manchester United have reportedly decided to appeal JJ Gabriel’s red card, which the 15-year-old received during the Under-18s’ 4-3 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Gabriel contributed two assists as United took a four-goal lead into the half-time interval of their Premier League Under-18 Cup clash. West Brom managed to pull one back after 52 minutes, and upon the restart the youngster became involved in a tangle with an opponent off the ball, resulting in his sending off.
It did not take long for the academy forward – who has already trained with the senior squad under both Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick – to react.
Posting video footage of the incident on his Instagram stories, Gabriel fumed: “How can this be a yellow let alone a red, how?”
According to BBC Sport, Gabriel’s view reflects that of United and the club intend to appeal their youth player’s impending suspension.
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The red card is due to carry a three-match ban that would prevent the young talent from featuring in United’s FA Youth Cup fifth round clash with Oxford United next Wednesday, February 18.
Gabriel featured in the previous round, starting and playing 115 minutes as Darren Fletcher‘s side defeated Derby County after extra-time at Old Trafford.
Either side of the important meeting with Oxford, Gabriel would be in line to sit out an U18s Manchester derby against Manchester City and finally a meeting with Wolves U18s.
For now, the club wish to temper expectations and as reported by MEN Sport, sources close to the youngster understand it is not much hassle in keeping the 15-year-old grounded. He has a strong family support and a circle of friends, who don’t let him get ahead of himself.
They have done all they possibly can to keep Gabriel out of the clutches of European rivals and the youngster has a bright future ahead.
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Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
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Ex-NFL star Boomer Esiason said Tuesday that American Olympians “should just pipe down” as several competitors garnered backlash for speaking out on hotly debated political topics in the U.S. while in Italy.
Esiason was on his daily WFAN Radio show with Greg Giannotti. The former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets star said he was watching Team USA figure skating win gold in one event over the weekend. Giannotti asked whether they were “happy to represent America.”
Boomer Esiason speaks on stage during the 2019 New York City Police Foundation Gala at New York Hilton Midtown on April 30, 2019 in New York City.(Owen Hoffmann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
“They seem to be happy to represent America,” Esiason said. “Not everybody is, but everybody should just pipe down and just do their sport and play for our country and respect the flag and respect everything that’s going on.”
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said.
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Hunter Hess of the United States reacts during the Men’s Ski Halfpipe Final at the Toyota US Grand Prix at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort on Jan. 9, 2026 in Aspen, Colorado.(Dustin Satloff/U.S. Ski and Snowboard/Getty Images)
“I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.
“I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.”
Hess backtracked in a social media post on Monday after President Donald Trump called him a “real loser.”
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Lillis said that while he “would never” want to represent another country in the Games, he’s “heartbroken” over the administration’s actions, regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota.
“I love the USA. I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. With that being said, a lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things.
Bronze medalist Christopher Lillis poses on the podium during the awards ceremony for the men’s aerials at the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup at Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City, Jilin province, China. It happened on Feb. 23, 2025.(Yan Linyun/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States. I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that,” he continued. “I think that, as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody, with love and respect. I hope that when people look at athletes compete in the Olympics, they realize that that’s the America we’re trying to represent.”
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Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych on Tuesday said he would be wearing a “helmet of remembrance” in honour of those killed in the war with Russia in the skeleton competition at the Winter Games despite the International Olympic Committee’s ban.
