From international team showdowns to professional and amateur settings, Canadian athletes have never had a larger, more successful presence on the global sporting stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Canadians, we understand the challenge is trying to stay on top of it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enter NorthStar Bets’ inaugural Canadian Heat Index<\/em>. Each month, we\u2019ll track, share, and celebrate the performances that fill us with pride and deserve a Mountie-esque salute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> <\/strong> 2. Summer McIntosh <\/strong> 3.<\/strong> Sam Bennett<\/a> 4. Brad Marchand<\/a> 5. Gabriel Diallo<\/strong>Canadian Heat Index: Top 5<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hometown<\/strong>: Hamilton, Ont.
Sport\/League:<\/strong> Basketball, NBA
At the time of writing, Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from putting a bow on a historic season. The Canadian is the main cog in their well-oiled machine and is torching the NBA Finals (32.4 PPG). He would become the first Canadian to win the NBA MVP and an NBA championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hometown:<\/strong> Toronto, Ont.
Sport\/League:<\/strong> Swimming
Our brightest Olympic star just put on a clinic at the Canadian swimming trials for the upcoming World Championships. McIntosh set three world records \u2014 in the 400M freestyle, 200M individual medley, and 400M individual medley \u2014 becoming the first swimmer to do so in one meet since Michael Phelps at the 2008 Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hometown:<\/strong> East Gwillimbury, Ont.
Sport\/League: <\/strong>Hockey, NHL
The Florida Panthers’ decision regarding Bennett’s upcoming free agency should be simple: Pay the man. Bennett set the NHL record for the most road goals (13) in a single postseason, and was a menace to play against anytime he touched the ice. The Conn Smythe winner scored five goals to help sink the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hometown: <\/strong>Halifax, N.S.
Sport\/League: <\/strong>Hockey, NHL
Marchand just cemented himself as one of the greatest deadline acquisitions of all time. The 37-year-old was runner-up to Bennett in Conn Smythe voting, had the fourth-most playoff goals (10), and became the second player in the last 50 years to score five goals in multiple Cup finals. The other? Mario Lemieux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hometown:<\/strong> Montreal, Que.
Sport\/League:<\/strong> Tennis, ATP
Canadian tennis fans should get familiar with Diallo’s name, because you’re going to see him a lot. The 23-year-old picked up his first ATP singles title at the Libema Open after an impressive run to the quarterfinals in the Madrid Open a month earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCanadian Heat Index: 6-9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n