Injury Update – Key Names Sidelined as Cup Series Heads East

AIRDRIE, Alta. – In bull riding, it's not if you get hurt it's when.

And now that the season is well underway, with riders crisscrossing Western Canada week in and week out, a few notable names are set to miss time with injuries.

Ashton Sahli suffered an injury to his right forearm at the Ripley Rumble in Saskatchewan last weekend. X-rays confirmed there is no break, but with inflammation still present, the full picture may take time to diagnose accurately.

Sahli, who currently sits No. 7 in the PBR Canada national standings, said his status remains to be determined. He doesn't want to sit out of events unnecessarily if he's able to compete, and as for the upcoming eastern swing, starting in Hamilton, Ontario, he said he won't be cancelling any flights until he's told he has to.

Another rider who will be out for the next several weeks is Jeremy Maissoneuve. The 19-year-old from Quebec, fresh off his first PBR Canada Cup Series win in Brandon, Manitoba, fractured his jaw in a practice pen last week and underwent surgery.

The timing is unfortunate, as the injury cost Maisonneuve a chance to compete at The American, but with currently positioned No. 2 in the 2026 PBR Canada Championship race, he isn't overly concerned about the four to six-week recovery window before he can take the next steps toward returning to competition.

Maisonneuve said he expects to be back in late June, targeting a return in Ponoka, Alberta, including the Ponoka Stampede's standout PBR Canada event, the Wild West PBR.

The third notable injury belongs to Stefan Tonita, who has been surging during his fifth season in the PBR Canada ranks. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan cowboy currently sits No. 13 in the national standings and has already checked off major milestones in 2026, including winning the Lethbridge 5/5 Bucking Battle, narrowly missing the 90-point mark, besting Monster Chip for 89.5 points.

This past weekend in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Tonita dislocated his right elbow after coming off his championship round bull.

"I just went to catch myself and my elbow pretty much bent the wrong way, and then they put it back in at Melfort at the hospital there," Tonita said. "Then I went the next day to the city hospital in Saskatoon and I got a couple more scans on it."

Those scans determined Tonita shouldn't need surgery, but he's expected to be in a sling for the next two weeks before beginning rehab and strengthening work on the joint.

For Tonita, who is putting together a career year so far, having to sit out is frustrating, but with a nagging knee already in the mix, he says taking the right amount of time to get healthy is essential.

"The main thing is just to kind of take some time to process things," he said. "I mean, it's pretty chaotic when you do get injured. But when you get the chance to think about your change of plans for the season, it is tough thinking about the goals you set out for yourself. At the end of the day, those goals will still be there and still be accomplishable when you come back."

Despite the setback, Tonita said he's pleased with his season to date and feels he's still hunting for the kind of signature win that can fully open the door.

"I feel like I started off consistent. I've still been hunting for that big win to get things really going, but I'm pretty happy," he said. "Just the milestones that have happened so far this year that weren't really things I was expecting.

"All the goals that I've hit this year kind of made me believe in my abilities a lot more, so I'm happy about that."

Tonita expects to be back for Cody Snyder's Charity Bullbustin' in Calgary, returning in time for the busiest stretch of the season.

The PBR Canada Cup Series is set to ride this weekend inside TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, on May 30.