National Sports

MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Suzanne Birt reached the championship round at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts a second straight year with higher ambitions.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ryan Newman was released from a Florida hospital Wednesday, about 42 hours after his frightening crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — John Beilein stood in front of the Cavaliers and emotionally explained why he's leaving. This was goodbye. But even on his way out, the admired coach gave his players one last lesson.

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Max Veronneau in a trade Wednesday that sent forward Aaron Luchuk and a conditional sixth round pick in 2021 to the Ottawa Senators.

IRVINE, Calif. — Chicago Fire FC scored two first-half goals to defeat a young Toronto FC side 2-0 in MLS pre-season play Wednesday. Nick Slonina and Elliot Collier scored for Chicago in the 15th and 31st minute, respectively.

TORONTO — The CFL Players Association says it hasn't signed off on commissioner Randy Ambrosie's proposed new playoff format.

MONTREAL — Quebec boxing promoter Yvon Michel says he doesn't know the criminal bikers who showed up at one of his events last September and he never gave any of them tickets.

CALGARY — Cavalry FC has signed former Brazil youth international Richard Luca. The 22-year-old winger/attacking midfielder, whose full name is Richard Luca Rosa Da Silva Sousa, arrives from Torpedo Kutaisi of the Georgian top division.

KELOWNA, B.C. — The Kelowna Rockets have fired head coach Adam Foote just three months before they host the Memorial Cup. Assistant coach Kris Mallette has been named interim head coach.

TORONTO — It looks like Canada may face a different qualification path for future Rugby World Cups. Canada coach Kingsley Jones says World Rugby is looking at using the Americas Rugby Championship as the qualifier for the region.