Gemma Karstens-Smith
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gks.bsky.social
Gemma Karstens-Smith
@gks.bsky.social
1K followers 130 following 240 posts
Vancouver-based sports reporter for The Canadian Press. Tired mom of two. She/her. Tell me a story: gks@cp.org
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gks.bsky.social
Connor McDavid shines in big moments.

Now the Edmonton Oilers captain is on the brink of one of his biggest moments yet — his first Olympics.

www.thestar.com/sports/olymp...

#Oilers #NHL #Olympics
‘You just need to watch him’: Connor McDavid hitting new highs ahead of Olympic debut
EDMONTON - Connor McDavid shines in big moments.
www.thestar.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:31 PM
gks.bsky.social
Goosebumps watching the Canadians walk in for the opening ceremonies. The Olympics are so cool.
February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
gks.bsky.social
Eight teams of visually impaired curlers are in Edmonton this week, battling to be named Canada’s best. They tell me the tournament is about not just competition, but camaraderie, too.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/visually-imp...
Visually impaired curlers find community on ice
Eight curling teams from across the country have gathered in Edmonton to vie for the title of Canada’s best visually impaired curling team. Each team features athletes with a spectrum
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
February 4, 2026 at 5:02 PM
gks.bsky.social
I’m in Edmonton covering the #Oilers for a couple of weeks. But I haven’t been posting on here much and I should! So here’s a thread of what I’ve been working on:
January 28, 2026 at 11:39 PM
gks.bsky.social
(I love rookie laps. Post them every time I see them.)
January 27, 2026 at 1:16 AM
gks.bsky.social
Rookie lap for #Oilers forward Josh Samanski. He’s set to play his first NHL game tonight against the Ducks.
January 27, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Reposted by Gemma Karstens-Smith
minnesotafrost.com
💜 for Minnesota
January 26, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Reposted by Gemma Karstens-Smith
dspencercp.bsky.social
Gold medal cyclist, former diver named to Canada's Olympic bobsled team. My @cdnpress.bsky.social sports report, Jeff McIntosh photo. #MilanoCortina2026
shorturl.at/yaBPL
January 24, 2026 at 1:42 AM
gks.bsky.social
We know Gary Bettman binged “Heated Rivalry,” but how do other folks in the hockey world feel about the steamy show? I talked to a few to find out.

#HeatedRivalry #PWHL #NHL

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/pwhle...
PWHLers, NHL commissioner among fans of gay hockey drama 'Heated Rivalry'
Erin Ambrose isn't much of a reader.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
January 22, 2026 at 1:48 AM
gks.bsky.social
I think the Oilers fans might actually outnumber the Canucks fans here at Rogers Arena tonight.
January 18, 2026 at 2:31 AM
gks.bsky.social
Well, that post didn’t work the way I wanted it to. Trying again …

She’s back! The Vancouver Goldeneyes have officially activated Sarah Nurse from LTIR. She’ll be available to play against her former team, the Toronto Sceptres, on Saturday.

#PWHL
January 16, 2026 at 3:34 AM
gks.bsky.social
www.cbc.ca/sports/hocke...
Goldeneyes' Sarah Nurse headed to Olympics despite long PWHL absence with arm injury | CBC Sports
Vancouver Goldeneyes star forward Sarah Nurse suffered an arm injury in Vancouver's first-ever PWHL game in November and hasn't played since. But she practised Wednesday and plans to compete at her th...
www.cbc.ca
January 16, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Reposted by Gemma Karstens-Smith
risingaction.bsky.social
You want a Canuck? Make an offer theprovince.com/sports/hocke...
Canucks' Jim Rutherford: 'We're open to conversations on all players'
The Vancouver Canucks have moved on from considering offers only on unrestricted free agents.
theprovince.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:44 PM
gks.bsky.social
Big day for Goldeneyes forward Jenn Gardiner - she’s going to the Olympics.
gks.bsky.social Gemma Karstens-Smith @gks.bsky.social · 29d
Jenn Gardiner has long dreamed of playing for Canada at the Olympics. The Vancouver Goldeneyes forward could hear her named called when Hockey Canada announced its roster tomorrow.

