National Sports

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative premier was absent from Halifax's Pride parade over the weekend, marking the second year in a row he missed the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in Atlantic Canada.

Gabriel Vilardi said his contract extension was "inevitable" and he was glad to avoid arbitration. The Winnipeg Jets forward, a restricted free agent, signed a six-year, US$45 million contract last Friday.

HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton has big plans to honour hometown NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A celebration of Gilgeous-Alexander will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, and is dubbed as "Shai Rally Day.

CALGARY — After leading Canada to victory at this year's 4 Nations Face-Off, head coach Jon Cooper is getting his same support staff for the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

LOS CABOS — The tropical area at the tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula is best known for its beaches, resorts and sport fishing. Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont.

TORONTO — Addison Barger has played a big part in the Toronto Blue Jays' rise to the top of the American League East division this season.

OTTAWA — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats had plenty to cheer about following a 30-15 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks Sunday night. Not only was this the fourth straight win for the Tiger-Cats (4-2) but they’re now first in the CFL's East Division.

TORONTO — It's been quite a week for Mark Casse. On Thursday, the veteran trainer earned his 4,000th career win at Colonial Downs Racetrack in Virginia.

TORONTO — Mexico's Pato O'Ward has always enjoyed the sights and sounds of Toronto, it's just the IndyCar Series race around Exhibition Place he didn't like, struggling year after year on the street course.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The enormous yellow scoreboard above the 18th green at Royal Portrush perfectly illustrated the state of golf these days. Scottie Scheffler's name was at the top. No one was close.