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TOP STORIES
HOCKEY
Canadiens fire head coach Dominique Ducharme
MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens have fired head coach Dominique Ducharme. The 48-year-old was relieved of his duties Wednesday after Montreal began its season with a dismal 8-30-7 record for a league-worst 23 points. His dismissal comes in the wake of a 7-1 rout by the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. “Nobody likes to lose," Ducharme said after the game. "Guys' intentions are there. Within the game, there are moments where you need to bounce back and we need to do a better job of that.” 700 words. MOVED.
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OLYMPICS
Olympic rookies Dubois, O'Dine shine for Canada
OLY-Canada-Roundup
BEIJING - A concussion robbed Meryeta O'Dine of her first chance at Olympic glory. O'Dine had made Canada's snowboard team for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics after a successful 2017-18 campaign on the World Cup snowboard cross circuit. But an injury suffered in training two days before her event knocked her out of the Games. On Wednesday, the 24-year-old from Prince George, B.C. was one of two Olympic rookies to climb the podium for Canada as she captured bronze in the women's snowboard cross. She was joined by speedskater Steven Dubois, who battled his way to a photo-finish silver medal in packed, 10-man field in the men's 1,500-metre short-track event. MOVED sports. PHOTO.
BASKETBALL
CEBL's Fraser Valley Bandits hire former coach of Poland's men's basketball team
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After turning around Poland's men's basketball team, Mike Taylor is embarking on a new adventure — coaching in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Taylor was announced Wednesday as the new head coach of the Fraser Valley Bandits. 600 words. By Gemma Karstens-Smith. MOVED. PHOTO.
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FOOTBALL
CFL signings expected to continue on second day of free agency
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UNDATED -- Trevor Harris is back with the Montreal Alouettes. The veteran quarterback re-signed with the CFL club Wednesday, the second day of free agency. Montreal acquired Harris late last season after incumbent Vernon Adams Jr. suffered a season-ending left shoulder injury. But the Alouettes released Harris in December after signing Adams Jr. to a contract extension. 900 words. By Da Ralph. MOVED.
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Argos feeling confident early in CFL free-agency period FBO-CFL-Argos TORONTO -- Two days into CFL free agency and the Toronto Argonauts already like what they see. Signing running back Andrew Harris, defensive linemen Ja'Gared Davis and Adrian Tracy, linebacker Wynton McManis, defensive back DaShaun Amos and offensive lineman Justin Lawrence will do that to you. 600 words. By Neil Davidson. PHOTO. MOVED.
SOCCER
Akinola well on road to recovery
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UNDATED — Young Toronto FC striker Ayo Akinola says he is "not too far" from returning to action from surgery last August to repair an anterior cruciate ligament injured on international duty with Canada. The 22-year-old announced himself at the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament, when he scored five goals. 900words. By Neil Davidson. PHOTO. MOVED.
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Giovinco signs short-term deal with Sampdoria
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TORONTO -- Italy's Sampdoria confirmed Wednesday that it has signed former Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco to a short-term contract through June. In a somewhat related move, Toronto acquired US$575,000 in general allocation money and the 14th position in Major League Soccer’s allocation order from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for the No. 2 allocation position and an international roster slot. 500 word. By Neil Davidson. MOVED. PHOTO.
COMING LATER
NHL: Chicago at Edmonton, 8 pm (CP); Vegas at Calgary (CP); NY Islanders at Vancouver (CP)
AP SPORTS DIGEST
FBN—SUPER BOWL-GOODELL
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell holds his annual Super Bowl news conference, when he is expected to be asked about former Miami coach Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the league citing racism by teams. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. Developing from 3 p.m. news conference. With FBN--Super Bowl-Goodell-The Latest.
OLY--FIG-MEN'S FREE
BEIJING — Yuzuru Hanyu tries to make it three straight Olympic gold medals while American star Nathan Chen tries to win his long-awaited first with the men's free skate at the Beijing Games. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Competition starts at 9:30 p.m.
