National Sports

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The National Women's Hockey League has suspended its shortened season due to new positive COVID-19 tests and safety concerns. The decision Wednesday came after two of six teams withdrew from the two-week tournament.

Tokyo is a conversation topic in the vehicle when Justin Kripps and his bobsled crew are on long road trips in Europe.

Catcher Josh Phegley is retiring from baseball after eight major league seasons, a week shy of his 33rd birthday.

PHILADELPHIA — The National Lacrosse League has cancelled plans for an abbreviated 2020-21 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The league said in a statement it will now focus on starting a full season this fall.

Paul Maurice is cheering for only one thing when he watches two North Division rivals hit the ice from his couch.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime opened his 2021 season with a 6-3 6-1 win over Japan's Yuichi Sugita in the second round of the Murray River Open on Wednesday.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Canada's Leylah Annie Fernandez beat 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Grampians Trophy on Wednesday. The 18-year-old Fernandez, from Laval, Que., won 70.

TORONTO — Veteran left-hander Francisco Liriano has agreed to a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that includes an invitation to spring training, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

TOKYO — A coalition of 180 rights groups on Wednesday called for a boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics tied to reported human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in China. The games are to open in one year, on Feb.

EDMONTON — Jesse Puljujarvi was all smiles Tuesday after scoring his first NHL goal in more than two years.