National Sports

REGINA — Before every game, Stanley Bryant awaits a text from his mother Bernita Hines asking him "are you ready for some football?" His answer, in both word and on-field deeds, is a resounding "yes.

OTTAWA — As captain of the Ottawa Senators, Brady Tkachuk was willing to take the blame for his team's 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon. The reality is the Senators just weren't good enough against the NHL's hottest team.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Sarah Bujold, Kelly Babstock and Madison Packer scored two goals apiece to lift the Metropolitan Riveters to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation on Saturday.

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands — Canada's Laurent Dubreuil raced to victory in the 500 metres to lead Canada on a two-medal day at the ISU speedskating World Cup. The Canadian women's team sprint captured a silver medal Saturday in the season's first race.

REGINA — With 11 years between Grey Cup appearances, Toronto Argonauts linebacker Henoc Muamba isn't taking anything for granted as he heads into the CFL championship game on Sunday.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Authorities turned away thousands of fans Saturday night from a concert celebrating the World Cup beginning the next day in Qatar, revealing the challenges ahead for Doha as it tries to manage crowds in FIFA's most-compact tourname

REGINA — Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros says his ankle, which has been under much scrutiny during Grey Cup week, didn't regress after his lone practice in Regina.

AMSTERDAM — Canada's men's rugby team dropped a 43-37 decision to Namibia on Saturday to conclude their two-game European fall tour.

SAPPORO, Japan — Canadian ice dancers Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen won gold at the NHK Trophy on Saturday, for their first victory on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

UMM ŞALĀL ‘ALĪ, Qatar — Canada coach John Herdman had a bleak medical update Saturday with goalkeeper Milan Borjan and midfielder Stephen Eustaquio joining star Alphonso Davies as question marks for the World Cup opener against No. 2 Belgium.