National Sports

LONDON — English soccer is uniting to boycott social media for four days in response to relentless online abuse of players.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Colton Herta bounced back from a disappointing IndyCar opener by winning the pole Saturday for the street course race in downtown St. Petersburg.

Alex Kopacz says he's never felt so close to the grave. The Olympic champion brakeman in men's bobsled is in hospital with COVID-19. The 31-year-old entered London University Hospital on Wednesday and required oxygen to help him breathe.

NEW YORK — Julius Randle had 31 points and 10 rebounds, RJ Barrett added 25 points and 12 boards, and the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 120-103 on Saturday for their ninth straight victory.

Brazil's Santos FC said goodbye to Yeferson Soteldo on Saturday, saying it had sold the Venezuelan international winger to Toronto FC. While Santos confirmed the sale in a news release, Toronto did not immediately confirm the signing.

Just 21, Victoria's Quinn Ngawati has already played professionally in both of rugby's codes, worn the Maple Leaf, had a franchise fold under him and moved continents during a pandemic. There has been no shortage of learnings along the way.

CALGARY — The women's playoffs are set at the Players' Championship, while the men will have to wait another day to decide the top six moving on. Reigning Canadian champion Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man.

CALGARY — At the end of a "strange day" for the Calgary Flames, Sean Monahan led them to a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens with a goal and two assists Friday. The Flames' victory was necessary to their playoff hopes.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Steven Matz won his fourth consecutive start, Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Friday night.

OTTAWA — Michael McNiven only had to make 12 saves for the shutout as the Laval Rocket blanked the Belleville Senators 3-0 on Friday in American Hockey League play.