National Sports

TORONTO — Rolan Milligan Jr. has put together quite a 2024 season. The Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back was named his team's nominee for the CFL's outstanding player, defensive player and special-teams performer awards Wednesday.

BROSSARD, Que. — Montreal defenceman Justin Barron is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury after missing the Canadiens' practice Wednesday.

CALGARY — Soccer so foundational to her life, Lara Murphy is putting her skills and money into Calgary's team in the startup women's professional Northern Super League.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club will be without a couple of defenseman for an extended period of time after Sean Durzi and John Marino each underwent surgery.

PORTLAND — Canadian Karina LeBlanc has been named executive vice-president of strategic growth development for RAJ Sports, which owns the NWSL's Portland Thorns and the new Portland WNBA franchise.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas will miss at least six weeks with a broken right ankle, the team announced Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, has died. He was 63.

BASEL — Two-time defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the second round of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Argentina's Sebastian Baez on Wednesday.

Zach Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head into their regular-season finale with the ability to determine where the West Division final will be played. Winnipeg (10-7) can clinch first in the West — and home field for the division final Nov.

Jon Cooper always counted on seeing a familiar face at the start of training camp. The Tampa Bay Lightning head coach would blow his whistle and Steven Stamkos — captain, franchise icon — was there to lead the group.