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Mark Cuban thinks tanking in NBA ‘isn’t an issue’

Sport 5 Mins Read

With NBA commissioner Adam Silver fining teams for tanking and making statements about repercussions, there has been a lot of talk in league circles about the process and strategy of tanking its effectiveness and fairness.

The Utah Jazz received a $500,000 fine and the Indiana Pacers got a $100,000 fine for recent game management and roster decisions, the league announced on Feb. 12.

Tanking, in a nutshell, is strategically and effectively losing games through playing or not playing players that can help win. In the long run, the hope is to position oneself in the draft and in free agency to improve the team long term.

One of the latest sports figures to partake in the conversation was Dallas Mavericks minority owner and basketball advisor Mark Cuban, who took to social media to express his take.

‘The NBA has [quite] been misguided thinking that fans want to see their teams compete every night with a chance to win. It’s never been that way that way,’ Cuban wrote. ‘When I got into the NBA, they thought they were in the basketball business. They aren’t.’

‘They are in the business of creating experiences for fans. Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to. They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special.’

Cuban, the Mavericks’ majority owner for 23 years and now minority owner, said that fans understand when their team isn’t good. What fans prioritize more is hope, he implied.

‘Fans know their team can’t win every game. They know only one team can win a ring. What fan that care about their team’s record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring,’ Cuban wrote. ‘The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3, when you tank.’

Did Mark Cuban, Mavericks lose intentionally?

Tanking happens often in the NBA and it has for a better part of the last two decades. At least Cuban said so on X.

He also added that fans ‘appreciated it’ whenever they would willfully lose games.

‘We didn’t tank often. Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka [Doncic] and improve our team,’ Cuban wrote on X.

Cuban and the Mavericks acquired Doncic via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who selected Doncic with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, for Trae Young, who Dallas chose at the fifth pick, and a protected future first-round pick.

Positioning themselves for that pick, they finished the previous season with a 24–58 record, which included a 3-15 start through their first 18 games, and finished the season winning just two of 14 games.

In the 2025 NBA Draft, the Mavericks received the No. 1 pick, selecting Cooper Flagg out of Duke.

During the 2024-25 season, the Mavericks sent Doncic, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial blockbuster trade in return for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick.

Dallas finished the 2024-25 season with a 39-43 record, losing in a postseason play-in qualification game to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Mavericks became the second straight team, after the Hawks, to qualify for postseason play and to receive the first overall pick despite only having a 1.8% chance to win the NBA draft lottery.

The bottom NBA standings in the 2025-26 season

The Sacramento Kings have the worst record in the league at 12-44, just above them are the Washington Wizards at 14-39. Here are the bottom ten teams in the NBA standings through the All-Star break in the 2025-26 season.

  • Sacramento Kings, 12-44
  • Washington Wizards, 14-39
  • New Orleans Pelicans,15-41
  • Indiana Pacers, 15-40
  • Brooklyn Nets,15-38
  • Utah Jazz, 18-38
  • Dallas Mavericks, 19-35
  • Memphis Grizzlies, 20-33
  • Milwaukee Bucks, 23-30
  • Chicago Bulls, 24-31

Tank-a-thon predicts 2026 NBA Draft through All-Star break

The following order in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Tankathon.com, predicts the Kings with the No. 1 pick and the Wizards at No. 2.

The Pelicans would have the No. 3 pick but it goes to the Hawks after a they acquired an unprotected 2026 first-round pick from New Orleans during the 2025 NBA Draft as part of a deal for the 13th pick, which was Derik Queen. The Hawks secured the right to the most favorable 2026 first-round pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks.

Here’s the hypothetical order of the 2026 NBA Draft as of Feb. 17, according to Tankathon.com:

  • No. 1: Sacramento Kings
  • No. 2: Washington Wizards
  • No. 3: New Orleans Pelicans (traded to Hawks)
  • No. 4: Indiana Pacers
  • No. 5: Brooklyn Nets
  • No. 6: Utah Jazz
  • No. 7: Dallas Mavericks
  • No. 8: Memphis Grizzlies
  • No. 9: Milwaukee Bucks
  • No. 10: Chicago Bulls

Cuban: Bigger issue in NBA than tanking

Cuban stands by that tanking is one of least of the NBA’s concerns, or should be. Rather he insisted that the NBA should focus on game attendance.

‘The NBA should worry more about fan experience than tanking,’ Cuban wrote on X. ‘It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking. You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their three kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their [favorite] player. Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are.’

The average cost for a family of four to attend an NBA game during the 2025-26 season is $277.65 for the cheapest available tickets, a parking spot, two beers, two sodas and four hot dogs, according to Bookies.com.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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How Rick Rule Reinvested His Silver Gains: 5 Silver Stocks He Owns

Investing 6 Mins Read

Over the past year, the spot price of silver has surged past a 40 year record and into triple-digit territory, reaching a high of US$121 per ounce this past January.

For silver investors who bought into the physical market when the price was low, this first leg of the silver bull market has provided an opportunity to take ample profits.

At the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, Rick Rule, proprietor at Rule Investment Media, shared his strategy for leveraging profits made in the physical silver market.

“That’s how I save. I maintain liquidity in US currency and I save in gold,” he said.

What did Rule do with the remaining half of his gains from selling physical silver?

He deposited those profits into high-quality silver-mining stocks.

“My reasoning being as follows: If silver goes nowhere for a year, if it stays rangebound, the best silver producers are discounting US$45 silver a year from now. If the price is at US$75 or US$80 they’ll be discounting US$75 or US$80 silver, which means the stock will be up 50, 60, 70 percent,” said Rule.

“The speculative outlook for the silver stocks seemed to be better than the speculative outcome for silver. If silver stays flat for a year, by definition silver won’t give me any return. But if it stays flat, the silver stocks would give me 50 or 60 percent. So it was a better speculative outcome,’ he added.

Here’s a look at the five silver stocks Rule invested in after selling his physical silver. Market cap figures were accurate as of February 12, 2026.

1. Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM)

TSX market cap: C$88.43 billion
NYSE market cap: US$64.53 billion

Wheaton Precious Metals is the world’s biggest precious metals streaming company.

Its business model involves making upfront payments to precious metals companies in order to gain the right to purchase all or a portion of their metal production at a low, fixed cost. Investors benefit from gaining exposure to a wide range of precious metals companies operating in politically stable jurisdictions, while reducing the risk associated with investing in individual mining stocks. The company pays a quarterly dividend.

Wheaton currently has streaming agreements in place for 23 operating mines and 25 development-stage projects across five continents. This includes investments in Newmont’s (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Peñasquito mine in Mexico, Sibanye Stillwater’s (NYSE:SBSW) Stillwater and East Boulder mines in Montana, US, and Glencore’s (LSE:GLEN,OTCPL:GLCNF) Antamina silver mine in Peru.

2. Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS,NASDAQ:PAAS)

TSX market cap: C$33.3 billion
NASDAQ market cap: US$23.67 billion

Pan American Silver holds interest in five silver-producing mines located in four Latin American countries.

This includes its three wholly owned mines: Huaron in Peru, Cerro Moro in Argentina and La Colorada in Mexico — its largest silver-producing asset. The company also holds a 95 percent interest in the San Vicente mine in Bolivia and a 44 percent stake in the Juanicipio mine in Mexico, operated by Fresnillo (LSE:FRES,OTCPL:FNLPF). Pan American’s gold-producing segment includes its second largest silver mine by production, the El Peñon gold-silver mine in Chile.

Ranked among the world’s largest primary silver producers, Pan American’s 2025 silver production total came in at 22.8 million ounces, alongside 742,200 ounces of gold. It’s set its silver production guidance for 2026 to between 25 million and 27 million ounces, white its expected gold production for the year is 700,000 to 750,000 ounces.

3. Industrias Penoles (OTCPL:IPOAF)

OTC market cap: US$26.14 billion

Founded in 1887, Mexico-based Industrias Peñoles is a vertically integrated metals company and a global leader in refined silver production. The company holds a majority stake in Fresnillo, the world’s leading primary silver producer.

Industrias Peñoles is also a top producer of refined gold and lead in Latin America, and one of the world’s leading producers of refined zinc and sodium sulfate. Its mining portfolio includes the Sabinas mine in Zacatecas, the Tizapa mine in Zacazonapan and the Velardeña mine in Durango. In the first half of 2025, Industrias Peñoles’ overall silver production from its mining operations came in at 30.3 million ounces of the metal.

4. AbraSilver Resource (TSXV:ABRA,OTCQX:ABBRF)

TSXV market cap: C$2.15 billion
OTC market cap: US$1.57 billion

Canadian junior Abrasilver Resource’s wholly owned flagship asset is the advanced-stage Diablillos silver-gold project in Salta, Argentina. It hosts five significant deposits: Oculto, JAC, Fantasma, Laderas and Sombra.

In December 2024, the company published an updated prefeasibility study for Diablillos, outlining a net present value (NPV) of US$747 million after tax at a 5 percent discount, as well as a 27.6 percent internal rate of return (IRR) and a two year payback period. An updated mineral resource estimate from July 2025 totals approximately 199 million ounces of silver and 1.72 million ounces of gold in the measured and indicated category.

Abrasilver has been busy expanding the upside potential at Diablillos via a Phase 6 drill program. The 15,000 meter campaign is aimed at extensions across various exploration targets. Results coming in from previous campaigns continue to demonstrate the potential for identifying gold and silver resources outside of the current resource estimate.

5. Vizsla Silver (TSXV:VZLA,NYSEAMERICAN:VZLA)

TSX market cap: C$1.73 billion
NYSEAMERICAN market cap: US$1.25 billion

Vizsla Silver is advancing toward production at its Panuco silver-gold project in Sinaloa, Mexico. Its expected to reach first silver production in the second half of 2027. In May 2025, the company acquired the producing Santa Fe silver-gold mine and property located to the south of Panuco. Production at the mine between 2020 and 2024 amounted to 370,366 metric tons of ore, with an average head grade of 203 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver and 2.17 g/t gold.

At Panuco, Vizsla completed a feasibility study in November 2025, outlining over 17.4 million ounces of silver equivalent production annually over an initial 9.4 year mine life, an after-tax NPV of US$1.8 billion at a 5 percent discount, an 111 percent IRR and a seven month payback at US$35.50 silver and US$3,100 per ounce gold.

The company has several upcoming catalysts for 2026. In the first half of the year, management is focused on completing detailed engineering, underground drilling, geophysical surveys and optimization work in order to make a construction decision in the second half of 2026 once permits are received. Throughout 2026, Vizsla is expecting to conduct 60,000 meters of diamond drilling across the Panuco district. A fifth phase of metallurgical testwork to optimize silver and gold recoveries using material from a 10,000 tonne bulk sample program is also planned.

After the interview with Rule took place, 10 workers were abducted from Panuco. Mexican authorities have since recovered 10 bodies as part of an investigation into the incident, with five being identified as Vizsla workers. The company has suspended operations at the site, although engineering-based remote work continues.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Empire Metals Limited Announces Major Drilling Campaign to Commence at Pitfield

Investing 8 Mins Read

LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 / Empire Metals Limited (LON:EEE)(OTCQX:EPMLF), the AIM-quoted and OTCQX-traded exploration and development company, is pleased to announce the commencement of a major drilling campaign at the Pitfield Project in Western Australia (‘Pitfield’ or the ‘Project’). This programme is designed to evaluate the extent of the giant TiO2 mineral system at Pitfield, expand the Cosgrove Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), and enhance the confidence levels associated with the MRE at Thomas.

Highlights

  • A total of 754 drill holes are planned:

    • 683 Air Core (‘AC’) drillholes for approximately 34,150 metres, and

    • 71 Reverse Circulation (‘RC’) drillholes for approximately 7,100 metres,

    • totalling 41,250 metres of drilling.

  • The fully funded campaign will utilise 3 AC drill rigs and 2 RC rigs and drilling is expected to be completed by mid-April.

