National Sports

SURREY, B.C. — There have been a lot of early mornings for the B.C. Lions this week. Practices and team meetings were bumped up in an attempt to get players working on eastern time while they trained at the club's facility in suburban Vancouver.

Canada, normally a fixture at the Rugby World Cup, is down to its final chance at qualifying for the sport's showcase. The Canadian men, ranked 23rd in the world, face No.

Since the CFL instituted its crossover rule in 1996, 11 teams have qualified for the playoffs in the opposite division. All of them have come from the west, but there has not been a crossover team in the Grey Cup. The B.C.

MONTREAL — Tomas Plekanec says he's retiring from the NHL after the Montreal Canadiens placed the veteran centre on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.

Sebastien Toutant bounces effortlessly on a stability ball, switching from his knees to his feet to his rear end, then repeats the movements one more time before jumping off the squishy, air-filled sphere.

CALGARY — The owner of a Calgary trucking company involved in the fatal Humboldt Broncos bus crash has made his first appearance in court.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Canada's Rosie MacLennan and Sarah Milette teamed up to win silver in the women's synchronized event at the world trampoline championships on Friday. It was the second medal in as many days for MacLennan, of King City, Ont.

Toronto Argonauts defensive back Matt Black figures it's only fitting the CFL playoffs begin on the same day Canada remembers those who've made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will entertain the B.C.

The so-called Big Three of Western, Laval and Calgary are getting plenty of attention on the Canadian university football playoff scene thanks to their undefeated records. But don't sleep on fourth-ranked Montreal.

HIROSHIMA, Japan — Canada's Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro were in third place after the pairs short program Friday at the NHK Trophy. Moore-Towers, from St. Catharines, Ont., and Marinaro, from Sarnia, Ont., had 67.70 points.