National Sports

TORONTO — With just handful of games to go in the regular season, Raptors coach Nick Nurse says certain players have to earn their minutes as he refines his playoff rotations. Norman Powell is one of them.

MONTREAL — With opening day around the corner, the Toronto Blue Jays plugged a hole in their starting rotation.

Two years into the latest competition format change at the Canadian men's and women's curling championships, the subject remains as polarizing as ever. "There's no right or wrong," said reigning Tim Hortons Brier champion Kevin Koe.

TORONTO — Phil Balke, the first pro gamer hired by Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, has been suspended for the remainder of the FIFA 19 competitive season for violations of the soccer video game's rules and code of conduct.

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Jodie Meeks for the remainder of the season. The six-foot-four, 210-pound Meeks signed a 10-day contract with the Raptors on Feb. 20. He averaged 7.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed head coach Jon Cooper to a multi-year contract extension, the club announced Tuesday. A native of Prince George, B.C.

TORONTO — Morgan Rielly had a good idea of what the Toronto Maple Leafs were getting in John Tavares the player. What impresses him even more — if that's possible considering the star centre's gaudy stat line — is the person.

TORONTO — Canada will play a friendly against Mexico on May 18 at Toronto's BMO Field before departing the next day for the Women's World Cup in France. The match against the 27th-ranked Mexicans will be the last for the No.

TORONTO — Rory (Red King) MacDonald was broken physically and mentally after his 2015 loss to then-UFC champion (Ruthless) Robbie Lawler at UFC 189. "My life was kind of going in a downward direction ...

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Former All-Star first baseman Todd Helton has received a misdemeanour citation on a charge of driving under the influence after getting involved in a one-car accident.