OLY—SBD-WOMEN'S-SNOWBOARDCROSS
ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Lindsey Jacobellis captured the United States' first gold medal of the Beijing Olympics. The 36-year-old rode hard to the line in her snowboardcross final a full 16 years after a mistake cost her the title. By Eddie Pells and Pat Graham. SENT: 500 words, photos.
OLY—LATIN AMERICAN ATHLETES
They said he should play soccer. They said figure skating was for girls. They said winter sports made no sense in temperate Guadalajara. But none of those naysayers deterred Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo, the rare Latin American athlete at the Winter Games, who has now become an even more rare Beijing Olympics success story — however relative — from that part of the globe. By Sally Ho. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
BKN--NBA TRADE DEADLINE
With the NBA trade deadline looming, it’s decision time for teams around the league. That includes the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. The two expected NBA Finals contenders find themselves potentially headed for the play-in round. They must decide before Thursday’s deadline to stand pat with the belief that all they need to save them is the rosters they already have, or make a move. With the Lakers and Nets struggling, other teams may be thinking the time to make a run is now. Even if big-name players like James Harden and Russell Westbrook aren’t dealt, there could still be reliable players on the move. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. SENT: 900 words, photos.
COMMENTARY
OLY--SKI-PAUL NEWBERRY-SHIFFRIN
BEIJING — When Mikaela Shiffrin skied off the course -- again -- the announcers from NBC let her have it. In a different era, that sort of criticism would have been accepted. But times have changed, and social media turned its wrath on the network commentators. All of which raises an interesting dilemma: Is it still OK to criticize a much-hyped athlete who fails to meet expectations at a huge event like the Winter Olympics? By Sports Columnist Paul Newberry. SENT: 800 words, photos.
NOTABLE
FBN--SUPER BOWL-SCRAMBLING BURROW
Joe Burrow knows he probably couldn’t have pulled off the escape acts he did in the AFC title game the way he felt early in the season when he was still working is way back from reconstructive knee surgery. But Burrow’s ability to turn sure sacks into third-down conversions played a big role in helping Cincinnati reach the Super Bowl and could be crucial on Sunday against the Rams' fearsome pass rush. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 6 p.m.
FBN—SUPER BOWL-RAMS-KUPP
LOS ANGELES — After having to watch the Rams' last Super Bowl trip from the sidelines due to an ACL injury, Cooper Kupp has emerged as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. Kupp, the first player in 16 years to capture the receiving triple crown, had a career-high 220 yards on seven receptions the last time he faced the Cincinnati Bengals. By Joe Reedy. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 6 p.m.
FBN--COMMANDERS-INVESTIGATION
The NFL moved quickly Wednesday to take over an investigation into alleged sexual harassment by Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder, saying the league, not the team, will hire an investigator to lead the probe. The Commanders announced Wednesday morning that the team had hired an outside investigator to look into former team employee Tiffani Johnston’s claims that Snyder groped her thigh at a team dinner and and pushed her toward his limousine with his hand on her lower back. Hours later, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement that the team would not control the probe. By Ben Nuckols. SENT: 500 words, photos.
CAR--NASCAR-IWUJI-EMMITT SMITH
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jesse Iwuji is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve who also happens to be juggling a NASCAR career. He transitioned between roles to jet from weekend Navy drills in Los Angeles to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where he announced he'll race his first full season with backing from Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and General Motors. Iwuji will compete in the second-tier Xfinity Series and join Bubba Wallace as the only two Black drivers competing full-time in NASCAR. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 900 words, photos.
GLF--PHOENIX OPEN PREVIEW
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Top-ranked Jon Rahm and defending champion Brooks Koepka top the field in the WM Phoenix Open. By John Nicholson. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 8 p.m.
BKC--NBA PROSPECT WATCH-SEC
JD Notae was the best player inside Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night, better than both of Auburn’s potential lottery picks. The Arkansas point guard finished with 28 points, five rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals as the Razorbacks stunned the top-ranked Tigers 80-76. By Mark Long. SENT: 600 words, photos.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2022.
The Canadian Press