www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hocke...
Goldeneyes forward Gardiner hopeful to be named to Canadian Olympic team
Gardiner has dreamed of making the Olympic team for most of her 24 years
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:46 PM
gks.bsky.social
Jenn Gardiner has long dreamed of playing for Canada at the Olympics. The Vancouver Goldeneyes forward could hear her named called when Hockey Canada announced its roster tomorrow.

www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hocke...
Goldeneyes forward Gardiner hopeful to be named to Canadian Olympic team
Gardiner has dreamed of making the Olympic team for most of her 24 years
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:32 PM
gks.bsky.social
Seeing Goldeneyes jerseys on the big screen before the Canucks game is neat.
January 3, 2026 at 2:40 AM
gks.bsky.social
Former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is back in Vancouver. His new team is headed in the opposite direction of his old team.

ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/former-...
Former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet embracing return to Vancouver
VANCOUVER — As the Philadelphia Flyers' bus wound its way through Vancouver late Sunday night, the memories began to flood back for Rick Tocchet.
ca.sports.yahoo.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:08 AM
gks.bsky.social
Walking past B.C. Place for the first time in a bit. New branding for the Whitecaps. Or new to me, at least.
December 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Reposted by Gemma Karstens-Smith
dspencercp.bsky.social
Summer McIntosh voted The Canadan Press female athlete of the year a third straight year. Joins figure skater Barbara Ann Scott (1946-48) as the only women to three-peat. My @cdnpress.bsky.social sports report, Christinne Muschi photo. #swimming
shorturl.at/gCijo
December 27, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Gemma Karstens-Smith
jchidleyhill.bsky.social
My colleague Dan Ralph (who's not on Bluesky!) wrote a beautiful story about LongRun, a retirement society that has found new homes for thousands of thoroughbred racehorses. I loved the detail that they try to have the horse choose what it wants to be www.timescolonist.com/national-spo...
How retired racehorses in Ontario find new purpose after the track
HILLSBURGH — Vicki Pappas and Lauren Millet are giving retired thoroughbred racehorses a second lease on life.
www.timescolonist.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
gks.bsky.social
Muller mania: Vancouver has fallen in love with the Whitecaps newest star.

#vwfc #mls

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/mulle...
Muller mania: German star's addition to Vancouver Whitecaps a boon for club, fans
VANCOUVER - Thomas Muller came to the Vancouver Whitecaps to win.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
December 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
gks.bsky.social
My colleague @danielrainbird.bsky.social sat down with Marie-Philip Poulin to talk about, well, everything.

Such an insightful read on Captain Clutch.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/q-a-m...
Q&A: Marie-Philip Poulin talks 2025, being 'Captain Clutch,' playing alongside Stacey
MONTREAL - Marie-Philip Poulin's exploits on the ice are well-documented.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
December 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
gks.bsky.social
“We will be back strong, ready to compete again.”

They may have lost the MLS Cup, but the Whitecaps still had a terrific season. And the future is bright.

#VWFC

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/it-ha...
'It has been a remarkable season': Whitecaps still pleased despite MLS Cup loss
VANCOUVER - Jesper Sorensen's first season as a head coach in Major League Soccer was full of big moments.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
December 9, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Reposted by Gemma Karstens-Smith
manuelveth.bsky.social
Sources 🚨 Vancouver Whitecaps have triggered the 2026 option in the Thomas Müller contract.

Not that it was ever in doubt. Müller has been very happy in Vancouver and wants to challenge for titles once again.

He will be a Designated Player next season. It should be official soon.
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
gks.bsky.social
“We will come back stronger next season.”

The Vancouver Whitecaps admit losing in the MLS Cup final stings. They also say their journey isn’t over.

#VWFC #MLSCup

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/it-hu...
'It hurts': MLS Cup loss painful for Müller, Vancouver Whitecaps
FORT LAUDERDALE - Brian White threw his boots and mouth guard on the field in seeming disbelief. His teammates held one another, shock and disappointment painted on their faces.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
December 7, 2025 at 2:50 AM