National Sports

TORONTO — The 9 a.m. kickoff is daunting. So is the 5:30 a.m. pre-game meal. Toronto FC gets one heck of an early start to the MLS is Back Tournament on Sunday when it faces D.C. United at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex in the Orlando area.

TORONTO — A packed summer training camp schedule has the Toronto Blue Jays squeezing in workouts, practice sessions and intrasquad games ahead of a fast-approaching regular season. The team's news cycle followed a similar model Friday.

U Sports ignored calls to help football players recover a year of eligibility lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the University of Alberta's coach.

OTTAWA — Curling Canada has been forced to re-think qualification for the Olympic team and mixed doubles trials after cancellations and postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — The CFL has sent Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault a revised financial request. A CFL source said Friday the league is seeking roughly $42.5 million in aid.

Canadian international forward Tesho Akindele has agreed to a contract extension with Orlando City SC that includes options for the 2022 and '23 seasons. The 28-year-old's previous contract was to end after the 2021 season.

TORONTO — The Mackenzie Tour announced on Friday it will hold a series of four tournaments for professional golfers residing in Canada.

MILTON KEYNES, England — Canadian darts pro Jeff (The Silencer) Smith reached the semifinals of the PDC Summer Series on Friday, losing to eventual winner Michael van Gerwen. Van Gerwen, the world No.

Canadian flyweight Malcolm (X) Gordon and welterweight Jesse (The Body Snatcher) Ronson have been added to the UFC's Fight Island cards.

DUBLIN, Ohio — A trio of Canadians are near the top of the leaderboard following the opening round of the PGA Tour's Workday Charity Open on Thursday. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., posted the best score among Canadian golfers with a 6-under 66.