Canada & World

Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, right, celebrates his goal with teammates during second period NHL playoff hockey action against the Dallas Stars in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, May 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Flames eliminate Stars in 7 games to set up NHL’s Battle of Alberta

Gaudreau scores OT winner in 3-2 Calgary victory

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nicholas Paul (20) celebrates his second goal of the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs during second period, first round, game seven NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, May 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Lightning down Leafs in Game 7 as Toronto endures more playoff heartbreak

‘It stings, it hurts, it’s disappointing’: Leafs captain

Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau smiles as he attends a news conference in Vancouver, on Dec. 6, 2021. Boudreau will return as the Canucks head coach next season after helping to turn the struggling NHL club around as a mid-season replacement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

There it is Vancouver: Boudreau will be back to coach Canucks

Boudreau coached his 1,000th regular-season game in January

Canada’s assistant coach Kori Cheverie’s ascension coupled with the growing number of women entering pro hockey management and developmental roles has rapidly sped the timetable on when — not if — there will be a woman working behind an NHL bench. (Photo by Dave Holland/Hockey Canada Images)

NHL closing in on seeing its first female coach

The league’s female hockey-related ranks have increased to nearly 30, 5 team presidents are women

Canada’s assistant coach Kori Cheverie’s ascension coupled with the growing number of women entering pro hockey management and developmental roles has rapidly sped the timetable on when — not if — there will be a woman working behind an NHL bench. (Photo by Dave Holland/Hockey Canada Images)
Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, left, and Los Angeles Kings defenceman Mikey Anderson battle during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Pair of Canadian clubs see NHL playoff matchups extended to Game 7

Edmonton-L.A. and Toronto-Tampa Bay series go the distance

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, left, and Los Angeles Kings defenceman Mikey Anderson battle during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s voluntary veteran minicamp Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the team’s headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Rams to host Bills to open NFL season; Wilson’s Broncos at Seattle Week 1

League releases 2022 schedule

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s voluntary veteran minicamp Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the team’s headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian men to host Iran in June soccer friendly at B.C. Place Stadium

Canada, ranked 38th in the world, and No. 21 Iran are both preparing for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Team Canada rugby fans take in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action at Starlight Stadium just outside Victoria Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Vancouver rugby fans on alert as United States to host World Cup for first time

U.S. bid group included Vancouver in an original list of cities under consideration

Team Canada rugby fans take in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action at Starlight Stadium just outside Victoria Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Los Angeles Kings’ Carl Grundstrom (91) looks on as Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane (91), Connor McDavid (97) and Jesse Puljujarvi (13) celebrate a goal during third period NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Oilers take long route from Edmonton to L.A., avoiding COVID-19 testing

NHL team elects to drive over the border in Vancouver on its way to playoff game

Los Angeles Kings’ Carl Grundstrom (91) looks on as Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane (91), Connor McDavid (97) and Jesse Puljujarvi (13) celebrate a goal during third period NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
FILE - In this April 7, 2012, file photo, Anaheim Ducks’ Sheldon Brookbank, left, checks Calgary Flames’ Akim Aliu, a Nigerian-born Canadian, during third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta. Aliu’s book titled “Akim Aliu Dreamer: Growing Up Black in the World of Hockey,” is due out in February and shares a journey of being a Nigerian-born child of mixed-race parents attempting to assimilate at a young age in Ukraine and Canada. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh, File)

Aliu lands book deal on how he confronted racism in hockey

Graphic novel shares Aliu’s dealing with the difficulties of assimilating in Ukraine and Canada

FILE - In this April 7, 2012, file photo, Anaheim Ducks’ Sheldon Brookbank, left, checks Calgary Flames’ Akim Aliu, a Nigerian-born Canadian, during third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta. Aliu’s book titled “Akim Aliu Dreamer: Growing Up Black in the World of Hockey,” is due out in February and shares a journey of being a Nigerian-born child of mixed-race parents attempting to assimilate at a young age in Ukraine and Canada. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh, File)
FILE - The Olympic rings are seen during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. Will it be 2030, the first opening on the IOC calendar? Or might the International Olympic Committee make a double award and also name the 2034 host, which it did 4 1/2 years ago when it had two strong candidates and named Paris for the 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles for 2028. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

Salt Lake, Sapporo head race to 2030 Olympics, and maybe ‘34

An announcement is expected early next year

FILE - The Olympic rings are seen during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. Will it be 2030, the first opening on the IOC calendar? Or might the International Olympic Committee make a double award and also name the 2034 host, which it did 4 1/2 years ago when it had two strong candidates and named Paris for the 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles for 2028. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Fans line up to pay their respects during the visitation for Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur, Sunday, May 1, 2022 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Fans gather to pay tribute to Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur

Hall of Famer lying in state ahead of national funeral

Fans line up to pay their respects during the visitation for Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur, Sunday, May 1, 2022 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid (97) fires the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Ryan McDonagh (27) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (not shown) for a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Stars and sleepers: Players to watch as the NHL playoffs get underway

A look at some big names (and not so big) that could make an impact

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid (97) fires the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Ryan McDonagh (27) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (not shown) for a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) battles for ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during second half NBA round one playoff basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, April 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

No historic comeback for Raptors, eliminated after 132-97 blowout loss to 76ers

Embiid leads Philadelphia to six-game NBA playoff series win over Toronto

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) battles for ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during second half NBA round one playoff basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, April 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Randy Ambrosie at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton on Friday, December 10, 2021. The CFL will move its harshmarks closer to the centre of the field and allow teams to take the ball at the 40-yard line following a successful field goal or single in 2022. “It’s about improving game flow,” the CFL commissioner said Wednesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

CFL to move hashmarks closer to the centre of field in 2022

Rule changes: 2 QBs allowed on field at the same time

Randy Ambrosie at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton on Friday, December 10, 2021. The CFL will move its harshmarks closer to the centre of the field and allow teams to take the ball at the 40-yard line following a successful field goal or single in 2022. “It’s about improving game flow,” the CFL commissioner said Wednesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse watches during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

“Could be us” — Nick Nurse believes Raptors are capable of historic comeback

No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse watches during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) scores a goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer (47) during overtime in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. Edmonton won 2-1. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Oilers’ star Connor McDavid’s drive to be NHL’s best player starts off the ice

McDavid is on pace to be the league’s top scorer for the fourth time

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) scores a goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer (47) during overtime in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. Edmonton won 2-1. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden during the first half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Raptors fend off elimination with crucial 103-88 win over 76ers in Philadelphia

Toronto, now trailing 3-2, hosts Game 6 in NBA playoff series on Thursday

Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden during the first half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Images of hockey legend Guy Lafleur are projected on the ice during a ceremony at the Bell Centre prior to an NHL hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins in Montreal, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Lafleur passed away on April 22 at the age of 70. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Canadiens pay tribute to legendary Lafleur before game with Boston Bruins

National funeral to be held in Montreal on May 3

Images of hockey legend Guy Lafleur are projected on the ice during a ceremony at the Bell Centre prior to an NHL hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins in Montreal, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Lafleur passed away on April 22 at the age of 70. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes, right, is checked by Calgary Flames centre Blake Coleman during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Saturday, April 23, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Elias Lindholm hits 40-goal mark as Calgary Flames down Vancouver Canucks 6-3

B.C. side six points out of playoff spot with three games to play

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes, right, is checked by Calgary Flames centre Blake Coleman during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Saturday, April 23, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh