National Sports

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Sweden is sick of seeing Rasmus Sandin get slashed. No doubt the Toronto Maple Leafs feel the same way.

LAFAYETTE, La. — Family and friends wearing purple and gold said goodbye Thursday to a Louisiana woman and her son who were on their way to see the Peach Bowl when they died in a plane crash.

NEW YORK — Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán will miss the first 63 games of the 2020 season as part of an 81-game ban for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. The league announced the suspension Thursday.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Kiara Zanon scored in overtime as the United States defeated Canada 2-1 in the final of the women's under-18 hockey championship.

TRINEC, Czech Republic — Reigning gold medallist Finland will face Canada in a semifinal at the world junior hockey championship after beating the United States 1-0 on Thursday.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — If there was even a shred of lingering doubt in Alexis Lafreniere's mind about the health of his knee, he took care of it quickly.

Former All Black star Sonny Bill Williams trained with the Toronto Wolfpack for the first time Thursday as coach Brian McDermott's overseas talent joined the rest of the squad at the transatlantic rugby league team's training base in England.

NEW YORK — Florida left-wing Jonathan Huberdeau, Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry and New York Rangers right-wing Artemi Panarin are the NHL's three stars of December.

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been placed on injured reserve with a concussion and is out indefinitely. Canadiens coach Claude Julien confirmed Gallagher's injury Thursday as Montreal prepared to host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With the three-test series between Australia and New Zealand decided, players from both teams will momentarily turn their attention away from the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground and to the deadly wildfires around the country.