National Sports

Claude Julien glanced down at some notes towards the end of his nearly hour-long video conference call with reporters Thursday.

When Mary-Anne Arsenault was planning a cross-country move from Nova Scotia to British Columbia last winter, she wasn't sure whether curling would be in her future. That feeling of uncertainty "quickly went away," she said.

VANCOUVER — After a season of peaks and valleys, right-winger Jake Virtanen is looking for a little more consistency as he signs a new deal with the Vancouver Canucks. Virtanen and the Canucks inked a two-year, US$5.1-million contract on Thursday.

NEW YORK — The NHL has announced that its Winter Classic and all-star weekend will not be held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Winter Classic featuring the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues was scheduled for Jan.

BRESCIA, Italy — Laurie Canter shot a career-best 12-under 60 to open up a four-shot lead after the first round of the Italian Open on Thursday.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have avoided arbitration with Connor Brown by signing the forward to a three-year, US$10.8-million contract. The Senators and Brown were scheduled to have an arbitration hearing Thursday.

What bobsled pilot Justin Kripps wants out of the upcoming sliding season is momentum. What that looks like will be dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

OTTAWA — The Canadian figure skating championships have been pushed back a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is now scheduled to take place Feb. 8-14 at Vancouver's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

ANTWERP, Belgium — Canada's Milos Raonic has advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Open. The No. 5 seed, from Thornhill, Ont.

When U.S. figure skaters and a few foreigners training in this country kick off the season at Skate America this weekend, it could be a rare opportunity to display their wares.