National Sports

LONGUEUIL, Que. — The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has approved new rules that dole out stiffer punishments for fighting. All players involved in a fight will now receive a 10-minute misconduct penalty and a five-minute major.

Although restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 initially wreaked havoc on the golf season, Laurence Applebaum said this season showed the sport's resilience in Canada.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An unexpected return to the playoffs didn't last long for the Toronto Blue Jays. They surprised many by getting to the wild-card series. The top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays surprised no one by shutting them down.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland's long-reliable regulars Marcus Semien and Khris Davis powered a couple of home runs, Mark Canha made a game-saving catch against the wall and red-hot right-hander Chris Bassitt delivered the start of his life.

CALGARY — Leanne Taylor was born the same year Silken Laumann overcame long odds to stand on the Olympic podium. Laumann rowing to a bronze medal with a mangled leg at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona is part of Canadian sport lore.

ATLANTA — The scoreless innings kept piling up, along with the strikeouts.

Sarah Nurse has stood in the crosswinds of societal and sport upheaval. Her hockey career in flux because of a collective movement to further the women's game, the COVID-19 pandemic threw another layer of uncertainty on top of her hockey future.

MINNEAPOLIS — Shaken up by a scandal before the virus outbreak shrunk the season, the Houston Astros barely played well enough to reach the playoffs — with the rest of baseball actively rooting against them. Well, they're not ready to leave yet.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender Michael McNiven to a one-year, two-way contract. The contract is worth US$700,000 in the NHL and $75,000 in the American Hockey League.

MUNICH — Canadian Alphonso Davies set up a goal as Bayern Munich added to its trophy haul Wednesday, beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 to hoist the German Super Cup.