National Sports

MONTREAL — A committee tasked by the Quebec government with boosting Quebecers' interest in hockey says the sport should be cheaper to play so that lower-income and immigrant families can more easily participate.

A memorable curling season essentially comes to a close this weekend ahead of a new quadrennial that will see some interesting changes on the domestic scene.

Three-time world boxing champion Mary Spencer is surprised that Daniel Trepanier still has his job. "He should have been fired a long time ago," Spencer said. "A long time ago.

Canada's two senior lacrosse leagues are asking a professional league based in the United States to loosen restrictions on its player contracts.

Canada has been drawn in a group with France, Nigeria and South Korea at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica this summer. The 16-team tournament runs Aug. 10-28 with games in San Jose and Alajuela.

Halifax and Moncton, N.B., will host the 2023 world junior hockey championship, giving Canada the unique distinction of hosting the event twice in a span of four months.

TORONTO — Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have been flying for the Maple Leafs to open the playoffs. After some disappointing statistical showings in recent years, that's the good news. The bad news? Things are about to get a lot tougher.

NEW YORK — Shane Wright took top spot among North American skaters as the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau released its final rankings for the league's 2022 entry draft Thursday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies star Dillon Brooks has been suspended for one game without pay by the NBA for making “unnecessary and excessive contact” that resulted in a fractured elbow for Golden State's Gary Payton II in Game 2 of the the

Canadians Julia (The Jewel) Budd and Rory (Red King) MacDonald, both former Bellator champions, kick off their Professional Fighters League season Friday, the first step hopefully toward a world title and US$1-million payday.