National Sports

TAMPA. Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees dropped their ban on beards Friday, 49 years after it was imposed by owner George Steinbrenner, in a move aimed to improve player recruitment as the team tries to win its first World Series title since 2009.

BOSTON — Chantal Kreviazuk is defending her performance of the Canadian national anthem Thursday night.

MONTREAL — With so much on the line, Canadian hockey fans erupted in jubilation after another night to remember on Thursday.

SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) — Federica Brignone overcame a recent illness to win the first World Cup giant slalom after taking gold at the Alpine skiing world championships on Friday, while Mikaela Shiffrin finished 25th in the American's first race in the

BOSTON — Connor McDavid was 13 years old when Sidney Crosby scored his golden goal. The hockey phenom gathered around the television with friends to watch the superstar secure a dramatic overtime triumph at the 2010 Olympics.

TORONTO — Leah Pais is stoked about kicking off her Northern Super League career with AFC Toronto at BMO Field. "I have only ever watched teams play there.

BAIE-COMEAU, Que. — Matyas Melovsky had three goals and four assists in pacing the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to a 14-0 drubbing of the Saint John Sea Dogs on Thursday in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action.

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. — Nick Lardis had a hat trick in leading the Brantford Bulldogs to a 4-3 win over the Peterborough Petes on Thursday in Ontario Hockey League action.

BOSTON — Canada defeated its archrival the United States 3-2 in overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off final on Thursday night in what was an emotionally-charged affair for players and fans alike.

SAN JOSÉ — A last-minute mistake proved costly for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday. With the score level at 1-1, the 'Caps lost their positioning on a throw in, giving their opponents the space they needed to bury the game-winning goal.