Penton: Among 2026 winners: Rory, Avs and Riders
By Bruce Penton
Almost guaranteed to happen in 2026:
January — National Football League playoffs occupy the weekend spotlights this month and when the dust settles, the two Super Bowl teams have been determined — Los Angeles Rams from the NFC and Jacksonville Jaguars from the AFC.
February — Canadian skiers and curlers rack up a number of medals at the Olympic Games in Milan, but the high-profile hockey competition, beset by controversy over the arena construction, is won by the United States, which defeats Canada in the final and makes amends for the 4 Nations Cup loss last year.
March — Brad Gushue competes for Newfoundland in his final Brier appearance, capping a great career on the ice. The Brier title in 2026, however, goes to the current best team in Canada, skipped by Brad Jacobs.
April — After winning the Masters last year to complete pro golf’s career Grand Slam and eliminating the pressure that went along with that chase, Rory McIlroy plays a relaxing 72 holes at Augusta National and wins by nine.
May — The Jays are for real! Toronto’s run to the World Series last year was no fluke, as evidenced by the six-game lead in the American League East the Blue Jays build up by mid-May.
June — The National Hockey League season finally comes to a close with Colorado Avalanche sweeping the surprising Montreal Canadiens 4-0 in the Stanley Cup final. The Avalanche lost only 13 games in 2025-26 — counting regular season and playoffs, making a strong case to being called the best team in the NHL’s history.
July — FIFA’s World Cup final is held July 19 with the championship match held in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Who will win? Probably one of the last six winners (there have been six different winners in the last six World Cups — Argentina, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Brazil). If Canada were to win, the party would last so long it would clash with New Year’s Eve festivities.
August — The Special Olympics Canada Summer Games are scheduled for Medicine Hat and if you’re a fan of unmitigated joy on an athletic field, not to mention the ultimate in genuine sportsmanship, pay a visit.
September — For the 12th consecutive Grand Slam tennis event, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner meet in the final. This year’s U.S. Open, the final Grand Slam event of 2026, goes to Alcaraz. The foregone conclusion of major tennis events is one of the reasons fans are tuning out.
October — Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 pick in June’s NHL draft, takes his first strides as a member of the Calgary Flames. “Ah, back in good ol’ Alberta,” said McKenna, a former Medicine Hat Tiger star.
November — Saskatchewan Roughriders defend their Grey Cup championship, beating Toronto Argonauts in the big game, and Trevor Harris, now 40, joins a short list of QBs to win the Cup in their 40s.
December — No surprise: Canadian male and female athletes of the year are two people who starred in the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games — a luger and a biathlete.
Headline at fark.com: “Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe needs shoulder surgery, may miss the chance to strike out four times a game to start 2026.”
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Star: “Rule changes I would propose for the NFL: 1) No more fair catch; 2) End the marginal calling of taunting penalties. Let the players play; 3) Outlaw the tush push.”
Mike Sando of The Athletic, on the return to the NFL of 44-year-old Philip Rivers after a four-year retirement: “Rivers’ comeback at age 44 will be the feel-good story of the week … until he wakes up feeling 144 the morning after his first start.”
Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen: “One month till the Olympics start and two months till they finish the hockey arena.”
RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “TSN referred to the Colts signing 44-year-old retired quarterback Philip Rivers as ‘turning back the clock.’ Sounds more like turning back the grandfather clock.”
Headline at fark.com, after 41-year-old Lindsay Vonn won a World Clup downhill race after a six-year retirement and knee surgery: “Old lady flies down the mountain like her hair was on fire, then drops the Curry night-night on her youth competition when she gets to the bottom.”
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, on the Oilers-Penguins December trade involving Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner: “The best way to break down the Penguins-Oilers trade: My lousy goalie for your lousy goalie.”
Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen: “Philip Rivers’ signing with Indianapolis almost didn’t happen. They got caught up on ticket allotment request for family.”
Headline at fark.com: “New York Knicks will not hang a banner for their NBA Cup championship at Madison Squire Garden. Lack of rafter space not a factor in the decision.”
Another fark.com headline: “Zach Wilson confused as to why Quinn Ewers leapfrogged him to become the Dolphins’ No. 1 QB. Not as bewildered as when he is trying to find an open receiver, but confused nonetheless.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca