National Sports

CALGARY — The Western Hockey League playoffs will begin April 22, the league announced Thursday. That will allow for the rescheduling of previously postponed regular-season games. The 2021-22 regular season is scheduled to end April 17.

BEIJING — Who else but Marie-Philip Poulin? The big-time performer who has made a career of thriving on hockey's biggest stages did it again Thursday in Beijing, helping Canada reclaim Olympic women's hockey gold against its arch rival.

NEW YORK (AP) — One of the world's greatest big-wave surfers, Brazil's Maya Gabeira, has embarked on a kid-friendly adventure.

HAMILTON — Forge FC fell 1-0 to Mexican heavyweight Cruz Azul in CONCACAF Champions League action Wednesday night. Rómulo Otero scored the winner off a long-range free kick in the 31st minute.

ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Canada's Marielle Thompson has won the silver medal in women's ski cross at the Beijing Olympics after finishing second in a drama-filled final. Thompson, from Whistler, B.C.

CALGARY — Bailed out by his teammates after a taking a high-sticking double-minor in the game's opening minute, Elias Lindholm expressed his appreciation on the scoreboard.

BEIJING — Canada reclaimed Olympic women's hockey gold with a 3-2 win over the United States on Thursday. Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. has no exotic plans for the All-Star break, he's just happy to use the time for bonus bonding with his three younger brothers in Minnesota.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Kamloops Blazers outgunned the Victoria Royals on their way to a 6-4 win on Wednesday night. The Blazers (33-12-1-0) outshot Victoria in every period. Victoria (12-28-4-1) has not won a game this season against Kamloops.

WINNIPEG — Mark Scheifele credited a mini vacation for helping spark his five-game goal streak.