National Sports

OAKVILLE, Ont. — With fans bellowing encouragement, the occasional smattering of applause after a quality shot and even the intermittent ringing of a cowbell, it certainly felt like old times at the curling rink on Wednesday.

SYDNEY, N.S. — Patrick Guay scored twice and the Charlottetown Islanders trounced the Cape Breton Eagles 7-2 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Chris Mueller scored for the first time in nearly four months and Orlando City tied 1-1 with Montreal on Wednesday night. Orlando (12-8-10) is undefeated in its last four games.

TORONTO — Bradley Beal scored 23 points, Montrezl Harrell had 22, and the Washington Wizards spoiled the Raptors' long-awaited return to Toronto with a 98-83 victory on Wednesday.

OTTAWA — Atletico Ottawa capitalized on its chances Wednesday, blanking Valour FC 2-0 in Canadian Premier League play. Malcolm Isaiah Shaw opened the scoring in the 57th minute and Ryan Telfer doubled the lead in the 64th.

BOSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez was perfect through four, took a two-hit shutout into the seventh and became the first pitcher in the 2021 postseason to finish eight innings on Wednesday as the Houston Astros beat Boston 9-1 in Game 5 of the AL Champion

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — Forge FC scored early but could not hold onto the lead Wednesday, falling 3-1 to Costa Rica's Santos de Guapiles in the first leg of their Scotiabank CONCACAF League quarterfinal.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers have placed goalie Mike Smith on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. The team has also recalled netminder Stuart Skinner from the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League.

QUEBEC — A Montreal Canadiens land acknowledgment that refers to unceded territory of the Mohawk Nation may be a mistake, according to Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière.

The U.S. has launched a bid to host both the men's and women's Rugby World Cup with Vancouver billed as a potential host city. Wednesday's public launch of the bid comes on the eve of the U.S.