National Sports

OTTAWA — It was dicey towards the end, but the Ottawa Redblacks can breathe a little easy after ending a lengthy winless skid.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Olympic champion Canada is a step closer to the Paris Games after a 2-0 win over Jamaica on Friday in the opening game of a two-legged Olympic qualifier. And a little farther away from the memory of a dismal World Cup.

Calgary Flames defenceman Nikita Zadorov has spoken out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and says he and other Russian NHL players couldn't come to an agreement on what to say about it.

TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts' late-season push will largely be about team management for head coach Ryan Dinwiddie.

VICTORIA — A trade two days before the Vancouver Canucks started training camp appears to have limited goaltender Spencer Martin's chances of being Thatcher Demko's backup.

CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders are running out of playoff runway.

As Toronto FC's Titanic-like 2023 season nears an end, the talk is of professionalism.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski and partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand advanced to the women's doubles final of the Guadalajara Open with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over Mayar Sharif of Egypt and Jasmine Paolini of Italy on Friday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returned to the starting lineup Friday for Toronto's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.

BROSSARD, Que. — David Reinbacher is under pressure as a fifth-overall pick for the Montreal Canadiens. But head coach Martin St.