National Sports

TORONTO — A visit by the woeful Athletics came at an ideal time for the Toronto Blue Jays. Canada's lone big-league team was in a tailspin before finding its form last week.

LONDON — Defence lawyers representing five hockey players accused of sexual assault closed their case Monday, wrapping up testimony in a trial that has heard from nine witnesses over roughly six weeks, including the complainant and one of the accused

TORONTO — Ask Ivory Coast soccer coach Emerse Fae about Canada and he is quick to praise — and reel off names. "I like this team because the Canada team has very good players — good players like Jonathan David, like (Cyle) Larin, a good striker.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The only times that Sergei Bobrovsky spent any time really reflecting on winning the Stanley Cup were the obvious moments. The on-ice celebration that night. The day of the parade. Things like that.

The Oilers will face the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup final for the second straight year, starting with Game 1 in Edmonton on Wednesday. The Panthers won last season's showdown in seven games to collect their first-ever NHL title.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has postponed announcing the host city of the 2026 women's world hockey championship.

Buck Pierce will make his CFL head-coaching debut in familiar surroundings. Pierce begins his tenure as B.C.'s head coach Saturday night when the Lions host the Edmonton Elks.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have signed defenceman Tyler Kleven to a two-year contract extension, the NHL club announced Monday. The deal carries an average annual value of US$1.6 million through the 2026-27 season.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's Aleksander Barkov thought the team meeting was over. He found it odd that the Panthers hadn't been told they could leave. Turns out, there was a good reason — two of them, actually.

“Breakfast Television” host Dina Pugliese and “Property Brothers” duo Drew and Jonathan Scott are among the stars headlining new HGTV and Food Network Canada shows under the Rogers umbrella.