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Here are our top stories:
HOCKEY
NHL Notebook: Players, coaches welcome league's latest COVID-19 protocols
HKN-Notebook
Morning nasal swabs have been routine for NHL players in recent months — and it's a regime many are eager to leave behind. The league updated its COVID-19 protocol on Monday, dropping daily testing requirements for fully vaccinated players, citing a "declining positivity rate." Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said the change is long overdue. 850 words. By Gemma Karstens-Smith. PHOTO. MOVED
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BASEBALL
Francis elected to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
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Left-hander Jeff Francis has been elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame made the announcement Wednesday. Francis, of Vancouver, will be inducted in June with the class of 2020 that includes former players Justin Morneau, John Olerud and Duane Ward along with Montreal Expos broadcaster Jacques Ducet. 325 words. PHOTO. MOVED
FOOTBALL
Bethel-Thompson returns to Argos anxious for opportunity to atone for '21 disappointment
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UNDATED -- There was much about 2021 for McLeod Bethel-Thompson to be happy about. The Toronto Argonauts were finally his team and he responded by leading the club to top spot in the East Division standings. But the season ended miserably with a home loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division final. With a new contract in his pocket, Bethel-Thompson heads into the start of CFL free agency with his sights clearly set on getting Toronto over the hump and not wondering about his football future. 778 words. By Dan Ralph. MOVED. PHOTO
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers agree to terms on extension with receiver Bailey
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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers agreed to a one-year contract extension with American receiver Rasheed Bailey on Wednesday. Bailey was scheduled to become a free agent next week. 132 words. MOVED
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SOCCER
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UNDATED — Richie Laryea wasn't surprised when Liam Fraser launched a laser-like pass from distance to trigger a Jonathan David goal in Canada's World Cup qualifying win in Honduras last week. Laryea had seen Fraser do it time and time again at Toronto FC practice. 700 words. By Neil Davidson. PHOTO. MOVED. (Stands as early story to 9 p.m. ET Canada-El Salvador game.)
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Canadian men look to take another step towards Qatar 2022,
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SAN SALVADOR — Unbeaten Canada looks to extend its winning streak to six games in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying when it takes on No. 70 El Salvador in the final game of the international window Wednesday. The 40th-ranked Canadian men can clinch a berth in Qatar 2022 with a win and a combination of results from the other three games in the region. More likely is Canada could guarantee itself at least a fourth-place finish, which would mean at the minimum taking part in an taking part in an intercontinental playoff to get to Qatar. 900 words. PHOTO. Game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.
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CURLING
North Ontario tops New Brunswick 8-7 at Scotties
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Northern Ontario's Krista McCarville knocked New Brunswick's Andrea Crawford from the ranks of the unbeaten Wednesday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. 121 words. MOVED. Will be updated.
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OLYMPICS
Hamelin, Poulin named Canada's flag-bearers
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BEIJING -- Women's hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin and short-track speedskating star Charles Hamelin have been named Canada's flag-bearers for Friday's opening ceremonies. 800 words. By Lori Ewing. MOVED. PHOTO.
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Canadian figure skater Messing awaiting negative COVID-19 tests in Canada
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BEIJING -- Keegan Messing's Olympic Games are in jeopardy. The 30-year-old isn't with Canada's figure skating team at the Beijing Olympics, as he waits to clear COVID-19 testing to travel. Messing, who captured his first national title last month, was scheduled to compete in the team event which begins with short programs on Friday. 378 words. By Lori Ewing. MOVED. PHOTO.
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One member of Canadian team in COVID protocols, two fewer than a day earlier
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Canada had no athletes, and just one member of its delegation, in COVID-19 protocols on Wednesday, down from three members a day earlier. The 400-plus Canadian delegation includes athletes, coaches and team staff. "I can tell you that we do not have any athletes in isolation at the moment," Dr. Mike Wilkinson, the Canadian Olympic Committee's chief medical officer, said at the team's traditional opening news conference on Wednesday night. 270 words. By Lori Ewing. MOVED.
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COMING LATER
HOCKEY: Edmonton at Washington, 7 p.m. (AP); Calgary at Arizona, 9:30 p.m. (AP)
CURLING: Coverage of Scotties Tournament of Hearts
SOCCER: Canadian men’s soccer team plays a World Cup qualifier in El Salvador, starts 9 p.m. ET. (CP - Neil Davidson)
AP
TOP STORIES
FBN--WASHINGTON-NEW NAME
Washington has some new Commanders in town. The NFL team announced its new name 18 months after fresh pressure from sponsors helped convince the once-storied franchise to drop its old moniker following decades of criticism that it was offensive to Native Americans. By Stephen Whyno. SENT: 740 words, photos.
FBN--BRIAN FLORES-LAWSUIT
Brian Flores says his lawsuit against the NFL over alleged racist hiring practices will continue even if he becomes a head coach again this offseason. Flores has interviewed with the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints, who have yet to fill their coaching vacancies. If they call, Flores will listen, but he said the suit will go on because the league needs change. By Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker. SENT: 865 words, photos. Also: FBN--Pipeline-Austin (Upcoming).