  • The key outcome of the drilling will be an updated MRE at Thomas, with increased resource classification into the Measured and Indicated categories, and a significantly larger updated MRE at Cosgrove.

  • Updated MRE anticipated in Q3 2026 to support ongoing engineering and study work.

Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, said:‘We are pleased to commence this important drilling campaign at Pitfield, focused on upgrading our maiden MRE from the Thomas and Cosgrove Prospects (announced 14 October 2025) and extending the exploration target area. This fully-funded campaign is the largest undertaken to date at Pitfield and will significantly improve our understanding of the scale and grade of the Pitfield MRE, and also increase the confidence levels of Measured and Indicated Resources in readiness for developing mine design and Ore Reserves.’

Drilling Programmes

The titanium discovery at Pitfield is of unprecedented scale and hosts one of the largest and highest-grade titanium resources reported globally, with a current MRE totalling 2.2 billion tonnes grading 5.1% TiO₂ for 113 million tonnes of contained TiO₂.

The MRE, which covers only the Thomas and Cosgrove deposits, includes a weathered zone resource of 1.26 billion tonnes at 5.2% TiO₂ and a significant Indicated Resource of 697 million tonnes at 5.3% TiO₂, predominantly from the Thomas deposit. Titanium mineralisation at Pitfield occurs from surface and displays exceptional grade continuity along strike and down dip. The MRE extends across just 20% of the known mineralised footprint, providing substantial potential for further resource expansion.

Since commencing the maiden drilling campaign at Pitfield on 27 March 2023, Empire has completed 390 drill holes for a total 33,001 metres comprising:

  • 25 DD drill holes for 3,449 m

  • 140 RC drill holes for 18,764 m

  • 225 AC drill holes for 10,797 m.

Diamond drilling was recently conducted at the Thomas prospect, from mid-November to mid-December 2025 (announced 12 November 2025). A total of 8 holes were drilled for 745.1m.

The diamond drilling targeted the high-grade central core identified within the Thomas MRE with the primary purpose of generating ore samples for metallurgical and geotechnical testwork. The whole drill core underwent extensive geotechnical evaluation prior to cutting core samples. A quarter core sample was collected for assay analysis. These samples have been submitted to the analytical laboratory for analysis, with final results expected in Q1 2026.

Largest drilling campaign to date to commence at Pitfield

An extensive AC and RC drill programme has been planned at Pitfield consisting of exploration drilling, initial mineral resource drilling and infill mineral resource drilling. AC drilling has previously been used at Pitfield to drill-test the weathered cap and collect bulk metallurgical samples (announced 28 April 2025). It is a cost-effective, efficient and proven drilling method at Pitfield that is commonly used for shallow exploration projects, and the success of the previous drilling campaigns has confirmed its suitability for use in the Pitfield MREs.

The drill programme, the largest at Pitfield to date, will cover an area 37km long and up to 12km wide. There are 754 holes planned for a total of 41,250m. All programmes will take place in parallel ensuring the drilling is more efficient and cost effective. It is expected that the drilling will begin in late February and finish in mid-April. There will be up to 5 drill rigs at the project. Once completed, Empire will have drilled close to 75,000 meters at Pitfield.

The exploration drilling will be focused on delineating the extents of the giant Pitfield Ti-rich mineral system. Recent drilling has focussed on the Thomas and Cosgrove prospects to delineate MREs, however this has focussed on less than 20% of the currently known surface area of the mineral system. This exploration drilling campaign will generate data that will provide a much better understanding of the size of the system, the mineralisation and associated alteration and extend the area explored by drilling to 60-70% of the currently identified area of mineralization. Furthermore, the drilling will also provide essential information to support the study phase regarding the location of high-grade titanium mineralisation and the potential sites for process and infrastructure facilities.

At Thomas, AC and RC drilling will take place on a smaller spaced grid (100m x 100m) over the higher grade TiO2 rich core of the deposit to increase the confidence level of the current MRE. The drilling will focus on the weathered zone where the anatase is most prevalent.

At Cosgrove, an extensive AC and RC programme will occur to extend the current MRE to the north and the south. This drilling, as at Thomas, will be focussed on the weathered zones with the aim of significantly increasing the current MRE of 430Mt @ 5.8% TiO2. The location and spacing of the planned AC/RC drillholes have been designed to complement the existing MRE and allow the data generated from this drill programme to be incorporated with the existing MRE data which will potentially mean efficiencies in generating the updated MRE for Cosgrove.

The AC and RC drillholes will be geologically logged and sub-sampled on 2m intervals and geochemically analysed; this data will provide the basis for the updated MREs at Thomas and Cosgrove Prospects.

The drilling is expected to finish mid-April with all samples to be at Intertek Analytical Laboratory in Perth by the end of April.

Figure 1. Satellite image of Pitfield showing planned drill collars in relation to current MRE outlines.

Competent Person Statement
The technical information in this report that relates to the Pitfield Project has been compiled by Mr Andrew Faragher, an employee of Empire Metals Australia Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire. Mr Faragher is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr Faragher has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Mr Faragher consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

**ENDS**

For further information please visit www.empiremetals.co.uk or contact:

Empire Metals Ltd

Shaun Bunn / Greg Kuenzel / Arabella Burwell

Tel: 020 4583 1440

S. P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nomad & Joint Broker)

Ewan Leggat / Adam Cowl

Tel: 020 3470 0470

Canaccord Genuity Limited (Joint Broker)

James Asensio / Christian Calabrese / Charlie Hammond

Tel: 020 7523 8000

Shard Capital Partners LLP (Joint Broker)

Damon Heath

Tel: 020 7186 9950

Tavistock (Financial PR)

Emily Moss / Josephine Clerkin

empiremetals@tavistock.co.uk

Tel: 020 7920 3150

About Empire Metals Limited
Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE)(OTCQX:EPMLF) is an exploration and resource development company focused on the commercialisation of the Pitfield Titanium Project, located in Western Australia. The titanium discovery at Pitfield is of unprecedented scale and hosts one of the largest and highest-grade titanium resources reported globally, with a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) totalling 2.2 billion tonnes grading 5.1% TiO₂ for 113 million tonnes of contained TiO₂.

