Linking the country ...

Football

• Montréal's young starting QB, Alexandre Nadeau-Puize, needs all the fan support he can during Saturday's Sherbrooke Vert et Or-Carabins game on Saturday at CEPSUM. (Allez Les Bleus)
  
  
• Tributes are amassing for former Alberta and Windsor coach Gino Fracas.

  "In 1976, quarterback Scott Mallender arrived back in Windsor after a year at Laurier.
  
  "Fracas summoned him and incumbent Lancer starter Bruce Walker into his office that summer and announced that Walker was switching to wide receiver and Mallender was taking over at quarterback.
  
  " 'I was stunned,' said Mallender of a bold move that eventually saw him win the 1979 Hec Crighton trophy as the most valuable player in Canada and Walker go on to an all-star career as a receiver in the CFL.
  
  " 'Gino was such an innovator. Everything he taught me, I still teach to all my athletes. All the offence he used is still relevant today.' "

  (London Free Press, Windsor Star; the latter article includes info on the visitations)
  

Basketball

• Alberta hoops fans are in for a treat, since Monday's Alberta-Gonzaga game is being broadcast by Spokane's KHQ (7 p.m. Mountain), which is carried by Shaw Cable. Gonzaga apparently has a following in southern Alberta since their games are on TV.
  
  
• You know about Simon Fraser's Fab Five, now meet the Clan's Terrific Trio of frosh guards Carla Wyman, Kristina Collins and forward Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe.
  
  Howard Tsumura has a full preview of Canada West women's basketball, so you might need to block out a good half-hour to 45 minutes for proper absorption. (Little Man on Campus)

Hockey

• Giving up a short-handed goal for the game-winner? Tough one for Lakehead to lose to Waterloo, but that's where there's always a tomorrow. (TBNewsWatch)
  
  
• Hey, the first-year Montréal Carabins were the first team to score on No. 1 McGill in QSSF women's play. Now, the bad news ... (CyberPresse.ca)
  
  
• Never let it be said St. Thomas Tommies players — and the sports editors at the campus paper — don' t have a sense of humour. (The Aquinian)