FBN--BRADY RETIRES-THE NEXT GENERATION
Tom Brady is gone. Ben Roethlisberger too. The league they helped defined for more than two decades has changed. The position they played, too. The next wave — led by Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert among others — appears ready to take quarterback play to potentially new heights. By Will Graves. SENT: 700 words, photos. Also: FBN--Brady Retires-Lost Icon (Sent) and FBN--Brady Retires-Patriots Omission (Sent).
COMMENTARY
FBN--TIM DAHLBERG-FLORES LAWSUIT
The inherent racism in the NFL was no state secret, even before Brian Flores decided to take a stand that likely will be perilous to his career. Still, his lawsuit was shocking on a few levels, elevating the issue of Black coaches to a new level at what couldn't be a worse time for the league. By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m.
FBN--INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Double-digit leads in the second half with a berth in the Super Bowl at stake are typically pretty safe in the NFL. That wasn’t the case on conference championship Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers both blew them in the latest in chapter for franchises with a history of playoff collapses. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. SENT: 900 words, photos.
NOTABLE
FBC--SIGNING DAY
The second signing period begins in major college football with a few blue-chippers yet to make their school choices and most teams with few spots left to fill. For coaches hired in December, the second signing period is a way to play catchup after a later start at their new schools. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6 p.m.
SOC--WCUP-HONDURAS-US
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The U.S. men's national team takes on Honduras in a World Cup qualifier in frigid Minnesota. By Dave Campbell. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.
FBN--LA SUPER BOWLS-1977
A near decade run of postseason disappointment had come to define Al Davis’ Oakland Raiders when they arrived at the Rose Bowl in 1977 for their second Super Bowl appearance. A dominant performance against Minnesota changed everything for Davis, coach John Madden and the franchise. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. SENT: 700 words, photos.
FBN--BENGALS-BURROW-CHASE CONNECTION
CINCINNATI — The connection between Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja'Marr Chase began in 2018 at LSU. Now their chemistry on the field in the NFL in Cincinnati has helped the Bengals get to the Super Bowl. By Mitch Stacy. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BKC--T25-WISCONSIN-ILLINOIS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Johnny Davis and No. 11 Wisconsin play Kofi Cockburn and No. 18 Illinois at State Farm Center in a Big Ten clash. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 9 p.m.
FBC--SENIOR BOWL-NEVADA CREW
Carson Strong has a couple of advantages over his fellow Senior Bowl quarterbacks: Romeo Doubs and Cole Turner. The Nevada quarterback's favorite targets and college roommates are teammates for one more game. By John Zenor. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 3 p.m.
GLF--PEBBLE BEACH-PREVIEW
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Patrick Cantlay fell in love with Pebble Beach when his father brought him at age 12. Jordan Spieth has never missed as a pro, even before he signed an endorsement deal with AT&T. They are looked upon to carry the limited star quality at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with so many big names taking big money this week in Saudi Arabia. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 4 p.m.
OLY--VIRUS OUTBREAK-OLYMPICS
BEIJING — With more than 30 new COVID-19 cases being detected daily ahead of the Beijing Olympics, organizers said they aren’t worried and expect numbers to drop within days. A total of 32 new cases — 15 in tests of people arriving at the airport and 17 within the Olympic bubbles — were reported by the Beijing organizing committee two days before the opening ceremony. By Graham Dunbar. SENT: 350 words, photos.
OLY--HKO-CHINA HOPES
BEIJING — China's men's hockey team at the Beijing Olympics features 19 players who were born, trained or both in North America. The group includes Americans Jake Chelios and Jeremy Smith and Canadians Brandon Yip and Ryan Sproul. Some have no connection to China other than playing for Beijing-based Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. SENT: 800 words, photos.
OLY--SBD-CHLOE'S CHANGE
Chloe Kim, prodigy, is no more. The 21-year-old snowboarding star and defending Olympic champion on the halfpipe will compete in Beijing with a different mindset than the one that helped her win gold in Korea, and she believes she's better off for it. By Will Graves. SENT: 993 words, photos.
OLY--SKI-UNKNOWN HILL
None of the Alpine ski racers who’ll be zooming down the Beijing Olympics mountain ever has tried the slope that’ll be used with medals at stake. Not yet, anyway. By National Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 840 words, photos.
OLY--LUG-US-MAZDZER
BEIJING — Chris Mazdzer tends to be the guy with just about all the answers for USA Luge. Jonny Gustafson calls him the team's ‘cool uncle.' But Mazdzer might be playing that role for the final time at the Beijing Games. It’s clear that at 33 and now a member of four U.S. Olympic luge teams his career is much closer to the end than the beginning. By Tim Reynolds. SENT: 750 words, photos.
OLY--FIG-FORGING IDENTITIES
BEIJING — Figure skating has always been a sport that champions inclusion, and Adam Rippon underscored that four years ago in South Korea when he became the first openly gay American to win a Winter Olympic medal. Now, pairs skater Timothy LeDuc is trying to do the same thing for those athletes that identify as non-binary. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 850 words, photos.
BKL--WNBA FREE AGENCY
Angel McCoughtry is heading to Minnesota and Briann January is going to Seattle for her final season in the WNBA. McCoughtry spent the last two seasons in Las Vegas after playing in Atlanta since the Dream drafted her first in 2009. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 450 words.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2022.
The Canadian Press
