National Sports

Ryan Nembhard is ready to perform on the biggest stage in NCAA basketball. The Aurora, Ont., native and his Gonzaga Bulldogs — the fifth seed in the Midwest Region — open March Madness on Thursday against the 12th-seeded McNeese State Cowboys.

The Calgary Flames have signed college free agent Sam Morton to a one-year contract. The deal for the 2024-25 season is US$950,000, the Flames announced Monday. The 24-year-old from Lafayette, Colo.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is next in line for comparisons with Tiger Woods because golf, like other sports, is always looking for the heir to the throne.

Sports Illustrated will continue operations after the company that owns the brand agreed with a new publisher for its print and digital products. Minute Media took over on Monday after reaching a licensing agreement with Authentic Brands Group.

NEW YORK — Tampa Bay Lightning right-wing Nikita Kucherov, Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard, and Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Philadelphia Flyers star Wayne Simmonds announced his retirement Monday, ending a 15-year career that included NHL All-Star Game MVP honours.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have assigned prospect David Reinbacher to the American Hockey League's Laval Rocket. The 19-year-old defenceman had a goal and 10 assists with Switzerland's Kloten HC over 35 games this season.

LONDON (AP) — Nottingham Forest was handed a four-point deduction on Monday for overspending, dropping the team into the Premier League's relegation zone with two months left in the season.

Sunday's Scoreboard NHL Winnipeg 6 Columbus 1 Carolina 7 Ottawa 2 Pittsburgh 6 Detroit 3 N.Y. Rangers 5 N.Y. Islanders 2 Chicago 5 San Jose 2 Vegas 3 New Jersey 1 St.

SASKATOON — The Concordia Stingers are back on the mountain top of U Sports women’s hockey. On Sunday night at Merlis Belsher Place, the Stingers beat the Toronto Varsity Blues 3-1 in the final of the U Sports women’s hockey championship.