National Sports

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Kim Pegula's desire to grow women's professional hockey will no longer involve a relationship with North America's remaining professional league.

AMSTERDAM — Facing a three-goal deficit at halftime in their Champions League semifinal, Tottenham's players only had to think back 24 hours or so to find a source of inspiration.

TORONTO — The Canadian owner of PokerStars is joining forces with Fox Sports in a US$236-million deal to launch Fox Bet, a sports wagering partnership in the United States. The Stars Group Inc. and the unit of Fox Corp.

TORONTO — For two years, the athlete in Ricky Ray effectively suppressed the practicality of retirement. This time, Ray's practical side won out. The Toronto Argonauts' veteran quarterback retired Wednesday.

TORONTO — Brian Ramsay isn't painting a very positive picture regarding the state of contract talks between the CFL and CFL Players' Association.

TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe thought he had a pretty good understanding of his new world. The owner/head coach of the Pembroke Lumber Kings — a junior-A hockey team located about 150 kilometres northwest of Ottawa — was winning title after title.

With the new Canadian Elite Basketball League about to tip off, chief executive officer Mike Morreale is brimming with the same energy he used to have before playing a big CFL game.

BEIJING — Canada's Jennifer Jones and her Winnipeg rink picked up a 10-1 victory over Japan on Wednesday on the opening day of the final Curling World Cup event of the season.

TORONTO — Drake loves breaking records and also "Breaker High," it seems.

MADRID — Overcoming lack of practice because of a stomach virus, Rafael Nadal cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Canadian teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.