1. Big moment in hockey: Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki says the team would openly welcome any NHL player who comes out as LGBTQ2, speaking Jan. 25 on Quebec TV ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games. He appeared with Juraj Slafkovsky, Alexandre Texier and Oliver Kapanen and stressed the club’s inclusiveness; the NHL has still never had an openly gay player in a game.
2. Heads-up for shovellers: eastern Canada saw record snow (Toronto Pearson 46 cm, Billy Bishop 56 cm) and doctors warn shovelling can spike heart-attack risk, especially for older or sedentary people. Dr. Lesley James and Dr. Craig Ainsworth advise warming up, taking breaks and calling 911 for chest pain — and after calling, chew one 325 mg or two 81 mg aspirin while waiting for help.
3. Hot week for Quickley: Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley was named the NBA Eastern Conference player of the week after a 4-0 run, averaging 25.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.0 steals. He tied a career high with 40 points and 10 assists (joining Vince Carter in franchise history) and became the third NBA player to score 40+ on 13 or fewer field-goal attempts.
4. Conditional yes for Marineland belugas: Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson gave conditional approval for Marineland to export its remaining 30 belugas (and four dolphins) to U.S. institutions, but final permits depend on more information from the Niagara Falls park. Marineland has been in talks with Shedd, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium and SeaWorld after presenting an "urgent rescue solution."
5. School closed after death on property: École St. Joseph in Blind River was closed while Ontario Provincial Police investigate the sudden death of a 41-year-old found on school grounds around 6:30 a.m. Police say foul play is not suspected and a post-mortem is planned.
6. Beer Store shutters more outlets: The Beer Store confirmed four more locations will close in March (Brampton, Toronto, Hamilton and London) now that the $225-million deal with the Ford government has ended. The 2024 agreement had required keeping about 300 stores open through 2025; three stores closed Jan. 11 and one closed Jan. 18 as the retail landscape shifts.
7. Ford and Carney patch things up: Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a “very productive” meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney calmed tensions over a deal to allow 49,000 Chinese-made EVs into Canada in exchange for eased farm tariffs. Ford said they agree on "99%" of issues; Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and Ford also discussed creating an auto task force.
8. Card collection pays off: A Windsor man, Donald Badder, sold a family hockey-card collection for more than $50,000 at Miller & Miller Auctions, including 51 cards from the 1924–25 Champ’s Cigarettes series. A Stanley Cup card fetched $27,000 and a Hap Day card sold for $18,000 — a century-old find kept in a safety deposit box until the 100th anniversary.
9. Nylander says sorry: Injured Maple Leafs forward William Nylander apologized after flipping the bird on camera during the team’s broadcast; he’s missed five games with a groin injury. He wrote on Instagram "Only love for Leafs nation" and the team will play the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET after Sunday’s practice was cancelled because of the snowstorm.