National Sports

TORONTO — An unused substitute in Toronto FC's last two games, forward Ayo Akinola is still waiting for liftoff. It's been a long road back from knee surgery last August. But the 22-year-old from Brampton, Ont.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays placed reliever Ryan Borucki on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left middle finger blister and recalled left-hander Andrew Vasquez from triple-A Buffalo.

TORONTO — The morning after the Toronto Raptors' heartbreaking overtime loss to Philadelphia that dumped them into a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 series hole, coach Nick Nurse had a simple message for his team.

TORONTO — CFL defensive co-ordinators will have much more to contend with this season.

Michael (Pinball) Clemons has more than just a passing interest in the 2022 NFL draft. The Toronto Argonauts' GM will be watching to see if heralded prospect Luiji Vilain is either draft or signed as a priority free agent.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — The death of a James Madison softball star has been classified as an apparent suicide, but Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson said Wednesday that an investigation into the death is continuing.

TORONTO — The Canadian Hockey League has announced that Russian and Belarusian players will be ineligible for selection at its upcoming import draft.

GENEVA — Canada's Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant secured a playoff spot at the world mixed doubles curling championship with Wednesday's 6-2 win over England. Winnipeg's Peterman and Gallant of St. John's, N.L.

Working smarter, not harder, especially on the green, has made all the difference for Canada's Maude-Aimee Leblanc. The product of Sherbrooke, Que.

Moritz Seider set a modest goal back in the fall. "Making the team," said the Detroit Red Wings defenceman. "That was about it.