Titanium mineralisation at Pitfield occurs from surface and displays exceptional grade continuity along strike and down dip. The MRE extends across just 20% of the known mineralised footprint, providing substantial potential for further resource expansion.

Conventional processing has already produced a high-purity product grading 99.25% TiO₂, suitable for titanium sponge metal or pigment feedstock. With excellent logistics and established infrastructure, Pitfield is strategically positioned to supply the growing global demand for titanium and other critical minerals.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Empire Metals Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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LAURION Strengthens Team with Appointment of Capital Markets and Mining Specialist Sean Ghosal as Strategic Advisor

Investing 6 Mins Read

(TheNewswire)

Toronto, Ontario February 17, 2026 TheNewswire Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: LME | OTCQB: LMEFF | FSE: 5YD) (‘LAURION’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sankarsan (‘Sean’) Ghosal as a strategic advisor. His addition further strengthens the Company’s governance, capital markets expertise, and strategic capabilities as LAURION advances its Ishkōday Gold-Polymetallic Project in Ontario.  

 

Mr. Ghosal brings a highly complementary blend of mining engineering, capital markets research, and structured mining finance experience. He is currently an Associate on the Streaming & Royalties team at Sprott, where he supports deal origination, technical and financial due diligence, structuring, and portfolio monitoring for large-scale private resource investment strategies. Prior to joining Sprott, Mr. Ghosal worked in mining equity research at Stifel Financial, covering base and precious metals companies. He previously held engineering and project development roles supporting mining projects from study stage through execution. His cross-functional background across operations, engineering, research, and investment analysis is expected to provide LAURION with a disciplined, investor-focused perspective as the Company works towards key technical and value-definition milestones for the Ishkōday Project.

 

Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, President and CEO of LAURION, stated: ‘Sean brings exactly the skillset and perspective we are seeking to support the Board as the Ishkōday Project enters its next stage of development. He combines a hands-on understanding of mining operations with a rigorous, capital markets-driven approach to decision-making. His ability to bridge technical decisions with financial outcomes directly aligns with LAURION’s strategic vision. We remain focused on advancing the Ishkōday Project in a manner that is consistent with best practices and on delivering real, durable value for shareholders. Sean’s addition strengthens our governance capabilities and supports our long-term strategy.’

 

Strategic Addition Aligned with Value Creation

 

Mr. Ghosal’s appointment reflects the Company’s focus on capital discipline, technical rigor, and alignment with sophisticated investor expectations. His experience evaluating mining assets, from both an engineering and capital allocation perspective, is expected to enhance LAURION’s ability to:

 

  • Strengthen governance as the Company advances toward a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE‘) and subsequent technical milestones. 

 

  • Align technical decision-making with capital market expectations, including with respect to the Company’s ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives. 

 

About LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc.

LAURION is a mid-stage junior mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ‘LME’. The Company currently has 278,716,413 common shares outstanding. LAURION’s President and CEO, Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, is the Company’s largest shareholder, directly or indirectly holding an aggregate of 17,221,306 common shares. Together with long-term ‘Friends and Family’ investors, this reflects alignment between management, the Board, and shareholders, which is reflected in management’s long-term commitment to disciplined execution, technical value definition, and responsible project advancement at Ishkōday. LAURION’s primary focus is the 100%-owned, district-scale Ishkōday Project, a 57 km² land package hosting gold-rich polymetallic mineralization.

 

LAURION’s strategy is centered on deliberate value creation. The Company is prioritizing systematic technical advancement, integrated geological and structural modeling, and the evaluation of optional, non-dilutive pathways, including historical surface stockpile processing, that may support flexibility in LAURION’s exploration plans without diverting the Company’s focus from its core exploration objectives.

 

The Company’s overarching objective is to build project value before monetization, ensuring that any future strategic outcomes are supported by technical clarity, reduced execution risk, and demonstrated scale. While the Board remains attentive to strategic interest that may arise, LAURION is not driven by transaction timing. Instead, the Company is focused on advancing the Ishkōday Project in a manner that strengthens long-term shareholder value.

 

LAURION will continue to communicate updates through timely disclosure and will issue press releases in accordance with applicable securities laws should any material information arise.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc.

Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin – President and CEO

Tel: 1-705-788-9186 Fax: 1-705-805-9256

 

Douglas Vass – Investor Relations Consultant

Email: dvass@laurion.ca

Website: http://www.LAURION.ca

Follow us on: X (@LAURION_LME), Instagram (laurionmineral) and LinkedIn ()

 

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future events including with respect to LAURION’s business, operations and condition, management’s objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions, the Company’s ability to advance the Ishkōday Project, the nature, focus, timing and potential results of the Company’s exploration, drilling and prospecting activities, including the Company’s plans to complete an MRE, diamond drill program, and other planned activities and technical milestones for the Ishkōday Project, and the statements regarding the Company’s exploration or consideration of any possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities, as well as the potential outcome(s) of this process, the possible impact of any potential transactions referenced herein on the Company or any of its stakeholders, and the ability of the Company to identify and complete any potential acquisitions, mergers, financings or other transactions referenced herein, and the timing of any such transactions, as well as the anticipated benefits of the Company’s new strategic advisor. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events and future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those projected herein including as a result of a change in the trading price of the common shares of LAURION, the TSX Venture Exchange or any other applicable regulator not providing its approval for any strategic alternatives or transactional opportunities, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold and/or other metals, possible variations in grade or recovery rates, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the failure of contracted parties to perform, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company’s publicly filed documents. Investors should consult the Company’s ongoing quarterly and annual filings, as well as any other additional documentation comprising the Company’s public disclosure record, for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. All sample values are from grab samples and channel samples, which by their nature, are not necessarily representative of overall grades of mineralized areas. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on the assay values reported in this press release.

 

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

 

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

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Silver Institute: Market Heading for Sixth Straight Deficit in 2026

Investing 4 Mins Read

Silver surged past US$100 per ounce for the first time in January before retreating below the US$80 level, marking a volatile start to 2026 as the precious metal faces renewed investor appeal.

