Top sports web stories of the year: Stanley Cup champions, world records and Golden Hawks go for the Vanier Cup

From Stanley Cup winners, to leaving a mark on the gridiron and battling back from a rare and deadly disease.

CTV News shared many feats of athleticism in 2024.

Here is a look back at some of our top sports stories of the year.

Listowel football player drafted to the CFL despite only ever playing 27 games

A Wilfrid Laurier University football player caught the eye of Hamilton Tigercats’ top brass in May, despite only playing 27 games in his entire life.

Luke Brubacher, 23, only started playing in 2023 because the Listowel-native didn’t have access to a locally-organized football program.

“Obviously, going from no previous experience to the university level, there was definitely some times I was running around on the field like a chicken with my head cut off," he told CTV News.

Not having access to the sport, Brubacher, at 6’6” and 250 lbs., only knew what his friends told him about football.

“I knew what I was watching when I watched it on TV, but definitely I didn't know a whole lot, that's for sure," he admitted.

Despite always wanting to be a professional athlete, Brubacher said he wasn’t the best in the sports available in his area. He took up boxing before attending Wilfrid Laurier University for Kinesiology. Then, during the pandemic, he reached out to WLU’s football team for a tryout.

“We quickly responded with somewhat of a generic email that we send all walk-on prospects because he didn't have film, and he didn't talk much about his stature,” said Michael Faulds, head coach of the Laurier Golden Hawks football team. “But when he quickly replied saying, 'I'm from Listowel, Ontario. We didn't have high school football. We didn't have summer football but I've had experience in boxing and I'm 6’6” [and] 250 lbs.’ All of a sudden we quickly responded and said, 'Yes, we're going to have an opportunity for you.'"

Brubacher impressed the coaching staff enough during training camp that he earn a starting position.

In no time he became a standout on the team and even earned a scholarship.

“At the end of the day, being 6'6", 250 lbs. and being athletic, checks off a lot of boxes. Then when you get to know the person, the character, the work ethic, that's the other big box that Luke checks off," Faulds said.

In May, Brubacher was drafted by the Ticats 16th overall. He also attended rookie camps for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints.

“It's kind of a weird mixed feeling where I want the NFL camps to work out and I hope I get a shot somewhere down there this year. But also I would be so happy playing in Hamilton too,” Brubacher said. “I feel like I'm in a really good spot.”

Luke Brubacher playing with Wilfrid Laurier University. (Submitted/Wilfrid Laurier University)

Bringing the Stanley Cup to Waterloo Region and Six Nations

Two local hockey stars were front and centre in June as the Florida Panthers claimed the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.

Brandon Montour, from Six Nations of the Grand River, and Steven Lorentz, of Kitchener-Waterloo, were part of the winning squad.

During the team’s playoff run, hundreds of hometown fans cheered them on from special watch parties.

“I’ll tell you, that third period – my fingernails are a whole lot shorter as a result,” Mark Lorentz, Steven’s father, joked to Bounce 99.5 radio host Angie Hill the morning after Game 7.

“The last 20 minutes were probably the 20 longest minutes of our lives,” he recalled. “When it was down to 10 seconds, I was like ‘oh-oh’ because they were pressing hard and, all of a sudden, it was zero.”

Although the Lorentz family was watching the big game from their home in Waterloo, they still got to be a part of the celebration as the team hoisted the historic cup.

“Stevie’s fiancé, she FaceTimed me. They brought the cup right to me. That was something,” Mark Lorentz explained. “He’s got a beer in his left hand and his phone in his right hand… He took me out on the ice because I didn’t get to go out on the ice.”

In July, following the win, Lorentz and Montour brought the Stanley Cup to their home communities.

When Montour arrived in Six Nations of the Grand River he was greeted by elected chief Sherri-Lyn Hill at the Ohsweken Speedway.

“There’s so much that he shows our youth with his intellect, his teamwork, his drive in hockey,” she said. “It just helps children dream big and realities can happen.”

Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict was also there to congratulate the defenceman.

“We’re here today to uplift Brandon and the work that he has done,” he said.

Ahead of a parade in his honour, Montour spoke to reporters.

“You can’t really describe how it feels, but I’m very grateful and obviously honoured to be in the position I’m in.”

A win for the Panthers, he said, was also a win for Six Nations.

“Today is obviously about me and what I’ve done, but also for everyone else and to share that with them.”

Given Montour’s Mohawk roots, his success brought out a sense of pride in those who came out to see him.

“We may come from the reserve, but everything that’s happened to our people – we can persevere and overcome,” said one spectator.

Although he didn’t get to celebrate, there was one other local player who was praised for his work in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Adam Henrique hails from Burford, Ont. – a small community in Brant County. Although his team, the Edmonton Oilers, were ultimately defeated by the Panthers, his hometown proudly flew an Oilers flag at the arena in his honour.

Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour, center, lifts the Stanley Cup trophy after Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Oilers 2-1. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Ont. powerlifter battles back after mild cold turns into rare and deadly disease

A physical therapist from Wallenstein, Ont., west of Elmira, shared his story with CTV News after a mild cold turned into a deadly disease.

Jared Maynard, 33, said working out was part of his identity.

“It’s something that I do basically every day in some way, shape or form,” Maynard explained in June.

So you can imagine the frustration when a common cold in 2023 kept him out of his home gym longer than he could have ever imagined.

“I started to feel a bit under the weather, but so did my wife and my kids. It was the season everyone was getting sick,” he said.

