National Sports

TSN hockey analyst Kevin Sawyer has apologized for comments he made on a Winnipeg Jets broadcast earlier this month about an alleged incident when he was an assistant coach with a junior team in 2005.

NEW YORK — Derek Jeter came within one vote of being a unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame while Larry Walker also earned baseball's highest honour on Tuesday.

Perennial curling powerhouse Manitoba will be well represented at next month's Scotties Tournament of Hearts with three teams from the province essentially guaranteed to play at the national playdowns.

TORONTO — Rocco Romeo, who served as a ball boy at Toronto FC games growing up, has signed a first-team contract with the MLS team as a homegrown player. The 19-year-old defender from Richmond Hill, Ont.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired Ghanaian central midfielder Leonard Owusu from Israeli Premier League side FC Ashdod.

Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller has trimmed his roster to 20 ahead of next week's CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, with Jenna Hellstrom and 15-year-old Olivia Smith dropping to alternate status.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The American Hockey League has suspended Bakersfield Condors defenceman Brandon Manning five games for using a racial slur against Ontario Reign left-wing Bokondji Imama.

Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney, looking to diffuse expectations, says it will take more than one player to replace injured captain Michael Bradley. But it seems clear Liam Fraser is next man up.

Buck Pierce is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' new offensive co-ordinator. The Bombers promoted Pierce to the post Tuesday. He replaces Paul LaPolice, who is now the Ottawa Redblacks head coach. Pierce will continue as Winnipeg's quarterback coach.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Calgary skier Andrew Longino captured Canada's first gold medal at the Youth Olympics on Tuesday. The 17-year-old Longino won the men's ski halfpipe event, scoring 94 points.