In its latest annual outlook, published on February 10, the Silver Institute notes that the rally comes after a year when silver saw its strongest annual performance since 1979. Investor interest accelerated into early 2026 and pushed the price to multiple record highs, driving the gold-silver ratio below 50 for the first time since 2012.

Looking forward, global silver investment is expected to remain strong this year as the market posts its sixth consecutive annual deficit. The Institute’s forecast, based on analysis by London-based consultancy Metals Focus, points to a 67 million ounce shortfall in 2026, with total demand once again outstripping total supply.

Silver supply in 2026

On the supply side, total global silver output is forecast to increase by 1.5 percent in 2026 to 1.05 billion ounces, the highest level in a decade. Mine production is expected to edge up 1 percent to 820 million ounces, supported by stronger output from existing operations and newly commissioned projects.

Mexico is forecast to deliver much of the growth from primary silver mines. In China, higher output is expected from China Gold International Resources’ (TSX:CGG,OTCPL:JINFF) Jiama polymetallic mine as expansion continues.

Canada is projected to see gains from projects such as Hecla Mining’s (NYSE:HL) Keno Hill and New Gold’s (TSX:NGD,NYSEAMERICAN:NGD) New Afton, which is being acquired by Coeur Mining (NYSE:CDE). Morocco’s Zgounder mine is also ramping up production, while Peru is expected to record declines at certain operations.

By-product silver from primary gold mines is forecast to increase. Contributions are expected from Barrick Mining’s (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) Pueblo Viejo in the Dominican Republic, Gold Fields’ (NYSE:GFI) Salares Norte in Chile and the Nezhda project in Russia, owned by SolidCore (formerly Polymetal International).

Output from primary silver mines is expected to remain largely flat, accounting for 28 percent of total mine supply.

Silver recycling supply is projected to rise 7 percent, exceeding 200 million ounces for the first time since 2012, as elevated price levels encourage scrap flows, particularly from silverware.

Although the silver price has cooled since this year’s highs, the Institute notes that it’s established technical support and remains underpinned by tight physical supply and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.

Many forces that drove silver in 2025 remain in place. Constrained physical availability in London, geopolitical tensions, US policy uncertainty and concerns about the US Federal Reserve’s independence continue to provide support.

Silver demand in 2026

On the demand side, total global silver consumption is forecast to remain broadly flat in 2026. Gains in physical investment are expected to offset weakness in jewelry, silverware and some industrial segments.

Meanwhile, industrial fabrication, the largest component of silver demand, is projected to decline by 2 percent to around 650 million ounces, marking a four year low.

As in 2025, the drag is seen coming primarily from the photovoltaic (PV) sector.

Although solar installations worldwide are expected to continue expanding, manufacturers are reducing silver use per panel through thrifting and substitution, resulting in lower silver demand from PV applications.

Other industrial uses offer partial relief. Growth in data centers, artificial intelligence technologies and automotive electronics is expected to sustain silver consumption across several end uses, mitigating some of the PV losses.

Consumer demand, however, remains under pressure from record-high prices. Jewelry demand is forecast to fall more than 9 percent to 178 million ounces, marking the lowest level since 2020.

In contrast, physical investment demand is set to strengthen considerably.

The Institute projects a 20 percent rise to a three year high in physical investment to 227 million ounces.

After three consecutive annual declines, western retail demand is expected to rebound as investors respond to silver’s price momentum and persistent macroeconomic risks.

Exchange-traded product holdings currently stand at an estimated 1.31 billion ounces, and coin and bar demand has firmed in recent months. As of February 9, the silver price was up 11 percent year-to-date.

Silver deficit to persist

Even with higher supply and recycling, the silver deficit is set to persist. The Institute notes that the global silver market will continue to rely on the drawdown of aboveground bullion inventories to bridge the gap.

While volatility is likely to continue, the Institute forecasts that strength in gold and sustained physical tightness may help cushion risks for silver as it navigates another year defined by deficit and demand.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Syntholene Energy Corp Appoints International Geothermal Leader Eirikur Bragason as Lead Project Manager

Investing 7 Mins Read

Bragason has held senior leadership roles in 650 mW+ of Geothermal Energy Infrastructure Deployment Totalling ~$3.3b, Including the World’s Largest Geothermal Power Plant, Hellisheidi in Iceland.

Syntholene Energy CORP (TSXV: ESAF,OTC:SYNTF) (FSE: 3DD0) (OTCQB: SYNTF) (‘Syntholene’), announces the appointment of Eirikur Bragason as Lead Project Manager for Syntholene’s planned synthetic fuel demonstration facility and future commercial scale-up at its cornerstone production footprint in Iceland. Mr. Bragason will support Syntholene’s infrastructure development strategy, project governance, technical risk management, and expansion efforts.

Mr. Bragason brings more than 25 years of experience in geothermal energy development, large-scale power infrastructure, and complex project execution across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, strengthening the Company’s depth in geothermal energy, power plant construction, and large-scale energy infrastructure delivery.

Mr. Bragason has acted as Chief Project Manager or Senior Technical Lead on some of the world’s most significant geothermal and renewable energy projects. These include the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland, a combined 300 megawatt electric and 400 megawatt thermal facility recognized as the largest geothermal power plant on Earth. He also served as the Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Green Energy, overseeing a total of 4.2 gigawatts of thermal energy in operation encompassing a total investment of approximately $6 billion. Mr. Bragarson has further overseen major geothermal project development across Indonesia, the Philippines, Hungary, China, and Central Europe.

‘Syntholene is pursuing a technically rigorous and commercially disciplined approach to synthetic fuel production, differentiated by its unique integration of geothermal energy,’ commented Mr. Bragason. ‘I look forward to supporting the company as it transitions from demonstration facility to commercial scale, showcasing its potential to materially improve the economics of clean fuels.’

