National Sports

OTTAWA — Canadian sports minister Carla Qualtrough has announced former Ontario chief justice Lise Maisonneuve will lead the Future of Sport in Canada Commission.

TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe took his place in front of a dozen television cameras. The Maple Leafs head coach — on centre stage inside a small auditorium at the team's practice facility — was optimistic about the future for both himself and the group.

Former Toronto FC general manager Ali Curtis has earned a promotion as Major League Soccer revamps the leadership of MLS Next, its academy and youth development program.

Canadian riders Michael Woods and Riley Pickrell are out of the Giro d'Italia.

Ownership of the NHL’s team in Utah has given fans 20 choices to vote on for the franchise’s new name, according to a survey sent out Wednesday by Smith Entertainment Group.

CALGARY — Although Canada’s lone PGA Tour Champions event will have a different name, the goal will still be the same for Mike Weir.

The Vancouver Canucks struck first in a wild second-round NHL playoff series opener against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and the Florida Panthers pulled even in their best-of-seven matchup against the Boston Bruins.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have been talking about resilience for months.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Aleksander Barkov had two goals and two assists, Sam Reinhart added four assists and the Florida Panthers beat the Boston Bruins 6-1 on Wednesday night to tie the second-round series at a game apiece.

Wednesday's Scoreboard NHL Playoffs Best-of-Seven Second Round Vancouver 5 Edmonton 4 (Vancouver leads series 1-0) Florida 6 Boston 1 (Series tied 1-1) --- PWHL Playoffs Best-of-Five Semifinals Toronto 4 Minnesota 0 (Toronto leads series 1-0) --- AHL