National Sports

TORONTO — John Tavares expects hockey's restart — if it gets off the ground — to be a sprint. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain is eager to see how his team matches up.

TORONTO — The CFL is allowing its teams to reopen their fitness facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CALGARY — For Sheldon Kennedy and Willie O'Ree, sport was a vehicle for societal change. NHL players have been inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame before, but usually for their body of work on the ice.

LANGFORD, B.C. — Rugby Canada has signed a multi-year deal with global sportswear manufacturer Macron. The Canadian governing body joins Italy and Scotland as national rugby unions partnered with the Italian-based company.

Canadian tennis star Felix Auger-Aliassime is set to return to action next month. Auger-Aliassime announced Wednesday that he will take part in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, which is scheduled to start June 13 in Nice, France.

Whitecaps icon Bob Lenarduzzi remembers watching Alphonso Davies knock the ball ahead on a run and thinking the youngster's touch was too heavy.

TORONTO — Former UFC fighter Sam (Hands of Stone) Stout is mourning the death of his one-month-old daughter. "Most of you already know that we lost Sydney Love Stout in her sleep the night before last," the 36-year-old from London, Ont.

Reigning NBA 2K League MVP Nidal (Mama Im Dat Man) Nasser poured in 77 points Tuesday, setting a regulation-time scoring record as Blazer5 Gaming thumped Bucks Gaming 105-62 in the opening game of their best-of-three esports series.

The NHL has a plan. Now it's hoping to eventually get the green light.

TORONTO — One of the longest-serving coaches in Canadian university sports is stepping down. Michele Belanger, the University of Toronto women's basketball head coach, will retire on July 1, the school announced Tuesday.