‘Eirikur is one of the most experienced geothermal project leaders in the world,’ said Dan Sutton, CEO of Syntholene. ‘His direct experience delivering utility-scale geothermal infrastructure, managing multinational development teams, and executing complex energy projects is aligned with Syntholene’s commercial scale-up strategy. As we advance our thermal hybrid power-to-liquids platform and deploy geothermal-anchored synthetic fuel production, his insight and operational discipline will be invaluable.’

Mr. Bragason is a globally recognized expert in geothermal power plant project management. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Arctic Green Energy, where he oversaw international geothermal platform development and operational execution. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer and Chief Project Manager of KS Orka Renewables and Orka Energy in Singapore, leading the development and delivery of geothermal assets across multiple jurisdictions.

About Geothermal Energy in Iceland

Iceland’s unique geological position atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge provides exceptional access to high-temperature geothermal energy, which today serves as a cornerstone of its 100% renewable electricity grid, as well as providing over 90% of the nation’s district heating. This baseload power is characterized by its high capacity factors, often exceeding 90%, providing a level of grid stability that distinguishes it from intermittent renewables like wind and solar.

According to data from the Low-Carbon Power 2025 Report, Iceland’s geothermal infrastructure currently boasts an installed capacity of approximately 799 megawatts electrical equivalent (e), contributing nearly 28% of the country’s total electricity generation. The existing infrastructure, managed by leaders such as Landsvirkjun and ON Power, includes world-class facilities like the Hellisheidi and Reykjanes plants, which are increasingly integrating carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to move toward carbon-negative operations.

The National Energy Authority of Iceland (Orkustofnun) identifies a massive ‘understood potential’ for future development through the Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilization. Current estimates suggest that Iceland’s total geothermal energy potential for electricity generation is approximately 20 terawatt hours per year of high-enthalpy energy available for industrial scaling.

This stable political and geological environment has positioned Iceland as a hub for long-term industrial expandability, particularly for high-energy users in the eFuel and Digital Infrastructure sectors. Reports from atNorth and Country Reports note that the ‘predictable, low-cost nature of Icelandic geothermal power’ is attracting a new wave of industrial tenants, including eFuel producers and AI-ready data centers, who require scalable, 24/7 renewable energy to meet global ESG mandates.

Iceland continues to leverage its ‘geothermal-first’ policy to foster strategic collaborations between energy producers and prospective industrial customers. This synergy bolsters confidence that industrial users can secure long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) that are insulated from the volatility of global fossil fuel markets, solidifying Iceland’s role as an energy powerhouse of the North Atlantic.

About Syntholene

Syntholene is actively commercializing its novel Hybrid Thermal Production System for low-cost clean fuel synthesis. The target output is ultrapure synthetic jet fuel, manufactured at 70% lower cost than the nearest competing technology today. The company’s mission is to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral synthetic fuel at an industrial scale, unlocking the potential to produce clean synthetic fuel at lower cost than fossil fuels, for the first time.

Syntholene’s power-to-liquid strategy harnesses thermal energy to power proprietary integrations of hydrogen production and fuel synthesis. Syntholene has secured 20MW of dedicated energy to support the Company’s upcoming demonstration facility and commercial scale-up.

Founded by experienced operators across advanced energy infrastructure, nuclear technology, low-emissions steel refining, process engineering, and capital markets, Syntholene aims to be the first team to deliver a scalable modular production platform for cost-competitive synthetic fuel, thus accelerating the commercialization of carbon-neutral eFuels across global markets.

For further information, please contact:
Dan Sutton, CEO
comms@syntholene.com 
www.syntholene.com
+1 608-305-4835

X: @Syntholene
Linkedin: Syntholene Energy
Youtube: Syntholene Energy

Investor Relations
KIN Communications Inc.
604-684-6730
ESAF@kincommunications.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words ‘expect’, ‘anticipate’, ‘aims’, ‘continue’, ‘estimate’, ‘objective’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘should’, ‘believe’, ‘plans’, ‘intends’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including but not limited to statements regarding the completion of the demonstration facility, commencement commercialization efforts, potential to materially improve the economics of clean fuel, the successful implementation of the test facility, commercial scalability, technical and economic viability, anticipated geothermal power availability, anticipated benefit of eFuel, and future commercial opportunities, are forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to execute its business plan, that the eFuel will have its expected benefits, that there will be market adoption, and that the Company will be able to access financing as needed to fund its business plan. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including, without limitation, Syntholene’s ability to meet production targets, realize projected economic benefits, overcome technical challenges, secure financing, maintain regulatory compliance, manage geopolitical risks, and successfully negotiate definitive terms. Syntholene does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Readers are advised to exercise caution and not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284115

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Teenage Olympians juggle world-class sports and high school classwork

Sport 3 Mins Read

LIVIGNO, Italy — When Team USA snowboarder Jess Perlmutter gets finished chasing medals in Italy, she’ll have homework to do.

A lot of homework.

“I had like 42 assignments missing, like last week,” Perlmutter said with a laugh. “Which is really bad. I’m usually a good student and only have like a few missing.”

Perlmutter and teammate Lily Dhawornvej will compete Feb. 17 in a final at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Each qualified Feb. 15 by finishing the top 12 of the women’s slopestyle qualifying at Livigno Sports Park, which was a heck of an achievement considering this fact:

Both are only 16 years old.

In snowboarding and freestyle skiing, that’s not too young to represent the United States in an Olympics. And particularly these Olympics. Some of brightest rising stars in Livigno have been high school aged kids. On the men’s side, 17-year-old Americans Ollie Martin (big air/slopestyle) and Alessandro Barbieri (halfpipe) have each impressed.

“We’re young,” Perlmutter said, “but it’s a pretty young sport.”

Indeed. Ten of the 30 riders in the women’s slopestyle qualifying, including Perlmutter and Dhawornvej, weren’t born before 2007. Sky Remans, who competed for Belgium, won’t turn 16 until October.

Obvious question: What are these kids doing for high school?

Answer: The majority are taking online classes that offer the flexibility to complete course work on their own timeframes while competing globally.

“My schedule just got pretty busy,” said Dhawornvej, of Colorado. “I wasn’t really home that much. Online is definitely the move. … It’s pretty hard. I’m not going to lie. I’m pretty behind on a lot of my schoolwork. But I do online school, so I can snowboard and just do it online whenever I have time.”

Freestyle skier Avery Krumme, 17, reached the finals of the slopestyle at this Olympics, finishing 11th. She is a native Canadian who chose to compete for the United States, and she does “online school through my local high school,” she said.

“My teachers are really kind,” Krumme said. “They sort of let me go slow, because they understand this takes up a lot of my time and effort, and just everything goes into my skiing and training for it. So they understand. I’ll hopefully graduate this June. We’re working up to that.”

Perlmutter, who’s originally from New Jersey, attends the Killington Mountain School in Vermont, a school geared toward helping winter sports athletes “pursue excellence on the slopes and in the classroom,” reads the school’s website.

“It’s not fully online,” Perlmutter said. “I can go in there whenever I want and do school, just like a normal school. But, yeah, I just do it from remote. … Especially at this level, pretty much everyone, if they are doing school, they are doing online or a special program or something.”

And about those missing assignments?

“Honestly,” Perlmutter said, “I’ll just tell my teachers that I’m at the Olympics.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Slopestyle or big air? For Olympians, it’s not a choice

Sport 4 Mins Read

LIVIGNO, Italy — Mac Forehand’s first two jumps were so good that he could take it easy on his third and still win the evening.

Two other Americans – Troy Podmilsak and Konnor Ralph – scored well enough to advance, too, and all three are promising to come out swinging with bigger and better tricks in the final at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Yeah, Feb. 15 was a good night for Team USA in the men’s freestyle skiing big air qualifying.

“I don’t want to jinx them,” said teammate Alex Hall, “but I think we are going to get at least one or two medals in the big air. They are riding so good. It’s so fun to watch.”

One quarter of freeski big air’s 12-man Olympic final on Feb. 17 will be comprised of Americans who’d already competed in these Games in slopestyle.

Same goes for the men’s slopestyle snowboarding qualifying final on Feb. 18. Three USA riders qualified – also on Feb. 15 – for that final. Ollie Martin, Jake Canter and Red Gerard were in the big air previously in snowboarding.

So what does slopestyle have to do with big air? That seems a popular question.

Qualifying Olympians in snowboarding and freestyle skiing are automatically added – or forced, you might also say – to compete in both slopestyle and big air. There is a systematic connection between these two events despite clear differences. Slopestyle is contested on a longer course with rails and various jumps. Big air is just one jump off an enormous ramp. It’s kind of like traditional ski jumping, except athletes perform acrobatic tricks before landing.

It is entertaining. It’s more dangerous, too.

As such, it’s generally viewed as better to have slopestyle scheduled first in an Olympics, because you aren’t risking injury as much in slopestyle, whereas an injury in big air – if it’s up first – could impact both events.

Freestyle skiing got the benefit of having slopestyle first in these Olympics, while snowboarding did not.

Hall, who won silver in freeski slopestyle earlier in these Olympics, was the lone American not to make it out of the Feb. 15 big air qualifying.

“I just love slopestyle way more, honestly,” Hall said. “… Not that one is more impressive than the other, but this is like going to war. You’ve just got to survive and do the craziest trick you can ever think of, where slopestyle is a lot about finesse and figuring out a run.”

Gerard, a former gold-medalist in snowboarding slopestyle, was critical earlier this Olympics of a format that makes him compete in both events when “I’m not a fan of big air at all,” he said. “… If I wasn’t forced to do (big air), I wouldn’t do it.”

While others haven’t voiced it as strongly, many seem to agree with Gerard and Hall. They’d lean toward a preference for slopestyle, even if they’ve performed well in big air.

“I definitely like slopestyle more,” said snowboarder Martin, who nearly medaled in big air earlier in these Olympics. “It just feels safer. You’re able to have a run going. It’s more creative.”

Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, a three-time bronze medalist in slopestyle, was injured during big-air training leading up to these Olympics, causing him to miss that event. He was fortunate to be able to return for slopestyle, and he has qualified for that final.

“The last two Olympics since (big air) has been added,” McMorris said, “it’s been slopestyle into big air (for snowboarding). Big air is pretty dangerous. So I definitely preferred the other way around. …

“Big air can take names. Including myself.”

With the slopestyle already out of the way in freestyle skiing, an American like Forehand said he took advantage of a bit more freedom for risks in big air.

By scoring 93.25 in his first jump and 89.75 in his second, Forehand placed first in qualifying with a 183.00 total. He is a strong contender for a medal in the big air final, and he’s not alone among Team USA.

“I’d prefer, I think, big air second, honestly,” Forehand said. “We did big air first in Beijing. I feel like you can go into big air kind of in a gung-ho attitude, like do whatever you want. You don’t have to worry about getting hurt for slopestyle.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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NCAA women’s hockey power rankings: This player gave Wisconsin a boost

Sport 5 Mins Read

The playoff picture is coming into view across NCAA women’s hockey as the final week of the season approaches. 

It also means the top programs in the nation are in their final week without Olympians on their rosters. There are only two games left in Milan, Italy, with Team USA and Canada facing off in Thursday’s gold medal game, while Sweden and Switzerland face off for bronze.

This month, with many stars overseas, some players have also stepped forward individually, bolstering their 2026 PWHL Draft status.

This week, Princeton was the biggest faller, while several programs took small steps forward.

Here’s a look at the top 10 NCAA women’s hockey programs this week:

Women’s college hockey power rankings

1. Wisconsin (WCHA)

Wisconsin got an unexpected boost this weekend with the return of fifth-year forward Marianne Picard, who came back in time to finish her career with the Badgers from a leg injury that originally looked like it would end her season. She collided with a goal post and missed seven games. Lacey Eden, meanwhile, continued to climb the national scoring charts with a four-point weekend as the Badgers swept Minnesota State. Eden now sits only one point behind Abbey Murphy, who’s at the Olympics.

2. Ohio State (WCHA)

Ohio State had an impressive weekend, beating Minnesota 4-2 and 3-1. Rookie Maxine Cimoroni had two goals and two assists, while captain Jocelyn Amos had another strong weekend for the Buckeyes, helping to power their two-way game. Goaltender Hailey MacLeod has looked better facing more shots in recent weeks, but Ohio State’s crease remains its biggest question mark heading to the playoffs.

3. Minnesota (WCHA)

A pair of hard-fought losses to Ohio State were difficult for the Gophers. The return of Abbey Murphy, Nelli Laitinen, Josefin Bouveng, and Tereza Plosova from the Olympic Games can’t come soon enough for the Gophers, which managed only two goals this past weekend. Chloe Primerano scored her ninth goal and 24th point, tying her for 11th in the NCAA among defenders in scoring.

4. Quinnipiac (ECAC)

Quinnipiac beat Brown 5-2 and Yale 4-3 in overtime. As she has all season, Kahlen Lamarche continued to produce, with three goals and four points combined in those games. She now has 35 goals in 34 games this season, which has her tied for second among the NCAA’s top goal-scorers. With Team Canada looking for an influx of youth, Lamarche has thrust herself into that conversation this season.

5. Penn State (AHA)

Losing 3-2 in overtime to RIT to open its weekend won’t instill confidence in Penn State as a nationally ranked team in anyone. They remain so high because of a weak schedule. This is a significantly different team without Tessa Janecke, Matilde Fantin and Nicole Hall, who all advanced to the Olympic quarterfinals, with Janecke and Hall set to play for a medal.

5. Northeastern (Hockey East)

It was like another Beanpot weekend with Northeastern playing two other Boston schools. They beat Boston University, but were then shut out by Boston College. Northeastern’s youth have had to do a lot of lifting up front recently, and it’s come with some bumps. Defender Jules Constantinople is climbing the PWHL draft charts with her second-half play.

7. Yale (ECAC)

An overtime loss to Quinnipiac and a shutout win over Princeton made this another good weekend for Yale, which is peaking at the right time. They did squander a two-goal lead in the final 1:02 against Quinnipiac, but they carried that lead for most of the match against the Bobcats and also shut down one of the top lines in the nation with Princeton.

8. UConn (Hockey East)

UConn handled Boston University and New Hampshire with ease this weekend. With Tia Chan in net, the Huskies can beat anyone on any given night. While it could be a concern with other programs, UConn doesn’t have one player it relies on offensively. They certainly have players who score more than others and help drive possession, but this team thrives when the attack is spread out.

9. Cornell (ECAC)

Cornell beat St. Lawrence in overtime and Clarkson this past weekend. It was a good test for Cornell, which won a pair of hard-fought one-goal games. Annelies Bergmann continues to be one of the best goaltenders in college hockey, making 64 saves over the weekend. She has a 1.83 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and seven shutouts through 30 games.

10. Princeton (ECAC)

Something didn’t click for Princeton this past weekend. They opened their weekend with a shutout loss to Yale, then had Brown take them to overtime. Issy Wunder is a superstar in NCAA women’s hockey and a top prospect for the 2026 PWHL Draft, but she can’t be Princeton’s only weapon if this team wants to win.

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Bobsled queens inspire with medals on the track, motherhood off it

Sport 4 Mins Read

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Elana Meyers Taylor’s boys are too young to realize that mom is an Olympic champion. Kaillie Armbruster Humphries’ son just wanted to play in the snow around the medals podium where his mom had just stood.

But every woman who’s ever tried to juggle motherhood and a career, who’s felt as if she’s giving everything she’s got and more and still coming up short, they’ll know. And Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries hope they’ll see a little of themselves in the two women on that Olympic podium.

“I hope it shows that just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you have to stop living your dreams,” said Meyers Taylor, who finally got the Olympic gold medal she has so long sought by winning the monobob on Monday, Feb. 16, finishing ahead of Germany’s Laura Nolte and Armbruster Humphries.

The standards for any woman are impossible. Add a family, in whatever fashion it is, and it gets exponentially more difficult. Add getting older, in a society that considers women over the hill before they’re eligible to run for president, and you might as well be scaling the mountain on which the Milano Cortina bobsled track is located.

Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries have felt that. Have felt all that.

Two nights ago was the first time Armbruster Humphries had been apart from her son since he was born and it gutted her. She knew she needed rest – she is competing in the Olympics, after all – and she wouldn’t get it with a toddler who still wakes up in the middle of the night.

That didn’t make it any easier.

“My husband is here, my parents are here, my in-laws are here. So I knew he was in really good hands,” Armbruster Humphries said. “So for me, it’s compartmentalizing probably more than anything. Recognizing that mom guilt is a thing and it existed, but that I needed to do it in order to be my best.”

Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries are the first to acknowledge they are not doing it alone. They both have husbands who are supportive and, as former bobsledders, understand the grind. They have families who pitch in.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee provides resources, financial and otherwise, for its athletes who are mothers, which isn’t something a lot of women can say.

But no one else can quiet the voice in her head that every working mother has. No one else can weigh the conflicting choices and decide what sacrifices are acceptable. No one else can tell them it’s OK when priorities change or give them permission to put themselves first.

“This medal is also for all those moms who weren’t necessarily able to live their dreams, but their kids are now their dreams,” Meyers Taylor said. “Because those people keep me grounded. Those people kept me going. And those people are the ones who reached out to me when things got hard and encouraged me to keep going.”

And as they stood atop the medals podium with their little boys watching, Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries hoped they gave other moms that same type of encouragement.

It doesn’t matter if they are chasing Olympic medals or just trying to get through the day. These two badass women understand and empathize with the struggles because they face them, too.

“I hope that it inspires other people to go out and chase their dreams, whatever it may be,” Armbruster Humphries said. “I grew up in the sport when, if you have kids, once you get to 40, it’s all downhill. And Elana and I get to be proof that that’s not true.

“It might look different then when you’re 20, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t stand on top of the podium. It doesn’t mean you can’t go out there and achieve your dreams.”

It’s not easy, this juggling act. But for everyone who does it, those Olympic medals around the necks of Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries are for you, too.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

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