National Sports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The coaching shuffle in Nashville is complete, with Andrew Brunette officially hired as the Predators coach on Wednesday, a little over 12 hours after the team announced that John Hynes was fired.

The NHL's free-agent frenzy is back in its regular time-slot. After three years of schedule disruptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league's signing period returns to July 1.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The tradition of hockey’s playoff beard goes back to at least the mid-1980s, with the Detroit Red Wings widely credited with beginning the facial hair phenomenon. The playoff beard rub might have started last month by accident.

TORONTO — Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste feels the Toronto Blue Jays have an opportunity to turn a player's negative action into a positive.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Peterborough Petes avoided elimination from the Memorial Cup playoff picture on Tuesday night by beating the Quebec Remparts 4-2 at the Sandman Centre.

MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Canada will put its unbeaten record to the test on Wednesday night when it faces the powerhouse United States squad in the World Para Hockey Championship at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays were quick to set the tone in their three-game series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, scoring early and often in a 7-2 victory at Rogers Centre. Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

OTTAWA — The federal government is imposing new conditions on funding for Canada Soccer, the sports ministry confirmed to The Canadian Press on Tuesday.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Canada dug itself an early hole and fell 5-2 to the defending champion United States on Tuesday in group play at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps are returning home and looking to put their road trip woes behind them. The Whitecaps have not won away from B.C.