Advertisement

Year in Review 2016: Top Canadian sports stories

  • <p>Penny Oleksiak dived into the pool at the Rio 2016 Olympics and emerged as Canada’s golden girl. The 16-year-old swimmer took home four medals, including a gold in the 100m freestyle with an Olympic record time. Oleksiak was named Canada’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony and will be one to watch at the next Summer Games in Tokyo. </p>
    1/10

    Gold Penny

    Penny Oleksiak dived into the pool at the Rio 2016 Olympics and emerged as Canada’s golden girl. The 16-year-old swimmer took home four medals, including a gold in the 100m freestyle with an Olympic record time. Oleksiak was named Canada’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony and will be one to watch at the next Summer Games in Tokyo.

  • <p>Andre De Grasse led the charge for Canada’s track and field resurgence in Rio, powered by bravado and youthful exuberance. His haul? Three Olympic medals, a silver and two bronzes, and an iconic photo with Usain Bolt at the finish line of the 200m semifinal that will stand as one of the lasting images from the Games. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) </p>
    2/10

    A star is born

    Andre De Grasse led the charge for Canada’s track and field resurgence in Rio, powered by bravado and youthful exuberance. His haul? Three Olympic medals, a silver and two bronzes, and an iconic photo with Usain Bolt at the finish line of the 200m semifinal that will stand as one of the lasting images from the Games. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • <p>Auston Matthews immediately became a household name in Toronto when he was selected first overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL draft. A four-goal game in his debut further spurred the imagination of a bright future for a franchise that’s been a laughingstock for too long. (Photo from Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) </p>
    3/10

    What a start

    Auston Matthews immediately became a household name in Toronto when he was selected first overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL draft. A four-goal game in his debut further spurred the imagination of a bright future for a franchise that’s been a laughingstock for too long. (Photo from Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

  • <p>A year after Jose Bautista delivered the bat flip heard 'round the world, it was Edwin Encarnacion's turn to come through with home run heroics in the postseason. Encarnacion hit a walk-off extra-innings blast against Baltimore in the AL wild-card game to kick off a Blue Jays postseason run that would end in the ALCS for a second straight season. (Getty Images) </p>
    4/10

    Edwin’s heroics

    A year after Jose Bautista delivered the bat flip heard 'round the world, it was Edwin Encarnacion's turn to come through with home run heroics in the postseason. Encarnacion hit a walk-off extra-innings blast against Baltimore in the AL wild-card game to kick off a Blue Jays postseason run that would end in the ALCS for a second straight season. (Getty Images)

  • <p>Sidney Crosby erased any doubt about his place as the best hockey player in the world by leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup. It was Crosby’s second championship of his career, adding to his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats. (Getty) </p>
    5/10

    Crosby back on top

    Sidney Crosby erased any doubt about his place as the best hockey player in the world by leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup. It was Crosby’s second championship of his career, adding to his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats. (Getty)

  • <p>It was 10 years in the making, but Toronto FC finally won an MLS playoff game. Sebastian Giovinco continued to shine in his second season with the club and the rest of the squad stepped up to get the team to the Eastern Conference final. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) </p>
    6/10

    Giovinco puts TFC on the map

    It was 10 years in the making, but Toronto FC finally won an MLS playoff game. Sebastian Giovinco continued to shine in his second season with the club and the rest of the squad stepped up to get the team to the Eastern Conference final. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

  • <p>Brooke Henderson had a breakout year on the LPGA Tour, making it to No. 2 in the world rankings. She became the first Canadian woman in 48 years to win a major when she triumphed in a playoff at the Women’s PGA Championship. Henderson, 19, capped her terrific season with a seventh-place finish at the Rio Olympics. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) </p>
    7/10

    History in the making

    Brooke Henderson had a breakout year on the LPGA Tour, making it to No. 2 in the world rankings. She became the first Canadian woman in 48 years to win a major when she triumphed in a playoff at the Women’s PGA Championship. Henderson, 19, capped her terrific season with a seventh-place finish at the Rio Olympics. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

  • <p>The return of hockey’s World Cup brought with it a familiar result: Team Canada’s dominance on the ice. Canada went 6-0 at the tournament, knocking off Team Europe in the final. Sidney Crosby was the top scorer with 10 points and Carey Price was spectacular in goal, posting a 1.40 goals-against-average. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) </p>
    8/10

