National Sports

MONTREAL — Matthew Tkachuk has vivid memories of the village. He was eight years old. Younger brother Brady was six. Their father, Keith, was playing at his fourth and final Olympics for the United States in men's hockey.

MONTREAL — Hockey Quebec is banning the use of smelling salts, citing concern over their use by young players.

DOHA — It was a tough day for Canadian tennis players at the Qatar Open on Wednesday with both Leylah Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski making quick exits from their respective events.

The Canadian Premier League has proved to be a valuable launching pad for domestic talent. But it has also offered a fresh start to overseas players like Tobias Warschewski.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.

SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Franjo von Allmen became a double world champion and Loic Meillard claimed his fourth career world championship medal when the Swiss pair won gold in the new team combined event on Wednesday.

DUNEDIN — Question marks hover over the Toronto Blue Jays as the team kicks off spring training Thursday when pitchers and catchers hold their first official workout at the club's player development complex.

NEW YORK (AP) — This time, the giant schnauzer went the full Monty.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Tri-City Americans spotted the Kamloops Blazers the first goal and then roared back with four of their own en route to a 4-1 Western Hockey League victory at the Sandman Centre on Tuesday night.

TORONTO — Renata Fast of the Toronto Sceptres scored on a breakaway late in overtime to successfully celebrate Natalie Spooner's return after a nine-month layoff from off-season knee surgery with a 3-2 win against the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday.