National Sports

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks say some players need more time to recover from a COVID-19 outbreak that has swept through the team.

Major League Soccer embarks on the 2021 season with a new labour agreement in hand, the return of two big stars, a new team in Austin, Texas, and lessons learned from 2020.

Toronto FC's Patrick Mullins and Justin Morrow acknowledged their goals against Club Leon on Wednesday night came with an outpouring of emotion. For Mullins, the reason was simple. His grandmother passed away recently.

TORONTO — Jake Ford knows where the next stop on his football journey will be, but remains unsure exactly when it will happen. Ford, an Australian punter/kicker, went first overall in the CFL global draft Thursday to the B.C. Lions.

MONTREAL — The Canadian Grand Prix remains on the Formula One schedule for the 2021 season at least for the time being, but there’s a chance it could be cancelled soon.

TOKYO — Two officials in Japan's ruling LDP party said Thursday that changes could be coming to the Tokyo Olympics. One suggested they still could be cancelled , and the other said even if they proceed, it might be without any fans.

Bellator 257 will be a family affair Friday when former featherweight champion Julia (The Jewel) Budd and lightweight Lance Gibson Jr. share a card for the first time. Budd, 37, is Gibson's stepmother. The common denominator is Lance Gibson Sr.

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Rodion Amirov to a three-year, entry-level contract. The 19-year-old had nine goals and four assists in 39 games with Ufa Salavat Yulayev of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League this past season.

CANTON, Ohio — The nine new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who are deceased will be honoured in a television special next month. Eight men who were selected for the 2020 centennial class and one from the 2021 group will be recognized.

Toronto Maple Leafs star centre Auston Matthews will miss Thursday night's game against the visiting Winnipeg Jets with an injury and is listed as day-to-day.