    World champs

    The return of hockey’s World Cup brought with it a familiar result: Team Canada’s dominance on the ice. Canada went 6-0 at the tournament, knocking off Team Europe in the final. Sidney Crosby was the top scorer with 10 points and Carey Price was spectacular in goal, posting a 1.40 goals-against-average. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

  • <p>Oh, what a time: Led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors won a franchise-record 56 games in the regular season and for the first time ever advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. They couldn’t get past the Cavaliers, but they showed the NBA that Toronto, its team, and its fans are to be taken seriously going forward. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) </p>
    9/10

    Taking it to next level

    Oh, what a time: Led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors won a franchise-record 56 games in the regular season and for the first time ever advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. They couldn’t get past the Cavaliers, but they showed the NBA that Toronto, its team, and its fans are to be taken seriously going forward. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

  • <p>The Canadian women’s national soccer team took a mix of established veterans and up-and-coming stars to the Rio Olympics and together they proved to be a dynamic group. Canada was exciting and competitive at the tournament, ultimately besting host Brazil for the bronze to match their podium finish from the London Games. (REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker) </p>
    10/10

    Back on the podium

    The Canadian women’s national soccer team took a mix of established veterans and up-and-coming stars to the Rio Olympics and together they proved to be a dynamic group. Canada was exciting and competitive at the tournament, ultimately besting host Brazil for the bronze to match their podium finish from the London Games. (REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker)

<p>Penny Oleksiak dived into the pool at the Rio 2016 Olympics and emerged as Canada’s golden girl. The 16-year-old swimmer took home four medals, including a gold in the 100m freestyle with an Olympic record time. Oleksiak was named Canada’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony and will be one to watch at the next Summer Games in Tokyo. </p>
<p>Andre De Grasse led the charge for Canada’s track and field resurgence in Rio, powered by bravado and youthful exuberance. His haul? Three Olympic medals, a silver and two bronzes, and an iconic photo with Usain Bolt at the finish line of the 200m semifinal that will stand as one of the lasting images from the Games. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) </p>
<p>Auston Matthews immediately became a household name in Toronto when he was selected first overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL draft. A four-goal game in his debut further spurred the imagination of a bright future for a franchise that’s been a laughingstock for too long. (Photo from Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) </p>
<p>A year after Jose Bautista delivered the bat flip heard 'round the world, it was Edwin Encarnacion's turn to come through with home run heroics in the postseason. Encarnacion hit a walk-off extra-innings blast against Baltimore in the AL wild-card game to kick off a Blue Jays postseason run that would end in the ALCS for a second straight season. (Getty Images) </p>
<p>Sidney Crosby erased any doubt about his place as the best hockey player in the world by leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup. It was Crosby’s second championship of his career, adding to his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats. (Getty) </p>
<p>It was 10 years in the making, but Toronto FC finally won an MLS playoff game. Sebastian Giovinco continued to shine in his second season with the club and the rest of the squad stepped up to get the team to the Eastern Conference final. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Brooke Henderson had a breakout year on the LPGA Tour, making it to No. 2 in the world rankings. She became the first Canadian woman in 48 years to win a major when she triumphed in a playoff at the Women’s PGA Championship. Henderson, 19, capped her terrific season with a seventh-place finish at the Rio Olympics. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) </p>
<p>The return of hockey’s World Cup brought with it a familiar result: Team Canada’s dominance on the ice. Canada went 6-0 at the tournament, knocking off Team Europe in the final. Sidney Crosby was the top scorer with 10 points and Carey Price was spectacular in goal, posting a 1.40 goals-against-average. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Oh, what a time: Led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors won a franchise-record 56 games in the regular season and for the first time ever advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. They couldn’t get past the Cavaliers, but they showed the NBA that Toronto, its team, and its fans are to be taken seriously going forward. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) </p>
<p>The Canadian women’s national soccer team took a mix of established veterans and up-and-coming stars to the Rio Olympics and together they proved to be a dynamic group. Canada was exciting and competitive at the tournament, ultimately besting host Brazil for the bronze to match their podium finish from the London Games. (REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker) </p>
Israel Fehr

The appetite for sports in Canada is never stronger than during an Olympic year, so it’s no surprise to see Olympians throughout our list of the top 10 Canadian sports stories of 2016. On top of all the successes of the country’s athletes in Rio, there were also eye-catching performances on the ice, court, and pitch that made it a most memorable year for Canadian sports fans.