National Sports

OAKVILLE, Ont. — Joe Veleno's path has been a long one.

Toronto Raptors all-star Kyle Lowry is set to be a pointe guard in "The Nutcracker." The NBA champion is among the Canadian celebrities who will grace the stage as "cannon dolls" in the National Ballet of Canada's holiday production.

The latest sanctions levied against Russia by the World Anti-Doping Agency don't convince Canadian racewalker Evan Dunfee the field will be fair at next year's Summer Olympics.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Laurence Vincent Lapointe will learn if she is eligible to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics within the next 30 days. Lapointe, from Trois-Rivieres, Que.

BOSTON — Pete Frates, a former college baseball player whose battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease helped inspire the ALS ice bucket challenge that has raised more than $200 million worldwide, died Monday. He was 34.

TORONTO — Samuel Charron has been named Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year while Luis Rocha won top Canadian futsal honours.

OTTAWA — It's been nearly seven years since Paul LaPolice was a head coach in the CFL. After soaking up four more years of experience on the sidelines, LaPolice says he's ready for another opportunity.

SAN ANTONIO — Canadian Alen Marcina has been promoted to head coach of San Antonio FC of the USL Championship. The 40-year-old from Surrey, B.C., originally joined the team in 2018, serving most recently as an assistant coach.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Impact have re-signed Canadian striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel to a one-year deal, with an option for 2021. The MLS club had declined his contact option last month while saying talks were continuing.

NEW YORK — Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry and Buffalo Sabres centre Jack Eichel have been named the NHL's three stars of the week.