National Sports

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens may be ahead of schedule in their rebuild, but Jeff Gorton believes the plan is far from complete. Making the playoffs is one thing.

TORONTO — Nell Fortner has been named head coach of Canada’s senior women’s national team, Canada Basketball announced Monday.

TORONTO — Mitch Marner took on a cheerleading role over the weekend. The Maple Leafs winger will be back in the middle of the action Monday night.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed pitchers Spencer Turnbull and José Ureña to one-year major league contracts, the Major League Baseball club announced Monday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Blake is out after eight seasons as the Los Angeles Kings' vice president and general manager.

TORONTO — Curlers Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant are the first athletes named to Canada's team for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The husband-and-wife team from Chestermere, Alta.

ROME — Canada's Victoria Mboko advanced to the second round of qualifying at the Italian Open WTA 1000 tennis tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 win over 17th-seed Cristina Bucsa of Spain on Monday.

TORONTO — Scott Laughton was probably still feeling it. The Maple Leafs forward blocked a shot in the dying moments of Toronto's Game 6 victory over the Ottawa Senators to clinch a spot in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Canadian rider Derek Gee, who turned heads with his breakthrough ride in the 2023 race, returns to the Giro d'Italia this week.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Brad Marchand is many things. Sarcastic, most definitely. A pest on the ice, absolutely. Someone who doesn't mind a little bonus physicality, goes without saying.