National Sports

TORONTO — After seeing his team concede a franchise-worst 64 goals last season, Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney is looking forward to integrating veteran defender Laurent Ciman into his backline.

EDMONTON — Linebacker J.C. Sherritt retired Wednesday after spending his entire eight-year CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos. Sherritt, 30, was the CFL's top defensive player in 2012 and helped Edmonton capture the Grey Cup in 2015.

Canadian coach Marcel Rocque spent nearly three years working with the Chinese curling program. He'd have no problem travelling back despite the heightened tension between the two countries.

The Thank You Canada Tour was a chance for ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje to skate their competitive programs in front of audiences from coast to coast on a nightly basis for nearly two months.

Calgary's Cavalry FC has made Brazilian winger-forward Oliver Minatel its first international signing in advance of the Canadian Premier League's inaugural season.

HAMILTON — He's a first-time head coach, but Orlondo Steinauer of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has surrounded himself with veteran experience.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Frances Tiafoe rolled up his white shirt's right sleeve, flexed his biceps and slapped the muscle five times. Then he pounded his chest and yelled, "Yeah! Let's go! Let's go! Come on!" Forgive the young American's exuberance.

HALIFAX — HFX Wanderers FC have signed Canadian Chakib Hocine, a six-foot-five defender who played for Ekenas IF in Finland's second tier most recently.

MOSCOW — Five years after the Sochi Olympics, the man who carried the Russian flag at the opening ceremony has been banned for doping at those games.

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — Malaysia's foreign minister said Wednesday that the government will not budge over a ban on Israeli athletes in a para swimming competition and has decided that the country will not host any events in the future involving Israel