As his family started to recover, Maynard’s health only got worse. His cold symptoms evolved into insomnia, swollen lymph nodes and his skin turned yellow as his organs began to fail.

Maynard was eventually admitted into Kitchener’s Grand River Hospital, after originally being misdiagnosed with another illness.

“Then in six days or so I was on life support in the ICU, and in that time, we landed on a diagnosis of HLH,” he said.

HLH stands for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis– a rare disease that can be triggered by certain infections and causes white blood cells to attack other blood cells. As a result, the person’s organs grow larger.

Doctors began preparing Maynard’s family for the end.

“One of the nurses pulled my parents aside after and said there’s nothing else we can do here,” he recalled.

Then, out of nowhere, Maynard’s body fought back.

He began making improvements and, despite losing over 40 pounds, he woke up in the ICU about five weeks later.

“I wake up and I feel like I’m in someone else’s body,” he explained. “They nicknamed me ‘Miracle Man,’ the doctors and nurses in the ICU, because by all accounts that shouldn’t have happened.”

However, waking up was just the beginning. Maynard then had to re-learn how to stand, walk, talk and eat again.

In no time, he was released from the hospital and back at home making significant improvements.

He relied on his muscle memory every step of the way.

Then, on May 25, Maynard competed in his first powerlifting competition since his diagnosis in 2023.

He’s now back to work supporting his clients on their health journeys.

Maynard said the muscles he built up prior to the near-fatal diagnosis ended up being the life insurance policy he needed to win the fight of his life.

Jared Maynard, a 33-year-old powerlifter from Wallenstein, Ont., on June 6, 2024. (Spencer Turcotte/CTV Kitchener)

Kitchener doctor claims second Guinness World Records title

An emergency room doctor from Kitchener officially secured his second Guiness World Records title in November.

Khashayar Farzam attempted to break the record for bench pressing the most body weight repetitions in 30 seconds.

“I weighed in at 201.8 lbs. and the mark to beat was 38 reps. I did 44 reps today,” Farzam told CTV News.

Farzam and several members of Lil’s Gym in Kitchener filmed the attempt with multiple cameras. The crew recorded the entire endeavour, including Farzam’s weight, each weight used on the barbell and the barbell’s weight.

Farzam isn't new to winning. He broke the Guinness World Record for the most weight bench pressed in 30 seconds by a man, lifting 3,610 kg (7,959 lbs) on Nov. 1, 2023, by completing 30 repetitions of around 120 kg (265 lbs). He broke the old record by two reps.

Farzam also recently won in his class at the Pan-American Bench Press Championships.

“I thought this would be a good way to close off the season,” he said.

Farzam is an emergency room doctor at both Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener. When he’s not working, he’s usually lifting weights at Lil’s Gym.

“He's been putting in the work and he's a great member to have here. It's really cool to have people come in and see he's got the Guinness record. I mean, it makes us look good. But overall, he's just an awesome dude and we want to help him out,” said Matt Daciw, co-owner of Lil’s Gym.

Guinness World Records certified the successful attempt, confirming Farzam cranked out 44 reps to claim the record.

Dr. Khashayar Farzam attempts a second Guinness World Record at Lil's Gym in Kitchener on Nov. 12, 2024. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

Laurier Golden Hawks make a run for the Vanier Cup

The Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks might not have captured the Vanier Cup in November but they can still be proud of their season.

To punch their ticket to the Canadian university football championship, the Golden Hawks faced some incredibly steep competition.

After an unstoppable 10-0 record, they took down the Western University Mustangs during a thrilling showdown on their home turf.

University Stadium was packed to capacity as the Golden Hawks took on the defending champs. They ended up putting the ponies out to pasture, winning 51-31, and ending the Mustang’s season.

The Golden Hawks, meanwhile, claimed the team’s first Yates Cup since 2016.

Laurier kept up the momentum as they headed to Lennoxville, Quebec to take on the Bishop University Gaitors at the Uteck Bowl. They were able to soundly thump the Gaitors 48-24, but there was no time to rest on their laurels.

Immediately following their Uteck Bowl win, the Golden Hawks were back at it, preparing for the Vanier Cup.

They were facing down a titan: Laval University’s Rouge et Or, the winningest team in Vanier Cup history.

It was a daunting challenge, but Laurier’s coaching staff was hopeful.

“The team that’s won the most Yates Cups in the history of Yates Cups is the Western Mustangs, and we had to go through them to win the Yates Cup,” said Michael Faulds, the Golden Hawks’ head coach. “The team that has won the most Vanier Cups is the Laval Rouge et Or and that’s who we’re facing in the Vanier Cup. They’re a well-coached team. I have a lot of respect for Coach Constantin. They have outstanding players.”

However, the Golden Hawks came up short during the championship game, falling 22-17 to Laval.

It was Laurier’s first bid for a national championship in 19 years.

“We were confident and felt good going into the matchup against Laval,” Faulds explained. “We had chances and opportunities to try to win it, but we didn’t.”

Laurier’s offence was shut out in the first quarter and Laval became the first team to clinch the national title without scoring a touchdown.

Many of the Golden Hawks held out hope that their strong performance throughout the post-season would lead to more opportunities down the road.

Wide receiver Ethan Jordan was a standout for Laurier during the championship game, making 11 catches for a game-high 179 yards. He hopes to enter the CFL draft during the offseason.

The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks after losing the 2024 Vanier Cup. (Courtesy: CBC)