• The Canadian Press

    Five surprise teams aim to finish stunning seasons by securing Champions League spot

    GENEVA (AP) — There could be a surprising team from each of Europe's “big five” leagues when the new-look Champions League debuts next season. Aston Villa, Bologna, Brest, Girona and Stuttgart are all, remarkably, on course to qualify for Europe's elite competition going into the final few rounds of their national league. Bologna, Stuttgart and Girona have perhaps the best chance of earning a place in the 36-team Champions League lineup when the lucrative tournament switches to a new format next

  • The Canadian Press

    Ohtani visits Toronto with Dodgers for first time since free agency madness

    Shohei Ohtani will play his first game in Toronto on Friday since opting to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of the Blue Jays. The two-way superstar had played the previous six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and was the unanimous choice as American League MVP last season before entering free agency. The Dodgers were the early favourites to land Ohtani, but some analysts had Toronto emerging as a strong contender after the Japanese star reportedly visited the Blue Jays' spring train

  • The Canadian Press

    Chelsea and Lyon bring leads into return legs of Women's Champions League semifinals

    LONDON (AP) — Emma Hayes didn't want anyone to get carried away by Chelsea's surprise 1-0 win over Barcelona last week in the Women's Champions League semifinals. That's because Chelsea needs to finish the job Saturday in the second-leg match in order to reach just its second final — in Hayes' final season at the club. Defending champion Barcelona won at Stamford Bridge in the semifinals a year ago and arrived in London with more than enough firepower — evident on the team airplane emblazoned wi

  • The Canadian Press

    Bevy of defensive playmakers are available in Round 2 of the NFL draft after historic offensive run

    The unprecedented run on quarterbacks, wide receivers and pass protectors in the NFL draft 's opening round pushed plenty of studly defenders down the board and allowed some of the top teams to select players who normally wouldn't fall to them. It also shoved plenty of first-round worthy defenders into the second round Friday, led by Cooper DeJean, the Iowa cornerback who broke his lower leg in November but has been cleared to return to football activities. DeJean is one of the best ballhawks in