National Sports

MADRID — Canada has advanced to the semifinals at the Davis Cup Finals. Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont.

CALGARY — The local talent on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers roster made decisions to come home during their football careers.

TORONTO — Khem Birch said there's virtually no argument for skipping Canada's Olympic qualifying tournament.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — New Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe spent a decent chunk of a 30-minute morning skate on Thursday teaching instead of running drills. There's a lot for his new team to learn and not much time to do it.

TORONTO — What stands out to Kevin Abrams about Sheldon Keefe above everything else has been his ability to change — in hockey, and most importantly, in life.

TORONTO — When Ellie Black underwent ankle surgery recently, just eight months before the 2020 Tokyo Games, she reached out to someone who knows all about writing remarkable Olympic comeback stories.

CALGARY — Jim Lawson's time as CFL board chairman will end this weekend. Two CFL sources say Lawson will step down from his post following the Grey Cup game Sunday.

LIVERPOOL, England — Canadian international Janine Beckie scored to help defending champion Manchester City defeat Everton 4-1 in Continental League Cup play Thursday. Beckie's goal came off a corner in the 36th minute.

The Western Hockey League is undecided on the future of a charitable program featuring Don Cherry.

CALGARY — He's an imaginative playcaller and regarded as an offensive genius, but Tommy Condell's biggest strength is subscribing to the most basic of coaching principles: Creating a system showcasing a player's ability.