National Sports

CALGARY — Western Canadians tired of isolating at home are filling the slopes at mountain ski resorts that have opened earlier than usual despite worries about surging cases of COVID-19.

NEW YORK — As opening day finally approached, Freddie Freeman had far bigger concerns than perfecting his swing and practicing his scoops. Just being able to walk a few steps was hard enough.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins had just started a media conference call on Thursday when a call came in on his mobile phone. Some 15 minutes later, it was his iPad that started ringing.

VANCOUVER — Russell Teibert knows there are people that counted the Vancouver Whitecaps out this season.

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Vancouver's Vasek Pospisil advanced to the semifinals of the Sofia Open indoor hardcourt tennis tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 win over sixth-seed John Millman on Thursday.

The world's fastest men have never intimidated Andre De Grasse. He prefers to measure himself against the very best.

Unable to coach the Ryerson Rams to a national women's university hockey title because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lisa Haley has applied her talents to an up-and-coming country.

It took Mustafa Kizza months to join his Montreal Impact teammates, but the young defender hasn't wasted any time in thriving with the club.

It's become a very familiar path for Kurtis Rourke. Throughout his football career, Rourke has had to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Nathan, and prove he was good enough and not there just because of bloodlines.

TORONTO — Raptors president Masai Ujiri says he hopes his team will play the next NBA season at Scotiabank Arena, despite rising COVID-19 cases both in Toronto and in the United States.